How COVID-19 Phases Have Impacted Psychiatric Risk: A Retrospective Study in an Emergency Care Unit for Adolescents.

Dramatic events during the COVID-19 pandemic have acutely impacted the psychosocial environment worldwide, with negative implications for mental health, particularly for more vulnerable children and adolescents with severe psychiatric illnesses. Some data suggest that the pandemic waves may have produced different psychopathological consequences, further worsening in the second phase of the pandemic, compared to those in the first lockdown, soon after March 2020. To test the hypothesis of a further worsening of psychiatric consequences of COVID-19 in the second lockdown compared to the first lockdown, we focused our analysis on a consecutive sample of youth referred to a psychiatric emergency unit for acute mental disorders in the time period between March 2019-March 2021. The sample, consisting of 241 subjects (123 males and 118 females, ranging in age from 11 to 17 years), was divided into three groups: Pre-Lockdown Group (PLG, 115 patients); First Lockdown Group (FLG, 65 patients); and Second Lockdown Group (SLG, 61 patients). Patients in the SLG presented more frequently with non-suicidal self-injuries (NSSIs), suicidal ideation, and suicidal behavior, while no significant differences in self-harm were found between PLG and FLG. Eating disorders were more frequent in both the FLG and SLG, compared to the PLG, while sleep problems were higher only in the SLG. Furthermore, patients in the SLG presented with more frequent psychological maltreatments and neglect, as well as with psychiatric disorders in the parents. Adverse traumatic experiences and internalizing disorders were significantly associated with an increased risk of suicidality. Intellectual disability was less represented from the PLG to SLG, and similarly, the rate of ADHD was lower in the SLG. No differences were found for the other psychiatric diagnoses. This information may be helpful for a better understanding and management of adolescents with severe emotional and behavioral disorders after the exposure to long-lasting collective traumas.

Infant massage and brain maturation measured using EEG: A randomised controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: Very preterm (VPT) infants develop adverse neurological sequelae from early exposure of the immature brain to the extrauterine environment. AIMS: To determine the effects of infant massage on brain maturation in low-risk VPT infants. STUDY DESIGN: A randomised controlled trial of VPT infants, who received standard care or daily massage therapy, administered by the mother, from 34 weeks' to 40 weeks' corrected age (CA). SUBJECTS: VPT infants (born at 28 weeks to 32 + 6 weeks' gestational age, G.A.) and a healthy at term cohort for comparison. OUTCOME MEASURES: At term equivalent age (39 weeks' to 42 weeks' CA), EEG was recorded to calculate global relative power (GRP), using power spectral analysis. RESULTS: Sixty infants were recruited, and EEGs of 25 massage and 20 standard care infants were analysable. There was no difference between groups in primary outcome (beta GRP). There was a significantly higher central alpha relative power measured in the intervention group infants, compared to standard care (SC) group (mean difference = 1.42, 95 % confidence interval (CI): 0.12 to 2.73; p = 0.03). A massage dose effect was shown by a positive correlation between, massage dose and beta, alpha and theta GRP (r = 0.42, 95%CI = 0.12 to 0.64, r = 0.45; 95%CI = 0.16 to 0.66, r = 0.39; 95%CI = 0.10 to 0.62 respectively) and a negative correlation between massage dose and delta GRP (r = -0.41, 95%CI = -0.64 to -0.12), suggesting that a higher dose of massage is associated with more favourable brain maturation. CONCLUSIONS: Central alpha regional relative power was greater in massaged infants compared to SC group infants, suggesting relatively greater brain maturation in this area. A measurable massage dose effect in favour of greater brain maturation, shows promise for verification in a larger clinical trial.

Internet Gaming Disorder in Children and Adolescents with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder.

