Article
Neurosciences
Rany Vorn, Rosanne Naunheim, Chen Lai, Chelsea Wagner, Jessica M. Gill
Summary: This study aimed to identify acute biomarkers related to blast injury in military personnel exposed to blast-related training. The findings indicate that serum concentrations of tau, NfL, and p-tau181 were significantly elevated after repetitive blast exposure, suggesting axonal injury.
FRONTIERS IN NEUROSCIENCE
(2022)
Article
Clinical Neurology
Michael R. Miller, Alicia DiBattista, Maitray A. Patel, Mark Daley, Catherine Tenn, Ann Nakashima, Shawn G. Rhind, Oshin Vartanian, Maria Y. Shiu, Norleen Caddy, Michelle Garrett, Doug Saunders, Ingrid Smith, Rakesh Jetly, Douglas D. Fraser
Summary: This study identified candidate biomarkers for chronic blast exposure in military personnel using metabolomics profiling. These biomarkers may aid in surveillance and care for military personnel and could potentially be used for point-of-care screening.
FRONTIERS IN NEUROLOGY
(2022)
Article
Neurosciences
Katharine J. Babcock, Bobak Abdolmohammadi, Patrick T. Kiernan, Ian Mahar, Jonathan D. Cherry, Victor E. Alvarez, Lee E. Goldstein, Thor D. Stein, Ann C. McKee, Bertrand R. Huber
Summary: Exposure to military blast and repetitive head impacts (RHI) in contact sports is associated with increased risk of long-term neurobehavioral sequelae and cognitive deficits, and the neurodegenerative disease chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE). Astrocytes play a key role in the response to head trauma, and this study found that astrogliosis is higher in specific brain regions of individuals with blast or RHI exposure and CTE diagnosis.
ACTA NEUROPATHOLOGICA COMMUNICATIONS
(2022)
Article
Orthopedics
Anais Chataigneau, Alexia Milaire, Paul-Vincent Martin, Julien Danis, Fabrice Bazile, Nicolas de l'Escalopier, Laurent Mathieu
Summary: This study evaluated the functional outcomes of hindfoot blast injuries in French service personnel, comparing amputated patients with non-amputated patients. The results showed better long-term functional outcomes in the amputated group.
INTERNATIONAL ORTHOPAEDICS
(2021)
Article
Neuroimaging
David F. Tate, Emily L. Dennis, John T. Adams, Maheen M. Adamson, Heather G. Belanger, Erin D. Bigler, Heather C. Bouchard, Alexandra L. Clark, Lisa M. Delano-Wood, Seth G. Disner, Blessen C. Eapen, Carol E. Franz, Elbert Geuze, Naomi J. Goodrich-Hunsaker, Kihwan Han, Jasmeet P. Hayes, Sidney R. Hinds, Cooper B. Hodges, Elizabeth S. Hovenden, Andrei Irimia, Kimbra Kenney, Inga K. Koerte, William S. Kremen, Harvey S. Levin, Hannah M. Lindsey, Rajendra A. Morey, Mary R. Newsome, John Ollinger, Mary Jo Pugh, Randall S. Scheibel, Martha E. Shenton, Danielle R. Sullivan, Brian A. Taylor, Maya Troyanskaya, Carmen Velez, Benjamin S. C. Wade, Xin Wang, Ashley L. Ware, Ross Zafonte, Paul M. Thompson, Elisabeth A. Wilde
Summary: Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is common in military and civilian populations, leading to a range of clinical, cognitive, behavioral, mood, and neuroimaging changes. The inconsistent presentation of TBI poses challenges in establishing biological and imaging markers, although big data approaches offer opportunities to better understand its impact in military populations.
BRAIN IMAGING AND BEHAVIOR
(2021)
Article
Medicine, General & Internal
Angela M. Boutte, Bharani Thangavelu, Jeffrey Nemes, Christina R. LaValle, Mike Egnoto, Walter Carr, Gary H. Kamimori
Summary: This study aimed to evaluate the association between concussion-like symptoms and serum levels of neurotrauma biomarkers among military and law enforcement personnel. The results suggest that long-term exposure to LLOP during occupational training may affect serum levels of neurotrauma biomarkers. Assessing biomarkers and symptoms in healthy individuals may be beneficial for military occupational medicine risk management.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Katie A. Edwards, Kisha Greer, Jacqueline Leete, Chen Lai, Christina Devoto, Bao-Xi Qu, Angela M. Yarnell, Elena Polejaeva, Kristine C. Dell, Matthew L. LoPresti, Peter Walker, Eric M. Wassermann, Walter Carr, James R. Stone, Stephen T. Ahlers, Rany Vorn, Carina Martin, Jessica M. Gill
Summary: The study revealed that tau concentrations in neuronal-derived EVs were significantly elevated in experienced breachers and correlated with neurobehavioral symptoms, while no significant changes were found in NF-L or A beta 42 levels. These findings suggest that tau concentrations in neuronal-derived EVs may be a potential biomarker for neurological effects in individuals with a history of multiple low-level blast exposures.
