Introduction: A traumatic brain injury (TBI) is caused by a forceful bump, blow, or jolt to the head or body, or by an object that pierces the skull and interrupts the normal function of the brain. Severe TBI is estim...Introduction: A traumatic brain injury (TBI) is caused by a forceful bump, blow, or jolt to the head or body, or by an object that pierces the skull and interrupts the normal function of the brain. Severe TBI is estimated at 73 cases per 100,000 people. The mortality of severe TBI can be reduced if a timely diagnosis and treatment of the injuries are made through prognostic factors. Objective: To determine the prognostic factors related to mortality in severe traumatic brain injury at the Hospital General de Zona No. 46. Material and Methods: Retrospective, cross-sectional and descriptive study in beneficiaries admitted to the Hospital General de Zona (HGZ) No. 46 of the Mexican Institute of Social Security (IMSS by its acronym in Spanish), with a diagnosis of severe TBI;the possible prognostic factors related to mortality of severe TBI were obtained from their records. Measures of central tendency and chi square were used for data analysis. Results: The study sample consisted of 60 subjects diagnosed with severe traumatic brain injury, of which 5 (8%) were women and 55 (92%) were men, and all 60 (100%) patients died. The average age of the sample was 26 with a standard deviation of 9 years. The variables that had a p value less than or equal to 0.05 were: Mydriasis, seizures, Hyperglycemia, Normoglycemia, Hypothermia and Hypotension. This means that these variables were associated with mortality. Conclusion: Statistical significance is demonstrated in prognostic factors of mortality in severe traumatic brain injury with p < 0.05 in the case of mydriasis, seizures, hyperglycemia, normoglycemia, hypothermia and hypotension.展开更多
Objective To explore effects of decompressive craniectomy on cerebral blood flow volume and brain metabolism in different aged patients with severe traumatic brain injury. Methods 71 cases were divided into three grou...Objective To explore effects of decompressive craniectomy on cerebral blood flow volume and brain metabolism in different aged patients with severe traumatic brain injury. Methods 71 cases were divided into three groups according age: group A( 【 30 years) ,group B ( 30 ~ 50 years) 。展开更多
Objective To compare the conjoint effect of enteral nutrition (EN) and parenteral nutrition (PN)with single EN or PN on immune function, nutritional status, complications and clinical outcomes of patientswith severe t...Objective To compare the conjoint effect of enteral nutrition (EN) and parenteral nutrition (PN)with single EN or PN on immune function, nutritional status, complications and clinical outcomes of patientswith severe traumatic brain injury (STBI).Methods A prospective randomized control trial was carried out from January 2009 to May 2012 inNeurological Intensive Care Unit (NICU). Patients of STBI who met the enrolment criteria (Glasgow ComaScale score 6~8; Nutritional Risk Screening ≥3) were randomly divided into 3 groups and were administratedEN, PN or EN+PN treatments respectively. The indexes of nutritional status, immune function,complications and clinical outcomes were examined and compared statistically.展开更多
Background:The aim of this work is to detect and compare the peripheral blood mi RNA expression profiles in patients with severe traumatic brain injury(s TBI)2,12,24,48,and 72 h after injury at high altitude and to pr...Background:The aim of this work is to detect and compare the peripheral blood mi RNA expression profiles in patients with severe traumatic brain injury(s TBI)2,12,24,48,and 72 h after injury at high altitude and to predict the target genes of differential expressed mi RNAs.Methods:Twenty s TBI patients from high-altitude areas were randomly selected according to the inclusion and exclusion criteria and were divided into five groups:the 2-h group,12-h group,24-h group,48-h group,and 72-h group.Peripheral blood mi RNA expression profiles were detected using real-time quantitative PCR(q RT-PCR).Results:The expression levels of mi R-18 a,mi R-203,mi R-146 a,mi R-149,mi R-23 b,and mi R-let-7 b in peripheral blood showed significant differences between the 2-h group and the 12-h group.The expression levels of mi R-203,mi R-146 a,mi R-149,mi R-23 b,and mi R-let-7 f in peripheral blood were up-regulated in the 24-h group.In the 48-h group,the expression levels of mi R-181 d,mi R-29 a,and mi R-18 b were upregulated.In the 72-h group,the expression levels of mi R-203,mi R-146 a,mi R-149,mi R-23 b,and mi R-let-7 f changed.The main target genes of the differentiation expressed mi RNAs were genes that regulate inflammatory responses,apoptosis,and DNA damage/repair.Conclusions:mi RNAs may be involved in the pathogenesis of s TBI by dynamically regulating the target genes that regulate inflammatory responses,apoptosis,and DNA damage/repair pathways.展开更多
Calcitonin gene-related peptide(CGRP) has been implicated in multiple functions across many bioprocesses; however, whether CGRP is associated with severe traumatic brain injury(TBI) remains poorly understood. In t...Calcitonin gene-related peptide(CGRP) has been implicated in multiple functions across many bioprocesses; however, whether CGRP is associated with severe traumatic brain injury(TBI) remains poorly understood. In this study, 96 adult patients with TBI(enrolled from September 2015 to December 2016) were divided into a mild/moderate TBI group(36 males and 25 females, aged 38 ± 13 years) and severe TBI group(22 males and 13 females, aged 38 ± 11 years) according to Glasgow Coma Scale scores. In addition, 25 healthy individuals were selected as controls(15 males and 10 females, aged 39 ± 13 years). Radioimmunoassay was used to detect serum levels of CGRP and endothelin-1 at admission and at 12, 24, 48, 72 hours, and 7 days after admission. CGRP levels were remarkably lower, but endothelin-1 levels were obviously higher in the severe TBI group compared with mild/moderate TBI and control groups. Levels of CGRP were remarkably lower, but endothelin-1 levels were obviously higher in deceased patients compared with patients who survived. Survival analysis and logistic regression showed that both CGRP and endothelin-1 levels were associated with patient mortality, with each serving as an independent risk factor for 6-month mortality of severe TBI patients. Moreover, TBI patients with lower serum CGRP levels had a higher risk of death. Thus, our retrospective analysis demonstrates the potential utility of CGRP as a new biomarker, monitoring method, and therapeutic target for TBI.展开更多
The cingulum,the neural tract connecting the orbitofrontal cortex with the medial temporal lobe,plays an important role in cognition(Bush et al.,2000).It is also important in memory because it provides cholinergic i...The cingulum,the neural tract connecting the orbitofrontal cortex with the medial temporal lobe,plays an important role in cognition(Bush et al.,2000).It is also important in memory because it provides cholinergic innervations to the cerebral cortex after obtaining innervation from the medial septal nucleus,the vertical nucleus of the diagonal band, and the nucleus basalis of Meynert via the medial cholinergic pathway (Nieuwenhuys et al., 2008; Naidich and Duvernoy, 2009; Hong and Jang, 2010a).展开更多
