Re-Engineering of the Damaged Brain and Spinal Cord

Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) can lead to loss of skills and to mental cognitive behavioural deficits. Paraplegia after Spinal Cord Injury (SCI) means a life-long sentence of paralysis, sensory loss, dependence and in both, TBI and SCI, waiting for a miracle therapy. Recent advances in functional neurosurgery, neuroprosthesis, robotic devices and cell transplantation have opened up a new era. New drugs and reconstructive surgical concepts are on the horizon. Social reintegration is based on holistic rehabilitation. Psychological treatment can alleviate and strengthen affected life. This book reflects important aspects of physiology and new trans-disciplinary approaches for acute treatment and rehabilitation in neurotraumatology by reviewing evidence based concepts as they were discussed among bio and gene-technologists, physicians, neuropsychologists and other therapists at the joint international congress in Brescia 2004.

A. Evidence based neurorehabilitation Hömberg, V.: • Evidence based medicine in neurological rehabilitation – a critical review von Wild, K. R. H., Wenzla¤, P. in cooperation with the TBI Study Council: • Quality management in traumatic brain injury (TBI). Lessons from the prospective study in 6.800 patients after acute TBI in respect of neurorehabilitation Pagni, C. A., Zenga, F.: • Posttraumatic epilepsy with special emphasis on prophylaxis and prevention Prosiegel, M., Höling, R., Heintze, M., Wagner-Sonntag, E., Wiseman, K.: • Swallowing therapy – a prospective study on patients with neurogenic dysphagia due to unilateral paresis of the vagal nerve, Avellis’ syndrome, Wallenberg’s syndrome, posterior fossa tumours and cerebellar hemorrhage Prigatano, G. P.: • Impaired self-awareness after moderately severe to severe traumatic brain injury von Steinbuechel, N., Petersen, C., Bullinger, M., the QOLIBRI Group: • Assessment of health-related quality of life in persons after traumatic brain injury – development of the Qolibri, a specific measure B. Re-engineering of brain lesions Barlati, S., Barbon, A.: • RNA editing: a molecular mechanism for the fine modulation of neuronal transmission Pizzi, M., Sarnico, I., Boroni, F., Benetti, A., Benarese, M., Spano, P. F.: • Inhibition of IkBa phosphorylation prevents glutamate-induced NF-kB activation and neuronal cell death Seitz, R. J., Kleiser, R., Bu¨ tefisch, C. M.: • Reorganization of cerebral circuits in human brain lesion Liepert, J.: • Transcranial magnetic stimulation in neurorehabilitation Wilson, J. T. L.: • Is there impairment of a specific frontal lobe circuit in head injury? Dinse, H. R.: • Treating the aging brain: cortical reorganization and behavior Prosiegel, M., Ho¡§ ling, R., Heintze, M., Wagner-Sonntag, E., Wiseman, K.: • The localization of central pattern generators for swallowing in humans . a clinical-anatomicalstudy on patients with unilateral paresis of the vagal nerve, Avellis¡¯ syndrome, Wallenberg¡¯s syndrome, posterior fossa tumours and cerebellar hemorrhage Gharabaghi, A., Tatagiba, M.: • Functional regeneration of the axotomized auditory nerve with combined neurotrophic and antiinhibitory strategies Tatagiba, M., Gharabaghi, A.: • Electrically evoked hearing perception by functional neurostimulation of the central auditory system Foffani, G., Ardolino, G., Rampini, P., Tamma, F., Caputo, E., Egidi, M., Cerutti, S., Barbieri, S., Priori, A.: • Physiological recordings from electrodes implanted in the basal ganglia for deep brain stimulation in Parkinson¡¯s disease. The relevance of fast subthalamic rhythms Yamamoto, T., Kobayashi, K., Kasai, M., Oshima, H., Fukaya, C., Katayama, Y.: • DBS therapy for the vegetative state and minimally conscious state Mehdorn, H. M., Pinsker, M. O., Volkmann, J., Hamel, W., Schrader, B., Stiller, U., Herzog, J., Deuschl, G.: • Deep brain stimulation for idiopathic or secondary movement disorders. Pagni, C. A., Altibrandi, M. G., Bentivoglio, A., Caruso, G., Cioni, B., Fiorella, C., Insola, A., Lavano, A., Maina, R., Mazzone, P., Signorelli, C. D., Sturiale, C., Valzania, F., Zeme, S., Zenga, F.: • Extradural Motor Cortex Stimulation (EMCS) for Parkinson¡¯s disease. History and first results by the study group of the Italian neurosurgical society Samadani, U., Reyes-Moreno, I., Buchfelder, M.: • Endocrine dysfunction following traumatic brain injury: mechanisms, pathophysiology and clinical correlations Hoffmann, B., Sepehrnia, A.: • Taylored implants for alloplastic cranioplasty . clinical and surgical considerations Zitnay, G. A.: • Lessons from National and International TBI Societies and Funds like NBIRTT C. Re-engineering of spinal cord lesions Brunelli, G. A.: • Brachial plexus surgery (Honorary lecture) Stamate, T., Budurca, A. R., Lazar, A. N., Tamas, C., Stamate,