What Is Known about this Subject?Diffusion-weighted MRI has demonstrated changes in the corpus callosum of term neonates with perinatal asphyxia. The severity of cerebral changes demonstrated using diffusion-weighted MRI is difficult to assess without measuring values of the Apparent Diffusion Coefficient (ADC).What Is New?ADC values of the anterior part of the corpus callosum are slightly higher than of the posterior part in full term infants with perinatal asphyxia. Low ADC values of the corpus callosum were associated with an adverse outcome in infants with perinatal asphyxia. In infants treated with hypothermia lower ADC values than with normothermia were associated with a poor outcome, supporting neuroprotective effects of hypothermiaBackgroundUsing MRI, changes can be detected in the corpus callosum (CC) following perinatal asphyxia which are associated with later neurodevelopmental outcome.AimTo study the association between the apparent diffusion coefficient of water (ADC) in the CC on MRI in neonates with perinatal asphyxia and neurodevelopmental outcome at 18 months of age.Subjects, MethodsOf 121 infants 32 (26%) died and 13 (11%) survived with an adverse neurological outcome. Sixty-five (54%) received therapeutic hypothermia. MRI was performed within 7 days after birth using a 1.5 T or 3.0 T system, and ADC values were measured in the anterior and posterior CC. The association between ADC and composite outcome (death or abnormal neurodevelopment) was analyzed for both normothermia and hypothermia cases using receiver operating characteristics.ResultsADC values of the posterior CC were lower than of the anterior part (mean difference 0.050 x 10-3 mm2/s, p<0.001). Field strength did not affect ADC values. ADC values of the posterior part of the CC were significantly lower in infants with basal ganglia/thalamus or near total brain injury (p<0.001). Lower ADC values were associated with an adverse outcome, but cut-off levels were lower after hypothermia (1.024 x 10-3 mm2/s vs 0.969 x 10-3 mm2/s)ConclusionLow ADC values of the posterior part of the corpus callosum are associated with an adverse outcome in term or near term neonates with perinatal asphyxia. Therapeutic hypothermia slightly modifies this association, showing that lower values were needed for an adverse outcome.
Post-secondary education is falling behind in delivering the talent and skills development needed to support the growth of biology-based economies and the demands of professional and research-based graduate degree programs. Here, we describe an applied research program, the BioExperience Research and Entrepreneurship Challenge, launched in May 2020 to mitigate the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on undergraduate experiential learning programs at the University of Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. The program provided undergraduates with meaningful talent and skills development opportunities by implementing a student-centred, project-based learning approach inspired by the International Genetically Engineered Machine (iGEM) competition. We present evidence from participant exit surveys suggesting that the program delivers a high-quality learning environment and improves learning outcomes compared to traditional work-integrated learning. Notably, 84% of respondents reported an excellent or exceptional learning experience and significant or profound improvements in skills, such as leadership (72% of respondents), problem-solving (42% of respondents) and research preparedness (52%) that are difficult to develop in conventional academic programs. Remarkably, 60% of respondents report that the job-readiness training provided by the program is better or much better than traditional work-integrated learning. Our study demonstrates that a cost-effective and scalable alternative to the iGEM competition can improve talent and skills development in BIOSTEM fields.
Background Hypoxic-ischaemic encephalopathy leads to neurologic impairment or even death. Secretoneurin (SN), a neuropeptide with angiogenic and anti-apoptotic properties, provided strong neuroprotection in an adult animal model of cerebral ischaemia. Aim To evaluate the effect of SN in established in vivo and in vitro models of neonatal hypoxic-ischaemic brain injury. Methods Seven day old mice underwent unilateral common carotid artery ligation, followed by exposure to hypoxia (8% oxygen). Thereafter, mouse pups were randomly injected intraperitoneally with SN (0.25 mg/g body weight) or vehicle. As endpoint we determined the histological injury score and the number of caspase-3 positive cells 24 h after the insult. Primary cultured hippocampal neurons were treated with oxygen glucose deprivation (OGD) on day 10. Neurons were assigned to the following groups: i) control ii) OGD iii) OGD+SN (1, 10 or 50 mg/l). As primary outcome parameter, cell death was evaluated via real time live confocal imaging using calcein-AM and propidium iodide (PI). Results SN displayed a non-significant trend to lower mean values of histological injury score compared to control (n = 11-12, p > 0.05) and significantly reduced the number of cells stained positively for activated caspase-3 (n = 6, p < 0.05). In vitro SN application on hippocampal neurons (OGD+SN) significantly reduced the number of dead cells assessed by the PI/calcein ratio compared with the untreated OGD group (n = 8, p < 0.05). Conclusion We provide first evidence that SN is neuroprotective in established in vitro and in vivo models of neonatal hypoxicischaemic brain injury and might therefore be considered a promising therapeutic option. Background Previous studies in 10-year-old children have shown an association between size of the corpus callosum and neurodevelopmental outcome. Aim In the present study we examined whether diffusion changes in the corpus callosum shortly after birth are associated with outcome in full-term infants with perinatal asphyxia. Subjects/methods From 2002 to 2013, 127 full-term infants with perinatal asphyxia were examined using diffusion weighted MRI within 7 days after birth (median 4 days; IQR 2 days). To calculate ADC values, regions of interest were manually selected in the anterior and posterior part of the corpus callosum, and ADC values were related to outcome. Adverse outcome was defined as death (n = 33), cerebral palsy or delayed development at 18 moths (Griffiths DQ <85): n = 12. Sixtynine of the infants (54.3%) received therapeutic hypothermia. Background and aims We aimed to identify the neurodevelopmental and behaviour outcome of preterms (GA <30 wks) at 8 years by age appropriate psychometric evaluations to see whether tests used at younger ages could predict worst outcomes at older ages in relation to some neonatal factors. Method Along with neurologic examinations, 33 infants were prospectively evaluated at 3, 6, 12,18, 24 months of corrected age with Bayley Scales of Infant Development -II (BSID-II), at 3, 5 years with ...
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