Baseline characteristics of children in the early glasses study.

PURPOSE: The relationship between refractive error at age 1 and the risk of developing amblyopia or accommodative esotropia, and the protection offered by early glasses, is unknown. These are determined in the Early Glasses Study, a prospective, population-based, longitudinal, randomized controlled study. We report baseline findings. METHODS: Healthy children aged 12-18 months were recruited at Children's Healthcare Centres (CHCs) and received an entry orthoptic examination followed by cycloplegic retinoscopy. Children with amblyopia, strabismus, ophthalmic disease or very high refractive error were excluded. Those exceeding the AAPOS 2003 Criteria (> + 3.5D spherical equivalent (SE), > 1.5D astigmatism, > 1.5D anisometropia) were randomized into wearing glasses or not, and are followed-up by research orthoptists. Other children are followed-up by regular vision screening at CHCs and visual acuity is measured in all children at age 4. RESULTS: Parents of 865 children were called, 123 were excluded. Of 742 children enrolled, 601 underwent the entry orthoptic examination at age 14.5 ± 1.7 months. Mean SE was + 1.73 ± 1.18D, astigmatism -0.70 ± 0.44D, anisometropia 0.21D (IQR: 0-0.25). Of 62 (10.3%) children exceeding the Criteria, 52 were randomized into wearing glasses or not. Of 539 other children, 522 are followed up at CHCs. In total, 31 were excluded: 2 had strabismus and amblyopia, 7 strabismus, 2 amblyopia suspect, 1 strabismus suspect, 1 squinting during sinusitis, 4 excessive refractive error, 9 myopia, 2 ptosis, 1 oculomotor apraxia, 1 Duane syndrome, 1 congenital nystagmus. CONCLUSION: Prevalence of strabismus (10/601) was as expected, but prevalence of amblyopia (2/601) was low, suggesting that common amblyopia develops later than generally thought. KEY MESSAGES: What is known • High refractive errors cause amblyopia, but no study has determined the exact relationship between the kind and size of refractive error at age 1 and the risk to develop amblyopia, and assessed the protective effect of glasses in a controlled, population-based, longitudinal study. What is new • At baseline, 601 children received a full orthoptic examination followed by retinoscopy in cycloplegia at the age of 14.5 ± 1.7 months; 10.3% had high refractive error exceeding spherical equivalent > + 3.5D, > 1.5D astigmatism, > 1D oblique astigmatism or > 1.5D anisometropia. • The prevalence of amblyopia was lower (0.3%) than expected, suggesting that most amblyopia develops after the first year of life. • The prevalence of anisometropia, associated with amblyopia in older children, was low (0.8%).

Promoting healthy sleep in 0-2-year-old infants: a study protocol for the development and mixed method evaluation of a sleep health program tailored to Dutch youth healthcare regions.

BACKGROUND: Sleep problems are common among infants and can have a serious impact on the health and wellbeing of both child and parents. To sustainably promote infant sleep on a population level, it is necessary to develop evidence-based programs that can be implemented on a large scale. The Youth Health Care setting, with its focus on prevention, child health promotion and services widely available for parents, can be a suitable setting to do so. Currently however, sleep health promotion in this setting seems to be suboptimal. To promote healthy infant sleep on a population level, programs need to be accessible and comprehensible for all parents, including parents with limited (health) literacy. Therefore, this study aims to develop, implement and evaluate a program called 'Sleep on number 1', that is tailored to Dutch Youth Health Care, to sustainably promote healthy sleep in 0-2-year-old infants. METHODS: The program was developed based on co-creation with parents and Youth Health Care professionals, evidence-based behaviour change theories and sleep health promotion methods. Program effectiveness is investigated with a quasi-experimental study design comparing the program group with the care as usual control group. Participants consist of parents of 0-2-year-old children. Primary outcome is infant sleep quality at the age of 10 weeks and 6, 9, 14 and 24 months, measured with a sleep diary. The primary data analysis focuses on night awakenings at 9 months. Secondary outcomes focus on parental behaviour regarding infant sleep, related behavioural determinants and parental satisfaction with Youth Health Care sleep advice. Program effectiveness is analysed using a linear mixed-model in case of data clustering, and an independent samples T-test or linear regression in case no substantial clustering effects are found. A mixed methods process evaluation is performed with parents and Youth Health Care professionals, assessing program reach, adoption, implementation, maintenance and working mechanisms. DISCUSSION: The 'Sleep on number 1' program is an evidence-based sleep health program for 0-2-year-old children, tailored to Dutch Youth Health Care. If effective, this program has the potential to improve infant sleep on a population level. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ISRCTN, ISRCTN27246394, registered on 10/03/2023. https://www.isrctn.com/ISRCTN27246394 .

POSSIBLE ROLE OF KISSPEPTIN IN TESTOSTERONE-INDEPENDENT REGULATION OF SEXUAL MOTIVATION IN MALE RATS.

