Pain, Parental Involvement, and Oxytocin in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit

Preterm infants (PTI) typically experience many painful and stressful procedures or events during their first weeks of life in a neonatal intensive care unit, and these can profoundly impact subsequent brain development and function. Several protective interventions during this sensitive period stimulate the oxytocin system, reduce pain and stress, and improve brain development. This review provides an overview of the environmental risk factors experienced by PTI during hospitalization, with a focus on the effects of pain, and early maternal separation. We also describe the long-term adverse effects of the simultaneous experiences of pain and maternal separation, and the potential beneficial effects of maternal vocalizations, parental contact, and several related processes, which appear to be mediated by the oxytocin system

Pain, Parental Involvement, and Oxytocin in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit

Preterm infants (PTI) typically experience many painful and stressful procedures or events during their first weeks of life in a neonatal intensive care unit, and these can profoundly impact subsequent brain development and function. Several protective interventions during this sensitive period stimulate the oxytocin system, reduce pain and stress, and improve brain development. This review provides an overview of the environmental risk factors experienced by PTI during hospitalization, with a focus on the effects of pain, and early maternal separation. We also describe the long-term adverse effects of the simultaneous experiences of pain and maternal separation, and the potential beneficial effects of maternal vocalizations, parental contact, and several related processes, which appear to be mediated by the oxytocin system

Prediction Of Beef Fatty Acid Composition Using Near Infrared Spectroscopy: Effects Of Tissue And Sample Preparations

International audienceThe aims of the study were to determine the best site of bovine carcass for predicting fatty acid (FA) composition using a NIRS (near infrared spectroscopy) portable equipment and to study the effect of different methods of sample preparation. 78 animals were sampled from different types and rearing systems. Seven tissues (Longissimus thoracis, Infraspinatus, Diaphragma, Rectus abdominis, shoulder subcutaneous adipose tissue (SAT), intercostal SAT and intermuscular fat at the 5th rib) were measured after sampling and grinding in liquid nitrogen. The effect of samples preparation were measured on carcass (C0), muscle without grinding (B0), ground with a meat chopper (B1), ground with a knife mill (B2) on RA muscle. FA composition was assessed using gas chromatograph and the spectra were measured at wavelengths between 350 and 2500 nm. For adipose tissue, FA were not correctly predicted from NIRS. However, predictions were more satisfactory for the major FA (C16:0, C18:0, C18:1d9c), total saturated and monounsaturated FA of muscles. The results show a better prediction of FA composition concomitant with an increased gradient of sample homogenization. For other FA and especially polyunsaturated fatty acids, the performances were not satisfactory for quantitative purposes whatever the grinding method

Prenatal stress alter the brain plasticity in adult male rat

Un organisme doit être capable de produire des réponses comportementales, neuroendocrines et neurobiologiques adaptées aux perturbations de son environnement afin de maintenir son homéostasie. La production de ces réponses, appelée allostasie, est permise par des phénomènes de plasticité neuro-comportementale. Le stress prénatal (SP) chez le rat modifie les capacités d'aptation aux perturbations environnementales en induisant, chez l'adulte, une plus grande anxiété, une hyperactivité de l'axe corticotrope, des perturbations des rythmes circadiens... Ces modifications sont-elles associées à des perturbations de la plasticité cérébrale? Nous avons montré que le SP induisait une diminution de la plasticité de l'activation neuronale de certaines structures limbique associé à une diminution du rétrocontrôle négatif de l'axe corticotrope et à une diminution de l'adaptation comportementale lors d'exposition à des situations anxiogènes. Par ailleurs, une diminution de la nneurogénèse et de l'activité des récepteurs métabotropiques au glutamate du gropue I, et une augmentation d'expression du BDNF ont été observées au niveau de l'hippocampe des rats SP mâles uniquement. Ces différents paramètres sont restaurés par un traitement chronique à l'agomélatine, un nouveau type d'antidépresseur ciblant les systèmes mélatoninergiques. Ces effets du SP résulteraient d'altérations de la barrière foeto placentaire. Les altérations de la palsticité cérébrale associées aux diminutions de la plasticité comportementale montrent que le SP induit chez le rat mâle adulte un état puis une surcharge allostatique, pouvant être à l'origine des différentes désadaptations observées chez ces rats.LILLE1-BU (590092102) / SudocSudocFranceF

Ultrafast Doppler for neonatal brain imaging

The emergence of functional neuroimaging has dramatically accelerated our understanding of the human mind. The advent of functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging paved the way for the next decades' major discoveries in neuroscience and today remains the "gold standard" for deep brain imaging. Recent improvements in imaging technology have been somewhat limited to incremental innovations of mature techniques instead of breakthroughs. Recently, the use of ultrasonic plane waves transmitted at ultrafast frame rates was shown to highly increase Doppler ultrasound sensitivity to blood flows in small vessels in rodents. By identifying regions of brain activation through neurovascular coupling, Ultrafast Doppler was entering into the world of preclinical neuroimaging. The combination of many advantages, including high spatio-temporal resolution, deep penetration, high sensitivity and portability provided unique information about brain function. Recently, Ultrafast Doppler imaging was found able to non-invasively image the spatial and temporal dynamics of microvascular changes during seizures and interictal periods with an unprecedented resolution at bedside. This review summarizes the technical basis, the added value and the clinical perspectives provided by this new brain imaging modality that could create a breakthrough in the knowledge of brain hemodynamics, brain insult, and neuroprotection

: Levier de gestion, projet de société ou idéologie ?

International audienceLes néologismes « à base de foule », en particulier le crowdsourcing et le crowdfunding, sont désormais entrés au vocabulaire gestionnaire pour décrire des pratiques dont la nouveauté repose essentiellement sur le recours à internet (Castrataro, 2011). L’expression crowdsourcing a été lancée par Jeff Howe en 2006 dans Wired (14 juin 2006). L’astuce de cette dénomination réside dans le remplacement de « out » par « crowd » dans le terme « outsourcing ». En cela, elle dénote une philosophie gestionnaire nouvelle : confier à une « foule » désormais plus facile à regrouper le soin d’apporter des fonds, faire émerger des idées, ou encore exprimer spontanément une opinion

La foule : levier de gestion, projet de société ou idéologie ?

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Modulating the Oxytocin System During the Perinatal Period: A New Strategy for Neuroprotection of the Immature Brain?

Oxytocin is a neurohypophysal hormone known for its activity during labor and its role in lactation. However, the function of oxytocin (OTX) goes far beyond the peripheral regulation of reproduction, and the central effects of OTX have been extensively investigated, since it has been recognized to influence the learning and memory processes. OTX has also prominent effects on social behavior, anxiety, and autism. Interaction between glucocorticoids, OTX, and maternal behavior may have long-term effects on the developmental program of the developing brain subjected to adverse events during pre and perinatal periods. OTX treatment in humans improves many aspects of social cognition and behavior. Its effects on the hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal axis and inflammation appear to be of interest in neonates because these properties may confer benefits when the perinatal brain has been subjected to injury. Indeed, early life inflammation and abnormal adrenal response to stress have been associated with an abnormal white matter development. Recent investigations demonstrated that OTX is involved in the modulation of microglial reactivity in the developing brain. This review recapitulates state-of-the art data supporting the hypothesis that the OTX system could be considered as an innovative candidate for neuroprotection, especially in the immature brain