Although Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) has been related to an increased risk for behavioral addictions, the relationship between ADHD and Internet Gaming Disorder (IGD) is still debated. The aim of this study is to address this topic by exploring the prevalence of IGD in a consecutive sample of ADHD youth, compared to a normal control group, and by assessing selected psychopathological and cognitive features in ADHD patients with and without IGD. One hundred and eight patients with ADHD (mean age 11.7 ± 2.6 years, 96 males) and 147 normal controls (NC) (mean age 13.9 ± 3.0 years, 114 males) were included in the study and received structured measures for IGD. In the ADHD group, 44% of the sample were above the IGD cut-off, compared to 9.5% in the NC group. ADHD patients with IGD presented with greater severity and impairment, more severe ADHD symptomatology, more internalizing symptoms, particularly withdrawal/depression and socialization problems, and more prominence of addiction and evasion dimensions. A binary logistic regression showed that the degree of inattention presented a greater weight in determining IGD. These findings may be helpful for identifying, among ADHD patients, those at higher risk for developing a superimposed IGD.

Acute Tolerability of Methylphenidate in Treatment-Naïve Children with ADHD: An Analysis of Naturalistically Collected Data from Clinical Practice.

OBJECTIVES: The acute tolerability of methylphenidate (MPH) in children with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) has been studied mainly in research samples. Taking advantage of the mandatory test-dose procedure required for starting MPH in Italy, this study aimed to assess the incidence of intolerable adverse events after initial exposure to MPH in routine clinical practice. METHODS: The medical records of 480 consecutively treated, previously drug-naïve children and adolescents with ADHD (90% male, mean age 10.6 ± 3.0 years) were retrospectively analyzed. All children received an initial single dose of MPH immediate release (5 or 10 mg) followed by a 4-hour direct medical observation. Heart rate and blood pressure were measured at dosing and 1, 2, and 3 hours afterwards. If the first dose was well tolerated, the child continued treatment with MPH 5-20 mg daily, and was reassessed a week later. RESULTS: Eleven patients (2.3%, 95% CI 1.1-4.1) interrupted treatment within a week of initiation because of the following adverse events: irritability (n = 3), tics worsening (n = 3), reduced appetite (n = 1), enuresis (n = 1), hallucinations (n = 1), hyperfocus (n = 1), and 'rebound' behavioral worsening (n = 1). The most common adverse events were reduced appetite (20%), irritability (14.2%), headache (10.6%), sleep problems (9.4%), stomachache (9.4%), and tics (5%). Intellectual disability increased the risk of any adverse event in general and of irritability in particular. No cardiovascular symptom was clinically reported. However, routine assessments of vital signs during the first 3 hours after the first dose of MPH showed that 9% of the children had a 20% increase in heart rate, 8.8% had a 20% increase in diastolic blood pressure and 4.5% had a 20% increase in systolic blood pressure. Of these, 25.2% still had an elevated heart rate 1 week later. CONCLUSIONS: Among stimulant-naïve children in clinical practice, the incidence of acute MPH intolerance can be estimated to be between 1.2 and 4.1%. An asymptomatic elevation in cardiovascular parameters can be observed in about 1 out of 10 children and warrants monitoring during ongoing treatment.

Usefulness of Adding Pre-procedural Glycemia to the Mehran Score to Enhance Its Ability to Predict Contrast-induced Kidney Injury in Patients Undergoing Percutaneous Coronary Intervention Development and Validation of a Predictive Model.

The Mehran score is the most widely accepted tool for predicting contrast-induced acute kidney injury (CI-AKI), a major complication of percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). Similarly, abnormal fasting pre-procedural glycemia (FPG) represents a modifiable risk factor for CI-AKI, but it is not included in current risk models for CI-AKI prediction. We sought to analyze whether adding FPG to the Mehran score improves its ability to predict CI-AKI following PCI. We analyzed 671 consecutive patients undergoing PCI (age 69 [63,75] years, 23% females), regardless of their diabetic status, to derive a revised Mehran score obtained by including FPG in the original Mehran score (Derivation Cohort). The new risk model (GlyMehr) was externally validated in 673 consecutive patients (Validation Cohort) (age 69 [62,76] years, 21% females). In the Derivation Cohort, both FPG and the original Mehran score predicted CI-AKI (AUC 0.703 and 0.673, respectively). The GlyMehr score showed a better predictive ability when compared with the Mehran score both in the Derivation Cohort (AUC 0.749, 95%CI 0.662 to 0.836; p = 0.0016) and the Validation Cohort (AUC 0.848, 95%CI, 0.792 to 0.903; p = 0.0008). In the overall population (n = 1344), the GlyMehr score confirmed its independent and incremental predictive ability regardless of diabetic status (p ≤0.0034) or unstable/stable coronary syndromes (p ≤0.0272). In conclusion, adding FPG to the Mehran score significantly enhances our ability to predict CI-AKI. The GlyMehr score may contribute to improve the clinical management of patients undergoing PCI by identifying those at high risk of CI-AKI and potentially detecting modifiable risk factors.

