Institute of Inflammation and Ageing, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK
Department of Neurosurgery, University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust, Birmingham, UK.
BMJ Open. 2022 Sep 21;12(9):e062030. doi: 10.1136/bmjopen-2022-062030.
Concussion is a complex pathophysiological process with a wide range of non-specific signs and symptoms. There are currently no objective diagnostic tests to identify concussion, and diagnosis relies solely on history and examination. Recent research has identified a unique panel of microRNAs (miRNAs) that distinguish between concussed and non-concussed rugby players. This study aims to assess the diagnostic utility of salivary miRNAs in concussion for a sample of UK National Health Service patients and whether well-established sports-related concussion (SRC) assessment tools may be translated into the emergency department (ED).
Concussion in Non-athletes: Assessment of Cognition and Symptomatology is a single-centre, prospective, two-phase cohort study. The concussed cohort will consist of participants with maxillofacial trauma and concurrent concussion. The control cohort will consist of participants with isolated limb trauma and no evidence of concussion. Participants will be recruited in the ED and saliva samples will be taken to identify the presence of miRNAs. The SRC assessments being investigated include the Sports Concussion Assessment Test, Fifth Edition (SCAT5), the Immediate Post-Concussion Assessment and Cognitive Testing (ImPACT) and the ImPACT Quick. Follow-up will be at 24-48 hours in-hospital and remotely via telephone and email at 14 days and 6 months.
Ethical approval was granted in February 2021 by the West Midlands Coventry & Warwickshire Research Ethics Committee (ref 20/WM/0299). The investigators intend to submit their study findings for publication in peer-reviewed journals and to disseminate study findings via presentation at academic meetings. The results will also form part of a doctorate thesis, registered at the University of Birmingham.
脑震荡是一个复杂的病理生理过程，具有广泛的非特异性体征和症状。目前尚无用于识别脑震荡的客观诊断测试，诊断完全依赖于病史和检查。最近的研究已经确定了一组独特的 microRNAs（miRNAs），可以区分脑震荡和非脑震荡的橄榄球运动员。本研究旨在评估唾液 miRNA 在英国国民保健系统患者中脑震荡诊断中的效用，以及是否可以将成熟的与运动相关的脑震荡（SRC）评估工具转化为急诊科（ED）。
非运动员脑震荡：认知与症状评估是一项单中心、前瞻性、两阶段队列研究。脑震荡组将由患有颌面创伤且伴有并发脑震荡的参与者组成。对照组将由仅肢体创伤且无脑震荡证据的参与者组成。参与者将在 ED 中招募，采集唾液样本以确定 miRNA 的存在。正在研究的 SRC 评估包括运动性脑震荡评估测试，第五版（SCAT5）、即刻后脑震荡评估和认知测试（ImPACT）和 ImPACT Quick。随访将在 24-48 小时住院期间以及在 14 天和 6 个月时通过电话和电子邮件远程进行。
伦理批准于 2021 年 2 月由西米德兰兹考文垂和沃里克郡研究伦理委员会（编号 20/WM/0299）授予。研究人员打算将他们的研究结果提交给同行评审期刊发表，并通过学术会议的演讲来传播研究结果。研究结果还将成为伯明翰大学注册博士论文的一部分。
