Varhaiskasvatuksen suojaava vaikutus äidin raskausajan ja varhaisten vuosien psyykkisen kuormittuneisuuden ja kaksivuotiaan lapsen sosioemotionaalisen kehityksen välisessä yhteydessä

Lapsen sosioemotionaaliset taidot kehittyvät ensimmäisten vuosien aikana nopeasti ja näiden taitojen opetteluun lapsi tarvitsee turvallista vanhempaa, mutta myös kodinulkopuoliset kontekstit, kuten varhaiskasvatus, voivat tukea lapsen kehitystä. Tutkimusten mukaan varhaiskasvatuksesta saattavat hyötyä erityisesti sellaiset lapset, jotka tulevat stressaavista tai muuten huonommista kotioloista kuin verrokit. Äidin masennus- ja ahdistusoireilu on yksi tällainen ympäristön riskitekijä, joka vaikuttaa negatiivisesti lapsen kehityksen moniin osa-alueisiin, kuten sosioemotionaaliseen kehitykseen. Varhaiskasvatuksen puskuroivaa roolia äidin masennusoireilun ja lapsen kehityksen välisessä yhteydessä on tutkittu jonkun verran, mutta Suomessa aiheesta ei juurikaan ole tutkimusta. Suomalainen varhaiskasvatusjärjestelmä eroaa merkittävästi monista muista maista, minkä takia on tärkeää tutkia aihetta juuri suomalaisen varhaiskasvatusjärjestelmän näkökulmasta. Tämän tutkimuksen tarkoituksena oli selvittää, onko varhaiskasvatukseen osallistumisella puskuroiva vaikutus äidin raskausajan ja vauvavuoden stressin ja lapsen sosioemotionaalisen kehityksen välisessä yhteydessä. Tutkimus on osa FinnBrain-syntymäkohorttitutkimusta, jossa tutkitaan raskaudenaikaisen ja varhaisen stressin vaikutuksia lapsen kehitykseen. Tutkimusotos (n = 1375) koostui niistä äiti-lapsipareista, joilta oli saatavilla BITSEA-kyselylomakkeen vastaukset sekä tieto lapsen hoitomuodosta lapsen ollessa kaksivuotias. Äidin raskaudenaikaista ja varhaista stressiä tutkittiin masennusta ja ahdistusta mittaavilla kyselyillä (EPDS ja SCL-90). Lapsen sosioemotionaalisen kehityksen osa-alueita, kompetenssia ja ongelmakäyttäytymistä tutkittiin BITSEA-kyselylomakkeella lapsen ollessa kaksivuotias. Tutkimuksessa otettiin huomioon seuraavat taustamuuttujat: lapsen sukupuoli, äidin koulutus- ja tulotaso, äidin ikä, raskausviikot, sekä synnyttäjyys. Tulosten mukaan varhaiskasvatukseen osallistuvilla lapsilla, joiden äideillä oli 2-vuotispisteessä mitattua masennus- ja ahdistusoireilua, oli vähemmän sosioemotionaalista ongelmakäyttäytymistä kuin kotihoidossa olevilla lapsilla. Varhaiskasvatuksella havaittiin siis äidin ajankohtaiselta oireilulta suojaava vaikutus, kun tarkasteltiin lapsen sosioemotionaalista ongelmakäyttäytymistä. Tällaista varhaiskasvatuksen puskuroivaa vaikutusta ei kuitenkaan havaittu raskausajan tai ensimmäisen vuoden aikaisen äidin oireilun ja lapsen sosioemotionaalisen ongelmakäyttäytymisen välillä eikä yhdysvaikutusta havaittu myöskään, kun tarkasteltiin sosioemotionaalisen kehityksen kompetenssidimensiota. Tämän tutkimuksen tulokset viittaavat siis siihen, että varhaiskasvatus suojaa äidin ajankohtaisen psyykkisen oireilun, mutta ei raskausajan tai vauvavuoden oireilun vaikutuksilta ja tämä suojaava vaikutus koskee lapsen sosioemotionaalisen kehityksen osalta ongelmakäyttäytymistä, mutta ei sosiaalista kompetenssia. Varhaiskasvatuksen suojaavaa vaikutusta äidin masennus- ja ahdistusoireilun ja lapsen sosioemotionaalisen kehityksen välisessä yhteydessä ei ole juurikaan aiemmin tutkittu suomalaisessa kontekstissa, ja tämän tutkimuksen tulokset kannustavat lisätutkimuksiin. Tulevissa tutkimuksissa voitaisiin ottaa huomioon varhaiskasvatuksen laatuun vaikuttavia taustatekijöitä sekä tutkia eri hoitomuotoihin osallistuvia lapsia useammassa aikapisteessä

