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Objective: To accurately verify the pathogenicity of variants of uncertain significance (VUS) in MUT and MMACHC genes through mass spectrometry and silico analysis. Methods: This multicenter retrospective study included 35 participating units (ClinicalTrials.gov ID: NCT06183138). A total of 3,071 newborns (within 7 days of birth) were sorted into carrying pathogenic/likely pathogenic (P/LP) variants and carrying VUS, non-variant groups. Differences in metabolites among the groups were calculated using statistical analyses. Changes in conservatism, free energy, and interaction force of MMUT and MMACHC variants were analyzed using silico analysis. Results: The percentage of those carrying VUS cases was 68.15% (659/967). In the MMUT gene variant, we found that C3, C3/C2, and C3/C0 levels in those carrying the P/LP variant group were higher than those in the non-variant group (p < 0.000). The conservative scores of those carrying the P/LP variant group were >7. C3, C3/C0, and C3/C2 values of newborns carrying VUS (c.1159A>C and c.1286A>G) were significantly higher than those of the non-variant group and the remaining VUS newborns (p < 0.005). The conservative scores of c.1159A>C and c.1286A>G calculated by ConSurf analysis were 9 and 7, respectively. Unfortunately, three MMA patients with c.1159A>C died during the neonatal period; their C3, C3/C0, C3/C2, and MMA levels were significantly higher than those of the controls. Conclusion: Common variants of methylmalonic acidemia in the study population were categorized as VUS. In the neonatal period, the metabolic biomarkers of those carrying the P/LP variant group of the MUT gene were significantly higher than those in the non-variant group. If the metabolic biomarkers of those carrying VUS are also significantly increased, combined with silico analysis the VUS may be elevated to a likely pathogenic variant. The results also suggest that mass spectrometry and silico analysis may be feasible screening methods for verifying the pathogenicity of VUS in other inherited metabolic diseases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Intestinal gluconeogenesis (IGN) regulates adult energy homeostasis in part by controlling the same hypothalamic targets as leptin. In neonates, leptin exhibits a neonatal surge controlling axonal outgrowth between the different hypothalamic nuclei involved in feeding circuits and autonomic innervation of peripheral tissues involved in energy and glucose homeostasis. Interestingly, IGN is induced during this specific time-window. We hypothesized that the neonatal pic of IGN also regulates the development of hypothalamic feeding circuits and sympathetic innervation of adipose tissues. Methods: We genetically induced neonatal IGN by overexpressing G6pc1 the catalytic subunit of glucose-6-phosphatase (the mandatory enzyme of IGN) at birth or at twelve days after birth. The neonatal development of hypothalamic feeding circuits was studied by measuring Agouti-related protein (AgRP) and Pro-opiomelanocortin (POMC) fiber density in hypothalamic nuclei of 20-day-old pups. The effect of the neonatal induction of intestinal G6pc1 on sympathetic innervation of the adipose tissues was studied via tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) quantification. The metabolic consequences of the neonatal induction of intestinal G6pc1 were studied in adult mice challenged with a high-fat/high-sucrose (HFHS) diet for 2 months. Results: Induction of intestinal G6pc1 at birth caused a neonatal reorganization of AgRP and POMC fiber density in the paraventricular nucleus of the hypothalamus, increased brown adipose tissue tyrosine hydroxylase levels, and protected against high-fat feeding-induced metabolic disorders. In contrast, inducing intestinal G6pc1 12 days after birth did not impact AgRP/POMC fiber densities, adipose tissue innervation or adult metabolism. Conclusion: These findings reveal that IGN at birth but not later during postnatal life controls the development of hypothalamic feeding circuits and sympathetic innervation of adipose tissues, promoting a better management of metabolism in adulthood.

Aim of the study: This study aimed to establish an objective, simple, and minimally invasive screening method to detect patients with biliary atresia during neonatal checkups by using indocyanine green (ICG) fluorescence in the stool. Material and methods: We produced a rat model of extrahepatic biliary obstruction (group O, n = 9) and compared the stools from these rats with those of control group rats (group C, n = 6) by a fluorescence technique. ICG was administered (0.5 mg/kg) through the caudal vein; group O received ICG at the end of surgery. Results: In group C, we collected stools at 3, 6, 12, 24, 48, and 72 hours, and fluorescence disappeared at 48 hours. In group O, stools were collected at 24, 48, 72, 96, and 120 hours after surgery, and fluorescence continued at 120 hours without the loss of fluorescence. Quantitative assessment of lightness showed significant differences between the groups at 48 and 72 hours (p = 0.0016 and p = 0.0004, respectively). Conclusions: This study shows that ICG is excreted into the gastrointestinal tract via a route other than the bile duct in a rat model of extrahepatic biliary obstruction. Our findings also suggest that ICG has the potential for initial screening of biliary congestive disease in the neonatal period, which could be followed up by detailed testing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this work was to study the distribution of the α1 subunit of the GABAA receptor in the layers of the neocortex of rats in the neonatal period after exposure to hypoxia. The effect of hypoxia on the brain of newborn rats was carried out on the second neonatal day for 1 h at an oxygen content in the respiratory mixture of 7.8%. To identify the α1 subunit of GABAA receptor, immunohistochemical reaction was used. Protein content was assessed by the density of immunostaining of the reaction product in the cytoplasm and processes of neurons. We studied the somatosensory area of the neocortex at the fifth and tenth neonatal stages (P5, P10). It has been established that, in the early stages of the neonatal period, a significant population of young neurons is present in the neocortex, in the cytoplasm of which the α1 subunit, which is part of the GABAA receptor, is immunohistochemically detected. By the end of the neonatal period, in control animals, the density of staining of the immunohistochemical product of GABAA in the layers of the neocortex increases significantly. Exposure to perinatal hypoxia causes a reduction in the number of neurons containing the α1 subunit of the GABAA receptor and a significant decrease in the density of immunohistochemical staining in all layers of the neocortex. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Birth injury is defined as the structural damage of a newborn secondary to mechanical forces (compression or traction) during labour, delivery or both. Birth injury can sometimes be avoidable, occasionally inevitable. The incidence of birth trauma varies widely among developing countries. Reported incidence ranges from 0.2 to 41.2 per 1000 live births. The incidence of birth injury has declined with improvements in obstetrical care and prenatal diagnosis. Methods: This study is a prospective observational cohort study, conducted at Narayana Medical college and hospital, Nellore. The study was conducted during the period from December 2018 to March 2021. Results: Birth Injuries recorded among boys & girls was 41.67%, 58.33% respectively. Male to female ratio was 0.8: 1.16. Majority 19 (79.16%) of the birth injuries were observed among babies with vertex presentation, followed by breech 3(12.5%), brow 1(4.17%) and Transverse(shoulder)1(4.17%) presentation. Birth injuries were common in neonates born to mothers of age between 21 - 30 yrs. Conclusions: Incidence of birth injury observed in our study was 1.926% (24 per 1246 total babies). Birth injuries were more common in babies with birth weight more than 3 kg. A majority of the babies with birth injuries were term-born, 2 were preterm. A total of 24 birth injury cases were observed. Two major risk factors for birth injuries were normal delivery & birth weight more than 3 kg. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Neonatal distribution of the GABAA receptor-associated protein GABARAP and the tubulin βIII isoform (β-III-tubulin) was studied immunohistochemically across the layers of the neocortical somatosensory area in Wistar rats exposed to perinatal hypoxia. The study used a model of human incomplete pregnancy. Newborn rat pups were exposed to hypoxia on day 2 after birth (P2) in a special chamber containing 7.8% O2 in the respiratory mixture. The neocortex was examined at P5 and P10. In P10 control (unexposed) rats, GABARAP content, as assessed by immunostaining density, increased significantly 2-fold in upper neocortical layers II–III and 4-fold in deeper layers IV–V compared to P5 rats. β-III-tubulin was evenly distributed throughout neocortical layers. Rats that survived hypoxic exposure at P2 exhibited a significant increase in GABARAP and β-III-tubulin content in layers II–III at P10 compared to P5. These changes were paralleled by a significant decrease in the content of GABAA receptor subtype (previous data). GABARAP and β-III-tubulin, as well as the GABAA receptor, compose a complex of elements mediating GABA transmission in the neocortex. Hypoxia causes a change in the content of these proteins in the neocortex, leading presumably to a disruption of the inhibitory GABA effects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

