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Li X, Lin Z, Liu C, Bai R, Wu D, Yang J. Glymphatic Imaging in Pediatrics. J Magn Reson Imaging 2024; 59:1523-1541. [PMID: 37819198 DOI: 10.1002/jmri.29040] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/29/2023] [Revised: 09/25/2023] [Accepted: 09/26/2023] [Indexed: 10/13/2023] Open
Abstract
The glymphatic system, which facilitates cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) flow through the brain parenchyma, is important for brain development and waste clearance. Advances in imaging techniques, particularly magnetic resonance imaging, have make it possible to evaluate glymphatic structures and functions in vivo. Recently, several studies have focused on the development and alterations of the glymphatic system in pediatric disorders. This review discusses the development of the glymphatic system, advances of imaging techniques and their applications in pediatric disorders. First, the results of the reviewed studies indicate that the development of the glymphatic system is a long-lasting process that continues into adulthood. Second, there is a need for improved glymphatic imaging techniques that are non-invasive and fast to improve suitability for pediatric applications, as some of existing methods use contrast injection and are susceptible to motion artifacts from long scanning times. Several novel techniques are potentially feasible for pediatric patients and may be used in the future. Third, the glymphatic dysfunction is associated with a large number of pediatric disorders, although only a few have recently been investigated. In conclusion, research on the pediatric glymphatic system remains an emerging field. The preliminary applications of glymphatic imaging techniques have provided unique insight into the pathological mechanism of pediatric diseases, but mainly limited in visualization of enlarged perivascular spaces and morphological measurements on CSF volumes. More in-depth studies on glymphatic functions are required to improve our understanding of the mechanisms underlying brain development and pediatric diseases. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: 5 TECHNICAL EFFICACY: Stage 3.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xianjun Li
- Department of Radiology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, China
| | - Zixuan Lin
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, College of Biomedical Engineering and Instrument Science, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Congcong Liu
- Department of Radiology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, China
| | - Ruiliang Bai
- Interdisciplinary Institute of Neuroscience and Technology, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Dan Wu
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, College of Biomedical Engineering and Instrument Science, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Jian Yang
- Department of Radiology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, China
- Shaanxi Engineering Research Center of Computational Imaging and Medical Intelligence, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, China
- Center for Brain Science, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, China
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Stewart J, Fleishman NR, Staggs VS, Thomson M, Stoecklein N, Lawson CE, Washburn MP, Umar S, Attard TM. Small Intestinal Polyp Burden in Pediatric Peutz-Jeghers Syndrome Assessed through Capsule Endoscopy: A Longitudinal Study. Children (Basel) 2023; 10:1680. [PMID: 37892343 PMCID: PMC10605554 DOI: 10.3390/children10101680] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/25/2023] [Revised: 09/22/2023] [Accepted: 10/06/2023] [Indexed: 10/29/2023]
Abstract
The management of pediatric Peutz-Jeghers Syndrome (PJS) focuses on the prevention of intussusception complicating small intestinal (SI) polyposis. This hinges on the accurate appraisal of the polyp burden to tailor therapeutic interventions. Video Capsule Endoscopy (VCE) is an established tool to study SI polyps in children, but an in-depth characterization of polyp burden in this population is lacking. Methods: We performed a retrospective longitudinal cross-sectional analysis of VCE studies in pediatric PJS patients at our institution (CMKC) from 2010 to 2020. Demographic, clinical, and VCE findings reported by three reviewers in tandem were accrued. Polyp burden variables were modeled as functions of patient and study characteristics using linear mixed models adjusted for clustering. Results: The cohort included 15 patients. The total small bowel polyp count and largest polyp size clustered under 30 polyps and <20 mm in size. Luminal occlusion correlated closely with the estimated polyp size. Polyp distribution favored proximal (77%) over distal (66%) small bowel involvement. The adjusted largest polyp size was greater in males. Double Balloon Enteroscopy was associated with a decreased polyp burden. Conclusions: The polyp burden in pediatric PJS patients favors the proximal third of the small intestine, with relatively small numbers and a polyp size amenable to resection through enteroscopy. Male gender and older age were related to an increased polyp burden.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jeremy Stewart