Microvascular Endothelial Cells Exhibit Optimal Aspect Ratio for Minimizing Flow Resistance

A recent analytical solution of the three-dimensional Stokes flow through a bumpy tube predicts that for a given bump area, there exists an optimal circumferential wavenumber which minimizes flow resistance. This study uses measurements of microvessel endothelial cell morphology to test whether this prediction holds in the microvasculature. Endothelial cell (EC) morphology was measured in blood perfused in situ microvessels in anesthetized mice using confocal intravital microscopy. EC borders were identified by immunofluorescently labeling the EC surface molecule ICAM-1 which is expressed on the surface but not in the EC border regions. Comparison of this theory with extensive in situ measurements of microvascular EC geometry in mouse cremaster muscle using intravital microscopy reveals that the spacing of EC nuclei in venules ranging from 27 to 106 μm in diameter indeed lies quite close to this predicted optimal configuration. Interestingly, arteriolar ECs are configured to minimize flow resistance not in the resting state, but at the dilated vessel diameter. These results raise the question of whether less organized circulatory systems, such as that found in newly formed solid tumors or in the developing embryo, may deviate from the optimal bump spacing predicted to minimize flow resistance

Noninvasive imaging of flowing blood cells using label-free spectrally encoded flow cytometry

Optical microscopy of blood cells in vivo provides a unique opportunity for clinicians and researchers to visualize the morphology and dynamics of circulating cells, but is usually limited by the imaging speed and by the need for exogenous labeling of the cells. Here we present a label-free approach for in vivo flow cytometry of blood using a compact imaging probe that could be adapted for bedside real-time imaging of patients in clinical settings, and demonstrate subcellular resolution imaging of red and white blood cells flowing in the oral mucosa of a human volunteer. By analyzing the large data sets obtained by the system, valuable blood parameters could be extracted and used for direct, reliable assessment of patient physiology

Techniques for the observation and measurement of red blood cell velocity in vessels of the guinea pig cochlea

Fluorescence techniques combined with intravital microscopy provide a powerful approach to the study of cochlear blood microcirculation. In the current study, fluorescein isothiocyanate conjugated to high molecular weight dextrans was added to plasma to enhance the visual contrast of flowing blood in microscopic images from the guinea pig cochlea. Photometric signals, obtained from video pictures of the blood vessels, provided a means to continuously measure red cell velocity by using crosscorrelation algorithms to extract the time delay for moving features of the image. Alternatively, a small amount of fluorescently-labeled red blood cells (RBCs) were added to the vascular volume to serve as natural indicators of whole blood flow. The speed of these cells was measured by video photometric detection of the time required for the cells to pass between two predetermined positions in the television image. RBCs can be made fluorescent by chemical bonding of a fluorochrome to the cell membrane or by internal loading of the cell with an inert fluorochrome. Labeled RBCs provide a means to determine blood velocity in capillaries having extremely poor optical contrast, a situation which is generally the case for relatively thick tissues such as the lateral wall of the membranous labyrinth.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/26885/1/0000451.pd

Local Oxidative and Nitrosative Stress Increases in the Microcirculation during Leukocytes-Endothelial Cell Interactions

Leukocyte-endothelial cell interactions and leukocyte activation are important factors for vascular diseases including nephropathy, retinopathy and angiopathy. In addition, endothelial cell dysfunction is reported in vascular disease condition. Endothelial dysfunction is characterized by increased superoxide (O2•−) production from endothelium and reduction in NO bioavailability. Experimental studies have suggested a possible role for leukocyte-endothelial cell interaction in the vessel NO and peroxynitrite levels and their role in vascular disorders in the arterial side of microcirculation. However, anti-adhesion therapies for preventing leukocyte-endothelial cell interaction related vascular disorders showed limited success. The endothelial dysfunction related changes in vessel NO and peroxynitrite levels, leukocyte-endothelial cell interaction and leukocyte activation are not completely understood in vascular disorders. The objective of this study was to investigate the role of endothelial dysfunction extent, leukocyte-endothelial interaction, leukocyte activation and superoxide dismutase therapy on the transport and interactions of NO, O2•− and peroxynitrite in the microcirculation. We developed a biotransport model of NO, O2•− and peroxynitrite in the arteriolar microcirculation and incorporated leukocytes-endothelial cell interactions. The concentration profiles of NO, O2•− and peroxynitrite within blood vessel and leukocytes are presented at multiple levels of endothelial oxidative stress with leukocyte activation and increased superoxide dismutase accounted for in certain cases. The results showed that the maximum concentrations of NO decreased ∼0.6 fold, O2•− increased ∼27 fold and peroxynitrite increased ∼30 fold in the endothelial and smooth muscle region in severe oxidative stress condition as compared to that of normal physiologic conditions. The results show that the onset of endothelial oxidative stress can cause an increase in O2•− and peroxynitrite concentration in the lumen. The increased O2•− and peroxynitrite can cause leukocytes priming through peroxynitrite and leukocytes activation through secondary stimuli of O2•− in bloodstream without endothelial interaction. This finding supports that leukocyte rolling/adhesion and activation are independent events

