Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Anna Orzel, Katarzyna Unrug-Bielawska, Dagmara Filipecka-Tyczka, Krzysztof Berbeka, Natalia Zeber-Lubecka, Malgorzata Zielinska, Anna Kajdy
Summary: This review summarizes the current knowledge on the effects of perinatal hypoxia on brain development, including the causes, symptoms, and methods of predicting brain damage. It also discusses the unique aspects of brain development in growth-restricted fetuses and how it is studied in animal models. The review aims to identify the least understood molecular pathways of abnormal brain development and potential treatment interventions.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2023)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Katie L. Davies, Danielle J. Smith, Tatiana El-Bacha, Max E. Stewart, Akshay Easwaran, Peter F. P. Wooding, Alison J. Forhead, Andrew J. Murray, Abigail L. Fowden, Emily J. Camm
Summary: Thyroid hormones play a crucial role in the prepartum development of cerebral mitochondria, affecting mitochondrial function and neurodevelopment, as demonstrated by alterations in respiration, mitochondrial density, and gene expression in hypothyroid fetal sheep.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Kazuki Hatayama, Boram Kim, Xiaodi Chen, Yow-Pin Lim, Joanne O. Davidson, Laura Bennet, Alistair J. Gunn, Barbara S. Stonestreet
Summary: The study demonstrated that ischemia-reperfusion alters the subcellular localization of IAIPs in brain cells, particularly in neurons and microglia. However, no significant changes were observed in oligodendrocytes and proliferating cells.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2021)
Article
Cardiac & Cardiovascular Systems
Dino A. Giussani
Summary: The article explores the impact of chronic fetal hypoxia during pregnancy on the development of cardiovascular disease in offspring and potential therapeutic approaches, with a focus on molecular-level research and potential targets for clinical intervention.
Review
Gastroenterology & Hepatology
Min Tian, Qihui Li, Tenghui Zheng, Siwang Yang, Fang Chen, Wutai Guan, Shihai Zhang
Summary: The maternal microbiome plays a crucial role in the healthy growth and development of offspring and has long-lasting effects. Recent studies have shown that it starts regulating fetal health and development during pregnancy and continues to influence early microbial colonization through birth and breastfeeding. There is compelling evidence that it is involved in immune and brain development and affects the risk of related diseases. Modulating offspring development through maternal diet and probiotic intervention during pregnancy and breastfeeding could be a promising future therapy.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Katie L. Davies, Danielle J. Smith, Tatiana El-Bacha, Peter F. P. Wooding, Alison J. Forhead, Andrew J. Murray, Abigail L. Fowden, Emily J. Camm
Summary: Glucocorticoids play a role in regulating mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation and preparing the fetus for postnatal energy demands. This study showed that physiological increases in cortisol concentration in fetal sheep can affect cerebral mitochondrial capacity and morphology, with implications for infants born preterm or exposed to excess glucocorticoids.
Review
Anesthesiology
Tom Bleeser, Lennart Van Der Veeken, Steffen Fieuws, Sarah Devroe, Marc Van de Velde, Jan Deprest, Steffen Rex
Summary: This systematic review evaluated the effects of exposure to general anaesthetics during pregnancy on fetal brain development. Results indicate that anaesthesia impairs learning and memory, and causes neuronal injury. However, translation of these findings to clinical practice is limited by various factors.
BRITISH JOURNAL OF ANAESTHESIA
(2021)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Weidong Cai, Stacie L. Warren, Katherine Duberg, Bruce Pennington, Stephen P. Hinshaw, Vinod Menon
Summary: The study found that children with ADHD have deficits in decision-making, attention, and response variability, and identified latent brain state features related to these symptoms through analysis of brain dynamics.
MOLECULAR PSYCHIATRY
(2021)
Review
Neurosciences
L. E. Duran-Carabali, F. K. Odorcyk, E. F. Sanches, M. M. de Mattos, F. Anschau, C. A. Netto
Summary: Neonatal hypoxia-ischemia (HI) is a major cause of mortality and morbidity in newborns, and there is currently no definitive treatment for this condition. This study conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis of articles on environmental enrichment (EE) in HI rodent models. The results showed that EE had a beneficial impact on neurodevelopmental reflexes, motor and cognitive function, as well as brain damage. Factors such as study quality, age at injury, and duration of EE exposure influenced the positive effects of EE. Overall, EE showed promise as a therapeutic strategy for HI.
