2D COSY Records Reduced Neurotransmission In Blast Exposed Artillery Soldiers After Live Fire Training.

Abstract

There is a need for an objective method to determine a safe level of low-level military occupational blast (MOB) having recognised it can lead to neurological damage. To evaluate the effect of artillery firing training on the neurochemistry of front-line soldiers using 2D COrrelated SpectroscopY (2D COSY) in a 3T clinical MR scanner. Ten men considered to be of sound health were evaluated by before and after a weeklong live firing exercise in two ways. Prior to the live fire exercise, all participants were screened by a Clinical Psychologist using a combination of clinical interview and psychometric tests and then scanned in a 3T MRI. The protocols included T1 and T2 weighted images for diagnostic reporting and anatomical localisation and a 2D COSY to record any neurochemical effects from the firing. No changes to the structural MRI were recorded. Nine substantive and statistically significant changes in the neurochemistry were recorded as a consequence of firing training. Glutamine and glutamate, glutathione and two of the seven Fucose-α (1-2)-Glycans were significantly increased. NAA, myo Inositol+Creatine and glycerol were also increased. Significant decreases were recorded for the glutathione cysteine moiety and tentatively assigned glycan with a 1-6 linkage (F2:4.00, F1:1.31ppm). These molecules are part of three neurochemical pathways at the terminus of the neurons providing evidence of early markers of disruption to neurotransmission. Using this technology, the extent of deregulation can now be monitored for each Frontline Defender on a personalised basis. The capacity to monitor early a disruption in neurotransmitters, using the 2D COSY protocol, can monitor the effect of firing and may be used to prevent or limit these events.