• The Korean Journal of Pharmacology
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• v.31 no.1 s.57
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• pp.1-9
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• 1995

The slow development of histopathological changes and long period required for stabilization of lesions have suggested that secondary injury processes exacerbate the effect of initial mechanical insult after traumatic spinal cord injury (SCI). The importance of glutamate receptors in the normal functions of spinal cord, in concert with the large body of evidence that points to their involvement in neurotoxicity due to both ischemic and traumatic insults to the CNS, suggested a probable role of glutamate receptors in secondary injury process after traumatic SCI. In order to investigate the involvement of excitatory amino acid in the secondary injury process after SCI, this study examined the effect of dextrorphan, a noncompetitive NMDA receptor antagonist, on the recovery of hindlimb function and the residual tissue at injury site following SCI. Locomotor function was assessed using open field test (21 point scale). At 8 weeks spinal cord tissue was examined using quantitative histopathologic technique. Prior to surgery female Long-Evans rats were adapted to the test environment. Rats received laminectomies (T9/T10), and spinal cord contusions (NYU impactor) were produced by a 10 gm weight dropped 25 mm. DXT (15 or 30 mg/kg, i.p.) or saline was injected 15 min before contusion. Behavioral testing resumed 2 days post-injury and continued twice a week for 8 weeks. No differences between DXT and saline groups were found for hindlimb function and sparing tissue at the lesion site. These results suggest that NMDA receptor might not be involved in secondary injury processes after traumatic SCI.

• Korean Journal of Psychosomatic Medicine
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• v.12 no.1
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• pp.15-22
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• 2004

Objectives: Delirium after head trauma results in various cognitive and behavioral dysfunction. This study aimed at developing and validating a predicitive model for clinical improvement after delirium based on precipitating factors during hospitalization Method: Data were collected on 45 patients who developed delirium after head trauma using 5 year retrospective design, based on reviews of medical charts including psychiatric consultation reports. The differences of the group who sustained residual symptoms of delirium(The RS group) and the group of full recovery(The FR group) at 4 week follow-up visits were compared by motoric type of delirium, socio-demographic variables, neuroimaging variables and clinical variables of interest. Result: There was significant difference in reason for initial consultation between two groups, in terms of hyperactivity(p<.01). The presence of compensation claim, subcortical gray matter lesion was significantly associated with the RS group(p<.05). Total length of intensive care unit(ICU) admission and of hospital stay were significantly longer in RS group than FR group(p<.01). Conclusion: This study shows that hyperactivity on initial consultation, compensation claims, specific brain lesion were altogether significant factors in explaining prolonged duration of delirium after head trauma. A simple predictive model based on the presence of precipitating factors might be used to identify delirious patients at high risk for prolonged cognitive dysfunction. Early psychiatric intervention would be required for evaluating efficacious management and shortening admission period.