AimWe aimed to investigate the short-term efficacy and safety of laparoscopic pyeloplasty for treating newborns with severe hydronephrosis due to ureteropelvic junction obstruction (UPJO).MethodsA retrospective analysis was performed on 16 newborn patients with severe neonatal hydronephrosis who underwent laparoscopic pyeloplasty at our hospital from January 2021 to November 2022. All patients were regularly followed up. Laparoscopic pyeloplasty with double J stent placement was performed after the presence of severe hydronephrosis was confirmed.ResultsAmong the 16 pediatric patients (13 males, 3 females), the left side was affected in 13 cases and the right side in 3. The average age at surgery was 9.50 (8.50–12.00) days, with an average weight of 3.30 ± 0.95 kg. Laparoscopic pyeloplasty was performed in all cases without the need for open conversion. The mean surgery duration was 292.06 ± 73.60 min, with minimal blood loss (2.50, 2.00–5.00 ml). Postoperative hospital stays averaged 13.44 ± 4.70 days. No anastomotic leakage occurred, and follow-ups at 1, 3, 6, and 12 months showed no stent displacement, except for one case where the stent was removed at 1 month, and the others at 3 months. There were no cases of worsened hydronephrosis, except for one with renal atrophy at the 6-month follow-up. Changes in renal pelvis anteroposterior diameter exhibited a time effect (F = 49.281, P

The role of serum fibroblast growth factor 23 (FGF23) level in early neonatal period on the diagnosis of X-linked hypophosphatemic rickets (XLH) remains unclear. Two female patients from the first pedigree had an affected mother, and the other female from the second pedigree had an affected father. In all three cases, FGF23 levels were high in cord blood and peripheral blood at day 4-5. Additionally, the FGF23 levels considerably increased from birth to day 4-5. We identified a PHEX pathogenic variant and initiated treatment during infancy in each case. In neonates with a parent diagnosed as PHEX-associated XLH, FGF23 in cord blood and peripheral blood at day 4-5 may be useful markers for predicting the presence of XLH. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ABSTRACT: Four categories of transfer of passive immunity (TPI) were recently proposed in response to the widespread high preweaning morbidity and mortality risks in calves with adequate TPI when a dichotomous classification was used. Hitherto, however, the risks of preweaning morbidity and mortality and future performance among these TPI categories have not been compared. Thus, the objective of this retrospective cohort study was to compare dairy calf morbidity, mortality, growth until weaning, and reproductive efficiency until first calving among the categories of poor (6.2 g/dL) TPI. For this, the records from 4,336 dairy calves (2,272 female, 2,064 male) born January 2014 to April 2017 on a commercial dairy farm in Michigan were analyzed. These calves had been randomly selected for weekly serum total protein determination on calves 2 to 7 d old. Data from both sexes were used to evaluate preweaning health and mortality, whereas only the female's data were used to investigate average daily gain (ADG), reproductive performance, and first-lactation milk yield. For each calf, data regarding disease status, growth, and reproductive parameters were obtained from the farm's software database. Associations of TPI categories with disease events (diarrhea or pneumonia), reproduction indices (age at first insemination, successful insemination, and calving, and number of inseminations), first-lactation milk yield and ADG at weaning were evaluated by survival analysis and mixed models. Compared with calves with excellent TPI, calves in the inferior TPI categories showed increased risk of diarrhea: poor [hazard ratio (HR) = 1.49; 95% CI: 1.22–1.82], fair (HR = 1.32; 95% CI: 1.16–1.51), good (HR = 1.14; 95% CI: 1.02–1.29). However, the risk of pneumonia differed only between the calves in the poor and excellent TPI groups (HR = 1.39; 95% CI: 1.05–1.84). The preweaning mortality risk was also higher in calves with poor TPI (HR = 4.29; 95% CI: 1.98–9.27) compared with excellent TPI. However, mortality risks were not statistically different between calves with fair or good TPI and those with excellent TPI. Similarly, calves with poor TPI had a 64, 55, and 24% lower risk of reaching first insemination, successful insemination, or first calving, respectively. However, there were no differences in ADG, number of inseminations, or first-lactation 305-d mature equivalent milk production across TPI groups. Our results confirm the positive effects of optimal TPI in calf preweaning health and postweaning reproductive efficiency. The 4 proposed categories of TPI can assist in decreasing the incidence of diseases that occur in the first weeks of life (i.e., diarrhea), but their effect on other diseases or future performance might be more limited. Although conducted in one herd, this study can be used to illustrate the effect of TPI on future calf performance.

