The Neurological Effects of Repeated Exposure to Military Occupational Blast: Implications for Prevention and Health: Proceedings, Findings, and Expert Recommendations from the Seventh Department of Defense State-of-the-Science Meeting

Engel, Charles C.; Hoch, Emily; Simmons, Molly M.

doi:10.7249/cf380.1

Cited by 17 publications

(18 citation statements)

References 1 publication

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“…S9 online for lung injury comparison) and the lethality observed in torso protected rats exposed to a single blast between 25-35psi was 6% as compared with a lethality of 29% in torso protected rats exposed to a single blast between 42-50psi. In addition, it has been determined that 30-psi (~ 207 kPa) is also the threshold for lung injury in humans 45 . In the present study, each rat was exposed twice to a 30-psi blast wave, 24 h apart.…”

Section: Blast Conditions Blast Site and Transportation Rats Were Tmentioning

confidence: 99%

Explosive-driven double-blast exposure: molecular, histopathological, and behavioral consequences

Murphy

Iacono

Pan

et al. 2020

Sci Rep

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Traumatic brain injury generated by blast may induce long-term neurological and psychiatric sequelae. We aimed to identify molecular, histopathological, and behavioral changes in rats 2 weeks after explosive-driven double-blast exposure. Rats received two 30-psi (~ 207-kPa) blasts 24 h apart or were handled identically without blast. All rats were behaviorally assessed over 2 weeks. At Day 15, rats were euthanized, and brains removed. Brains were dissected into frontal cortex, hippocampus, cerebellum, and brainstem. Western blotting was performed to measure levels of total-Tau, phosphorylated-Tau (pTau), amyloid precursor protein (APP), GFAP, Iba1, αII-spectrin, and spectrin breakdown products (SBDP). Kinases and phosphatases, correlated with tau phosphorylation were also measured. Immunohistochemistry for pTau, APP, GFAP, and Iba1 was performed. pTau protein level was greater in the hippocampus, cerebellum, and brainstem and APP protein level was greater in cerebellum of blast vs control rats (p < 0.05). GFAP, Iba1, αII-spectrin, and SBDP remained unchanged. No immunohistochemical or neurobehavioral changes were observed. The dissociation between increased pTau and APP in different regions in the absence of neurobehavioral changes 2 weeks after double blast exposure is a relevant finding, consistent with human data showing that battlefield blasts might be associated with molecular changes before signs of neurological and psychiatric disorders manifest.

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Section: Blast Conditions Blast Site and Transportation Rats Were Tmentioning

confidence: 99%

Explosive-driven double-blast exposure: molecular, histopathological, and behavioral consequences

Murphy

Iacono

Pan

et al. 2020

Sci Rep

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“…While these TBIs occurred through various mechanisms, blast-related injuries resulting from exposures to mortars, artillery shells and improvised explosive devices were the major causes with repetitive mild injuries common [ 27 ]. Concerns also exist over potential adverse effects of subclinical blast exposures, which are common for many service members in combat as well as non-combat settings [ 29 ].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Laterality and region-specific tau phosphorylation correlate with PTSD-related behavioral traits in rats exposed to repetitive low-level blast

Garcia

Gasperi

Sosa

et al. 2021

acta neuropathol commun

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Military veterans who experience blast-related traumatic brain injuries often suffer from chronic cognitive and neurobehavioral syndromes. Reports of abnormal tau processing following blast injury have raised concerns that some cases may have a neurodegenerative basis. Rats exposed to repetitive low-level blast exhibit chronic neurobehavioral traits and accumulate tau phosphorylated at threonine 181 (Thr181). Using data previously reported in separate studies we tested the hypothesis that region-specific patterns of Thr181 phosphorylation correlate with behavioral measures also previously determined and reported in the same animals. Elevated p-tau Thr181 in anterior neocortical regions and right hippocampus correlated with anxiety as well as fear learning and novel object localization. There were no correlations with levels in amygdala or posterior neocortical regions. Particularly striking were asymmetrical effects on the right and left hippocampus. No systematic variation in head orientation toward the blast wave seems to explain the laterality. Levels did not correlate with behavioral measures of hyperarousal. Results were specific to Thr181 in that no correlations were observed for three other phospho-acceptor sites (threonine 231, serine 396, and serine 404). No consistent correlations were linked with total tau. These correlations are significant in suggesting that p-tau accumulation in anterior neocortical regions and the hippocampus may lead to disinhibited amygdala function without p-tau elevation in the amygdala itself. They also suggest an association linking blast injury with tauopathy, which has implications for understanding the relationship of chronic blast-related neurobehavioral syndromes in humans to neurodegenerative diseases.

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“…Promising unpublished research from Applied Research Associates has compiled data from animal and observational human studies and augmented them with computational modeling to develop "sensor-based stand-down guidelines for Service members." 52 Results of similar experiments, if further validated, may provide objective exposure thresholds that can indicate when to return to duty, or when to withdraw from further blast-related training. Unfortunately, no blast dosimetry biosensor has yet overcome the many technological, logistical, and medical challenges that impede their ultimate integration into military use.…”

Section: Blast Dose Responsementioning

confidence: 99%

“…For more information on the effects of repetitive low-level blast exposure on military operations in garrison, see the meeting proceedings from the Seventh DoD International State-of-the-Science Meeting: The Neurological Effects of Repeated Exposure to Military Occupational Blast: Implications for Prevention and Health. 52 Comorbidities. In many cases, particularly in military populations, TBI is accompanied by substance abuse and psychiatric comorbidities.…”

Section: During Injurymentioning

confidence: 99%

Blast-Related Traumatic Brain Injury: Current Concepts and Research Considerations

2019

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Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a well-known consequence of participation in activities such as military combat or collision sports. But the wide variability in eliciting circumstances and injury severities makes the study of TBI as a uniform disease state impossible. Military Service members are under additional, unique threats such as exposure to explosive blast and its unique effects on the body. This review is aimed toward TBI researchers, as it covers important concepts and considerations for studying blast-induced head trauma. These include the comparability of blast-induced head trauma to other mechanisms of TBI, whether blast overpressure induces measureable biomarkers, and whether a biodosimeter can link blast exposure to health outcomes, using acute radiation exposure as a corollary. This examination is contextualized by the understanding of concussive events and their psychological effects throughout the past century’s wars, as well as the variables that predict sustaining a TBI and those that precipitate or exacerbate psychological conditions. Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are solely the views of the authors and not those of the Department of Defense Blast Injury Research Coordinating Office, US Army Medical Research and Development Command, US Army Futures Command, US Army, or the Department of Defense.

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The Neurological Effects of Repeated Exposure to Military Occupational Blast: Implications for Prevention and Health: Proceedings, Findings, and Expert Recommendations from the Seventh Department of Defense State-of-the-Science Meeting

Cited by 17 publications

References 1 publication

Explosive-driven double-blast exposure: molecular, histopathological, and behavioral consequences

Explosive-driven double-blast exposure: molecular, histopathological, and behavioral consequences

Laterality and region-specific tau phosphorylation correlate with PTSD-related behavioral traits in rats exposed to repetitive low-level blast

Blast-Related Traumatic Brain Injury: Current Concepts and Research Considerations

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