Brain injury Research Papers - Academia.edu (original) (raw)

Women with mental disabilities confront sexual assault at an alarming rate. We have argued elsewhere that this reality should be reflected in our understanding of the concepts of consent and capacity in the criminal law of sexual assault... more

Women with mental disabilities confront sexual assault at an alarming rate. We have argued elsewhere that this reality should be reflected in our understanding of the concepts of consent and capacity in the criminal law of sexual assault (Benedet and Grant 2007a; Benedet and Grant 2007b). In this paper, we examine recent developments in Canadian sexual assault law and consider whether they are adequate to recognize the experience of sexual assault for women with mental disabilities. In using the term mental disability, we refer to any developmental disability, psychiatric condition or other chronic, non-episodic disability that affects cognition or decision- making. Of course, the range of conditions that might fall within this category is vast and its boundaries not clearly fixed. Disability is both bio-medically and socially constructed in ways that shift with time and place. We are focusing on cases where the complainant is an adult woman with impairments in cognition, memory, an...

The density and distribution of brain damage after 2–10 min of cerebral ischemia was studied in the rat. Ischemia was produced by a combination of carotid clamping and hypotension, followed by 1 week recovery. The brains were... more

The density and distribution of brain damage after 2–10 min of cerebral ischemia was studied in the rat. Ischemia was produced by a combination of carotid clamping and hypotension, followed by 1 week recovery. The brains were perfusion-fixed with formaldehyde, embedded in paraffin, subserially sectioned, and stained with acid fuchsin/cresyl violet. The number of necrotic neurons in the cerebral cortex, hippocampus, and caudate nucleus was assessed by direct visual counting. Somewhat unexpectedly, mild brain damage was observed in some animals already after 2 min, and more consistently after 4 min of ischemia. This damage affected CA4 and CA1 pyramids in the hippocampus, and neurons in the subiculum. Necrosis of neocortical cells began to appear after 4 min and CA3 hippocampal damage after 6 min of ischemia, while neurons in the caudoputamen were affected first after 8–10 min. Selective neuronal necrosis of the cerebral cortex worsened into infarction after higher doses of insult. Damage was worst over the superolateral convexity of the hemisphere, in the middle laminae of the cerebral cortex. The caudate nucleus showed geographically demarcated zones of selective neuronal necrosis, damage to neurons in the dorsolateral portion showing an all-or-none pattern. Other structures involved included the amygdaloid, the thalamic reticular nucleus, the septal nuclei, the pars reticularis of the substantia nigra, and the cerebellar vermis.

Objective: To develop a method for establishing the presence of command-following in individuals with traumatic brain injury, based on the principles of single-subject experimental design.Design: A series of single-subject experiments,... more

Objective: To develop a method for establishing the presence of command-following in individuals with traumatic brain injury, based on the principles of single-subject experimental design.Design: A series of single-subject experiments, individualized to the particular command-following question about a particular patient.Setting: An inpatient rehabilitation hospital with a specialized program for vegetative and minimally conscious brain injured patients.Patients: Eight individuals with serious

Although the favorable effects of physical exercise in neurorehabilitation after traumatic brain injury (TBI) are well known, detailed pathologic and functional alterations exerted by previous physical exercise on post-traumatic cerebral... more

Although the favorable effects of physical exercise in neurorehabilitation after traumatic brain injury (TBI) are well known, detailed pathologic and functional alterations exerted by previous physical exercise on post-traumatic cerebral inflammation have been limited. In the present study, it is showed that fluid percussion brain injury (FPI) induced motor function impairment, followed by increased plasma fluorescein extravasation and cerebral—inflammation characterized by interleukin-1β, tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) increase, and decreased IL-10. In addition, myeloperoxidase (MPO) increase and Na+,K+-ATPase activity inhibition after FPI suggest that the opening of blood–brain barrier (BBB) followed by neurtrophils infiltration and cerebral inflammation may contribute to the failure of selected targets leading to secondary damage. In fact, Pearson’s correlation analysis revealed strong correlation of MPO activity increase with Na+,K+-ATPase activity inhibition in sedentary rats. Statistical analysis also revealed that previous running exercise (4 weeks) protected against FPI-induced motor function impairment and fluorescein extravasation. Previous physical training also induced IL-10 increase per se and protected against cerebral IL-1β, and TNF-α increase and IL-10 decrease induced by FPI. This protocol of physical training was effective against MPO activity increase and Na+,K+-ATPase activity inhibition after FPI. The present protection correlated with MPO activity decrease suggests that the alteration of cerebral inflammatory status profile elicited by previous physical training reduces initial damage and limits long-term secondary degeneration after TBI. This prophylactic effect may facilitate functional recovery in patients suffering from brain injury induced by TBI.