- Division of Pediatric Gastroenterology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Children’s Medical Center, Dallas, TX 75235, USA
| | - Nathan R. Fleishman
- Division of Gastroenterology, Levine Children’s Hospital, Charlotte, NC 28203, USA
| | - Vincent S. Staggs
- Biostatistics and Epidemiology Core, Division of Health Services and Outcomes Research, Children’s Mercy Hospital, Kansas City, MO 64108, USA
| | - Mike Thomson
- Department of Paediatric Gastroenterology, Sheffield Children’s Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, Sheffield University, Sheffield S10 2TH, UK
| | - Nicole Stoecklein
- Division of Gastroenterology, Children’s Mercy Hospital, Kansas City, MO 64108, USA
| | - Caitlin E. Lawson
- Division of Genetics, Children’s Mercy Hospital, Kansas City, MO 64108, USA
| | - Michael P. Washburn
- Department of Cancer Biology, The University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, KS 66160, USA
| | - Shahid Umar
- Department of Surgery, The University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, KS 66160, USA
| | - Thomas M. Attard
- Division of Gastroenterology, Children’s Mercy Hospital, Kansas City, MO 64108, USA
- University of Missouri–Kansas City School of Medicine, 2464 Charlotte St, Kansas City, MO 64108, USA
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Zhu S, Zhang X, Zhou M, Kendrick KM, Zhao W. Therapeutic applications of transcutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulation with potential for application in neurodevelopmental or other pediatric disorders. Front Endocrinol (Lausanne) 2022; 13:1000758. [PMID: 36313768 PMCID: PMC9596914 DOI: 10.3389/fendo.2022.1000758] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/22/2022] [Accepted: 09/27/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Non-invasive transcutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulation (taVNS) as a newly developed technique involves stimulating the cutaneous receptive field formed by the auricular branch of the vagus nerve in the outer ear, with resulting activation of vagal connections to central and peripheral nervous systems. Increasing evidence indicates that maladaptive neural plasticity may underlie the pathology of several pediatric neurodevelopmental and psychiatric disorders, such as autism spectrum disorder, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, disruptive behavioral disorder and stress-related disorder. Vagal stimulation may therefore provide a useful intervention for treating maladaptive neural plasticity. In the current review we summarize the current literature primarily on therapeutic use in adults and discuss the prospects of applying taVNS as a therapeutic intervention in specific pediatric neurodevelopmental and other psychiatric disorders. Furthermore, we also briefly discuss factors that would help optimize taVNS protocols in future clinical applications. We conclude from these initial findings that taVNS may be a promising alternative treatment for pediatric disorders which do not respond to other interventions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Siyu Zhu
- The Clinical Hospital of Chengdu Brain Science Institute, Key Laboratory for NeuroInformation of Ministry of Education, Center for Information in Medicine, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, China
| | - Xiaolu Zhang
- The Clinical Hospital of Chengdu Brain Science Institute, Key Laboratory for NeuroInformation of Ministry of Education, Center for Information in Medicine, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, China
| | - Menghan Zhou
- The Clinical Hospital of Chengdu Brain Science Institute, Key Laboratory for NeuroInformation of Ministry of Education, Center for Information in Medicine, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, China
| | - Keith M. Kendrick
- The Clinical Hospital of Chengdu Brain Science Institute, Key Laboratory for NeuroInformation of Ministry of Education, Center for Information in Medicine, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, China
| | - Weihua Zhao
- The Clinical Hospital of Chengdu Brain Science Institute, Key Laboratory for NeuroInformation of Ministry of Education, Center for Information in Medicine, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, China
- Institute of Electronic and Information Engineering of University of Electronic Science and Technology of China (UESTC) in Guangdong, Dongguan, China
- *Correspondence: Weihua Zhao,