A Comparison between Severe Suicidality and Nonsuicidal Self-Injury Behaviors in Bipolar Adolescents Referred to a Psychiatric Emergency Unit.

BACKGROUND: Severe suicide ideation or attempts and non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI) present both differences and relevant overlaps, including frequent co-occurrence and shared risk factors. Specific categorical diagnoses, namely bipolar disorder (BD), may affect clinical features and natural histories of suicidal or not suicidal self-harm behaviour. Our study aimed to compare suicidality (severe suicidal ideation or suicidal attempts) and NSSI in referred bipolar adolescents. METHODS: The sample included 95 bipolar adolescents (32 males, 63 females) aged 11 to 18 years. Thirty adolescents with suicide attempts/suicidal ideation and BD (SASIB) were compared with structured measures to 35 adolescents with NSSI and BD, without suicidal ideation or attempts (NSSIB), and to 30 adolescents with BD, without suicidal ideation or attempts or NSSI (CB). RESULTS: Compared to CB, suicidality and NSSI were both associated with female sex, borderline personality disorder and self-reported internalizing disorders, anxiety/depression and thought disorders. The NSSI were specifically associated with somatic problems. Severe suicidal ideation and suicide attempts were associated with adverse life events, immigration, bullying, eating disorders, social problems, depressive feelings, performance and social anxiety, and feelings of rejection. CONCLUSIONS: Both shared and differential features between suicidal and not suicidal adolescents may represent possible targets for diagnostic and preventative interventions.

A Naturalistic Study of Youth Referred to a Tertiary Care Facility for Acute Hypomanic or Manic Episode.

BACKGROUND: Bipolar Disorders (BD) in youth are a heterogeneous condition with different phenomenology, patterns of comorbidity and outcomes. Our aim was to explore the effects of gender; age at onset (prepubertal- vs. adolescent-onset) of BD; and elements associated with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and Substance Use Disorder (SUD) comorbidities, severe suicidal ideation or attempts, and poorer response to pharmacological treatments. METHOD: 117 youth (69 males and 57 females, age range 7 to 18 years, mean age 14.5 ± 2.6 years) consecutively referred for (hypo)manic episodes according to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 54th ed (DSM 5) were included. RESULTS: Gender differences were not evident for any of the selected features. Prepubertal-onset BD was associated with higher rates of ADHD and externalizing disorders. SUD was higher in adolescent-onset BD and was associated with externalizing comorbidities and lower response to treatments. None of the selected measures differentiated patients with or without suicidality. At a 6-month follow up, 51.3% of the patients were responders to treatments, without difference between those receiving and not receiving a psychotherapy. Clinical severity at baseline and comorbidity with Conduct Disorder (CD) and SUD were associated with poorer response. Logistic regression indicated that baseline severity and number of externalizing disorders were associated with a poorer outcome. CONCLUSIONS: Disentangling broader clinical conditions in more specific phenotypes can help timely and focused preventative and therapeutic interventions.

Suicidal Ideation and Suicidal Attempts in Referred Adolescents with High Functioning Autism Spectrum Disorder and Comorbid Bipolar Disorder: A Pilot Study.