A clinical case of a familial form of peroxisomal D-bifunctional protein (DBP) deficiency (OMIM 261515) with an unfavorable (fatal) outcome caused by a mutation in type 4 17ß-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (HSD17B4) with a nucleotide replacement of chr5:118788316G>A in the homozygous state is presented. (D-bifunctional protein deficiency or 17-beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase IV deficiency). Bifunctional protein deficiency is an autosomal recessive birth defect of peroxisomal fatty acid oxidation. The total incidence of morbidity is one case per 50,000 newborns. Most peroxisomal disorders manifest in the early neonatal period with an extremely severe course and phenotypic features, which facilitates their diagnosis. This is the difference between them and diseases with a milder and prolonged course, which debuted at different age periods, often had no neonatal or infantile symptoms and were accompanied, in some cases, by satisfactory cognitive functions. The purpose of the report was to highlight the clinical manifestations, variants of the course and complexity of the diagnosis of peroxisomal disorders to a wide range of doctors of different specialization: in the field of perinatology, pediatrics, neurology, genetics, endocrinology.

We studied the effect of moderate neonatal normobaric hypoxia on the indicators of spatial learning, memory, and reactivity of the hypothalamic—pituitary—adrenocortical system in adult male Wistar rats. The pharmacological effect of chronic injections of the serotonin reuptake inhibitor fluoxetine during the neonatal period on the studied behavioral and the physiological indices was evaluated. Hypoxia impaired spatial training, increased the short-term memory performance, but did not change long-term memory and stress indicator in response to its testing. The use of fluoxetine normalized learning, but did not change memory indicators and the stress-induced level of corticosterone in blood plasma in the hypoxic rats and control animals. New results indicate a protective effect of fluoxetine in the neonatal period under conditions of moderate normobaric hypoxia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Acute phase proteins (APPs) have been paid attention to as sensitive and reliable biomarkers used for monitoring general health status, diagnosis, prognosis, and treatment strategies of diseases. In this study, changes in some APPs, globulin (Glb), and total protein (TP) concentrations and the correlation of these proteins with lamb weight were investigated in the neonatal period of Awassi lambs (Ovis aries). Repeated blood samples were taken from 59 lambs at 0, 1, 3, 7, 14, 21, and 28 days of age. There were statistical differences in average haptoglobin (Hp), serum amyloid-A (SAA), ceruloplasmin (Cp), and albumin (Alb) concentrations during the neonatal period. The lowest concentrations of both Hp and SAA were measured in precolostrum samples and increased to the highest level on the 3rd day of the neonatal period. Ceruloplasmin concentrations followed a constant course in the samples of the first 3 days and reached the highest level in the 14th day samples. The highest levels of Alb were measured in precolostrum samples, and the lowest levels were detected in the 14th day samples. Acute phase protein concentration changes did not differ significantly by gender except Cp. There was a negative correlation between the weights of lambs and Cp and Alb. It was concluded that the time-dependent change of APPs in the neonatal period could help in understanding the neonatal period of Awassi lambs and that its primary purpose is survival as a physiological part of the adaptation process to the extrauterine environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose and Context: Proximal levels of excised remnants from youngest infants may reveal early features of biliary atresia (BA). Method: A targeted IHC survey was applied to 34 most proximal 2 levels in 17 BA remnants excised at age 10–74 days including 7 = <30 days old and 6 control hepatic ducts (HD). Key Results: Severity of inflammation and extent of active fibroplasia do not distinguish proximal remnants in younger (n = 7) and older (n = 10) infants. In 27/34 levels of 14/17 remnants, reactive stroma is focally SM-MHC-2 (+), marking smooth muscle myosin, termed reactive myogenesis (RM), that is absent in controls. RM facilitates identification of 3 novel hepatic duct remnants (HDR): an HD-like collagen collar lined by degenerating cholangiocytes (n = 5); erosion defects in loose reactive stroma (n = 14); solitary foci of hyperplastic squamoid epithelium (n = 4). Peribiliary glands are either hyperplastic or atretic and typically lack RM. Conclusion: Minimally inflammed end-stage lesions in BA remnants occur at youngest ages favoring prenatal onset. Three novel HDR are defined. RM, a useful surrogate for HDR, is a prevalent inappropriate stromal reaction in proximal remnants of uncertain biological significance. RM is the source of mature smooth muscle in BA remnants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Four categories of transfer of passive immunity (TPI) were recently proposed in response to the widespread high preweaning morbidity and mortality risks in calves with adequate TPI when a dichotomous classification was used. Hitherto, however, the risks of preweaning morbidity and mortality and future performance among these TPI categories have not been compared. Thus, the objective of this retrospective cohort study was to compare dairy calf morbidity, mortality, growth until weaning, and reproductive efficiency until first calving among the categories of poor (<5.1 g/dL total protein), fair (5.1–5.7 g/dL), good (5.8–6.1 g/dL), and excellent (>6.2 g/dL) TPI. For this, the records from 4,336 dairy calves (2,272 female, 2,064 male) born January 2014 to April 2017 on a commercial dairy farm in Michigan were analyzed. These calves had been randomly selected for weekly serum total protein determination on calves 2 to 7 d old. Data from both sexes were used to evaluate preweaning health and mortality, whereas only the female's data were used to investigate average daily gain (ADG), reproductive performance, and first-lactation milk yield. For each calf, data regarding disease status, growth, and reproductive parameters were obtained from the farm's software database. Associations of TPI categories with disease events (diarrhea or pneumonia), reproduction indices (age at first insemination, successful insemination, and calving, and number of inseminations), first-lactation milk yield and ADG at weaning were evaluated by survival analysis and mixed models. Compared with calves with excellent TPI, calves in the inferior TPI categories showed increased risk of diarrhea: poor [hazard ratio (HR) = 1.49; 95% CI: 1.22–1.82], fair (HR = 1.32; 95% CI: 1.16–1.51), good (HR = 1.14; 95% CI: 1.02–1.29). However, the risk of pneumonia differed only between the calves in the poor and excellent TPI groups (HR = 1.39; 95% CI: 1.05–1.84). The preweaning mortality risk was also higher in calves with poor TPI (HR = 4.29; 95% CI: 1.98–9.27) compared with excellent TPI. However, mortality risks were not statistically different between calves with fair or good TPI and those with excellent TPI. Similarly, calves with poor TPI had a 64, 55, and 24% lower risk of reaching first insemination, successful insemination, or first calving, respectively. However, there were no differences in ADG, number of inseminations, or first-lactation 305-d mature equivalent milk production across TPI groups. Our results confirm the positive effects of optimal TPI in calf preweaning health and postweaning reproductive efficiency. The 4 proposed categories of TPI can assist in decreasing the incidence of diseases that occur in the first weeks of life (i.e., diarrhea), but their effect on other diseases or future performance might be more limited. Although conducted in one herd, this study can be used to illustrate the effect of TPI on future calf performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The distribution of GABA-containing neurons and the intensity of immunohistochemical labeling of the GABA transporter GAT1 were studied in different layers of the neocortex during the neonatal period in rats. At the initial stages of the neonatal period, in layers II—III and VI, there is a high number of neurons containing GABA, which significantly decreases by the end of the neonatal period, and inhibitory interneurons are distributed approximately evenly in all layers. By the end of the neonatal period, the level of immunohistochemical GAT1 labeling increases significantly, which may indicate an increase in the role of synaptic inhibitory neurotransmission. