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Abstract: Numerous neurological diseases which include neuroinflammatory components exhibit an age-related prevalence. The aging process is characterized by an increase of inflammatory mediators both systemically and in the brain, which may prime glial cells. However, little information is available on age-related changes in the glial response of the healthy aging brain to an inflammatory challenge. This problem was here examined using a mixture of the proinflammatory cytokines interferon-γ and tumor necrosis factor-α, which was injected intracerebroventricularly in young (2–3.5 months), middle-aged (10–11 months) and aged (18–21 months) mice. Vehicle (phosphate-buffered saline) was used as control. After a survival of 1 or 2 days (all age groups) or 4 days (young and middle-aged animals), immunohistochemically labeled astrocytes and microglia were investigated both qualitatively and quantitatively. In all age groups, astrocytes were markedly activated in periventricular as well as in deeper brain regions 2 days following cytokine treatment, whereas microglia activation was already evident at 24 h. Interestingly, cytokine-induced activation of both astrocytes and microglia was significantly more marked in the brain of aged animals, in which it included numerous ameboid microglia, than of younger age groups. Moderate astrocytic activation was also seen in the hippocampal CA1 field of vehicle-treated aged mice. FluoroJade B histochemistry and the terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated UTP nick-end labeling technique, performed at 2 days after cytokine administration, did not reveal ongoing cell death phenomena in young or aged animals. This indicated that glial cell changes were not secondary to neuronal death. Altogether, the findings demonstrate for the first time enhanced activation of glial cells in the old brain, compared with young and middle-aged subjects, in response to cytokine exposure. Interestingly, the results also suggest that such enhancement does not develop gradually since youth, but appears characterized by relatively late onset. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Background: The combined electroneurography and muscle ultrasound examination (ENG-USM) in adult patients showed a correlation between the compound motor action potential (CMAP) and muscular thicknesses (MT). No similar studies exist regarding the neonatal period.Aim: To evaluate the correlations between the maximum compound muscle action potential (CMAP) and maximum muscle thickness (MT) in term and premature newborns versus a group of young adults, as measured by combined electroneurography-ultrasonography (ENG-USM) to assess the stages.Study Design: Observational cohort study.Subjects: We studied 36 subjects (14 premature and 11 term infants, and 11 young adults), who underwent ENG-USM of the tibialis anterioris (TA) muscle.Outcome Measures: We measured: 1) Onset-Peak (O-P) and Peak-to-Peak (P-P) maximum CMAP; 2) maximum MT; and 3) MT at the detected maximum CMAP.Results: The maximum CMAP in term newborns studied was about 1/3 of the mean value measured in the adults; the differences between O-P and P-P values of the term versus premature infants were not significant. We did not find a good correlation between maximum MT and maximum CMAP in the term (r = 0.63) newborns, contrary to what was found in preterms (r = 0.95) and in young adults (r = 0.98).Conclusion: Our ENG-USM study shows that in newborns, the site of innervation of the neuromuscular plaque does not correspond to MT since muscle growth is related to the period of development, and depends on the progression of the nerve terminal branches that go to innervate the same muscle. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

: ObjectiveTo investigate whether the mode of delivery may affect neonatal cerebral haemodynamics during the first hour of life.: DesignProspective study.: SampleHealthy infants with gestational age ≥37 weeks and birthweight appropriate for gestational age, born after uncomplicated pregnancy by vaginal delivery or elective caesarean section, two to five hours after the delivery.: MethodsNear infra-red spectroscopy was used to measure changes of oxygenated haemoglobin, deoxygenated haemoglobin, oxidized-reduced cytochrome aa3, and mean cerebral oxygen saturation (mixed cerebral oxygen saturation = oxygenated haemoglobin/total haemoglobin). Changes in cerebral blood volume were calculated.: ResultsNear infra-red spectroscopy data did not show significant differences between infants born by vaginal delivery or by caesarean section. There was a significant decrease of oxygenated haemoglobin and change of cerebral blood volume values at 120 and 180 minutes in both the groups, while deoxygenated haemoglobin and oxidized-reduced cytochrome aa3 were unchanged.: ConclusionsA decrease of cerebral blood volume occurs after birth and this occurs both in infants born by vaginal delivery and by caesarean section. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Consolidated and novel indicators of coppice forest sustainability used at stand scale. • Half of the indicators showed significant differences among management options. • Carbon cycle, forest health and socio-economic indicators were highly discriminative. • A subset of indicators was selected, useful to support managers and decision makers. Although coppice forests represent a significant part of the European forest area, especially across southern Countries, they received little attention within the Sustainable Forest Management (SFM) processes and scenarios, whose guidelines have been mainly designed to high forests and national scale. In order to obtain "tailored" information on the degree of sustainability of coppices on the scale of the stand, we evaluated (i) whether the main coppice management options result in different responses of the SFM indicators, and (ii) the degree to which the considered SFM indicators were appropriate in their application at stand level. The study considered three different management options (Traditional Coppice TC, coppice under Natural Evolution NE, and coppice under Conversion to high forest by means of periodical thinning CO). In each of the 43 plots considered in the study, which covered three different European Forest Types, we applied a set of eighteen "consolidated" SFM indicators, covering all the six SFM Criteria (FOREST EUROPE, 2020) and, additionally, tested other sixteen novel indicators shaped for agamic forests and/or applicable at stand level. Results confirmed that several consolidated indicators related to resources status (Growing stock and Carbon stock), health (Defoliation and Forest damage), and socio-economic functions (Net revenue, Energy and Accessibility) were highly appropriate for evaluating the sustainability of coppice at stand level. In addition, some novel indicators related to resources status (Total above ground tree biomass), health (Stand growth) and protective functions (Overstorey cover and Understorey cover) proved to be highly appropriate and able to support the information obtained by the consolidated ones. As a consequence, a subset of consolidated SFM indicators, complemented with the most appropriate novel ones, may represent a valid option to support the evaluation of coppice sustainability at stand level. An integrated analysis of the SFM indicators showed that NE and CO display significant higher environmental performances as compared with TC. In addition, CO has positive effects also on socio-economic issues, while TC -which is an important cultural heritage and a silvicultural option that may help to keep local communities engaged in forestry – combines high wood harvesting rates with dense understory cover. Overall, each of the three management options showed specific sustainability values; as a consequence, their coexistence at a local scale and in accordance with the specific environmental conditions and the social-economic context, is greatly recommended since it may fulfill a wider array of sustainability issues. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Our aim was to record simultaneously V-EEG, aEEG, SEP-Continuous (SEP-C) from median nerve bilaterally with a standardized Neurophysiological-Multimodal-Monitoring, lasting 1h (1h-NMM) in neonatal period to collect normative SEP-C data in relation to behavior states. We studied 20 healthy term-newborns (37–42 weeks, mean 39.6-SD1.3) within two days from the birth by means of 1h-NMM, focusing to the methodology of SEP-C recording (filter band-pass, number and frequency of stimuli). 1h-NMM was easily obtained with identification cervical (Cv7-N13) and cortical (N1, P1) SEP-C responses in all infants. SEP-C minimum and maximum N1 latencies/N1-P1 amplitudes were identified, bilaterally, during spontaneous sleep active-quiet-active (AS-QS-AS) and quiet-Wakefull (qW). The minimum latencies and amplitudes occurred in 60% of AS/qW while the maximum in 70% of QS. The SEP-C components values (mean-SD) were: latencies of N13, 13.6–1.4 ms, N1, 33.6–3.9/34.2–4.8 ms in left and right hemisphere respectively; Central-Transmission-Time (N13–N1), 20.0–4.3/20.6–4.8 ms; N1–P1 amplitude 4.6–2.7/3.8–2.2 μ V. 1h-NMM is able to record simultaneously VEEG-aEEG-SEPs-C already within a few days of birth; it shows the modulation of SEPs’ cortical responses according to behaviour states in all our newborns studied using an appropriate method. We emphasize the importance of knowing the normative data of neonatal SEP-C to better identify the pathological findings in neonatal brain injury. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ElectroEncephaloGraphy and Somatosensory Evoked Potentials play an important role in diagnosis/prognosis of brain damage validated by international consensus to Adult-ICU monitoring. Video-EEG and Cerebral-Function-Monitoring are widely used in Neonatal-ICU while SEPs are still underused to early hypoxic brain damage evaluation. We propose an Integrated Multiparametric Neurophysiological Assessment (IMNA) simultaneously recording VEEG, CFM, Density-Spectral-Analysis and SEPs, to evaluate neonatal brain functions. Twelve healthy fullterm-neonates and 32 hypoxic newborns (2 severe, 30 moderate) were studied, within 48h after birth, with IMNA short monitoring (1h): VEEG (8 channels), CFM–DSA (4 channels) and cascade-SEPs (Cc-Fz; Cc-Ci; Cv7-Fz) with alternate stimulus (1Hz) from median nerve. 1h-IMNA-monitoring was globally alterate in severe-hypoxic neonates, in moderate-hypoxia the VEEG–CFM–DSA were fundamentally normal while cascade-SEPs showed a morphological variability. IMNA was normal and in particular cascade-SEPs was present with behavioral-states related modulation in all healthy fullterm-neonates. 