Suicidal ideation and attempts in adolescents are closely associated to bipolar disorders (BD). Growing evidence also suggests that high functioning autism spectrum disorders (HF-ASD) are at increased risk for suicidal ideation and behaviors. Although BD and HF-ASD are frequently comorbid, no studies explored suicidality in these individuals. This exploratory study addressed this issue in a clinical group of inpatient adolescents referred to a psychiatric emergency unit. Seventeen adolescents with BD and HF-ASD and severe suicidal ideation or attempts (BD-ASD-S), were compared to 17 adolescents with BD and HF-ASD without suicidal ideation or attempts (BD-ASD-noS), and to 18 adolescents with BD and suicidal ideation or attempts without ASD (BD-noASD-S), using a structured assessment methodology. Individuals with BD-ASD-S had a higher intelligence quotient, more severe clinical impairment, more lethality in suicide attempts, more internalizing symptoms, less impulsiveness, and lower social competence. Severity of ASD traits in individuals and parents did not correlate with suicidal risk. Some dimensions of resilience were protective in terms of repulsion by life and attraction to death. Main limitations are the small sample size, the lack of a control group of typically developing adolescents. However, a better understanding of the specificities of bipolar HF-ASD individuals with suicidality may improve prevention and treatment strategies.

Psychopathological features in referred adolescents with psychogenic nonepileptic seizures with or without epilepsy.

Psychogenic nonepileptic seizures (PNES) are episodic manifestations that mimic epileptic seizures (ES) although not associated with electroencephalogram (EEG) abnormalities. Psychogenic nonepileptic seizures and ES, however, can often cooccur. Emotional distress in adolescents can trigger PNES, but the psychopathological and personality features are still unknown. The aim of this study was to explore psychopathological features in a sample of referred youth with PNES, with or without ES, compared with a control group with ES. Thirty-four patients aged 12 to 21 years, 19 females and 15 males, were included in the study, 15 patients with PNES, 7 with PNES and ES, and 12 with ES. The three groups were compared according to psychiatric categorical diagnoses, psychopathological dimensions, life stressors, and personality traits, including alexithymia, interpersonal reactivity, and resilience, all assessed with structured measures. Patients with PNES, with or without ES, were more severely impaired, had a higher incidence of mood disorders, more frequent lifetime traumatic experiences, and lower resilience. All the three groups presented alexythimic traits and emotional dysregulation. Major limitations are the small sample size and the lack of a control group of healthy subjects. Disentagling psychopathological characteristics in PNES can help clinicians to focus diagnostic approaches and therapeutic interventions.

Suicidal ideation, suicidal attempts and non-suicidal self-injuries in referred adolescent s.

BACKGROUND: Specific risk factors may affect persistent suicidal ideation (SI) and suicide attempts (SA) in adolescence. Non-suicidal self-injuries (NSSIs) are possible antecedent or associated factors of suicidality. AIMS: To compare clinical features in adolescents with mood disorders referred for severe SI and for SA, and to explore differences in those with or without NSSIs. METHOD: 22 youth with severe SI (16 males [77.3%], mean age 14.86±1.86 years), and 19 with SA (16 males [84.2%], mean age 15.05±1.75 years) were assessed for familial psychiatric disorders/suicidal attempts, traumatic antecedents, diagnosis, impulsivity, hopelessness, attitude for life and death, resilience, and according to additional NSSIs. RESULTS: Patients with SI presented more frequent anxiety disorders, those with SA more severe suicidal ideation with plan and intention, and more duration of suicidal ideation. Resilience was lower in SI, while all the other features did not distinguish the two groups. NSSIs were found in 70.7% of the sample, without differences between groups; only impulsivity was more frequent in NSSI group. DISCUSSION: These specific features were frequently found in this high-risk sample, but only comorbid anxiety disorders, and more active, persistent and planned suicidal ideation differentiated the two groups. CONCLUSIONS: Patients with severe SI and SA may represent different variants of the same clinical entity. Given the high frequency of the explored features in the whole suicidal sample, this diagnostic methodology may be helpful and informative in all the high-risk adolescents with mood disorders, namely with NSSI.

