Adult hippocampal neurogenesis (AHN) in the dentate gyrus is known to respond to environmental enrichment, chronic stress, and many other factors. The function of AHN may vary across the septo-temporal axis of the hippocampus, as different subdivisions are responsible for different functions. The dorsal pole regulates cognitive-related behaviors, while the ventral pole mediates mood-related responses through the hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal (HPA) axis. In this study, we investigate different methods of quantifying the effect of environmental enrichment on adult hippocampal neurogenesis in the dorsal and ventral parts of the dentate gyrus (dDG and vDG). To this purpose, 11-week-old female CD-1 mice were assigned for 8 days to one of two conditions: the environmental Enrichment (E) group received i) running wheels, ii) larger cages, iii) plastic tunnels, and iv) bedding with male urine, while the Control (C) group received standard housing. Dorsal CA (Cornu Ammonis) and DG regions were larger in the E than the C animals. Distance run linearly predicted the volume of the dorsal hippocampus, as well as of the intermediate and ventral CA regions. In the dDG, the amount of Doublecortin (DCX) immunoreactivity was significantly higher in E than in C mice. Surprisingly, this pattern was the opposite in the vDG (C > E). Real-time PCR measurement of Dcx mRNA and DCX protein analysis using ELISA showed the same pattern. Brain derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) immunoreactivity and mRNA displayed no difference between E and C, suggesting that upregulation of DCX was not caused by changes in BDNF levels. BDNF levels were higher in vDG than in dDG, as measured by both methods. Bdnf expression in vDG correlated positively with the distance run by individual E mice. The similarity in the patterns of immunoreactivity, mRNA and protein for differential DCX expression and for BDNF distribution suggests that the latter two methods might be effective tools for more rapid quantification of adult hippocampal neurogenesis.
Abstract In the early phases of the SARS coronavirus type 2 (SARS-CoV-2) pandemic, testing focused on individuals fitting a strict case definition involving a limited set of symptoms together with an identified epidemiological risk, such as contact with an infected individual or travel to a high-risk area. To assess whether this impaired our ability to detect and control early introductions of the virus into the UK, we PCR-tested archival specimens collected on admission to a large UK teaching hospital who retrospectively were identified as having a clinical presentation compatible with COVID-19. In addition, we screened available archival specimens submitted for respiratory virus diagnosis, and dating back to early January 2020, for the presence of SARS-CoV-2 RNA. Our data provides evidence for widespread community circulation of SARS-CoV2 in early February 2020 and into March that was undetected at the time due to restrictive case definitions informing testing policy. Genome sequence data showed that many of these early cases were infected with a distinct lineage of the virus. Sequences obtained from the first officially recorded case in Nottinghamshire - a traveller returning from Daegu, South Korea – also clustered with these early UK sequences suggesting acquisition of the virus occurred in the UK and not Daegu. Analysis of a larger sample of sequences obtained in the Nottinghamshire area revealed multiple viral introductions, mainly in late February and through March. These data highlight the importance of timely and extensive community testing to prevent future widespread transmission of the virus.
NICE guidance (2007) on urinary tract infection (UTI) included recommendations for fewer routine investigations in children over 6 months of age unless presenting with an atypical or recurrent UTI. The aim of our study was to prospectively assess whether children with risk factors for chronic kidney disease were identified using this selected approach in comparison to a universal ultrasound scan (USS) in children under 5 years of age following first presentation with a UTI.
Methods
All positive urine cultures in children under 5 years of age requested by general practitioners or following hospital attendance from March 2009 until August 2011 were identified in our microbiology laboratory. Patients were excluded if there was prior imaging of the renal tract or if symptoms were not consistent with a UTI. Eligible patients were consented, reviewed and data were collected on demographics, family history, presenting features of the UTI and examination findings. Patients were classified according to the NICE criteria as NE (NICE eligible for investigation) or NN (not NICE eligible for investigation). An USS was performed in all children by a consultant paediatric radiologist blinded to the NICE classification of the patient.
Results
203 patients were deemed eligible and 197 patients (median age 3.4 years, 162 (82%) female) completed the study. In 13 (6.6%) patients, investigations were abnormal. In 60 NE patients 9 (18%) had radiological abnormalities compared with 4 (3%) of 137 NN patients (p=0.003, Fisher9s exact test). Combining radiological and clinical assessment, to date 6 of 9 NE and 1 of 4 NN require long term renal assessment.
Conclusion
Adherence to NICE guidance would have resulted in performing 137 fewer US scans and would have resulted in 4 fewer patients with renal tract abnormalities being identified. The long term outcomes need to be assessed but this study would suggest that applying NICE guidance to children under 5 years of age following a UTI will identify the majority of patients with significant renal tract abnormalities.
Abstract Anselme & Güntürkün propose a novel mechanism to explain the increase in foraging motivation when experiencing an unpredictable food supply. However, the physiological mechanisms that maintain energy homeostasis already control foraging intensity in response to changes in energy balance. Therefore, unpredictability may just be one of many factors that feeds into the same dopaminergic “wanting” system to control foraging intensity.
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