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: This study aimed to investigate the preventive effects of oral administration of probiotics on the incidence and severity of atopic dermatitis (AD) in infants. Material and methods: A total of 396 full-term infants were enrolled in this study. Of these, 132 newborns without a family history of AD were assigned to group A, and the other 264 newborns were randomly divided into groups B and C. Infants in groups A and B were solely breastfed, while probiotics were administered to those in group C as well as breastfeeding. The information of all subjects was recorded, and the incidence of AD was followed up. The levels of serum IgE and IL-4 were measured at the age of 3 years. Results: The incidence of AD in infants in group B was higher than that in group A at 3 months, 4-6 months, and 7-36 months after birth, together with increased symptom scores. For infants in group C, the incidence of AD at 4-6 months and 7-36 months after birth and the SCORAD scores at 0-3 months and 4-6 months after birth were lower than those in group B. The levels of IgE and IL-4 in group B were higher than those in groups A and C at 36 months old. Conclusions: Adding probiotics could favor the establishment of the intestinal microecological balance in the neonatal period, thereby reducing the incidence of AD, decreasing the levels of serum immune indexes and alleviating the severity of the disease. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this work was to study the distribution of GABA-expressing neurons and the expression level of GABA transporter 1 (GAT1) in different layers of the rat neocortex in the neonatal period after perinatal hypoxia. Perinatal hypoxic exposure was carried out on neonatal day 2 for 1 h (7.8% O2 in the breathing gas mixture). GABA and GAT1 were localized immunohistochemically. The neocortical somatosensory area was studied on postnatal days 5 and 10 (P5, P10). It was found that at the early neonatal stage (P5), perinatal hypoxic exposure leads to an increase in the number of GABAergic inhibitory interneurons in all layers of the neocortex. By the end of the neonatal period (P10), their number in the cortical layers decreases, while in layer V, decreases significantly. In control animals, GAT1 expression levels gradually increase throughout the neonatal period in all layers of the neocortex. After perinatal hypoxic exposure, GAT1 expression decreases significantly, including in the neocortical layers, where the number of GABAergic neurons corresponds to the control value. These findings indicate that the exposure to acute perinatal hypoxia can lead to changes in GABAergic synaptic transmission in all layers of the neocortex at the end of the neonatal period. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The endocannabinoid system (ECS) regulates neurotransmission linked to synaptic plasticity, cognition, and emotion. While it has been demonstrated that dysregulation of the ECS in adulthood is relevant not only to central nervous system (CNS) disorders such as autism spectrum disorder, cognitive dysfunction, and depression but also to brain function, there are few studies on how dysregulation of the ECS in the neonatal period affects the manifestation and pathophysiology of CNS disorders later in life. In this study, DO34, a diacylglycerol lipase alpha (DAGLα) inhibitor affecting endocannabinoid 2-AG production, was injected into C57BL/6N male mice from postnatal day (PND) 7 to PND 10, inducing dysregulation of the ECS in the neonatal period. Subsequently, we examined whether it affects neuronal function in adulthood through electrophysiological and behavioral evaluation. DO34-injected mice showed significantly decreased cognitive functions, attributed to impairment of hippocampal synaptic plasticity. The findings suggest that regulation of ECS activity in the neonatal period may induce enduring effects on adult brain function. • DO34-injected mice showed significantly reduced cognitive functions, attributed to impaired hippocampal synaptic plasticity. • DO34 transiently reduced 2-AG levels, resulting in impaired LTP and evoked depression-like behaviors in mice. • Regulation of ECS activity during the neonatal period may induce enduring effects on adult brain function. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cardiotocography (CTG) is a biophysical method for assessing fetal condition that primarily relies on the recording and automated analysis of fetal heart activity. The quantitative description of the CTG signals is provided by computerized fetal monitoring systems. Even though effective conclusion generation methods for decision process support are still required to find out the fetal risk such as premature embryo, this proposed method and outcome data can confirm the assessment of the fetal state after birth. Low birth weight is quite possibly the main attribute that significantly depicts an unusual fetal result. These expectations are assessed in a constant experimental decision support system, providing valuable information that can be used to obtain additional information about the fetal state using machine learning techniques. The advancements in modern obstetric practice enabled the use of numerous reliable and robust machine learning approaches in classifying fetal heart rate signals. The Naïve Bayes (NB) classifier, support vector machine (SVM), decision trees (DT), and random forest (RF) are used in the proposed method. To assess these outcomes in the proposed method, some of the metrics such as precision, accuracy, F1 score, recall, sensitivity, logarithmic loss and mean absolute error have been taken. The above mentioned metrics will be helpful to predict the fetal risk. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Background Lipoprotein lipase (LPL) deficiency is a monogenic lipid metabolism disorder biochemically characterized by hypertriglyceridemia (HTG) inherited in an autosomal recessive manner. Neonatal onset LPL deficiency is rare. The purpose of this study was to clarify the clinical features of neonatal LPL deficiency and to analyze the genetic characteristics of LPL gene. Methods In order to reach a definite molecular diagnose, metabolic diseases-related genes were sequenced through gene capture and next generation sequencing. Meanwhile, the clinical characteristics and follow-up results of the two newborns were collected and analyzed. Results Three different mutations in the LPL gene were identified in the two newborns including a novel compound heterozygous mutation (c.347G > C and c.472 T > G) and a reported homozygous mutation (c.836 T > G) was identified. Interestingly, both the two neonatal onset LPL deficiency patients presented with suffered recurrent infection in the hyperlipidemia stage, which was not usually found in childhood or adulthood onset LPL deficiency patients. Conclusion The two novel mutaitons, c.347G > C and c.472 T > G, identified in this study were novel, which expanded the LPL gene mutation spectrum. In addition, suffered recurrent infection in the hyperlipidemia stage implied a certain correlation between immune deficiency and lipid metabolism abnormality. This observation further supplemented and expanded the clinical manifestations of LPL deficiency.

