Tryptophan Metabolism in Alzheimer's Disease with the Involvement of Microglia and Astrocyte Crosstalk and Gut-Brain Axis.

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is an age-dependent neurodegenerative disease characterized by extracellular Amyloid Aβ peptide (Aβ) deposition and intracellular Tau protein aggregation. Glia, especially microglia and astrocytes are core participants during the progression of AD and these cells are the mediators of Aβ clearance and degradation. The microbiota-gut-brain axis (MGBA) is a complex interactive network between the gut and brain involved in neurodegeneration.

Consensus definition and diagnostic criteria for neonatal encephalopathy-study protocol for a real-time modified delphi study.

Background: 'Neonatal encephalopathy' (NE) describes a group of conditions in term infants presenting in the earliest days after birth with disturbed neurological function of cerebral origin. NE is aetiologically heterogenous; one cause is peripartum hypoxic ischaemia. Lack of uniformity in the terminology used to describe NE and its diagnostic criteria creates difficulty in the design and interpretation of research and complicates communication with families.

Neonatal respiratory care practice among level III and IV NICUs in New England.

Objectives: To assess respiratory care guidelines and explore variations in management of very low birth weight (VLBW) infants within a collaborative care framework. Additionally, to gather clinical leaders' perspectives on guidelines and preferences for ventilation modalities.

Study Design: Leaders from each NICU participated in a practice survey regarding the prevalence of unit clinical guidelines, and management, at many stages of care.

The MT1 receptor as the target of ramelteon neuroprotection in ischemic stroke.

Stroke is the leading cause of death and disability worldwide. Novel and effective therapies for ischemic stroke are urgently needed. Here, we report that melatonin receptor 1A (MT1) agonist ramelteon is a neuroprotective drug candidate as demonstrated by comprehensive experimental models of ischemic stroke, including a middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) mouse model of cerebral ischemia in vivo, organotypic hippocampal slice cultures ex vivo, and cultured neurons in vitro; the neuroprotective effects of ramelteon are diminished in MT1-knockout (KO) mice and MT1-KO cultured neurons.

Rates of phototherapy among ABO-incompatible newborns with a negative direct antiglobulin test.

Objective: We analyze phototherapy rates after implementation of a Hyperbilirubinemia Clinical Pathway (HCP), which placed full-term ABOi DAT negative newborns on the low risk phototherapy nomogram, rather than medium risk, as previously done.

Study Design: A chart review was performed for ABOi newborns born ≥36 weeks gestation between January 2020 and October 2021. Primary outcome measures were rates of phototherapy across pre- and post-intervention groups and among DAT negative newborns.

Maternal, Infant, and Breast Milk Antibody Response Following COVID-19 Infection in Early Versus Late Gestation.

Background: Coronavirus disease 2019 [severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2)] infection at varying time points during the pregnancy can influence antibody levels after delivery. We aimed to examine SARS-CoV-2 IgG, IgM and IgA receptor binding domain of the spike protein and nucleocapsid protein (N-protein) reactive antibody concentrations in maternal blood, infant blood and breastmilk at birth and 6 weeks after SARS-CoV-2 infection in early versus late gestation.

Methods: Mothers with SARS-CoV-2 infection during pregnancy were enrolled between July 2020 and May 2021.

SARS-CoV-2 in infant urine and fecal samples after in utero COVID-19 exposure.

Background: Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a pandemic that has and will continue to affect many pregnant women. Knowledge regarding the risk of vertical transmission is limited. Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) real-time reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) of nasopharyngeal swabs typically have been used to confirm the diagnosis among infants, but whether the virus can be detected in other biological specimens, and therefore potentially transmitted in other ways, is unknown.

Tartary buckwheat extract alleviates alcohol-induced acute and chronic liver injuries through the inhibition of oxidative stress and mitochondrial cell death pathway.

Alcohol use disorder (AUD) is an enormous public health problem that poses significant social, medical, and economic burdens. Under AUD, the liver is one of the most adversely affected organs. As current therapies and protective drugs for AUD-mediated liver injury are very limited, the prevention and therapy of alcoholic liver disease are urgently needed.

Improving Respiratory Support Practices to Reduce Chronic Lung Disease in Premature Infants.

Introduction: We implemented a bundle of respiratory care practices and optimized delivery of continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) to reduce the incidence of chronic lung disease (CLD) among very low birth weight (VLBW) infants born before 33 weeks gestation.

Methods: Our multidisciplinary task force utilized 6 plan-do-study-act cycles to test our interventions. The primary outcome was the quarterly percentage of infants diagnosed with CLD; other outcomes included the percentage of infants initially managed with CPAP, intubation <72 hours of age, use of a nasal cannula, and days of ventilation, oxygen, and/or CPAP.

Monogenic, Polygenic, and MicroRNA Markers for Ischemic Stroke.

Ischemic stroke (IS) is a leading disease with high mortality and disability, as well as with limited therapeutic window. Biomarkers for earlier diagnosis of IS have long been pursued. Family and twin studies confirm that genetic variations play an important role in IS pathogenesis.

Protection of melatonin in experimental models of newborn hypoxic-ischemic brain injury through MT1 receptor.

The function of melatonin as a protective agent against newborn hypoxic-ischemic (H-I) brain injury is not yet well studied, and the mechanisms by which melatonin causes neuroprotection in neurological diseases are still evolving. This study was designed to investigate whether expression of MT1 receptors is reduced in newborn H-I brain injury and whether the protective action of melatonin is by alterations of the MT1 receptors. We demonstrated that there was significant reduction in MT1 receptors in ischemic brain of mouse pups in vivo following H-I brain injury and that melatonin offers neuroprotection through upregulation of MT1 receptors.

"More than Meets the Eye": When the Neonatal Course May Impact Several Years Out.

Nadia is a 7-year-old girl who you have followed since her discharge from the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU). Her parents are here today for an urgent visit with behavioral concerns, such as inattention, hyperactivity, and aggression.Nadia is a former 40-weeker born through vacuum-assisted vaginal delivery at 9 pounds 7 ounces.

Neuroprotective agents for neonatal hypoxic-ischemic brain injury.

Hypoxic-ischemic (H-I) brain injury in newborns is a major cause of morbidity and mortality that claims thousands of lives each year. In this review, we summarize the promising neuroprotective agents tested on animal models and pilot clinical studies of neonatal H-I brain injury according to the different phases of the disease. These agents target various phases of injury including the early phase of excitotoxicity, oxidative stress and apoptosis as well as late-phase inflammatory reaction and neural repair.

N-acetyl-L-tryptophan delays disease onset and extends survival in an amyotrophic lateral sclerosis transgenic mouse model.

Background: Whether L-NAT, a cytochrome c release inhibitor and an antagonist of NK-1R, provides protection in ALS is not known.

Results: L-NAT delays disease onset and mortality in mSOD1(G93A) ALS mice by inhibiting mitochondrial cell death pathways, inflammation, and NK-1R downregulation.

Conclusion: L-NAT offers protection in a mouse model of ALS.

Emergency aortic valve replacement in systemic lupus erythematosus.

The valvular heart disease in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is associated with substantial morbidity and mortality. Current therapy includes symptomatic measures and valve replacement. Overall mortality of valve replacement has been reported to be as high as 25%.

Chylopericardium following atrial septal defect repair: case report.

Chylopericardium after intrapericardial cardiac operations is extremely rare. We present an unusual case of postoperative chylopericardium with cardiac tamponade following atrial septal defect repair, and we comment on the clinical course and treatment.