It amazes me how I can see more research being done on Traumatic Brain Injuries every day, sometimes without even looking for information. For example yesterday, a close friend shared a link with me on Facebook about a student’s research on TBI.
This student just received a prize from the American Academy of Technology for his research on Traumatic Brain Injury. The student, Shan Lateef, has been studying “the effects of single and recurrent TBI (rTBI) on Drosophila melanogaster’s (a) life span, (b) response to sedatives, and (c) behavioral responses to light and gravity and (2) to determine whether therapeutic hypothermia can mitigate the deleterious effects of TBI.”
In this experiment they studied five groups:
(1) control
(2) single TBI or concussion
(3) concussion + hypothermia
(4) rTBI
(5) rTBI + hypothermia.
They used a “high- impact trauma device” to throw the flies against a wall. (I feel really bad, even though they were just flies and it was for science.) After causing damage to the brain, the hypothermia groups were cooled at 15°C for 3 minutes.
The experiment showed that hypothermia lessened the effects of the TBI, CTE or Concussion in the flies. If hypothermia can be proven to have the same effect on humans, it will open so many doors in the treatment of these types of injuries.
Read more about this experiment:
TJHSST Sophomore Wins Award for Research on Traumatic Brain Injury
Can Therapeutic Hypothermia Diminish the Impact of Traumatic Brain Injury in Drosophila melanogaster?
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Published by mariacristinasanfeliu
I’m an aspiring writer still looking for exactly what I want to write about, with a lot of creativity, imagination and desire to write.
I studied Writing and Rhetoric at Syracuse University where I explored many different sides of writing through my classes and extracurricular activities in order to narrow my search for an identity as a writer.
I have written for Citrus TV Noticias and La Voz magazine, both of which gave me the chance to explore different mediums in which to write in. Through Citrus TV Noticias I also gained experience in translating from English to Spanish and vice versa, which is also something that I would be interested in working on since I am fluent in both of these languages. I was also an intern at Syracuse University Press where I got hands on experience in what goes into actually editing and publishing a book.
Through out the last four years I have faced a lot of challenges, which helped chape the person I am today. After being in a tragic car accident, being in comma, having a Traumatic Brain Injury, and being in therapy for over a year, I am a new me, willing to face challenges and knowing how to deal with them. I want to write about my accident and life after it to help others, show them it can be done and help in any way I can.
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