Introduction: The aim of the study was to determine the effect of a maternal docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) supplementation during lactation, compared with a placebo, on the neonatal growth profile of breastfed very preterm infants. Methods: Preterm infants' growth profile, growth velocity from birth to 36 weeks' postmenstrual age (PMA), and growth at 36 weeks' PMA were pre-specified secondary outcomes of a randomized placebo-controlled trial conducted in 16 Canadian neonatal intensive care units (2015–2018). Lactating mothers who delivered before 29 weeks' gestation were given 1.2 g of DHA daily or a placebo within 72 h of delivery and up to 36 weeks' PMA. Analyses were performed using a linear regression model with generalized estimating equations. Results: 461 mothers and their 528 infants (DHA, N = 273; placebo, N = 255) were included with mean gestational age of 26.5 weeks (standard deviation [SD] = 1.6); 275 (52.1%) were males; mean birth weight was 895 g (SD = 240). DHA interaction with sex was significant on weight profile (interaction p < 0.001), weight velocity (interaction p = 0.05), and weight at 36 weeks' PMA (interaction p = 0.02). Females in the DHA group gained more weight compared to the placebo group (mean difference [MD], 52.6 g [95% confidence interval [CI]: 24.5–80.8], p < 0.001). Weight velocity was significantly higher in females of the DHA group (MD, 3.4 g/kg/day [95% CI: 0.6–6.2], p = 0.02). At 36 weeks' PMA, the weight of males in the DHA group was significantly smaller (MD, −88.9 g [95% CI: −166.2 to −11.6], p = 0.02). Conclusion: DHA positively affected female infants' neonatal weight profile and velocity and negatively affected male infants' weight at 36 weeks' PMA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The introduction of fluids other than breast milk during the first few days of life or later neonatal period has been identified as a risk factor for suboptimal breastfeeding (BF) outcomes in numerous studies using varying study designs. However, the relationship between early introduction of fluids other than breast milk and BF outcomes has not been systematically assessed using only prospective studies that can establish temporality, which is critical for determining whether observed associations are causal. We conducted a systematic review and meta‐analysis of prospective studies to assess if there is a difference in BF outcomes as a result of the introduction of: (a) milk‐based prelacteals, (b) water‐based prelacteals and (c) breast milk substitutes (BMS) between 4 days and 4 weeks postpartum. We searched PubMed, Lilacs, Web of Science and other repositories for original research investigating the relationship between early introduction of prelacteals and/or BMS and BF outcomes. Forty‐eight studies met the inclusion criteria for the systematic review. Of the 39 prelacteal feeding studies, 27 had the prerequisite statistical information for inclusion in the meta‐analysis. Findings from the meta‐analysis showed a relationship between prelacteals and exclusive BF cessation (RR 1.44; 1.29–1.60) and any BF cessation (2.23; 1.63–3.06) among infants under 6 months old. Nine studies focusing on the introduction of BMS during the neonatal period identified this practice as a statistically significant risk factor for a shorter BF duration. Effective interventions are needed to prevent the introduction of unnecessary milk‐based prelacteals and BMS during the perinatal and neonatal periods to improve BF outcomes. Key messages: The practice of prelacteal feeding and introduction of breastmilk substitutes (BMS) during the neonatal period is widespread across the globe.In this systematic review and meta‐analysis of prospective studies, the introduction of prelacteals was associated with suboptimal breastfeeding practices including a higher risk of not exclusive breastfeeding and any breastfeeding cessation among infants under 6 months of age.Prospective studies show that the introduction of BMS during the neonatal period is a risk factor for suboptimal breastfeeding practices.Facility and community‐based interventions are needed to prevent the introduction of prelacteals perinatally and BMS during the neonatal period. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Here are reported the data of investigating clinical evolution of perinatal brain pathology performed under the auspices of Professor V.A. Karlov. Analysis of the data obtained revealed an importance for detecting ante- and intranatal predictors for most relevant neurological disorders in childhood: neonatal seizures, some epilepsy forms, headache and attention deficit / hyperactivity disorders. The speaker argues for the necessity to conduct topical diagnostics of the nervous system disturbances in neonates and justifies a relationship between early and delayed neurological disorders in diverse pediatric periods.

Intestinal gluconeogenesis (IGN) regulates adult energy homeostasis in part by controlling the same hypothalamic targets as leptin. In neonates, leptin exhibits a neonatal surge controlling axonal outgrowth between the different hypothalamic nuclei involved in feeding circuits and autonomic innervation of peripheral tissues involved in energy and glucose homeostasis. Interestingly, IGN is induced during this specific time-window. We hypothesized that the neonatal pic of IGN also regulates the development of hypothalamic feeding circuits and sympathetic innervation of adipose tissues. We genetically induced neonatal IGN by overexpressing G6pc1 the catalytic subunit of glucose-6-phosphatase (the mandatory enzyme of IGN) at birth or at twelve days after birth. The neonatal development of hypothalamic feeding circuits was studied by measuring Agouti-related protein (AgRP) and Pro-opiomelanocortin (POMC) fiber density in hypothalamic nuclei of 20-day-old pups. The effect of the neonatal induction of intestinal G6pc1 on sympathetic innervation of the adipose tissues was studied via tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) quantification. The metabolic consequences of the neonatal induction of intestinal G6pc1 were studied in adult mice challenged with a high-fat/high-sucrose (HFHS) diet for 2 months. Induction of intestinal G6pc1 at birth caused a neonatal reorganization of AgRP and POMC fiber density in the paraventricular nucleus of the hypothalamus, increased brown adipose tissue tyrosine hydroxylase levels, and protected against high-fat feeding-induced metabolic disorders. In contrast, inducing intestinal G6pc1 12 days after birth did not impact AgRP/POMC fiber densities, adipose tissue innervation or adult metabolism. These findings reveal that IGN at birth but not later during postnatal life controls the development of hypothalamic feeding circuits and sympathetic innervation of adipose tissues, promoting a better management of metabolism in adulthood. • Intestinal gluconeogenesis exhibits a perinatal surge, peaking 5 days after birth. • Perinatal intestinal gluconeogenesis controls hypothalamic melanocortin circuitry. • Perinatal intestinal gluconeogenesis participates in adult metabolism programming. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The high prevalence of preterm deliveries (i.e., short gestation periods) and their impact on neonatal mortality rates have been a significant challenge for the medical community. It is also widely known that low birth weight is one of the leading causes of neonatal mortalities. This study focused on understanding the relationship between low birth weight (LWB) and short gestation periods using a data set consisting of patient records of over 900 pregnant women in King County. Preliminary data exploration identified a high correlation between low birth weight and preterm pregnancies. A simple regression model was developed using the R statistical package to validate the linear relationship between LBWs and gestation periods. We built a simple regression model that worked functionally and set the first steps to creating models that can predict birth weights on real-time data. However, we also noticed that the R2 value indicated that only 27% of the variance in the birth weights could be explained by the gestation periods. The remaining 73% can be attributed to other variables not included in the model. The low R2 suggests that there is room for improving the model performance by adding external related variables such as patient demographics or fitting another model type to the data. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract The introduction of fluids other than breast milk during the first few days of life or later neonatal period has been identified as a risk factor for suboptimal breastfeeding (BF) outcomes in numerous studies using varying study designs. However, the relationship between early introduction of fluids other than breast milk and BF outcomes has not been systematically assessed using only prospective studies that can establish temporality, which is critical for determining whether observed associations are causal. We conducted a systematic review and meta‐analysis of prospective studies to assess if there is a difference in BF outcomes as a result of the introduction of: (a) milk‐based prelacteals, (b) water‐based prelacteals and (c) breast milk substitutes (BMS) between 4 days and 4 weeks postpartum. We searched PubMed, Lilacs, Web of Science and other repositories for original research investigating the relationship between early introduction of prelacteals and/or BMS and BF outcomes. Forty‐eight studies met the inclusion criteria for the systematic review. Of the 39 prelacteal feeding studies, 27 had the prerequisite statistical information for inclusion in the meta‐analysis. Findings from the meta‐analysis showed a relationship between prelacteals and exclusive BF cessation (RR 1.44; 1.29–1.60) and any BF cessation (2.23; 1.63–3.06) among infants under 6 months old. Nine studies focusing on the introduction of BMS during the neonatal period identified this practice as a statistically significant risk factor for a shorter BF duration. Effective interventions are needed to prevent the introduction of unnecessary milk‐based prelacteals and BMS during the perinatal and neonatal periods to improve BF outcomes.

