Age-dependent effects of embryonic ethanol exposure on anxiety-like behaviours in young zebrafish: A genotype comparison study.

Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) is characterized by a variety of morphological, behavioural and cognitive deficits, ranging from mild to severe. Numerous animal models, including the zebrafish, have been employed to better understand the onset, expression and progression of this disorder. Embryonic ethanol-induced deficits in learning and memory, anxiety, social responses and elevated alcohol self-administration have been successfully demonstrated in zebrafish. Studies in zebrafish have also shown the expression of these behavioural deficits depends upon the developmental stage of ethanol exposure, the age of observation, as well as the genotype (strain or population origin) of the tested zebrafish. Here, we investigate how the genotype and age of observation may influence embryonic ethanol-induced alterations in anxiety-like responses in zebrafish. Zebrafish embryos exposed to either 0% or 1% (vol/vol) ethanol at 24hpf were tested in an open tank at one of three stages: larval (6-8 days post fertilization (dpf)), mid-larval (16-18dpf), or juvenile (26-28dpf). Two genotypes were tested in this manner, ABNS (a quasi-inbred strain) and ABSK (a mix of AB, TU and TL strains). We found embryonic ethanol induced behavioural changes to significantly differ depending on the genotype and age of observation. For example, significant differences between control and ethanol exposed zebrafish in both genotypes were observed in juvenile zebrafish, but few significant treatment effects were observed in larval zebrafish. Additionally, ethanol appeared to alter anxiety-like behaviours in the ABNS genotype but did not have as robust of an effect on the ABSK genotype. Lastly, there were significant behavioural differences between unexposed (control) zebrafish of the two genotypes, suggesting baseline behavioural differences despite a common AB genetic origin.

Prognostic importance of deranged sodium level in critically ill patients: A systemic literature to review.

It is common upon admission or during stay at a hospital or intensive care unit (ICU) for patients to present with or acquire a serum sodium abnormality. Hyponatremia, serum sodium level less than 135 mmol/L, frequently associated with critical illnesses such as heart failure and liver cirrhosis, is an indicator of disease severity as well as a risk factor for poor prognosis. Hypernatremia, serum sodium level greater than 145 mmol/L, results due to any ailment disabling a patient's modality of thirst or the ability to relieve it once sensed. Hypernatremia has a more frequent iatrogenic component than hyponatremia. It can develop insidiously among patients through IV fluid administration of saline; both its presentation upon admission and development during stay is associated with mortality. Hyponatremia is associated with increased mortality and its treatment with morbidity as it carries a risk of overcorrection and consequently the development of central pontine myelinolysis. This review article covers the findings, and subsequent correlation between findings sought, of six articles catering to underscore the correlation between sodium disorders and prognosis of hospitalized or critically ill patients. PubMed search engine was utilized to select articles befitting the purpose of this review. Cumulatively, this review article substantiates the need to diligently evaluate and treat serum sodium disorders in hospitalized patients to achieve better prognosis.