Article
Biology
Lina Kloesener, Sabine Samolovac, Ina Barnekow, Jessica Koenig, Amir Moussavi, Susann Boretius, Dieter Fuchs, Astrid Haegens, Rabea Hinkel, Matthias Mietsch
Summary: Appropriate cardiovascular animal models are urgently needed to investigate genetic, molecular, and therapeutic approaches, yet the translational gap between currently used animal species and humans remains. The common marmoset is a potential candidate for cardiovascular research, but its basic hemodynamic system characterization is still lacking. Therefore, functional analyses involving pressure-volume loops, MRI, and echocardiography were performed on common marmosets, providing valuable insights on cardiac function and potential disease alterations through load-independent parameters.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Alexander Sheh, Stephen C. Artim, Monika A. Burns, Jose Arturo Molina-Mora, Mary Anne Lee, Joann Dzink-Fox, Sureshkumar Muthupalani, James G. Fox
Summary: This study characterizes the gut microbiome of healthy captive marmosets and marmosets with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). It shows that marmosets with IBD have decreased alpha diversity and a shift in the ratio of Bacteroides:Prevotella copri compared to healthy marmosets. The study also demonstrates that source-specific microbiomes can be retained despite standardized diets and husbandry practices in marmosets.
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2022)
Review
Behavioral Sciences
Isabella Robles, Margarita Alethea Eidsness, Katherine E. Travis, Heidi M. Feldman, Sarah E. Dubner
Summary: This study aimed to investigate the effects of postnatal glucocorticoid treatment on structural brain development in preterm infants. The findings showed that dexamethasone was consistently associated with decreased total and regional brain volumes, while hydrocortisone was often but not always associated with absence of brain volume differences. More research is needed on the impact of different glucocorticoids on brain structure.
NEUROSCIENCE AND BIOBEHAVIORAL REVIEWS
(2023)
Article
Peripheral Vascular Disease
Andrew D. Kane, Emilio A. Herrera, Youguo Niu, Emily J. Camm, Beth J. Allison, Deodata Tijsseling, Ciara Lusby, Jan B. Derks, Kirsty L. Brain, Inge M. Bronckers, Christine M. Cross, Lindsey Berends, Dino A. Giussani
Summary: Prematurity is associated with poor respiratory function, and glucocorticoids are used as rescue therapy. However, glucocorticoid treatment in infants can increase the risk of long-term cardiovascular complications. The depletion of nitric oxide (NO) bioavailability is suggested as a molecular link between glucocorticoid excess and cardiovascular dysfunction. Combined glucocorticoid and statin therapy may protect the developing cardiovascular system by increasing NO bioavailability.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Yunjiang Yu, Xiao-Di Qin, Michael S. Bloom, Chu Chu, Xin Dai, Qin-Qin Li, Zan-Xiong Chen, Min-Li Kong, Yan-Qi Xie, Wen-Jie Meng, Bo-Yi Yang, Li-Wen Hu, Xiao-Wen Zeng, Xiao-Miao Zhao, Yang Zhou, Guang-Hui Dong
Summary: The study found that high maternal PFAS exposure was associated with an increased risk of preterm birth, while individual paternal PFAS exposure showed a contradictory relationship. Family-level PFAS mixture concentration was positively associated with preterm birth risk.
ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH
(2022)
Article
Neurosciences
Benita Schmitz-Koep, Aurore Menegaux, Juliana Zimmermann, Melissa Thalhammer, Antonia Neubauer, Jil Wendt, David Schinz, Marcel Daamen, Henning Boecker, Claus Zimmer, Josef Priller, Dieter Wolke, Peter Bartmann, Christian Sorg, Dennis M. Hedderich
Summary: This study investigates cortical organization in preterm-born adults using percent contrast of gray-to-white matter signal intensities. The results suggest widespread altered cortical microstructure, mainly in middle cortical layers, in preterm-born adults, with differential effects on associative and primary cortices.
CNS NEUROSCIENCE & THERAPEUTICS
(2023)
Review
Psychology, Multidisciplinary
Shahirose Sadrudin Premji, Gianella Santos Pana, Alexander Cuncannon, Paul E. Ronksley, Aliyah Dosani, K. Alix Hayden, Sharifa Lalani, Joseph Wangira Musana, Kiran Shaikh, Ilona S. Yim
Summary: This systematic review examines the association between prenatal allostatic load and preterm birth and finds mixed evidence. The study suggests that factors such as measurement methods and timing of allostatic load, study design, and socio-demographic characteristics may influence this association.