The foramen ovale is an important structure that ensures the functioning of the fetal circulatory system. The work describes process of atrial septum formation from the embryonic stage to the neonatal period. Human atrial septation is inefficient process resulting in a persistent foramen ovale in quarter of adult population. Imaging of the foramen ovale is a valuable parameter for the assessment of the fetal circulatory system with the possibility of capturing life-threatening conditions. The dynamic process of adaptation to extrauterine life is also reflected at the foramen ovale in the postnatal period. The persistent foramen ovale is usually clinically silent in the pediatric population, while in the perspective of adulthood it may be a factor contributing to thromboembolic stroke. The aim of this article is to describe the essential differences in the function of the foramen ovale in the fetal and neonatal period.

Objective: The aim of the study was to study the effect of antenatal ethanol intoxication on the postnatal development of the heart muscle during the neonatal period. Materials and methods: The experiment was carried out on 24 pregnant female rats weighing 180-200 grams. The animals were divided into 2 groups: experimental and control. 12 animals of the experimental group were injected with a 30% ethanol solution from 6 to 21 days of gestation daily, once, endogastrically, at a dose of 5 g / kg. The animals of the control group were injected with the same volume of physiological saline. Results and Discussion: On the 1st and 7th days after birth, the rat pups were killed by decapitation under light ether anesthesia. After determining the mass of the heart, part of the organ was studied electron microscopically, part was fixed in 10% neutral formalin, then histological preparations were prepared in accordance with standard methods. Sections were stained with hematoxylin and eosin. The nuclear-cytoplasmic ratio in cardiomyocytes, the specific density of the capillary network of the myocardium, and the specific density of cardiomyocytes were measured. The data obtained were statistically processed. Conclusion: The study showed that antenatal ethanol intoxication has a pronounced effect on the postnatal development of the heart muscle during the neonatal period, which manifests itself at the cellular and subcellular levels. The value of the obtained results lies in the fact that for the first time ultrastructural changes in postnatal development in the neonatal period of the fetal heart muscle during prenatal ethanol intoxication are shown at the electron microscopic level. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Preterm birth is one of the main health problems encountered in the neonatal period, especially because it is also the first cause of death in the critical 1st month of life and the second in children under 5 years of age. Not only preterm birth entails short term health risks due to low weight and underdeveloped organs, but also increases the risk of suffering from non-transmissible diseases in the long term. To date, it is known that medical conditions and lifestyle factors could increase the risk of preterm birth, but the molecular mechanisms that control this process remain unclear. Luteolysis, increased inflammation or oxidative stress have been described as possible triggers for preterm birth and, in some cases, the cause of dysbiosis in preterm neonates. Several murine models have been developed to shed light into the mechanistic of preterm birth but, for the most part, are inflammation-based labor induction models and the offspring health readouts are mainly limited to survival and weight. Using a set of SWISS-CD1 mice born prematurely we analyzed inflammation and gut permeability parameters compared with term pups at weaning age. Overall, preterm mice presented higher systemic inflammation and gastrointestinal tract permeability. In this perspective article, we discuss the recent discoveries on preterm birth and the necessity of non-inflammatory murine models to really understand these phenotypes and be able to design strategies to prevent the sequels of this traumatic event in neonates. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of our work was to detect GABA and α1-subunit of GABAA-receptor in rats in the neonatal period (day 5 and 10 of postnatal development) using immunohistochemical methods. It was shown that the subventricular zone (SVZ) contains all types of progenitor cells both in the neonatal period and in the adult brain. A considerable amount of progenitor cells (30%) differentiate into neurons, thus being a population of young migrating neuroblasts (type A) the quantity of which does not change over the neonatal period. Young neuroblasts and some astrocyte-like stem cells are immunopositive to GABA; the proportion of such cells is about 40% and it remains unchanged throughout the entire neonatal period. The vast majority of SVZ cells, which are young neuroblasts (type A), astrocyte-like stem cells (type B), and some intermediate progenitor cells (type C), express GABAA-receptor containing α1-subunit. The number of these types of progenitor cells is kept at a constant level within the neonatal period. The presence of GABAAα1-receptors in the vast majority of SVZ cells indicates a possible involvement of GABA and GABAergic transmission in regulating the functions of various SVZ cells. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Abstract Early forms of Osteogenesis Imperfecta should be considered as main etiology of bone deformities in newborns. Prenatal diagnosis and genetic counseling should be improved in Africa. Management of these children remains difficult in low‐income countries.

