Showing items 1 - 6 of 6

Blood–brain barrier disruption and ventricular enlargement are the earliest neuropathological changes in rats with repeated sub-concussive impacts over 2 weeks

- Hiles-Murison, Bailey, Lavender, Andrew, Hackett, Mark, Armstrong, Joshua, Nesbit, Michael

  • Authors: Hiles-Murison, Bailey , Lavender, Andrew , Hackett, Mark , Armstrong, Joshua , Nesbit, Michael
  • Date: 2021
  • Type: Text , Journal article
  • Relation: Scientific Reports Vol. 11, no. 1 (2021), p.
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  • Description: Repeated sub-concussive impact (e.g. soccer ball heading), a significantly lighter form of mild traumatic brain injury, is increasingly suggested to cumulatively alter brain structure and compromise neurobehavioural function in the long-term. However, the underlying mechanisms whereby repeated long-term sub-concussion induces cerebral structural and neurobehavioural changes are currently unknown. Here, we utilised an established rat model to investigate the effects of repeated sub-concussion on size of lateral ventricles, cerebrovascular blood–brain barrier (BBB) integrity, neuroinflammation, oxidative stress, and biochemical distribution. Following repeated sub-concussion 3 days per week for 2 weeks, the rats showed significantly enlarged lateral ventricles compared with the rats receiving sham-only procedure. The sub-concussive rats also presented significant BBB dysfunction in the cerebral cortex and hippocampal formation, whilst neuromotor function assessed by beamwalk and rotarod tests were comparable to the sham rats. Immunofluorescent and spectroscopic microscopy analyses revealed no significant changes in neuroinflammation, oxidative stress, lipid distribution or protein aggregation, within the hippocampus and cortex. These data collectively indicate that repeated sub-concussion for 2 weeks induce significant ventriculomegaly and BBB disruption, preceding neuromotor deficits. © 2021, The Author(s). *Please note that there are multiple authors for this article therefore only the name of the first 5 including Federation University Australia affiliate “Andrew Lavender” is provided in this record**

Effectiveness of mouth rinsing versus ingesting pickle juice for alleviating electrically induced cramp in physically active adults

- Georgieva, Julia, Brade, Carly, Ducker, Kagan, Davey, Paul, Jacques, Angela, Ohno, Masato, Lavender, Andrew

  • Authors: Georgieva, Julia , Brade, Carly , Ducker, Kagan , Davey, Paul , Jacques, Angela , Ohno, Masato , Lavender, Andrew
  • Date: 2021
  • Type: Text , Journal article
  • Relation: Applied Sciences (Switzerland) Vol. 11, no. 24 (2021), p.
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  • Description: (1) Background: Stimulating oropharyngeal transient receptor potential (TRP) channels in-hibits muscle cramping by triggering a supraspinal reflex to reduce α-motor neuron hyperexcitability. This study investigated whether the longer stimulation of the TRP channels via mouth rinsing with PJ is more effective than drinking PJ at inhibiting an electrically induced muscle cramp (EIMC). Both conditions were compared to the control (water). (2) Methods: The tibial nerves in 11 cramp-prone adults were percutaneously stimulated to elicit an EIMC of the flexor hallucis brevis in three trials that took place one week apart from each other. At cramp onset, the participants received mouth rinsing and expelling PJ (25 mL), ingesting PJ (1 mL·kg−1 body-mass (BM)), or ingesting water (1 mL·kg−1 BM). Cramp onset and offset were induced by electromyography, and the severity of discomfort was recorded using a visual analogue scale (VAS). (3) Results: The median time to cramp cessation as a percentage of water was 82.8 ± 14.63% and 68.6 ± 47.78% for PJ ingestion and PJ mouth rinsing, respectively. These results had large variability, and no statistically significant differences were observed. There were also no differences in perceived cramp discomfort between conditions, despite the hazard ratios for the time taken to reach VAS = 0, which was higher than water (control) for PJ ingestion (22%) and mouth rinsing (35%) (p = 0.66 and 0.51, respectively). (4) Conclusions: The data suggest no difference in cramp duration and perceived discomfort between PJ and water. © 2021 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland. **Please note that there are multiple authors for this article therefore only the name of the first 5 including Federation University Australia affiliate “Andrew Lavender” is provided in this record**

Effects of sub-concussion on neuropsychological performance and its potential mechanisms : a narrative review

- Rawlings, Samuel, Takechi, Ryusuke, Lavender, Andrew

  • Authors: Rawlings, Samuel , Takechi, Ryusuke , Lavender, Andrew
  • Date: 2020
  • Type: Text , Journal article , Review
  • Relation: Brain Research Bulletin Vol. 165, no. (2020), p. 56-62
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  • Description: Concussion and mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) are recognised as serious medical events that are relatively common in contact sports. Recently, the seemingly non-injurious phenomenon of sub-concussion has gained interest among neuroscience researchers and early studies are showing that there may be some acute and chronic effects on brain health and function with repeated sub-concussive events of the type seen in soccer, where players strike the ball with the head, and collision sports like the rugby codes. The aim of this narrative review is to describe sub-concussion and the current understanding of short and long term effects of repeated minor impacts that have been found to occur in human and animal models. Here, potential mechanisms for cognitive dysfunction following sub-concussion and recommend directions for future research are discussed. The Potential mechanisms of injuries resulting from sub-concussion such as changes in blood brain barrier integrity, neuroinflammation, cognitive impairment, and oxidative stress damage, among other changes in central nervous system function vary considerably making understanding of the underlying causative mechanism challenging for researchers. Some evidence suggests a link between impaired cerebrovascular function and cognitive impairment which poses a potential mechanism linking the two. It is hoped that this review helps guide researchers toward a potential direction of investigations. © 2020

