Taurine exerts neuroprotective effects via anti-apoptosis in hypoxic-ischemic brain injury in neonatal rats / 소아과

PURPOSE: Taurine (2-aminoethanesulfonic acid) is a simple sulfur-containing amino acid. It is abundantly present in tissues such as brain, retina, heart, and skeletal muscles. Current studies have demonstrated the neuroprotective effects of taurine, but limited data are available for such effects during neonatal period. The aim of this study was to determine whether taurine could reduce hypoxic-ischemic (HI) cerebral injury via anti-apoptosis mechanism. METHODS: Embryonic cortical neurons isolated from Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats at 18 days gestation were cultured in vitro. The cells were divided into hypoxia group, taurine-treated group before hypoxic insult, and taurine-treated group after HI insult. In the in vivo model, left carotid artery ligation was performed in 7-day-old SD rat pups. The pups were exposed to hypoxia, administered an injection of 30 mg/kg of taurine, and killed at 1 day, 3 days, 1 week, 2 weeks, and 4 weeks after the hypoxic insult. We compared the expressions of Bcl-2, Bax, and caspase-3 among the 3 groups by using real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and western blotting. RESULTS: The cells in the taurine-treated group before hypoxic insult, although similar in appearance to those in the normoxia group, were lesser in number. In the taurine-treated group, Bcl-2 expression increased, whereas Bax and caspase-3 expressions reduced. CONCLUSION: Taurine exerts neuroprotective effects onperinatal HI brain injury due to its anti-apoptotic effect. The neuroprotective effect was maximal at 1-2 weeks after the hypoxic injury.

Neuroprotective Effects of Taurine Via Modulation of Nitric Oxide Synthase on Hypoxic-Ischemic Brain Injury in Neonatal Rats / 대한주산의학회잡지

PURPOSE: Taurine is a simple sulfur-containing amino acid and enriched in brain, retina, heart and skeletal muscles. In the central nervous system, taurine has been implicated in major phenomena. Current studies have demonstrated the neuroprotective effect of taurine in adult rat model, but limited data are available for those during the neonatal periods. The aim of this study was to determine whether taurine could reduce hypoxic-ischemic (HI) brain injury in the developing brain via modulation of nitric oxide synthase. METHODS: In in vitro model, embryonic cortical neuronal cell culture procedure was done in Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats at 18 days of gestation. The cells were divided into the hypoxia group, taurine-treated group before and after a hypoxic insult. The each groups compared with normoxia group. In in vivo model, left carotid artery ligation was done in 7-day-old SD rat pups. the pups were exposed to hypoxia, received an injection of 30 mg/kg of taurine, and sacrificed at day 1, day 3, day 7, day 14 and day 28. We assayed the expression of iNOS, eNOS and nNOS mRNA using real-time PCR and western-blotting. RESULTS: In in vitro model, brain cell damage of hypoxia group was more than in the normoxia group. Cell damage's recovery was more in the taurine-treated group before a hypoxic insult than in the taurine-treated group after a hypoxic insult. The expression of iNOS mRNA was less in the hypoxia group than in the normoxia group both in vitro and in vivo models. The expression of eNOS and nNOS was more in the hypoxia group. CONCLUSION: Taurine has neuroprotective property over perinatal HI brain injury due to modulation of NOS, as evidenced by causing a decrease in eNOS and nNOS and increase in iNOS expression. The neuroprotective effect of taurine administration was maximal at day 7 and day 14 after a hypoxic injury.

The Cardioprotective Effects of Resveratrol via Anti-Apoptosis in Hypoxic Injury of Myocardial Cells

