Active clinical trials for "Brain Injuries"

The primary objective of this study is to assess the incidence of VAP in patients with TBI and to identify risk factors for developing VAP in this specific patient population (types of co-injuries in patients with multiple trauma or characteristics on admission). The secondary objective is to assess the prevalence of pathogens responsible for early- and late-onset VAP in patients with TBI. The tertiary objective is to discuss the ability of preventive measures to reduce the incidence of VAP

This project will combine the data collected from structural and functional MRI scans and neuropsychology performance post-TBI in children. Patients will be followed for a year, in order to examine the brain and cognitive recovery post head injury.

End stage renal disease (ESRD) is the last stage (stage 5) of chronic kidney disease (CKD). Abnormalities of cognitive function and high levels of depression or anxiety incidence are characteristic of hemodialysis patients. In this research project, the investigators subject in ESRD patients starting hemodialysis as the carrier. Based on the longitudinal research design, using multimodal neuroimaging data，combining with the interact relationship between changes of brain morphology, the dysfunction of resting-state and-task state with cognitive impairment and abnormal emotions.Establish brain structure-function change model associated with dialysis progression, Explore imaging markers of central and disease development characteristics in ESRD patients. the investigators attempt to clarify the core mechanism of kidney-brain axis damage, thus provide evidence for early cognitive-behavioral therapy to CKD patient.

The goal of the present study was to look at the effect of changing walking parameters on the dynamic walking characteristics among children post severe traumatic brain injury, children with cerebral palsy and typically developed controls.

Centralisation of neonatal intensive care has led to an increase in postnatal inter-hospital transfers within the first 72 hours of life. Studies have shown transported preterm infants have an increased risk of intraventricular haemorrhage compared to inborns. The cause is likely multi-factorial, however, during the transportation process infants are exposed to noxious stimuli (excessive noise, vibration and temperature fluctuations), which may result in microscopic brain injury. However, there is a paucity of evidence to evaluate the effect of noise and vibration exposure during transportation. In this study the investigators aim to quantify the level of vibration and noise as experienced by a preterm infant during inter-hospital transportation in ground ambulance in the United Kingdom Secondary aims of the study are to: i) measure the physiological and biochemical changes that occur as a result of ambulance transportation (ii) quantify microscopic brain injury through measurement of urinary S100B and other biomarkers (iii) evaluate the development of intraventricular haemorrhage on cranial ultrasound iv) monitor vibration and sound exposure, using a prototype measuring system, during neonatal transport using both a manikin and a small cohort of neonatal patients. v) evaluate vibration and sound exposure levels using an updated transportation system modified to reduce effects.

Lay Summary: To evaluate a novel early diagnostic tool for hospitalized children with traumatic brain injury. The Problem: Children who present with decreased level of consciousness after injury require urgent medical attention determined by the type and the severity of injury. Unfortunately, history and physical findings are often unreliable in the first hours after hospitalization, the period in which urgent management decisions must be made for their treatment. The Solution: A promising tool developed for measuring detectable evidence of traumatic brain injury on routine brain scans. The tool combines features invisible to the human eye but detectable by computer software with expert knowledge.This study will evaluate how well the tool can perform in a real health care setting. It is believed that it will greatly improve the efficacy and quality of care provided to children after traumatic brain injury.

We will observe epileptic patients who already have electrodes implanted on the brain and are receiving high-level brain stimulation for clinical purposes while testing their motor and language function. We propose to do a limited, low-level brain stimulation to show that the signatures of local activity in the target area change as an effect of brain stimulation. The goal of this study is to understand the feasibility of a novel recurrent brain-computer interface that could eventually promote targeted functional recovery in subjects who have had a brain injury.

Traumatic brain injury can cause permanent problems with thinking, memory, control of emotions, organization and planning. Thousands of soldiers, marines, and other military personnel have had injuries to the brain due the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. Very large numbers of civilians, up to perhaps 1.5 million people per year, in the United States also have traumatic brain injuries caused by car accidents, falls, sports-related injuries or assault. We don't know very much about traumatic brain injuries right now, but there are some important new advances in technology that may help us learn a lot more about these injuries. One such advance involves new types of MRI scans that we think will be able to show what has happened to the brain after trauma more clearly that regular scans can. The first new scan is called diffusion tensor imaging, which shows injury to the axons (the wiring of the brain). The second new scan is called resting-state functional MRI correlation analysis, which shows how well various parts of the brain are connected to each other. Importantly, the new types of scans can be done using regular scanners that we already have in every major hospital. The innovation is entirely in how the scanners are used and how the resulting pictures are analyzed on a computer after they have been taken. We have already tested these scans on some military and civilian patients with brain injury and found them to be very helpful so far. Our overall goal is to see whether these new MRI scans will be useful for active duty military personnel who have had recent traumatic brain injuries. The most important goal will be to see if the amount of injury shown on the scans be used to predict how well the patients will do overall over the next 6-12 months. A related goal will be to see whether injuries to specific parts of the brain seen by these new scans can be used to predict whether patients will be likely to have specific problems like memory loss, attention deficit, depression, or post-traumatic stress disorder. We would also like to see whether the scans could be even more useful when combined with information about genetic factors (inherited from the parents) that can be tested in the blood. Another important goal is to compare the effects of traumatic brain injuries caused by blasts or explosions with injuries from other causes, to find out what is unique about blast injury. A final goal will be to repeat the scans 6-12 months later to see whether the new MRI scans can show whether the injuries to the brain have healed, gotten worse, or stayed the same. These new scans could help with decisions about whether military personnel can return to duty, what sort of rehabilitation and treatment would benefit them most, and what family members should watch for and expect.

This study is being conducted to compare healthy patients versus patients with muscle tightness in their leg(s) after an acquired brain injury using walking trials time, a balance test, and foot pressure data. This data is obtained using foot pressure sensors, timers, and distance walked.

The outcome of brain injury (physical or stroke) may be related to a brain electrical phenomenon known as Cortical Spreading Depression (CSD). This is a brief cessation of function in a local region of brain tissue. It has been hypothesized that CSD may occur after brain injury and may expand the damage to adjacent brain areas. Our aim is to detect CSD by means of intracranial electrodes in patients with brain injuries and asses how these events alter the outcome of the patients.