Background: Secondary injury processes such as posttraumatic vasospasm (PTV) play a critical role in the development of cerebral ischemia/infarction after traumatic brain injury (TBI). The objectives of this study wer...Background: Secondary injury processes such as posttraumatic vasospasm (PTV) play a critical role in the development of cerebral ischemia/infarction after traumatic brain injury (TBI). The objectives of this study were to evaluate the incidence of cerebral vasospasm in patients with moderate to severe TBI and to assess post-injury functional outcome. Study Design: A prospective observational study was conducted in patients with moderate and severe blunt TBI. Transcranial Doppler (TCD) ultrasound was performed within the first 72 hours and then daily for up to 7 days. Patient characteristics and outcome data including functional outcome as assessed by the Extended Glasgow Outcome Scale (GOS-E) were collected and compared between patients with and without PTV. Results: Twenty-three patients met our inclusion criteria. While there was a 47.8% incidence of vasospasm as detected by TCD, there was no significant difference in hospital LOS or mortality between patients with and without PTV. Of the two patients with PTV who died, both had a cerebral infarct or cerebral ischemia. In evaluating overall GOS-E among patients with a cerebral focal injury, patients with PTV had a significantly higher GOS-E score when compared to patients without PTV (8.0 vs. 6.8, p = 0.01). Conclusions: The high incidence of PTV and the role of clinically significant vasospasm after TBI remain unclear. While functional outcome was better in patients with a focal injury and vasospasm, patients who died had cerebral ischemia or infarction. We hypothesize that there is an interaction between impaired cerebral autoregulation, PTV and poor outcomes in patients with TBI.展开更多
Objective: To investigate the effects of mild hypothermia on cerebral oxygen metabolism and brain injury in patients with severe craniocerebral injury. Methods: A total of 78 patients with severe craniocerebral injury...Objective: To investigate the effects of mild hypothermia on cerebral oxygen metabolism and brain injury in patients with severe craniocerebral injury. Methods: A total of 78 patients with severe craniocerebral injury who underwent emergency treatment in Huanggang Central Hospital between September 2015 and May 2017 were selected as the research subjects and divided into control group (n=39) and mild hypothermia group (n=39) by random number table. Control group received clinical standard large trauma craniotomy for severe craniocerebral injury, and mild hypothermia group received routine surgery and postoperative mild hypothermia therapy. The cerebral oxygen metabolism and brain injury in two groups of patients were detected immediately after admission (T0), 1 week after treatment (T1) and 4 weeks after treatment (T2). Results: At T0, there was no statistically significant difference in the levels of cerebral oxygen metabolism indexes, cerebral blood flow parameters and brain injury markers between the two groups. At T1 and T2, PO2 levels in mild hypothermia group were higher than those in control group while Da-jvO2 levels were lower than those in control group;cerebral blood flow parameters Vs and Wv levels were higher than those in control group while PI levels were lower than those in control group;brain injury markers MBP, AQP-4 and S-100B contents were lower than those in control group while BDNF contents were higher than those in control group. Conclusion: Adjuvant mild hypothermia therapy after routine surgery may further reduce the cerebral oxygen metabolism and relieve the brain injury in patients with severe craniocerebral injury.展开更多
Objective: Severe traumatic brain injury (sTBI) is one of the common acute and critical diseases in neurosurgery. So we aim to explore the clinical effectiveness of an intelligent emergency care model in patients with...Objective: Severe traumatic brain injury (sTBI) is one of the common acute and critical diseases in neurosurgery. So we aim to explore the clinical effectiveness of an intelligent emergency care model in patients with severe traumatic brain injury. Methods: Eighty patients with severe traumatic brain injury (sTBI) who were treated in Zhuji People’s Hospital of Zhejiang Province from January 2019 to December 2021 were selected as the study subjects. The patients were divided into an observation group and a control group with 40 patients in each group according to the random number table method. Patients in the control group received conventional first-aid nursing mode intervention, and the intelligent emergency nursing mode was used for the observation group based on the control group. Comparisons were conducted between the two groups on the time of arrival to the emergency room, the time from the emergency room to the operating room, Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) score before surgery, GCS score when leaving the Intensive Care Unit (ICU), the average length of ICU stay, the average length of hospital stay, the total hospital costs. Results: The time of arrival to the emergency room, the time from the emergency room to the operating room, the average length of ICU stay, the average length of hospital stay, and the total hospital costs in the observation group were significantly lower than those in the control group, and the differences were statistically significant (All P Conclusion: Intelligent emergency nursing mode can shorten the time of sTBI rescue, the length of ICU stay, and the average length of hospital stay, reduce the total hospitalization cost, improve the prognosis, with good efficacy, reduce the total cost of hospitalization, and improve the prognosis with better efficacy.展开更多
Sirtuin 2(SIRT2)inhibition or Sirt2 knocko ut in animal models protects against the development of neurodegenerative diseases and cerebral ischemia.However,the role of SIRT2 in traumatic brain injury(TBI)remains uncle...Sirtuin 2(SIRT2)inhibition or Sirt2 knocko ut in animal models protects against the development of neurodegenerative diseases and cerebral ischemia.However,the role of SIRT2 in traumatic brain injury(TBI)remains unclear.In this study,we found that knockout of Sirt2 in a mouse model of TBI reduced brain edema,attenuated dis ruption of the blood-brain barrie r,decreased expression of the nucleotide-binding oligomerization domain-like receptor protein 3(NLRP3)inflammasome,reduced the activity of the effector caspase-1,reduced neuroinflammation and neuronal pyroptosis,and improved neurological function.Knoc kout of Sirt2 in a mechanical stretch injury cell model in vitro also decreased expression of the NLRP3 inflammasome and pyroptosis.Our findings suggest that knockout of Sirt2 is neuro protective against TBI;therefore.Sirt2 could be a novel to rget for TBI treatment.展开更多
