Bioprospecting of extremophilic perchlorate-reducing bacteria: report of promising Bacillus spp. isolated from sediments of the bay of Cartagena, Colombia.

Three extremophile bacterial strains (BBCOL-009, BBCOL-014 and BBCOL-015), capable of degrading high concentrations of perchlorate at a range of pH (6.5 to 10.0), were isolated from Colombian Caribbean Coast sediments. Morphological features included Gram negative strain bacilli with sizes averaged of 1.75 × 0.95, 2.32 × 0.65 and 3.08 × 0.70 µm, respectively. The reported strains tolerate a wide range of pH (6.5 to 10.0); concentrations of NaCl (3.5 to 7.5% w/v) and KClO4- (250 to 10000 mg/L), reduction of KClO4- from 10 to 25%. LB broth with NaCl (3.5-30% w/v) and KClO4- (250-10000 mg/L) were used in independent trials to evaluate susceptibility to salinity and perchlorate, respectively. Isolates increased their biomass at 7.5 % (w/v) NaCl with optimal development at 3.5 % NaCl. Subsequently, ClO4- reduction was assessed using LB medium with 3.5% NaCl and 10000 mg/L ClO4-. BBCOL-009, BBCOL-014 and BBCOL-015 achieved 10%, 17%, and 25% reduction of ClO4-, respectively. The 16 S rRNA gene sequence grouped them as Bacillus flexus T6186-2, Bacillus marisflavi TF-11 (T), and Bacillus vietnamensis 15 - 1 (T) respectively, with < 97.5% homology. In addition, antimicrobial resistance to ertapenem, vancomycine, amoxicillin clavulanate, penicillin, and erythromycin was present in all the isolates, indicating their high adaptability to stressful environments. The isolated strains from marine sediments in Cartagena Bay, Colombia are suitable candidates to reduce perchlorate contamination in different environments. Although the primary focus of the study of perchlorate-reducing and resistant bacteria is in the ecological and agricultural realms, from an astrobiological perspective, perchlorate-resistant bacteria serve as models for astrobiological investigations.

Heart rate variability in congenital central hypoventilation syndrome: relationships with hypertension and sinus pauses.

BACKGROUND: Autonomic nervous system (ANS) dysregulation has been described in congenital central hypoventilation syndrome (CCHS). The objectives were to describe heart rate variability (HRV) analyses in children suffering from CCHS both while awake and asleep and their relationships with both ambulatory blood pressure (BP) and ECG monitoring results. METHODS: This retrospective study enrolled children with CCHS (n = 33, median age 8.4 years, 18 girls) who had BP and ECG monitored during the same 24 h. From the latter, HRV analyses were obtained during daytime and nighttime. RESULTS: The prevalences of hypertension and sinus pauses were 33% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 18-52) and 18% (95% CI: 7-35), respectively. The decrease in systolic BP at night negatively correlated with an increase in very low frequency (VLF) and LF powers at night, and the longest RR interval positively correlated with daytime VLF and LF powers. Among the three groups of children (polyalanine repeat expansion mutation [PARM], moderate [20/25 and 20/26], severe [20/27 and 20/33], and non-PARMs), the prevalence of elevated BP or hypertension was different: in PARM subjects: 6/18 moderate, 7/9 severe versus 0/6 in non-PARM (p = 0.002). CONCLUSION: Modifications of cardiac ANS are associated with systemic hypertension and the occurrence of sinus pauses in CCHS. IMPACT: Children with congenital central hypoventilation syndrome (CCHS) exhibit an increased prevalence of hypertension and sinus pauses that are linked to cardiac autonomic nervous system dysfunction. Sinus pauses are the main manifestation of sinus nodal dysfunction in children with CCHS. The increased prevalence of hypertension, especially at nighttime, is a new finding in CCHS. Sinus nodal dysfunction can be due to the sole impairment of the cardiac autonomic nervous system. Ambulatory blood pressure and ECG monitoring are mandatory in patients with CCHS.

Obstructive Apneas in a Mouse Model of Congenital Central Hypoventilation Syndrome.