Inflammatory Cytokines in Children and Adolescents with Depressive Disorders: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Objective: Meta-analytic evidence shows alterations of peripheral inflammatory cytokines in adults with depressive disorders. By contrast, no evidence synthesis on alterations of peripheral inflammatory cytokines in children/adolescents with depressive disorders is available to date. To fill this gap, we conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis of case-control studies comparing serum cytokine levels in children/adolescents with depressive disorders and healthy controls. Methods: Based on a preregistered protocol (PROSPERO-CRD42018095418), we searched PubMed, Ovid, and Web of Knowledge from inception through July 21, 2018, with no language restrictions, and contacted study authors for unpublished data/information. Random-effects model was used to compute effect size for each cytokine. The Newcastle-Ottawa Scale was used to asses study bias. Results: From a pool of 4231 nonduplicate, potentially relevant references, 8 studies were retained for the qualitative synthesis and 5 for the meta-analysis. TNF-α was higher in participants with depressive disorders versus controls, falling short of statistical significance. Conclusions: Overall, due to the small number of studies, in contrast to the literature in adults, further evidence is needed to confirm possible inflammatory alterations associated with depression in youth.

A NATURALISTIC EXPLORATORY STUDY OF OBSESSIVE-COMPULSIVE BIPOLAR COMORBIDITY IN YOUTH.

BACKGROUND: Growing evidence supports the comorbidity between bipolar disorder (BD) and obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) in children and adolescents. Our aim is to further explore clinical and treatment implications of this comorbidity, as it appears in clinical practice. METHOD: The sample included 429 consecutive patients with BD and/or OCD as primary diagnoses, followed for a mean period of 6 months (range 4-9 months), 172 with BD (102 males, mean age 13.7±2.9 years), 169 with OCD (118 males, mean age of 13.2±2.7 years) and 88 with comorbid BD+OCD (56 males, mean age 14.2±2.6 years, 52 with BD as the primary diagnosis), followed for a mean period of 6 months (range 4-9 months). The comorbid group was compared to pure BD and OCD groups, to explore differential clinical and treatment features. RESULTS: The BD-OCD comorbidity was found in 33.8% of the BD patients and in 34.2% of the OCD patients. Age at onset of BD and OCD were not different in pure and "comorbid" groups. The comorbid group presented a higher occurrence of BD type II and hoarding symptoms, and more frequently received a psychotherapy and second generation antipsychotics, but it presented the poorest outcome in terms of response to treatments. Severity at baseline (clinical severity and functional impairment), hoarding obsessions and compulsions, and conduct disorder comorbidity were associated with a treatment non-response. LIMITATIONS: A selection bias may have increased the rate of comorbidity, as most of the patients were referred to our tertiary hospital for severe BD and/or OCD and pharmacological treatment. We have used CGI-I as an outcome measure, not a specific measure of BD or OCD symptoms' severity and improvement. The short duration of the follow-up may limit our conclusions. CONCLUSIONS: The timely identification of BD-OCD comorbidity may have relevant clinical implications in terms of symptomatology, course, treatment and outcome.

New Formulations of Methylphenidate for the Treatment of Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder: Pharmacokinetics, Efficacy, and Tolerability.

