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Animal models suggest physical activity (PA) has intergenerational effects on brain health and neurocognition. This scoping review compiles the human literature in this area, identifies knowledge gaps, and makes recommendations for future research. We systematically searched for experimental or observational studies conducted in humans, published in English, and reporting parental PA exposure (preconception or prenatal) and subsequent offspring brain and neurocognition. Two reviewers independently screened studies according to predetermined inclusion criteria. Fourteen studies were included (four experimental and 10 observational) reporting on 93,486 parent-child dyads (100% maternal, 0% paternal). Prenatal maternal PA exposure was examined in 10 (71%) studies, while preconception and prenatal PA exposure was examined in four (29%) studies. Maternal PA exposure was positively related to offspring (0-20y) brain and neurocognitive development in 25% of experimental studies and 100% of observational studies. Little is known about the intergenerational effects of parental PA on offspring brain and neurocognition in humans, particularly paternal preconception PA. More experimental studies with longer offspring follow-up and more objective and/or mechanistic assessments are required., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest None., (Copyright © 2022 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Thyroid surgery has the potential for significant life-changing postoperative complications. Since 1995, the NHS Litigation Authority has handled litigation claims in England. This article reviews all thyroid surgery litigation claims between 1995 and 2012 and looks at potential strategies to minimize future claims.

The contribution of nitric oxide (NO) to the antinatriuresis and antidiuresis caused by low-level electrical stimulation of the renal sympathetic nerves (RNS) was investigated in rats anaesthetized with chloralose-urethane. Groups of rats, n= 6, were given i.v. infusions of vehicle, l-NAME (10 microg kg(-1) min(-1)), 1400W (20 microg kg(-1) min(-1)), or S-methyl-thiocitrulline (SMTC) (20 microg kg(-1) min(-1)) to inhibit NO synthesis non-selectively or selectively to block the inducible or neuronal NOS isoforms (iNOS and nNOS, respectively). Following baseline measurements of blood pressure (BP), renal blood flow (RBF), glomerular filtration rate (GFR), urine flow (UV) and sodium excretion (U(Na)V), RNS was performed at 15 V, 2 ms duration with a frequency between 0.5 and 1.0 Hz. RNS did not cause measurable changes in BP, RBF or GFR in any of the groups. In untreated rats, RNS decreased UV and U(Na)V by 40-50% (both P < 0.01), but these excretory responses were prevented in l-NAME-treated rats. In the presence of 1400W i.v., RNS caused reversible reductions in both UV and U(Na)V of 40-50% (both P < 0.01), while in SMTC-treated rats, RNS caused an inconsistent fall in UV, but a significant reduction (P < 0.05) in U(Na)V of 21%. These data demonstrated that the renal nerve-mediated antinatriuresis and antidiuresis was dependent on the presence of NO, generated in part by nNOS. The findings suggest that NO importantly modulates the neural control of fluid reabsorption; the control may be facilitatory at a presynaptic level but inhibitory on tubular reabsorptive processes.

Background: It is recognized that endothelins are released in response to hypoperfusion and anoxia of the kidney and may be responsible for the consequent deterioration in renal function. This study examined the ability of a non-selective (SB209670) and ET(A)-selective (UK-350,926) endothelin antagonist to attenuate ischaemia-induced renal failure in unilaterally nephrectomized rats., Methods: The animals were anaesthetized, drug infusion commenced, and the renal artery occluded for 30 min. The endothelin antagonists were given for 30 min before, during, and 60 min after the ischaemic period, at 10, 30 and 100 micro g/kg/min or for 60 min after the start of reperfusion., Results: On day 1, following 30 min renal artery occlusion, there was a 95% reduction in glomerular filtration rate, an 8-10-fold increase in plasma creatinine, and 10-15-fold increases in fractional excretions of sodium and potassium, which were partially resolved on day 3 and normalized on day 8. The lowest dose of SB209670 was without effect on the renal functional responses but they were blunted (all P<0.05) by the highest dose. At 30 and 100 micro g/kg/min UK-350,926, the decreases in renal function subsequent to the ischaemic challenge were attenuated. Administration of UK-350,926 at 100 micro g/kg/min for 1 h starting 60 min after the start of reperfusion, had no effect on the magnitude of the renal disturbances over the first 3 days., Conclusions: The data show that both the ET(A)/ET(B) and selective ET(A)-receptor antagonist ameliorated the ischaemia-reperfusion injury when given in the peri-ischaemic period but not when the ET(A)-receptor antagonist was given for 60 min at 100 micro g/kg/min after the ischaemic period.