Angiotensin II and fetal heart growth

Norris et al. measured cardiomyocyte proliferation and morphology in angiotensin II (ANG II)-treated fetal sheep and assessed transcriptional pathway responses. In twin-gestation pregnant sheep, one fetus received ANG II or losartan for seven days; noninstrumented twins served as controls. The results suggest that ANG II leads to an increase in fetal cardiac mass via cardiomyocyte hypertrophy and hyperplasia.

See Angiotensin II–induced cardiovascular load regulates cardiac remodeling and related gene expression in late-gestation fetal sheep

C. albicans in fetal sheep

Payne et al. hypothesized that intra-amniotic Candida albicans would cause an acute inflammatory response. Pregnant sheep received single intra-amniotic injections of saline or C. albicans one or two days prior to surgical delivery. Acute colonization of the amniotic cavity by C. albicans appeared to cause severe intrauterine infection and inflammation.

See Intrauterine Candida albicans infection elicits severe inflammation in fetal sheep

Attention deficits

de Kieviet and colleagues investigated the brain abnormalities associated with later attention problems in very-preterm children by examining white and gray brain matter using functional magnetic resonance imaging. They found that alterations in white matter play a crucial role in interference-control problems at school age.

See A crucial role for white matter alterations in interference control problems of very preterm children

Gene mutation and hyperthyroidism

In a Japanese family with nonautoimmune hyperthyroidism, Nakamura and coinvestigators identified a mutation in the thyrotropin receptor gene that might contribute to the disease’s pathogenesis.

See A Japanese family with nonautoimmune hyperthyroidism caused by a novel heterozygous thyrotropin receptor gene mutation

aEEG in preterm infants

Natalucci and colleagues aimed to quantify the effects of gestational age and postnatal age (PNA) on the development of amplitude-integrated electroencephalogram (aEEG) early after birth in very preterm newborns with normal cerebral ultrasound. Continuous aEEG was performed in newborns during the first 96 hours of life. The results show that aEEG activity develops significantly during this time and is strongly influenced by PNA.

See Impact of perinatal factors on continuous early monitoring of brain electrocortical activity in very preterm newborns by amplitude-integrated EEG

Physical activity and liver enzymes

Ruiz and coinvestigators examined the association between physical activity, sedentary time, and liver enzyme levels in adolescents from nine European countries. Their findings suggest that meeting the current recommendations of 60 minutes per day of moderate to vigorous activity is associated with higher levels of alanine aspartate aminotransferase, regardless of sedentary time or total body fat.

See Physical activity, sedentary time, and liver enzymes in adolescents: the HELENA study