Rationale: Congenital central hypoventilation syndrome (CCHS) is characterized by life-threatening sleep hypoventilation and is caused by PHOX2B gene mutations, most frequently the PHOX2B27Ala/+ mutation, with patients requiring lifelong ventilatory support. It is unclear whether obstructive apneas are part of the syndrome. Objectives: To determine if Phox2b27Ala/+ mice, which present the main symptoms of CCHS and die within hours after birth, also express obstructive apneas, and to investigate potential underlying mechanisms. Methods: Apneas were classified as central, obstructive, or mixed by using a novel system combining pneumotachography and laser detection of abdominal movement immediately after birth. Several respiratory nuclei involved in airway patency were examined by immunohistochemistry and electrophysiology in brainstem-spinal cord preparations. Measurements and Main Results: The median (interquartile range) of obstructive apnea frequency was 2.3 (1.5-3.3)/min in Phox2b27Ala/+ pups versus 0.6 (0.4-1.0)/min in wild types (P < 0.0001). Obstructive apnea duration was 2.7 seconds (2.3-3.9) in Phox2b27Ala/+ pups versus 1.7 seconds (1.1-1.9) in wild types (P < 0.0001). Central and mixed apneas presented similar significant differences. In Phox2b27Ala/+ preparations, the hypoglossal nucleus had fewer (P < 0.05) and smaller (P < 0.01) neurons, compared with wild-type preparations. Importantly, coordination of phrenic and hypoglossal motor activities was disrupted, as evidenced by the longer and variable delay of hypoglossal activity with respect to phrenic activity onset (P < 0.001). Conclusions: The Phox2b27Ala/+ mutation predisposed pups not only to hypoventilation and central apneas, but also to obstructive and mixed apneas, likely because of hypoglossal dysgenesis. These results thus demand attention toward obstructive events in infants with CCHS.

Cross-sectional case-control study of the relationships between pharyngeal compliance and heart rate variability indices in childhood obstructive sleep apnoea.

A combination of noradrenergic and antimuscarinic agents reduces the apnea-hypopnea index (AHI) in adult patients with obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA) via reduced upper airway collapsibility, suggesting that a shift in the sympathovagal balance improves OSA. The objectives of our present case-control study were to assess heart rate variability (HRV) indices in the stages of sleep in children with and without OSA to evaluate OSA-induced sleep HRV modifications and to assess whether increased collapsibility measured during wakefulness is associated with reduced sympathetic activity during non-rapid eye movement (NREM) sleep. Three groups of 15 children were matched by sex, age, z-score of body mass index and ethnicity: non-OSA (obstructive AHI [OAHI] <2 events/hr), mild (OAHI ≥2 to <5 events/hr) or moderate-severe (OAHI ≥5 events/hr) OSA. Pharyngeal compliance was measured during wakefulness using acoustic pharyngometry. HRV indices (time and frequency domain variables) were calculated on 5-min electrocardiography recordings from polysomnography during wakefulness, NREM and REM sleep in periods free of any event. As compared to children without OSA, those with OSA (n = 30) were characterised by increased compliance and no physiological parasympathetic tone increase in REM sleep. Children with increased pharyngeal compliance (n = 21) had a higher OAHI due to higher AHI in NREM sleep, whereas their sympathetic tone was lower than that of those with normal compliance (n = 24). In conclusion, children with increased pharyngeal compliance exhibit decreased sympathetic tone associated with increased AHI in NREM sleep. Therapeutics directed at sympathovagal balance modifications should be tested in childhood OSA.

Preventing rather than punishing: An early warning model of malfeasance in public procurement.

Is it possible to predict malfeasance in public procurement? With the proliferation of e-procurement systems in the public sector, anti-corruption agencies and watchdog organizations have access to valuable sources of information with which to identify transactions that are likely to become troublesome and why. In this article, we discuss the promises and challenges of using machine learning models to predict inefficiency and corruption in public procurement. We illustrate this approach with a dataset with more than two million public procurement contracts in Colombia. We trained machine learning models to predict which of them will result in corruption investigations, a breach of contract, or implementation inefficiencies. We then discuss how our models can help practitioners better understand the drivers of corruption and inefficiency in public procurement. Our approach will be useful to governments interested in exploiting large administrative datasets to improve the provision of public goods, and it highlights some of the tradeoffs and challenges that they might face throughout this process.

