Objective To collect the clinical data of victims with traumatic brain injury (TBI) admitted in the West China Hospital of Sichuan University within 2 weeks after 4.20 Lushan earthquake, and to analyze their clinical characteristics and effects of early rehabilitation, so as to provide baseline data for rescue TBI victims with the early rehabilitation treatment during emergency medical rescue. Methods A total of 392 victims admitted in the hospital from April 20th, 2013 to May 3rd, 2013 were screened, of which the TBI victims were clinically assessed and treated with early rehabilitation. Then both the activities of daily living (ADL) and the Rancho Los Amigos Cognitive Recovery Scale (RLA) before and after the treatment were analyzed. The data were input by Excel software, and the statistical analysis was performed by SPSS softwar. Results A total of 51 TBI victims at age from 3 to 84 years old were included finally. The categories of TBI included subarachnoid hemorrhage (41.2%), intracranial hematoma (33.3%) and mixed type (33.3%), and the severity were associated with the type of TBI. The GCS score of cerebral concussion was higher (13.25 ± 0.62) while that of the diffuse axonal injury was lower (4.50 ± 0.71). All victims (100%) had limited ADL, 74.51% had cognitive dysfunction, 9.80% had speech disorder, and 7.84% had dysphagia. After the early rehabilitation treatment, both ADL (before treatment: 34.82 ± 58.29, after treatment: 69.63 ± 22.29) and RLA (pre-treatment: 4.16 ± 1.24, treatment: 7.20 ± 1.69) were obviously higher than those before treatment, with statistical differences (both P lt;0.05). Conclusion The TBI categories of Lushan earthquake victims are various and mixed, and the severity associated with the type of TBI. All TBI victims are accompanied with more clinical problems and functional limitation. Early rehabilitation treatment is safe and effective to improve ADL and RLA as well.
Objective To explore the number variation trend of inpatients with traumatic brain injury (TBI) in high altitude and plain areas. Methods The first page information in medical records of TBI patients, who were admitted to military hospitals from 2001 to 2007, was searched and extracted from the Chinese Trauma Database. Two military hospitals in high altitude area and another two in the same hospital level in plain area were selected. Then, the number variation trend of TBI inpatients in those two areas was compared. Results In high altitude area, the proportion of male patients and their median inpatient days were higher, while the age, proportion of Han patients and surgery rate were lower than those in plain area (all Plt;0.001). During 2001-2007, there were 9 141 TBI patients discharged from the four hospitals, and the average annual growth rate was 13.15%. In high altitude area, the average annual growth rate of discharged inpatients was 24.00%, while in plain area, it was just 7.09%. The 4 common categories of TBI were intracranial injury, open wound of the head, neck and trunk, skull fracture, and other injuries. Conclusion Compared with the plain area, there are significant differences in the demographics, hospital stay and surgery of inpatients in high altitude area. The average annual growth rate of TBI inpatients discharged from hospitals in high altitude area is faster than that in plain area, to which should be paid attention by relevant departments.
Objective To review the possible mechanisms of the mammal ian target of rapamycin (mTOR) in theneuronal restoration process after nervous system injury. Methods The related l iterature on mTOR in the restoration ofnervous system injury was extensively reviewed and comprehensively analyzed. Results mTOR can integrate signals fromextracellular stress and then plays a critical role in the regulation of various cell biological processes, thus contributes to therestoration of nervous system injury. Conclusion Regulating the activity of mTOR signaling pathway in different aspects cancontribute to the restoration of nervous system injury via different mechanisms, especially in the stress-induced brain injury.mTOR may be a potential target for neuronal restoration mechanism after nervous system injury.
Objective To investigate the relationship between the expression of hypoxia inducible factor 1α (HIF-1α) and the neuron apoptosis during a hypoxia ischemia brain damage and explore the role of HIF1α in regulating the neuron apoptosis and repairing the brain damaged by hypoxia and ischemia. Methods Forty SD rats aged 10 days were randomly divided into the experiment group and the control group, with 20 rats in each group. In the experimental group, the rats were anesthetized with ethylether. The right common carotid artery was exposed and ligated. Then, they were exposed to hypoxia ina normobaric chamber filled with 8% oxygen and 92% nitrogen for 2.5 hours. In the control group, the right common carotid artery was exposed but was not ligated or exposed to hypoxia. The brain tissues were harvested from the rats in the both groups at 4, 8, 24, 48 and 72 hours after the hypoxia and ischemia, and fromthe rats in the control group at the same time points. The HIF-1α protein expression and the cleaved caspase 3 (CC3) protein expression were detected with the immunohistochemistry method. The apoptosis cells were detected with the TUNEL staining method. Results In the experimental group, the HIF-1α expression was significantly increased at 4 hours after operation, at the peak level at 8 hours, and began to decrease at 24 hours. The CC3 protein was expressed at 4 hours after operation, and was slightly expressed at 8 hours, but was significantly increased at 24 hours; the higher levels were maintained at 48 and 72 hours. However, in the control group, both the expression levels of HIF-1α and the CC3 protein were extremely low. So, the expression levels of HIF-1α andthe CC3 protein were significantly higher in the experimental group than in the control group (P＜0.01). The TUNEL staining showed that in the experimentalgroup the positive cells were significantly increased after the hypoxia and ischemia, with a peak level at 72 hours after the hypoxia and ischemia; however, in the control group there were few positive cells.TUNEL positive cells in the experimental group were significantly more than that in the control group(P＜0.01).ConclusionThe expression tendency of HIF-1α is completely different from that of CC3.HIF-1α may have a protective role in regulating the neuron apoptosis in the neonatal hypoxia-ischemia brain damage and may promote the repairing and rebuilding process in the brain that was damaged by hypoxia and ischemia.