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Tan ZV, Kosana K, Savarino J, Croft N, Naik S, Kaplan J, Giles E. Histology at diagnostic gastroscopy predicts outcome after intestinal resection in pediatric Crohn's disease. J Gastroenterol Hepatol 2020; 35:2074-2079. [PMID: 32343456 DOI: 10.1111/jgh.15080] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/04/2019] [Revised: 04/15/2020] [Accepted: 04/24/2020] [Indexed: 12/09/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND AIM Pediatric Crohn's disease (CD) has been shown to have a high recurrence rate following surgical resection. Risk factors for postoperative CD recurrence in children are not well known. The aim of this study was to identify factors influencing postoperative recurrence in pediatric CD. METHODS Pediatric CD patients who underwent surgical resection with primary anastomosis with a minimum follow up of 2 years were identified from databases at the Royal London Hospital and Massachusetts General Hospital. Patients were subdivided into a recurrence group defined by clinical, endoscopic, histological, radiological and/or surgical outcomes, and a nonrecurrence group. Patient demographics, initial gastroscopy and colonoscopy findings, Paris classification, and preoperative and postoperative pharmacotherapy were analyzed. RESULTS Ninety-six children who underwent an ileal or ileocolonic resection with primary anastomosis were identified. Fifty-seven children had postoperative recurrence. Recurrence was associated with abnormal initial gastroscopy findings (P = 0.0077), ileocolonic disease location (P = 0.03), and perianal disease involvement (P = 0.04). Patients with abnormal initial gastroscopy had higher rates of relapse (hazard ratio 3.42, 95% confidence interval [CI] [1.86-6.30], P = 0.001). Multivariate analysis demonstrated that abnormal diagnostic gastroscopy histology was a significant independent predictor of postoperative recurrence in this cohort (odds ratio 1.33, 95% CI [1.04-1.70], P = 0.024). The most common histological abnormality was non-Helicobacter gastritis, found in 29/46 (63%). CONCLUSION This dual-center study has shown that the presence of upper gastrointestinal tract inflammation, especially non-Helicobacter gastritis, at the time of diagnosis, is associated with an increased risk of postoperative recurrence in pediatric CD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zien Vanessa Tan
- Department of Paediatrics, Monash University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Kiranmai Kosana
- Department of Paediatric Gastroenterology, Barts Health NHS Trust, London, UK
| | - Jeffrey Savarino
- Division of Pediatric Gastroenterology, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Nicholas Croft
- Department of Neurogastroenterology, Queen Mary University of London, London, UK
| | - Sandhia Naik
- Department of Paediatric Gastroenterology, Barts Health NHS Trust, London, UK
| | - Jess Kaplan
- Division of Pediatric Gastroenterology, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Edward Giles
- Department of Pediatrics, Monash University, Centre for Innate Immunity and Infectious Disease, Hudson Institute for Medical Research, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
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Hu X, Guo R, Guo J, Qi Z, Li W, Hao C. Parallel Tests of Whole Exome Sequencing and Copy Number Variant Sequencing Increase the Diagnosis Yields of Rare Pediatric Disorders. Front Genet 2020; 11:473. [PMID: 32595695 PMCID: PMC7300249 DOI: 10.3389/fgene.2020.00473] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/17/2020] [Accepted: 04/16/2020] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Background: Both whole exome sequencing and copy number variants sequencing were applied to identify the genetic cause of rare pediatric disorders. In our study, we aimed to investigate the diagnostic yield of parallel tests of trio whole exome sequencing and copy number variants sequencing and its clinical utility. Methods: After collecting detailed clinical information, a total of 60 patients were referred to parallel tests of whole exome sequencing and copy number variants sequencing, which used shared initial libraries. Results: 26 pathogenic or likely pathogenic single nucleotide variants and 11 copy number variants were identified in 32 patients. 65.4% (17/26) of the SNVs were novel. The overall diagnosis rate was 53.3%. For the patients with positive results, 22 (36.7%) patients were diagnosed by whole exome sequencing and 10 (16.7%) patients were diagnosed by copy number variants sequencing. We also reviewed clinical impact on selected cases. Conclusion: We adopted an approach by performing parallel tests of trio whole exome sequencing and copy number variants sequencing with shared initial libraries. This strategy is relatively efficient and cost-effective for the diagnosis of rare pediatric disorders with high heterogeneity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xuyun Hu
- Beijing Key Laboratory for Genetics of Birth Defects, Beijing Pediatric Research Institute, Beijing Children's Hospital, Capital Medical University, National Center for Children's Health, Beijing, China
- MOE Key Laboratory of Major Diseases in Children, Beijing Children's Hospital, Capital Medical University, National Center for Children's Health, Beijing, China