Objective To study difference between intravascular cooling system and traditional moderate hypothermia in patients with severe traumatic brain injury. Methods Eighty sTBI patients were randomly divided into intravasc...Objective To study difference between intravascular cooling system and traditional moderate hypothermia in patients with severe traumatic brain injury. Methods Eighty sTBI patients were randomly divided into intravascular hypothermic groups (IVT) and traditional moderate hypothermia groups(HT) . Inclusion criteria included a Glasgow Coma Scale(GCS) score ≤8 and time from injury to admission must be within 12 hours.展开更多
To study the effect of mild hypothermia on glucose metabolism and glycerol of brain tissue in patients with severe traumatic brain injury (sTBI).Methods All 33 patients with sTBI(GCS≤8) were randomly divided into hyp...To study the effect of mild hypothermia on glucose metabolism and glycerol of brain tissue in patients with severe traumatic brain injury (sTBI).Methods All 33 patients with sTBI(GCS≤8) were randomly divided into hypothermic group and control group.Microdialysis catheters were inserted into the cerebral cortex of perilesion,relative normal brain tissue and subcutaneous tissue of abdomen in order to analyze the concentrations of lactate/pyruvate (L/P),lactate/glucose (L/G) and the glycerol(Gly) in extracellular fluid (ECF).Results In comparison with the control group,the concentration of L/G,L/P and Gly in periphery and that of L/P in ECF of the “normal brain tissue” were significantly decreased in the hypothermic group.In control group,concentration of L/G,L/P and Gly in periphery were higher than those in relative normal brain.In the hypothermic group,L/P concentration in periphery was higher than that in relative normal brain.Conclusion Mild hypothermia protects brain by decreasing concentrations of L/G,L/P and Gly in periphery and L/P concentration in “normal brain tissue”.The energy crisis and membrane phospholipid breakage in periphery are easier to happen after TBI,where mild hypothermia exerts significant protgective role.12 refs,3 tabs.展开更多
Controlled cortical impingement is a widely accepted method to induce traumatic brain injury to establish a traumatic brain injury animal model.A strike depth of 1 mm at a certain speed is recommended for a moderate b...Controlled cortical impingement is a widely accepted method to induce traumatic brain injury to establish a traumatic brain injury animal model.A strike depth of 1 mm at a certain speed is recommended for a moderate brain injury and a depth of>2 mm is used to induce severe brain injury.However,the different effects and underlying mechanisms of these two model types have not been proven.This study investigated the changes in cerebral blood flow,differences in the degree of cortical damage,and differences in motor function under different injury parameters of 1 and 2 mm at injury speeds of 3,4,and 5 m/s.We also explored the functional changes and mitochondrial damage between the 1 and 2 mm groups in the acute(7 days)and chronic phases(30 days).The results showed that the cerebral blood flow in the injured area of the 1 mm group was significantly increased,and swelling and bulging of brain tissue,increased vascular permeability,and large-scale exudation occurred.In the 2 mm group,the main pathological changes were decreased cerebral blood flow,brain tissue loss,and cerebral vasospasm occlusion in the injured area.Substantial motor and cognitive impairments were found on day 7 after injury in the 2 mm group;at 30 days after injury,the motor function of the 2 mm group mice recovered significantly while cognitive impairment persisted.Transcriptome sequencing showed that compared with the 1 mm group,the 2 mm group expressed more ferroptosis-related genes.Morphological changes of mitochondria in the two groups on days 7 and 30 using transmission electron microscopy revealed that on day 7,the mitochondria in both groups shrank and the vacuoles became larger;on day 30,the mitochondria in the 1 mm group became larger,and the vacuoles in the 2 mm group remained enlarged.By analyzing the proportion of mitochondrial subgroups in different groups,we found that the model mice had different patterns of mitochondrial composition at different time periods,suggesting that the difference in the degree of damage among traumatic brain injury groups may reflect the mitochondrial changes.Taken together,differences in mitochondrial morphology and function between the 1 and 2 mm groups provide a new direction for the accurate classification of traumatic brain injury.Our results provide reliable data support and evaluation methods for promoting the establishment of standard mouse controlled cortical impingement model guidelines.展开更多
Introduction: Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) is a major public health problem causing significant morbidity and mortality in young adults. This study aimed to describe the epidemiological, diagnostic, therapeutic, and e...Introduction: Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) is a major public health problem causing significant morbidity and mortality in young adults. This study aimed to describe the epidemiological, diagnostic, therapeutic, and evolutionary aspects of TBI. Materials and Methods: This was a prospective, descriptive study conducted from 1 April 2022 to 31 March 2023 on patients admitted to and treated for cranioencephalic trauma in the General Surgery department of Kara Regional Hospital. Results: Eighty-three (83) patients with cranioencephalic trauma were managed out of 773 patients admitted to the department during the study period. The mean age was 34 ± 14.98 years and the sex ratio was 3.6 in favour of men. Motorbike taxi drivers were the social group most affected (n = 33, 40%). The causes of trauma were dominated by public road accidents (n = 80;96%). TBI was mild (n = 40;48%), moderate (n = 35;42%) and severe (n = 8;10%). Cerebral CT scans were performed in 19 patients (23%). Cerebral contusion (n = 4) was the most frequent cerebral lesion. Six patients (7%) with severe head injuries were transferred to Kara University Hospital. Six deaths (7%) occurred in patients with severe head injuries. The main sequelae were intermittent headaches in all patients reviewed, and memory problems (6%). Conclusion: Traumatic brain injuries are common at Kara Regional Hospital. Severe cranial trauma is less frequent but leads to death because of financial difficulties and limited technical facilities.展开更多
Although hyperbaric oxygen (HBO) therapy can promote the recovery of neural function in patients who have suffered traumatic brain injury (TBI), the underlying mechanism is unclear. We hypothesized that hyperbaric...Although hyperbaric oxygen (HBO) therapy can promote the recovery of neural function in patients who have suffered traumatic brain injury (TBI), the underlying mechanism is unclear. We hypothesized that hyperbaric oxygen treatment plays a neuroprotective role in TBI by increasing regional transcranial oxygen saturation (rSO2) and oxygen partial pressure (PaO2). To test this idea, we compared two groups: a control group with 20 healthy people and a treatment group with 40 TBI patients. The 40 patients were given 100% oxygen of HBO for 90 minutes. Changes in rSO2 were measured. The controls were also examined for rSO2 and PaO2, but received no treatment, rSO2 levels in the patients did not differ significantly after treatment, but levels before and after treatment were significantly lower than those in the control group. PaO2 levels were significantly decreased after the 30-minute HBO treatment. Our findings suggest that there is a disorder of oxygen metabolism in patients with sub-acute TBI. HBO does not immediately affect cerebral oxygen metabolism, and the underlying mechanism still needs to be studied in depth.展开更多
