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Lu W, Jiang C, Wang Z, Chen Y, Bai R, Yan G, Wang G, Ren H. Lactic acid, neuron-specific enolase, and blood-brain barrier index after a severe traumatic brain injury: a prospective study. Br J Neurosurg 2024; 38:220-224. [PMID: 33016150 DOI: 10.1080/02688697.2020.1823938] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/06/2020] [Revised: 09/10/2020] [Accepted: 09/11/2020] [Indexed: 01/10/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To explore the clinical significance of dynamic monitoring of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and serum Lactic acid(Lac), neuron-specific enolase (NSE), and the blood-brain barrier (BBB) index in evaluating the condition and prognosis after a severe traumatic brain injury (TBI). METHODS A total of 52 severe TBI patients admitted to the Department of Neurosurgery within 24 hours after injury were dynamically monitored. CSF and serum samples were collected on the 1st, 3rd, and 7th day after a severe TBI to monitor the changes in Lac, NSE, and the BBB index. Intracranial pressure (ICP), Glasgow coma scale (GCS), and 6-month Glasgow outcome scale-extended (GOS-E) were tested. According to the results of GOS-E, the patients were divided into two groups (i.e. the poor prognosis group and good prognosis group). Statistical analysis was conducted to investigate the clinical significance of dynamic monitoring of CSF and serum Lac, NSE, and BBB index after a severe TBI. RESULTS After a severe TBI, the levels of Lac, NSE, and BBB in CSF and serum were significantly higher than those in the normal range. Lac, NSE, and the BBB index did not correlate with ICP (except serum Lac) but had correlations with GCS and post-injury 6 months post-injury (except serum Lac). Moreover, the correlations between Lac, NSE, and BBB index were statistically significant (p < 0.05): CSF Lac and CSF NSE; CSF Lac and serum NSE; Lac and BBB index of CSF; Lac and BBB index of CSF; NSE and CSE of serum; CSF NSE and BBB index; and serum NSE and BBB index. Additionally, serum NSE is correlated with NSE in CSF (p < 0.05). CONCLUSION After a severe TBI, dynamic monitoring of CSF and serum Lac, NSE, and BBB index has the potential to assess the condition, predict the prognosis, and have clinical significance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Weixin Lu
- Department of Neurosurgery, Lanzhou University Second Hospital, Lanzhou China
| | - Cheng Jiang
- Department of Neurosurgery, Lanzhou University Second Hospital, Lanzhou China
| | - Zening Wang
- Department of Neurosurgery, Lanzhou University Second Hospital, Lanzhou China
| | - Yi Chen
- Department of Neurosurgery, Lanzhou University Second Hospital, Lanzhou China
| | - Ruobing Bai
- Department of Neurosurgery, Lanzhou University Second Hospital, Lanzhou China
| | - Guizhong Yan
- Department of Neurosurgery, Lanzhou University Second Hospital, Lanzhou China
| | - Gang Wang
- Department of Neurosurgery, Lanzhou University Second Hospital, Lanzhou China
| | - Haijun Ren
- Department of Neurosurgery, Lanzhou University Second Hospital, Lanzhou China
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Fingelkurts AA, Fingelkurts AA. Turning Back the Clock: A Retrospective Single-Blind Study on Brain Age Change in Response to Nutraceuticals Supplementation vs. Lifestyle Modifications. Brain Sci 2023; 13:brainsci13030520. [PMID: 36979330 PMCID: PMC10046544 DOI: 10.3390/brainsci13030520] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/20/2023] [Revised: 03/17/2023] [Accepted: 03/19/2023] [Indexed: 03/30/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND There is a growing consensus that chronological age (CA) is not an accurate indicator of the aging process and that biological age (BA) instead is a better measure of an individual's risk of age-related outcomes and a more accurate predictor of mortality than actual CA. In this context, BA measures the "true" age, which is an integrated result of an individual's level of damage accumulation across all levels of biological organization, along with preserved resources. The BA is plastic and depends upon epigenetics. Brain state is an important factor contributing to health- and lifespan. METHODS AND OBJECTIVE Quantitative electroencephalography (qEEG)-derived brain BA (BBA) is a suitable and promising measure of brain aging. In the present study, we aimed to show that BBA can be decelerated or even reversed in humans (N = 89) by using customized programs of nutraceutical compounds or lifestyle changes (mean duration = 13 months). RESULTS We observed that BBA was younger than CA in both groups at the end of the intervention. Furthermore, the BBA of the participants in the nutraceuticals group was 2.83 years younger at the endpoint of the intervention compared with their BBA score at the beginning of the intervention, while the BBA of the participants in the lifestyle group was only 0.02 years younger at the end of the intervention. These results were accompanied by improvements in mental-physical health comorbidities in both groups. The pre-intervention BBA score and the sex of the participants were considered confounding factors and analyzed separately. CONCLUSIONS Overall, the obtained results support the feasibility of the goal of this study and also provide the first robust evidence that halting and reversal of brain aging are possible in humans within a reasonable (practical) timeframe of approximately one year.
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Yilmazer-Hanke D, Ouali Alami N, Fang L, Klotz S, Kovacs GG, Pankratz H, Weis J, Katona I, Scheuerle A, Streit WJ, Del Tredici K. Differential Glial Chitotriosidase 1 and Chitinase 3-like Protein 1 Expression in the Human Primary Visual Cortex and Cerebellum after Global Hypoxia-Ischemia. Neuroscience 2022; 506:91-113. [PMID: 36332693 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroscience.2022.10.018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/14/2022] [Revised: 10/15/2022] [Accepted: 10/20/2022] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Abstract
Here, we studied the neuroinflammation- and ischemia-related glial markers chitotriosidase 1 (CHIT1) and chitinase-3-like protein 1 (CHI3L1, alias YKL-40) in the human striate cortex and cerebellum at different time points after global hypoxic-ischemic brain injury (HIBI). Both regions differ considerably in their glial cell population but are supplied by the posterior circulation. CHIT1 and CHI3L1 expression was compared to changes in microglial (IBA1, CD68), astrocytic (GFAP, S100β), and neuronal markers (H&E, neurofilament heavy chain, NfH; calretinin, CALR) using immunohistochemistry and multiple-label immunofluorescence. Initial striatal cortical and cerebellar Purkinje cell damage, detectable already 1/2 d after HIBI, led to delayed neuronal death, whereas loss of cerebellar NfH-positive stellate and CALR-positive granule cells was variable. During the first week post-HIBI, a transient reduction of IBA1-positive microglia was observed in both regions, and fragmented/clasmatodendritic cerebellar Bergmann glia appeared. In long-term survivors, both brain regions displayed high densities of activated IBA1-positive cells and CD68-positive macrophages, which showed CHIT1 co-localization in the striate cortex. Furthermore, enlarged GFAP- and S100β-positive astroglia emerged in both regions around 9-10 d post-HIBI, i.e., along with clearance of dead neurons from the neuropil, although GFAP-/S100β-positive gemistocytic astrocytes that co-expressed CHI3L1 were found only in the striate cortex. Thus, only GFAP-/S100β-positive astrocytes in the striate cortex, but not cerebellar Bergmann glia, differentiated into CHI3L1-positive gemistocytes. CHIT1 was co-expressed almost entirely in macrophages in the striate cortex and not cerebellum of long-term survivors, thereby indicating that CHIT1 and CHI3L1 could be valuable biomarkers for monitoring the outcome of global HIBI.
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Affiliation(s)
- Deniz Yilmazer-Hanke
- Clinical Neuroanatomy, Neurology, School of Medicine, Ulm University, Ulm, Germany.
| | - Najwa Ouali Alami
- Clinical Neuroanatomy, Neurology, School of Medicine, Ulm University, Ulm, Germany
| | - Lubin Fang
- Clinical Neuroanatomy, Neurology, School of Medicine, Ulm University, Ulm, Germany
| | - Sigried Klotz
- Division of Neuropathology and Neurochemistry, Department of Neurology, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Gabor G Kovacs
- Division of Neuropathology and Neurochemistry, Department of Neurology, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Helmut Pankratz
- Institute of Forensic Medicine, Medical Faculty, Ludwig-Maximilian University Munich, Germany
| | - Joachim Weis
- Institute of Neuropathology, RWTH Aachen University Hospital, Aachen, Germany
| | - Istvan Katona
- Institute of Neuropathology, RWTH Aachen University Hospital, Aachen, Germany
| | - Angelika Scheuerle
- Department of Pathology, Section Neuropathology, University Hospital, Ulm, Germany
| | - Wolfgang J Streit
- Department of Neuroscience, College of Medicine, University of Florida, FL, USA
| | - Kelly Del Tredici
- Clinical Neuroanatomy, Neurology, School of Medicine, Ulm University, Ulm, Germany
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Lemarchant S, Sourioux M, Le Douce J, Henriques A, Callizot N, Hugues S, Farinelli M, Godfrin Y. NX210c Peptide Promotes Glutamatergic Receptor-Mediated Synaptic Transmission and Signaling in the Mouse Central Nervous System. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms23168867. [PMID: 36012124 PMCID: PMC9408760 DOI: 10.3390/ijms23168867] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/28/2022] [Revised: 07/28/2022] [Accepted: 08/08/2022] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
NX210c is a disease-modifying dodecapeptide derived from the subcommissural organ-spondin that is under preclinical and clinical development for the treatment of neurological disorders. Here, using whole-cell patch-clamp recordings, we demonstrate that NX210c increased α-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazolepropionic acid receptor (AMPAR)- and GluN2A-containing N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor (GluN2A-NMDAR)-mediated excitatory postsynaptic currents in the brain. Accordingly, using extracellular field excitatory postsynaptic potential recordings, an enhancement of synaptic transmission was shown in the presence of NX210c in two different neuronal circuits. Furthermore, the modulation of synaptic transmission and GluN2A-NMDAR-driven signaling by NX210c restored memory in mice chronically treated with the NMDAR antagonist phencyclidine. Overall, by promoting glutamatergic receptor-related neurotransmission and signaling, NX210c represents an innovative therapeutic opportunity for patients suffering from CNS disorders, injuries, and states with crippling synaptic dysfunctions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sighild Lemarchant
- Axoltis Pharma, 60 Avenue Rockefeller, 69008 Lyon, France
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +33-4-72-62-17-36
| | | | | | | | - Noëlle Callizot
- Neuro-Sys, 410 Chemin Départemental 60, 13120 Gardanne, France
| | - Sandrine Hugues
- E-Phy-Science, Bioparc, 2400 Routes de Colles, Sophia Antipolis, 06410 Biot, France
| | - Mélissa Farinelli
- E-Phy-Science, Bioparc, 2400 Routes de Colles, Sophia Antipolis, 06410 Biot, France
| | - Yann Godfrin
- Axoltis Pharma, 60 Avenue Rockefeller, 69008 Lyon, France
- Godfrin Life-Sciences, 8 Impasse de la Source, 69300 Caluire-et-Cuire, France
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Bagnato S. The role of plasticity in the recovery of consciousness. HANDBOOK OF CLINICAL NEUROLOGY 2022; 184:375-395. [PMID: 35034750 DOI: 10.1016/b978-0-12-819410-2.00020-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
Abstract
Disorders of consciousness (DOCs), i.e., coma, vegetative state, and minimally conscious state are the consequences of a severe brain injury that disrupts the brain ability to generate consciousness. Recovery from DOCs requires functional and structural changes in the brain. The sites where these plastic changes take place vary according to the pathophysiology of the DOC. The ascending reticular activating system of the brainstem and its complex connections with the thalamus and cortex are involved in the pathophysiology of coma. Subcortical structures, such as the striatum and globus pallidus, together with thalamocortical and corticothalamic projections, the basal forebrain, and several networks among different cortical areas are probably involved in vegetative and minimally conscious states. Some mechanisms of plasticity that allegedly operate in each of these sites to promote recovery of consciousness will be discussed in this chapter. While some mechanisms of plasticity work at a local level, others produce functional changes in complex neuronal networks, for example by entraining neuronal oscillations. The specific mechanisms of brain plasticity represent potential targets for future treatments aiming to restore consciousness in patients with severe DOCs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sergio Bagnato
- Unit of Neurophysiology and Unit for Severe Acquired Brain Injuries, Rehabilitation Department, Giuseppe Giglio Foundation, Cefalù (PA), Italy.