Kisspeptin is the peptide product of the KiSS-1 gene and endogenous agonist for the Kiss1 receptor. It is known that kisspeptin, acting centrally, stimulates secretion of gonadoliberin (GnRH). Kisspeptin interacts with other neuropeptides such as neurokinin B and dynorphin, to regulate GnRH pulse generation and also plays a role in sexual behaviour. In this study 50 copulation naive male Wistar rats divided into 5 groups received saline, buserelin acetate (GnRH analogue) (20 µg), kisspeptin-10 (3 ng) intranasally, kisspeptin-10 (30 ng) intraperitoneally and Yoquimbine 200 µg. Behavioural effects were registered in the open-field reward-proximity chamber with the female in estrous phase of cycle over the transparent perforated wall for 10 minutes in red light. Blood samples were collected 30 min after the substance administration from tail vein. Testosterone concentrations were measured using ELISA. All animal groups were compared one to another by the ANOVA test and correspondent "post hoc" paired tests of Newman-Kruskall- Wallis test and Dunn's test. Intranasal administration of buserelin acetate increased concentration of testosterone but not affect sexual motivation in rats. Intraperitoneal administration of Kisspeptin-10 affect both of testosterone concentration and sexual motivation. Intranasal administration of kisspeptin-10 didn't act testosterone but increased sexual motivation. This study shows that some behavioral effects of kisspeptin can possibly be realized independently of testosterone concentration changes.

Minimal Age-Related Alterations in Behavioral and Hematological Parameters in Trace Amine-Associated Receptor 1 (TAAR1) Knockout Mice.

Since the discovery in 2001, the G protein-coupled trace amine-associated receptor 1 (TAAR1) has become an important focus of research targeted on evaluation of its role in the central nervous system (CNS). Meanwhile, impact of TAAR1 in the peripheral organs is less investigated. Expression of TAAR1 was demonstrated in different peripheral tissues: pancreatic ß-cells, stomach, intestines, white blood cells (WBC), and thyroid. However, the role of TAAR1 in regulation of hematological parameters has not been investigated yet. In this study, we performed analysis of anxiety-related behaviors, a complete blood count (CBC), erythrocyte fragility, as well as FT3/FT4 thyroid hormones levels in adult and middle-aged TAAR1 knockout mice. Complete blood count analysis was performed on a Siemens Advia 2120i hematology analyzer and included more than 35 measured and calculated parameters. Erythrocyte fragility test evaluated spherocytosis pathologies of red blood cells (RBC). No significant alterations in essentially all these parameters were found in mice without TAAR1. However, comparative aging analysis has revealed a decreased neutrophils level in the middle-aged TAAR1 knockout mouse group. Minimal alterations in these parameters observed in TAAR1 knockout mice suggest that future TAAR1-based therapies should exert little hematological effect and thus will likely have a good safety profile.

OX1R ANTAGONIST SB408124 ACTION AND EXTRAHYPOTHALAMIC CRF IN RATS AFTER PSYCHOTRAUMATIC EXPOSURE.

Corticoliberin (CRF) isn't only regulates hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis activity, but also functions as a neurotransmitter in extrahypothalamic brain regions like amygdala, implicated in the emotional responses to stress. The CRF system provides an input to orexin neurons and can modulate the activity of orexinergic neurons in stress response. Some data showed the role of orexin-A in extinction of aversive memory. The orexin system was shown to participate in stress-induced behavior connected with the extended amygdala structures, like central nucleus of the amygdala. The objective was to study the effects of orexin-A antagonist SB-408124 in rats after predator-induced stress using behavioral tests and its effects on CRF level in amygdala. In this study 30 male Wistar rats were used. The animals received an intranasally selective antagonist of Orexin receptor 1 type SB-408124. Posttraumatic stress disorder was modelled by single predator exposure. A group of 10-12 rats were placed in a terrarium with an indian python. 7 days after exposure to the predator, the behavior of animals was tested in the Open Field and Elevated Cross-Maze tests. Free motor activity of animals was studied in the "open field" test. To assess stress, we used the "elevated cross-maze " test. CRF concentrations in brain structures were measured by solid-phase ELISA using the Corticotropin Releasing Factor (CRF) test system. In the group of stressed rats receiving intranasally SB-408124, the time of stay in the light arm was restored, but did not reach the control values, the number of runs was restored to the control level, and the number of grooming acts increased in comparison with both the control group and the stressed animals. In the "open field" in the group of stressed rats receiving saline solution, the number of sniffs and rearing were decreased, but the number of peeks into holes was increased. In the group of stressed rats receiving SB-408124 20 µg intranasally, the number of sniffs was increased and the number of hole peeking decreased in comparison with the stressed rats receiving saline solution. The CRF level in the homogenates of amygdala in stressed rats was lower (0.44±0.07 ng/mg protein vs. 0.61±0.01 ng/mg in the control group). In the intranasal administration of SB408124 group this decrease was not recorded and the CRF level in the amygdala was 0.57±0.01 pg/mg protein. Orexin A antagonist SB-408124 reduced anxiety after psychotraumatic exposure. Predator induced acute psychotraumatic exposure decrease CRF level in the rat's amygdala. Intranasal administration of selective orexin 1 receptor antagonist SB408124 restored it closely to normal and has an anxiolytic effect on animal behaviour.