PUBLIC RELEASE DATE: 9-Sep-2014 Contact: Sam Wong sam.wong@imperial.ac.uk 44-207-594-2198 Imperial College London http://www.twitter.com/imperialspark Treatment with xenon gas after a head injury reduces the extent of brain damage, according to a study in mice. Head injury is the leading cause of death and disability in people aged under 45 in developed countries, mostly resulting from falls and road accidents. The primary injury caused by the initial mechanical force is followed by a secondary injury which develops in the hours and days afterwards. This secondary injury is largely responsible for patients' mental and physical disabilities, but there are currently no drug treatments that can be given after the accident to stop it from occurring. Scientists at Imperial College London found that xenon, given within hours of the initial injury, limits brain damage and improves neurological outcomes in mice, both in the short term and long term. The findings, published in the journal Critical Care Medicine, could lead to clinical trials of xenon as a treatment for head injury in humans. Although xenon is chemically inert, this does not mean it is biologically inactive. Xenon has been known to have general anaesthetic properties since the 1950s. Previous studies at Imperial have found that … Continue reading →

The results of a study involving mice suggests xenon could help protect the brain after a head injury Injuries from a blow to the head are a two-stage affair, with the primary injury caused by the initial impact being followed by a secondary injury that develops in the subsequent hours and days. We have seen the development of devices like the Jolt Sensor that are designed to detect the severity of the initial impact, but there is currently no drug treatment for the secondary injury, which is largely responsible for a patient sustaining mental and physical disabilities. Now scientists at Imperial College London have found that xenon gas shows promise as such a treatment. Previous studies at Imperial College London showed xenon, a chemically inert gas, has the ability to protect brain cells from mechanical injury in the lab. The researchers have now shown for the first time that the protective effects also carry through to live animals. The team started by anesthetizing mice before applying a controlled mechanical force to the brain. They then treated some of the mice with different concentrations of xenon at different times after the injury. In tests to assess their neurological deficits, such as … Continue reading →

By Matthew Beaudin Published Sep. 8, 2014 Updated 2 days ago Ian Crane suffered a brain injury and was left with more than 1,000 stitches after a crash last month. Photo: Tim De Waele | TDWsport.com BOULDER, Colorado (VN) When Ian Crane smashed into the back windshield of a team car in the Colorado crosswinds, a shard of glass nicked his jugular. He shredded his mouth and face, taking nearly 1,000 tiny stitches inside his mouth and another 50 on his face. He broke the bone that bridges the skull and spine. He injured his brain so badly that doctors blanked Crane (Jamis-Hagens Berman) into a coma so that he could heal. But now, two weeks after crashing into the back of a car while struggling to get back to the race at the USA Pro Challenge, Crane, 24, left St. Anthonys Hospital in Lakewood with one thing still perfectly intact. Never mind the fact he cant yet balance just right, or that he has no idea when he can ride a bike outside again. Never mind the fact that the smoke of a deep brain injury obscures medical timetables and hopes. Yes, of course I still want to be … Continue reading →