The rat high-impact free weight drop model mimics the diffuse axonal injury caused by severe traumatic brain injury in humans,while severe controlled cortical impact can produce a severe traumatic brain injury model u...The rat high-impact free weight drop model mimics the diffuse axonal injury caused by severe traumatic brain injury in humans,while severe controlled cortical impact can produce a severe traumatic brain injury model using precise strike parameters.In this study,we compare the pathological mechanisms and pathological changes between two rat severe brain injury models to identify the similarities and differences.The severe controlled cortical impact model was produced by an electronic controlled cortical impact device,while the severe free weight drop model was produced by dropping a 500 g free weight from a height of 1.8 m through a plastic tube.Body temperature and mortality were recorded,and neurological deficits were assessed with the modified neurological severity score.Brain edema and bloodbrain barrier damage were evaluated by assessing brain water content and Evans blue extravasation.In addition,a cytokine array kit was used to detect inflammatory cytokines.Neuronal apoptosis in the brain and brainstem was quantified by immunofluorescence staining.Both the severe controlled cortical impact and severe free weight drop models exhibited significant neurological impairments and body temperature fluctuations.More severe motor dysfunction was observed in the severe controlled cortical impact model,while more severe cognitive dysfunction was observed in the severe free weight drop model.Brain edema,inflammatory cytokine changes and cortical neuronal apoptosis were more substantial and blood-brain barrier damage was more focal in the severe controlled cortical impact group compared with the severe free weight drop group.The severe free weight drop model presented with more significant apoptosis in the brainstem and diffused blood-brain barrier damage,with higher mortality and lower repeatability compared with the severe controlled cortical impact group.Severe brainstem damage was not found in the severe controlled cortical impact model.These results indicate that the severe controlled cortical impact model is relatively more stable,more reproducible,and shows obvious cerebral pathological changes at an earlier stage.Therefore,the severe controlled cortical impact model is likely more suitable for studies on severe focal traumatic brain injury,while the severe free weight drop model may be more apt for studies on diffuse axonal injury.All experimental procedures were approved by the Ethics Committee of Animal Experiments of Tianjin Medical University,China(approval No.IRB2012-028-02)in Febru ary 2012.展开更多
The aim of this study was to investigate the possible beneficial role of telmisartan in cerebral edema after traumatic brain injury(TBI) and the potential mechanisms related to the nucleotide-binding oligomerization...The aim of this study was to investigate the possible beneficial role of telmisartan in cerebral edema after traumatic brain injury(TBI) and the potential mechanisms related to the nucleotide-binding oligomerization domain(NOD)-like receptor(NLR) pyrin domain-containing 3(NLRP3) inflammasome activation. TBI model was established by cold-induced brain injury. Male C57BL/6 mice were randomly assigned into 3, 6, 12, 24, 48 and 72 h survival groups to investigate cerebral edema development with time and received 0, 5, 10, 20 and 40 mg/kg telmisartan by oral gavage, 1 h prior to TBI to determine the efficient anti-edemic dose. The therapeutic window was identified by post-treating 30 min, 1 h, 2 h and 4 h after TBI. Blood-brain barrier(BBB) integrity, the neurological function and histological injury were assessed, at the same time, the m RNA and protein expression levels of NLRP3 inflammasome, IL-1β and IL-18 concentrations in peri-contused brain tissue were measured 24 h post TBI. The results showed that the traumatic cerebral edema occurred from 6 h, reached the peak at 24 h and recovered to the baseline 72 h after TBI. A single oral dose of 5, 10 and 20 mg/kg telmisartan could reduce cerebral edema. Post-treatment up to 2 h effectively limited the edema development. Furthermore, prophylactic administration of telmisartan markedly inhibited BBB impairment, NLRP3, apoptotic speck-containing protein(ASC) and Caspase-1 activation, as well as IL-1β and IL-18 maturation, subsequently improved the neurological outcomes. In conclusion, telmisartan can reduce traumatic cerebral edema by inhibiting the NLRP3 inflammasome-regulated IL-1β and IL-18 accumulation.展开更多
Cerebral blood flow is strongly associated with brain function, and is the main symptom and diagnostic basis for a variety of encephalopathies. However, changes in cerebral blood flow after mild traumatic brain injury...Cerebral blood flow is strongly associated with brain function, and is the main symptom and diagnostic basis for a variety of encephalopathies. However, changes in cerebral blood flow after mild traumatic brain injury remain poorly understood. This study sought to observe changes in cerebral blood flow in different regions after mild traumatic brain injury using pulsed arterial spin labeling. Our results demonstrate maximal cerebral blood flow in gray matter and minimal in the white matter of patients with mild traumatic brain injury. At the acute and subacute stages, cerebral blood flow was reduced in the occipital lobe, parietal lobe, central region, subcutaneous region, and frontal lobe. Cerebral blood flow was restored at the chronic stage. At the acute, subacute, and chronic stages, changes in cerebral blood flow were not apparent in the insula. Cerebral blood flow in the temporal lobe and limbic lobe diminished at the acute and subacute stages, but was restored at the chronic stage. These findings suggest that pulsed arterial spin labeling can precisely measure cerebral blood flow in various brain regions, and may play a reference role in evaluating a patient's condition and judging prognosis after traumatic brain injury.展开更多
Traumatic brain injury(TBI)represents a global pandemic and is currently a leading cause of injury related death worldwide.Unfortunately,those who survive initial injury often suffer devastating functional,social,an...Traumatic brain injury(TBI)represents a global pandemic and is currently a leading cause of injury related death worldwide.Unfortunately,those who survive initial injury often suffer devastating functional,social,and economic consequences.展开更多
