Inflammation induced by traumatic brain injury (TBI) is complex, individual-specific, and associated with morbidity and mortality. We sought to develop dynamic, data-driven, predictive computational models of TBI-induced inflammation based on cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) biomarkers. Thirteen inflammatory mediators were determined in serial CSF samples from 27 severe TBI patients. The Glasgow Coma ...

Neurological deterioration in alert patients with an acute CNS disorder can be subtle, but current coma scales may not clearly capture changes in level of alertness. Many coma scales include components such as eye opening and content of speech, features that are difficult to assess in intubated patients and patients with facial trauma. Two new tools have been devised by the authors. The compone...

Decompressive hemicraniectomy as an appropriate treatment for malignant middle cerebral artery (MCA) infarction is still a controversial issue. This study aimed to determine the survival rate and functional outcome, and factors associated with these, in patients with malignant MCA infarction. From January 2000 to December 2003, 60 patients with malignant MCA infarction were treated in our hospi...

INTRODUCTION Severe acute pancreatitis (SAP) requiring admission to a critical care unit is associated with high mortality and long lengths of stay. We describe the case mix, outcome, and activity of admissions with SAP who were identified from a high-quality clinical database. METHODS We conducted a secondary analysis of the ICNARC (Intensive Care National Audit & Research Centre) Case Mix P...

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE A clinical grading scale for intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH), formally ICH score, was recently developed showing to predict 30-day mortality in a simple and reliable manner. The aim of the present study was to validate the original ICH (oICH) score in an independent cohort of patients from a developing country assessing 30-day mortality and 6-month functional outcome and w...

BACKGROUND Malignant cerebral infarction is a well-recognized disease, comprising 10-15% of all cases with cerebral infarction and causing herniation and death in 80% of cases. In this study, we compare the effects of decompressive craniectomy versus conventional medical treatment on mortality rate and functional and neurological outcome in patients with malignant MCA infarction. METHODS We p...

Although decompressive craniectomy following traumatic brain injury is an option in patients with raised intracranial pressure (ICP) refractory to medical measures, its effect on clinical outcome remains unclear. The aim of this study was to evaluate the outcome of patients undergoing this procedure as part of protocol-driven therapy between 2000-2003. This was an observational study combining ...

INTRODUCTION Glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) may serve as a serum marker of traumatic brain injury (TBI) that can be used to monitor biochemical changes in patients and gauge the response to treatment. However, the temporal profile of serum GFAP in the acute period of brain injury and the associated utility for outcome prediction has not been elucidated. METHODS We conducted a prospect...

OBJECTIVE To assess the therapeutic potential of neural therapy, a modified form of acupuncture, in multiple sclerosis. DESIGN A pilot study followed by a double-blind, placebo-controlled randomized study. SETTING The Glasgow Homoeopathic Hospital, Glasgow, Scotland. PATIENTS An unselected group of 61 new patients referred to the Glasgow Homoeopathic Hospital, suffering from any type of m...

HYPOTHESES A majority of trauma patients with known seizure disorder with seizure activity were noncompliant with their medications, normal neurologic examination findings would predict negative results of head computed tomography (CT) scans, and the yield of CT scans would be insufficient to justify their routine use. DESIGN Retrospective consecutive case series. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Bloo...