Breathing under Anesthesia: A Key Role for the Retrotrapezoid Nucleus Revealed by Conditional Phox2b Mutant Mice.

BACKGROUND: Optimal management of anesthesia-induced respiratory depression requires identification of the neural pathways that are most effective in maintaining breathing during anesthesia. Lesion studies point to the brainstem retrotrapezoid nucleus. We therefore examined the respiratory effects of common anesthetic/analgesic agents in mice with selective genetic loss of retrotrapezoid nucleus neurons (Phox2b mice, hereafter designated "mutants"). METHODS: All mice received intraperitoneal ketamine doses ranging from 100 mg/kg at postnatal day (P) 8 to 250 mg/kg at P60 to P62. Anesthesia effects in P8 and P14 to P16 mice were then analyzed by administering propofol (100 and 150 mg/kg at P8 and P14 to P16, respectively) and fentanyl at an anesthetic dose (1 mg/kg at P8 and P14 to P16). RESULTS: Most mutant mice died of respiratory arrest within 13 min of ketamine injection at P8 (12 of 13, 92% vs. 0 of 8, 0% wild type; Fisher exact test, P < 0.001) and P14 to P16 (32 of 42, 76% vs. 0 of 59, 0% wild type; P < 0.001). Cardiac activity continued after terminal apnea, and mortality was prevented by mechanical ventilation, supporting respiratory arrest as the cause of death in the mutants. Ketamine-induced mortality in mutants compared to wild types was confirmed at P29 to P31 (24 of 36, 67% vs. 9 of 45, 20%; P < 0.001) and P60 to P62 (8 of 19, 42% vs. 0 of 12, 0%; P = 0.011). Anesthesia-induced mortality in mutants compared to wild types was also observed with propofol at P8 (7 of 7, 100% vs. 0 of 17,7/7, 100% vs. 0/17, 0%; P < 0.001) and P14 to P16 (8 of 10, 80% vs. 0 of 10, 0%; P < 0.001) and with fentanyl at P8 (15 of 16, 94% vs. 0 of 13, 0%; P < 0.001) and P14 to P16 (5 of 7, 71% vs. 0 of 11, 0%; P = 0.002). CONCLUSIONS: Ketamine, propofol, and fentanyl caused death by respiratory arrest in most mice with selective loss of retrotrapezoid nucleus neurons, in doses that were safe in their wild type littermates. The retrotrapezoid nucleus is critical to sustain breathing during deep anesthesia and may prove to be a pharmacologic target for this purpose.

Safety study of Ciprofloxacin in newborn mice.

Ciprofloxacin, a broad-spectrum antimicrobial agent belonging to the fluoroquinolone family, is prescribed off-label in infants less than one year of age. Ciprofloxacin is included in the European Medicines Agency priority list of off-patent medicinal products requiring evaluation in neonates. This evaluation is undergoing within the TINN (Treat Infections in Neonates) FP7 EU project. As part of the TINN project, the present preclinical study was designed to assess the potential adverse effects of Ciprofloxacin on neurodevelopment, liver and joints in mice. Newborn mice received subcutaneous Ciprofloxacin at 10, 30 and 100 mg/kg/day from 2 to 12 postnatal days. Peak plasma levels of Ciprofloxacin were in the range of levels measured in human neonates. We examined vital functions in vivo, including cardiorespiratory parameters and temperature, psychomotor development, exploratory behavior, arthro-, nephro- and hepato-toxic effects. We found no effect of Ciprofloxacin at 10 and 30 mg/kg/day. In contrast, administration at 100 mg/kg/day delayed weight gain, impaired cardiorespiratory and psychomotor development, caused inflammatory infiltrates in the connective tissues surrounding the knee joint, and moderately increased extramedullary hematopoiesis. The present study pleads for careful watching of cardiorespiratory and motor development in neonates treated with Ciprofloxacin, in addition to the standard surveillance of arthrotoxicity.

Alternative oxidase expression in the mouse enables bypassing cytochrome c oxidase blockade and limits mitochondrial ROS overproduction.