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Ismail FY, Saleem GT, Ljubisavljevic MR. Brain Data in Pediatric Disorders of Consciousness: Special Considerations. J Clin Neurophysiol 2022; 39:49-58. [PMID: 34474425 DOI: 10.1097/wnp.0000000000000772] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022] Open
Abstract
SUMMARY The diagnosis and management of disorders of consciousness in children continue to present a clinical, research, and ethical challenge. Though the practice guidelines for diagnosis and management of disorders of consciousness in adults are supported by decades of empirical and pragmatic evidence, similar guidelines for infants and children are lacking. The maturing conscious experience and the limited behavioral repertoire to report consciousness in this age group restrict extrapolation from the adult literature. Equally challenging is the process of heightened structural and functional neuroplasticity in the developing brain, which adds a layer of complexity to the investigation of the neural correlates of consciousness in infants and children. This review discusses the clinical assessment of pediatric disorders of consciousness and delineates the diagnostic and prognostic utility of neurophysiological and neuroimaging correlates of consciousness. The potential relevance of these correlates for the developing brain based on existing theoretical models of consciousness in adults is outlined.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fatima Y Ismail
- Department of Pediatrics, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, United Arab Emirates University, Al Ain, United Arab Emirates
- Department of Neurology (Adjunct), Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, U.S.A
| | - Ghazala T Saleem
- Department of Rehabilitation Science, School of Public Health and Health Professions, State University of New York at Buffalo, Buffalo, New York, U.S.A.; and
| | - Milos R Ljubisavljevic
- Department of Physiology, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, United Arab Emirates University, Al Ain, United Arab Emirates
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Lei L, Liu K, Yang Y, Doubliez A, Hu X, Xu Y, Zhou Y. Spatio-temporal analysis of EEG features during consciousness recovery in patients with disorders of consciousness. Clin Neurophysiol 2021; 133:135-144. [PMID: 34864400 DOI: 10.1016/j.clinph.2021.08.027] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/01/2020] [Revised: 08/10/2021] [Accepted: 08/29/2021] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE As consciousness recovery is not only dynamic but also involves interactions between various brain regions, elucidating the mechanism of recovery requires tracking cortical activity in spatio-temporal dimensions. METHODS We tracked the cortical activities of 40 patients (mean age: 54.38 years; 28 males; 21 patients with minimally conscious states) with disorders of consciousness, and collected a total of 156 electroencephalographic signals. We investigated the longitudinal changes in EEG nonlinear dynamic features (i.e., approximate entropy, sample entropy, and Lempel-Ziv complexity) and relative wavelet energy along with consciousness recovery. RESULTS Global EEG features showed a non-monotonic trend during consciousness recovery (P < 0.05). When the level of consciousness of patients was transferred to a minimally conscious state from an unresponsive wakefulness syndrome/ vegetative state, an inflection point appeared in the EEG features. The EEG feature change trends between the injured and uninjured areas were dissimilar (P < 0.05). Importantly, the degree of dissimilarity increased non-monotonically across the levels of consciousness (P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS EEG recovery was non-monotonic and dissimilar in spatio-temporal dimensions, with an inflection point. SIGNIFICANCE These findings further clarify the process of consciousness recovery and provide assistance in exploring the mechanism of consciousness recovery.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ling Lei
- College of Automation, Hangzhou Dianzi University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310018, China
| | - Kehong Liu
- Wu Jing Hospital, Rehabilitation Center, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310051, China
| | - Yong Yang
- College of Automation, Hangzhou Dianzi University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310018, China.
| | - Alice Doubliez
- Paris Descartes University, 45 rue des Saints-Peres, Paris 75006, France
| | - Xiaohua Hu
- Wu Jing Hospital, Rehabilitation Center, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310051, China
| | - Ying Xu
- College of Automation, Hangzhou Dianzi University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310018, China
| | - Yixing Zhou
- First People's Hospital of Zhaoqing City, No. 9 Donggang East Road, Duanzhou District, Zhaoqing 526060, China.
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Naro A, Pignolo L, Lucca LF, Calabrò RS. An action-observation/motor-imagery based approach to differentiate disorders of consciousness: what is beneath the tip of the iceberg? Restor Neurol Neurosci 2021; 39:181-197. [PMID: 33998559 DOI: 10.3233/rnn-201130] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The evaluation of motor imagery in persons with prolonged Disorders of Consciousness (pDOC) is a practical approach to differentiate between patients with Minimally Conscious State (MCS) and Unresponsive Wakefulness Syndrome (UWS) and to identify residual awareness even in individuals with UWS. Investigating the influence of motor observation on motor imagery could be helpful in this regard. OBJECTIVE In order to corroborate the clinical diagnosis and identify misdiagnosed individuals, we used EEG recordings, to assess the influence of the low-level perceptual and motoric mechanisms on motor observation on motor imagery, taking into account the role of the high-level cognitive mechanisms in patients with pDOC. METHODS We assessed the influence of motor observation of walking in first-person or third-person view (by a video provision) on motor imagery of walking in the first-person view on the visual N190 (expression of motor observation processing), the readiness potential (RP) (expressing motor preparation), and the P3 component (high-level cognitive processes) in a sample of 10 persons with MCS, 10 with UWS, and 10 healthy controls (CG). Specifically, the video showed a first-view or third-view walk down the street while the participants were asked to imagine a first-view walking down the street. RESULTS CG showed greater N190 response (low-level sensorimotor processing) in the non-matching than in the matching condition. Conversely, the P3 and RP responses (high-level sensorimotor processing) were greater in the matching than in the non-matching condition. Remarkably, 6 out of 10 patients with MCS showed the preservation of both high- and low-level sensorimotor processing. One UWS patient showed responses similar to those six patients, suggesting a preservation of cognitively-mediated sensorimotor processing despite a detrimental motor preparation process. The remaining patients with MCS did not show diversified EEG responses, suggesting limited cognitive functioning. CONCLUSIONS Our study suggests that identifying the low-level visual and high-level motor preparation processes in response to a simple influence of motor observation of motor imagery tasks potentially supports the clinical differential diagnosis of with MCS and UWS. This might help identify UWS patients which were misdiagnosed and who deserve more sophisticated diagnoses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Antonino Naro
- IRCCS Centro Neurolesi Bonino Pulejo, Messina, Italy
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Somatosensory evoked potential amplitudes correlate with long-term consciousness recovery in patients with unresponsive wakefulness syndrome. Clin Neurophysiol 2021; 132:793-799. [PMID: 33578338 DOI: 10.1016/j.clinph.2021.01.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/04/2020] [Revised: 12/11/2020] [Accepted: 01/12/2021] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To prospectively investigate relationships of cortical somatosensory evoked potential (SEP) amplitudes with consciousness recovery and disability in the year following brain injury in patients with vegetative state/unresponsive wakefulness syndrome (VS/UWS). METHODS SEPs of 42 patients with VS/UWS were recorded 51.7 ± 23.3 days post-injury. N20-P25 amplitudes were compared between patients with and without consciousness recovery at 6 months and 1 year post-injury. RESULTS SEPs were present in 21 patients and bilaterally absent in 21 patients. N20-P25 amplitudes were significantly higher in patients who recovered consciousness than in those who died or did not recover consciousness at 6 months (median, 4.6 vs. 1.9 μV; P = 0.004) and 1 year (median, 4.6 vs. 2.1 μV; P = 0.02) after injury. The lowest N20-P25 amplitude in a patient who recovered consciousness was 2.15 μV. N20-P25 amplitudes correlated significantly with Coma Recovery Scale-Revised and Disability Rating Scale scores at 6 months and 1 year post-injury (both P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS In patients with VS/UWS, SEP amplitudes are related to consciousness recovery and disability at 6 months and 1 year post-injury. SIGNIFICANCE The evaluation of SEP amplitudes can help to refine prognoses for patients with VS/UWS.
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Naro A, Calabrò RS. Towards New Diagnostic Approaches in Disorders of Consciousness: A Proof of Concept Study on the Promising Use of Imagery Visuomotor Task. Brain Sci 2020; 10:brainsci10100746. [PMID: 33080823 PMCID: PMC7603054 DOI: 10.3390/brainsci10100746] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/05/2020] [Revised: 10/08/2020] [Accepted: 10/14/2020] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Background: advanced paraclinical approaches using functional neuroimaging and electroencephalography (EEG) allow identifying patients who are covertly aware despite being diagnosed as unresponsive wakefulness syndrome (UWS). Bedside detection of covert awareness employing motor imagery tasks (MI), which is a universally accepted clinical indicator of awareness in the absence of overt behavior, may miss some of these patients, as they could still have a certain level of awareness. We aimed at assessing covert awareness in patients with UWS using a visuomotor-guided motor imagery task (VMI) during EEG recording. Methods: nine patients in a minimally conscious state (MCS), 11 patients in a UWS, and 15 healthy individuals (control group—CG) were provided with an VMI (imagine dancing while watching a group dance video to command), a simple-MI (imagine squeezing their right hand to command), and an advanced-MI (imagine dancing without watching a group dance video to command) to detect command-following. We analyzed the command-specific EEG responses (event-related synchronization/desynchronization—ERS/ERD) of each patient, assessing whether these responses were appropriate, consistent, and statistically similar to those elicited in the CG, as reliable markers of motor imagery. Results: All patients in MCS, all healthy individuals and one patient in UWS repeatedly and reliably generated appropriate EEG responses to distinct commands of motor imagery with a classification accuracy of 60–80%. Conclusions: VMI outperformed significantly MI tasks. Therefore, patients in UWS may be still misdiagnosed despite a rigorous clinical assessment and an appropriate MI assessment. It is thus possible to suggest that motor imagery tasks should be delivered to patients with chronic disorders of consciousness in visuomotor-aided modality (also in the rehabilitation setting) to greatly entrain patient’s participation. In this regard, the EEG approach we described has the clear advantage of being cheap, portable, widely available, and objective. It may be thus considered as, at least, a screening tool to identify the patients who deserve further, advanced paraclinical approaches.
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Naro A, Maggio MG, Leo A, Calabrò RS. Multiplex and Multilayer Network EEG Analyses: A Novel Strategy in the Differential Diagnosis of Patients with Chronic Disorders of Consciousness. Int J Neural Syst 2020; 31:2050052. [PMID: 33034532 DOI: 10.1142/s0129065720500525] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
The deterioration of specific topological network measures that quantify different features of whole-brain functional network organization can be considered a marker for awareness impairment. Such topological measures reflect the functional interactions of multiple brain structures, which support the integration of different sensorimotor information subtending awareness. However, conventional, single-layer, graph theoretical analysis (GTA)-based approaches cannot always reliably differentiate patients with Disorders of Consciousness (DoC). Using multiplex and multilayer network analyses of frequency-specific and area-specific networks, we investigated functional connectivity during resting-state EEG in 17 patients with Unresponsive Wakefulness Syndrome (UWS) and 15 with Minimally Conscious State (MCS). Multiplex and multilayer network metrics indicated the deterioration and heterogeneity of functional networks and, particularly, the frontal-parietal (FP), as the discriminant between patients with MCS and UWS. These data were not appreciable when considering each individual frequency-specific network. The distinctive properties of multiplex/multilayer network metrics and individual frequency-specific network metrics further suggest the value of integrating the networks as opposed to analyzing frequency-specific network metrics one at a time. The hub vulnerability of these regions was positively correlated with the behavioral responsiveness, thus strengthening the clinically-based differential diagnosis. Therefore, it may be beneficial to adopt both multiplex and multilayer network analyses when expanding the conventional GTA-based analyses in the differential diagnosis of patients with DoC. Multiplex analysis differentiated patients at a group level, whereas the multilayer analysis offered complementary information to differentiate patients with DoC individually. Although further studies are necessary to confirm our preliminary findings, these results contribute to the issue of DoC differential diagnosis and may help in guiding patient-tailored management.
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Affiliation(s)
- Antonino Naro
- IRCCS Centro Neurolesi Bonino Pulejo, Messina, Italy, Via Palermo, SS 113, Contrada Casazza, 98124 Messina, Italy
| | - Maria Grazia Maggio
- IRCCS Centro Neurolesi Bonino Pulejo, Messina, Italy, Via Palermo, SS 113, Contrada Casazza, 98124 Messina, Italy
| | - Antonino Leo
- IRCCS Centro Neurolesi Bonino Pulejo, Messina, Italy, Via Palermo, SS 113, Contrada Casazza, 98124 Messina, Italy
| | - Rocco Salvatore Calabrò
- IRCCS Centro Neurolesi Bonino Pulejo, Messina, Italy, Via Palermo, SS 113, Contrada Casazza, 98124 Messina, Italy
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Serum BDNF Levels Are Reduced in Patients with Disorders of Consciousness and Are Not Modified by Verticalization with Robot-Assisted Lower-Limb Training. Neural Plast 2020; 2020:5608145. [PMID: 32565776 PMCID: PMC7261323 DOI: 10.1155/2020/5608145] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/08/2019] [Revised: 05/04/2020] [Accepted: 05/07/2020] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Little is known about plastic changes occurring in the brains of patients with severe disorders of consciousness (DOCs) caused by acute brain injuries at rest and during rehabilitative treatment. Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) is a neurotrophin involved in neurogenesis and synaptic plasticity whose production is powerfully modulated by physical exercise. In this study, we compared serum BDNF levels in 18 patients with unresponsive wakefulness syndrome (UWS) and in a minimally conscious state (MCS) with those in 16 sex- and age-matched healthy controls. In 12 patients, serum BDNF levels before and after verticalization with ErigoPro robot-assisted lower-limb training were compared. Serum BDNF levels were significantly lower in patients (median, 1141 pg/ml; 25th and 75th percentiles, 1016 and 1704 pg/ml) than in controls (median, 2450 pg/ml; 25th and 75th percentiles, 2100 and 2875 pg/ml; p < 0.001). BDNF levels measured before and after verticalization with robot-assisted lower-limb training did not change (p = 0.5). Moreover, BDNF levels did not differ between patients with UWS and MCS (p = 0.2), or between patients with traumatic and nontraumatic brain injuries (p = 0.6). BDNF level correlated positively with the time since brain injury (p = 0.025). In conclusion, serum BDNF levels are reduced in patients with UWS and MCS and cannot be improved by verticalization associated with passive lower-limb training. Additional studies are needed to better understand the mechanisms underlying BDNF reduction in patients with DOCs and to determine the best rehabilitative strategies to promote restorative plastic changes in these patients.