MOLECULAR NEUROBIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Anatomy & Morphology
Olivia Masse, Emily Kraft, Esha Ahmad, Caitlin K. Rollins, Clemente Velasco-Annis, Edward Yang, Simon Keith Warfield, Alireza A. Shamshirsaz, Ali Gholipour, Henry A. Feldman, Judy Estroff, Patricia Ellen Grant, Lana Vasung
Summary: Chiari II is a common birth defect associated with open spinal abnormalities, characterized by caudal migration of the posterior fossa contents through the foramen magnum. The pathophysiology and neurobiological substrate of Chiari II remain unexplored. In this study, we used T2-weighted MRIs of 31 fetuses to identify altered brain regions in Chiari II. Our results indicated developmental changes in the diencephalon and proliferative zones in fetuses with Chiari II compared to controls. These findings highlight the importance of considering regional brain development in evaluating prenatal brain development in fetuses with Chiari II.
FRONTIERS IN NEUROANATOMY
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Jingwei Li, Danilo Bzdok, Jianzhong Chen, Angela Tam, Leon Qi Rong Ooi, Avram J. Holmes, Tian Ge, Kaustubh R. Patil, Mbemba Jabbi, Simon B. Eickhoff, B. T. Thomas Yeo, Sarah Genon
Summary: Algorithmic biases favoring majority populations pose a significant challenge to the use of machine learning for precision medicine. In this study, the researchers assessed such bias in prediction models of behavioral phenotypes using brain functional magnetic resonance imaging. The results showed a bias towards White Americans in the predictive models, resulting in higher prediction errors for African Americans. However, training the models on African Americans improved prediction accuracy but still fell below that for White Americans. Overall, this study highlights the need for caution and further research when applying current brain-behavior prediction models in minority populations.
Article
Radiology, Nuclear Medicine & Medical Imaging
Feifei Qu, Taotao Sun, Yongsheng Chen, Brijesh Kumar Yadav, Ling Jiang, Zhaoxia Qian, E. Mark Haacke
Summary: The study utilized STAGE imaging to estimate tissue properties in the fetal brain, finding that the ratios of T-1app and PDapp in different regions varied, indicating the potential utility of STAGE imaging for assessing fetal brain properties.
EUROPEAN RADIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Ana-Mishel Spiroski, Youguo Niu, Lisa M. Nicholas, Shani Austin-Williams, Emily J. Camm, Megan R. Sutherland, Thomas J. Ashmore, Katie. L. Skeffington, Angela Logan, Susan E. Ozanne, Michael P. Murphy, Dino A. Giussani
Summary: The study demonstrates that chronic fetal hypoxia during pregnancy leads to mitochondrial-derived oxidative stress, increasing cardiovascular risk in adult offspring. Treatment with the mitochondria-targeted antioxidant MitoQ can help prevent cardiovascular dysfunction in adult offspring exposed to gestational hypoxia.
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Qiguo Tang, Runjie Yu, Yubei Wang, Fuyin Xie, Hao Zhang, Changxin Wu, Meiying Fang
Summary: This study investigated the hypoxia adaptation patterns of embryonic brain in Tibetan chickens (TBCs) and Dwarf Laying Chickens (DLCs) at different developmental stages. The results revealed differentially expressed genes (DEGs) related to metabolic pathways, vessel development, and immune response under hypoxia. The study provides insights into the molecular regulation mechanism of hypoxia adaptation in TBCs and its potential application for other animals living on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau.
Article
Obstetrics & Gynecology
Lennart Van der Veeken, Doaa Emam, Tom Bleeser, Ignacio Valenzuela, Johannes Van der Merwe, Steffen Rex, Jan Deprest
Summary: This study assessed the effect of fetal surgery on rabbit fetal brain development under maternal general anesthesia. The results showed that fetal surgery did not have a significant impact on brain development when compared to no-surgery controls.
AMERICAN JOURNAL OF OBSTETRICS & GYNECOLOGY MFM
(2022)
Review
Neurosciences
Marta C. Antonelli, Martin G. Frasch, Mercedes Rumi, Ritika Sharma, Peter Zimmermann, Maria S. Molinet, Silvia M. Lobmaier
Summary: Exposure to stress during gestation and early childhood may increase the risk of functional developmental impairments. Non-invasively obtainable physiological signals and epigenetic biomarkers can predict neurodevelopmental outcomes and identify children who would benefit from early intervention programs. Early family-centered intervention programs can improve parental attachment and contribute to healthy socio-emotional adulthood. Biomarker-guided early intervention strategies are crucial in preventing future neuropsychiatric problems and reducing their impact.
