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Objective This prospective controlled observational cohort pilot study investigated a potential blood-based biomarker [α-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazolepropionic acid receptor (AMPAR)] and relationship to neurocognitive testing in collegiate athletes. Methods A multisport sample of 60 collegiate athletes (53% female; 44 contact, 16 non-contact controls) completed ImPACT testing and provided blood samples at a pre-season baseline and within 4 weeks post-season. Plasma and serum samples were processed for AMPAR peptides and antibodies. Twelve athletes did not complete all procedures and were excluded from the final analysis (final n = 48; 36 contact; 12 controls). Results Contact athletes demonstrated greater increases in serum AMPAR antibodies compared to controls (t(46) = 3.24;p Conclusions Serum AMPAR antibody levels significantly increased in the contact group and were correlated with reaction time on contact athlete neurocognitive testing at post-season only, with contact athletes showing both slower reaction time and increased levels of AMPAR antibodies compared to controls. No findings were identified in plasma AMPAR peptides, possibly related to sample processing which could not be done immediately in this pilot study. Future research and replication is needed; however, AMPAR may represent a blood-based concussion biomarker, with potential for clinical utility in athletes.

Gastrointestinal duplications are rare congenital malformations, which may occur anywhere in the gastrointestinal tract, more commonly in the ileum. Most cases appear during the first two years of life. Usually they are located at the paramesenteric side of the bowel and they share with the latter the same blood supply. Vague abdominal pain and distention are common presentations of duplications in adults, although many of them remain asymptomatic. We report a rare case of a jejunal duplication cyst in an elderly female patient, with atypical anatomic features.