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2021)
Article
Medicine, General & Internal
Dominique L. G. Van Praag, Filip van den Eede, Kristien Wouters, Lindsay Wilson, Andrew I. R. Maas
Summary: The study found that neurocognitive functioning plays a role in the course of PTSD symptoms after TBI, with sustained attention being associated with symptom improvement. Assessing cognitive performance may help identify individuals at risk of developing PTSD post-TBI and offer opportunities for informing treatment strategies.
JOURNAL OF CLINICAL MEDICINE
(2021)
Review
Psychiatry
Chelsea Jones, Jessica Harasym, Antonio Miguel-Cruz, Shannon Chisholm, Lorraine Smith-MacDonald, Suzette Bremault-Phillips
Summary: This study aimed to explore the evidence of NCATs use among military personnel with mTBIs, evaluating the psychometric properties of commonly used NCATs and identifying knowledge gaps for future research. The findings suggest that additional research is needed to validate the effectiveness and utility of NCATs in military populations, especially for those outside of the United States and individuals with other cognitive impairments.
JMIR MENTAL HEALTH
(2021)
Article
Endocrinology & Metabolism
Danielle R. Sullivan, Mark W. Miller, Erika J. Wolf, Mark W. Logue, Meghan E. Robinson, Catherine B. Fortier, Jennifer R. Fonda, Danny J. J. Wang, William P. Milberg, Regina E. McGlinchey, David H. Salat
Summary: The study found that blast exposure may have negative consequences on brain structure and function, and perfusion could be an important neural marker of brain health in blast exposure.
JOURNAL OF CEREBRAL BLOOD FLOW AND METABOLISM
(2021)
Review
Clinical Neurology
Matthew A. Tovar, Randy S. Bell, Chris J. Neal
Summary: Mass casualty incidents due to bombing-related terrorism pose a significant threat to global society. A study compared blast injury patterns between military and civilian victims of terrorist bombings, finding differences in demographics and injury distribution. Military casualties were younger, predominantly male, and reported higher rates of head/neck injuries compared to civilians, while both groups had similar rates of instantaneous fatalities and injuries to the chest, lumbar spine, and extremities.
WORLD NEUROSURGERY
(2021)
Article
Critical Care Medicine
Brian L. Edlow, Yelena G. Bodien, Timothy Baxter, Heather G. Belanger, Ryan J. Cali, Katryna B. Deary, Bruce Fischl, Andrea S. Foulkes, Natalie Gilmore, Douglas N. Greve, Jacob M. Hooker, Susie Y. Huang, Jessica N. Kelemen, W. Taylor Kimberly, Chiara Maffei, Maryam Masood, Daniel P. Perl, Jonathan R. Polimeni, Bruce R. Rosen, Samantha L. Tromly, Chieh-En J. Tseng, Eveline F. Yao, Nicole R. Zurcher, Christine L. Mac Donald, Kristen Dams-O'Connor
Summary: This is an observational pilot study targeting on U.S. Special Operations Forces (SOF) personnel, aiming to investigate the effects of repeated blast exposure (RBE) on brain structure and function, as well as the related cognitive, behavioral, and physical symptoms. The study involves various assessments including neuroimaging, neuroinflammation and tau deposition analysis, blood analysis, behavioral and cognitive tests, in order to identify clinical and biological markers associated with level of RBE. The results will inform the design of a diagnostic assessment battery to detect RBE-related brain injury and optimize the brain health and battle readiness of U.S. SOF personnel.
JOURNAL OF NEUROTRAUMA
(2022)
Article
Audiology & Speech-Language Pathology
Emily E. Myers, Antony R. Joseph, Amber L. Dougherty, Mary C. Clouser, Andrew J. MacGregor
Summary: This study finds that there is an association between tinnitus and hearing outcomes among US military personnel after blast injury. Service members with tinnitus have higher odds of experiencing hearing loss, both low-frequency and high-frequency, early warning shift, and significant threshold shift compared to those without tinnitus. Routine audiometric testing and careful examination of hearing outcomes should be provided to service members with blast injury and subsequent tinnitus.
Article
Critical Care Medicine
Sarah L. Martindale, Jennifer N. Belding, Cameron D. Crawford, Jared A. Rowland
Summary: The purpose of this study was to validate military occupational specialty (MOS) as a proxy for blast exposure in combat veterans. Results showed that individuals in high-risk MOS were more likely to have experienced blast and deployment TBI. The accuracy of MOS categorization was not acceptable for diagnostic-level tests, but it can be used as a screening measure for blast exposure history, in epidemiological studies, and for military policy considerations.