CURRENT NEUROPHARMACOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Pritam Sarkar, Silvia Lobmaier, Bibiana Fabre, Diego Gonzalez, Alexander Mueller, Martin G. Frasch, Marta C. Antonelli, Ali Etemad
Summary: Deep learning models accurately detect chronic stress exposure, emotional stress scores, and FSI values from maternal ECG data, enabling simple and cost-effective early stress detection during pregnancy using regular ECG biosensors.
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2021)
Article
Computer Science, Interdisciplinary Applications
M. G. Frasch
Summary: Sampling rate has an impact on the quality of HRV estimates. This article systematically examines the sensitivity of different HRV metrics to sampling rate errors and proposes a methodology for comprehensive validation of the effect of sampling rate on HRV.
JOURNAL OF BIOMEDICAL INFORMATICS
(2022)
Editorial Material
Immunology
Martin G. Frasch
FRONTIERS IN IMMUNOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Peter Zimmermann, Marta C. Antonelli, Ritika Sharma, Alexander Mueller, Camilla Zelgert, Bibiana Fabre, Natasha Wenzel, Hau-Tieng Wu, Martin G. Frasch, Silvia M. Lobmaier
Summary: This study reveals the adverse effects of maternal prenatal stress on fetal iron homeostasis and neurodevelopment. Specifically, the study found lower transferrin saturation and a 15% decrease in fetal ferritin in stressed male neonates. Additionally, the study showed higher fetal stress index in the stressed group compared to the control group, suggesting the potential for early intervention strategies.
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2022)
Article
Oncology
Ritika Sharma, Martin G. Frasch, Camila Zelgert, Peter Zimmermann, Bibiana Fabre, Rory Wilson, Melanie Waldenberger, James W. MacDonald, Theo K. Bammler, Silvia M. Lobmaier, Marta C. Antonelli
Summary: Maternal stress before, during and after pregnancy has significant effects on the neurocognitive development of infants. This study aimed to find noninvasive epigenetic biomarkers of prenatal stress (PS) in newborns' saliva. Through DNA methylation analysis, significant associations were found between specific pregnancy worries and cortisol levels, and certain genes involved in secretion, transportation, signaling pathways, and neuronal signaling were identified. Early assessment of these noninvasive biomarkers can help detect at-risk babies and allocate resources for early intervention programs effectively.
CLINICAL EPIGENETICS
(2022)
Editorial Material
Pediatrics
Antoniya Georgieva, Patrice Abry, Ines Nunes, Martin G. Frasch
FRONTIERS IN PEDIATRICS
(2022)
Letter
Obstetrics & Gynecology
Martin G. Frasch
BJOG-AN INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF OBSTETRICS AND GYNAECOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Biology
Martin G. Frasch, Byung-Jun Yoon, Dario Lucas Helbing, Gal Snir, Marta C. Antonelli, Reinhard Bauer
Summary: According to CDC data, ASD was diagnosed in one of every 36 children in the US in 2020. A model explaining the etiology of ASD based on common gene network features involving glial and neuronal cells during fetal development is proposed, with implications for understanding the causes of ASD, early detection, and new treatments. Fetal neuroinflammation and prenatal stress may contribute to lifelong neurological disabilities. Through genomic data analysis and statistical network analysis, the study supports the hypothesis of glial-neuronal interplay in ASD and discusses its implications for etiology, early detection, and therapeutic approaches. The proposed model is of interest for ASD research, treatment development, prevention, and policy-making.
Review
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Martin Gerbert Frasch
Summary: A code, defined as a system of signals or symbols, has been found in heart rate variability (HRV) to reflect information flow and physiological responses. HRV shows features of time structure, phase space structure, specificity to organs and pathophysiological syndromes, and species independence universality. This code forms a spatiotemporal structure that is not fully understood. Physiological examples such as fetal systemic inflammatory response, organ-specific inflammatory responses, chronic hypoxia, allostatic load, and vagotomy provide evidence of the existence and utility of the HRV code.
BIOENGINEERING-BASEL
(2023)
Article
Obstetrics & Gynecology
Colin Wakefield, Lena Yao, Steve Self, Martin G. Frasch
Summary: This study evaluated the perception of women of child-bearing age towards remote fetal ECG monitoring technologies. The results of an online survey showed a high willingness among pregnant women to use wearable ECG devices for increased monitoring of maternal and fetal health.