Introduction This study aimed to investigate the preventive effects of oral administration of probiotics on the incidence and severity of atopic dermatitis (AD) in infants. Material and methods A total of 396 full-term infants were enrolled in this study. Of these, 132 newborns without a family history of AD were assigned to group A, and the other 264 newborns were randomly divided into groups B and C. Infants in groups A and B were solely breastfed, while probiotics were administered to those in group C as well as breastfeeding. The information of all subjects was recorded, and the incidence of AD was followed up. The levels of serum IgE and IL-4 were measured at the age of 3 years. Results The incidence of AD in infants in group B was higher than that in group A at 3 months, 4–6 months, and 7–36 months after birth, together with increased symptom scores. For infants in group C, the incidence of AD at 4–6 months and 7–36 months after birth and the SCORAD scores at 0–3 months and 4–6 months after birth were lower than those in group B. The levels of IgE and IL-4 in group B were higher than those in groups A and C at 36 months old. Conclusions Adding probiotics could favor the establishment of the intestinal microecological balance in the neonatal period, thereby reducing the incidence of AD, decreasing the levels of serum immune indexes and alleviating the severity of the disease.

Preterm birth is one of the main health problems encountered in the neonatal period, especially because it is also the first cause of death in the critical 1st month of life and the second in children under 5 years of age. Not only preterm birth entails short term health risks due to low weight and underdeveloped organs, but also increases the risk of suffering from non-transmissible diseases in the long term. To date, it is known that medical conditions and lifestyle factors could increase the risk of preterm birth, but the molecular mechanisms that control this process remain unclear. Luteolysis, increased inflammation or oxidative stress have been described as possible triggers for preterm birth and, in some cases, the cause of dysbiosis in preterm neonates. Several murine models have been developed to shed light into the mechanistic of preterm birth but, for the most part, are inflammation-based labor induction models and the offspring health readouts are mainly limited to survival and weight. Using a set of SWISS-CD1 mice born prematurely we analyzed inflammation and gut permeability parameters compared with term pups at weaning age. Overall, preterm mice presented higher systemic inflammation and gastrointestinal tract permeability. In this perspective article, we discuss the recent discoveries on preterm birth and the necessity of non-inflammatory murine models to really understand these phenotypes and be able to design strategies to prevent the sequels of this traumatic event in neonates.

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The issues of brain morphogenesis during the early postnatal period and the effect of perinatal hypoxia thereupon, which can lead to the development of neuropsychic pathology, are among the major medical and social challenges. It is well known that the nucleoli of neocortical neurons synthesize ribosomal subunits and are involved in various morphogenetic processes. When studying the effect of perinatal hypoxia on the developing brain in the model of neonatal encephalopathy, we revealed ultrastructural changes in the nucleoli of neocortical neurons and in the numerical ratio of their types, granular and reticulated. In control rats, as they developed in the neonatal period, there was an increase in the number of both granular and reticulated nucleolar types, which may be explained by a ribosomal RNA (rRNA) processing. By the end of the neonatal period, the granular agglomerates (ribosomal subunits) appeared near the nuclear membrane, probably be due to differentiation of nerve cells and biogenesis of the rough endoplasmic reticulum. In the present work, we established the fact of changing the numerical ratio of the granular and reticulated nucleolar types in the nuclei of neocortical neurons after perinatal hypoxic exposure in experimental vs. control rats. Our data suggest that the nucleoli in neocortical neurons are the targets for perinatal hypoxia, probably representing an intermediate link in the pathogenesis of the disease. Post-hypoxic administration of Phenibut (a GABA derivative, nootropic drug) corrected the pathogenetic effect of perinatal hypoxia by restoring the numerical ratio of the nucleolar types in neocortical neurons, which is typical of control rats. We assume that Phenibut can exert a neuroprotective effect through its ability to affect the nucleolar ultrastructure in neocortical neurons. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fifty five premature infants with very low body weight were observed as inpatients to assess effectiveness of the nursing. The standard program of the care included: adequate primary resuscitation, respiratory support (use of surfactant), thermal mode, early provision of nutrients with full or partial parenteral nutrition, antimicrobial therapy and if possible early enteral nutrition. The patients of the main group (n=29) along with the standard therapy (the volume of the enteral nutrition of 5 ml or more) were treated orally with liquid probiotic based on E.faecium L3 in a dose of 0.5 ml (5x108 CFU) 3 times a day for 14 days. The control group (n=26) was under the standard therapy. The effectiveness of the infants management was estimated by the frequency of disruption of the nutrition, the frequency of infectious complications, the changes in the hematologic indices, the dynamics of the composition of the intestinal microflora. The infectious complications were evident from perinatal viral infection, intraamniotic infection, necrotizing enterocolitis. In the main group patients there was recorded a significant decrease of the frequency of infectious complications: 20.7% against 53.9% in the control group patients. The use of probiotic strain E.faecium L3 in the preterm infants promoted conservation of the immunomodulatory function of the intestinal indigenic microflora and restricted the growth of the nosocomial flora.

Objective: To accurately verify the pathogenicity of variants of uncertain significance (VUS) in MUT and MMACHC genes through mass spectrometry and silico analysis., Methods: This multicenter retrospective study included 35 participating units (ClinicalTrials.gov ID: NCT06183138). A total of 3,071 newborns (within 7 days of birth) were sorted into carrying pathogenic/likely pathogenic (P/LP) variants and carrying VUS, non-variant groups. Differences in metabolites among the groups were calculated using statistical analyses. Changes in conservatism, free energy, and interaction force of MMUT and MMACHC variants were analyzed using silico analysis., Results: The percentage of those carrying VUS cases was 68.15% (659/967). In the MMUT gene variant, we found that C3, C3/C2, and C3/C0 levels in those carrying the P/LP variant group were higher than those in the non-variant group ( p < 0.000). The conservative scores of those carrying the P/LP variant group were >7. C3, C3/C0, and C3/C2 values of newborns carrying VUS (c.1159A>C and c.1286A>G) were significantly higher than those of the non-variant group and the remaining VUS newborns ( p < 0.005). The conservative scores of c.1159A>C and c.1286A>G calculated by ConSurf analysis were 9 and 7, respectively. Unfortunately, three MMA patients with c.1159A>C died during the neonatal period; their C3, C3/C0, C3/C2, and MMA levels were significantly higher than those of the controls., Conclusion: Common variants of methylmalonic acidemia in the study population were categorized as VUS. In the neonatal period, the metabolic biomarkers of those carrying the P/LP variant group of the MUT gene were significantly higher than those in the non-variant group. If the metabolic biomarkers of those carrying VUS are also significantly increased, combined with silico analysis the VUS may be elevated to a likely pathogenic variant. The results also suggest that mass spectrometry and silico analysis may be feasible screening methods for verifying the pathogenicity of VUS in other inherited metabolic diseases., Competing Interests: The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2024 Xiao, Shi, Zhang, Li, Ye, Yuan, Miu, Ma, Diao, Su, Li, Li, Zhuang, Wang, Lu, Gu, Zhou, Xiao, Huang, Wei and Hao.)