This study was a retrospective analysis of the epidemiologic profile of severe traumatic brain injuries managed at the surgical intensive care unit of the University Hospital Center of Yaoundé, Cameroon, between ...This study was a retrospective analysis of the epidemiologic profile of severe traumatic brain injuries managed at the surgical intensive care unit of the University Hospital Center of Yaoundé, Cameroon, between January 2011 and December 2015. All the patients admitted at the surgical intensive care unit for a traumatic brain injury with an initial Glasgow coma scale score ≤ 8 were included. One hundred and thirty-five cases were enrolled. One hundred and fourteen were males and 21 were females. Their mean age was 32.75 years. Forty-four patients were aged between 16 to 30 years. Road traffic accidents represented the first mode of injury with 101 cases and most of the patients were pedestrians hit by a car. Pupils and students were the most involved. Twenty-three patients had additional extracranial injury. On admission, 97 (71.85%) patients had GCS 7-8. A brain CT scan was done for 115 patients. Intracranial and intracerebral hemorrhages were the most frequent radiological findings with 57 cases. The overall mortality was 32.59% with 44 deaths. Thirty-two of the deaths occurred in patients with GCS 7 - 8 on admission. Ninety-one (67.40%) patients survived, 74 (54.81%) had persisting disabilities, while only 17 (12.59%) recovered fully. The following factors had an impact on the outcome: GCS at admission, pupillary anomalies, length of hospital stay, endotracheal intubation and surgery. Severe TBI remains a heavy socio-economic burden worldwide. In Cameroon where the health system is poorly organized, the outcome of individuals who sustained a severe TBI was dismal.展开更多
文摘Introduction: A traumatic brain injury (TBI) is caused by a forceful bump, blow, or jolt to the head or body, or by an object that pierces the skull and interrupts the normal function of the brain. Severe TBI is estimated at 73 cases per 100,000 people. The mortality of severe TBI can be reduced if a timely diagnosis and treatment of the injuries are made through prognostic factors. Objective: To determine the prognostic factors related to mortality in severe traumatic brain injury at the Hospital General de Zona No. 46. Material and Methods: Retrospective, cross-sectional and descriptive study in beneficiaries admitted to the Hospital General de Zona (HGZ) No. 46 of the Mexican Institute of Social Security (IMSS by its acronym in Spanish), with a diagnosis of severe TBI;the possible prognostic factors related to mortality of severe TBI were obtained from their records. Measures of central tendency and chi square were used for data analysis. Results: The study sample consisted of 60 subjects diagnosed with severe traumatic brain injury, of which 5 (8%) were women and 55 (92%) were men, and all 60 (100%) patients died. The average age of the sample was 26 with a standard deviation of 9 years. The variables that had a p value less than or equal to 0.05 were: Mydriasis, seizures, Hyperglycemia, Normoglycemia, Hypothermia and Hypotension. This means that these variables were associated with mortality. Conclusion: Statistical significance is demonstrated in prognostic factors of mortality in severe traumatic brain injury with p < 0.05 in the case of mydriasis, seizures, hyperglycemia, normoglycemia, hypothermia and hypotension.
文摘Objective To explore effects of decompressive craniectomy on cerebral blood flow volume and brain metabolism in different aged patients with severe traumatic brain injury. Methods 71 cases were divided into three groups according age: group A( 【 30 years) ,group B ( 30 ~ 50 years) 。
基金Supported by the Natural Science Foundation of Shandong province(Y2008C35)Technology Supporting Program of Qingdao(12-1-3-5-(1)-nsh)
文摘Objective To compare the conjoint effect of enteral nutrition (EN) and parenteral nutrition (PN)with single EN or PN on immune function, nutritional status, complications and clinical outcomes of patientswith severe traumatic brain injury (STBI).Methods A prospective randomized control trial was carried out from January 2009 to May 2012 inNeurological Intensive Care Unit (NICU). Patients of STBI who met the enrolment criteria (Glasgow ComaScale score 6~8; Nutritional Risk Screening ≥3) were randomly divided into 3 groups and were administratedEN, PN or EN+PN treatments respectively. The indexes of nutritional status, immune function,complications and clinical outcomes were examined and compared statistically.
基金Qinghai Provincial Agricultural Science and Technology Achievements Transformation and Extension Project(2013-N-531).
文摘Background:The aim of this work is to detect and compare the peripheral blood mi RNA expression profiles in patients with severe traumatic brain injury(s TBI)2,12,24,48,and 72 h after injury at high altitude and to predict the target genes of differential expressed mi RNAs.Methods:Twenty s TBI patients from high-altitude areas were randomly selected according to the inclusion and exclusion criteria and were divided into five groups:the 2-h group,12-h group,24-h group,48-h group,and 72-h group.Peripheral blood mi RNA expression profiles were detected using real-time quantitative PCR(q RT-PCR).Results:The expression levels of mi R-18 a,mi R-203,mi R-146 a,mi R-149,mi R-23 b,and mi R-let-7 b in peripheral blood showed significant differences between the 2-h group and the 12-h group.The expression levels of mi R-203,mi R-146 a,mi R-149,mi R-23 b,and mi R-let-7 f in peripheral blood were up-regulated in the 24-h group.In the 48-h group,the expression levels of mi R-181 d,mi R-29 a,and mi R-18 b were upregulated.In the 72-h group,the expression levels of mi R-203,mi R-146 a,mi R-149,mi R-23 b,and mi R-let-7 f changed.The main target genes of the differentiation expressed mi RNAs were genes that regulate inflammatory responses,apoptosis,and DNA damage/repair.Conclusions:mi RNAs may be involved in the pathogenesis of s TBI by dynamically regulating the target genes that regulate inflammatory responses,apoptosis,and DNA damage/repair pathways.
文摘Calcitonin gene-related peptide(CGRP) has been implicated in multiple functions across many bioprocesses; however, whether CGRP is associated with severe traumatic brain injury(TBI) remains poorly understood. In this study, 96 adult patients with TBI(enrolled from September 2015 to December 2016) were divided into a mild/moderate TBI group(36 males and 25 females, aged 38 ± 13 years) and severe TBI group(22 males and 13 females, aged 38 ± 11 years) according to Glasgow Coma Scale scores. In addition, 25 healthy individuals were selected as controls(15 males and 10 females, aged 39 ± 13 years). Radioimmunoassay was used to detect serum levels of CGRP and endothelin-1 at admission and at 12, 24, 48, 72 hours, and 7 days after admission. CGRP levels were remarkably lower, but endothelin-1 levels were obviously higher in the severe TBI group compared with mild/moderate TBI and control groups. Levels of CGRP were remarkably lower, but endothelin-1 levels were obviously higher in deceased patients compared with patients who survived. Survival analysis and logistic regression showed that both CGRP and endothelin-1 levels were associated with patient mortality, with each serving as an independent risk factor for 6-month mortality of severe TBI patients. Moreover, TBI patients with lower serum CGRP levels had a higher risk of death. Thus, our retrospective analysis demonstrates the potential utility of CGRP as a new biomarker, monitoring method, and therapeutic target for TBI.