- Henan Key Laboratory of Pediatric Inherited & Metabolic Diseases, Henan Children's Hospital, Zhengzhou Hospital of Beijing Children's Hospital, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Ruolan Guo
- Beijing Key Laboratory for Genetics of Birth Defects, Beijing Pediatric Research Institute, Beijing Children's Hospital, Capital Medical University, National Center for Children's Health, Beijing, China
- MOE Key Laboratory of Major Diseases in Children, Beijing Children's Hospital, Capital Medical University, National Center for Children's Health, Beijing, China
- Henan Key Laboratory of Pediatric Inherited & Metabolic Diseases, Henan Children's Hospital, Zhengzhou Hospital of Beijing Children's Hospital, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Jun Guo
- Beijing Key Laboratory for Genetics of Birth Defects, Beijing Pediatric Research Institute, Beijing Children's Hospital, Capital Medical University, National Center for Children's Health, Beijing, China
- MOE Key Laboratory of Major Diseases in Children, Beijing Children's Hospital, Capital Medical University, National Center for Children's Health, Beijing, China
- Henan Key Laboratory of Pediatric Inherited & Metabolic Diseases, Henan Children's Hospital, Zhengzhou Hospital of Beijing Children's Hospital, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Zhan Qi
- Beijing Key Laboratory for Genetics of Birth Defects, Beijing Pediatric Research Institute, Beijing Children's Hospital, Capital Medical University, National Center for Children's Health, Beijing, China
- MOE Key Laboratory of Major Diseases in Children, Beijing Children's Hospital, Capital Medical University, National Center for Children's Health, Beijing, China
- Henan Key Laboratory of Pediatric Inherited & Metabolic Diseases, Henan Children's Hospital, Zhengzhou Hospital of Beijing Children's Hospital, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Wei Li
- Beijing Key Laboratory for Genetics of Birth Defects, Beijing Pediatric Research Institute, Beijing Children's Hospital, Capital Medical University, National Center for Children's Health, Beijing, China
- MOE Key Laboratory of Major Diseases in Children, Beijing Children's Hospital, Capital Medical University, National Center for Children's Health, Beijing, China
- Henan Key Laboratory of Pediatric Inherited & Metabolic Diseases, Henan Children's Hospital, Zhengzhou Hospital of Beijing Children's Hospital, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Chanjuan Hao
- Beijing Key Laboratory for Genetics of Birth Defects, Beijing Pediatric Research Institute, Beijing Children's Hospital, Capital Medical University, National Center for Children's Health, Beijing, China
- MOE Key Laboratory of Major Diseases in Children, Beijing Children's Hospital, Capital Medical University, National Center for Children's Health, Beijing, China
- Henan Key Laboratory of Pediatric Inherited & Metabolic Diseases, Henan Children's Hospital, Zhengzhou Hospital of Beijing Children's Hospital, Zhengzhou, China
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Kobayashi M, Sumiyama K, Shimojima N, Ieiri S, Okano H, Kamba S, Fujimura T, Hirobe S, Kuroda T, Takahashi-Fujigasaki J. Technical feasibility of visualizing myenteric plexus using confocal laser endomicroscopy. J Gastroenterol Hepatol 2017; 32:1604-1610. [PMID: 28142194 DOI: 10.1111/jgh.13754] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/15/2016] [Revised: 12/29/2016] [Accepted: 01/27/2017] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND AIM In preceding studies, we identified that the myenteric plexus (MP) could be visualized with confocal laser endomicroscopy (CLE) by applying neural fluorescent probes lacking clinical safety profiling data from the submucosal side. In this study, we evaluated the technical feasibility of MP visualization using probe-based CLE (pCLE) from the serosal side with cresyl violet (CV), which has been used clinically for chromoendoscopy. METHODS The dye affinity of CV for MP was first explored in an in vivo transgenic mouse model using neural crest derivatives labeled with green fluorescent protein. We also tested the feasibility of CV-assisted visualization of MP in human surgical specimens, wherein the tissue dying and pCLE observation were performed from the serosal side. In the human study, rate of MP visualization by pCLE was evaluated as the primary outcome. We also evaluated the sensitivity and specificity of MP visualization by pCLE, using pathological presence/absence of MP as the gold standard. RESULTS We confirmed the dye affinity of CV to MP in all tested models. The MP appeared as brightly stained ladder-like structures with pCLE, and in the human study, MP was visualized in 12/14 (85.7%) samples, with 92.3% sensitivity and 100% specificity. In positive cases showing the ladder-like structure of MP by pCLE, the mean maximum and minimum widths of nerve strands were 54.3 (± 23.6) and 19.7 (± 6.0) μm, respectively. A ganglion was detected by pCLE in 10 cases (10/12, 83.3%). CONCLUSIONS This study demonstrated the technical feasibility of visualizing the MP in real time by CV-assisted pCLE (UMIN-CTR number, UMIN000015056).