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Calabrò RS, Chillura A, Billeri L, Cannavò A, Buda A, Molonia F, Manuli A, Bramanti P, Naro A. Peri-Personal Space Tracing by Hand-Blink Reflex Modulation in Patients with Chronic Disorders of Consciousness. Sci Rep 2020; 10:1712. [PMID: 32015445 PMCID: PMC6997168 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-58625-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/27/2019] [Accepted: 01/17/2020] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
The assessment of awareness in patients with chronic Disorders of Consciousness (DoC), including Unresponsive Wakefulness Syndrome (UWS) and Minimally Conscious State (MCS), is challenging. The level of awareness impairment may depend on the degree of deterioration of the large-scale cortical-thalamo-cortical networks induced by brain injury. Electrophysiological approaches may shed light on awareness presence in patients with DoC by estimating cortical functions related to the cortical-thalamo-cortical networks including, for example, the cortico-subcortical processes generating motor responses to the perturbation of the peri-personal space (PPS). We measured the amplitude, latency, and duration of the hand-blink reflex (HBR) responses by recording electromyography (EMG) signals from both the orbicularis oculi muscles while electrically stimulating the median nerve at the wrist. Such a BR is thought to be mediated by a neural circuit at the brainstem level. Despite its defensive-response nature, HBR can be modulated by the distance between the stimulated hand and the face. This suggests a functional top-down control of HBR as reflected by HBR features changes (latency, amplitude, and magnitude). We therefore estimated HBR responses in a sample of patients with DoC (8 MCS and 12 UWS, compared to 15 healthy controls -HC) while performing a motor task targeting the PPS. This consisted of passive movements in which the hand of the subject was positioned at different distances from the participant's face. We aimed at demonstrating a residual top-down modulation of HBR properties, which could be useful to differentiate patients with DoC and, potentially, demonstrate awareness preservation. We found a decrease in latency, and an increase in duration and magnitude of HBR responses, which were all inversely related to the hand-to-face distance in HC and patients with MCS, but not in individuals with UWS. Our data suggest that only patients with MCS have preserved, residual, top-down modulation of the processes related to the PPS from higher-order cortical areas to sensory-motor integration network. Although the sample size was relatively small, being thus our data preliminary, HBR assessment seems a rapid, easy, and first-level tool to differentiate patients with MCS from those with UWS. We may also hypothesize that such a HBR modulation suggests awareness preservation.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Luana Billeri
- IRCCS Centro Neurolesi Bonino Pulejo, Messina, Italy
| | | | - Antonio Buda
- IRCCS Centro Neurolesi Bonino Pulejo, Messina, Italy
| | | | | | | | - Antonino Naro
- IRCCS Centro Neurolesi Bonino Pulejo, Messina, Italy
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Billeri L, Filoni S, Russo EF, Portaro S, Militi D, Calabrò RS, Naro A. Toward Improving Diagnostic Strategies in Chronic Disorders of Consciousness: An Overview on the (Re-)Emergent Role of Neurophysiology. Brain Sci 2020; 10:brainsci10010042. [PMID: 31936844 PMCID: PMC7016627 DOI: 10.3390/brainsci10010042] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/18/2019] [Revised: 01/03/2020] [Accepted: 01/08/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The differential diagnosis of patients with Disorder of Consciousness (DoC), in particular in the chronic phase, is significantly difficult. Actually, about 40% of patients with unresponsive wakefulness syndrome (UWS) and the minimally conscious state (MCS) are misdiagnosed. Indeed, only advanced paraclinical approaches, including advanced EEG analyses, can allow achieving a more reliable diagnosis, that is, discovering residual traces of awareness in patients with UWS (namely, functional Locked-In Syndrome (fLIS)). These approaches aim at capturing the residual brain network models, at rest or that may be activated in response to relevant stimuli, which may be appropriate for awareness to emerge (despite their insufficiency to generate purposeful motor behaviors). For this, different brain network models have been studied in patients with DoC by using sensory stimuli (i.e., passive tasks), probing response to commands (i.e., active tasks), and during resting-state. Since it can be difficult for patients with DoC to perform even simple active tasks, this scoping review aims at summarizing the current, innovative neurophysiological examination methods in resting state/passive modality to differentiate and prognosticate patients with DoC. We conclude that the electrophysiologically-based diagnostic procedures represent an important resource for diagnosis, prognosis, and, therefore, management of patients with DoC, using advance passive and resting state paradigm analyses for the patients who lie in the “greyzones” between MCS, UWS, and fLIS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luana Billeri
- IRCCS Centro Neurolesi Bonino Pulejo, 98124 Messina, Italy; (L.B.); (S.P.); (A.N.)
| | - Serena Filoni
- Padre Pio Foundation and Rehabilitation Centers, San Giovanni Rotondo, 71013 Foggia, Italy;
- Correspondence: (S.F.); (R.S.C.); Tel.: +39-090-6012-8166 (R.S.C.)
| | | | - Simona Portaro
- IRCCS Centro Neurolesi Bonino Pulejo, 98124 Messina, Italy; (L.B.); (S.P.); (A.N.)
| | | | - Rocco Salvatore Calabrò
- IRCCS Centro Neurolesi Bonino Pulejo, 98124 Messina, Italy; (L.B.); (S.P.); (A.N.)
- Correspondence: (S.F.); (R.S.C.); Tel.: +39-090-6012-8166 (R.S.C.)
| | - Antonino Naro
- IRCCS Centro Neurolesi Bonino Pulejo, 98124 Messina, Italy; (L.B.); (S.P.); (A.N.)
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15
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Bagnato S, Andriolo M, Boccagni C, Lucca LF, De Tanti A, Pistarini C, Barone T, Galardi G. Reduced Neuron-Specific Enolase Levels in Chronic Severe Traumatic Brain Injury. J Neurotrauma 2019; 37:423-427. [PMID: 31418324 DOI: 10.1089/neu.2019.6449] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Growing evidence suggests that pathophysiological mechanisms leading to neurodegeneration and neuronal loss take place during the chronic phase of a severe traumatic brain injury (TBI). In this study we evaluated a well-established marker of brain injury, the neuron-specific enolase (NSE), in the serum of 51 patients with severe TBI (86% males, mean age 33.8 ± 11.1 years). All patients' samples were available from a previous study and the mean time between TBI and blood sample collection was 23.2 ± 31.5 months (28 patients were evaluated within 12 months of TBI and 23 patients were evaluated ≥12 months after TBI). Patients' NSE levels were compared with those obtained from 30 age and sex-matched healthy controls (87% males, 33.7 ± 11.3 years). We found that NSE levels were significantly lower in patients (median 3.2 ng/mL; 25th, 75th percentile 2.5, 5.1) than in healthy controls (median 4.1 ng/mL; 25th, 75th percentile 3.1, 7.5) (p = 0.026). This finding was mainly driven by data from the chronic patients, that is, those who experienced their TBI at least 12 months before the evaluation. Indeed, these patients had significantly lower NSE levels (median 2.6 ng/mL; 25th, 75th percentile 1.9, 4) than healthy controls (p < 0.01). On the other hand, NSE levels evaluated in patients <12 months from TBI (median 3.9 ng/mL; 25th, 75th percentile 2.8, 5.7) did not significantly differ from controls (p = 0.3). These findings possibly reflect a progressive brain atrophy with reduced baseline NSE release in the chronic phase of a severe TBI.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sergio Bagnato
- Unit of Neurophysiology and Unit for Severe Acquired Brain Injuries, Rehabilitation Department, Giuseppe Giglio Foundation, Cefalù, Italy
| | - Maria Andriolo
- Clinical Pathology and Microbiology Laboratory, Giuseppe Giglio Foundation, Cefalù, Italy
| | - Cristina Boccagni
- Unit of Neurophysiology and Unit for Severe Acquired Brain Injuries, Rehabilitation Department, Giuseppe Giglio Foundation, Cefalù, Italy
| | - Lucia Francesca Lucca
- RAN (Research in Advanced Neuro-rehabilitation), Sant'Anna Institute, Crotone, Italy
| | | | - Caterina Pistarini
- ICS Maugeri SPA SB, Neurorehabilitation Unit, Institute of Genoa, Genoa, Italy
| | - Teresa Barone
- Immunohematology and Transfusion Service, Cefalù, Italy
| | - Giuseppe Galardi
- Unit of Neurophysiology and Unit for Severe Acquired Brain Injuries, Rehabilitation Department, Giuseppe Giglio Foundation, Cefalù, Italy
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Emotional consciousness preserved in patients with disorders of consciousness? Neurol Sci 2019; 40:1409-1418. [PMID: 30941627 PMCID: PMC6579782 DOI: 10.1007/s10072-019-03848-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/23/2019] [Accepted: 03/13/2019] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
Increasing evidence from studies of brain responses to subject’s own name (SON) indicates that residual consciousness is preserved in patients with disorders of consciousness (DOC) and that specific network activation might provide evidence of consciousness. However, it remains unclear whether SON is suitable for detection of emotional consciousness; moreover, the particular aspects of brain network organization that are critical for consciousness are unknown. The present study used an innovative approach to explore affective consciousness in patients with DOC during emotional stimuli. EEG data were acquired from 15 patients and 15 healthy volunteers. We analyzed brain potentials and functional network connectivity with a passive emotional paradigm based on graph theoretical methods. Larger N1 or P3a was detected in patients upon exposure to emotional sound, relative to neutral stimuli. Brain topology revealed that emotional sound evoked significantly stronger network linkages in healthy controls; additionally, it evoked several connectivity changes in patients with DOC. In conclusion, emotional consciousness might be partially preserved in patients with DOC; moreover, EEG network patterns could provide new insights into the neural activity of emotional perception in these patients.
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Chen S, Wu X, Wang L, Wang Y, Wu B, Ge M, Xu Z, Ward BD, Li SJ, Liu X, Yang Z. Disrupted Interactions Between Arousal and Cortical Awareness Networks in MCS and VS/UWS Patients: Evidence from Resting-state Functional Imaging Connectivity. Neuroscience 2019; 382:115-124. [PMID: 29804646 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroscience.2018.04.039] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/11/2017] [Revised: 04/25/2018] [Accepted: 04/26/2018] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
Clinical patients in a vegetative state or unresponsive wakefulness syndrome (VS/UWS) demonstrate distinct arousal-awareness dissociation; the neuropathological mechanisms underlying such dissociation remain poorly understood. Here, we systematically examined how functional connectivity from the brainstem areas regulating arousal to the cortical networks supporting internal and external awareness is disrupted in minimally conscious state (MCS) and VS/UWS patients. Resting-state functional imaging was conducted in 23 MCS patients, 31 VS/UWS patients, and 20 age-matched healthy individuals. A hierarchical cluster analysis was conducted using all voxel-based signals in the brainstem to identify the specific areas for arousal. We found that the pontine tegmentum area (PTA) and caudal midbrain area persistently formed a distinct cluster that exclusively showed extensive connections with the cortical networks supporting internal and external awareness in healthy individuals, confirming their role in arousal. We show that functional connectivity from the PTA and caudal midbrain area to the cortical-awareness-supporting networks were significantly reduced in MCS and VS/UWS patients; importantly, as the clinical symptoms of consciousness disorders deepen from MCS to VS/UWS, functional connectivity strength became significantly reduced, changing from presenting no significant connections in MCS to widespread negative connections in VS/UWS. Additionally, we observed increased connectivity from the PTA and caudal midbrain area to limbic structures, the brainstem areas, and the cerebellum in MCS and VS/UWS patients, consistent with prior studies. These findings offer important insights into the neural network mechanisms underlying the long-observed arousal-awareness dissociation in VS/UWS patients and provide additional neuroimaging-based biomarkers for the clinical diagnosis of MCS and VS/UWS patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shanshan Chen
- Cognitive and Mental Health Research Center, Beijing Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, No. 27 Taiping Road, Haidian District, Beijing 100850, China
| | - Xinhuai Wu
- Department of Radiology, Army General Hospital, No. 5 Nan Men Cang, East Si Shi Tiao, Dongcheng District, Beijing 100700, China.
| | - Lubin Wang
- Cognitive and Mental Health Research Center, Beijing Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, No. 27 Taiping Road, Haidian District, Beijing 100850, China
| | - Yituo Wang
- Cognitive and Mental Health Research Center, Beijing Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, No. 27 Taiping Road, Haidian District, Beijing 100850, China
| | - Bing Wu
- Cognitive and Mental Health Research Center, Beijing Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, No. 27 Taiping Road, Haidian District, Beijing 100850, China
| | - Mingmei Ge
- Department of Radiology, Army General Hospital, No. 5 Nan Men Cang, East Si Shi Tiao, Dongcheng District, Beijing 100700, China
| | - Zhan Xu
- Department of Biophysics, Medical College of Wisconsin, 8701 Watertown Plank Road, Milwaukee, WI 53226, USA
| | - B Douglas Ward
- Department of Biophysics, Medical College of Wisconsin, 8701 Watertown Plank Road, Milwaukee, WI 53226, USA
| | - Shi-Jiang Li
- Department of Biophysics, Medical College of Wisconsin, 8701 Watertown Plank Road, Milwaukee, WI 53226, USA
| | - Xiaolin Liu
- Department of Radiology, Medical College of Wisconsin, 8701 Watertown Plank Road, Milwaukee, WI 53226, USA.
| | - Zheng Yang
- Cognitive and Mental Health Research Center, Beijing Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, No. 27 Taiping Road, Haidian District, Beijing 100850, China.