基金supported by the National Research Foundation(NRF)of Korea Grant funded by the Korean Government(MSIP)No.2015R1A2A2A01004073
文摘The cingulum,the neural tract connecting the orbitofrontal cortex with the medial temporal lobe,plays an important role in cognition(Bush et al.,2000).It is also important in memory because it provides cholinergic innervations to the cerebral cortex after obtaining innervation from the medial septal nucleus,the vertical nucleus of the diagonal band, and the nucleus basalis of Meynert via the medial cholinergic pathway (Nieuwenhuys et al., 2008; Naidich and Duvernoy, 2009; Hong and Jang, 2010a).
文摘Background: Secondary injury processes such as posttraumatic vasospasm (PTV) play a critical role in the development of cerebral ischemia/infarction after traumatic brain injury (TBI). The objectives of this study were to evaluate the incidence of cerebral vasospasm in patients with moderate to severe TBI and to assess post-injury functional outcome. Study Design: A prospective observational study was conducted in patients with moderate and severe blunt TBI. Transcranial Doppler (TCD) ultrasound was performed within the first 72 hours and then daily for up to 7 days. Patient characteristics and outcome data including functional outcome as assessed by the Extended Glasgow Outcome Scale (GOS-E) were collected and compared between patients with and without PTV. Results: Twenty-three patients met our inclusion criteria. While there was a 47.8% incidence of vasospasm as detected by TCD, there was no significant difference in hospital LOS or mortality between patients with and without PTV. Of the two patients with PTV who died, both had a cerebral infarct or cerebral ischemia. In evaluating overall GOS-E among patients with a cerebral focal injury, patients with PTV had a significantly higher GOS-E score when compared to patients without PTV (8.0 vs. 6.8, p = 0.01). Conclusions: The high incidence of PTV and the role of clinically significant vasospasm after TBI remain unclear. While functional outcome was better in patients with a focal injury and vasospasm, patients who died had cerebral ischemia or infarction. We hypothesize that there is an interaction between impaired cerebral autoregulation, PTV and poor outcomes in patients with TBI.
文摘Objective: To investigate the effects of mild hypothermia on cerebral oxygen metabolism and brain injury in patients with severe craniocerebral injury. Methods: A total of 78 patients with severe craniocerebral injury who underwent emergency treatment in Huanggang Central Hospital between September 2015 and May 2017 were selected as the research subjects and divided into control group (n=39) and mild hypothermia group (n=39) by random number table. Control group received clinical standard large trauma craniotomy for severe craniocerebral injury, and mild hypothermia group received routine surgery and postoperative mild hypothermia therapy. The cerebral oxygen metabolism and brain injury in two groups of patients were detected immediately after admission (T0), 1 week after treatment (T1) and 4 weeks after treatment (T2). Results: At T0, there was no statistically significant difference in the levels of cerebral oxygen metabolism indexes, cerebral blood flow parameters and brain injury markers between the two groups. At T1 and T2, PO2 levels in mild hypothermia group were higher than those in control group while Da-jvO2 levels were lower than those in control group;cerebral blood flow parameters Vs and Wv levels were higher than those in control group while PI levels were lower than those in control group;brain injury markers MBP, AQP-4 and S-100B contents were lower than those in control group while BDNF contents were higher than those in control group. Conclusion: Adjuvant mild hypothermia therapy after routine surgery may further reduce the cerebral oxygen metabolism and relieve the brain injury in patients with severe craniocerebral injury.
文摘Objective: Severe traumatic brain injury (sTBI) is one of the common acute and critical diseases in neurosurgery. So we aim to explore the clinical effectiveness of an intelligent emergency care model in patients with severe traumatic brain injury. Methods: Eighty patients with severe traumatic brain injury (sTBI) who were treated in Zhuji People’s Hospital of Zhejiang Province from January 2019 to December 2021 were selected as the study subjects. The patients were divided into an observation group and a control group with 40 patients in each group according to the random number table method. Patients in the control group received conventional first-aid nursing mode intervention, and the intelligent emergency nursing mode was used for the observation group based on the control group. Comparisons were conducted between the two groups on the time of arrival to the emergency room, the time from the emergency room to the operating room, Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) score before surgery, GCS score when leaving the Intensive Care Unit (ICU), the average length of ICU stay, the average length of hospital stay, the total hospital costs. Results: The time of arrival to the emergency room, the time from the emergency room to the operating room, the average length of ICU stay, the average length of hospital stay, and the total hospital costs in the observation group were significantly lower than those in the control group, and the differences were statistically significant (All P Conclusion: Intelligent emergency nursing mode can shorten the time of sTBI rescue, the length of ICU stay, and the average length of hospital stay, reduce the total hospitalization cost, improve the prognosis, with good efficacy, reduce the total cost of hospitalization, and improve the prognosis with better efficacy.
基金supported by the National Nature Science Foundation of China,Nos.81671207 and 81974189(both to HLT)。
文摘Sirtuin 2(SIRT2)inhibition or Sirt2 knocko ut in animal models protects against the development of neurodegenerative diseases and cerebral ischemia.However,the role of SIRT2 in traumatic brain injury(TBI)remains unclear.In this study,we found that knockout of Sirt2 in a mouse model of TBI reduced brain edema,attenuated dis ruption of the blood-brain barrie r,decreased expression of the nucleotide-binding oligomerization domain-like receptor protein 3(NLRP3)inflammasome,reduced the activity of the effector caspase-1,reduced neuroinflammation and neuronal pyroptosis,and improved neurological function.Knoc kout of Sirt2 in a mechanical stretch injury cell model in vitro also decreased expression of the NLRP3 inflammasome and pyroptosis.Our findings suggest that knockout of Sirt2 is neuro protective against TBI;therefore.Sirt2 could be a novel to rget for TBI treatment.
文摘Objective To study difference between intravascular cooling system and traditional moderate hypothermia in patients with severe traumatic brain injury. Methods Eighty sTBI patients were randomly divided into intravascular hypothermic groups (IVT) and traditional moderate hypothermia groups(HT) . Inclusion criteria included a Glasgow Coma Scale(GCS) score ≤8 and time from injury to admission must be within 12 hours.