Cyanide-resistant non-phosphorylating respiration is known in mitochondria from plants, fungi, and microorganisms but is absent in mammals. It results from the activity of an alternative oxidase (AOX) that conveys electrons directly from the respiratory chain (RC) ubiquinol pool to oxygen. AOX thus provides a bypath that releases constraints on the cytochrome pathway and prevents the over-reduction of the ubiquinone pool, a major source of superoxide. RC dysfunctions and deleterious superoxide overproduction are recurrent themes in human pathologies, ranging from neurodegenerative diseases to cancer, and may be instrumental in ageing. Thus, preventing RC blockade and excess superoxide production by means of AOX should be of considerable interest. However, because of its energy-dissipating properties, AOX might produce deleterious effects of its own in mammals. Here we show that AOX can be safely expressed in the mouse (MitAOX), with major physiological parameters being unaffected. It neither disrupted the activity of other RC components nor decreased oxidative phosphorylation in isolated mitochondria. It conferred cyanide-resistance to mitochondrial substrate oxidation and decreased reactive oxygen species (ROS) production upon RC blockade. Accordingly, AOX expression was able to support cyanide-resistant respiration by intact organs and to afford prolonged protection against a lethal concentration of gaseous cyanide in whole animals. Taken together, these results indicate that AOX expression in the mouse is innocuous and permits to overcome a RC blockade, while reducing associated oxidative insult. Therefore, the MitAOX mice represent a valuable tool in order to investigate the ability of AOX to counteract the panoply of mitochondrial-inherited diseases originating from oxidative phosphorylation defects.

Impact of inhaled nitric oxide on white matter damage in growth-restricted neonatal rats.

BACKGROUND: Fetal growth restriction is the second leading cause of perinatal morbidity and mortality, and neonates with intrauterine growth retardation (IUGR) have increased neurocognitive and neuropsychiatric morbidity. These neurocognitive impairments are mainly related to injury of the developing brain associated with IUGR. Growing evidence from preclinical models of brain injury in both adult and neonatal rodents supports the view that nitric oxide can promote neuroprotection. METHODS: In a model of IUGR induced by protracted gestational hypoxia leading to diffuse white matter injury, we subjected neonatal rats to low dose (5 ppm) but long-lasting (7 d) exposure to inhaled NO (iNO). We used a combination of techniques, including immunohistochemistry, quantitative PCR, and cognitive assessment, to assess neuroprotection. RESULTS: Antenatal hypoxia-induced IUGR was associated with severe neuroinflammation and delayed myelination. iNO exposure during the first postnatal week significantly attenuated cell death and microglial activation, enhanced oligodendroglial proliferation and finally improved myelination. Remarkably, iNO was associated with the specific upregulation of P27kip1, which initiates oligodendrocytic differentiation. Finally, iNO counteracted the deleterious effects of hypoxia on learning abilities. CONCLUSION: This study provides new evidence that iNO could be effective in preventing brain damage and/or enhancing repair of the developing brain.

Occurrence and toxicological relevance of pesticides and trace metals in agricultural soils, sediments, and water of the Sogamoso River basin, Colombia.

Historical pesticide use in agriculture and trace metal accumulation have long term impact on soil, sediment, and water quality. This research quantifies legacy and current-use pesticides and trace metals, assessing their occurrence and toxicological implications on a watershed scale in the Sogamoso River basin, tributary of the Magdalena River in Colombia. Organochlorine pesticides (22), organophosphates (7), and azole fungicides (5), as well as trace metals cadmium (Cd), chromium (Cr), copper (Cu), mercury (Hg), nickel (Ni), lead (Pb), and zinc (Zn) were analyzed in croplands and along the river. Toxic units (TU) and hazard quotients (HQ) were calculated to assess the mixture toxicity. Organochlorines were detected in 84% of soils, 100% of sediments, and 80% of water samples. Organophosphates were found in 100% of soil and sediment samples, as well as in 70% of water samples. Azole fungicides were present in 79% of soils, 60% of sediments, and in 10% of water samples. Total pesticide concentrations ranged from 214.2 to 8497.7 µg/kg in soils, 569.6-12768.2 µg/kg in sediments, and 0.2-4.1 µg/L in water. In addition, the use of partition coefficient (Kd) and organic carbon fraction (foc) allowed the distribution analysis for most of the pesticides in sediments, suspended particulate matter (SPM), and water systems, but not for soils. Concentrations of trace metals Cu, Zn, Pb, and Zn exceeded international quality guidelines for agricultural soils in 16% of the samples. Furthermore, Cu and Zn concentrations exceeded sediment quality guidelines in 50 and 90% of the samples, respectively. These findings demonstrate the broad distribution of complex mixtures of trace metals, legacy organochlorines, and current-use pesticides across the basin, indicating that conventional agriculture is a significant source of diffuse pollution. Sustainable agricultural practices are needed to mitigate adverse impacts on ecosystems and human health.