Psychostimulants are the recommended first-line pharmacological treatment for attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Methylphenidate is one of the most commonly used psychostimulants worldwide. Given that immediate-release and/or tablet/capsule formulations may decrease adherence to methylphenidate treatment, several drug companies have been developing novel long-acting and/or liquid/chewable formulations that may improve adherence as well as (for long-acting formulations) reduce abuse potential, decrease stigma associated with multiple administrations per day, and decrease the potential for adverse effects related to dosage peak. Here, we review the pharmacokinetics, efficacy, and tolerability of novel formulations of methylphenidate that are in development or have been approved by the US FDA or European Medicines Agency (EMA) in the last 5 years. We searched the websites of the FDA, EMA, ClinicalTrials.gov, and the pertinent drug companies. We also searched PubMed, Ovid databases (MEDLINE, PsycINFO, Embase + Embase classic), and ISI Web of Knowledge (Web of Science [Science Citation Index Expanded], Biological Abstracts, Biosis, Food Science and Technology Abstracts) to retrieve any additional pertinent information. We found data from trials for the following compounds: (1) methylphenidate extended-release oral suspension (MEROS; NWP06, Quillivant™); (2) methylphenidate extended-release chewable capsules (NWP09, QuilliChew ER™); (3) methylphenidate hydrochloride extended-release capsules (Aptensio XR™); (4) methylphenidate extended-release orally disintegrating tablets (XR-ODT; NT-0102, Cotempla™); (5) ORADUR technology (once-daily tamper-resistant formulation) methylphenidate sustained release (SR); and (6) methylphenidate modified-release (HLD-200; Bejorna™). Overall, available evidence based on trials suggests these compounds have good efficacy and tolerability. Future research should further explore the effectiveness and tolerability of these new formulations as well as their potential to improve adherence to treatment in the 'real world' via pragmatic trials.

PREMM: preterm early massage by the mother: protocol of a randomised controlled trial of massage therapy in very preterm infants.

BACKGROUND: Preterm infants follow an altered neurodevelopmental trajectory compared to their term born peers as a result of the influence of early birth, and the altered environment. Infant massage in the preterm infant has shown positive effects on weight gain and reduced length of hospital stay. There is however, limited current evidence of improved neurodevelopment or improved attachment, maternal mood or anxiety. The aim of this study is to investigate the effects of infant massage performed by the mother in very preterm (VPT) infants. Effects on the infant will be assessed at the electrophysiological, neuroradiological and clinical levels.  Effects on maternal mood, anxiety and mother-infant attachment will also be measured. METHODS/DESIGN: A randomised controlled trial to investigate the effect of massage therapy in VPT infants. Sixty VPT infants, born at 28 to 32 weeks and 6 days gestational age, who are stable, off supplemental oxygen therapy and have normal cranial ultrasounds will be recruited and randomised to an intervention (infant massage) group or a control (standard care) group. Ten healthy term born infants will be recruited as a reference comparison group. The intervention group will receive standardised massage therapy administered by the mother from recruitment, until term equivalent age (TEA). The control group will receive care as usual (CAU). Infants and their mothers will be assessed at baseline, TEA, 12 months and 24 months corrected age (CA), with a battery of clinical, neuroimaging and electrophysiological measures, as well as structured questionnaires, psychoanalytic observations and neurodevelopmental assessments. DISCUSSION: Optimising preterm infant neurodevelopment is a key aim of neonatal research, which could substantially improve long-term outcomes and reduce the socio-economic impact of VPT birth. This study has the potential to give insights into the mother-baby relationship and any positive effects of infant massage on neurodevelopment. An early intervention such as massage that is relatively easy to administer and could alter the trajectory of preterm infant brain development, holds potential to improve neurodevelopmental outcomes in this vulnerable population. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Australian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry: ACTRN12612000335897 . Date registered: 22/3/2012.

Functional Decoding and Meta-analytic Connectivity Modeling in Adult Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder.

BACKGROUND: Task-based functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) studies of adult attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) have revealed various ADHD-related dysfunctional brain regions, with heterogeneous findings across studies. Here, we used novel meta-analytic data-driven approaches to characterize the function and connectivity profile of ADHD-related dysfunctional regions consistently detected across studies. METHODS: We first conducted an activation likelihood estimation meta-analysis of 24 task-based fMRI studies in adults with ADHD. Each ADHD-related dysfunctional region resulting from the activation likelihood estimation meta-analysis was then analyzed using functional decoding based on ~7500 fMRI experiments in the BrainMap database. This approach allows mapping brain regions to functions not necessarily tested in individual studies, thus suggesting possible novel functions for those regions. Additionally, ADHD-related dysfunctional regions were clustered based on their functional coactivation profiles across all the experiments stored in BrainMap (meta-analytic connectivity modeling). RESULTS: ADHD-related hypoactivation was found in the left putamen, left inferior frontal gyrus (pars opercularis), left temporal pole, and right caudate. Functional decoding mapped the left putamen to cognitive aspects of music perception/reproduction and the left temporal lobe to language semantics; both these regions clustered together on the basis of their meta-analytic functional connectivity. Left inferior gyrus mapped to executive function tasks; right caudate mapped to both executive function tasks and music-related processes. CONCLUSIONS: Our study provides meta-analytic support to the hypothesis that, in addition to well-known deficits in typical executive functions, impairment in processes related to music perception/reproduction and language semantics may be involved in the pathophysiology of adult ADHD.