文摘To study the effect of mild hypothermia on glucose metabolism and glycerol of brain tissue in patients with severe traumatic brain injury (sTBI).Methods All 33 patients with sTBI(GCS≤8) were randomly divided into hypothermic group and control group.Microdialysis catheters were inserted into the cerebral cortex of perilesion,relative normal brain tissue and subcutaneous tissue of abdomen in order to analyze the concentrations of lactate/pyruvate (L/P),lactate/glucose (L/G) and the glycerol(Gly) in extracellular fluid (ECF).Results In comparison with the control group,the concentration of L/G,L/P and Gly in periphery and that of L/P in ECF of the “normal brain tissue” were significantly decreased in the hypothermic group.In control group,concentration of L/G,L/P and Gly in periphery were higher than those in relative normal brain.In the hypothermic group,L/P concentration in periphery was higher than that in relative normal brain.Conclusion Mild hypothermia protects brain by decreasing concentrations of L/G,L/P and Gly in periphery and L/P concentration in “normal brain tissue”.The energy crisis and membrane phospholipid breakage in periphery are easier to happen after TBI,where mild hypothermia exerts significant protgective role.12 refs,3 tabs.
基金supported by grants from the National Science and Technology Innovation 2030 Grant of China,No.2021ZD0201005(to SXW)Natural Science Foundation of China,Nos.81900489(to YZ),82101294(to GHC),81730035(to SXW)+1 种基金Natural Science Foundation of Shaanxi Province,No.2022JM-456(to YZ)Shaanxi Provincial Key Research and Development Program,Nos.2022SF-011(to GHC),2022ZDLSF01-02(to YZW)。
文摘Controlled cortical impingement is a widely accepted method to induce traumatic brain injury to establish a traumatic brain injury animal model.A strike depth of 1 mm at a certain speed is recommended for a moderate brain injury and a depth of>2 mm is used to induce severe brain injury.However,the different effects and underlying mechanisms of these two model types have not been proven.This study investigated the changes in cerebral blood flow,differences in the degree of cortical damage,and differences in motor function under different injury parameters of 1 and 2 mm at injury speeds of 3,4,and 5 m/s.We also explored the functional changes and mitochondrial damage between the 1 and 2 mm groups in the acute(7 days)and chronic phases(30 days).The results showed that the cerebral blood flow in the injured area of the 1 mm group was significantly increased,and swelling and bulging of brain tissue,increased vascular permeability,and large-scale exudation occurred.In the 2 mm group,the main pathological changes were decreased cerebral blood flow,brain tissue loss,and cerebral vasospasm occlusion in the injured area.Substantial motor and cognitive impairments were found on day 7 after injury in the 2 mm group;at 30 days after injury,the motor function of the 2 mm group mice recovered significantly while cognitive impairment persisted.Transcriptome sequencing showed that compared with the 1 mm group,the 2 mm group expressed more ferroptosis-related genes.Morphological changes of mitochondria in the two groups on days 7 and 30 using transmission electron microscopy revealed that on day 7,the mitochondria in both groups shrank and the vacuoles became larger;on day 30,the mitochondria in the 1 mm group became larger,and the vacuoles in the 2 mm group remained enlarged.By analyzing the proportion of mitochondrial subgroups in different groups,we found that the model mice had different patterns of mitochondrial composition at different time periods,suggesting that the difference in the degree of damage among traumatic brain injury groups may reflect the mitochondrial changes.Taken together,differences in mitochondrial morphology and function between the 1 and 2 mm groups provide a new direction for the accurate classification of traumatic brain injury.Our results provide reliable data support and evaluation methods for promoting the establishment of standard mouse controlled cortical impingement model guidelines.
文摘Introduction: Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) is a major public health problem causing significant morbidity and mortality in young adults. This study aimed to describe the epidemiological, diagnostic, therapeutic, and evolutionary aspects of TBI. Materials and Methods: This was a prospective, descriptive study conducted from 1 April 2022 to 31 March 2023 on patients admitted to and treated for cranioencephalic trauma in the General Surgery department of Kara Regional Hospital. Results: Eighty-three (83) patients with cranioencephalic trauma were managed out of 773 patients admitted to the department during the study period. The mean age was 34 ± 14.98 years and the sex ratio was 3.6 in favour of men. Motorbike taxi drivers were the social group most affected (n = 33, 40%). The causes of trauma were dominated by public road accidents (n = 80;96%). TBI was mild (n = 40;48%), moderate (n = 35;42%) and severe (n = 8;10%). Cerebral CT scans were performed in 19 patients (23%). Cerebral contusion (n = 4) was the most frequent cerebral lesion. Six patients (7%) with severe head injuries were transferred to Kara University Hospital. Six deaths (7%) occurred in patients with severe head injuries. The main sequelae were intermittent headaches in all patients reviewed, and memory problems (6%). Conclusion: Traumatic brain injuries are common at Kara Regional Hospital. Severe cranial trauma is less frequent but leads to death because of financial difficulties and limited technical facilities.