Left Atrial Appendage Aneurysm: A Case Report and Literature Review.

The left atrial appendage aneurysm is an uncommon condition that has garnered attention from the medical community due to its low incidence and varied clinical manifestations. The difficulty in identification is reflected in its incidental detection in imaging studies such as echocardiograms and tomographies, while symptoms range from mild to severe, including heart failure and thromboembolic events. The complex etiology includes congenital and acquired factors, and its management focuses on preventing complications through surgical resection, accompanied by medical strategies such as controlling heart rhythm and anticoagulation. The case of a 67-year-old woman with significant medical history illustrates these challenges. Despite an inconclusive initial diagnosis, a tomography revealed an aneurysm with an intracavitary thrombus, leading to successful surgical resection. However, subsequent infectious complications resulted in her death. The average age of diagnosis is around 30 years, and while it is more common in women, there are no significant gender differences. Surgical management remains the preferred option, especially in severe cases, although in some patients, a watchful waiting approach is chosen. In conclusion, the left atrial appendage aneurysm is a complex entity that requires a multidisciplinary approach to improve clinical outcomes. Early diagnosis and appropriate treatment are crucial to prevent serious complications and improve the quality of life of affected patients.

Marine Pollution and Advances in Biomonitoring in Cartagena Bay in the Colombian Caribbean.

Coastal zones sustain extensive biodiversity, support key processes for ocean dynamics, and influence the balance of the global environment. They also provide resources and services to communities, determine their culture, and are the basis for their economic growth. Cartagena Bay in the Colombian Caribbean is the place of the establishment of one of the country's main cities, which has a great historical and tourist attraction, and it is also the location of the main commercial port and a great variety of industries. Historically, it has been affected by several environmental impacts and intense pollution. This situation has gained the attention of different researchers, so herein is presented a literature review with a systematic approach using RStudio's bibliometrix on the presence of pollutants and the impact on biodiversity in recent decades, providing a critical analysis of the state of Cartagena Bay and its future needs to ensure its recovery and conservation. In addition, the socioeconomic dynamics related to the environmental state of Cartagena Bay are presented from the framework drivers, pressures, status, impacts, and responses (DPSIR). The update and critical understanding of the sources, fate, and effects of pollution are important not only for the knowledge of the status of this singular ecosystem but also to encourage future research and entrench evidence to support decision makers' actions. This review highlights that several pollutants that have been detected exceeding sediment quality guidelines, like As, Cd, Hg, and PAH, are also reported to bioaccumulate and cause damage throughout the trophic levels of the coastal environment. In addition, the potential use of sentinel species and biomarkers for their monitoring is discussed. Finally, the factors that cause pollution and threaten the state of the bay continue to exert pressure and impact; thus, there is a call for the further monitoring of this ecosystem and the strengthening of policies and regulations.

A decrease in plant gain, namely CO2 stores, characterizes dysfunctional breathing whatever its subtype in children.

