Comment on Yang et al., 2020: Melatonergic agents in the prevention of delirium: A network meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.

An analysis of delirium prevention considering only older adults is essential. Delirium markedly impacts the older adult population, as it is associated with inpatient occurrence rates from 14% to 56% and hospital mortality rates from 25% to 33% [2]. Ageing comes with a cumulative decline in physiological systems and is a relevant risk factor for chronic diseases [3,4].

GABA function may be related to the impairment of learning and memory caused by systemic prenatal hypoxia-ischemia.

Intrauterine adverse conditions may be responsible for long-lasting damages which impact health even during adult phase. Hypoxic-ischemic (HI) events are a relevant cause of newborn mortality and the principal factor leading to permanent brain lesions. Using a model in which the ovarian and uterine flux of a pregnant rat is obstructed for 45 min we have described oligodendrocyte death, astrogliosis and neuronal loss.

Prenatal Systemic Hypoxia-Ischemia and Oligodendroglia Loss in Cerebellum.

Hypoxic-ischemic (HI) injury is an important cause of death and disabilities. Despite all improvements in neonatal care, the number of children who suffer some kind of injury during birth has remained stable in the last decade. A great number of studies have shown alterations in neural cells and many animal models have been proposed in the last 5 decades.

Early weaning is associated with higher neuropeptide Y (NPY) and lower cocaine- and amphetamine-regulated transcript (CART) expressions in the paraventricular nucleus (PVN) in adulthood.

The interruption of lactation for a short period, without the use of pharmacological substances or maternal separation, causes offspring malnutrition and hypoleptinaemia and programmes for metabolic disorders such as higher body weight and adiposity, hyperphagia, hyperleptinaemia and central leptin resistance in adulthood. Here, in order to clarify the mechanisms underlying the phenotype observed in adult early-weaned (EW) rats, we studied the expression of neuropeptide Y (NPY), agouti-related peptide (AgRP), pro-opiomelanocortin (POMC) and cocaine- and amphetamine-regulated transcript (CART) in different hypothalamic nuclei by immunohistochemistry and Western blot. In the EW group, the teats of lactating rats were blocked with a bandage to interrupt lactation during the last 3 d, while control pups had free access to milk throughout the entire lactation period.

Maternal malnutrition during lactation alters gonadotropin-releasing hormone expression in the hypothalamus of weaned male rat pups.

Gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) is the key hormone regulating reproduction. Its feedback regulation is exercised by estradiol. The early postnatal period is critical for sexual differentiation.