The complex pathophysiology of traumatic brain injury (TBI) involves not only the primary mechanical event but also secondary insults such as hypotension, hypoxia, raised intracranial pressure and changes in cerebral blood flow and... more

The complex pathophysiology of traumatic brain injury (TBI) involves not only the primary mechanical event but also secondary insults such as hypotension, hypoxia, raised intracranial pressure and changes in cerebral blood flow and metabolism. It is increasingly evident that these initial insults as well as transient events and treatments during the early injury phase can impact hypothalamic-pituitary function both acutely and chronically after injury. In turn, untreated pituitary hormonal dysfunction itself can further hinder recovery from brain injury. Secondary adrenal insufficiency, although typically reversible, occurs in up to 50% of intubated TBI victims and is associated with lower systemic blood pressure. Chronic anterior hypopituitarism, although reversible in some patients, persists in 25-40% of moderate and severe TBI survivors and likely contributes to long-term neurobehavioral and quality of life impairment. While the rates and risk factors of acute and chronic pituita...

Critically ill patients with brain injury associated with organ dysfunction among which include pulmonary involvement as a determinant of morbidity and mortality. The aim of this paper is to review the major complications associated with... more

Critically ill patients with brain injury associated with organ dysfunction among which include pulmonary involvement as a determinant of morbidity and mortality. The aim of this paper is to review the major complications associated with brain injury in patients with brain injury, etiology, clinical, prevention and treatment.

People with disabilities constitute a collective that requires continuous and customized attention, since their conditions or abilities are affected with respect to specific standards. People with Acquired Brain Injury (ABI), or those who... more

People with disabilities constitute a collective that requires continuous and customized attention, since their conditions or abilities are affected with respect to specific standards. People with Acquired Brain Injury (ABI), or those who have suffered brain injury at some stage after birth, belong to this collective. The treatment these people require is mainly a continuous relearning process, as they must relearn to walk, read or even interact with their environment. This relearning is critical during the first two years after suffering brain damage. Thus, any assistance in the relearning process in the first two years is of paramount importance for their recovery. This paper describes the activities carried out in the course of developing a tool, HABITAT, to assist people with ABI. A description of the activity patterns that are used in the relearning process is provided. This paper also describes the experiment conducted in collaboration with ADACE (Association of Acquired Brain Injury of Castilla-La Mancha) to evaluate if the use of a computer-based treatment is accepted by people with ABI. This experiment was developed by recording several treatment sessions and passing out questionnaires. The analysis of the questionnaires reveals that computer-based treatment is especially accepted by younger people, increases the motivation of the patient, and reduces the activity completion time.

The essence of this paper is to review selective research articles that relate to vestibular functioning, sensory integration, and balance anomalies in children and adults. Studies that involve the role of the optometrist have been quite... more

The essence of this paper is to review selective research articles that relate to vestibular functioning, sensory integration, and balance anomalies in children and adults. Studies that involve the role of the optometrist have been quite sparse. Special effort is made to distinguish between developmental and acquired brain injuries (ABI). While the former often are traced to pre-, peri-and postnatal disorders, traumatic brain injuries are the consequence of sports, motor vehicular and industrial accidents. Delayed vestibular ...

To determine the neurodevelopmental outcome of prematurely born newborns with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) abnormalities.A total of 89 prematurely born newborns (median age 28 weeks postgestation) were studied with MRI when stable for... more

To determine the neurodevelopmental outcome of prematurely born newborns with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) abnormalities.A total of 89 prematurely born newborns (median age 28 weeks postgestation) were studied with MRI when stable for transport to MRI (median age, 32 weeks postgestation); 50 newborns were studied again near term age (median age, 37 weeks). Neurodevelopmental outcome was determined at 18 months adjusted age (median) using the Mental Development Index (Bayley Scales Infant Development II) and a standardized neurologic exam.Of 86 neonatal survivors, outcome was normal in 51 (59%), borderline in 22 (26%), and abnormal in 13 (15%). Moderate/severe MRI abnormalities were common on the first (37%) and second (32%) scans. Abnormal outcome was associated with increasing severity of white matter injury, ventriculomegaly, and intraventricular hemorrhage on MRI, as well as moderate/severe abnormalities on the first (relative risk [RR] = 5.6; P = .002) and second MRI studies (RR = 5.3; P = .03). Neuromotor abnormalities on neurologic examination near term age (RR = 6.5; P = .04) and postnatal infection (RR = 4.0; P = .01) also increased the risk for abnormal neurodevelopmental outcome.In premature newborns, brain abnormalities are common on MRI early in life and are associated with adverse neurodevelopmental outcome.

Objectives: To study the etiology of remote symptomatic epilepsy with onset in the first 3 years of life. Patients with neonatal hypoglycemic brain injury (NHBI), were further studied for risk factors and clinical features. Methods: The... more

Objectives: To study the etiology of remote symptomatic epilepsy with onset in the first 3 years of life. Patients with neonatal hypoglycemic brain injury (NHBI), were further studied for risk factors and clinical features. Methods: The study was conducted at a tertiary pediatric neurology service between May-August 2004. Consecutive patients were recruited prospectively. The probable etiological diagnoses were based primarily