Un modelo inédito de reproducibilidad sonora en musicoterapia pasiva. Enfoque metodológico con ratas Wistar en laboratorio clínico como paso previo para su aplicación con neonatos pretérmino

Este modelo muestra el proceso de grabación, análisis y reproducción digital de los ruidos emitidos por los dispositivos técnicos que, involucrados en la rehabilitación de neonatos pretérmino que se hallan en las incubadoras neonatales, provocan un entorno ambiental perjudicial para el desarrollo neurológico de éstos. Por otro lado, se elaboran, graban y mezclan digitalmente en estudio profesional, una suma de composiciones musicales que plantean beneficios sustanciales en dicho desarrollo como elemento de compensación o atenuación sonora. A su vez, se presenta un enfoque del conjunto de la reproducción sonora para verificar este doble objetivo una vez que los audios de sala y/o musicales producidos respetan el límite ético propuesto como criterio básico de exposición con ratas Wistar en la investigación de laboratorio planteada. La reproducción sonora de los audios obtenidos ofrece las máximas garantías, tras la validación y acreditación ENAC de los instrumentos de medida utilizados

Efectos de un modelo experimental de preeclampsia sobre la reactividad vascular de ratas gestantes y de sus crías fetales y neonatales

Tesis doctoral inédita leída en la Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Facultad de Medicina, Departamento de Farmacología y Terapéutica. Fecha de lectura: 25 de Enero de 199

Ajuste psicológico de padres e hijos prematuros españoles

To date there have been few studies in Spain and Latin America that address the psychological adjustment of premature infants. This paper examines the psychological adjustment of children and some factors relevant to it, in a sample of Spanish premature children. Participants: 29 minors (Mean age = 36.2 months, SD = 1.42) with a history of prematurity. 51.7% were girls. Instruments: A sociodemographic survey, the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ) and the Parental Stress Scale (PSS) were used. Results: Between 71.4 and 82.1% of the children obtained scores considered normal in the SDQ, in 50% of them, their parents indicated the existence of some negative impact. There are no statistically significant relationships between the SDQ scales and the neonatal variables. Being Spanish, having higher education and being active was related to a better psychological adjustment in children. Parental stress was associated with a worse adjustment. Conclusions: The study of the strengths and psychological adjustment of parents and children in prematurity is of special importance to know, prevent and intervene on the well-being of this population.Hasta la fecha se han realizado escasas investigaciones en España y Latinoamérica que aborden el ajuste psicológico de los prematuros. El presente trabajo examina el ajuste psicológico infantil y algunos factores relevantes para el mismo, en una muestra de niños prematuros españoles. Participantes: 29 menores (Media de edad=36.2 meses, DT=1.42)con antecedentes de prematuridad. El 51.7% fueron niñas. Instrumentos: Se utilizó una encuesta sociodemográfica, el Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ) y la Escala de estrés parental (PSS). Resultados: Entre el 71.4 y el 82.1% de los menores obtuvieron puntuaciones consideradas normales en el SDQ, en el 50% de ellos, sus progenitores indicaron la existencia de algún impacto negativo. No se encuentran relaciones estadísticamente significativas entre las escalas del SDQ y las variables neonatales. Ser español, tener estudios superiores y encontrarse en activo se relacionó con un mejor ajuste psicológico infantil. El estrés parental se relacionó con un peor ajuste. Conclusiones: El estudio de las fortalezas y del ajuste psicológico de padres e hijos en prematuridad es de especial importancia para poder conocer, prevenir e intervenir sobre el bienestar de esta población

Cannabinoid signalling in the immature brain: Encephalopathies and neurodevelopmental disorders

The endocannabinoid system exerts a crucial neuromodulatory role in many brain areas that is essential for proper regulation of neuronal activity. The role of cannabinoid signalling controlling neuronal activity in the adult brain is also evident when considering its contribution to adult brain insults or neurodegenerative diseases. In the context of brain genetic or acquired encephalopathies administration of cannabinoid-based molecules has demonstrated to exert symptomatic relief and hence, they are proposed as new potential therapeutic compounds. This review article summarizes the main evidences indicating the beneficial action of cannabinoid-derived molecules in preclinical models of neonatal hypoxia/ischemic damage. In a second part, we discuss the available evidences of therapeutic actions of cannabidiol in children with refractory epilepsy syndromes. Finally, we discuss the current view of cannabinoid signalling mechanisms active in the immature brain that affect in neural cell fate and can contribute to long-term neural cell plasticity.Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad (MINECO)/Fondo Europeo de desarrollo Regional (FEDER)Comunidad de MadridInstituto de Salud Carlos III/Fondo Europeo de Desarrollo Regional (FEDER)GW Research LtdUniversidad Complutense de Madrid (UCM)/Banco de SantanderDepto. de Bioquímica y Biología MolecularFac. de Ciencias BiológicasTRUEpu

Parainfluenza 3 Respiratory Infection Associated with Pericardial Effusion in a Very Low Birthweight Infant

Parainfluenza 3 virus is a frequent cause of respiratory infections in the pediatric population although it is uncommonly diagnosed in neonates, being usually reported as neonatal intensive care unit microepidemics. We report a case of parainfluenza 3 respiratory infection associated with pericardial effusion in a very low birthweight infant

Influence of Maternal Age and Gestational Age on Breast Milk Antioxidants During the First Month of Lactation