基金supported by a grant from Suzhou Key Medicine Project Fund of China,No.Szxk201504
文摘Although hyperbaric oxygen (HBO) therapy can promote the recovery of neural function in patients who have suffered traumatic brain injury (TBI), the underlying mechanism is unclear. We hypothesized that hyperbaric oxygen treatment plays a neuroprotective role in TBI by increasing regional transcranial oxygen saturation (rSO2) and oxygen partial pressure (PaO2). To test this idea, we compared two groups: a control group with 20 healthy people and a treatment group with 40 TBI patients. The 40 patients were given 100% oxygen of HBO for 90 minutes. Changes in rSO2 were measured. The controls were also examined for rSO2 and PaO2, but received no treatment, rSO2 levels in the patients did not differ significantly after treatment, but levels before and after treatment were significantly lower than those in the control group. PaO2 levels were significantly decreased after the 30-minute HBO treatment. Our findings suggest that there is a disorder of oxygen metabolism in patients with sub-acute TBI. HBO does not immediately affect cerebral oxygen metabolism, and the underlying mechanism still needs to be studied in depth.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China,No.81671221(to RCJ)
文摘The rat high-impact free weight drop model mimics the diffuse axonal injury caused by severe traumatic brain injury in humans,while severe controlled cortical impact can produce a severe traumatic brain injury model using precise strike parameters.In this study,we compare the pathological mechanisms and pathological changes between two rat severe brain injury models to identify the similarities and differences.The severe controlled cortical impact model was produced by an electronic controlled cortical impact device,while the severe free weight drop model was produced by dropping a 500 g free weight from a height of 1.8 m through a plastic tube.Body temperature and mortality were recorded,and neurological deficits were assessed with the modified neurological severity score.Brain edema and bloodbrain barrier damage were evaluated by assessing brain water content and Evans blue extravasation.In addition,a cytokine array kit was used to detect inflammatory cytokines.Neuronal apoptosis in the brain and brainstem was quantified by immunofluorescence staining.Both the severe controlled cortical impact and severe free weight drop models exhibited significant neurological impairments and body temperature fluctuations.More severe motor dysfunction was observed in the severe controlled cortical impact model,while more severe cognitive dysfunction was observed in the severe free weight drop model.Brain edema,inflammatory cytokine changes and cortical neuronal apoptosis were more substantial and blood-brain barrier damage was more focal in the severe controlled cortical impact group compared with the severe free weight drop group.The severe free weight drop model presented with more significant apoptosis in the brainstem and diffused blood-brain barrier damage,with higher mortality and lower repeatability compared with the severe controlled cortical impact group.Severe brainstem damage was not found in the severe controlled cortical impact model.These results indicate that the severe controlled cortical impact model is relatively more stable,more reproducible,and shows obvious cerebral pathological changes at an earlier stage.Therefore,the severe controlled cortical impact model is likely more suitable for studies on severe focal traumatic brain injury,while the severe free weight drop model may be more apt for studies on diffuse axonal injury.All experimental procedures were approved by the Ethics Committee of Animal Experiments of Tianjin Medical University,China(approval No.IRB2012-028-02)in Febru ary 2012.
基金supported by grants from the National Natural Science Foundation of China(No.81270239)the Natural Science Foundation of Hubei Province of China(No.2014CFB200)
文摘The aim of this study was to investigate the possible beneficial role of telmisartan in cerebral edema after traumatic brain injury(TBI) and the potential mechanisms related to the nucleotide-binding oligomerization domain(NOD)-like receptor(NLR) pyrin domain-containing 3(NLRP3) inflammasome activation. TBI model was established by cold-induced brain injury. Male C57BL/6 mice were randomly assigned into 3, 6, 12, 24, 48 and 72 h survival groups to investigate cerebral edema development with time and received 0, 5, 10, 20 and 40 mg/kg telmisartan by oral gavage, 1 h prior to TBI to determine the efficient anti-edemic dose. The therapeutic window was identified by post-treating 30 min, 1 h, 2 h and 4 h after TBI. Blood-brain barrier(BBB) integrity, the neurological function and histological injury were assessed, at the same time, the m RNA and protein expression levels of NLRP3 inflammasome, IL-1β and IL-18 concentrations in peri-contused brain tissue were measured 24 h post TBI. The results showed that the traumatic cerebral edema occurred from 6 h, reached the peak at 24 h and recovered to the baseline 72 h after TBI. A single oral dose of 5, 10 and 20 mg/kg telmisartan could reduce cerebral edema. Post-treatment up to 2 h effectively limited the edema development. Furthermore, prophylactic administration of telmisartan markedly inhibited BBB impairment, NLRP3, apoptotic speck-containing protein(ASC) and Caspase-1 activation, as well as IL-1β and IL-18 maturation, subsequently improved the neurological outcomes. In conclusion, telmisartan can reduce traumatic cerebral edema by inhibiting the NLRP3 inflammasome-regulated IL-1β and IL-18 accumulation.
文摘Cerebral blood flow is strongly associated with brain function, and is the main symptom and diagnostic basis for a variety of encephalopathies. However, changes in cerebral blood flow after mild traumatic brain injury remain poorly understood. This study sought to observe changes in cerebral blood flow in different regions after mild traumatic brain injury using pulsed arterial spin labeling. Our results demonstrate maximal cerebral blood flow in gray matter and minimal in the white matter of patients with mild traumatic brain injury. At the acute and subacute stages, cerebral blood flow was reduced in the occipital lobe, parietal lobe, central region, subcutaneous region, and frontal lobe. Cerebral blood flow was restored at the chronic stage. At the acute, subacute, and chronic stages, changes in cerebral blood flow were not apparent in the insula. Cerebral blood flow in the temporal lobe and limbic lobe diminished at the acute and subacute stages, but was restored at the chronic stage. These findings suggest that pulsed arterial spin labeling can precisely measure cerebral blood flow in various brain regions, and may play a reference role in evaluating a patient's condition and judging prognosis after traumatic brain injury.
文摘Traumatic brain injury(TBI)represents a global pandemic and is currently a leading cause of injury related death worldwide.Unfortunately,those who survive initial injury often suffer devastating functional,social,and economic consequences.
文摘This study was a retrospective analysis of the epidemiologic profile of severe traumatic brain injuries managed at the surgical intensive care unit of the University Hospital Center of Yaoundé, Cameroon, between January 2011 and December 2015. All the patients admitted at the surgical intensive care unit for a traumatic brain injury with an initial Glasgow coma scale score ≤ 8 were included. One hundred and thirty-five cases were enrolled. One hundred and fourteen were males and 21 were females. Their mean age was 32.75 years. Forty-four patients were aged between 16 to 30 years. Road traffic accidents represented the first mode of injury with 101 cases and most of the patients were pedestrians hit by a car. Pupils and students were the most involved. Twenty-three patients had additional extracranial injury. On admission, 97 (71.85%) patients had GCS 7-8. A brain CT scan was done for 115 patients. Intracranial and intracerebral hemorrhages were the most frequent radiological findings with 57 cases. The overall mortality was 32.59% with 44 deaths. Thirty-two of the deaths occurred in patients with GCS 7 - 8 on admission. Ninety-one (67.40%) patients survived, 74 (54.81%) had persisting disabilities, while only 17 (12.59%) recovered fully. The following factors had an impact on the outcome: GCS at admission, pupillary anomalies, length of hospital stay, endotracheal intubation and surgery. Severe TBI remains a heavy socio-economic burden worldwide. In Cameroon where the health system is poorly organized, the outcome of individuals who sustained a severe TBI was dismal.