Early physical training improves long-lasting prognosis following hypoxic-ischemic brain damage in neonatal rats / 中华神经医学杂志

Objective To investigate the effect of early physical training on long-lasting neurological function,pathology changes,spatial learning and memory abilities,sensorimotor function and ultrastructure changes in neonatal rats with hypoxic-ischemic brain damage (HIBD).Methods Ninety 7-day-old sprague-dawley rats were randomly divided into three groups:a group that was subjected to left carotid ligation followed by 2 hours hypoxic stress (vehicle group),a group that received physical trainings (grabbing,rotation,walking and balance) 1 weeks after HIBD event (trained group) and a sham-operated group that was subjected to a sham-operation without ligation and hypoxic stress (n=30).Following four weeks of physical trainings,neurological scale was performed on all the rats; the number of neurons in the CA1 region of hippocampus and cortex forehead was measured by Nissl count; the expression levels of synaptophysin and c-fos were examined; Morris water maze tests and cortex sensorimotor tests were performed to detect the spatial learning and memory abilities and sensory functions; transmission electron microscope was employed to observe the synapses and neuronal ultrastructure.Results As compared with those in the vehicle group,the neurological scale scores were significantly increased in the trained group and the sham-operated group 14,21 and 28 days after trainings (P＜0.05).As compared with those in the vehicle group,the number of neurons in the left hippocampal CA1 area and cortex increased in the trained group and sham-operated group (P＜0.05).The expressions of synaptophysin and c-los in the trained group increased significantly as compared with those in the vehicle group (P＜0.05).As compared with those in the vehicle group,the spatial learning and memory abilities and sensorimotor functions in the trained group were significantly increased (P＜0.05).The ultrastructure of the left hippocampus and cortex was remarkably abnormal in the vehicle group by the transmission electron microscopy,while no obvious abnormality was observed in the trained group.Conclusion Early physical training can restrain neuron damage in the hippocampus and cortex and enhance synaptic plasticity to ameliorate the long-term neurological function after HIBD; the strong expression of synaptophysin and c-fos in the hippocampus and cortex caused by early physical training may be one of the improvement mechanisms.

Correlation of the serum hydrogen sulfide level and neuron-specific enolase level in children with febrile seizures / 中华实用儿科临床杂志

Objective To investigate the pathophysiological role of serum hydrogen sulfide (H2 S) and its correlation with serum neuron-specific enolase (NSE) level in the process of febrile seizures (FS).Methods Sixty-five children with FS and acute upper respiratory infection were selected as FS group,51 children with acute upper respiratory infection associated with fever were taken as upper respiratory infection group and 43 healthy children in Child Health Section for physical examination were respectively chosen as the healthy control group.All children came from Department of Pediatrics of Zhujiang Hospital,Southern Medical University from Mar.15 to Nov.10,2012.The serum H2S and NSE levels of all groups were measured by Microplate Reader.Results The serum H2S in FS group was significantly lower than that in upper respiratory infection group and healthy control group (all P ＜ 0.01) ; the NSE level in FS group was significantly higher than that in upper respiratory infection group and healthy control group (all P ＜0.01) ;the levels of H2S and NSE had no significant differences between upper respiratory infection group and healthy control group (all P ＞ 0.05).The serum H2S level and NSE level in FS group were negatively correlated (r =-0.279,P =0.024) ; There were significant differences of serum NSE level between seizure frequency less than twice group and seizure frequency greater than or equal to twice group(t =-2.955,P =0.004).The seizure frequency was negatively correlated with serum H2S level (r =-0.269,P =0.03),and positively correlated with serum NSE level (r =0.322,P =0.009).The seizure durations (≥ 5 min) was negatively correlated with serum H2S level (r =-0.532,P =0.019).Conclusion The serum H2S level is expected to be an objective index for eva-luating the seizure brain injury in the early period of FS,and also potentially the important occurrence factors of brain injury.

Study of ATP7A gene in a Chinese family with Menkes disease / 中华神经医学杂志

Objective To analyze the A TP7A gene mutations in 2 related Chinese patients with Menkes disease (MD) and other members of the family and their hereditary features. Methods Two patients were clinically diagnosed as having MD. All 23 exons and exon-intron boundaries of ATP7A gene were polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-amplified and directly sequenced for genomic DNA extracted from the peripheral blood of both 2 patients and other members of the family; healthy controls were employed too. The mutations were proved by fluorescence quantitative PCR. Results Gross deletions from exon 2-12 were found in these 2 patients,respectively; their mothers,grandmother and aunt with normal phenotype carried those heterozygous mutations in the same site of A TP7A gene.Conclusions The 2 patients with MD are identified by gene and gross deletions from exon 2-12 are reported.

Long-term behavioral and ultrastructural alterations following hypoxic-ischemic brain damage in neonatal rats / 中国当代儿科杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To study long-term behavioral and ultrastructural alterations in a hypoxic-ischemic brain damage (HIBD) model of neonatal rats.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Sixty seven-day-old Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly subjected to unilateral carotid artery ligation followed by hypoxic exposure (HIBD group) or sham operation (n=30 each). A battery of behavioral tests, including Morris water maze test and sensorimotor tests, were performed at a postnatal age of 5 weeks. Nissl staining was used for counting neurons. Transmission electron microscopy was used for observing synapse structures and measuring the thickness of the postsynaptic density area and the length of the postsynaptic active area. The correlations of histological changes with the results of behavioral tests were evaluated.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The HIBD group showed a significantly longer escape latency (P<0.05) and a lower frequency of original platform crossing (P<0.05) in the Morris water maze test compared with the sham operation group. The sensorimotor function test showed that the sensorimotor function in the HIBD group was worse than in the sham operation group. Nissl staining showed that the number of neurons in the HIBD group was significantly reduced (P<0.01) compared with the sham operation group. Transmission electron microscopy showed that synapses were significantly reduced in number, and that the thickness of the postsynaptic density area and the length of the postsynaptic active area were reduced in the HIBD group. The thickness of the postsynaptic density area was negatively correlated with escape latency in the Morris water maze test (r=-0.861, P<0.01), and also negatively correlated with the total score of sensorimotor function tests (r=-0.758, P<0.05) in the HIBD group.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>Hypoxia ischemia can lead to neuron loss and ultrastructure damage, resulting in long-term deficit of behavioral functions in neonatal rats.</p>

Value of neonatal behavioral and neurological assessment in prognostic evaluation of full-term neonates with birth asphyxia / 中华神经医学杂志

Objective To evaluate the prognosis of full-term neonates with birth asphyxia usingneonatal behavioral and neurological assessment (NBNA). Methods A total of 326 full-term neonateswith birth asphyxia were evaluated using NBNA 12-14 days and 25-28 days after birth. The infants werefollowed up till 24 months old and a developmental assessment was made according to the CDCC Scalesof Infant Development. Results The incidence of developmental retardation (with mental developmentindex ≤69 or psychomotor development index ≤69) was significantly higher in the infants with NBNAscores ≤35 than in those with NBNA scores >35. Conclusion The NBNA score provides a valuablereference for prognostic evaluation of the full-term neonates with birth asphyxia, and may serve as asensitive indicator for cerebral lesions.