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Kullberg-Turtiainen M, Vuorela K, Huttula L, Turtiainen P, Koskinen S. Individualized goal directed dance rehabilitation in chronic state of severe traumatic brain injury: A case study. Heliyon 2019; 5:e01184. [PMID: 30805564 PMCID: PMC6374582 DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2019.e01184] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/12/2018] [Revised: 12/13/2018] [Accepted: 01/25/2019] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Few long-term studies report late outcomes after severe traumatic brain injury. New rehabilitation techniques are needed for this heterogenous patient group. We present a dance intervention six and half years after an extreme severe TBI including excessive diffuse axonal injury, which disconnects the brain networks. Given the fact, that efficient brain function depends on the integrated operation of large-scale brain networks like default mode network (DMN), we created an intervention with multisensory and multimodal approach and goal-directed behavior. The intervention lasted four months including weekly one-hour dance lessons with the help of a physiotherapist and dance teacher. The measures included functional independence measure (FIM), repeated electroencephalogram (EEG) analysis of three subnets of DMN and clinical evaluations and observations. The results showed clear improvement after the intervention, and FIM stayed in elevated level during several years after the intervention. We present suggestion for further studies using larger patient groups.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | - Sanna Koskinen
- University of Helsinki, Department of Psychology and Logopedics, Faculty of Medicine, Finland
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19
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Billeri L, Naro A, Leo A, Galletti B, Tomasello P, Manuli A, Andronaco V, Lauria P, Bramanti A, Calabrò RS. Looking toward predicting functional recovery in disorders of consciousness: can sensorimotor integration help us? Brain Inj 2018; 33:364-369. [PMID: 30501423 DOI: 10.1080/02699052.2018.1553309] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/27/2022]
Abstract
PRIMARY OBJECTIVE Only a few objective prognostic markers are available for patients with disorders of consciousness (DoC). We assessed whether the magnitude of short-latency afferent inhibition (SAI) might be a useful predictor of responsiveness recovery and functional outcome in patients with DoC. RESEARCH DESIGN We enrolled 40 patients with prolonged Minimally Conscious State (MCS) and Unresponsive Wakefulness Syndrome (UWS) in a longitudinal, observational study. METHODS AND PROCEDURES Clinical features (including Coma Recovery Scale-Revised, CRS-R, and Glasgow Outcome Scale, GOS) and SAI were collected at the study entry and after 18 months from study inclusion, to assess a correlation between SAI and the clinical outcome. MAIN OUTCOMES AND RESULTS At the follow-up, 19 patients remained in their baseline condition, whereas 7 UWS evolved into MCS or emerged-from-MCS (EMCS), eight MCS evolved into EMCS, and two MCS- evolved into MCS+. Two UWS and one MCS+ died for cardiopulmonary complications. The patients who showed the highest GOS, the highest CRS-R and the lowest SAI strength at study entry, improved at the follow-up. CONCLUSIONS Our findings suggest that an objective and simple neurophysiologic measure as SAI strength could provide useful information to predict the outcome and the behavioral responsiveness of patients with DoC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luana Billeri
- a Behavioral and Robotic Neurorehabilitation Laboratory , IRCCS Centro Neurolesi "Bonino-Pulejo" , Messina , Italy
| | - Antonino Naro
- a Behavioral and Robotic Neurorehabilitation Laboratory , IRCCS Centro Neurolesi "Bonino-Pulejo" , Messina , Italy
| | - Antonino Leo
- a Behavioral and Robotic Neurorehabilitation Laboratory , IRCCS Centro Neurolesi "Bonino-Pulejo" , Messina , Italy
| | - Bruno Galletti
- b Otolaryngology Unit , University of Messina , Messina , Italy
| | - Provvidenza Tomasello
- a Behavioral and Robotic Neurorehabilitation Laboratory , IRCCS Centro Neurolesi "Bonino-Pulejo" , Messina , Italy
| | - Alfredo Manuli
- a Behavioral and Robotic Neurorehabilitation Laboratory , IRCCS Centro Neurolesi "Bonino-Pulejo" , Messina , Italy
| | - Veronica Andronaco
- a Behavioral and Robotic Neurorehabilitation Laboratory , IRCCS Centro Neurolesi "Bonino-Pulejo" , Messina , Italy
| | - Paola Lauria
- a Behavioral and Robotic Neurorehabilitation Laboratory , IRCCS Centro Neurolesi "Bonino-Pulejo" , Messina , Italy
| | - Alessia Bramanti
- a Behavioral and Robotic Neurorehabilitation Laboratory , IRCCS Centro Neurolesi "Bonino-Pulejo" , Messina , Italy
| | - Rocco Salvatore Calabrò
- a Behavioral and Robotic Neurorehabilitation Laboratory , IRCCS Centro Neurolesi "Bonino-Pulejo" , Messina , Italy
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Naro A, Calabrò RS, Pollicino P, Lombardo C, Bramanti P. Unexpected recovery from a vegetative state or misdiagnosis? Lesson learned from a case report. NeuroRehabilitation 2018; 41:735-738. [PMID: 28946586 PMCID: PMC5734120 DOI: 10.3233/nre-172160] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Growing research is focusing on the identification of markers predicting recovery and demonstrating covert awareness in patients with chronic disorders of consciousness (DOC). Herein, we describe the case of a woman who emerged from unresponsive wakefulness syndrome (UWS) after four years, in whom an experimental protocol assessing brain connectivity predicted her awareness recovery, indicating a functional locked-in syndrome (FLIS) diagnosis. CASE DESCRIPTION A 68-year-old woman was admitted to our institute in 2012 in a UWS secondary to a severe brain hemorrhage, with a Coma Recovery Scale-Revised score of five. Her clinical conditions were stable for about two years, despite the intensive neurorehabilitation treatment. During hospitalization, she underwent a neurophysiological protocol demonstrating an extensive nociceptive processing within the pain matrix. After 3 years, our subject emerged from UWS, and then from minimally conscious state, being able to communicate properly. DISCUSSION Approaches investigating brain connectivity may be useful in DOC diagnosis and prognosis, highlighting residual brain networks subtending covert awareness. Hence, our case supports the necessity of taking into account FLIS diagnosis in DOC differential diagnosis and implementing paraclinical follow-up to intercept cases of possible, late recovery of consciousness, thus optimizing the most appropriate management and rehabilitative setting.
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Affiliation(s)
- Antonino Naro
- IRCCS centro Neurolesi "Bonino-Pulejo", Messina, Italy
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Naro A, Leo A, Bruno R, Cannavò A, Buda A, Manuli A, Bramanti A, Bramanti P, Calabrò RS. Reducing the rate of misdiagnosis in patients with chronic disorders of consciousness: Is there a place for audiovisual stimulation? Restor Neurol Neurosci 2018; 35:511-526. [PMID: 28800340 DOI: 10.3233/rnn-170741] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/01/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The patients with chronic Disorders of Consciousness (DoC) mostly present with extremely challenging differential diagnosis. The advanced analysis of electroencephalographic (EEG) signals induced by brain stimulation paradigms may provide an appropriate approach to differentiate patients with DoC, besides the clinical assessment. OBJECTIVE This study was performed with an objective of identifying residual brain network perturbations following an innovative, non-invasive audiovisual stimulation protocol, which could be related to behavioral responsiveness in patients with DoC. METHODS The study comprised of ten healthy controls (HC), seven patients with Minimally Conscious State (MCS), and nine patients with Unresponsive Wakefulness Syndrome (UWS). Both synchronous as well as asynchronous transorbital and transauricolar alternating current were employed as stimuli and their effects were measured in terms of functional and effective connectivity. RESULTS A more noticeable deterioration of long range connectivity patterns were found in patients with UWS than in those with MCS, with an exception of two patients with UWS, who showed connectivity values similar to those of MCS patients. CONCLUSION The audiovisual stimulation paradigm used in the present study may be employed as a supportive bedside tool for improving the differential diagnosis in patients with DoC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Antonino Naro
- IRCCS Centro Neurolesi "Bonino-Pulejo", c.da Casazza, Messina, Italy
| | - Antonino Leo
- IRCCS Centro Neurolesi "Bonino-Pulejo", c.da Casazza, Messina, Italy
| | - Rocco Bruno
- Otorhinolaryngoiatry Unit, University of Messina, Messina, Italy
| | - Antonino Cannavò
- IRCCS Centro Neurolesi "Bonino-Pulejo", c.da Casazza, Messina, Italy
| | - Antonio Buda
- IRCCS Centro Neurolesi "Bonino-Pulejo", c.da Casazza, Messina, Italy
| | - Alfredo Manuli
- IRCCS Centro Neurolesi "Bonino-Pulejo", c.da Casazza, Messina, Italy
| | - Alessia Bramanti
- IRCCS Centro Neurolesi "Bonino-Pulejo", c.da Casazza, Messina, Italy
| | - Placido Bramanti
- IRCCS Centro Neurolesi "Bonino-Pulejo", c.da Casazza, Messina, Italy
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Pain assessment with the revised nociception coma scale and outcomes of patients with unresponsive wakefulness syndrome: results from a pilot study. Neurol Sci 2018; 39:1073-1077. [DOI: 10.1007/s10072-018-3330-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/08/2018] [Accepted: 03/16/2018] [Indexed: 01/31/2023]
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Abstract
Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a major risk factor for Alzheimer's disease. Recent studies suggest that amyloid-beta (Aβ) deposit can be detected several years after TBI. However, it is unknown whether post-TBI Aβ deposits arise from short-term changes in Aβ metabolism or reflect a long-term sequela. To answer this question, we evaluated the cerebrospinal levels of Aβ several months after a severe TBI. The participants of this study were eight consecutive patients who developed a disorder of consciousness after a TBI, including seven in a minimally conscious state and one with unresponsive wakefulness syndrome (mean age: 35.4±14.2 years, mean time since brain injury 297.9±189.8 days). Cerebrospinal Aβ1-42 peptide was measured using a commercially available Aβ enzyme-linked immunoassay kit. Reduced Aβ1-42 levels were observed in seven of eight (87.5%) patients with severe post-TBI disorders of consciousness, with the magnitude of reduction among these seven patients ranging from 27 to 75.1% of the lower normal limit. These results point to prolonged changes in Aβ metabolism after a TBI and they suggest a potential mechanism of long-term neurotoxicity.
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Aidinoff E, Groswasser Z, Bierman U, Gelernter I, Catz A, Gur-Pollack R. Vegetative state outcomes improved over the last two decades. Brain Inj 2017; 32:297-302. [PMID: 29265938 DOI: 10.1080/02699052.2017.1418535] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To describe late outcomes in patients with prolonged unawareness, and factors affecting them. DESIGN A retrospective study of 154 patients with traumatic brain injury (TBI) and 52 with non-traumatic brain injury (NTBI), admitted for intensive care and consciousness rehabilitation (ICCR), in a vegetative state (VS) lasting over 1 month. RESULTS Survival rate (67% total) was higher than in past studies carried out at the same facility (p < 0.01). Consciousness recovery rate (54% total) was higher in NTBI VS patients (p < 0.01) than in earlier cohorts, and similar in TBI VS patients, despite their older age than that of earlier cohorts. No meaningful differences were found in characteristics or in outcomes between the TBI and NTBI groups. Age, length of stay in ICCR, and hydrocephalus were found to affect survival (p < 0.001). Younger age, absence of hydrocephalus, and anti-Parkinsonian medication contributed to consciousness recovery after VS (p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS The present study demonstrated an improvement in survival and recovery of consciousness in VS patients over the last two decades, and similar outcomes for both TBI and NTBI VS. Outcomes suggest that acute medical care and ICCR have contributed to advances in VS care.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elena Aidinoff
- a Loewenstein Rehabilitation Hospital , Raanana , Israel.,b Department of Rehabilitation, and the Statistical laboratory, Tel Aviv University , Tel Aviv , Israel
| | - Zeev Groswasser
- a Loewenstein Rehabilitation Hospital , Raanana , Israel.,b Department of Rehabilitation, and the Statistical laboratory, Tel Aviv University , Tel Aviv , Israel
| | - Uri Bierman
- a Loewenstein Rehabilitation Hospital , Raanana , Israel
| | - Ilana Gelernter
- b Department of Rehabilitation, and the Statistical laboratory, Tel Aviv University , Tel Aviv , Israel
| | - Amiram Catz
- a Loewenstein Rehabilitation Hospital , Raanana , Israel.,b Department of Rehabilitation, and the Statistical laboratory, Tel Aviv University , Tel Aviv , Israel
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Naro A, Bramanti A, Leo A, Bramanti P, Calabrò RS. Metaplasticity: A Promising Tool to Disentangle Chronic Disorders of Consciousness Differential Diagnosis. Int J Neural Syst 2017; 28:1750059. [PMID: 29370729 DOI: 10.1142/s0129065717500599] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/30/2023]
Abstract
The extent of cortical reorganization after brain injury in patients with Vegetative State/Unresponsive Wakefulness Syndrome (UWS) and Minimally Conscious State (MCS) depends on the residual capability of modulating synaptic plasticity. Neuroplasticity is largely abnormal in patients with UWS, although the fragments of cortical activity may exist, while patients MCS show a better cortical organization. The aim of this study was to evaluate cortical excitability in patients with disorders of consciousness (DoC) using a transcranial direct current stimulation (TDCS) metaplasticity protocol. To this end, we tested motor-evoked potential (MEP) amplitude, short intracortical inhibition (SICI), and intracortical facilitation (ICF). These measures were correlated with the level of consciousness (by the Coma Recovery Scale-Revised, CRS-R). MEP amplitude, SICI, and ICF strength were significantly modulated following different metaplasticity TDCS protocols only in the patients with MCS. SICI modulations showed a significant correlation with the CRS-R score. Our findings demonstrate, for the first time, a partial preservation of metaplasticity properties in some patients with DoC, which correlates with the level of awareness. Thus, metaplasticity assessment may help the clinician in differentiating the patients with DoC, besides the clinical evaluation. Moreover, the responsiveness to metaplasticity protocols may identify the subjects who could benefit from neuromodulation protocols.
