Developmental defects of the ventral abdominal wall, such as gastroschisis, have been associated with prenatal stress exposure. To investigate this further, dexamethasone (DEX), a synthetic glucocorticoid, was administered to fertilized chicken eggs on day 1 of incubation to simulate stress, and embryonic development was subsequently analyzed through in-situ hybridization, immunohistochemistry, and histological methods. Significant developmental abnormalities were displayed by DEX-treated embryos, including open abdomens, reduced MYOG expression in the abdominal wall, and disrupted muscle fiber formation, as indicated by altered Myosin heavy chain patterns.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: After enterostomy creation, the distal bowel to the ostomy is excluded from the physiologic passage of stool, nutrient uptake, and growth of this intestinal section. Those infants frequently require long-term parenteral nutrition, continued after enterostomy reversal due to the notable diameter discrepancy of the proximal and distal bowel. Previous studies have shown that mucous fistula refeeding (MFR) results in faster weight gain in infants.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFIntroduction: Omphalocele represents a rare congenital abdominal wall defect. In giant omphalocele, due to the viscero-abdominal disproportion, gradual reintegration of eviscerated organs is often associated with medical challenges. We report our preliminary experience combining staged gravitational reduction with vacuum (VAC) therapy as a novel approach for treatment of giant omphalocele.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFStudy Objective: Ovarian torsion (OT) in pediatric age is a challenging condition to diagnose and treat. To date, there is still no clear consensus about its management. Our aim was to assess some possible associated factors that can help surgeons in decision-making.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: Surgery is the current mainstay for the treatment of urachal anomalies (UA). Recent literature data support the theory of a spontaneous resolution within the first year of life. The aim of this study, comprising solely surgically treated children, was to identify age specific patterns regarding symptoms and outcomes that may support the non-surgical treatment of UA.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFVitelline duct anomalies (VDA, including Meckel's diverticulum (MD)) result from failed embryologic obliteration. This study aimed for characteristics in symptomatic versus asymptomatic VDA, analyzing clinico-laboratory data from 73 children, aged 1 day to 17 years, treated at a tertiary Pediatric Surgery Institution from 2002-2017. A male preponderance was obtained (ratio 3.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: To date, no parameter with satisfactory accuracy exists for the diagnosis of appendicitis. This retrospective study describes the discriminatory value of preoperative hematologic factors associated with complicated and non-complicated pediatric appendicitis.
Methods: Clinical and laboratory data were obtained from 294 children diagnosed with appendicitis on admission and treated at our tertiary-level pediatric hospital from 2015 to 2017; they were divided into three groups: control group (n = 118), histologically proven complicated (n = 120), and non-complicated (n = 56) appendicitis.
Arch Dis Child Fetal Neonatal Ed
July 2022
Study Objective: To determine clinical and laboratory characteristics of ovarian torsion (OT; n = 28) compared with a non-OT control (OC; n = 64) group.
Design: Retrospective single-center review performed between January 2006 and December 2016.
Setting: Academic department of pediatric surgery.
Background: This pilot study focuses on regional tissue oxygenation (rSO) in patients with infantile hypertrophic pyloric stenosis in a perioperative setting. To investigate the influence of enhanced metabolic alkalosis (MA) on cerebral (c-rSO) and renal (r-rSO) tissue oxygenation, two-site near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) technology was applied.
Materials And Methods: Perioperative c-rSO, r-rSO, capillary blood gases, and electrolytes from 12 infants were retrospectively compared before and after correction of MA at admission (T1), before surgery (T2), and after surgery (T3).
We developed different types of glass cell-culture chips (GC³s) for culturing cells for microscopic observation in open media-containing troughs or in microfluidic structures. Platinum sensor and manipulation structures were used to monitor physiological parameters and to allocate and permeabilize cells. Electro-thermal micro pumps distributed chemical compounds in the microfluidic systems.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFWe investigated the effects of acute valproate (VPA) on mouse embryonic primary cortex cells (MEPCs). Intracellular ATP concentrations were compared with changes in the mean action potential (AP) frequencies of MEPC networks growing on microelectrode arrays. Our data implies biphasic reactions towards increasing VPA concentrations for both parameters.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFPurpose: To evaluate the outcome of laparoendoscopic single-site (LESS-A) through one transumbilical port vs. 3-port laparoscopic (3TA) appendectomy in children.
Methods: We reviewed the records of 309 children (65 LESS-A, 244 3TA) operated on between 2008 and 2012.
Biosens Bioelectron
November 2015
Breathing hyperbaric air or gas mixtures, for example during diving or when working underwater is known to alter the electrophysiological behavior of neuronal cells, which may lead to restricted cognition. During the last few decades, only very few studies into hyperbaric effects have been published, especially for the most relevant pressure range of up to 10 bar. We designed a pressurized measuring chamber to record pressure effects on the electrical activity of neuronal networks formed by primary cells of the frontal cortex of NMRI mice.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFSymsagittifera roscoffensis is a plathelminth living in symbiosis with the green algae Tetraselmis convolutae. Host and symbiont are a model system for the study of endosymbiosis, which has so far mainly focused on their biochemical interactions. Symsagittifera roscoffensis is well known for its positive phototaxis that is hypothesized to optimize the symbiont's light perception for photosynthesis.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThe β-secretase BACE1 is widely known for its pivotal role in the amyloidogenic pathway leading to Alzheimer's disease, but how its action on transmembrane proteins other than the amyloid precursor protein affects the nervous system is only beginning to be understood. We report here that BACE1 regulates neuronal excitability through an unorthodox, nonenzymatic interaction with members of the KCNQ (Kv7) family that give rise to the M-current, a noninactivating potassium current with slow kinetics. In hippocampal neurons from BACE1(-/-) mice, loss of M-current enhanced neuronal excitability.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFTopically applied camphor elicits a sensation of cool, but nothing is known about how it affects cold temperature sensing. We found that camphor sensitizes a subpopulation of menthol-sensitive native cutaneous nociceptors in the mouse to cold, but desensitizes and partially blocks heterologously expressed TRPM8 (transient receptor potential cation channel subfamily M member 8). In contrast, camphor reduces potassium outward currents in cultured sensory neurons and, in cold nociceptors, the cold-sensitizing effects of camphor and menthol are additive.
View Article and Find Full Text PDF