FRONTIERS IN PSYCHOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Neurosciences
Joana Sa de Almeida, Djalel-Eddine Meskaldji, Serafeim Loukas, Lara Lordier, Laura Gui, Francois Lazeyras, Petra S. Huppi
Summary: Prematurity disrupts brain development and network organization, leading to increased segregation and decreased integration capacity in preterm infants. Compared to full-term infants, preterm infants demonstrate delayed transition in brain network architecture and decreased connectivity strength in specific regions, potentially underlying behavioral and social cognition difficulties.
Article
Behavioral Sciences
Hayley Ash, Arnold Chang, Richard J. Ortiz, Praveen Kulkarni, Beth Rauch, Ricki Colman, Craig F. Ferris, Toni E. Ziegler
Summary: This study investigates the neural basis of learning differences in pre-adolescent marmosets and finds associations between sub-regional PFC volumes and connectivity patterns and cognitive performance.
BEHAVIOURAL BRAIN RESEARCH
(2022)
Review
Behavioral Sciences
Claire E. Kelly, Michelle Shaul, Deanne K. Thompson, Rheanna M. Mainzer, Joseph Y. M. Yang, Thijs Dhollander, Jeanie L. Y. Cheong, Terrie E. Inder, Lex W. Doyle, Peter J. Anderson
Summary: Early life experiences, such as very preterm birth, can have long-term effects on brain and cognitive development. This study synthesized previous research on brain structure in adults born very preterm (VP) and found volumetric, morphologic, and microstructural alterations in specific regions of the brain compared to controls. These findings suggest a persisting neurological impact of VP birth, which may provide insights into the development of cognition in high-risk populations.
NEUROSCIENCE AND BIOBEHAVIORAL REVIEWS
(2023)
Article
Food Science & Technology
Le Zhou, Xinghui Liu, Xiaoli Yan, Yingwei Liu, Yao Xie, Chuntang Sun
Summary: This study used structural MRI to analyze the changes in gray matter volume in preterm-born and term-born children, and showed that the intelligence scores of preterm-born children without magnesium sulfate treatment were significantly lower than those of term-born children, while the scores of preterm-born children with magnesium sulfate treatment were almost identical to those of term-born children.
FOOD SCIENCE & NUTRITION
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Juan Liu, Fengyu Ruan, Shuting Cao, Yuanyuan Li, Shunqing Xu, Wei Xia
Summary: Exposure to multi-metal mixture is associated with a higher risk of preterm birth, with Vanadium identified as the most important risk factor among co-exposed metals for PTB.
Article
Obstetrics & Gynecology
Yu Zhang, Vicente Mustieles, Paige L. Williams, Jennifer Yland, Irene Souter, Joseph M. Braun, Antonia M. Calafat, Russ Hauser, Carmen Messerlian
Summary: The study found associations between prenatal urinary bisphenol A (BPA) and paraben concentrations with preterm birth, particularly during mid-to-late pregnancy and among female infants. The risk of preterm birth may be compound, sex, and window specific.
FERTILITY AND STERILITY
(2021)
Article
Neuroimaging
Antonia Neubauer, Aurore Menegaux, Jil Wendt, Hongwei Bran Li, Benita Schmitz-Koep, Tobias Ruzok, Melissa Thalhammer, David Schinz, Peter Bartmann, Dieter Wolke, Josef Priller, Claus Zimmer, Daniel Rueckert, Dennis M. Hedderich, Christian Sorg
Summary: The claustrum structure in preterm-born neonates is found to be altered compared to term-born ones, showing increased volume, increased extracellular matrix, and impaired axonal integrity. These alterations in claustrum development may be relevant for later cognitive performance. The findings indicate the potential impact of prematurity on claustrum microstructure.
NEUROIMAGE-CLINICAL
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Ram C. Siwakoti, Amber Cathey, Kelly K. Ferguson, Wei Hao, David E. Cantonwine, Bhramar Mukherjee, Thomas F. McElrath, John D. Meeker
Summary: This study found that prenatal exposure to PFAS may have an impact on pregnancy outcomes, including preterm birth and large-for-gestational age (LGA). However, the effects of PFAS on these outcomes depend on the fetal sex. Specifically, certain PFAS were associated with placental preterm birth, with stronger associations observed in male fetuses. For LGA, different PFAS had different effects in females and males.
ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH
(2023)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Hong Pan, Barbara Oliveira, Gesine Saher, Ekrem Dere, Daniel Tapken, Marina Mitjans, Jan Seidel, Janina Wesolowski, Debia Wakhloo, Christina Klein-Schmidt, Anja Ronnenberg, Kerstin Schwabe, Ralf Trippe, Kerstin Maetz-Rensing, Stefan Berghoff, Yazeed Al-Krinawe, Henrik Martens, Martin Begemann, Winfried Stoecker, Franz-Josef Kaup, Reinhard Mischke, Susann Boretius, Klaus-Armin Nave, Joachim K. Krauss, Michael Hollmann, Fred Luhder, Hannelore Ehrenreich
MOLECULAR PSYCHIATRY
(2019)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Tina K. Kaiser, Mikhail Khorenko, Amir Moussavi, Michael Engelke, Susann Boretius, Claus Feldmann, Holger M. Reichardt
JOURNAL OF CONTROLLED RELEASE
(2020)
Editorial Material
Neurosciences
Article
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
Oula Penate Medina, Robert J. Tower, Tuula Penate Medina, Fatma Ashkenani, Lia Appold, Marcus Boetcher, Lukas Huber, Olga Will, Qi Ling, Charlotte Hauser, Arndt Rohwedder, Carola Heneweer, Eva Peschke, Jan-Bernd Hoevener, Kerstin Luedtke-Buzug, Susann Boretius, Rolf Mentlein, Kalevi Kairemo, Claus C. Glueer, Susanne Sebens, Holger Kalthoff
Summary: This study tested the usability of multimodal nanoparticles for pancreatic tumor imaging and drug delivery. The results showed that the nanoparticles could be detected using various imaging techniques such as MRI, optical imaging, and photoacoustic imaging. In vivo experiments demonstrated that the nanoparticles had high accumulation in tumor areas, indicating excellent targeting ability.
CURRENT PHARMACEUTICAL DESIGN
(2022)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Amir Moussavi, Matthias Mietsch, Charis Drummer, Ruediger Behr, Judith Mylius, Susann Boretius
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2020)
Article
Neurosciences
Melanie Lohrberg, Anne Winkler, Jonas Franz, Franziska van der Meer, Torben Ruhwedel, Nikoloz Sirmpilatze, Rakshit Dadarwal, Ronja Handwerker, Daniel Esser, Kerstin Wiegand, Christian Hagel, Andreas Gocht, Fatima Barbara Koenig, Susann Boretius, Wiebke Moebius, Christine Stadelmann, Alonso Barrantes-Freer
ACTA NEUROPATHOLOGICA COMMUNICATIONS
(2020)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Amir Moussavi, Sophie Missbach, Claudia Serrano Ferrel, Hasti Ghasemipour, Kristin Koetz, Charis Drummer, Rudiger Behr, Wolfram-Hubertus Zimmermann, Susann Boretius
Summary: Real-Time (RT) cardiac MRI is a feasible alternative to standard cine MRI for assessing cardiac function in rhesus macaques, with consistent underestimations of functional parameters but high repeatability. Additionally, RT-MRI allows for analysis of cardio-respiratory coupling and reduces experimental effort, measurement time, risk, and burden for animals compared to cine MRI.
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2021)
Article
Neurosciences
Justus B. H. Wilke, Martin Hindermann, Amir Moussavi, Umer Javed Butt, Rakshit Dadarwal, Stefan A. Berghoff, Aref Kalantari Sarcheshmeh, Anja Ronnenberg, Svenja Zihsler, Sahab Arinrad, Rudiger Hardeland, Jan Seidel, Fred Luhder, Klaus-Armin Nave, Susann Boretius, Hannelore Ehrenreich
Summary: Research has shown that encephalitis may be caused by viral infections, leading to neuronal death and subsequent cognitive decline and dementia. In a mouse model, researchers identified various symptoms and brain abnormalities associated with the disease.
ACTA NEUROPATHOLOGICA COMMUNICATIONS
(2021)
Article
Surgery
Lauren C. C. Cassidy, Emily J. J. Bethell, Ralf R. R. Brockhausen, Susann Boretius, Stefan Treue, Dana Pfefferle
Summary: Understanding the impact of routine research and laboratory procedures on animals is vital for their well-being and the success of the research. Cognitive measures of welfare, such as attention bias, can provide insights into the psychological state of animals, but need validation. This study developed a dot-probe task for long-tailed macaques to detect changes in attention bias following anesthesia, and found that attention bias changed to avoidance of threatening content immediately after anesthesia, but returned to threat vigilance by the third day postanesthesia.