Background: Lipoprotein lipase (LPL) deficiency is a monogenic lipid metabolism disorder biochemically characterized by hypertriglyceridemia (HTG) inherited in an autosomal recessive manner. Neonatal onset LPL deficiency is rare. The purpose of this study was to clarify the clinical features of neonatal LPL deficiency and to analyze the genetic characteristics of LPL gene.Methods: In order to reach a definite molecular diagnose, metabolic diseases-related genes were sequenced through gene capture and next generation sequencing. Meanwhile, the clinical characteristics and follow-up results of the two newborns were collected and analyzed.Results: Three different mutations in the LPL gene were identified in the two newborns including a novel compound heterozygous mutation (c.347G > C and c.472 T > G) and a reported homozygous mutation (c.836 T > G) was identified. Interestingly, both the two neonatal onset LPL deficiency patients presented with suffered recurrent infection in the hyperlipidemia stage, which was not usually found in childhood or adulthood onset LPL deficiency patients.Conclusion: The two novel mutaitons, c.347G > C and c.472 T > G, identified in this study were novel, which expanded the LPL gene mutation spectrum. In addition, suffered recurrent infection in the hyperlipidemia stage implied a certain correlation between immune deficiency and lipid metabolism abnormality. This observation further supplemented and expanded the clinical manifestations of LPL deficiency. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this research was to determine dry period parameters [dry period length (DPL); body condition score at dry-off (BCS-D1) and end of the dry period (BCS-D2)] that can be taken under control by breeders affecting calf health status (CHS) in neonatal period. A total of 518 calves (from delivery of calf until 28 days) and their dams (at dry and end of the dry period) were assessed according to study criteria. The relationship between CHS and dry period parameters were investigated and found significant for all parameters. Also, the effects of dry period parameters and sex of calf (SC) on calf birth weight (CBW) were investigated and while the effects of SC and DPL on CBW were found significant, the effects of BCS-D1 and BCS-D2 were not. In conclusion, it can be said that it would be beneficial to plan the dry period in dairy cattle herd management according to these results for a healthier completion of the neonatal period. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tamoxifen is a selective estrogen receptor modulator used to activate the CREERT2 recombinase, allowing tissue-specific and temporal control of the somatic mutagenesis to generate transgenic mice. Studies integrating development and metabolism require a genetic modification induced by a neonatal tamoxifen administration. Here, we investigate the effects of a neonatal tamoxifen administration on energy homeostasis in adult male and female C57BL/6J mice. C57BL/6J male and female mouse pups received a single injection of tamoxifen 1 day after birth (NTT) and were fed a high-fat/high-sucrose diet at 6 weeks of age. We measured weight, body composition, glucose and insulin tolerance, basal metabolism, and tibia length and weight in adult mice. The neonatal tamoxifen administration exerted long-term, sex-dependent effects on energy homeostasis. NTT female mice became overweight and developed impaired glucose control in comparison to vehicle-treated littermates. NTT females exhibited 60% increased fat mass, increased food intake, decreased physical activity and energy expenditure, impaired glucose and insulin tolerance, and fasting hyperglycemia and hyperinsulinemia. In contrast, NTT male mice exhibited a modest amelioration of glucose and insulin tolerance and long-term decreased lean mass linked to decreased bone weight. These results suggest that the neonatal tamoxifen administration exerted a marked and sex-dependent influence on adult energy homeostasis and bone weight and must therefore be used with caution for the development of transgenic mouse models regarding studies on energy homeostasis and bone biology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Academic Journal of Agriculture / Akademik Ziraat Dergisi is the property of University of Ordu, Faculty of Agriculture, Academic Journal of Agriculture and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

A model of focal seizures with automatisms is being developed on a strain of rats selected for enhanced pendulum-like movements (PM). At a definitive age, 90% of animals of the PM strain generate seizures to audiogenic stimulation. In contrast to Krushinsky–Molodkina and GEPR-9 (genetically epilepsy-prone rats) strains, populations of which demonstrate generalized seizures, PM rats generate a clonic cascade of seizures—the stereotyped jumps reaching a height of 0.5 m at a speed of one jump per second. The PM strain is a new model of epileptiform responses, and it has not actually been studied in early ontogeny. To detect prodromal symptoms of epilepsy, we set a goal to study behavioral and hormonal/metabolic characteristics of the PM model during the early neonatal period. Wistar rats, the initial strain for selection, served as a control. Prodromal symptoms experimentally detected the PM strain included such characteristics as a slowdown in locomotor activity, decreased body and testes weights, an inhibited rise in plasma cholesterol levels on days 10 and 14. PM rats showed a peak shift in circular movements and an increased manifestation of excitable responses, such as vocalizations and paroxysms. A phase change was detected in the plasma triglyceride level. Correlation analysis revealed that in male Wistar rats, the testosterone level correlates negatively with body and testes weights and positively with the blood triglyceride level. By contrast, in PM rats the same correlations were statistically insignificant. These findings indicate a destabilization of the development of morphophysiological characters in PM rats compared to the control Wistar strain. Considering the revealed prodromal symptoms characterizing enhanced pendulum-like hyperkinesis (retarded developmental rate, phase-shifted circular movements and plasma triglyceride levels, altered relationships between correlated phenotypic characters), the PM rat strain can be considered as a model for further investigating the biological basis of epileptiform pathology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this work was to detect the immunohistochemical calcium- binding protein parvalbumin and marker of neural stem cell differentiation β‑III‑tubulin in the cells of the subventricular zone during the neonatal period in rats (five and ten postnatal days). It is shown that, in the subventricular zone, there are cells expressing β-III-tubulin, which are represented by one morphological cell type and are immature differentiating neuroblasts (type A). The number of such cells remains constant during the neonatal period and accounts for more than 30% of the total number of cells in the subventricular zone. It was revealed that a significant part of differentiating neuroblasts express parvalbumin. The number of such cells is more than 20% of the total number of cells of all types and is constant during the neonatal period. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]