Traumatic brain injury (TBI) frequently results in deficits in attention and speed of information processing. In order to disentangle the influence of sensory-specific factors and the role of cross-modal integration from the supra-modal aspects of cognitive slowing, the present reaction time (RT) study was designed. Simple and choice RT to pairings of visual, auditory and tactile stimuli were measured in 35 TBI patients and 35 matched controls. Results proved a strong influence of sensory-specific and cross-modal factors in the RTs. The tactile modality was more difficult to integrate with the visual and the auditory modality, rather than the visual and the auditory modalities between them. TBI patients showed prolonged simple and choice RTs throughout all tasks, but their difficulty with integrating the tactile modality was disproportionately higher in comparison to controls.

Our aims were to investigate: (i) the VEP correlates of functional visual impairments following traumatic brain injury (TBI), in particular of the reduced spatial form perception; and (ii) the VEP correlates of visual sustained arousal in TBI patients. We used two approaches: (i) the analysis of latency and amplitude of the peaks; and (ii) the study of the correlations among the latencies of the peaks as a label of temporal synchronization. Thirty-five severe TBI outcome inpatients and 35 matching controls were studied. Pattern-reversal VEPs were recorded at Oz-Fz and Cz-A1, first without counting, then with counting of the reversals. Seven peaks of the waveform at Oz and eight peaks at Cz were measured. We found several differences in amplitude and latency between patients and controls, and between nocount/count. The temporal binding of the peaks within each channel and between the two channels was calculated by correlation matrices, and tested by factor analysis. Results indicated that the synchronization of the peaks within each channel did not differ between patients and controls. The temporal covariation between peaks occurring at Oz and Cz, however, was highly significantly altered in patients. This suggests that visual impairments in TBI patients may be due to a deranged synchronization of the activity of different brain regions.

This study is a first step towards the development of ICF Core Sets for of patients with neurological conditions in early post-acute rehabilitation facilities.

A sensitive and specific radioimmunoassay for human urinary kallikrein was developed, which allows tissue kallikrein determination in human urine, saliva, pancreatic juice, bile and sweat. In several body fluids a kallikrein-like antigen was found, but not in gastric juice and breast milk. According to gel filtration studies, complex formation of kallikrein with serum proteins or different molecular weight forms of kallikrein in serum and urine may be assumed. Pancreatic kallikrein secretion follows the same pattern after stimulation with secretin and cholecystokinin as trypsin and chymotrypsin in normal individuals. In chronic pancreatitis the kinetic behaviour remains unchanged with respect to the enzyme secretion, but the secretion of kallikrein is reduced to about 20%.

Objective of this study was to examine the effectiveness of a coordinated, community based 3-year advisory program in 1534 patients with acquired brain injury. Patients and caregivers were offered a coordinated advisory program after discharge from rehabilitation. Patients in the historical control group received standard aftercare. The main outcomes were functional status [Functional Independence Measure (FIM)], and days spent in the acute hospital. The secondary outcome was survival. Patients were comparable for sex (intervention: 41.3% female, control: 38.0%), and younger in the control group (mean age intervention: 55.3, control: 49.6). Functional status at discharge was lower in the intervention group (mean FIM intervention: 66.2, control: 80.3). Patients in the intervention group experienced a moderate gain in FIM. Rate of days in hospital was 15.4 per 1000 person days (intervention) and 15.5 per 1000 person days (control). Patients of the intervention group had an increased rate of days in hospital. A total of 16.0% of patients in the intervention group and 19.3% in the control group died during follow-up. Patients in the intervention had a significant lower mortality risk depending on follow-up period and discharge FIM. The advisory program may be effective for all patients with acquired brain injury.