JOURNAL OF NEUROTRAUMA
(2023)
Article
Clinical Neurology
Andrew J. Macgregor, Edwin W. D'Souza, Amber L. Dougherty, John J. Fraser
Summary: The study aimed to examine the prevalence of spine injuries among US service members with combat-related concussion. The results showed that there is a higher prevalence of spine injuries among service members with concussion, especially those with loss of consciousness. The most common type of spine injury is sprains and strains, with injuries to the cervical, thoracic, and lumbar regions being more prevalent in the concussion groups.
JOURNAL OF HEAD TRAUMA REHABILITATION
(2023)
Article
Critical Care Medicine
Frederick K. Korley, John K. Yue, David H. Wilson, Kevin Hrusovsky, Ramon Diaz-Arrastia, Adam R. Ferguson, Esther L. Yuh, Pratik Mukherjee, Kevin K. W. Wang, Alex B. Valadka, Ava M. Puccio, David O. Okonkwo, Geoffrey T. Manley
JOURNAL OF NEUROTRAUMA
(2019)
Review
Critical Care Medicine
Stefania Mondello, Abayomi Sorinola, Endre Czeiter, Zoltan Vamos, Krisztina Amrein, Anneliese Synnot, Emma Donoghue, Janos Sandor, Kevin K. W. Wang, Ramon Diaz-Arrastia, Ewout W. Steyerberg, David K. Menon, Andrew I. R. Maas, Andras Buki
Summary: The study found that measurement of S100B can help informed decision making in the emergency department, but there is insufficient evidence that any of the other markers is ready for clinical application. Serious problems in the design, analysis, and reporting of many of the studies were identified, as well as substantial heterogeneity and research gaps.
JOURNAL OF NEUROTRAUMA
(2021)
Article
Critical Care Medicine
Zhihui Yang, Tian Zhu, Stefania Mondello, Miis Akel, Aaron T. Wong, Isha M. Kothari, Fan Lin, Deborah A. Shear, Janice S. Gilsdorf, Lai Yee Leung, Helen M. Bramlett, C. Edward Dixon, W. Dalton Dietrich, Ronald L. Hayes, John T. Povlishock, Frank C. Tortella, Patrick M. Kochanek, Kevin K. W. Wang
JOURNAL OF NEUROTRAUMA
(2019)
Article
Clinical Neurology
Ping Kuen Lam, Kevin Ka Wang Wang, Don Wai Ching Chin, Cindy See Wai Tong, Yixiang Wang, Kin Ki Yan Lo, Paul Bo San Lai, Hui Ma, Vera Zhi Yuan Zheng, Wai Sang Poon, George Kwok Chu Wong
JOURNAL OF CLINICAL NEUROSCIENCE
(2020)
Article
Critical Care Medicine
Jesper Kelsen, Michael Karlsson, Magnus J. Hansson, Zhihui Yang, Walter Fischer, Matilda Hugerth, Carl-Henrik Nordstrom, Ramona Astrand, Marcus F. Keep, Todd Kilbaugh, Kevin K. W. Wang, Kirsten Moller, Marianne Juhler, Eskil Elmer
JOURNAL OF NEUROTRAUMA
(2019)
Review
Clinical Neurology
Samer El Hayek, Farah Allouch, Mahdi Razafsha, Farid Talih, Mark S. Gold, Kevin K. Wang, Firas Kobeissy
JOURNAL OF THE NEUROLOGICAL SCIENCES
(2020)
Article
Neurosciences
Rossella Di Sapia, Federico Moro, Marica Montanarella, Valentina Iori, Edoardo Micotti, Daniele Tolomeo, Kevin K. W. Wang, Annamaria Vezzani, Teresa Ravizza, Elisa R. Zanier
Summary: This study focused on a mouse model of severe TBI leading to PTE, revealing that mice with frequent seizures had correlated weight loss and slower recovery from sensorimotor deficits compared to those without epilepsy. MRI findings showed similar injury progression in PTE and no-PTE mice, while histological analysis indicated more pronounced neuronal cell loss in PTE mice.
