Publications by authors named "Joshua A Karpf"

Article Synopsis
  • Adequate nutrition during pregnancy is essential for fetal brain development, and low protein intake can lead to neurological issues in offspring, which is a major global health concern.
  • A study using rhesus macaques showed that reduced maternal protein levels led to structural brain abnormalities and decreased gray matter volume, particularly in areas important for motor control.
  • Although significant brain changes were observed through MRI, early behavioral tests at 1 month showed only minor effects, suggesting that the impacts of protein reduction may not immediately translate to behavior.
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Article Synopsis
  • Prenatal exposure to delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) in rhesus macaques showed adverse effects on fetal brain development, highlighting potential neurodevelopmental risks for offspring.
  • Advanced imaging techniques, along with molecular studies, revealed significant differences in brain growth patterns tied to THC exposure, particularly in relation to age and sex.
  • Specific microRNAs identified in the cerebrospinal fluid of THC-exposed fetuses suggest disturbances in brain signaling pathways, indicating a need for further research on long-term neurodevelopmental impacts.
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A generally accepted framework derived predominately from animal models asserts that repeated cycles of chronic intermittent ethanol (EtOH; CIE) exposure cause progressive brain adaptations associated with anxiety and stress that promote voluntary drinking, alcohol dependence, and further brain changes that contribute to the pathogenesis of alcoholism. The current study used CIE exposure via vapor chambers to test the hypothesis that repeated episodes of withdrawals from chronic EtOH would be associated with accrual of brain damage as quantified using in vivo magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), diffusion tensor imaging (DTI), and MR spectroscopy (MRS). The initial study group included 16 male (~325g) and 16 female (~215g) wild-type Wistar rats exposed to 3 cycles of 1-month in vapor chambers + 1 week of abstinence.

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