An evaluation of front seat distance from rear facing child restraint systems in prevention of injury in frontal crash tests.

Objectives: Elevated head injury incidence in infants compared to toddlers involved as occupants in motor vehicle crashes has been demonstrated in multiple population-representative crash databases. Further, experimental studies have revealed a potential injury mechanism impact between a rear-facing, CRS-restrained child and the back of the vehicle seat or console on the row in front of the CRS. Subsequently, experimental studies have suggested that bracing the CRS against the seat immediately in front of the CRS could mitigate head injury, but also indicated that more research was necessary.

Soft tissue reconstruction of the trunk with pedicled perforator and musculocutaneous flaps: A single-center comparative retrospective study.

Background: Soft tissue trunk reconstruction is often challenging. Although free microvascular flaps are a feasible option in case of extensive defects involving deep structures, pedicled flaps represent a good alternative, especially if harvested and dissected with a "microsurgical" approach. The aim of this study is to evaluate the feasibility of trunk reconstruction with the use of pedicled flaps, according to the application of our reconstructive algorithm, and to compare it to other reconstructive methods.

Intrinsic dopamine and acetylcholine dynamics in the striatum of mice.

External rewards such as food and money are potent modifiers of behaviour. Pioneering studies established that these salient sensory stimuli briefly interrupt the tonic discharge of neurons that produce the neuromodulators dopamine (DA) and acetylcholine (ACh): midbrain DA neurons (DANs) fire a burst of action potentials that broadly elevates DA in the striatum at the same time that striatal cholinergic interneurons (CINs) produce a characteristic pause in firing. These phasic responses are thought to create unique, temporally limited conditions that motivate action and promote learning.

Cell-type-specific disruption of cortico-striatal circuitry drives repetitive patterns of behavior in fragile X syndrome model mice.

Individuals with fragile X syndrome (FXS) are frequently diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), including increased risk for restricted and repetitive behaviors (RRBs). Consistent with observations in humans, FXS model mice display distinct RRBs and hyperactivity that are consistent with dysfunctional cortico-striatal circuits, an area relatively unexplored in FXS. Using a multidisciplinary approach, we dissect the contribution of two populations of striatal medium spiny neurons (SPNs) in the expression of RRBs in FXS model mice.

Harnessing the Vnn1 pantetheinase pathway boosts short chain fatty acids production and mucosal protection in colitis.

Objective: In the management of patients with IBD, there is a need to identify prognostic markers and druggable biological pathways to improve mucosal repair and probe the efficacy of tumour necrosis factor alpha biologics. Vnn1 is a pantetheinase that degrades pantetheine to pantothenate (vitamin B, a precursor of coenzyme A (CoA) biosynthesis) and cysteamine. Vnn1 is overexpressed by inflamed colonocytes.