Children's health
01 Jan 2013
Comparison of Abnormal Cortical Development in Brain Malformations on Postmortem Imaging With Autopsy
Neurology
01 Jan 2013
Anaesthesia With Propofol Versus Midazolam : Effect on Oxidative Stress in the Brain of Head Trauma Patients (PROMIS)
Severe traumatic brain injury is associated with an increased production of free radicals causing brain damage. First line treatment of these patients aims to maintain cerebral perfusion and includes deep anaesthesia. Propofol has recently shown anti oxidant properties that need to be confirmed when used in these patients. The main…
Heart
01 Jan 2013
Angiotensin II Receptor Blockers (ARB) and ACE Inhibitors (ACEI) on Silent Brain Infarction and Cognitive Decline
The purpose of this study is to elucidate whether or not angiotensin II receptor blockers (ARB) are more beneficial or equal to angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors (ACEI) on development or progression of silent brain infarction and cognitive decline in Japanese patients with essential hypertension in the elderly. Official Title Effects…
Mental Health
01 Jan 2013
Evaluation of an Intervention Model for Family Crisis and Support
To learn more about how a family treatment program helps people after brain injury. Specifically, do families feel better and function better after going through the program, and do patients feel better and function better after going through the program. Official Title Evaluation of an Intervention Model for Family Crisis…
Mental Health
01 Jan 2013
Physiological Brain Atlas Development
The NIH grant has funded the development of a physiological brain atlas registry that will allow us to significantly improve the targeting and use of DBS implants for Parkinson’s Disease, Dystonia, Essential Tremor, and OCD. Official Title Physiological Brain Atlas Development. Conditions Parkinson’s Disease Dystonia Essential Tremor OCD Study…
Neurology
01 Jan 2013
Depression and Traumatic Brain Injury
Problem: Depressive symptoms are a common mental health problem following traumatic brain injury (TBI), occurring in up to 87% of patients. Depression following TBI has important consequences including poor functioning, lack of ability to return to work and family activities and prolonged TBI symptoms. The reason depression develops in some patients following TBI is unknown, making treatment difficult.One type of brain protein that shows genetic differences between people is called the serotonin transporter. People can be divided by whether or not they have a short protein (S allele) or a long protein (L allele) which influences the amount of serotonin transporter. Serotonin is a key brain chemical in depression in many mental/psychiatric illnesses. We think that the genetic differences in the serotonin transporter, that may not make a difference before TBI, may become important after TBI due to the nature of these injuries.Methods: A consecutive sample of 200 patients attending a TBI clinic who have sustained a mild-to-moderate TBI (American Congress of Rehabilitation Medicine criteria) within the last 2 months will be assessed for the presence of major depression (standard criteria, standardised interview). In phase I, blood samples from patients with mild-to-moderate TBI with depression and without depression will be checked for the presence of the 5-HTTPR genetic difference. This will allow us to study if the S allele is more likely in TBI patients with depression. In phase II, the patients with depression will be treated with the SSRI citalopram for 6 weeks. At 6 weeks, or upon discontinuation of citalopram, depression will be assessed again. This will allow us to study if depressed patients with the S allele respond more poorly to treatment. Persons assessing depression after treatment will not know the genetic makeup of each patient.Results Expected: If the serotonin transporter genetic difference confers susceptibility to depression following TBI, this will provide important information on what causes depression following TBI and document a risk factor for depression previously unstudied in this population. Also, as SSRI antidepressants are used to treat depression in TBI, this study may identify a subgroup of TBI patients in whom different medications should be given or additional medications are required.
Official TitleThe Serotonin Transporter Gene Polymorphism and Major Depression Following Traumatic Brain Injury.
Neurology
01 Jan 2013
Discrete Hypothermia in the Management of Traumatic Brain Injury
The primary goal of this project is to demonstrate the feasibility and clinical benefits of a new rapid treatment for secondary treatment for secondary brain injury called Discrete Cerebral Hypothermia System by CoolSystems, Inc., Berkley, CA. This device induced hypothermia in the adult brain without significant whole body hypothermia. Discrete…
Mental Health
01 Jan 2013
Deep Brain Stimulation for Parkinson’s Disease Trial
The purpose of this trial is to evaluate the effect of deep brain stimulation in the the globus pallidus (Gpi) and the subthalamic nucleus (STN) on motor, neuropsychological and psychiatric function, and quality of life in patients with Parkinson’s disease. Official Title Deep Brain Stimulation for Parkinson’s Disease Trial.
Cancer
01 Jan 2013
Temozolomide With or Without Radiation Therapy to the Brain in Treating Patients With Stage IV Melanoma That is Metastatic to the Brain
Rationale: Drugs used in chemotherapy use different ways to stop tumour cells from dividing so they stop growing or die. Radiation therapy uses high-energy x-rays to damage tumour cells. It is not yet known if chemotherapy is more effective with or without radiation therapy in treating brain metastases.Purpose: Randomised phase…