Breast milk (BM) is beneficial due to its content in a wide range of different antioxidants, particularly relevant for preterm infants, who are at higher risk of oxidative stress. We hypothesize that BM antioxidants are adapted to gestational age and are negatively influenced by maternal age. Fifty breastfeeding women from two hospitals (Madrid, Spain) provided BM samples at days 7, 14 and 28 of lactation to assess total antioxidant capacity (ABTS), thiol groups, reduced glutathione (GSH), superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase activities, lipid peroxidation (malondialdehyde, MDA + 4-Hydroxy-Trans-2-Nonenal, HNE), protein oxidation (carbonyl groups) (spectrophotometry) and melatonin (ELISA). Mixed random-effects linear regression models were used to study the influence of maternal and gestational ages on BM antioxidants, adjusted by days of lactation. Regression models evidenced a negative association between maternal age and BM melatonin levels (β = −7.4 ± 2.5; p-value = 0.005); and a negative association between gestational age and BM total antioxidant capacity (β = −0.008 ± 0.003; p-value = 0.006), SOD activity (β = −0.002 ± 0.001; p-value = 0.043) and protein oxidation (β = −0.22 ± 0.07; p-value = 0.001). In conclusion, BM antioxidants are adapted to gestational age providing higher levels to infants with lower degree of maturation; maternal ageing has a negative influence on melatonin, a key antioxidant hormone

Cannabidiol Administration Prevents Hypoxia-Ischemia-Induced Hypomyelination in Newborn Rats

Neonatal hypoxia-ischemia (HI) is a risk factor for myelination disturbances, a key factor for cerebral palsy. Cannabidiol (CBD) protects neurons and glial cells after HI insult in newborn animals. We hereby aimed to study CBD's effects on long-lasting HI-induced myelination deficits in newborn rats. Thus, P7 Wistar rats received s.c. vehicle (HV) or cannabidiol (HC) after HI brain damage (left carotid artery electrocoagulation plus 10% O-2 for 112 min). Controls were non-HI pups. At P37, neurobehavioral tests were performed and immunohistochemistry [quantifying mature oligodendrocyte (mOL) populations and myelin basic protein (MBP) density] and electron microscopy (determining axon number, size, and myelin thickness) studies were conducted in cortex (CX) and white matter (WM). Expression of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and glial-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF) were analyzed by western blot at P14. HI reduced mOL or MBP in CX but not in WM. In both CX and WM, axon density and myelin thickness were reduced. MBP impairment correlated with functional deficits. CBD administration resulted in normal function associated with normal mOL and MBP, as well as normal axon density and myelin thickness in all areas. CBD's effects were not associated with increased BDNF or GDNF expression. In conclusion, HI injury in newborn rats resulted in long-lasting myelination disturbance, associated with functional impairment. CBD treatment preserved function and myelination, likely as a part of a general neuroprotective effect.This work was supported by grants from the Carlos III Research Institute (ISCiii) according to the Spanish Plan for R+D+I 2008-2011 and the State Plan for Scientific and Technical Research and Innovation 2017-2019, with co-funding from the European Regional Development Funds (FEDER) (FIS-PS1600689), from the Biomedicine Program, Community of Madrid (S2010/BMD-2308) and from GW Research Ltd (GWCRI09119)

Effect of allopurinol in addition to hypothermia treatment in neonates for hypoxic-ischemic brain injury on neurocognitive outcome (ALBINO): Study protocol of a blinded randomized placebo-controlled parallel group multicenter trial for superiority (phase III)

Background: Perinatal asphyxia and resulting hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy is a major cause of death and long-term disability in term born neonates. Up to 20,000 infants each year are affected by HIE in Europe and even more in regions with lower level of perinatal care. The only established therapy to improve outcome in these infants is therapeutic hypothermia. Allopurinol is a xanthine oxidase inhibitor that reduces the production of oxygen radicals as superoxide, which contributes to secondary energy failure and apoptosis in neurons and glial cells after reperfusion of hypoxic brain tissue and may further improve outcome if administered in addition to therapeutic hypothermia. Methods: This study on the effects of ALlopurinol in addition to hypothermia treatment for hypoxic-ischemic Brain Injury on Neurocognitive Outcome (ALBINO), is a European double-blinded randomized placebo-controlled parallel group multicenter trial (Phase III) to evaluate the effect of postnatal allopurinol administered in addition to standard of care (including therapeutic hypothermia if indicated) on the incidence of death and severe neurodevelopmental impairment at 24 months of age in newborns with perinatal hypoxic-ischemic insult and signs of potentially evolving encephalopathy. Allopurinol or placebo will be given in addition to therapeutic hypothermia (where indicated) to infants with a gestational age ≥ 36 weeks and a birth weight ≥ 2500 g, with severe perinatal asphyxia and potentially evolving encephalopathy. The primary endpoint of this study will be death or severe neurodevelopmental impairment versus survival without severe neurodevelopmental impairment at the age of two years. Effects on brain injury by magnetic resonance imaging and cerebral ultrasound, electric brain activity, concentrations of peroxidation products and S100B, will also be studied along with effects on heart function and pharmacokinetics of allopurinol after iv-infusion. Discussion: This trial will provide data to assess the efficacy and safety of early postnatal allopurinol in term infants with evolving hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy. If proven efficacious and safe, allopurinol could become part of a neuroprotective pharmacological treatment strategy in addition to therapeutic hypothermia in children with perinatal asphyxia. Trial registration: NCT03162653, www.ClinicalTrials.gov, May 22, 2017