EUROPEAN SURGICAL RESEARCH
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Matthias Kettwig, Katharina Ternka, Kristin Wendland, Dennis Manfred Krueger, Silvia Zampar, Charlotte Schob, Jonas Franz, Abhishek Aich, Anne Winkler, M. Sadman Sakib, Lalit Kaurani, Robert Epple, Hauke B. Werner, Samy Hakroush, Julia Kitz, Marco Prinz, Eva Bartok, Gunther Hartmann, Simone Schroeder, Peter Rehling, Marco Henneke, Susann Boretius, A. Alia, Oliver Wirths, Andre Fischer, Christine Stadelmann, Stefan Nessler, Jutta Gaertner
Summary: Infantile-onset RNaseT2 deficient leukoencephalopathy is characterized by cystic brain lesions, white matter alterations, cerebral atrophy, and psychomotor impairment. Studies using Rnaset2(-/-) mice reveal upregulation of interferon-stimulated genes, IFNAR1-dependent neuroinflammation, and insights into hippocampal-accentuated brain atrophy and cognitive impairment. This study provides a potential animal model for investigating CNS damage associated with RNaseT2 deficiency and exploring therapeutic interventions for interferon-driven brain pathology.
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
(2021)
Article
Biology
Tobias J. Buscham, Maria A. Eichel-Vogel, Anna M. Steyer, Olaf Jahn, Nicola Strenzke, Rakshit Dardawal, Tor R. Memhave, Sophie B. Siems, Christina Muller, Martin Meschkat, Ting Sun, Torben Ruhwedel, Wiebke Mobius, Eva-Maria Kramer-Albers, Susann Boretius, Klaus-Armin Nave, Hauke B. Werner, Kelly Monk
Summary: CMTM5 plays a role in maintaining axonal integrity rather than myelin biogenesis, as its deficiency leads to early-onset progressive axonopathy without affecting the development or ultrastructure of myelin.
Article
Biology
Nikoloz Sirmpilatze, Judith Mylius, Michael Ortiz-Rios, Juergen Baudewig, Jaakko Paasonen, Daniel Golkowski, Andreas Ranft, Ruediger Ilg, Olli Grohn, Susann Boretius
Summary: In this study, researchers used fMRI to map the brain areas involved in anesthesia-induced burst-suppression across different mammalian species. They found distinct burst-suppression patterns in humans, long-tailed macaques, common marmosets, and rats, with rats showing involvement of the entire neocortex and primates excluding most sensory areas. The identified species-specific fMRI signatures and whole-brain maps will assist future studies on the cellular and molecular mechanisms of burst-suppression in unconscious states.
Article
Neurosciences
Rakshit Dadarwal, Michael Ortiz-Rios, Susann Boretius
Summary: The fusion method TQ-SILiCON combines QSM and T1-weighted images to enhance the contrast of cortex and subcortical structures, providing an excellent delineation of white matter. This method has been validated in both macaque monkeys and humans, demonstrating improved segmentation of cortical and subcortical structures.
Article
Veterinary Sciences
Lena Bunzendahl, Amir Moussavi, Martina Bleyer, Jana Dehnert, Susann Boretius, Stephan Neumann
Summary: Osteoarthritis in dogs commonly affects the stifle joint and detecting it early is crucial for effective treatment. Conventional MRI is the standard imaging technique, but quantitative MRI offers a more sensitive method for diagnosing early pathological changes. Menisci play a significant role in joint health, and specialized MRI sequences like T2 relaxation time can identify changes in water content and collagen structures.
VETERINARY SCIENCES
(2023)
Article
Neurosciences
Georg Hafner, Julien Guy, Mirko Witte, Pavel Truschow, Alina Rueppel, Nikoloz Sirmpilatze, Rakshit Dadarwal, Susann Boretius, Jochen F. Staiger
Summary: By investigating the brain-wide input connectivity in reeler mice, it was found that in the absence of cortical layers, cortical neurons establish a different network that largely preserves cognitive functions. The connection with subcortical structures is maintained, while the cortical circuitry is altered.