Active clinical trials for "Brain Injuries"

Many people with acquired brain injuries have deficits in reading decoding, reading comprehension, and written expression. Alexia is a phenomenon in which a person who previously could read has trouble doing so after having sustained a brain injury; likewise, agraphia is an acquired writing problem affecting one or more aspects of written communication. Alexia and agraphia sometimes co-occur with one another and/or with other language challenges, but they can also occur as isolated phenomena. Methods to treat alexia and agraphia often focus on single intervention techniques that address aspects of reading or writing in isolation-such as matching written and spoken letters or letter sounds, performing choral reading, tracing letters, etc. Existing research suggests that the effectiveness of these techniques is limited. However, when used in combination, such techniques may promote improved reading and written communication skills. As such, the purpose of this research is to determine the extent to which a multicomponent intervention program improves the reading and writing capabilities of people with acquired alexia and/or agraphia.

Using a single blind within-subject design, 16 patients with neurological disorders were randomly exposed to two different treatments: physical therapy and robotic assisted gait training. Both before and after the treatments, a self-report Mood Survey Scale (MSS) was used to assess the effects on the treatment on distinct affective states. The subscales of the MSS were tested for pre-post changes and different effects between treatments with non-parametric tests.

In this study, we investigated the clinical variability in paroxysmal sympathetic hyperactivity in patients with acute brain injury and examined the prognostic value of the Paroxysmal Sympathetic Hyperactivity Assessment Measure (PSH-AM) in relation to Doppler ultrasound assessment of volume status, right heart function, and pulmonary edema. Thirty patients with ABI were prospectively enrolled. A correlation analysis between the PSH-AM score and related clinical indicators was performed using Pearson's or Spearman's correlation coefficient. Receiver operating characteristic curves were used to assess the prediction of the 6-month Glasgow Outcome Scale Extended score for neurorehabilitation prognosis.

The pressure reactivity index (PRx) has emerged as a surrogate method for the continuous bedside estimation of global cerebral autoregulation and a significant predictor of unfavorable outcome. However, calculations require continuous, high-resolution monitoring and are currently limited to specialized ICU with dedicated software. To overcome this problem, new indices calculated using one-minute average data, instead of 10 seconds average data as performed by the PRx, has been proposed. The study aims to test some indexes appropriately modified to adapt to the scarcity of output data generated by standard hospital systems by analyzing the effectiveness of the Ultra Low-frequency Pressure Reactivity index (UL-PRx sampled at ~0.0033 Hz, about 5 minutes period) to evaluate association with outcome. The results indicate that sampling at ultra-low frequency might be of enough resolution to derive information about the state of cerebrovascular autoregulation and outcome of TBI patients. Indexes significantly associated with outcome, as UL-PRx, open new research fields between static and dynamic autoregulation, expanding the possibilities of investigation in TBI.

Transcranial Doppler is performed daily in Intensive Care Unit in brain damaged patients. For a few years now, the measurement of the photomotor reflex by quantitative Pupillometry has been routinely performed in Intensive Care Units. The objective of this work is to see if Transcranial Doppler recorded parameters and Pupillary parameters are correlated to the neurological prognosis evaluated at 9 months by the Modified Rankin Score (mRS) and the Glasgow Outcome Scale Extended (GOS-E).

The diagnosis of sports related concussion still relies heavily on a subjective assessment. In this study the investigators want to assess the prognostic value of blood-based biomarkers with recovery from concussive episodes over specific time points post-injury. Our research aims to (1) assess that the World Rugby's head injury assessment (HIA) can identify that a concussion has taken place by measuring specific biomarkers in the blood and (2) to track these biomarkers over time post-injury as a means to assess player health.

To study the future of traumatic brain injured patients at day 7 of their trauma Primary endpoint: Fate, classified as survival with or without sequelae, death. Use of the GOS-E scale to classify survival with or without sequelae. The collection of this scale will be done by telephone contact, 7 days of admission to the emergency room. Secondary judgment criteria: Compendium of the realization of the CT / time respected between the TCL and the CT / Hospitalization / 2nd CT to realize at 24 hours in the patients treated by TAC or AAP Application of the recommendations of the French Society of Emergency Medicine 2012: Become 7 days of patients classified according to whether or not the recommendations, . Become TCL patients under AAP or TAC Number of reconsultation, rehospitalization, new imaging within 7 days after TCL

Background: - Traumatic brain injury may have a range of effects, from severe and permanent disability to more subtle functional and cognitive deficits that often go undetected during initial treatment. To improve treatments and therapies and to provide a uniform quality of care, researchers are interested in developing more standardized criteria for diagnosing and classifying different types of traumatic brain injury. By identifying imaging and other indicators immediately after the injury and during the initial treatment phrase, researchers hope to better understand the nature and effects of acute traumatic brain injury. Objectives: To study the MRI results of individuals who have recently had head injury and suspected traumatic brain injury. To study the natural evolution of traumatic brain injury for up to 3 months after head injury. Eligibility: - Individuals at least 18 years of age who have been admitted to a hospital with a diagnosed or suspected traumatic brain injury within the past 48 hours. Design: Participants will have one 3-hour study visits: an initial visit (within 48 hours of head injury). Participants may be asked to have an optional 4-day, 30-day, 90-day, and 1-year follow-up. Each visit may involve blood samples, an MRI scan (approximately 30 minutes), and a series of tests to evaluate brain function. At the optional follow-up visit, participants may have blood samples, an MRI scan, and a general traumatic brain injury assessment. This study does not provide treatment and does not replace any current therapies. However, participants who are eligible for other National Institutes of Health studies may be referred to these studies by researchers.

To determine whether tasks taken from the field of cognitive neuroscience can detect and distinguish impairments in executive function above and beyond standard neuropsychological measures in individuals with: a.) Mild Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI), b.) Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), c.)Mild TBI+PTSD To determine whether performance on these tasks is linked to pertinent psychiatric outcomes (e.g. history of suicidality), which is associated with compromised executive function and impulsivity. To determine whether information regarding brain anatomy can provide additional information above and beyond behavior performance in distinguishing between these two groups.

Background: - Repeated exposure to explosions may lead to changes in the way that people think or feel. Breachers (people trained to use explosives to get into buildings) are exposed to repeated blasts as part of their job. Researchers want to study how they might be affected by blast exposure. Breachers will be compared with other groups who have different levels of exposure to repeated blasts. Information will also be obtained from spouses or close companions. Objectives: - To study the effects of repeated exposure to low-level blasts on thinking, memory, behavior, and brain function. Eligibility: Experienced military and civilian breachers, experienced active duty artillery operators, and active duty military without frequent blast exposure, 18 and 60 years of age. Spouses or close companions of these individuals. Design: Participants will be screened with a physical exam and medical history. Blood samples will be collected and a urine pregnancy test will be required of participants (not companions) before MRI scanning. Participants will spend up to 5-days as a NIH clinic outpatient, with about 6 hours of tests each day. Tests will include the following: Medical and professional history, with questions about exposures to blasts Tests of thinking, memory, and concentration Balance tests Hearing tests Imaging studies, such as magnetic resonance imaging, to look at the brain Overnight sleep study to monitor brain waves Blood samples Participants will return 1 year later for a 3-day followup visit. Some of the tests from before will be repeated. A spouse or close companion (if available) will be asked to complete questionnaires or have a telephone interview....