Low-level mercury, omega-3 index and neurobehavioral outcomes in an adult US coastal population.

BACKGROUND: Neurodevelopmental effects of omega-3 fatty acids and mercury from fish consumption have been characterized in children. In contrast, neurobehavioral outcomes associated with fish are not well studied in adults. OBJECTIVE: This study of avid seafood consumers on Long Island (NY, USA) sought to define associations between mercury, seafood consumption, omega-3 fatty acids and neurobehavioral outcomes. METHODS: A computer-based test system was used to assess neurobehavioral function. Blood total Hg (Hg) and omega-3 index were measured in 199 adult avid seafood eaters, who also completed the neurobehavioral assessment and an extensive food and fish frequency and demographic questionnaire. RESULTS: For most of the outcomes considered, neither Hg nor omega-3 index was associated with neurobehavioral outcomes after adjustment for key confounding variables. Fish consumption, however, was associated with decreased odds of both self-reported fatigue (OR 0.85; 95 % CI 0.72, 1.01) and a constellation of neurologic symptoms (OR 0.79; 95 % CI 0.66, 0.96). CONCLUSIONS: Results from our study provide little evidence that omega-3 fatty acids or Hg is associated with cognitive function in adult avid seafood consumers. Larger studies are needed to confirm our finding of associations between fish consumption and decreased self-reported fatigue and neurologic impairment.

Synthesis, characterization, and biocompatibility of lanthanum titanate nanoparticles in albino mice in a sex-specific manner.

The aim of this study is to report the synthesis, characterization, and biocompatibility of lanthanum titanate nanoparticles (LT NPs) in albino mice. Microemulsion method was used to generate LT NPs. Seven-week-old albino mice of both sexes orally received 50 mg/ml saline/kg body weight of nanoparticles for 15 days (group 1) and 29 days (group 2). Control groups were maintained in parallel. Selected behavioral (rotarod, light and dark box, open-field and Morris water maze) tests were conducted, blood biochemical analysis was done, and antioxidants were determined in vital organs of all treatments. Male mice treated with LT NPs for 15 days spent significantly more time in light and less time in dark during light dark box test. While they had made significantly more platform entries and platform maximum visits during acquisition phase of Morris water maze test, they remained unaffected in probe trail performance when compared with control. These male mice had significantly reduced white blood cells, lymphocyte, and monocyte count and significantly increased triglyceride levels in serum than the control group. They had higher level of superoxide dismutase (SOD) in heart and reduced level of malonaldehyde (MDA) in kidney while 15-day LT NP-treated females had significantly higher level of SOD in liver and kidney. Male mice treated with NPs for 29 days had increased anticlockwise rotations during open field, reduced level of triglycerides in serum, and significantly higher level of SOD in kidney and MDA in lungs. In contrast, female mice treated with NPs for 29 days had higher SOD level in liver, kidney, and heart than their control group. Oral supplementation of LT NPs for variable duration improved the exploratory behavior in male but disturbed blood chemistry and antioxidants from vital organs under both experimental conditions.

Thy1-YFP-H Mice and the Parallel Rod Floor Test to Evaluate Short- and Long-Term Progression of Traumatic Brain Injury.

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a leading cause of death and disability and is a risk factor for the later development of neuropsychiatric disorders and neurodegenerative diseases. Many models of TBI have been developed, but their further refinement and a more detailed long-term follow-up is needed. We have used the Thy1-YFP-H transgenic mouse line and the parallel rod floor test to produce an unbiased and robust method for the evaluation of the multiple effects of a validated model of controlled cortical injury. This approach reveals short- and long-term progressive changes, including compromised biphasic motor function up to 85 days post-lesion, which correlates with neuronal atrophy, dendrite and spine loss, and long-term axonal pathology evidenced by axon spheroids and fragmentation. Here we present methods for inducing a controlled cortical injury in the Thy1-YFP-H transgenic mouse line and for evaluating the resulting deficits in the parallel rod floor test. This technique constitutes a new, unbiased, and robust method for the evaluation of motor and behavioral alterations after TBI. © 2018 by John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

Motor evoked potentials in standing and recumbent calves induced by magnetic stimulation at the foramen magnum.

The aims of this study were to determine reference values for magnetic motor evoked potentials (mMEPs) in calves and the influence of position during examination (standing or lateral recumbency). Reference values were determined using 41 healthy Holstein Friesian bull calves aged 1-10 months; standing and lateral recumbency were examined in 11 calves. Maximal magnetic stimulation was performed at the level of the foramen magnum with a magnetic field of 4 T at the coil surface. In standing position, distinct, reproducible mMEPs were obtained in all calves. Onset latency (LAT) (mean ± standard deviation) was significantly shorter in the thoracic limbs (34.4 ± 3.1 ms) than in the pelvic limbs (44.6 ± 3.0 ms). Amplitude (AMPL) was significantly higher in the thoracic limbs (3.7 ± 1.7 mV) than in the pelvic limbs (3.3 ± 1.7 mV) and significantly increased with body length. Age, body weight, height at the withers and rectal temperature had no significant association with LAT or AMPL, and no differences between left and right were noted. In the lateral position, only 64% of the calves showed responses in the four limbs; in these calves, LAT (29.7 ± 4.7 ms) and AMPL (3.0 ± 1.8 mV) in the thoracic limbs were significantly different from AMPL (47.0 ± 7.4 ms) and LAT (2.1 ± 2.1 mV) in the pelvic limbs. In conclusion, mMEPs in limb muscles can be evoked in calves by stimulation at the level of the foramen magnum. mMEPs are more difficult to obtain in lateral recumbency than in standing calves.