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Affiliation(s)
- Antonino Naro
- IRCCS Centro Neurolesi “Bonino-Pulejo”, Messina, Italy
| | | | - Antonino Leo
- IRCCS Centro Neurolesi “Bonino-Pulejo”, Messina, Italy
| | | | - Rocco Salvatore Calabrò
- IRCCS Centro Neurolesi “Bonino-Pulejo”, Messina, Italy
- S.S. 113, Contrada Casazza, 98124 Messina, Italy
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Mancuso M, Abbruzzese L, Canova S, Landi G, Rossi S, Santarnecchi E. Transcranial Random Noise Stimulation Does Not Improve Behavioral and Neurophysiological Measures in Patients with Subacute Vegetative-Unresponsive Wakefulness State (VS-UWS). Front Hum Neurosci 2017; 11:524. [PMID: 29163104 PMCID: PMC5681535 DOI: 10.3389/fnhum.2017.00524] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/20/2017] [Accepted: 10/16/2017] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Background: The absence of efficient treatments capable to promote central nervous system recovery in patients in vegetative state (VS) due to a severe acquired brain injury highlights the need of exploring alternative neuromodulatory treatments that can lead to neurobehavioral gains. Some encouraging preliminary observations suggest that transcranial direct current stimulation could be effective in disorders of consciousness (DoC) patients, especially when applied on the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) in patients with minimally conscious state (MCS) but not in those with VS. Objective: The primary aim of the present study was to verify if the application of transcranial random noise stimulation (tRNS) on the DLPFC might favor improvements of consciousness recovery in subacute VS-UWS. Methods: Nine patients with DoC due to traumatic brain injury (n = 1), anoxia (n = 3), and vascular damage (n = 5), have undergone a randomized, double-blind, sham-controlled, neuromodulatory trial with tRNS of bilateral DLPFC. All patients were in a post-acute phase and the DoC onset ranged from 30 days to 4 months. The diagnosis of DoC was based on internationally established criteria from the Multi-Society Task Force on PVS, and classified as VS or MCS using the JFK Coma Recovery Scale-Revised scores (CRS-R). We used CRS-R, Synek Scale, Ad-Hoc semi-quantitative scale and the Clinical Global Impression-Improvement scale to measure behavioral and electrophysiological changes during tRNS intervention. All patients were also treated with daily conventional rehabilitation treatment. Results: No significant differences emerged between active and sham groups regarding improvements of level of consciousness, as well as on electroencephalographic data. Only one patient showed emergence from VS-UWS, evolving from VS to MCS after the tRNS stimulation, at a distance of 3 weeks from the enrolment into the study. Conclusion: Repeated applications of tRNS of the DLPFC, even if applied in a subacute phase of VS-UWS state, did not modify behavioral and neurophysiological outcomes differently than sham stimulation.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Giulia Landi
- Siena Brain Investigation and Neuromodulation Lab, Department of Medicine, Surgery and Neuroscience, University of Siena, Siena, Italy
| | - Simone Rossi
- Siena Brain Investigation and Neuromodulation Lab, Department of Medicine, Surgery and Neuroscience, University of Siena, Siena, Italy
| | - Emiliano Santarnecchi
- Siena Brain Investigation and Neuromodulation Lab, Department of Medicine, Surgery and Neuroscience, University of Siena, Siena, Italy
- Berenson-Allen Center for Noninvasive Brain Stimulation, Department of Cognitive Neurology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, United States
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van den Brink RL, Nieuwenhuis S, van Boxtel GJM, van Luijtelaar G, Eilander HJ, Wijnen VJM. Task-free spectral EEG dynamics track and predict patient recovery from severe acquired brain injury. NEUROIMAGE-CLINICAL 2017. [PMID: 29527471 PMCID: PMC5842643 DOI: 10.1016/j.nicl.2017.10.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
For some patients, coma is followed by a state of unresponsiveness, while other patients develop signs of awareness. In practice, detecting signs of awareness may be hindered by possible impairments in the patient's motoric, sensory, or cognitive abilities, resulting in a substantial proportion of misdiagnosed disorders of consciousness. Task-free paradigms that are independent of the patient's sensorimotor and neurocognitive abilities may offer a solution to this challenge. A limitation of previous research is that the large majority of studies on the pathophysiological processes underlying disorders of consciousness have been conducted using cross-sectional designs. Here, we present a study in which we acquired a total of 74 longitudinal task-free EEG measurements from 16 patients (aged 6–22 years, 12 male) suffering from severe acquired brain injury, and an additional 16 age- and education-matched control participants. We examined changes in amplitude and connectivity metrics of oscillatory brain activity within patients across their recovery. Moreover, we applied multi-class linear discriminant analysis to assess the potential diagnostic and prognostic utility of amplitude and connectivity metrics at the individual-patient level. We found that over the course of their recovery, patients exhibited nonlinear frequency band-specific changes in spectral amplitude and connectivity metrics, changes that aligned well with the metrics' frequency band-specific diagnostic value. Strikingly, connectivity during a single task-free EEG measurement predicted the level of patient recovery approximately 3 months later with 75% accuracy. Our findings show that spectral amplitude and connectivity track patient recovery in a longitudinal fashion, and these metrics are robust pathophysiological markers that can be used for the automated diagnosis and prognosis of disorders of consciousness. These metrics can be acquired inexpensively at bedside, and are fully independent of the patient's neurocognitive abilities. Lastly, our findings tentatively suggest that the relative preservation of thalamo-cortico-thalamic interactions may predict the later reemergence of awareness, and could thus shed new light on the pathophysiological processes that underlie disorders of consciousness. Using behavioral criteria, disorders of consciousness are often misdiagnosed We probed the diagnostic and prognostic value of task-free spectral EEG metrics Metrics changed non-linearly across recovery and predicted level of consciousness EEG connectivity predicted the level of patient recovery with 75% accuracy These metrics are fully independent of the patient's neurocognitive abilities
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Affiliation(s)
- R L van den Brink
- Institute of Psychology, Leiden University, Leiden, The Netherlands; Leiden Institute for Brain and Cognition (LIBC), Leiden, The Netherlands; Department of Neurophysiology and Pathophysiology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany.
| | - S Nieuwenhuis
- Institute of Psychology, Leiden University, Leiden, The Netherlands; Leiden Institute for Brain and Cognition (LIBC), Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - G J M van Boxtel
- Department of Psychology, Tilburg University, Tilburg, The Netherlands
| | - G van Luijtelaar
- Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, Radboud University, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - H J Eilander
- Libra Rehabilitation Medicine and Audiology, Tilburg, The Netherlands; Radboud University Nijmegen Medical Centre, Department of Primary and Community Care, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - V J M Wijnen
- Department of Psychology, Tilburg University, Tilburg, The Netherlands; Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, Radboud University, Nijmegen, The Netherlands; Libra Rehabilitation Medicine and Audiology, Tilburg, The Netherlands; Geriatric Psychiatry Observation Unit, Institution for Mental Health Care 'Dijk and Duin', Parnassia Group, Castricum, Netherlands
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The value of midbrain morphology in predicting prognosis in chronic disorders of consciousness: A preliminary ultrasound study. J Neurol Sci 2017; 380:46-50. [PMID: 28870587 DOI: 10.1016/j.jns.2017.07.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/23/2017] [Revised: 06/21/2017] [Accepted: 07/03/2017] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
Transcranial sonography (TCS) of the brainstem is currently used to support the clinical diagnosis of movement disorders. The aim of the study was to assess the usefulness of midbrain TCS in assessing outcome in patients with Chronic Disorders of Consciousness (DOC). Eleven patients with Minimally Conscious State (MCS) and Unresponsive Wakefulness Syndrome (UWS) were included in the study. We measured the area and echogenicity of the midbrain by encoding and digitally analyzing the corresponding images from the orbitomeatal plane, the morphology of brain parenchyma from the thalamic and cella media plane, and the intracranial circulation. All the patients showed an increase of pulsatility index and numerous morphological alterations on all the scan planes. In particular, we found a loss of the characteristic butterfly-shape of the midbrain, which appeared hypoechoic in the UWS but not in the MCS patients. After six months, the patients were clinically assessed by using Glasgow Outcome Scale Extended (GOSE). We found that a higher increase in GOSE scoring at follow-up was correlated with larger area and higher echogenicity of the midbrain at baseline. The present study suggests that TCS data of the midbrain may support clinical assessment of patients with chronic DOC to estimate their outcome.
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Fingelkurts AA, Fingelkurts AA. Longitudinal Dynamics of 3-Dimensional Components of Selfhood After Severe Traumatic Brain Injury: A qEEG Case Study. Clin EEG Neurosci 2017; 48:327-337. [PMID: 28771043 DOI: 10.1177/1550059417696180] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
In this report, we describe the case of a patient who sustained extremely severe traumatic brain damage with diffuse axonal injury in a traffic accident and whose recovery was monitored during 6 years. Specifically, we were interested in the recovery dynamics of 3-dimensional components of selfhood (a 3-dimensional construct model for the complex experiential selfhood has been recently proposed based on the empirical findings on the functional-topographical specialization of 3 operational modules of brain functional network responsible for the self-consciousness processing) derived from the electroencephalographic (EEG) signal. The analysis revealed progressive (though not monotonous) restoration of EEG functional connectivity of 3 modules of brain functional network responsible for the self-consciousness processing, which was also paralleled by the clinically significant functional recovery. We propose that restoration of normal integrity of the operational modules of the self-referential brain network may underlie the positive dynamics of 3 aspects of selfhood and provide a neurobiological mechanism for their recovery. The results are discussed in the context of recent experimental studies that support this inference. Studies of ongoing recovery after severe brain injury utilizing knowledge about each separate aspect of complex selfhood will likely help to develop more efficient and targeted rehabilitation programs for patients with brain trauma.
