Intracranial pressure changes after mild traumatic brain injury: a systematic review.

OBJECTIVE: Intracranial pressure (ICP) after mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) is poorly studied due to lack of sensitive non-invasive methods. The purpose of this review was to summarize the existing knowledge of changes in ICP after mTBI. Literature selection: PubMed, Embase, CINAHL, and Scopus were searched by three reviewers independently up to December 2016. INCLUSION CRITERIA: animal and human studies measuring ICP and brain oedema after an mTBI. EXCLUSION CRITERIA: moderate and severe forms of traumatic brain injury, repeat samples, and studies that measured ICP at the time of impact but not after. Study quality was assessed using Downs and Black criteria. RESULTS: Of 1067 papers, 9 studies were included. In human studies, one provided direct evidence on increased, one provided indirect evidence of increased, and two provided indirect evidence of decreased ICP. In animal studies, three studies provided direct evidence of increased, one provided indirect evidence of increased, and one provided indirect evidence of no change in ICP. CONCLUSION: The existing research suggests that there may be increased ICP after mTBI and animal studies suggest an elevation for days which returns to baseline, which corresponds with functional and symptomatic recovery. Future human studies using sensitive indirect methods to measure ICP longitudinally after mTBI are needed.

Developing library bioinformatics services in context: the Purdue University Libraries bioinformationist program.

SETTING: Purdue University is a major agricultural, engineering, biomedical, and applied life science research institution with an increasing focus on bioinformatics research that spans multiple disciplines and campus academic units. The Purdue University Libraries (PUL) hired a molecular biosciences specialist to discover, engage, and support bioinformatics needs across the campus. PROGRAM COMPONENTS: After an extended period of information needs assessment and environmental scanning, the specialist developed a week of focused bioinformatics instruction (Bioinformatics Week) to launch system-wide, library-based bioinformatics services. EVALUATION MECHANISMS: The specialist employed a two-tiered approach to assess user information requirements and expectations. The first phase involved careful observation and collection of information needs in-context throughout the campus, attending laboratory meetings, interviewing department chairs and individual researchers, and engaging in strategic planning efforts. Based on the information gathered during the integration phase, several survey instruments were developed to facilitate more critical user assessment and the recovery of quantifiable data prior to planning. NEXT STEPS/FUTURE DIRECTIONS: Given information gathered while working with clients and through formal needs assessments, as well as the success of instructional approaches used in Bioinformatics Week, the specialist is developing bioinformatics support services for the Purdue community. The specialist is also engaged in training PUL faculty librarians in bioinformatics to provide a sustaining culture of library-based bioinformatics support and understanding of Purdue's bioinformatics-related decision and policy making.