Objective To set up and to evaluate an acute closed brain injury model in rats. Methods The acute closed brain injury was produced in rats by using an impactor consisting of a stand, a guide tube, a weight and a footplate. Ninetysix SD rats were divided into a control group(n＝32, no impact), a mild injury group(n＝32, impact once at force level of 400 g·cm) and a severe injury group(n＝32, impact once at force level of 800 g·cm) to elucidate the physiological responses, the pathophysiological changes and brain edema after brain injury at different injury levels. Results In the mild injury group and the severe injury group, a sudden rise or reduction of blood pressure, deep and fast breath apnea, and pain reflects inhibition were observed. The responses were more obvious in the severe injury group than in the mild injury group. The water content of the brain increased after 6 hours of injury. The pathological contusion and edema of brain were noted or above the impact force level of 800 g·cm. When the impact force rose to or over 1200g·cm, the animals died of persistent apnea mostly. Conclusion Although the established closed brain injury model with different biomechanical mechanisms as the clinical brain injury, it is in conformity with pathological changes and pathophysiological characteristics of acute clinical brain injury, it can be utilized extensively because of its convenient and practice.
Objectives To assess the efficacy and safety of standard trauma craniectomy (STC), compared with limited craniectomy (LC) for severe traumatic brain injury (sTBI) with refractory intracranial hypertension. Methods We searched the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials-Central (The Cochrane Library Issue 3, 2008), MEDLINE (1966 to October 2008), EMbase (1984 to October 2008), CMB-disc (1979 to October 2006) and CNKI (1979 to October 2008) for completed studies, as well as clinical trial registries for ongoing studies and completed studies with unpublished data. The reference of included studies and relevant supplement or conference abstracts were handsearched. The search results were extracted, and then the quality of included studies was assessed using RevMan 5.0. Meta-analysis was conducted if the data was similar enough. Results Two randomized controlled trials (RCTs) involving 716 participants were identified. Compared with the LC group, the STC group had statistically significant, more favorable outcome on the basis of the Glasgow Outcome Scale, using measures such as mortality, efficiency, and survival, compared with those of LC group, which had statistic difference. The mean ICP fell more rapidly and to a lower level in the STC group than in the LC group. There was no statistically significant difference on the incidence of postoperative complications, including delayed hematoma, incision cerebrospinal fluid fistula, encephalomyelocele, traumatic epilepsy, and intracranial infection as well. Conclusion The efficacy of STC is superior to LC for severe TBI with refractory intracranial hypertension resulting from unilateral frontotemporoparietal contusion with or without intracerebral or subdural hematoma.
ObjectiveTo investigate the clinical feature, prognosis and prognostic factors of early post-traumatic seizures in children. MethodsRetrospective review was performed on 101 individuals with early post-traumatic seizures (EPTS) who were diagnosed in Department of Neurosurgery in Children's Hospital of Chongqing Medical University from January 2008 to June 2013. The record was collected, which included patient's demographics, clinical and radiological presentation, management, and follow-up results of 12 months. The individuals were divided into late post-traumatic seizures (LPTS) group and control group according to the occurrence of LPTS or not. The SAS 9.2 was used for statistical analysis. ResultsDuring 101 cases in our study, male accounted for 60.4%, female accounted for 39.6%, and the ratio was 1.5 to 1. The percentage of patients who were under 6 years old was 74.3%, and the number of cases decreased with age. The peak time of EPTS was within 24 hours after traumatic brain injury. 55.4% of EPTS was the generalized seizures, 34.7% was the partial seizures, and 9.9% was the partial seizures and evolved to secondarily generalized seizures. The incidence of LPTS observed in our study was 26.7% within 12 months follow-up. The electroencephalogram displayed epileptiform discharges in 3 individuals who were without epileptic seizures. There was statistically significant difference in group LPTS compared to control group on these factors which included GSC score≤8(P=0.0064), complicated necrencephalus and/or encephalatrophy(P < 0.0001), multiple brain injuries(P=0.0210), subdural hemorrhage(P=0.0151) and intracranial operation(P=0.0029). The age, history, epileptic seizure type of EPTS, brain contusion, skull fracture and the early use of antiepileptic drugs (AEDs) had no statistically significant difference between LPTS group and control group(P > 0.05). ConclusionsEPTS is prone to occur in children under 6 years old. Male is obviously more than female, and the ratio is 1.5:1. The peak time of EPTS is within 24 hours after traumatic brain injury and most of EPTS are generalized seizures. The incidence of LPTS in children with EPTS exceeds those previously reported. Periodical electroencephalogram examination is essential to decrease the missed diagnosis of LPTS. The GSC score≤8 and complicated necrencephalus and/or encephalatrophy will dramaticlly increase the risk of LPTS. Multiple brain injuries, subdural hemorrhage and intracranial operation are also risk factors for the prognosis of EPTS. Although the use of AEDs is unable to decrease the incidence of LPTS after 12 months follow-up, it is probably beneficial to improving the cognition and brain development. The controversial finding in our study is whether intracranial operation can influence the prognosis of EPTS or not.