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Naro A, Bramanti P, Bramanti A, Calabrò RS. Assessing pain in patients with chronic disorders of consciousness: Are we heading in the right direction? Conscious Cogn 2017; 55:148-155. [PMID: 28865377 DOI: 10.1016/j.concog.2017.08.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/21/2016] [Revised: 08/16/2017] [Accepted: 08/18/2017] [Indexed: 01/03/2023]
Abstract
The deterioration of sensory-motor integration within the pain matrix in patients with chronic Disorders of Consciousness (DoC) is one of the principal mechanisms responsible for non-conscious pain perception. The present study aimed to assess whether the variability in the inter-peak interval (IPI) between the N2 and P2 components of laser evoked potentials (LEP) could represent an objective marker of the behavioral responsiveness to nociceptive stimulation, as measured by the Nociception Coma Scale-Revised (NCS-R), and regardless of the sensory part of pain processing. We found that only IPI variability showed a significant correlation with NCS-R score, independently of the stimulation intensity (that influences the sensory part of pain processing). It was thus concluded that IPI variability might represent an objective measure of pain processing, which may help clinicians in the development of effective pain management strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Antonino Naro
- IRCCS Centro Neurolesi "Bonino-Pulejo", Messina, Italy
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31
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Bagnato S, Grimaldi LME, Di Raimondo G, Sant'Angelo A, Boccagni C, Virgilio V, Andriolo M. Prolonged Cerebrospinal Fluid Neurofilament Light Chain Increase in Patients with Post-Traumatic Disorders of Consciousness. J Neurotrauma 2017; 34:2475-2479. [PMID: 28385104 DOI: 10.1089/neu.2016.4837] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
The mechanisms involved in secondary brain injury after the acute phase of severe traumatic brain injury (TBI) are largely unknown. Ongoing axonal degeneration, consequent to the initial trauma, may lead to secondary brain injury. To test this hypothesis, we evaluated the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) level of neurofilament light chain (NF-L), a proposed marker of axonal degeneration, in 10 patients who developed a severe disorder of consciousness after a TBI, including 7 in a minimally conscious state and 3 with unresponsive wakefulness syndrome (time since brain injury, 309 ± 169 days). CSF NF-L level was measured with a commercially available NF-L enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. CSF NF-L level was very high in all 10 patients, ranging from 2.4- to 60.5-fold the upper normal limit (median value, 4458 pg/mL; range, 695-23,000). Moreover, NF-L level was significantly higher after a severe TBI than in a reference group of 9 patients with probable Alzheimer's disease, a population with elevated levels of CSF NF-L attributed to neuronal degeneration (median value, 1173 pg/mL; range, 670-3643; p < 0.01). CSF NF-L level was correlated with time post-TBI (p = 0.04). These results demonstrate prolonged secondary brain injury, suggesting that patients exhibit ongoing axonal degeneration up to 19 months after a severe TBI.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sergio Bagnato
- 1 Unit of Neurophysiology and Unit for Severe Acquired Brain Injuries, Rehabilitation Department, Fondazione Istituto Giuseppe Giglio , Cefalù (PA), Italy
| | - Luigi M E Grimaldi
- 2 Neurology Department, Fondazione Istituto Giuseppe Giglio , Cefalù (PA), Italy
| | - Giorgio Di Raimondo
- 2 Neurology Department, Fondazione Istituto Giuseppe Giglio , Cefalù (PA), Italy
| | - Antonino Sant'Angelo
- 1 Unit of Neurophysiology and Unit for Severe Acquired Brain Injuries, Rehabilitation Department, Fondazione Istituto Giuseppe Giglio , Cefalù (PA), Italy
| | - Cristina Boccagni
- 1 Unit of Neurophysiology and Unit for Severe Acquired Brain Injuries, Rehabilitation Department, Fondazione Istituto Giuseppe Giglio , Cefalù (PA), Italy
| | - Vittorio Virgilio
- 3 Strategic Direction, Fondazione Istituto Giuseppe Giglio , Cefalù (PA), Italy
| | - Maria Andriolo
- 4 Clinical Pathology and Microbiology Laboratory, Fondazione Istituto Giuseppe Giglio , Cefalù (PA), Italy
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Naro A, Leo A, Manuli A, Cannavò A, Bramanti A, Bramanti P, Calabrò RS. How far can we go in chronic disorders of consciousness differential diagnosis? The use of neuromodulation in detecting internal and external awareness. Neuroscience 2017; 349:165-173. [PMID: 28285941 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroscience.2017.02.053] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/16/2017] [Revised: 02/23/2017] [Accepted: 02/24/2017] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Awareness generation and modulation may depend on a balanced information integration and differentiation across default mode network (DMN) and external awareness networks (EAN). Neuromodulation approaches, capable of shaping information processing, may highlight residual network activities supporting awareness, which are not detectable through active paradigms, thus allowing to differentiate chronic disorders of consciousness (DoC). We studied aftereffects of repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) by applying graph theory within canonical frequency bands to compare the markers of these networks in the electroencephalographic data from 20 patients with DoC. We found that patients' high-frequency networks suffered from a large-scale connectivity breakdown, paralleled by a local hyperconnectivity, whereas low-frequency networks showed a preserved but dysfunctional large-scale connectivity. There was a correlation between metrics and the behavioral awareness. Interestingly, two persons with UWS showed a residual rTMS-induced modulation of the functional correlations between the DMN and the EAN, as observed in patients with MCS. Hence, we may hypothesize that the patients with UWS who demonstrate evidence of residual DMN-EAN functional correlation may be misdiagnosed, given that such residual network correlations could support covert consciousness.
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Affiliation(s)
- Antonino Naro
- IRCCS Centro Neurolesi "Bonino-Pulejo", Messina, Italy
| | - Antonino Leo
- IRCCS Centro Neurolesi "Bonino-Pulejo", Messina, Italy
| | | | | | - Alessia Bramanti
- Institute of Applied Sciences and Intelligent Systems "Edoardo Caianello", National Research Council of Italy, Messina, Italy
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Thibaut A, Russo C, Morales-Quezada L, Hurtado-Puerto A, Deitos A, Freedman S, Carvalho S, Fregni F. Neural signature of tDCS, tPCS and their combination: Comparing the effects on neural plasticity. Neurosci Lett 2017; 637:207-214. [PMID: 27765610 PMCID: PMC5541936 DOI: 10.1016/j.neulet.2016.10.026] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/24/2016] [Revised: 10/05/2016] [Accepted: 10/17/2016] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
Transcranial pulsed current stimulation (tPCS) and transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) are two noninvasive neuromodulatory brain stimulation techniques whose effects on human brain and behavior have been studied individually. In the present study we aimed to quantify the effects of tDCS and tPCS, individually and in combination, on cortical activity, sensitivity and pain-related assessments in healthy individuals in order to understand their neurophysiological mechanisms and potential applications in clinical populations. A total of 48 healthy individuals participated in this randomized double blind sham controlled study. Participants were randomized to receive a single stimulation session of either: active or sham tPCS and active or sham tDCS. Quantitative electroencephalography (qEEG), sensitivity and pain assessments were used before and after each stimulation session. We observed that tPCS had a higher effect on power, as compared to tDCS, in several bandwidths on various cortical regions: the theta band in the parietal region (p=0.021), the alpha band in the temporal (p=0.009), parietal (p=0.0063), and occipital (p<0.0001) regions. We found that the combination of tPCS and tDCS significantly decreased power in the low beta bandwidth of the frontal (p=0.0006), central (p=0.0001), and occipital (p=0.0003) regions, when compared to sham stimulation. Additionally, tDCS significantly increased power in high beta over the temporal (p=0.0015) and parietal (p=0.0007) regions, as compared to sham. We found no effect on sensitivity or pain-related assessments. We concluded that tPCS and tDCS have different neurophysiological mechanisms, elicit distinct signatures, and that the combination of the two leads to no effect or a decrease on qEEG power. Further studies are required to examine the effects of these techniques on clinical populations in which EEG signatures have been found altered.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aurore Thibaut
- Spaulding-Labuschagne Neuromodulation Center, Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital, Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA; Coma Science Group, GIGA-Research, University and University Hospital of Liege, Liege, Belgium
| | - Cristina Russo
- Spaulding-Labuschagne Neuromodulation Center, Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital, Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA; Department of Psychology and Milan Center for Neuroscience-NeuroMi, University of Milano-Bicocca, Milano, Italy
| | - Leon Morales-Quezada
- Spaulding-Labuschagne Neuromodulation Center, Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital, Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Aura Hurtado-Puerto
- Laboratory for Neuropsychiatry and Neuromodulation, Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation Clinical Service, Department of Psychiatry, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, USA
| | - Alícia Deitos
- Spaulding-Labuschagne Neuromodulation Center, Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital, Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA; Post-graduate Program in Medical Sciences, School of Medicine, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS), Porto Alegre, Brazil; Laboratory of Pain and Neuromodulation at UFRGS, Porto Alegre, Brazil
| | - Steven Freedman
- Division of Translational Research, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Sandra Carvalho
- Spaulding-Labuschagne Neuromodulation Center, Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital, Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA; Neuropsychophysiology Laboratory, CIPsi, School of Psychology (EPsi), University of Minho, Campus de Gualtar, 4710-057 Braga, Portugal
| | - Felipe Fregni
- Spaulding-Labuschagne Neuromodulation Center, Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital, Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA.
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Bagnato S, Boccagni C, Prestandrea C, Fingelkurts AA, Fingelkurts AA, Galardi G. Changes in Standard Electroencephalograms Parallel Consciousness Improvements in Patients With Unresponsive Wakefulness Syndrome. Arch Phys Med Rehabil 2016; 98:665-672. [PMID: 27794486 DOI: 10.1016/j.apmr.2016.09.132] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/26/2016] [Revised: 09/19/2016] [Accepted: 09/30/2016] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To identify changes in the standard electroencephalograms (EEGs) of patients with unresponsive wakefulness syndrome (UWS) who did or did not recover consciousness 6 months after admission to a rehabilitation department. DESIGN Prospective cohort study. SETTING Unit for severe acquired brain injuries. PARTICIPANTS Consecutive patients with UWS (N=28). INTERVENTIONS Not applicable. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES EEG amplitude (reduced or normal), dominant frequency (alpha, theta, or delta), and reactivity (absent or present) were scored at admission and 6 months later. The cumulative Amplitude-Frequency-Reactivity score was evaluated. Clinical assessments were made using the Coma Recovery Scale-Revised. RESULTS Sixteen (57.1%) of the 28 patients with UWS recovered consciousness after 6 months, while 12 patients (42.9%) did not recover consciousness. EEG improvements occurred in 14 patients with consciousness recovery (87.5%) and 2 patients without consciousness recovery (16.7%) only. Improvements in EEG dominant frequency (from the theta to the alpha band or from the delta to the theta band), reappearance of EEG reactivity, and Amplitude-Frequency-Reactivity score increase (P<.01) differentiated patients with consciousness improvement from those without consciousness improvement. Six months after admission for rehabilitation, patients with EEG improvements showed higher Coma Recovery Scale-Revised scores than did those without EEG changes (P<.01). CONCLUSIONS Most patients who emerge from UWS demonstrate improvement in basic EEG characteristics over time. EEG changes in patients with UWS may aid in the timely recognition of patients transitioning into a minimally conscious state.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sergio Bagnato
- Unit of Neurophysiology and Unit for Severe Acquired Brain Injuries, Rehabilitation Department, Giuseppe Giglio Foundation, Cefalù (PA), Italy.
