Active clinical trials for "Brain Injuries"

Infants diagnosed with intrauterine growth restriction are at increased risk for brain injury in the neonatal period, and eventually increased risk for adverse long-term neurodevelopmental outcomes. This kind of growth restriction is often caused by long-term placental insufficiency leading to chronic lack of oxygen in the brain during development. Pomegranate juice is one of the highest polyphenol-containing dietary supplements commercially available. Previous studies have shown that pomegranate-derived polyphenols are potent neuroprotective antioxidants with no proven side effects. The investigators hypothesize that maternal dietary supplementation with pomegranate juice during the last trimester of pregnancy will reduce the effects of exogenous stimuli contributing to placental insufficiency, and will enhance brain growth and development in the IUGR population.

This is a placebo-controlled study intended to examine the effects of the neutraceutical citicholine, together with omega-3 fatty acids, on a range of measures in individuals with concussive head injury, often referred to as traumatic brain injury, or TBI. The study will consist of three visits, during which participants will complete brain scans, a thorough testing battery and a clinical interview to assess mood and other diagnostic information relevant to the study.

To determine if the early administration of erythropoietin to patients sustaining traumatic brain injury will reduce secondary brain injury.

This study investigates how well a new therapy program prevents persistent symptoms (e.g., headaches, fatigue, irritability, etc.) after concussion. The program involves examining beliefs about concussion and learning healthy coping strategies, and is completed with the first three months post-injury.

The purpose of this study is to evaluate the neuroprotective effect of electroacupuncture pretreatment in patients undergoing cardiac surgery as an preventive sequela in a randomized and controlled clinical trial. In addition, to investigate the role of inflammatory responses in the precess of the protection.

Mild traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a common injury that can produce significant functional sequelae and ongoing disabling symptoms. Predicting who will have an uncomplicated recovery and who will suffer ongoing symptoms is difficult. This protocol evaluates the use of neuropsychologic testing after mild TBI in injured patients to attempt to objectively establish predictors of long term disability and functional recovery.

The purpose of the study is to monitor longitudinal changes in brain structure between the preseason and postseason, in a population of football and soccer playing athletes wearing the Device and compared to a similar population not wearing the device. Secondly, the purpose is to determine the efficacy of device to reduce alterations in brain structure relative to amount and magnitude of sustained head impacts. Finally, to show that DTI efficacy and safety results can be prospectively confirmed in a multi-school investigation. Test the null hypotheses of no difference between collar users and non-collar users changes from baseline to end of season for: Primary: Alterations in pre-defined DTI metrics (AD, MD, RD) are significantly reduced in the neck collar group at EOS relative to BL. Secondary: Alterations in pre-defined DTI metrics is explained by the number of hits, the hit intensity, and the intensity per head impact over the season non-collar users. In addition, secondary analytics on data derived from injury surveillance (musculoskeletal, concussion and symptom/severity scores), behavioral (Trail Making, Postural Sway, Flanker, Task-switching, Near Point Convergence, ADHD and King Devick) or imaging (DTI, fMRI, T1, T2, and MRS) will be evaluated.

Neuronal damage caused by neuroinflammation in patients undergoing major surgery is the most determinant factor of postoperative cognitive disfunction (POCD). Neuronal damage can be detected through the measurement of biochemical markers of brain damage. The aim of this study was to evaluate neuronal damage and its association with POCD during liver transplantations. After the approval of the ethics committee and patient consents, preoperative and postoperative cognitive functions of 33 patients undergoing liver transplantation (LTx) were measured using the Mini Mental Test (MMT) whereas simultaneous neuronal damage was evaluated through the measurement of S-100 beta (S100β), Neuron specific enolase (NSE) and Glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) levels. As a result, there was no statistically significant difference between preoperative and postoperative MMTs. However, there was a statistically significant decrease in postoperative GFAP and a statistically significant increase in NSE compared to preoperative values. The decrease in S100β level was statistically insignificant. In conclusion, neuroprotective approaches in the investigator's anesthesia protocol protect patients from brain damage during liver transplantation and prevent the development of POCD, which was indicated by the insignificant change in MMT scores and S100β level and the significant decrease in GFAP. Since the significant increase in NSE levels during liver transplantations was deemed to might have been associated with causes other than neuronal damage, NSE should not be evaluated as a marker of brain damage in these operations.

The purpose of the study is to monitor longitudinal changes in brain structure and function between the preseason and postseason, in a population of football playing athletes grouped by helmet make and model. Secondly, the purpose is to determine the protection of the helmet make and model relative to amount and magnitude of sustained head impacts.

The study evaluates whether the use of Sodium Oxybate (Xyrem®) in TBI patients will be effective in reducing symptoms of post traumatic narcolepsy and post traumatic hypersomnia.