| 1. |
- Huo, Kaiming, et al.
(author)
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Lithium reduced neural progenitor apoptosis in the hippocampus and ameliorated functional deficits after irradiation to the immature mouse brain.
- 2012
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In: Molecular and cellular neurosciences. - : Elsevier BV. - 1095-9327 .- 1044-7431. ; 51:1-2, s. 32-42
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Lithium was recently shown to inhibit apoptosis and promote survival of neural progenitor cells after hypoxia-ischemia in the immature rat brain. Our aim was to evaluate the effects of lithium on cell death and proliferation in the hippocampus after irradiation (IR) to the immature brain. Male mice were injected with 2 mmol/kg lithium chloride i.p. on postnatal day 9 (P9) and additional lithium injections, 1 mmol/kg, were administered at 24 h intervals for up to 7 days. BrdU was injected 4 h after lithium injections on P9 and P10. The left hemisphere received a single dose of 8 Gy (MV photons) on P11. The animals were euthanized 6 h or 7 weeks after IR. The number of BrdU-labeled cells in the subgranular zone (SGZ) of the granule cell layer (GCL) 6h after IR was 24% higher in the lithium-treated mice. The number of proliferating, phospho-histone H3-positive cells in the SGZ 7 weeks after IR was 59% higher in the lithium group, so the effect was long-lasting. The number of apoptotic cells in the SGZ 6 h after IR was lower in the lithium group, as judged by 3 different parameters, pyknosis, staining for active caspase-3 and TUNEL. Newly formed cells (BrdU-labeled 1 or 2 days before IR) showed the greatest degree of protection, as judged by 50% fewer TUNEL-positive cells, whereas non-BrdU-labeled cells showed 38% fewer TUNEL-positive cells 6 h after IR. Consequently, the growth retardation of the GCL was less pronounced in the lithium group. The number and size of microglia in the DG were also lower in the lithium group, indicating reduced inflammation. Learning was facilitated after lithium treatment, as judged by improved context-dependent fear conditioning, and improved place learning, as judged by assessment in the IntelliCage platform. In summary, lithium administration could decrease IR-induced neural progenitor cell apoptosis in the GCL of the hippocampus and ameliorate learning impairments. It remains to be shown if lithium can be used to prevent the debilitating cognitive late effects seen in children treated with cranial radiotherapy.
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| 2. |
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| 3. |
- Huo, Kaiming, et al.
(author)
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Risk factors for neurodevelopmental deficits in congenital hypothyroidism after early substitution treatment.
- 2011
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In: Endocrine Journal. - 1348-4540 .- 0918-8959. ; 58:5, s. 355-61
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Neurodevelopment in children with congenital hypothyroidism who receive early treatment is generally good. However, subtle neurological deficits still exist in some patients. The aim of this investigation was to evaluate factors that may influence neurodevelopmental outcome in congenital hypothyroidism patients. The developmental quotient (DQ) of 155 children with congenital hypothyroidism was evaluated at 24 months of age, using Gesell Developmental Schedules (GDS), and compared with that of 310 healthy controls. Mean DQ scores in congenital hypothyroidism patients were 7.5 points lower for adaptive behavior than in control patients (p
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| 4. |
- Rodriguez, Juan, 1983, et al.
(author)
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Lack of the brain-specific isoform of apoptosis-inducing factor aggravates cerebral damage in a model of neonatal hypoxia-ischemia.
- 2018
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In: Cell Death & Disease. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 2041-4889. ; 10:1
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Apoptosis-inducing factor (AIF) may contribute to neuronal cell death, and its influence is particularly prominent in the immature brain after hypoxia-ischemia (HI). A brain-specific AIF splice-isoform (AIF2) has recently been discovered, but has not yet been characterized at the genetic level. The aim of this study was to determine the functional and regulatory profile of AIF2 under physiological conditions and after HI in mice. We generated AIF2 knockout (KO) mice by removing the AIF2-specific exon and found that the relative expression of Aif1 mRNA increased in Aif2 KO mice and that this increase became even more pronounced as Aif2 KO mice aged compared to their wild-type (WT) littermates. Mitochondrial morphology and function, reproductive function, and behavior showed no differences between WT and Aif2 KO mice. However, lack of AIF2 enhanced brain injury in neonatal mice after HI compared to WT controls, and this effect was linked to increased oxidative stress but not to caspase-dependent or -independent apoptosis pathways. These results indicate that AIF2 deficiency exacerbates free radical production and HI-induced neonatal brain injury.
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| 5. |
- You, Fengzhi, et al.
(author)
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Maternal mortality in Henan Province, China: changes between 1996 and 2009.
- 2012
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In: PloS one. - : Public Library of Science (PLoS). - 1932-6203. ; 7:10
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Background: Maternal deaths occur mostly in developing countries and the majority of them are preventable. This study analyzes changes in maternal mortality and related causes in Henan Province, China, between 1996 and 2009, in an attempt to provide a reliable basis for introducing effective interventions to reduce the maternal mortality ratio (MMR), part of the fifth Millennium Development Goal. Methods and Findings: This population-based maternal mortality survey in Henan Province was carried out from 1996 to 2009. Basic information was obtained from the health care network for women and children and the vital statistics system, from specially trained monitoring personnel in 25 selected monitoring sites and by household survey in each case of maternal death. This data was subsequently reported to the Henan Provincial Maternal and Child Healthcare Hospital. The total MMR in Henan Province declined by 78.4%, from 80.1 per 100 000 live births in 1996 to 17.3 per 100 000 live births in 2009. The decline was more pronounced in rural than in urban areas. The most common causes of maternal death during this period were obstetric hemorrhage (43.8%), pregnancy-induced hypertension (15.8%), amniotic fluid embolism (13.9%) and heart disease (8.0%). The MMR was higher in rural areas with lower income, less education and poorer health care. Conclusion: There was a remarkable decrease in the MMR in Henan Province between 1996 and 2009 mainly in the rural areas and MMR due to direct obstetric causes such as obstetric hemorrhage. This study indicates that improving the health care network for women, training of obstetric staff at basic-level units, promoting maternal education, and increasing household income are important interventional strategies to reduce the MMR further.
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