Role of brain metabolites during acute phase of mild traumatic brain injury in prognosis of post-concussion syndrome: A 1H-MRS study.

This study has investigated the potency and accuracy of early magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) to predict post-concussion syndrome (PCS) in adult patients with a single mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) without abnormality on a routine brain scan. A total of 48 eligible mTBI patients and 24 volunteers in the control group participated in this project. Brain MRS over regions of interest (ROI) and signal stop task (SST) were done within the first 72 hours of TBI onset. After six months, PCS appearance and severity were determined. In non-PCS patients, N-acetyl aspartate (NAA) levels significantly increased in the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) and anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) relative to the control group, however, this increase of NAA levels were recorded in all ROI versus PCS subjects. There were dramatic declines in creatinine (Cr) levels of all ROI and a decrease in choline levels of corpus callosum (CC) in the PCS group versus control and non-PCS ones. NAA and NAA/Cho values in ACC were the main predictors of PCS appearance. The Cho/Cr level in ACC was the first predictor of PCS severity. Predicting accuracy was higher in ACC than in other regions. This study suggested the significance of neuro-markers in ACC for optimal prediction of PCS and rendered a new insight into the biological mechanism of mTBI that underpins PCS.

The association of 25 (OH) D3 serum level with ischemic cerebrovascular accident risk, severity and outcome in Iranian population.

OBJECTIVES: The role of combined presence of vitamin D deficiency and other risk factors of stroke in ischemic cerebrovascular accident (CVA) development in Iranian adults has been unclear, so far. The association of vitamin D status at admission with ischemic CVA severity and outcome in this community is not yet well elucidated. This study aimed to clarify these ambiguities. METHODS: In a cross-sectional study 104 hospitalized ischemic CVA patients and 104 healthy controls participated. The serum level of 25 (OH) D3 and baseline biochemical parameters were measured in ischemic patients within the first 24 h of admission, as well as healthy controls. The severity of CVA and clinical outcome were assessed using National Institutes Health Stroke Scale and Modified Rankin Scale, respectively. Data were analyzed using the Chi-square test, independent t-test, and multiple logistic regression. RESULTS: There was a significant difference between patients and controls regarding the presence of vitamin D3 deficiency, hypertension, smoking, and baseline level of LDL and FBS. Vitamin D3 deficiency boosted the risk of ischemic in males and those having family history of CVA. A low serum level of 25 (OH) D3 was associated with more severity and poor outcome of CVA. The CVA severity, vitamin D3 deficiency, and hypertension were predictors of poor outcome. CONCLUSIONS: The study highlights the increased risk of ischemia in Iranians by cooccurrence of vitamin D3 deficiency and other risk factors of CVA. Clinical significance of vitamin D3 deficiency control may be suggested in those at risk of CVA and functional poor outcomes.