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Resveratrol (trans-3, 4', 5-trihydroxy-stilbene), a naturally occurring polyphenolic phytoalexin found abundantly in grape skins and red wines, has been reported to protect heart cells from ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury through its significant antioxidant properties. Apoptosis of cardiac myocytes is also involved in several cardiovascular diseases, but it remains unknown whether the protective effects of resveratrol in hypoxic myocardial cell injury are mediated via suppression of apoptosis. In this study, we investigated whether resveratrol confers cardioprotection against hypoxia via anti-apoptosis in a hypoxic model of cultured H9c2 cardiomyoblasts. MATERIALS AND METHODS: H9c2 cardiomyoblasts were obtained from the Korean Cell Line Bank. The cultured cells were divided into four groups: a normal control group, a hypoxia group, a group treated with resveratrol (10 microgram/mL) before hypoxic insult, and a group treated with resveratrol (10 microgram/mL) after hypoxic insult. The control group was placed in 5% CO2 incubators, and the hypoxia and resveratrol-treated groups were placed in 1% O2 incubators. Apoptosis was assayed by cytological analysis with Western blotting and real-time PCR for Bcl-2, Bax, and caspase-3. RESULTS: The expression of Bcl-2 was significantly decreased in the hypoxia group compared with the control group, and resveratrol treatment inhibited the hypoxia-induced decline of Bcl-2 in hypoxic myocardial cells. Conversely, the expressions of Bax and caspase-3 were significantly increased in the hypoxia group, while resveratrol inhibited the hypoxia-induced increase of Bax and caspase. In addition, hypoxia significantly increased the ratio of Bax/Bcl-2 expression, but it was significantly decreased in the resveratrol-treated group. CONCLUSION: The present study demonstrates that the cardioprotective effects of resveratrol in hypoxic injury are mediated via the mechanisms of anti-apoptosis.

Language Development of Non-handicapped Low Birth Weight Infants

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to examine the developmental delay in non- handicapped low birth weight infants, with an emphasis on the delayed language development and the perinatal risk factors affected early language development. METHODS: The sample consisted of 31 preterm infants with birth weight less than or equal to 2,000 g who had no obvious neurological impairment at the age of 18-32 months. Each infant was assessed using three instruments; the Bayley Scales of Infant Development, the Capute Scales, and the Sequenced Language Scale for Infants (SELSI). RESULTS: On Bayley Scales of Infant Development, mental developmental index (MDI) was 81.0+/-17.1 and psychomotor developmental index (PDI) was 90.3+/-13.7. On the Capute scales, 38.7% of infants exhibited a significant language delay, below 70 at the age of 18- 32 months. On the SELSI, expressive language was delayed 5.7 months, receptive language, 5.4 months. On the Capute scales, expressive language was significantly related with gestational age and duration of oxygen therapy. Receptive language was associated with gestational age only. On the SELSI, language developmental quotient was influenced by gestational age, days on ventilation, and duration of oxygen therapy. CONCLUSION: 38.7% of non-handicapped low birth weight infants exhibited clinically significant delay in language development at the age of 18-32 months. Language delay was significantly related with gestational age, days on ventilation, and duration of oxygen therapy. The most single significant perinatal risk factor for language delay was gestational age.

A Case of Split Hand Split Foot Malformation Associated with Pericentric Inversion of Chromosome 9 / 대한주산의학회잡지

Split hand split foot malformation (SHFM) is a human developmental disorder characterized by a deep median cleft in the hands and feet, missing digits, and fusion of the remaining digits. The disease itself is considered to be very rare, affecting one out of 90,000 newborn babies. SHFM is genetically heterogeneous. To date, five SHFM loci have been mapped, to chromosome 2, 3, 7, 10 and X, respectively. We experienced a case of SHFM in a male neonate who had lobster-claw deformities of the hands and feet. The karyotype of his chromosome was 46,XY,inv (9) (p12q13). We report the case with the review of the associated literatures.

A Case of Neonatal Renal Abscess Treated with Antibiotics Only / 대한주산의학회잡지

A renal abscess is rare disease in neonates and the clinical diagnosis is difficult, because symptoms are often insidious and nonspecific such as fever and lethargy. A high degree of suspicion is important for the early detection of renal abscess. The diagnosis can be made with renal ultrasonography and CT scan. The treatment include aggressive antibiotic therapy, percutaneous aspiration of abscess, and surgical intervention. We experienced a case of renal abscess in a neonate which was treated successfully by antibiotics therapy without percutaneous aspiration or surgical intervention.

PLASMA CELL GRANULOMA ON THE GINGIVA

Case report of Neurofibroma

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