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Affiliation(s)
- Masakuni Kobayashi
- Department of Endoscopy and Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Internal Medicine, The Jikei University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Kazuki Sumiyama
- Department of Endoscopy, The Jikei University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Naoki Shimojima
- Department of Pediatric Surgery, Keio University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan.,Department of Surgery, Tokyo Metropolitan Children's Medical Center, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Satoshi Ieiri
- Department of Pediatric Surgery, Kagoshima University, Kagoshima, Japan
| | - Hideyuki Okano
- Department of Physiology, Keio University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Shunsuke Kamba
- Department of Endoscopy and Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Internal Medicine, The Jikei University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Takumi Fujimura
- Department of Pediatric Surgery, Keio University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Seiichi Hirobe
- Department of Surgery, Tokyo Metropolitan Children's Medical Center, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Tatsuo Kuroda
- Department of Pediatric Surgery, Keio University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Junko Takahashi-Fujigasaki
- Department of Neuropathology, Brain Bank for Aging Research, Tokyo Metropolitan Institute of Gerontology, Tokyo, Japan
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Abstract
Proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy (1H MRS) is a noninvasive imaging technique that can easily be added to the conventional magnetic resonance (MR) imaging sequences. Using MRS one can directly compare spectra from pathologic or abnormal tissue and normal tissue. Metabolic changes arising from pathology that can be visualized by MRS may not be apparent from anatomy that can be visualized by conventional MR imaging. In addition, metabolic changes may precede anatomic changes. Thus, MRS is used for diagnostics, to observe disease progression, monitor therapeutic treatments, and to understand the pathogenesis of diseases. MRS may have an important impact on patient management. The purpose of this chapter is to provide practical guidance in the clinical application of MRS of the brain. This chapter provides an overview of MRS-detectable metabolites and their significance. In addition some specific current clinical applications of MRS will be discussed, including brain tumors, inborn errors of metabolism, leukodystrophies, ischemia, epilepsy, and neurodegenerative diseases. The chapter concludes with technical considerations and challenges of clinical MRS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eva-Maria Ratai
- Division of Neuroradiology, Department of Radiology, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, and Athinoula A. Martinos Center for Biomedical Imaging, Boston, MA, USA.
| | - R Gilberto González
- Division of Neuroradiology, Department of Radiology, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, and Athinoula A. Martinos Center for Biomedical Imaging, Boston, MA, USA
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Gibelli NEM, Tannuri U, de Mello ES. Immunohistochemical studies of stellate cells in experimental cholestasis in newborn and adult rats. Clinics (Sao Paulo) 2008; 63:689-94. [PMID: 18925331 PMCID: PMC2664729 DOI: 10.1590/s1807-59322008000500019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2008] [Accepted: 07/21/2008] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND AIMS Although there is much known about liver diseases, some aspects remain unclear, such as the nature of the differences between the diseases observed in newborn infants and those in adults. For example, how do newborns respond to duct epithelial cell injury? Do the stellate cells in newborns respond similarly to those in adults during biliary obstruction? METHODS Ninety newborn Wistar rats aged six days, weighing 8.0 - 13.9 g each, and 90 adult rats weighing 199.7 - 357.0 g each, were submitted to bile duct ligation. After surgery, they were randomly divided and sacrificed on the 3rd, 5th, 7th, 14th, 21st or 28th day post-bile duct ligation. Hepatic biopsies were obtained and immunohistochemical semi-quantification of desmin and alpha-SMA expression was performed in hepatic stellate cells and in myofibroblasts in the portal space, and between the portal space and the liver lobule. RESULTS Desmin expression in the myofibroblast cells post-bile duct ligation was higher in young rats, reaching its peak level in a shorter time when compared to the adult animals. The differences between the groups for alpha-SMA expression were less significant than for desmin. CONCLUSIONS These findings indicate that there is an increase in the number of collagen-producing myofibroblast cells in young animals, suggesting that there is more intense fibrosis in this population. This finding may explain why young animals with bile duct obstruction experience more intense portal fibrosis that is similar to the pathology observed in the livers of newborns with biliary atresia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nelson Elias Mendes Gibelli
- Pediatric Surgery and Pediatric Liver Transplantation Divisions, Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de São Paulo – São Paulo/SP, Brazil
- Laboratory of Pediatric Surgery (LIM 30), Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de São Paulo – São Paulo/SP, Brazil. Phone: 55 11 3061.7479,
| | - Uenis Tannuri
- Pediatric Surgery and Pediatric Liver Transplantation Divisions, Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de São Paulo – São Paulo/SP, Brazil
- Laboratory of Pediatric Surgery (LIM 30), Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de São Paulo – São Paulo/SP, Brazil. Phone: 55 11 3061.7479,
| | - Evandro Sobroza de Mello
- Pediatric Surgery and Pediatric Liver Transplantation Divisions, Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de São Paulo – São Paulo/SP, Brazil
- Laboratory of Pediatric Surgery (LIM 30), Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de São Paulo – São Paulo/SP, Brazil. Phone: 55 11 3061.7479,
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