The endothelial glycocalyx: composition, functions, and visualization

This review aims at presenting state-of-the-art knowledge on the composition and functions of the endothelial glycocalyx. The endothelial glycocalyx is a network of membrane-bound proteoglycans and glycoproteins, covering the endothelium luminally. Both endothelium- and plasma-derived soluble molecules integrate into this mesh. Over the past decade, insight has been gained into the role of the glycocalyx in vascular physiology and pathology, including mechanotransduction, hemostasis, signaling, and blood cell–vessel wall interactions. The contribution of the glycocalyx to diabetes, ischemia/reperfusion, and atherosclerosis is also reviewed. Experimental data from the micro- and macrocirculation alludes at a vasculoprotective role for the glycocalyx. Assessing this possible role of the endothelial glycocalyx requires reliable visualization of this delicate layer, which is a great challenge. An overview is given of the various ways in which the endothelial glycocalyx has been visualized up to now, including first data from two-photon microscopic imaging

Regulation of Coronary Blood Flow

The heart is uniquely responsible for providing its own blood supply through the coronary circulation. Regulation of coronary blood flow is quite complex and, after over 100 years of dedicated research, is understood to be dictated through multiple mechanisms that include extravascular compressive forces (tissue pressure), coronary perfusion pressure, myogenic, local metabolic, endothelial as well as neural and hormonal influences. While each of these determinants can have profound influence over myocardial perfusion, largely through effects on end-effector ion channels, these mechanisms collectively modulate coronary vascular resistance and act to ensure that the myocardial requirements for oxygen and substrates are adequately provided by the coronary circulation. The purpose of this series of Comprehensive Physiology is to highlight current knowledge regarding the physiologic regulation of coronary blood flow, with emphasis on functional anatomy and the interplay between the physical and biological determinants of myocardial oxygen delivery. © 2017 American Physiological Society. Compr Physiol 7:321-382, 2017

Effect of gender on training-induced vascular remodeling in SHR

There is accumulating evidence that physical inactivity, associated with the modern sedentary lifestyle, is a major determinant of hypertension. It represents the most important modifiable risk factor for cardiovascular diseases, which are the leading cause of morbidity and mortality for both men and women. In addition to involving sympathetic overactivity that alters hemodynamic parameters, hypertension is accompanied by several abnormalities in the skeletal muscle circulation including vessel rarefaction and increased arteriole wall-to-lumen ratio, which contribute to increased total peripheral resistance. Low-intensity aerobic training is a promising tool for the prevention, treatment and control of high blood pressure, but its efficacy may differ between men and women and between male and female animals. This review focuses on peripheral training-induced adaptations that contribute to a blood pressure-lowering effect, with special attention to differential responses in male and female spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR). Heart, diaphragm and skeletal muscle arterioles (but not kidney arterioles) undergo eutrophic outward remodeling in trained male SHR, which contributed to a reduction of peripheral resistance and to a pressure fall. In contrast, trained female SHR showed no change in arteriole wall-to-lumen ratio and no pressure fall. on the other hand, training-induced adaptive changes in capillaries and venules (increased density) were similar in male and female SHR, supporting a similar hyperemic response to exercise.Univ São Paulo, Inst Ciencias Biomed, Dept Fisiol & Biofis, BR-05508000 São Paulo, BrazilUniv Estadual Paulista, Dept Educ Fis, Fac Ciencias, Bauru, SP, BrazilUniversidade Federal de São Carlos (UFSCar), Dept Ciencias Fisiol, Programa Interinst Posgrad UNESP UFSCAR, BR-13560 São Carlos, SP, BrazilUniv Estadual Paulista, Dept Educ Fis, Fac Ciencias, Bauru, SP, BrazilUniversidade Federal de São Carlos (UFSCar), Dept Ciencias Fisiol, Programa Interinst Posgrad UNESP UFSCAR, BR-13560 São Carlos, SP, Brazi