| | - Cristina Boccagni
- Unit of Neurophysiology and Unit for Severe Acquired Brain Injuries, Rehabilitation Department, Giuseppe Giglio Foundation, Cefalù (PA), Italy
| | - Caterina Prestandrea
- Unit of Neurophysiology and Unit for Severe Acquired Brain Injuries, Rehabilitation Department, Giuseppe Giglio Foundation, Cefalù (PA), Italy
| | | | | | - Giuseppe Galardi
- Unit of Neurophysiology and Unit for Severe Acquired Brain Injuries, Rehabilitation Department, Giuseppe Giglio Foundation, Cefalù (PA), Italy
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Fingelkurts AA, Fingelkurts AA, Bagnato S, Boccagni C, Galardi G. Long-Term (Six Years) Clinical Outcome Discrimination of Patients in the Vegetative State Could be Achieved Based on the Operational Architectonics EEG Analysis: A Pilot Feasibility Study. Open Neuroimag J 2016; 10:69-79. [PMID: 27347266 PMCID: PMC4894941 DOI: 10.2174/1874440001610010069] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/12/2016] [Revised: 04/06/2016] [Accepted: 04/11/2016] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Electroencephalogram (EEG) recordings are increasingly used to evaluate patients with disorders of consciousness (DOC) or assess their prognosis outcome in the short-term perspective. However, there is a lack of information concerning the effectiveness of EEG in classifying long-term (many years) outcome in chronic DOC patients. Here we tested whether EEG operational architectonics parameters (geared towards consciousness phenomenon detection rather than neurophysiological processes) could be useful for distinguishing a very long-term (6 years) clinical outcome of DOC patients whose EEGs were registered within 3 months post-injury. The obtained results suggest that EEG recorded at third month after sustaining brain damage, may contain useful information on the long-term outcome of patients in vegetative state: it could discriminate patients who remain in a persistent vegetative state from patients who reach a minimally conscious state or even recover a full consciousness in a long-term perspective (6 years) post-injury. These findings, if confirmed in further studies, may be pivotal for long-term planning of clinical care, rehabilitative programs, medical-legal decisions concerning the patients, and policy makers.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Sergio Bagnato
- Neurorehabilitation Unit, Rehabilitation Department, Fondazione Istituto "San Raffaele - G. Giglio", Cefalù (PA), Italy; Neurophysiology Unit, Rehabilitation Department, Fondazione Istituto "San Raffaele - G. Giglio", Cefalù (PA), Italy
| | - Cristina Boccagni
- Neurorehabilitation Unit, Rehabilitation Department, Fondazione Istituto "San Raffaele - G. Giglio", Cefalù (PA), Italy; Neurophysiology Unit, Rehabilitation Department, Fondazione Istituto "San Raffaele - G. Giglio", Cefalù (PA), Italy
| | - Giuseppe Galardi
- Neurorehabilitation Unit, Rehabilitation Department, Fondazione Istituto "San Raffaele - G. Giglio", Cefalù (PA), Italy; Neurophysiology Unit, Rehabilitation Department, Fondazione Istituto "San Raffaele - G. Giglio", Cefalù (PA), Italy
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Bagnato S, Boccagni C, Sant'Angelo A, Fingelkurts AA, Fingelkurts AA, Galardi G. Longitudinal Assessment of Clinical Signs of Recovery in Patients with Unresponsive Wakefulness Syndrome after Traumatic or Nontraumatic Brain Injury. J Neurotrauma 2016; 34:535-539. [PMID: 27149928 DOI: 10.1089/neu.2016.4418] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Although clinical examination is the gold standard for differential diagnosis between unresponsive wakefulness syndrome (UWS) and minimally conscious state (MCS), clinical signs denoting the first occurrence of conscious behavior in patients with UWS have not been clarified. In this prospective single-center cohort study, 31 consecutive patients with UWS after traumatic brain injury (TBI) (17 patients) or non-TBI were assessed with the Coma Recovery Scale Revised (CRS-R) at admission to a rehabilitation department and after 1, 2, 3, 6, and 12 months. Of the 21 patients who recovered consciousness during the study, 90.5% recovered consciousness within the first 3 months. At the first diagnosis of emergence from UWS, 52.4% of patients showed signs of awareness in only one CRS-R subscale. In particular, 42.9% of patients showed conscious behaviors on the visual CRS-R subscale (23.8% showed visual fixation and 19.1% showed visual pursuit), and 9.5% showed conscious behaviors on the motor CRS-R subscale (half showed localization to a noxious stimulus and half showed object manipulation). Moreover, 23.8% of patients had conscious behaviors on two CRS subscales, always involving the visual and motor CRS-R subscales. The remaining patients showed conscious behaviors on more than two CRS-R subscales. In conclusion, visual fixation and visual pursuit are the commonest early clinical signs denoting MCS. When emerging from UWS, patients with TBI often showed more signs of consciousness and had higher CRS-R scores than patients with non-TBI.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sergio Bagnato
- 1 Unit of Neurophysiology and Unit for Severe Acquired Brain Injuries, Rehabilitation Department, Fondazione Istituto San Raffaele G. Giglio , Cefalù (PA), Italy
| | - Cristina Boccagni
- 1 Unit of Neurophysiology and Unit for Severe Acquired Brain Injuries, Rehabilitation Department, Fondazione Istituto San Raffaele G. Giglio , Cefalù (PA), Italy
| | - Antonino Sant'Angelo
- 1 Unit of Neurophysiology and Unit for Severe Acquired Brain Injuries, Rehabilitation Department, Fondazione Istituto San Raffaele G. Giglio , Cefalù (PA), Italy
| | | | | | - Giuseppe Galardi
- 1 Unit of Neurophysiology and Unit for Severe Acquired Brain Injuries, Rehabilitation Department, Fondazione Istituto San Raffaele G. Giglio , Cefalù (PA), Italy
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Lord V, Opacka-Juffry J. Electroencephalography (EEG) Measures of Neural Connectivity in the Assessment of Brain Responses to Salient Auditory Stimuli in Patients with Disorders of Consciousness. Front Psychol 2016; 7:397. [PMID: 27047424 PMCID: PMC4801887 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2016.00397] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/02/2016] [Accepted: 03/04/2016] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Victoria Lord
- Department of Life Sciences, University of Roehampton London, UK
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Schorr B, Schlee W, Arndt M, Bender A. Coherence in resting-state EEG as a predictor for the recovery from unresponsive wakefulness syndrome. J Neurol 2016; 263:937-953. [PMID: 26984609 DOI: 10.1007/s00415-016-8084-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/17/2015] [Revised: 02/18/2016] [Accepted: 02/28/2016] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
We investigated differences of EEG coherence within (short-range), and between (long-range) specified brain areas as diagnostic markers for different states in disorders of consciousness (DOC), and their predictive value for recovery from unresponsive wakefulness syndrome (UWS). EEGs of 73 patients and 24 controls were recorded and coma recovery scale- revised (CRS-R) scores were assessed. CRS-R of UWS patients was collected after 12 months and divided into two groups (improved/unimproved). Frontal, parietal, fronto-parietal, fronto-temporal, and fronto-occipital coherence was computed, as well as EEG power over frontal, parietal, occipital, and temporal areas. Minimally conscious patients (MCS) and UWS patients could not be differentiated based on their coherence patterns or on EEG power. Fronto-parietal and parietal coherence could positively predict improvement of UWS patients, i.e. recovery from UWS to MCS. Parietal coherence was significantly higher in delta and theta frequencies in the improved group, as well as the coherence between frontal and parietal regions in delta, theta, alpha, and beta frequencies. High parietal delta and theta, and high fronto-parietal theta and alpha coherence appear to provide strong early evidence for recovery from UWS with high predictive sensitivity and specificity. Short and long-range coherence can have a diagnostic value in the prognosis of recovery from UWS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Barbara Schorr
- Therapiezentrum Burgau, Kapuzinerstraße 34, 89331, Burgau, Germany. .,Clinical and Biological Psychology, Institute of Psychology and Education, Ulm University, Albert-Einstein-Allee 47, 89069, Ulm, Germany.
| | - Winfried Schlee
- Institute for Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University of Regensburg, Universitätsstraße 84, 93053, Regensburg, Germany
| | - Marion Arndt
- Therapiezentrum Burgau, Kapuzinerstraße 34, 89331, Burgau, Germany
| | - Andreas Bender
- Therapiezentrum Burgau, Kapuzinerstraße 34, 89331, Burgau, Germany.,Department of Neurology, Klinikum Grosshadern, University of Munich, Marchioninistraße 15, 81377, Munich, Germany
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Cortical connectivity modulation induced by cerebellar oscillatory transcranial direct current stimulation in patients with chronic disorders of consciousness: A marker of covert cognition? Clin Neurophysiol 2016; 127:1845-54. [PMID: 26754875 DOI: 10.1016/j.clinph.2015.12.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/15/2015] [Revised: 12/09/2015] [Accepted: 12/15/2015] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
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Bagnato S, Boccagni C, Sant'Angelo A, Prestandrea C, Virgilio V, Galardi G. EEG epileptiform abnormalities at admission to a rehabilitation department predict the risk of seizures in disorders of consciousness following a coma. Epilepsy Behav 2016; 56:83-7. [PMID: 26851645 DOI: 10.1016/j.yebeh.2015.12.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/19/2015] [Revised: 12/06/2015] [Accepted: 12/09/2015] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Seizures affect about a quarter of patients with disorders of consciousness (DOC) after a coma. AIMS We investigated whether the presence of epileptiform abnormalities (EAs) in the electroencephalogram (EEG) of patients with DOC may predict the occurrence of seizures. Moreover, we evaluated whether EAs have a prognostic role in these patients. METHODS This was a retrospective single-center cohort study of patients hospitalized between January 2005 and December 2014 in a rehabilitation department (mean time from acute brain injury: 46.1 days). We analyzed 30-minute EEGs at admittance for 112 patients with unresponsive wakefulness syndrome (UWS) or in a minimally conscious state (MCS), then compared occurrence of seizures over the following three months across patients with absent, unilateral, and bilateral EAs (generalized or bilateral independent). Outcomes at three months were assessed in the same groups using the Coma Recovery Scale Revised. RESULTS Epileptiform abnormalities were observed in 38 patients (33.9%). Of these, 25 were unilateral, and 13 were bilateral. Seizures occurred in 84.6% of patients with bilateral EAs, which was significantly higher than in patients without EAs (10.8%, p<0.001) or with unilateral EAs (24%, p=0.001). The presence of EAs was not related to etiology or different DOC and did not significantly affect outcomes at three months. CONCLUSIONS Patients with EAs at admission to a rehabilitation department have an increased risk of seizures. Specifically, most patients with bilateral EAs had seizures within the following 3 months. Evaluation of EAs in EEGs of patients with DOC may give valuable information in the management of antiepileptic drug treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sergio Bagnato
- Unit of Neurophysiology and Unit for Severe Acquired Brain Injuries, Rehabilitation Department, Fondazione Istituto San Raffaele G. Giglio, Cefalù (PA), Italy.
| | - Cristina Boccagni
- Unit of Neurophysiology and Unit for Severe Acquired Brain Injuries, Rehabilitation Department, Fondazione Istituto San Raffaele G. Giglio, Cefalù (PA), Italy
| | - Antonino Sant'Angelo
- Unit of Neurophysiology and Unit for Severe Acquired Brain Injuries, Rehabilitation Department, Fondazione Istituto San Raffaele G. Giglio, Cefalù (PA), Italy
| | - Caterina Prestandrea
- Unit of Neurophysiology and Unit for Severe Acquired Brain Injuries, Rehabilitation Department, Fondazione Istituto San Raffaele G. Giglio, Cefalù (PA), Italy
| | - Vittorio Virgilio
- Unit of Neurophysiology and Unit for Severe Acquired Brain Injuries, Rehabilitation Department, Fondazione Istituto San Raffaele G. Giglio, Cefalù (PA), Italy
| | - Giuseppe Galardi
- Unit of Neurophysiology and Unit for Severe Acquired Brain Injuries, Rehabilitation Department, Fondazione Istituto San Raffaele G. Giglio, Cefalù (PA), Italy
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Audiomotor Integration in Minimally Conscious State: Proof of Concept! Neural Plast 2015; 2015:391349. [PMID: 26425370 PMCID: PMC4573993 DOI: 10.1155/2015/391349] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/09/2015] [Revised: 08/18/2015] [Accepted: 08/19/2015] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Patients suffering from chronic disorders of consciousness (DOC) are characterized by profound unawareness and an impairment of large-scale cortical and subcortical connectivity. In this study, we applied an electrophysiological approach aimed at identifying the residual audiomotor connectivity patterns that are thought to be linked to awareness. We measured some markers of audiomotor integration (AMI) in 20 patients affected by DOC, before and after the application of a repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation protocol (rTMS) delivered over the left primary motor area (M1), paired to a transauricular alternating current stimulation. Our protocol induced potentiating of the electrophysiological markers of AMI and M1 excitability, paired to a clinical improvement, in all of the patients with minimally conscious state (MCS) but in none of those suffering from unresponsive wakefulness syndrome (UWS). Our protocol could be a promising approach to potentiate the functional connectivity within large-scale audiomotor networks, thus allowing clinicians to differentiate patients affected by MCS from UWS, besides the clinical assessment.
