Intrathecal Baclofen after Traumatic Brain Injury: Early Treatment Using a New Technique to Prevent Spasticity

Traumatic brain injury causes progressive brain atrophy and cognitive decline. Surprisingly, an early treatment with erythropoietin (EPO) prevents these consequences of secondary neurodegeneration, but the mechanisms have remained obscure. Here we show by advanced imaging and innovative analytical tools that recombinant human EPO, a clinically established and neuroprotective growth factor, dampens microglial activity, as visualized also in vivo by a strongly attenuated injury-induced cellular motility.

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A New Technique for Collection of Cerebrospinal Fluid in Rat Pups

Journal of Experimental Neuroscience ◽

10.4137/jen.s26182 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 9 ◽

pp. JEN.S26182 ◽

Cited By ~ 7

Author(s):

Javier Rodríguez-Fanjul ◽

Cristina Durán Fernández-Feijóo ◽

Marta Camprubí Camprubí

Keyword(s):

Cerebrospinal Fluid ◽

Clinical Practice ◽

Brain Injury ◽

Animal Models ◽

New Technique ◽

Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent Assay ◽

Protein Levels ◽

Rat Pups ◽

S100β Protein ◽

A New Technique

Background Neuroprotective strategies to prevent or decrease brain injury in hypoxic ischemic newborns are one of the main research lines in neonatology. Animal models have been used to assess the efficiency of new therapeutic strategies. Brain damage biomarkers in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) are frequently used to evaluate the outcome at the bedside. Despite the importance of this approach in clinical practice, there are many difficulties in using it in small animals. The aim of this paper was to describe a new technique for collecting CSF in rat pups. Furthermore the reference values of S100β protein levels, commonly used in common clinical practice, were analyzed in animals between 7 to 12 days. Methods 42 Wistar rat pups aged 7 to 12 days were used. CSF was obtained by direct puncture of the cisterna magna with a 24-gauge needle. S100β protein levels were determined with enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Results CSF was successfully obtained in 96% of the cases, with an average amount of 21.28 μl (5–40 μl). Normal values for S100β were described. HI animals presented higher S100β values than controls. Conclusions A simple, reproducible technique for CSF collection in rat pups has been described. This new method will allow study of brain injury biomarkers in newborn hypoxic ischemic animal models.

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Dysautonomia syndrome in the acute recovery phase after traumatic brain injury: relief with intrathecal Baclofen therapy

Brain Injury ◽

10.1080/02699050110065277 ◽

2001 ◽

Vol 15 (10) ◽

pp. 917-925 ◽

Cited By ~ 65

Author(s):

E. Cuny ◽

E. Richer ◽

J. P. Castel

Keyword(s):

Traumatic Brain Injury ◽

Brain Injury ◽

Intrathecal Baclofen ◽

Recovery Phase ◽

Intrathecal Baclofen Therapy

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Using Kitchen Appliance Analogies to Improve Students' Reasoning about Neurological Results

Teaching of Psychology ◽

10.1207/s15328023top3202_6 ◽

2005 ◽

Vol 32 (2) ◽

pp. 107-109 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Peter M. Vishton

Keyword(s):

Brain Injury ◽

Brain Injuries ◽

Multiple Choice ◽

Thought Experiments ◽

New Technique ◽

Behavioral Deficits ◽

Double Dissociation ◽

Improved Performance ◽

A New Technique ◽

The Impact

This article describes and evaluates a new technique for teaching students to interpret studies of patients with brain injuries. This technique asks students to consider how knives and blenders lose specific functionality when they are damaged. This approach better prepares students to make proper inferences from behavioral deficits observed after brain injury, specifically with reference to single and double dissociation. Significantly improved performance on multiple-choice and identification questions included in midterm examinations suggests that the impact of these thought experiments was substantive and long lasting.

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