ARCHIVES OF GYNECOLOGY AND OBSTETRICS
(2023)
Article
Medicine, General & Internal
Colin Wakefield, Mingju Cao, Patrick Burns, Gilles Fecteau, Andre Desrochers, Martin G. Frasch
Summary: The experience level of the team was found to be the single variable determining the success of experiment outcomes using the CINAFS model.
CUREUS JOURNAL OF MEDICAL SCIENCE
(2022)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Martin G. Frasch
Summary: NeuroKit2 is a Python Toolbox for Neurophysiological Signal Processing that simplifies and automates the computation of various mathematical estimates of heart rate variability (HRV) or similar time series. It can handle different types of input data and provides 124 HRV measures, including the estimation of temporal fluctuations of the HRV estimates themselves. The methodology is demonstrated in a sleep dataset, showcasing its potential applications in studying the dynamic relationships between sleep state architecture and multi-dimensional HRV metrics.
Meeting Abstract
Obstetrics & Gynecology
Moira Barbieri, Tamara Stampalija, Martin Gerbert Frasch, Roberto Sassi, Massimo Walter Rivolta
REPRODUCTIVE SCIENCES
(2022)
Article
Psychology, Developmental
Martin G. Frasch, Chao Shen, Hau-Tieng Wu, Alexander Mueller, Emily Neuhaus, Raphael A. Bernier, Dana Kamara, Theodore P. Beauchaine
Summary: The study examines altered heart rate variability (HRV) in children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) compared to typically developing children and those with other psychiatric conditions. Using machine learning, specific time, frequency, and geometric signal-analytical domains for ASD were identified. Despite a small cohort and lack of external validation, results suggest the need for larger prospective studies to validate findings.
JOURNAL OF AUTISM AND DEVELOPMENTAL DISORDERS
(2021)
Article
Neurosciences
Xiaomei Lin, Tianyuyi Feng, Erheng Cui, Yunfei Li, Zhang Qin, Xiaohu Zhao
Summary: This study successfully established a rat model based on the genetic-environmental interaction, which exhibited phenotype characteristics similar to human AD in terms of cognitive function, brain microstructure, and immunohistochemistry. The genetic factor (APP mutation) and the environmental factor (acrolein exposure) accounted for 39.74% and 33.3% of the AD-like phenotypes in the model, respectively.
Article
Neurosciences
Gustavo Guimara Guerrero, Giovanna Bignoto Minhoto, Camilla dos Santos Tiburcio-Machado, Itza Amarisis Ribeiro Pinto, Claudio Antonio Federico, Marcia Carneiro Valera
Summary: The present study evaluated the influence of head and neck radiotherapy on the behavior and body weight gain in Wistar rats. The results demonstrated that different doses of radiation induced depressive behavior in the animals, and that the weight gain tended to be lower in the irradiated groups.
Article
Neurosciences
Ziwei Gao, Chao Lu, Yaping Zhu, Yuxin Liu, Yuesong Lin, Wenming Gao, Liyuan Tian, Lei Wu
Summary: This study reveals the underlying mechanisms of the rapid antidepressant effects of merazin hydrate (MH), which activates CaMKII to promote neuronal activities and proliferation in the hippocampus.
Article
Neurosciences
Kathleen E. Murray, Whitney A. Ratliff, Vedad Delic, Bruce A. Citron
Summary: Gulf War Illness (GWI) is a chronic disorder that affects approximately 30% of Veterans deployed to the Persian Gulf. This study found that exposure to toxicants during the Gulf War resulted in long-term changes in the morphology of dentate granule cells and that treatment with Nrf2 activator could improve neuronal health in the hippocampus.
Article
Neurosciences
Jing Li, Yan Zou, Xiangchuang Kong, Yangming Leng, Fan Yang, Guofeng Zhou, Bo Liu, Wenliang Fan
Summary: This study examines the functional connectivity changes in individuals with sudden sensorineural hearing loss (SSNHL) at the integrity, network, and edge levels. The findings reveal reduced intranetwork connectivity strength and increased internetwork connectivity in SSNHL patients. These alterations are associated with the duration of SSNHL and Tinnitus Handicap Inventory scores. The study provides crucial insights into the neural mechanisms of SSNHL and the brain's network-level responses to sensory loss.
Review
Neurosciences
Didier Majou, Anne-Lise Dermenghem
Summary: In the early stages of SAD, memory impairment is strongly correlated with cortical levels of soluble amyloid-beta peptide oligomers. A beta disrupts glutamatergic synaptic function and leads to cognitive deficits. This article describes the pathogenic mechanisms underlying cerebral amyloidosis, involving amyloid precursor protein synthesis, A beta residue clearance processes, and the role of specific molecules.