Background: Whether dysfunctional breathing (DB) subtype classification is useful remains undetermined. The hyperventilation provocation test (HVPT) is used to diagnose DB. This test begins with a 3-min phase of hyperventilation during which fractional end-tidal CO2 (FETCO2) decreases that could be an assessment of plant gain, which relies on CO2 stores. Our aim was to assess 1) whether the children suffering from different subtypes of DB exhibit decreased plant gain and 2) the relationships between HVPT characteristics and plant gain. Methods: We retrospectively selected 48 children (median age 13.5 years, 36 females, 12 males) who exhibited during a cardiopulmonary exercise test either alveolar hyperventilation (transcutaneous PCO2 < 30 mmHg, n = 6) or inappropriate hyperventilation (increased VE'/V'CO2 slope) without hypocapnia (n = 18) or dyspnea without hyperventilation (n = 18) compared to children exhibiting physiological breathlessness (dyspnea for sports only, n = 6). These children underwent tidal-breathing recording (ventilation and FETCO2 allowing the calculation of plant gain) and a HVPT. Results: The plant gain was significantly higher in the physiological group as compared to the dyspnea without hyperventilation group, p = 0.024 and hyperventilation without hypocapnia group, p = 0.008 (trend for the hyperventilation with hypocapnia group, p = 0.078). The slope of linear decrease in FETCO2 during hyperventilation was significantly more negative in physiological breathlessness group as compared to hyperventilation without hypocapnia group (p = 0.005) and dyspnea without hyperventilation group (p = 0.049). Conclusion: The children with DB, regardless of their subtype, deplete their CO2 stores (decreased plant gain), which may be due to intermittent alveolar hyperventilation, suggesting the futility of our subtype classification.

Central CO2 chemosensitivity and CO2 controller gain independently contribute to daytime Pco2 in young subjects with congenital central hypoventilation syndrome.

Whether peripheral chemoreceptor response is altered in congenital central hypoventilation syndrome (CCHS) remains debated. Our aim was to prospectively evaluate both peripheral and central CO2 chemosensitivity and to evaluate their correlations with daytime Pco2 and arterial desaturation during exercise in CCHS. To this end, tidal breathing was recorded in patients with CCHS allowing the calculation of loop gain and its components {steady-state controller (assumed to mainly be peripheral chemosensitivity) and plant gains using a bivariate [end-tidal Pco2 ([Formula: see text]) and ventilation] constrained model}, a hyperoxic, hypercapnic ventilatory response test (central chemosensitivity), and a 6-min walk test (arterial desaturation). The results of loop gain were compared with those previously obtained in a healthy group of similar age. The study prospectively included 23 subjects with CCHS, without daytime ventilatory support; the subjects had a median age of 10 (5.6 to 27.4) yr (15 females) with moderate polyalanine repeat mutation (PARM: 20/25, 20/26, n = 11), severe PARM (20/27, 20/33, n = 8), or non-PARM (n = 4). As compared with 23 healthy subjects (4.9-27.0 yr), the subjects with CCHS had a decreased controller gain and an increased plant gain. Mean daytime [Formula: see text] level of subjects with CCHS correlated negatively to both Log(controller gain) and the slope of CO2 response. Genotype was not related to chemosensitivity. Arterial desaturation on exercise correlated negatively with Log(controller) gain but not with the slope of the CO2 response. In conclusion, we demonstrate that peripheral CO2 chemosensitivity is altered in some patients with CCHS and that the daytime [Formula: see text] depends on central and peripheral chemoreceptor responses.NEW & NOTEWORTHY Altered central CO2 chemosensitivity is a hallmark of congenital central hypoventilation syndrome (CCHS). Peripheral CO2 chemosensitivity can be partly assessed by controller gain measurement obtained from tidal breathing recording. In young subjects with CCHS, this study shows that both central and peripheral CO2 sensitivities independently contribute to daytime Pco2. Hypocapnia during nighttime-assisted ventilation is associated with higher peripheral chemosensitivity that is further associated with lesser arterial desaturation at walk.

Breathing without CO(2) chemosensitivity in conditional Phox2b mutants.

