Recurrent acute kidney injury is associated with delayed language development in infants with Congenital Heart Disease.

Objective: Neurodevelopmental delay is common in children who undergo surgery for Congenital Heart Disease (CHD) in infancy. Cardiac surgery associated acute kidney injury (CS-AKI) occurs frequently in the paediatric cardiac Intensive care unit (ICU). Cardiac surgery associated acute kidney injury (CS-AKI) is associated with worse neurodevelopmental scores and delay in cognitive, language, and motor domains in children with CHD.

Development and validation of an open-source pipeline for automatic population of case report forms from electronic health records: a pediatric multi-center prospective study.

Background: Clinical trials and registry studies are essential for advancing research and developing novel treatments. However, these studies rely on manual entry of thousands of variables for each patient. Repurposing real-world data can significantly simplify the data collection, reduce transcription errors, and make the data entry process more efficient, consistent, and cost-effective.

Early identification of autism spectrum disorder in children with CHD attending a Cardiac Developmental Outcomes Program.

Objective: To determine the prevalence and timing of autism spectrum disorder diagnosis in a cohort of congenital heart disease (CHD) patients receiving neurodevelopmental follow-up and identify associated risk factors.

Method: Retrospective single-centre observational study of 361 children undergoing surgery for CHD during the first 6 months of life. Data abstracted included age at autism spectrum disorder diagnosis, child and maternal demographics, and medical history.

Examination of Adverse Reactions After COVID-19 Vaccination Among Patients With a History of Multisystem Inflammatory Syndrome in Children.

Importance: Data are limited regarding adverse reactions after COVID-19 vaccination in patients with a history of multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children (MIS-C). The lack of vaccine safety data in this unique population may cause hesitancy and concern for many families and health care professionals.

Objective: To describe adverse reactions following COVID-19 vaccination in patients with a history of MIS-C.

Factors affecting rates of neurodevelopmental follow-up in infants with congenital heart disease.

Background: Neurodevelopmental outcomes programs for children with congenital heart disease (CHD) support early identification and intervention for developmental impairments; however, not all eligible children attend such programs. The purpose of our study was to examine factors, including sociodemographic, associated with cardiac neurodevelopmental outcomes program attendance.

Methods: Children with CHD born April 2013-April 2018 who underwent cardiac surgery before age 6 months were included.

Neurodevelopmental Outcomes in Infants With Cardiac Surgery Associated Acute Kidney Injury.

Background: Infants who undergo surgery for congenital heart disease are at risk of neurodevelopmental delay. Cardiac surgery-associated acute kidney injury (CS-AKI) is common but its association with neurodevelopment has not been explored.

Methods: This was a single-center retrospective observational study of infants who underwent cardiac surgery in the first year of life who had neurodevelopmental testing using the Bayley Scale for Infant Development, third edition.

Impact of feeding mode on neurodevelopmental outcome in infants and children with congenital heart disease.

Objective: To investigate the impact of feeding mode on neurodevelopmental outcomes in children with congenital heart defects.

Design: A retrospective cohort study of 208 children with congenital heart disease (CHD), who had surgery from 1 January 2013 until 31 December 2016 at Texas Children's Hospital, Houston, TX, US.

Settings: University Hospital, Developmental Outcome Clinic.

Ancillary referral patterns in infants after initial assessment in a cardiac developmental outcomes clinic.

Objective: Neurodevelopmental impairment is common after surgery for congenital heart disease (CHD) in infancy. While neurodevelopmental follow-up of high-risk patients has increased, the referral patterns for ancillary services following initial evaluation have not been reported. The aim of this study is to describe the rates and patterns of referral at the initial visit to our outcomes clinic of patients who underwent surgery for CHD during infancy.

Hyperglycemia induces oxidative stress and impairs axonal transport rates in mice.

Background: While hyperglycemia-induced oxidative stress damages peripheral neurons, technical limitations have, in part, prevented in vivo studies to determine the effect of hyperglycemia on the neurons in the central nervous system (CNS). While olfactory dysfunction is indicated in diabetes, the effect of hyperglycemia on olfactory receptor neurons (ORNs) remains unknown. In this study, we utilized manganese enhanced MRI (MEMRI) to assess the impact of hyperglycemia on axonal transport rates in ORNs.

In vitro and in vivo magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) detection of GFP through magnetization transfer contrast (MTC).

Green fluorescent protein (GFP) is a widely utilized molecular marker of gene expression. However, its use in in vivo imaging has been restricted to transparent tissue mainly due to the tissue penetrance limitation of optical imaging. Here, we report a novel approach to detect GFP with Magnetization transfer contrast (MTC) magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).

NADPH oxidase mediates beta-amyloid peptide-induced activation of ERK in hippocampal organotypic cultures.

Background: Previous studies have shown that beta amyloid (Abeta) peptide triggers the activation of several signal transduction cascades in the hippocampus, including the extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) cascade. In this study we sought to characterize the cellular localization of phosphorylated, active ERK in organotypic hippocampal cultures after acute exposure to either Abeta (1-42) or nicotine.

