Aerospace Implications of Key Neurological Conditions

2021 ◽  
Vol 92 (2) ◽  
pp. 113-119
Author(s):  
Vini G. Khurana ◽  
Rondhir Jithoo ◽  
Michael Barnett

INTRODUCTION: The neurological impact (or lack thereof) of certain medical histories and imaging findings is important to understand in the context of air and spaceflight. There are a number of neurological conditions that, if present in pilots and astronauts, carry variable (and sometimes adverse) functional implications for safety and overall mission success. In this systematic overview, the authors will refer to the relevant clinical and radiological features of brain tumors and vascular anomalies, cerebral edema and intracranial hypertension, concussion and the traumatic brain injury (TBI) spectrum, hematomas, cerebrospinal fluid circulation anomalies including hydrocephalus and sequestrations, spinal degenerative changes, and cerebral ischemia and demyelination. It is notable that these last two conditions have recently been reported to be a complication in some people with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). A paradigm for practical neurological workup of symptomatic pilots and astronauts will be discussed, as will the controversial notion of pre-emptive radiological screening (vs. not screening) in asymptomatic or clinically occult situations. The concepts of medical surveillance in the setting of known or diagnosed pathologies, and expert panel review and simulator and flight checks in complex neurological cases, are also elaborated on in this paper. We believe this overview will contribute toward the enhancement of a broad understanding of neurological conditions, their clinical workup, and their precautionary management in the setting of aviation and aerospace.Khurana VG, Jithoo R, Barnett M. Aerospace implications of key neurological conditions. Aerosp Med Hum Perform. 2021; 92(2):113119.

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Marie-Hardy Laura ◽  
Cantaut-Belarif Yasmine ◽  
Pietton Raphaël ◽  
Slimani Lotfi ◽  
Pascal-Moussellard Hugues

AbstractCerebrospinal fluid (CSF) circulation relies on the beating of motile cilia projecting in the lumen of the brain and spinal cord cavities Mutations in genes involved in cilia motility disturb cerebrospinal fluid circulation and result in scoliosis-like deformities of the spine in juvenile zebrafish. However, these defects in spine alignment have not been validated with clinical criteria used to diagnose adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS). The aim of this study was to describe, using orthopaedic criteria the spinal deformities of a zebrafish mutant model of AIS targeting a gene involved in cilia polarity and motility, cfap298tm304. The zebrafish mutant line cfap298tm304, exhibiting alteration of CSF flow due to defective cilia motility, was raised to the juvenile stage. The analysis of mutant animals was based on micro-computed tomography (micro-CT), which was conducted in a QUANTUM FX CALIPER, with a 59 µm-30 mm protocol. 63% of the cfap298tm304 zebrafish analyzed presented a three-dimensional deformity of the spine, that was evolutive during the juvenile phase, more frequent in females, with a right convexity, a rotational component and involving at least one dislocation. We confirm here that cfap298tm304 scoliotic individuals display a typical AIS phenotype, with orthopedic criteria mirroring patient’s diagnosis.


Author(s):  
A. Everette James ◽  
Gary R. Novak ◽  
Ernst-Peter Strecker ◽  
Barry B. Burns ◽  
Francisco Correa-Paz ◽  
...  

2021 ◽  
Vol 36 (6) ◽  
pp. 1207-1207
Author(s):  
Saba Verani ◽  
Charles Golden

Abstract Objective This review explores The Weschler Intelligence Scale for Children – Fourth Edition (WISC-IV) and the Weschler Intelligence Scale for Children – Fifth Edition (WISC-V) administered to children with various medical histories including traumatic brain injury, vascular conditions, brain tumor, epilepsy, strokes, sickle cell disease, down syndrome, and neurotoxicity on neurodevelopment. This review aims to explore neuropsychological effects of these medical conditions derived from final scores and scale comparisons. Data Selection Peer-reviewed studies between 2000 and 2020 were gathered from EBSCO, Google Scholar, and Science Direct. Criteria was limited to neurological conditions present in children, who were required to be assessed using either WISC-IV or WISC-V. Children with other developmental or learning disabilities were excluded. Data on Weschler Adult Intelligence Scale (WAIS) were excluded along with any other assessment administered to children. Thirteen articles were included based on the criteria along with two articles that discuss the validity of WISC. Data Synthesis The components of the WISC-IV or WISC-V demonstrated low average or below average scores on many scales, especially overall FSIQ. The largest impairments were present in Processing Speed Index, Verbal Comprehension Index, Working Memory Index, Visual Spatial Index, and overall FSIQ. All children assessed with preexisting neurological conditions demonstrated deficits in neuropsychological domains. The severity of the neurological condition significantly impacted scores when compared to children with no conditions. Conclusions The administration of WISC-IV and WISC-V demonstrated neuropsychological and functioning impairments in children with preexisting neurological conditions. The assessment successfully identified deficit areas and earlier testing can encourage earlier treatments.


1975 ◽  
Author(s):  
Thomas J. McGeehan ◽  
Martha Cornog ◽  
Jerome T. Maddock

2018 ◽  
Vol 30 (6) ◽  
pp. 449-462 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rebecca Schnall ◽  
Lisa M. Kuhns ◽  
Marco A. Hidalgo ◽  
Dakota Powell ◽  
Jennie Thai ◽  
...  

There is a dearth of evidence-based HIV prevention interventions for very young men who have sex with men (YMSM) ages 13–18 years, at high risk for HIV. We adapted the MyPEEPS intervention—an evidence-based, group-level intervention—to individual-level delivery by a mobile application. We used an expert panel review, in-depth interviews with YMSM (n = 40), and weekly meetings with the investigative team and the software development company to develop the mobile app. The expert panel recommended changes to the intervention in the following areas: (1) biomedical interventions, (2) salience of intervention content, (3) age group relevance, (4) technical components, and (5) stigma content. Interview findings reflected current areas of focus for the intervention and recommendations of the expert panel for new content. In regular meetings with the software development firm, guiding principles included development of dynamic content, while maintaining fidelity of the original curriculum and shortening intervention content for mobile delivery.


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