Breathing is a spontaneous, rhythmic motor behavior critical for maintaining O(2), CO(2), and pH homeostasis. In mammals, it is generated by a neuronal network in the lower brainstem, the respiratory rhythm generator (Feldman et al., 2003). A century-old tenet in respiratory physiology posits that the respiratory chemoreflex, the stimulation of breathing by an increase in partial pressure of CO(2) in the blood, is indispensable for rhythmic breathing. Here we have revisited this postulate with the help of mouse genetics. We have engineered a conditional mouse mutant in which the toxic PHOX2B(27Ala) mutation that causes congenital central hypoventilation syndrome in man is targeted to the retrotrapezoid nucleus, a site essential for central chemosensitivity. The mutants lack a retrotrapezoid nucleus and their breathing is not stimulated by elevated CO(2) at least up to postnatal day 9 and they barely respond as juveniles, but nevertheless survive, breathe normally beyond the first days after birth, and maintain blood PCO(2) within the normal range. Input from peripheral chemoreceptors that sense PO(2) in the blood appears to compensate for the missing CO(2) response since silencing them by high O(2) abolishes rhythmic breathing. CO(2) chemosensitivity partially recovered in adulthood. Hence, during the early life of rodents, the excitatory input normally afforded by elevated CO(2) is dispensable for life-sustaining breathing and maintaining CO(2) homeostasis in the blood.

The vesicular glutamate transporter VGLUT3 contributes to protection against neonatal hypoxic stress.

Neonates respond to hypoxia initially by increasing ventilation, and then by markedly decreasing both ventilation (hypoxic ventilatory decline) and oxygen consumption (hypoxic hypometabolism). This latter process, which vanishes with age, reflects a tight coupling between ventilatory and thermogenic responses to hypoxia. The neurological substrate of hypoxic hypometabolism is unclear, but it is known to be centrally mediated, with a strong involvement of the 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT, serotonin) system. To clarify this issue, we investigated the possible role of VGLUT3, the third subtype of vesicular glutamate transporter. VGLUT3 contributes to glutamate signalling by 5-HT neurons, facilitates 5-HT transmission and is expressed in strategic regions for respiratory and thermogenic control. We therefore assumed that VGLUT3 might significantly contribute to the response to hypoxia. To test this possibility, we analysed this response in newborn mice lacking VGLUT3 using anatomical, biochemical, electrophysiological and integrative physiology approaches. We found that the lack of VGLUT3 did not affect the histological organization of brainstem respiratory networks or respiratory activity under basal conditions. However, it impaired respiratory responses to 5-HT and anoxia, showing a marked alteration of central respiratory control. These impairments were associated with altered 5-HT turnover at the brainstem level. Furthermore, under cold conditions, the lack of VGLUT3 disrupted the metabolic rate, body temperature, baseline breathing and the ventilatory response to hypoxia. We conclude that VGLUT3 expression is dispensable under basal conditions but is required for optimal response to hypoxic stress in neonates.

Systemic inflammation disrupts the developmental program of white matter.

OBJECTIVE: Perinatal inflammation is a major risk factor for neurological deficits in preterm infants. Several experimental studies have shown that systemic inflammation can alter the programming of the developing brain. However, these studies do not offer detailed pathophysiological mechanisms, and they rely on relatively severe infectious or inflammatory stimuli that most likely do not reflect the levels of systemic inflammation observed in many human preterm infants. The goal of the present study was to test the hypothesis that moderate systemic inflammation is sufficient to alter white matter development. METHODS: Newborn mice received twice-daily intraperitoneal injections of interleukin-1ß (IL-1ß) over 5 days and were studied for myelination, oligodendrogenesis, and behavior and with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). RESULTS: Mice exposed to IL-1ß had a long-lasting myelination defect that was characterized by an increased number of nonmyelinated axons. They also displayed a reduction of the diameter of the myelinated axons. In addition, IL-1ß induced a significant reduction of the density of myelinating oligodendrocytes accompanied by an increased density of oligodendrocyte progenitors, suggesting a partial blockade in the oligodendrocyte maturation process. Accordingly, IL-1ß disrupted the coordinated expression of several transcription factors known to control oligodendrocyte maturation. These cellular and molecular abnormalities were correlated with a reduced white matter fractional anisotropy on diffusion tensor imaging and with memory deficits. INTERPRETATION: Moderate perinatal systemic inflammation alters the developmental program of the white matter. This insult induces a long-lasting myelination deficit accompanied by cognitive defects and MRI abnormalities, further supporting the clinical relevance of the present data.