Article
Neurosciences
Jing Li, Yi Shan, Xiaojing Zhao, Guixiang Shan, Peng-Hu Wei, Lin Liu, Changming Wang, Hang Wu, Weiqun Song, Yi Tang, Guo-Guang Zhao, Jie Lu
Summary: This study investigates changes in brain anatomical structures and functional network connectivity after chronic complete thoracic spinal cord injury (cctSCI) and their impact on clinical outcomes. The findings reveal alterations in gray matter volume and functional connectivity in specific brain regions, indicating potential therapeutic targets and methods for tracking treatment outcomes.
Article
Neurosciences
Anllely Fernandez, Katherine Corvalan, Octavia Santis, Maxs Mendez-Ruette, Ariel Caviedes, Matias Pizarro, Maria -Teresa Gomez, Luis Federico Batiz, Peter Landgraf, Thilo Kahne, Alejandro Rojas-Fernandez, Ursula Wyneken
Summary: This study reveals the importance of SUMOylation in modulating the protein cargo of astrocyte-derived small extracellular vesicles (sEVs) and its potential impact on neurons.
Article
Neurosciences
Anika Luettig, Stefanie Perl, Maria Zetsche, Franziska Richter, Denise Franz, Marco Heerdegen, Ruediger Koehling, Angelika Richter
Summary: This study found that changes in c-Fos activity during short-term stimulation of the entopeduncular nucleus (EPN) are associated with improvement in dystonia, and also discovered that the cerebellum may be involved in the antidystonic effects.
Article
Neurosciences
Yanlin Tao, Wei Shen, Houyuan Zhou, Zikang Li, Ting Pi, Hui Wu, Hailian Shi, Fei Huang, Xiaojun Wu
Summary: Depression has a higher incidence in women compared to men, and this study investigated the impact of sex on depressive behaviors and underlying mechanisms using a corticosterone-induced depression model in mice. The results showed sex-specific anxiety and depression behaviors in the model group, as well as differences in protein expression and neurotransmitter levels between male and female mice. These findings enhance our understanding of sex-specific differences in depression and support tailored interventions.
Review
Neurosciences
Dnyandev G. Gadhave, Vrashabh V. Sugandhi, Chandrakant R. Kokare
Summary: This article discusses the characteristics and importance of the tight junctions of endothelial cells in the CNS, which act as a biological barrier known as the blood-brain barrier (BBB). It focuses on overcoming the challenges of delivering therapeutic agents to the brain in neurodegenerative disorders, particularly multiple sclerosis, through the use of biomaterials. The article also highlights the current limitations of animal models for studying multiple sclerosis and suggests a potential future research direction.
Article
Neurosciences
Li-Min Mao, Khyathi Thallapureddy, John Q. Wang
Summary: Propofol can enhance synapsin phosphorylation and modulate synaptic transmission in the mouse brain. The study reveals the potential role of synapsin as a substrate of propofol and its effects on neurotransmitter release machinery.
Article
Neurosciences
Syed Maaz Ahmed Rizvi, Abdul Baseer Buriro, Irfan Ahmed, Abdul Aziz Memon
Summary: This study explores the effects of prolonged mask usage on the human brain by analyzing EEG and physiological parameters. The results show that the mean EEG spectral power in alpha, beta, and gamma sub-bands of individuals wearing masks is smaller than those without masks. The performances on cognitive tasks and oxygen saturation level differ between the two groups, while blood pressure, body temperature, and heart rate are similar. The analysis also reveals that the occipital and frontal lobes exhibit the greatest variability in channel measurements.
Article
Neurosciences
Rui-Fang Ma, Lu-Lu Xue, Jin-Xiang Liu, Li Chen, Liu-Lin Xiong, Ting-Hua Wang, Fei Liu
Summary: This study observed changes in brain infarction and blood vessels in rats during neonatal hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy (NHIE) modeling using Transcranial Doppler Ultrasonography (TCD). Longer duration of hypoxia was associated with more severe nerve damage. TCD can dynamically monitor cerebral infarction after NHIE modeling, which may serve as a useful auxiliary method for evaluating animal experimental models.
Article
Neurosciences
Yuxiang Dai, Chen Yu, Lu Zhou, Longyang Cheng, Hongbin Ni, Weibang Liang
Summary: Overexpression of CXCR4 in glioma is correlated with patient survival, and its inhibition can reduce invasion and migration of glioma cells. Inhibiting Nur77 also decreases cancer progression associated with CXCR4.