ACTA NEUROPATHOLOGICA COMMUNICATIONS
(2021)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Dounya Jalloul, Helene Hajjar, Rita Asdikian, Mariam Maawie, Leila Nasrallah, Yasser Medlej, Mouhamad Darwich, Nabil Karnib, Nada Lawand, Ronza Abdel Rassoul, Kevin K. W. Wang, Firas Kobeissy, Hala Darwish, Makram Obeid
Summary: The study induced hemorrhage in a closed-head injury model with heparin injection, leading to persistent EEG abnormalities, brain tissue damage, and learning deficits in periadolescent rats. While no sensorimotor deficits were found, this model could serve as a useful tool for further understanding PTE.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2021)
Article
Pathology
Kevin K. Wang, Jennifer C. Munoz Pareja, Stefania Mondello, Ramon Diaz-Arrastia, Cheryl Wellington, Kimbra Kenney, Ava M. Puccio, Jamie Hutchison, Nicole McKinnon, David O. Okonkwo, Zhihui Yang, Firas Kobeissy, J. Adrian Tyndall, Andras Buki, Endre Czeiter, Maria C. Pareja Zabala, Nithya Gandham, Rebecca Berman
Summary: Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a major global health issue, and biomarkers aid in the diagnosis and pathophysiological characterization of TBI. Major consortium multicenter observational studies have been created in the USA, Europe, and Canada, with the formation of the International Initiative for Traumatic Brain Injury Research (InTBIR) to facilitate data integration and dissemination.
EXPERT REVIEW OF MOLECULAR DIAGNOSTICS
(2021)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Zhihui Yang, Rawad Daniel Arja, Tian Zhu, George Anis Sarkis, Robert Logan Patterson, Pammela Romo, Disa S. Rathore, Ahmed Moghieb, Susan Abbatiello, Claudia S. Robertson, William E. Haskins, Firas Kobeissy, Kevin K. W. Wang
Summary: GFAP is truncated in traumatic brain injury, resulting in the formation of breakdown products. These GFAP breakdown products may have the potential to track the progression of brain injury, as shown in both experimental and clinical observations.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2022)
Article
Medicine, General & Internal
Zhihui Yang, Seza Apiliogullari, Yueqiang Fu, Ayah Istanbouli, Sehajpreet Kaur, Iktej Singh Jabbal, Ahmed Moghieb, Zoha Irfan, Robert Logan Patterson, Milin Kurup, Lindsey Morrow, Michael Cohn, Zhiqun Zhang, Jiepei Zhu, Ronald L. Hayes, Helen M. Bramlett, M. Ross Bullock, W. Dalton Dietrich, Michael Y. Wang, Firas Kobeissy, Kevin W. Wang
Summary: Acute traumatic spinal cord injury (SCI) is a global problem with a lack of reliable biomarkers for diagnosis, severity, and prognosis. This study found that certain biomarkers, including SBDP150, S100B, GFAP, NF-L, UCHL-1, Tau, and IL-6, were significantly higher in SCI patients compared to healthy individuals. Moreover, specific biomarker levels were correlated with injury severity. However, there was no association with short-term outcomes. More prospective controlled studies are needed to further validate these findings.
Article
Medicine, General & Internal
Franklin Chu Buh, Irene Ule Ngole Sumbele, Andrew I. R. Maas, Mathieu Motah, Jogi V. Pattisapu, Eric Youm, Basil Kum Meh, Firas H. Kobeissy, Kevin W. Wang, Peter J. A. Hutchinson, Germain Sotoing Taiwe
Summary: The study revealed that TBI in Cameroon is predominantly caused by road traffic incidents and primarily affects young adult males. Lack of pre-hospital care, financial constraints limiting both CT scanning and medical care, and a lack of acute physiotherapy services likely influenced care and outcomes adversely.
MEDICINA-LITHUANIA
(2023)
Article
Clinical Neurology
Erwin A. van Vliet, Michael S. Hildebrand, James D. Mills, Gary P. Brennan, Tore Eid, Susan A. Masino, Vicky Whittemore, Laura Bindila, Kevin K. Wang, Manisha Patel, Piero Perucca, Christopher A. Reid
Summary: The TASK3 working groups aims to create common data elements (CDEs) for various preclinical epilepsy research disciplines, with a focus on genomics, transcriptomics, and epigenomics in rodent models. They have generated CDE tables and case report forms (CRFs) containing essential study protocol contents for these research areas, aiming to improve standardization of experimental designs. This is the first of a two-part series on omics papers, with the second part covering proteomics, lipidomics, and metabolomics in adult rodents.
Review
Medicine, General & Internal
Kevin K. W. Wang, Firas H. Kobeissy, Zaynab Shakkour, J. Adrian Tyndall
Summary: Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a major cause of mortality and morbidity across all ages, yet there is no FDA-approved drug for treatment. The heterogeneity and complexity of TBI make accurate assessment and prediction challenging. Biomarkers such as ubiquitin C-terminal hydrolase-L1 and glial fibrillary acidic protein have been identified to improve diagnostic accuracy, especially in mild TBI cases.
ACUTE MEDICINE & SURGERY
(2021)
Article
Neurosciences
Shigeharu Tsuda, Mustafa Golam, Jiamei Hou, Rachel Nelson, Phillip Bernavil, Kenneth Richardson, Kevin K. W. Wang, Floyd Thompson, Prodip Bose