Active clinical trials for "Brain Injuries"

Anti-aggregation therapy, including treatment with low-dose aspirin (LDA) is an established risk factor for intracranial hemorrhage, including chronic subdural hematoma (CSDH); however evidence guiding the decision to continue or discontinue LDA in patients who have sustained mild head trauma with no sign of injury on CT is lacking. The investigators aim to assess whether continued aspirin treatment increases the risk of CSDH in mild head trauma patients 50 years and older who present with negative head CT. The investigators further aim to use the initial findings to refine the study design, with the goal of performing a larger, multi-institutional study in the future. Over a 12-month period, approximately 100 patients ≥50 years of age on LDA prophylaxis presenting to Hadassah's Emergency Department after sustaining mild head injury, will be examined by the neurosurgeon on call. Those who have no sign of intracranial hemorrhage at clinical or CT examination, and who meet inclusion / exclusion criteria, will be invited to participate in a randomized study. Informed consent will be obtained. Patients will be remotely randomized for continuation or cessation of LDA treatment. Follow-up CT and clinical examination will be performed 3-5 weeks after trauma. The two-proportions test will be used to assess whether there is a statistically significant difference in the rate of CSDH in patients randomized to cessation of LDA therapy and those randomized to continuation of LDA. Relationships between the explanatory the dependent variables will be explored with classical parametric and nonparametric statistical methods, including multivariate analysis, logistic regression, the two proportions test, and the independence test. Several measures of association/correlation between pairs of variables will be analyzed as well. The investigators hypothesize that continuation of LDA will not be associated with increased risk for chronic subdural hematoma, and that cessation of treatment will not be associated with a decrease in chronic subdural hematoma. The investigators further hypothesize that cessation of LDA for this period will not be associated with increased risk for clinically significant cerebrovascular, cardiovascular, thrombotic, of embolic event.

The purpose of the study is to test the effectiveness of training using novel tablet applications for hand function, compared to traditional hand exercises. In addition, we aim to examine brain plasticity following treatment with the new tablet applications. We hypothesize that training with a tablet would prove to be more effective than traditional exercises. We expect to observe neuroplastic changes in the brain in patients who practiced finger movements using the tablet.

To assess the pharmacokinetic profile of tolvaptan in critically ill acute brain injury patients and to secondarily evaluate the clinical response and safety of tolvaptan in acute brain injured patients

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a devastating disease with high morbidity and mortality. Although not fully proved, it is commonly accepted that the morbidity and mortality and proportional to the extent of intracranial bleeds (i.e. - larger hemorrhages cause more injury than smaller ones). Aspirin is a commonly used antiaggregate drug that interferes with the clotting system. The antiaggregate effect may be neutralized by administration of platelets. Thus, potentially, patients receiving Aspirin and undergoing TBI, are at a higher risk for increasing an intracranial bleed. In this prospective study, the investigators randomize patients receiving aspirin that have a traumatic intracranial bleed to two groups, one - that will receive platelets, and the other that will not receive platelets. The primary end point of the study is to evaluate the effect of platelet administration of the enlargement of traumatic intracranial bleeds, and try and evaluate any clinical outcome differences between the two groups.

The hypothesis is that brain injury patients have alterations of the respiratory system related to intraabdominal pressure. Furthermore application of moderate levels of PEEP may improve respiratory function in these patients.

The aim is to evaluate the study design, procedure and measurements in a randomised controlled pilot study.

Current standard of care prior to determination of brain death in subjects with suspected anoxic brain injury is to exclude complicating medical conditions that may confound clinical assessment (such as severe electrolyte, acid base, endocrine or circulatory disturbance), achieve normothermia and normal systolic blood pressure over 100 mmHg (with or without vasopressor use), exclude the presence of neuromuscular blocking agents (with the presence of a train of 4 twitches with maximal ulnar nerve stimulation) as well as to exclude the presence of CNS depressant drug effects. At the present time the latter is done by history, drug screen and allowing enough time for paralytic and sedative drugs to be metabolized and cleared from the body. Clearance is calculated by using 5 times the drug's half-life assuming normal hepatic and renal functions. Half-life can also be prolonged in subjects who have been treated with induced hypothermia. Literature search revealed articles with general guidelines and approaches to brain death, but none addressed pharmacological reversal of sedative drugs

The wars in Iraq and Afghanistan are creating a new generation of Veterans, including an increasing number of women Veterans, who present with comorbid PTSD and chronic pain conditions from recent deployment-related physical injuries and exposure to psychological trauma. Health behavior change has become increasingly important in treating these conditions and proactively preventing long-term negative health sequelae, in order to benefit these Veterans directly and reduce the growing challenges to our healthcare system. The proposed CDA-2 program of research will use an innovative translational research approach to study whether a chronic progressive -based exercise program will reduce chronic pain in patients with PTSD and to elucidate and modify potential PTSD-related deficiencies in neurobiological and psychological responses to exercise to optimize the physical and psychological benefits of exercise for these individuals.

The aim of the study is to investigate the effectiveness of motor and cognitive virtual environment rehabilitation on upper limb function in sub-acute patients after an acquired brain injury.

This randomized study aims at comparing between the effects of amantadine, citcholine and its combinations on arousal and behavioral consequences in early phase of moderate Traumatic Brain injury (TBI).