1.
Cerebrolysin enhances cognitive recovery of mild traumatic brain injury patients: double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomized study.
Chen, CC, Wei, ST, Tsaia, SC, Chen, XX, Cho, DY
British journal of neurosurgery. 2013;(6):803-7
Abstract
In adults, mild traumatic brain injury (MTBI) frequently results in impairments of cognitive functions which would lead to psychological consequences in the future. Cerebrolysin is a nootropic drug, and can significantly improve cognitive function in patients with Alzheimer's disease and stroke. The purpose of this study was to investigate how Cerebrolysin therapy enhances cognitive recovery for mild traumatic brain injury patients using a double-blinded, placebo-controlled, randomized phase II pilot study. Patients having head injury within 24 h sent to our hospital were screened and recruited if patients were alert and conscious, and had intracranial contusion haemorrhage. From July 2009 to June 2010, totally, thirty-two patients were recruited in the double-blinded, placebo-controlled, and randomized study. Patients were randomized to receive Cerebrolysin (Group A, once daily intravenous infusion of 30 mL Cerebrolysin over a 60-min period for 5 days) or placebo (Group B, same dosage and administration of normal saline as Group A). The primary outcome measures were differences of cognitive function including Mini-Mental Status Examination (MMSE), and Cognitive Abilities Screening Instrument (CASI) scores between baseline and week 1, between baseline and week 4, and between baseline and week 12. Thirty-two patients completed the trial. For Group A, the CASI score difference between baseline and week 12 was 21.0 ± 20.4, a significantly greater change than that of Group B (7.6 ± 12.1) (p = 0.0461). Besides, drawing function (one of the domains of CASI; p = 0.0066) on week 4 and both drawing function (p = 0.0472) and long-term memory (one of the domains of CASI; p = 0.0256) on week 12 were also found to be significantly improved in the patients receiving Cerebrolysin treatment. Our results suggest that Cerebrolysin improves the cognitive function of the MTBI in patients at 3rd month after injury, especially for long-term memory and drawing function.
2.
The effect of supplementation of docosahexaenoic acid and arachidonic acid on visual acuity and neurodevelopment in larger preterm infants.
Fang, PC, Kuo, HK, Huang, CB, Ko, TY, Chen, CC, Chung, MY
Chang Gung medical journal. 2005;(10):708-15
Abstract
BACKGROUND Preterm infants may be born with deficits of both docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and arachidonic acid (AA), but studies on supplementation of DHA and AA for preterm infants are limited. METHODS Preterm infants with a gestational age between 30 and 37 weeks who met all the inclusion criteria were enrolled in this double blind, randomized, comparative study. Infants over 2000 g body weight, over 32 weeks of gestation and in full feeding status would enter into the active intervention period of 6 months. Sixteen infants received Neoangelac Plus with AA and DHA supplementation. Eleven infants received Neoangelac without AA and DHA supplementation. The babies had scheduled physical examinations and their cognitive development, visual acuity, and vital signs to be checked. Adverse events were also recorded. RESULTS The mean Mental Development Index (MDI) scores for the supplementation and non-supplementation groups were 96.1 +/- 8.6 and 91.7 +/- 10.4 respectively at 6 months and 98.7 +/- 8.0 and 90.5 +/- 6.9 respectively at 1 year. The mean Physical Development Index (PDI) scores of these two groups were 102.2 +/- 10.5 and 95.4 +/- 13.2 respectively at 6 months and 98.0 +/- 5.8 and 86.7 +/- 11.1 respectively at 1 year. By repeated measures ANOVA, significant differences existed between groups for MDI and PDI (p = 0.020 and 0.008). However, there were no differences in visual acuity, physical examination variables or vital signs between these two groups. No obvious adverse effects were observed during the study period. CONCLUSION These results showed possible benefits in the neurodevelopment of larger preterm infants given formula supplemented with DHA and AA.