Head accelerations during a 1-on-1 rugby tackling drill performed by experienced rugby union players

- Reha, Tahere, McNabb, Colm, Netto, Kevin, Davey, Paul, Lavender, Andrew

  • Authors: Reha, Tahere , McNabb, Colm , Netto, Kevin , Davey, Paul , Lavender, Andrew
  • Date: 2021
  • Type: Text , Journal article
  • Relation: Brain Sciences Vol. 11, no. 11 (2021), p.
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  • Description: Rugby Union is a popular sport played by males and females worldwide, from junior to elite levels. The highly physical skill of tackling occurs every few seconds throughout a match and various injuries associated with tackling are relatively common. Of particular interest are head injuries that result in a concussion. Recently, repeated non-injurious head impacts in sport have attracted the attention of researchers interested in brain health. Therefore, this study assessed head movement during repeated rugby tackle drills among experienced Rugby Union players. Experienced male and female participants performed 15 1-on-1 tackles in a motion analysis laboratory to measure the head movements of the ball carrier and tackler during each tackle, using three-dimensional motion capture. The average peak acceleration of the head for ball carriers was 28.9 ± 24.08 g and 36.67 ± 28.91 g for the tacklers. This study found that the type of head impacts common while performing a tackle in Rugby Union are similar to those experienced by soccer players during heading, which has been found to alter brain function that lasts hours after the event. This has important implications for player health and suggests that mitigation strategies should be considered for Rugby Union. © 2021 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland.

Misconceptions in the knowledge of vocational fitness students and graduates

- Jolley, Daniel, Davis, Melissa, Lavender, Andrew

  • Authors: Jolley, Daniel , Davis, Melissa , Lavender, Andrew
  • Date: 2020
  • Type: Text , Journal article
  • Relation: Australian Journal of Adult Learning Vol. 60, no. 1 (2020), p. 66-88
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  • Description: The use of non-academic sources of health information is popular among both the public and exercise professionals. However, the quality of this information varies and without the application of critical thinking skills, may lead to misconceptions forming. This research aimed to compare the knowledge, presence of misconceptions, and critical thinking ability of vocational education and training (VET) fitness students at the beginning and end of their training, and qualified personal trainers (PTs). It also examines differences in the sources of information used by students and professionals. An Exercise Science Knowledge Survey was developed to assess knowledge and misconceptions about ten areas of exercise and nutrition. VET students were assessed at the beginning and end of a personal training qualification and PTs were surveyed once. Though VET students’ knowledge improved and misconceptions decreased from pre-to post training, PTs did not differ from post-VET students in knowledge, misconceptions, or critical thinking ability. PTs reported using more varied sources of information and were more likely to trust reliable sources. Critical thinking ability correlated with higher knowledge scores and lower misconception scores. Instruction in critical thinking should be embedded at lower levels of VET, and exercise professionals should be encouraged to undertake higher levels of study. © 2020, ADULT LEARNING AUSTRALIA INC. All rights reserved.

Repeated long-term sub-concussion impacts induce motor dysfunction in rats : a potential rodent model

- Lavender, Andrew, Rawlings, Samuel, Warnock, Andrew, McGonigle, Terry, Hiles-Murison, Bailey, Nesbit, Michael, Lam, Virginie, Hackett, Mark, Fitzgerald, Melinda, Takechi, Ryusuke

  • Authors: Lavender, Andrew , Rawlings, Samuel , Warnock, Andrew , McGonigle, Terry , Hiles-Murison, Bailey , Nesbit, Michael , Lam, Virginie , Hackett, Mark , Fitzgerald, Melinda , Takechi, Ryusuke
  • Date: 2020
  • Type: Text , Journal article
  • Relation: Frontiers in Neurology Vol. 11, no. (2020), p.
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  • Description: Whilst detrimental effects of repeated sub-concussive impacts on neurophysiological and behavioral function are increasingly reported, the underlying mechanisms are largely unknown. Here, we report that repeated sub-concussion with a light weight drop (25 g) in wild-type PVG rats for 2 weeks does not induce detectable neuromotor dysfunction assessed by beamwalk and rotarod tests. However, after 12 weeks of repeated sub-concussion, the rats exhibited moderate neuromotor dysfunction. This is the first study to demonstrate development of neuromotor dysfunction following multiple long-term sub-concussive impacts in rats. The outcomes may offer significant opportunity for future studies to understand the mechanisms of sub-concussion-induced neuropsychological changes. © Copyright © 2020 Lavender, Rawlings, Warnock, McGonigle, Hiles-Murison, Nesbit, Lam, Hackett, Fitzgerald and Takechi.
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