Posttraumatic Changes in Energy Expenditure and Body Composition in Patients With Acute Spinal Cord...
Spinal Cord InjuriesSevere trauma induces massive metabolic changes that are characterized by hypermetabolism with increased energy expenditure and catabolism. Early enteral and, if necessary, parenteral feeding is a major focus of modern intensive care medicine. After acute spinal cord injury, denervation of skeletal muscle leads to a massive loss of muscle mass in the area below the level of injury. This dramatic muscle atrophy again leads to a decrease in energy expenditure. Whereas other survivors of severe trauma typically regain muscle mass during rehabilitation, spinal cord injury patients typically continue to lose muscle mass over time, which also leads to changes in body composition. The time course of these changes is not known. Continuing nutrition without adaption to the reduced energy expenditure leads to weight gain and adiposity, exposing many chronic spinal cord injury patients to the known unfavorable metabolic consequences. Knowledge of the time course of these changes would help to provide adequate caloric intake to the patients and improve our ability for nutrition counseling. The investigators plan a prospective clinical trial in 25 acute spinal cord injury patients to determine the changes in energy expenditure and body composition. Major inclusion criteria are acute traumatic spinal cord injury, age 18-70, neurological level above L1, AIS (American Spinal Injury Association Impairment Scale) A, B or C. Measurements of energy expenditure, body composition and nutritional markers in venous blood are scheduled 2, 6, 10 and 14 weeks after spinal cord injury and at the end of rehabilitation (at the latest after 26 weeks).
Cognitive and Psychosocial Outcome After Mild Traumatic Brain Injury
Mild Traumatic Brain InjuryPatients with traumatic brain injury are likely to present with cognitive, psychological, emotional and behavioral problems during different periods, all of which affect patients' life quality seriously. The aim of this study was to assess cognitive and psychosocial outcome in patients with mild traumatic brain injury, and to determine the risk factors associated with cognitive and psychological outcome. Mini-mental state examination (MMSE), activities of daily living scale (ADL), the Hospital Anxiety Depression Scale (HADS) and mental health symptom checklist (SCL-90) were used to assess the cognitive performance and psychological outcomes in 360 patients with mild traumatic brain injury. Chi-square, Fisher's exact tests and Logistic regression analysis were used to analyze the risk factors.
Comparison Between the Histological and Clinical Diagnosis of Non Healing Wounds
Wounds and Injuries50 patients with non healing wounds will undergo biopsy to conclude wether there is an occult etiology for the wound.
Injury Incidence in Professional Soccer
InjuryThe winter break within the German Professional Football Leagues will be shortened as for the season 2009/2010 from 6.5 to 3.5 weeks. That might have repercussions on injury incidence in either way, positive or negative. On the one hand, recovery time during the winter will be shorter, which might lead to an increased risk of injury. On the other hand, it will allow a better spread of games in the second round, thus reducing the amount of the so-called "English weeks", which in turn could reduce the number of injuries. This study compares injury incidence between the season 2008/2009 (long winter break) and the season 2009/2010(short winter break) via questionnaires in accordance with UEFA/FIFA injury evaluation criteria.
Identifying Changes in Blood (Potential Biomarkers) in Individuals With Drug-Induced Liver Injury...
Drug Induced Liver InjuryThe purpose of this study is to try to develop new blood tests that may help doctors identify if a drug is hurting a person's liver.
Evaluating Validity of Clinical Criteria for Requesting Chest X-Rays in Trauma Patients
Chest TraumaThe purpose of this study is to identify the clinical criteria for requesting a chest x-ray in a patient with blunt trauma and its findings such as clinical signs with a high sensitivity could be used in a larger study to codify the final criteria.
Natural History of Pedal Puncture Wounds in Diabetics
DiabetesThere are no evidence (research) based guidelines for treatment of early, closed puncture wounds of the feet in diabetics. Surgeons usually see only the limb- and life-threatening consequences of puncture wounds of the feet in diabetics, and are therefore tempted to advocate more aggressive, preemptive, invasive primary treatment for all such wounds, assuming, from this blinkered perspective that all such wounds progress to serious infection. This study is designed to determine the natural history of puncture wounds of the feet in diabetics, specifically, whether all become infected or whether some do heal without any surgical intervention. It requires administration of a questionnaire to 188 known diabetics attending 11 selected outpatient health care centers in the parish of St. James, Jamaica.
Study Evaluating Severe Surgical Site Infections (SSIs) Following Contaminated Or Dirty-infected...
Surgical Wound InfectionPostoperative Wound InfectionThis is an observational study to evaluate the relative importance of the known risk factors for severe surgical site infections (SSIs) on the development of the more severe SSI cases, and to describe the demographic, clinical features, etiology and the management and outcome of patients suffering from severe SSIs in Spain.
A Multi-Centre Clinical Study in Chronic Spinal Cord Injury Patients
Spinal Cord InjuriesTo establish a solid foundation, e.g. network and a coordinating centre for testing new SCI therapies in forthcoming randomized controlled multi-centre clinical trials following international standards and guidelines
Shoulder Rotational Flexibility and Throwing Arm Injuries of Baseball Pitchers
Shoulder InjuriesShoulder Flexibility1 moreThe evaluation of any relationship between the rotational resistance of the shoulder and shoulder flexibility with throwing arm injuries in professional and college level pitchers.