Oropharyngeal obstruction and respiratory system compliance are linked to ventilatory control parameters in pediatric obstructive sleep apnea syndrome.

Instable ventilatory control is an endotypic trait of obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS). This study aimed to evaluate the relationships between the anatomical compromise of the upper (oro- and naso-pharynx) and lower airways and ventilatory control (measured by chemical loop gain) in otherwise healthy children suffering from moderate to severe OSAS (apnea hypopnea index ≥ 5/hour). The children underwent ear, nose and throat examination, measurement of impedance of the respiratory system that allowed characterizing peripheral lung mechanics using the extended Resistance-Inertance-Compliance model. Physiologically constrained analytical model based on tidal breathing analysis allowed for the computation of steady-state plant gain, steady-state controller gain (CG0) and steady-state loop gain (LG0). Medium-frequency components of the feedback control system were then deduced. Fifty children (median age 11.2 years) were enrolled. Oropharyngeal obstruction was associated with decreased CG0 (0.6 [0.2; 1.0] vs 1.5 [0.5; 6.6] L.s- 1.mmHg- 1, p = 0.038) and LG0 (0.4 [0.2; 1.1] vs 1.2 [0.4; 9.3], p = 0.027), while nasal obstruction did not modify ventilatory control parameters. In a multivariate analysis Medium-Frequency PG was negatively related to minute ventilation and respiratory system compliance. Both upper (tonsil hypertrophy) and lower (compliance of respiratory system) airways are linked to ventilatory control in children with moderate to severe OSAS.

VGLUT3 (vesicular glutamate transporter type 3) contribution to the regulation of serotonergic transmission and anxiety.

Three different subtypes of H(+)-dependent carriers (named VGLUT1-3) concentrate glutamate into synaptic vesicles before its exocytotic release. Neurons using other neurotransmitter than glutamate (such as cholinergic striatal interneurons and 5-HT neurons) express VGLUT3. It was recently reported that VGLUT3 increases acetylcholine vesicular filling, thereby, stimulating cholinergic transmission. This new regulatory mechanism is herein designated as vesicular-filling synergy (or vesicular synergy). In the present report, we found that deletion of VGLUT3 increased several anxiety-related behaviors in adult and in newborn mice as early as 8 d after birth. This precocious involvement of a vesicular glutamate transporter in anxiety led us to examine the underlying functional implications of VGLUT3 in 5-HT neurons. On one hand, VGLUT3 deletion caused a significant decrease of 5-HT(1A)-mediated neurotransmission in raphe nuclei. On the other hand, VGLUT3 positively modulated 5-HT transmission of a specific subset of 5-HT terminals from the hippocampus and the cerebral cortex. VGLUT3- and VMAT2-positive serotonergic fibers show little or no 5-HT reuptake transporter. These results unravel the existence of a novel subset of 5-HT terminals in limbic areas that might play a crucial role in anxiety-like behaviors. In summary, VGLUT3 accelerates 5-HT transmission at the level of specific 5-HT terminals and can exert an inhibitory control at the raphe level. Furthermore, our results suggest that the loss of VGLUT3 expression leads to anxiety-associated behaviors and should be considered as a potential new target for the treatment of this disorder.

A human mutation in Phox2b causes lack of CO2 chemosensitivity, fatal central apnea, and specific loss of parafacial neurons.

Breathing is maintained and controlled by a network of neurons in the brainstem that generate respiratory rhythm and provide regulatory input. Central chemoreception, the mechanism for CO(2) detection that provides an essential stimulatory input, is thought to involve neurons located near the medullary surface, whose nature is controversial. Good candidates are serotonergic medullary neurons and glutamatergic neurons in the parafacial region. Here, we show that mice bearing a mutation in Phox2b that causes congenital central hypoventilation syndrome in humans breathe irregularly, do not respond to an increase in CO(2), and die soon after birth from central apnea. They specifically lack Phox2b-expressing glutamatergic neurons located in the parafacial region, whereas other sites known or supposed to be involved in the control of breathing are anatomically normal. These data provide genetic evidence for the essential role of a specific population of medullary interneurons in driving proper breathing at birth and will be instrumental in understanding the etiopathology of congenital central hypoventilation syndrome.