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42
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Bagnato S, Boccagni C, Prestandrea C, Galardi G. Autonomic correlates of seeing one's own face in patients with disorders of consciousness. Neurosci Conscious 2015; 2015:niv005. [PMID: 30619622 PMCID: PMC6307552 DOI: 10.1093/nc/niv005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/23/2015] [Revised: 05/30/2015] [Accepted: 06/06/2015] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The ability to recognize one's own face is a hallmark of self-awareness. In healthy subjects, the sympathetic skin response evoked by self-face recognition has a greater area under the curve of the signal than responses evoked by other visual stimuli. We evaluated the sympathetic skin responses evoked by self-face images and by six other visual stimuli (conditions) in 15 patients with severe disorders of consciousness and in 15 age-matched healthy subjects. Under all conditions, the evoked area of the sympathetic skin response was smaller in patients with unresponsive wakefulness syndrome, intermediate in patients in a minimally conscious state, and greater in healthy subjects. In patients with unresponsive wakefulness syndrome, no differences were found between the sympathetic skin response area evoked by self-face images and those evoked by other conditions. In patients in a minimally conscious state, the area of the sympathetic skin response evoked by self-face presentation was greater than those evoked by other conditions, even if statistical significance was reached only in the comparison to other stimuli not involving a real face. This finding may be due to the inability of these patients to differentiate their own face from those of others. Taken together, these results probably reflect a varying level of self-awareness between patients with unresponsive wakefulness syndrome and patients in a minimally conscious state, and suggest that the autonomic correlate of self-awareness may have some diagnostic implications for these patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sergio Bagnato
- Unit of Neurophysiology and Unit for Severe Acquired Brain Injuries, Rehabilitation Department, Fondazione Istituto “San Raffaele - G. Giglio,” Viale G. Giardina, 90015 Cefalù (PA), Italy
| | - Cristina Boccagni
- Unit of Neurophysiology and Unit for Severe Acquired Brain Injuries, Rehabilitation Department, Fondazione Istituto “San Raffaele - G. Giglio,” Viale G. Giardina, 90015 Cefalù (PA), Italy
| | - Caterina Prestandrea
- Unit of Neurophysiology and Unit for Severe Acquired Brain Injuries, Rehabilitation Department, Fondazione Istituto “San Raffaele - G. Giglio,” Viale G. Giardina, 90015 Cefalù (PA), Italy
| | - Giuseppe Galardi
- Unit of Neurophysiology and Unit for Severe Acquired Brain Injuries, Rehabilitation Department, Fondazione Istituto “San Raffaele - G. Giglio,” Viale G. Giardina, 90015 Cefalù (PA), Italy
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Lei J, Wang L, Gao G, Cooper E, Jiang J. Right Median Nerve Electrical Stimulation for Acute Traumatic Coma Patients. J Neurotrauma 2015; 32:1584-9. [PMID: 25664378 DOI: 10.1089/neu.2014.3768] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The right median nerve as a peripheral portal to the central nervous system can be electrically stimulated to help coma arousal after traumatic brain injury (TBI). The present study set out to examine the efficacy and safety of right median nerve electrical stimulation (RMNS) in a cohort of 437 comatose patients after severe TBI from August 2005 to December 2011. The patients were enrolled 2 weeks after their injury and assigned to the RMNS group (n=221) receiving electrical stimulation for 2 weeks or the control group (n = 216) treated by standard management according to the date of birth in the month. The baseline data were similar. After the 2-week treatment, the RMNS-treated patients demonstrated a more rapid increase of the mean Glasgow Coma Score, although statistical significance was not reached (8.43 ± 4.98 vs. 7.47 ± 5.37, p = 0.0532). The follow-up data at 6-month post-injury showed a significantly higher proportion of patients who regained consciousness (59.8% vs. 46.2%, p = 0.0073). There was a lower proportion of vegetative persons in the RMNS group than in the control group (17.6% vs. 22.0%, p = 0.0012). For persons regaining consciousness, the functional independence measurement (FIM) score was higher among the RMNS group patients (91.45 ± 8.65 vs. 76.23 ± 11.02, p < 0.001). There were no unique complications associated with the RMNS treatment. The current study, although with some limitations, showed that RMNS may serve as an easy, effective, and noninvasive technique to promote the recovery of traumatic coma in the early phase.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jin Lei
- 1 Department of Neurosurgery, Renji Hospital, Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine , Shanghai, China .,2 Shanghai Institute of Head Trauma , Shanghai, China
| | - Lei Wang
- 1 Department of Neurosurgery, Renji Hospital, Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine , Shanghai, China .,2 Shanghai Institute of Head Trauma , Shanghai, China
| | - Guoyi Gao
- 1 Department of Neurosurgery, Renji Hospital, Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine , Shanghai, China .,2 Shanghai Institute of Head Trauma , Shanghai, China
| | - Edwin Cooper
- 3 Department of Neurological Surgery, University of Virginia Health System , Charlottesville, Virginia
| | - Jiyao Jiang
- 1 Department of Neurosurgery, Renji Hospital, Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine , Shanghai, China .,2 Shanghai Institute of Head Trauma , Shanghai, China
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Naro A, Leo A, Russo M, Quartarone A, Bramanti P, Calabrò RS. Shaping Thalamo-cortical Plasticity: A Marker of Cortical Pain Integration in Patients With Post-anoxic Unresponsive Wakefulness Syndrome? Brain Stimul 2015; 8:97-104. [PMID: 25260422 DOI: 10.1016/j.brs.2014.09.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/02/2014] [Revised: 09/01/2014] [Accepted: 09/01/2014] [Indexed: 01/18/2023] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Antonino Naro
- IRCCS Centro Neurolesi "Bonino-Pulejo", Messina, Italy
| | - Antonino Leo
- IRCCS Centro Neurolesi "Bonino-Pulejo", Messina, Italy
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Lancioni GE, Singh NN, O'Reilly MF, Sigafoos J, Olivetti Belardinelli M, Buonocunto F, D'Amico F, Navarro J, Lanzilotti C, Ferlisi G, Denitto F. Technology-aided programs for post-coma patients emerged from or in a minimally conscious state. Front Hum Neurosci 2014; 8:931. [PMID: 25538593 PMCID: PMC4257021 DOI: 10.3389/fnhum.2014.00931] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/29/2014] [Accepted: 10/31/2014] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Post-coma persons in a minimally conscious state (MCS) or emerged/emerging from such state (E-MCS), who are affected by extensive motor impairment and lack of speech, may develop an active role and interact with their environment with the help of technology-aided intervention programs. Although a number of studies have been conducted in this area during the last few years, new evidence about the efficacy of those programs is warranted. These three studies were an effort in that direction. Study I assessed a technology-aided program to enable six MCS participants to access preferred environmental stimulation independently. Studies II and III assessed technology-aided programs to enable six E-MCS participants to make choices. In Study II, three of those participants were led to choose among leisure and social stimuli, and caregiver interventions automatically presented to them. In Study III, the remaining three participants were led to choose (a) among general stimulus/intervention options (e.g., songs, video-recordings of family members, and caregiver interventions); and then (b) among variants of those options. The results of all three studies were largely positive with substantial increases of independent stimulation access for the participants of Study I and independent choice behavior for the participants of Studies II and III. The results were analyzed in relation to previous data and in terms of their implications for daily contexts working with MCS and E-MCS persons affected by multiple disabilities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giulio E Lancioni
- Department of Neuroscience and Sense Organs, University of Bari Bari, Italy
| | - Nirbhay N Singh
- Medical College of Georgia, Georgia Regents University Augusta, GA, USA
| | - Mark F O'Reilly
- Department of Special Education, University of Texas at Austin Austin, TX, USA
| | - Jeff Sigafoos
- Department of Educational Psychology, Victoria University of Wellington Wellington, New Zealand
| | | | | | - Fiora D'Amico
- S. Raffaele Rehabilitation and Care Centers Ceglie and Alberobello, Italy
| | - Jorge Navarro
- S. Raffaele Rehabilitation and Care Centers Ceglie and Alberobello, Italy
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Bagnato S, Boccagni C, Sant'Angelo A, Prestandrea C, Mazzilli R, Galardi G. EEG predictors of outcome in patients with disorders of consciousness admitted for intensive rehabilitation. Clin Neurophysiol 2014; 126:959-66. [PMID: 25238957 DOI: 10.1016/j.clinph.2014.08.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/14/2014] [Revised: 07/17/2014] [Accepted: 08/05/2014] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE This study examined the prognostic value of standard EEG in patients with unresponsive wakefulness syndrome (UWS) or in a minimally conscious state (MCS). METHODS EEGs recorded at admission in 106 patients with UWS or in a MCS were analyzed retrospectively. EEG amplitude, dominant frequency, and reactivity to stimuli were correlated to patient outcomes according to the Coma Recovery Scale Revised (CRS-R). In 101 patients, data were integrated to generate a novel Amplitude-Frequency-Reactivity (AFR) scale, with scores ranging from 3 to 7. RESULTS Patients with reduced amplitudes showed less improvement in CRS-R scores at 3 months compared to patients with normal amplitudes. Delta, theta, and alpha frequencies were associated with the least, intermediate, and the greatest improvement in CRS-R scores, respectively. Patients with EEG reactivity showed greater improvements in CRS-R scores than patients without reactivity. The AFR scores for these patients were correlated with outcomes. CONCLUSIONS Reduced EEG amplitudes and delta frequencies correlated with worse clinical outcomes, while alpha frequencies and reactivity correlated with better outcomes. AFR scores allowed more delineated descriptions of outcomes in patients with normal amplitude, theta frequency, and no reactivity. SIGNIFICANCE Standard EEG descriptors are related to the 3-month outcomes in patients with disorders of consciousness.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sergio Bagnato
- Unit of Neurophysiology and Unit for Severe Acquired Brain Injury, Rehabilitation Department, Fondazione Istituto San Raffaele G. Giglio, Cefalù (PA), Italy.
| | - Cristina Boccagni
- Unit of Neurophysiology and Unit for Severe Acquired Brain Injury, Rehabilitation Department, Fondazione Istituto San Raffaele G. Giglio, Cefalù (PA), Italy
| | - Antonino Sant'Angelo
- Unit of Neurophysiology and Unit for Severe Acquired Brain Injury, Rehabilitation Department, Fondazione Istituto San Raffaele G. Giglio, Cefalù (PA), Italy
| | - Caterina Prestandrea
- Unit of Neurophysiology and Unit for Severe Acquired Brain Injury, Rehabilitation Department, Fondazione Istituto San Raffaele G. Giglio, Cefalù (PA), Italy
| | - Roberta Mazzilli
- Unit of Neurophysiology and Unit for Severe Acquired Brain Injury, Rehabilitation Department, Fondazione Istituto San Raffaele G. Giglio, Cefalù (PA), Italy
| | - Giuseppe Galardi
- Unit of Neurophysiology and Unit for Severe Acquired Brain Injury, Rehabilitation Department, Fondazione Istituto San Raffaele G. Giglio, Cefalù (PA), Italy
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Fingelkurts AA, Fingelkurts AA, Bagnato S, Boccagni C, Galardi G. Do we need a theory-based assessment of consciousness in the field of disorders of consciousness? Front Hum Neurosci 2014; 8:402. [PMID: 24926250 PMCID: PMC4044496 DOI: 10.3389/fnhum.2014.00402] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/14/2014] [Accepted: 05/19/2014] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
| | - Andrew A. Fingelkurts
- Research Department, BM-Science – Brain and Mind Technologies Research CentreEspoo, Finland
| | - Sergio Bagnato
- Neurorehabilitation Unit, Rehabilitation Department, Fondazione Istituto “San Raffaele-G. Giglio,”Cefalù, Italy
- Neurophysiology Unit, Rehabilitation Department, Fondazione Istituto “San Raffaele-G. Giglio,”Cefalù, Italy
| | - Cristina Boccagni
- Neurorehabilitation Unit, Rehabilitation Department, Fondazione Istituto “San Raffaele-G. Giglio,”Cefalù, Italy
- Neurophysiology Unit, Rehabilitation Department, Fondazione Istituto “San Raffaele-G. Giglio,”Cefalù, Italy
| | - Giuseppe Galardi
- Neurorehabilitation Unit, Rehabilitation Department, Fondazione Istituto “San Raffaele-G. Giglio,”Cefalù, Italy
- Neurophysiology Unit, Rehabilitation Department, Fondazione Istituto “San Raffaele-G. Giglio,”Cefalù, Italy
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Lancioni GE, Bosco A, Olivetti Belardinelli M, Singh NN, O'Reilly MF, Sigafoos J, Oliva D. Technology-based intervention programs to promote stimulation control and communication in post-coma persons with different levels of disability. Front Hum Neurosci 2014; 8:48. [PMID: 24574992 PMCID: PMC3920651 DOI: 10.3389/fnhum.2014.00048] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/19/2013] [Accepted: 01/21/2014] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Post-coma persons in a minimally conscious state and with extensive motor impairment or emerging/emerged from such a state, but affected by lack of speech and motor impairment, tend to be passive and isolated. A way to help them develop functional responding to control environmental events and communication involves the use of intervention programs relying on assistive technology. This paper provides an overview of technology-based intervention programs for enabling the participants to (a) access brief periods of stimulation through one or two microswitches, (b) pursue stimulation and social contact through the combination of a microswitch and a sensor connected to a speech generating device (SGD) or through two SGD-related sensors, (c) control stimulation options through computer or radio systems and a microswitch, (d) communicate through modified messaging or telephone systems operated via microswitch, and (e) control combinations of leisure and communication options through computer systems operated via microswitch. Twenty-six studies, involving a total of 52 participants, were included in this paper. The intervention programs were carried out using single-subject methodology, and their outcomes were generally considered positive from the standpoint of the participants and their context. Practical implications of the programs are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giulio E Lancioni
- Department of Neuroscience and Sense Organs, University of Bari Bari, Italy
| | - Andrea Bosco
- Department of Educational Science, Psychology, Communication, University of Bari Bari, Italy
| | | | - Nirbhay N Singh
- Department of Psychiatry and Health Behavior, Medical College of Georgia, Georgia Regents University Augusta, GA, USA
| | - Mark F O'Reilly
- Department of Special Education, University of Texas at Austin Austin, TX, USA
| | - Jeff Sigafoos
- Department of Educational Psychology, Victoria University of Wellington Wellington, New Zealand
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Lancioni GE, Bosco A, Olivetti Belardinelli M, Singh NN, O'Reilly MF, Sigafoos J, Buonocunto F, Navarro J, Lanzilotti C, D'Amico F, De Tommaso M. Assessing learning as a possible sign of consciousness in post-coma persons with minimal responsiveness. Front Hum Neurosci 2014; 8:25. [PMID: 24574989 PMCID: PMC3918875 DOI: 10.3389/fnhum.2014.00025] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/23/2013] [Accepted: 01/11/2014] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
A learning test procedure based on operant principles may be useful in the diagnosis (and eventually rehabilitation) of post-coma persons with minimal responsiveness. This study was aimed at extending the evaluation of such a procedure with seven participants who presented with very limited behavior and apparently severe disorders of consciousness. The procedure was evaluated through an ABACB design, in which A represented baseline phases without stimulation, B intervention phases with brief stimulation periods contingent on specific responses of the participants, and C a control phase in which stimulation was available all the time. Increased responding during the B phases, as opposed to the A and C phases, was taken to indicate learning and possibly a non-reflective expression of phenomenal consciousness. All participants were also evaluated with the coma recovery scale-revised (CRS-R) prior to the start of the learning test procedure and at the end of it. The results of the learning test showed that all participants had significantly higher responding levels during the B phases. The CRS-R scores suggested minimally conscious state for four of them prior to the learning test and for five of them after the completion of the learning test. The implications of the findings are discussed in terms of potential and time cost of the learning test.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giulio E Lancioni
- Department of Neuroscience and Sense Organs, University of Bari Bari, Italy
| | - Andrea Bosco
- Department of Educational Science, Psychology, Communication, University of Bari Bari, Italy
| | | | - Nirbhay N Singh
- Medical College of Georgia, Georgia Regents University Augusta, GA, USA
| | | | - Jeff Sigafoos
- Victoria University of Wellington Wellington, New Zealand
| | | | - Jorge Navarro
- S. Raffaele Rehabilitation and Care Centers Ceglie and Alberobello, Italy
| | | | - Fiora D'Amico
- S. Raffaele Rehabilitation and Care Centers Ceglie and Alberobello, Italy
| | - Marina De Tommaso
- Department of Neuroscience and Sense Organs, University of Bari Bari, Italy
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