Hypoxia-ischemia induces hypo-phosphorylation of collapsin response mediator protein 2 in a neonatal rat model of periventricular leukomalacia.

Collapsin response mediator protein2 (CRMP2) is a brain-specific protein involved in neuronal polarity and axonal guidance, and phosphorylation of CRMP2 regulates the function and the activity. CRMP2 has shown to be implicated in several neurodegenerative diseases (Alzheimer's disease, epilepsy and ischemia) and this study was designed to assess the role of CRMP2 in periventricular leukomalacia (PVL). We developed a PVL model using 3-day-old rats to investigate the expression and phosphorylation of CRMP2 in the newborn brain.

Assessment of a new piezoelectric transducer sensor for noninvasive cardiorespiratory monitoring of newborn infants in the NICU.

Background: Electrocardiogram (ECG) and impedance pneumography (IPG), the most widely used techniques for cardiorespiratory monitoring in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU), have the disadvantage of causing skin damage when used for very premature newborn infants. To prevent skin damage, we designed a new piezoelectric transducer (PZT) sensor.

Objective: To assess the potential of the PZT sensor for cardiorespiratory monitoring in the NICU.

Ascorbic acid protects the newborn rat brain from hypoxic-ischemia.

Ascorbic acid (AA) is a potent antioxidant, and its neuroprotective effect has not been established yet. Using the Rice-Vannucci model, we examined the effect of AA on hypoxic-ischemic (HI) injury in the immature rat brain. Under isoflurane anesthesia, 7-day-old rat pups received 750 mg/kg of AA by intraperitoneal injection just before hypoxic exposure; 8% oxygen for 90 min.