1h-IMNA-monitoring was able to evaluate a sleep-cycle (VEEG), cortical amplitude and frequency spectral activity (CFM–DSA); the cascade-SEPs were early reliable parameters, suggestive in brain neonatal damage, also moderate. 1h-IMNA monitoring, especially cascade-SEPs, is a useful tool to early evaluation of various severity neonatal hypoxic brain damage and could be able to identify different outcomes. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The role of ElectroEncephaloGraphy (EEG) and Somatosensory-Evoked-Potentials (SEP) in Neonatal as well as Adult-ICU is validated. To evaluate brain-functions in newborns with high risk of encephalic damage we also proposed an Integrated Multiparametric-Neurophysiological-Assessment (IMNA) simultaneously recording VEEG, CFM, Density-Spectral-Analisys and SEPs. We describe the case of a term-newborn (Apgar- Index 6–9, pH 7,03) in which an 1-h-IMNA was performed at 24 h from birth, to best define the encephalic damage. Results:An early encephalic ultrasound study showed only poor evidences. During IMNA baby incidentally presented short episodes of tonic–clonic motions of left arm. These clinical signs were associated with short right emispheric EEG hypovoltages while the cascade-SEPs monitoring showed a sudden transient change in voltage: right giant SEPs traces simultaneous to seizures. After phenobarbital administration seizures stopped and the right SEPs traces return to normality. An early encephalic MRI showed a right parietal ischemic lesion and also a right extracerebral hemorrhagic injury. The latest one appeared reduced in a further MRI. No further seizures were reported. 1 h-IMNA monitoring, especially cascade-SEPs, is a useful tool to perform an early evaluation and assess prognosis of neonatal hypoxic brain damage; it also allows to correlate neurophysiological parameters? trends to clinical events. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We used combined Electroneurography and Muscular-UltraSound study (c-ENG-MUS) to evaluate the morpho-functional neuromuscular aspects in healthy neonatal and adult-juvenile populations. The Tibial Anterior muscle was evaluated in 17 neonates, 10 Full-terms (38–40ws)/ 7 preterms (32–36ws) and in 11 young adults (19–45ys) by c-ENG-MUS, measuring: (1) Onset-Peak (OP) and peak-to-peak (PP) amplitudes of maximum Motor-Compound-Action-Potential (mCMAP); (2) maximum Muscular Thickness (mMT); (3) MT at mCMAP’s detection point (mCMAP-MT). In preterms we performed serial studies until the term-age. (Study approved by the Local-Ethics-Committee). In newborns the OP- and PP-mCMAP amplitudes didn’t correlate linearly, unlike the adults; in the newborns’ and adults’ populations the mCMAP-MT and mMT values linearly relate. In newborns, the mCMAP’s amplitude and MT’s absolute value were about half of the adults’ ones. The detection points of mCMAP and mMT didn’t correspond. In preterms the values of mCMAP-amplitude and mMT proportionally increased to the postconceptional-age. The values of mCMAP-amplitude, mMT and mCMAP-MT significantly differed in neonates (full-terms and preterms) respect the adults because of the effect of age. There was no correlation between the mCMAP-amplitude and mMT (no significant site-effect). c-ENG-MUS is a quiclky and easy technique to evaluate the neuromuscular functional and morphological maturational processes. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Standardise an Integrated Multiparametric Neurophysiological Assessment (IMNA) simultaneously recording Video-EEG (VEEG), Cascade-Somatosensory-Evocated-Potentials (CSEPs), Cerebral-Function-Monitoring (CFM) and Density-Spectral-Analysis (DSA); to a complete data’s temporal correlation, using the advantages of each recording. We performed 1h-short-monitoring-IMNA in 98 newborns (71 fullterms-27 preterms) in Neonatal-ICU; respecting SEPs-topographic derivation cerebral potentials were recorded from front-central-temporal-occipital areas, including the cervical and usual polygraphic ones. We used EBneuro monitoring-device (NeMus2-acquisition-stimulation-hardware, ICU.NET-software), disposable surface-recording electrodes (Ambu-Neuroline), surface-small-size cup (3mm) AgCl-electrodes (BIONEN), abrasive-gel and conductive-cream (TEN20). The acquisition-panel is composed of modular-windows in demand: [(1)] VEEG-recording (8bipolar-channels Fp2-C4;C4-O2;Fp2-T4;T4-O2;Fp1-C3;C3-O1;Fp1-T3;T3-O1); parameters (0.3s;70Hz;10μV/mm); impedences <10KΩ. [(2)-(3)] 4bipolars-channels-CFM (scale 20–120μV)-DSA (visible stripe 0–32Hz, color-map-interval 0–10μV2) extrapolated from the EEG-montage. [(4)] CSEPs (N1–N13 components) in sequence (Cc-Fz;Cc-Ci;Cv7-Fz) obtained by bilaterally alternated-1Hz-stimulus from median nerve (200ms;10–20mA; 50 average), referred to the template-potential. [(5)] CSEP’s components in trends. 1h-short-monitoring-IMNA was able to identify a neonate’s sleep-cycle and well tolerated from the newborns (95%), with truthful registrations. IMNA-monitoring was easily performed in Neonatal-ICU, obtaining well recognizable, reliable, on–off-line assessible data, in particular CSEP. This new assessment, using 2 electrodes (Fz-Cv7) and 2 stimulatories in addition respect of the traditional VEEG, is useful to obtain more instrumental data in a little extra-time, extending the neurological informations in Neonatal-ICU. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]