Perinatal brain damage in children: neuroplasticity, early intervention, and molecular mechanisms of recovery.

During the perinatal period, the nervous system is very vulnerable to insult. At this time, the brain undergoes fast and complex maturational processes such as synaptogenesis, arborization, and apoptosis, and the response to the insult is highly dependent on its exact timing. There is evidence that some of the neuroplastic mechanisms adopted by the young brain after damage are unavailable at a later stage of maturation. This applies, for example, to the reorganization of language, the sensorimotor system, or the visual system. Expanding our knowledge on these mechanisms could help the development of early therapeutic interventions aimed at supporting and enhancing functional reorganization at a time of greatest potential brain plasticity.

Plasticity of the visual system after early brain damage.

The aim of this review is to discuss the existing evidence supporting different processes of visual brain plasticity after early damage, as opposed to damage that occurs during adulthood. There is initial evidence that some of the neuroplastic mechanisms adopted by the brain after early damage to the visual system are unavailable at a later stage. These are, for example, the ability to differentiate functional tissue within a larger dysplastic cortex during its formation, or to develop new thalamo-cortical connections able to bypass the lesion and reach their cortical destination in the occipital cortex. The young brain also uses the same mechanisms available at later stages of development but in a more efficient way. For example, in people with visual field defects of central origin, the anatomical expansion of the extrastriatal visual network is greater after an early lesion than after a later one, which results in more efficient mechanisms of visual exploration of the blind field. A similar mechanism is likely to support some of the differences found in people with blindsight, the phenomenon of unconscious visual perception in the blind field. In particular, compared with people with late lesions, those with early brain damage appear to have stronger subjective awareness of stimuli hitting the blind visual field, reported as a conscious feeling that something is present in the visual field. Expanding our knowledge of these mechanisms could help the development of early therapeutic interventions aimed at supporting and enhancing visual reorganization at a time of greatest potential brain plasticity.

Hand movements at 3 months predict later hemiplegia in term infants with neonatal cerebral infarction.

AIM: The aim of this study was to explore the predictive value of quantitative assessment of hand movements in 3-month-old infants after neonatal stroke. METHOD: Thirteen infants born at term (five females, eight males; mean gestational age 39.4wks, SD 1.19, range 37-41wks; mean birthweight 3240g, SD 203, range 2900-3570g) with neonatal arterial ischaemic cerebral infarction, and 13 healthy infants (mean gestational age 39.1wks, range 37-41wks, SD 1.26; mean birthweight 3190g, SD 259, range 2680-3490g) were enrolled in the study. The absolute frequency and the asymmetry of global hand opening and closing, wrist segmental movements, and independent digit movements were assessed from videotapes recorded at around 12 weeks. Neurological outcome was assessed when the infants were at least 18 months old using Touwen's neurological examination. RESULTS: Five of the 13 infants with neonatal stroke had normal neurological development, and eight had hemiplegia. Asymmetry of wrist segmental movements and the absolute frequency of independent digit movements were significantly different between infants with and without hemiplegia (p=0.006 and p=0.008, respectively). No differences were found in global hand movements. INTERPRETATION: We propose that the observed abnormalities of hand movements are the result of two different mechanisms: direct disruption of the corticospinal projection to the spinal cord, and altered modulation of the central pattern generators of general movements.