ObjectiveTo investigate the effects of large trauma craniotomy on severe traumatic brain injury. MethodsA total of 132 cases of severe traumatic brain injury adopted large trauma craniotomy between July 2008 and August 2013, and the clinical data were retrospectively analyzed. ResultsAccording to the results of GOS assessment at discharge, 67 patients (50.75%) were satisfied, 26 (19.70%) were mildly disable, 10 (7.58%) were severely disable, 12 (9.09%) were in vegetative state, and 17 (12.88%) were dead. ConclusionCorrect use of large trauma craniotomy on severe brain injury cases will help to improve the treatment outcome, reduce complications and improve quality of survival.
ObjectiveTo study the effect of hyperbaric oxygen combined with nimodipine in the treatment of cerebral dysfunction resulted from traumatic brain injury. MethodWe retrospectively collected and analyzed the data of 124 patients with cerebral dysfunction induced by traumatic brain injury, admitted to the Neurosurgery Department during February 2011 to February 2014. All the patients were divided into the traditional treatment group (n=45), the traditional treatment with hyperbaric oxygen group (HBO group, n=40) and the traditional treatment with nimodipine and hyperbaric oxygen group (integrated group, n=39). The differences among the three groups in neurological injury severity evaluated by National Institute of Health Stroke Scale and the cerebral blood flow were recorded and analyzed at three time points (before the treatment, 2 and 4 weeks after treatment). ResultsThere was no significant difference in neurological injury severity and cerebral blood flow among these three groups before treatment (P>0.05). Evaluated at 2 and 4 weeks after treatments, the neurological injury severity of HBO group and integrated group were significantly less than the traditional treatment group (P<0.05); the neurological severity score of integrated group was significantly lower than the HBO group (P<0.05); the cerebral blood flow of HBO group and integrated group were significantly higher than the traditional treatment group (P<0.05); and the cerebral blood flow of integrated group was significantly higher than the HBO group (P<0.05). ConclusionsThe combination therapy of hyperbaric oxygen combined with nimodipine is effective in the treatment of cerebral dysfunction induced by traumatic brain injury, because of its attenuation of neurological injury severity and increase of cerebral blood flow.
This research was to study the regulation of intravenous administration of human umbilical cord blood mesenchymal stem cells (HUCBMSCs) on secretion of neural specific protein in rats after traumatic brain injury (TBI), and to explore its mechanisms promoting the recovery of neurological function. The TBI models of rats were established. We then injected HUCBMSCs, labelled by Brdu (5-bromo-2-deoxyuridine), into the TBI rats via the tail vein using modified Feeney free-falling method. The levels of neural biochemical indicators (serum S100βprotein, NSE, LDH, CK) of rats were detected in shamed group, injury group and HUCBMSCs-transplanted group. And the morphological changes of brain tissue of rats in the three groups were observed by using HE staining under light microscope. During the whole experiment no immunosuppressant was used for the four groups. From the research, transplant-related death of the rats was not found in transplantation group. In the injury group, rises were found in contents of serum S100βprotein, NSE, LDH, CK in the early stage after the rats were injured, which were much higher than those in shamed group at correspondent time point(P < 0.01). In HUCBMSCs-transplanted group, although these biochemistry indexes were found rising for a short period in the early stage, along with the time, these indexes were obviously lower than in those injury group (P < 0.05). Under light microscopy pathological changes of rats in HUCBMSCs-transplanted group were much slighter than those in injury group. It was well concluded that in the situation of no immuno-suppressants, the intravenous-injected HUCBMSCs could reduce the secretion of serum S100βprotein, NSE, LDH, CK, promote the repair of tissue injury effectively, and promote the functional recovery of neurons.