Results: We observed that Abeta and nicotine increased the levels of active ERK in distinct cellular localizations.

Selective cerebral perfusion: real-time evidence of brain oxygen and energy metabolism preservation.

Background: Deep hypothermic circulatory arrest (DHCA) is commonly used for complex cardiac operations in children, often with selective cerebral perfusion (SCP). Little data exist concerning the real-time effects of DHCA with or without SCP on cerebral metabolism. Our objective was to better define these effects, focusing on brain oxygenation and energy metabolism.

Brain preservation with selective cerebral perfusion for operations requiring circulatory arrest: protection at 25 degrees C is similar to 18 degrees C with shorter operating times.

Background: Hypothermic circulatory arrest (HCA) is employed for aortic arch and other complex operations, often with selective cerebral perfusion (SCP). Our previous work has demonstrated real-time evidence of improved brain protection using SCP at 18 degrees C. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the utility of SCP at warmer temperatures (25 degrees C) and its impact on operating times.

Assessing transneuronal dysfunction utilizing manganese-enhanced MRI (MEMRI).

In this study we utilized manganese-enhanced MRI (MEMRI) to evaluate the in vivo transneuronal efficiency of manganese ion (Mn(2+)) movement as a means to assess overall changes in neuronal function. We designated this extension the manganese transfer index (MTI) value. To evaluate the MTI value as an index of transneuronal physiology we examined both pharmacological agents and different mouse models of neuronal dysfunction.

Aging-dependent alterations in synaptic plasticity and memory in mice that overexpress extracellular superoxide dismutase.

Oxidative damage caused by reactive oxygen species (ROS) has been proposed to be critically involved in several pathological manifestations of aging, including cognitive dysfunction. ROS, including superoxide, are generally considered as neurotoxic molecules whose effects can be alleviated by antioxidant enzymes. However, ROS also are known to be necessary components of the signal transduction cascades underlying normal synaptic plasticity.

NMDA receptor activation induces translocation and activation of Rac in mouse hippocampal area CA1.

Neuronal development requires several discrete morphological steps that are believed to involve the small GTPase Rac. For example, neural activity, through NMDA receptors and/or AMPA receptors, activates Rac leading to elaboration of dendritic arbors. In the current study, we have conducted studies which indicate that Rac might be an important molecule involved in morphological plasticity in the adult mouse.

NADPH oxidase mediates hypersomnolence and brain oxidative injury in a murine model of sleep apnea.

Rationale: Persons with obstructive sleep apnea may have significant residual hypersomnolence, despite therapy. Long-term hypoxia/reoxygenation events in adult mice, simulating oxygenation patterns of moderate-severe sleep apnea, result in lasting hypersomnolence, oxidative injury, and proinflammatory responses in wake-active brain regions. We hypothesized that long-term intermittent hypoxia activates brain NADPH oxidase and that this enzyme serves as a critical source of superoxide in the oxidation injury and in hypersomnolence.

Synaptic localization of a functional NADPH oxidase in the mouse hippocampus.

Superoxide has been shown to be critical for hippocampal long-term potentiation (LTP) and hippocampus-dependent memory function. A possible source for the generation of superoxide during these processes is NADPH oxidase. The active oxidase consists of two membrane proteins, gp91phox and p22phox, and four cytosolic proteins, p40phox, p47phox, p67phox, and Rac.

Reactive oxygen species and synaptic plasticity in the aging hippocampus.

Aging is associated with a general decline in physiological functions including cognitive functions. Given that the hippocampus is known to be critical for certain forms of learning and memory, it is not surprising that a number of neuronal processes in this brain area appear to be particularly vulnerable to the aging process. Long-term potentiation (LTP), a form of synaptic plasticity that has been proposed as a biological substrate for learning and memory, has been used to examine age-related changes in hippocampal synaptic plasticity.

NADPH oxidase immunoreactivity in the mouse brain.

Superoxide production via NADPH oxidase has been shown to play a role in neurotoxicity, ischemic stroke, and possibly Parkinson's and Alzheimer's diseases. In addition, NADPH oxidase-dependent production of superoxide may be necessary for normal brain functions, including neuronal differentiation and neuronal plasticity. To improve our understanding of NADPH oxidase in the brain, we studied the localization of the various protein components of NADPH oxidase in the central nervous system of the adult mouse using immunohistochemistry.

Pseudorabies virus-induced expression of nitric oxide synthase isoforms.

In addition to its role as a neurotransmitter, studies have postulated both neuroprotective and neurotoxic roles for nitric oxide (NO) generated in response to infections with neurotropic viruses. This study examined the expression of neuronal nitric oxide synthase (nNOS) and inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) isoforms of NOS induced by neuronal infection with virulent and attenuated strains of pseudorabies virus (PRV). Caudal brainstem neurons infected by peripheral inoculation of the viscera served as the model system.