Neuropeptides in the developing human hippocampus under hypoxic–ischemic conditions

The perinatal period, sensitive for newborn survival, is also one of the most critical moments in human brain development. Perinatal hypoxia due to reduced blood supply to the brain (ischemia) is one of the main causes of neonatal mortality. Brain damage caused by perinatal hypoxia–ischemia (HI) can lead to neuro‐ and psychological disorders. However, its impact seems to be region‐dependent, with the hippocampus being one of the most affected areas. Among the neuronal populations of the hippocampus, some interneuron groups – such as somatostatin‐ or neuropeptide Y‐expressing neurons – seem to be particularly vulnerable. The limited information available about the effects of HI in the hippocampus comes mainly from animal models and adult human studies. This article presents an immunohistochemical analysis of somatostatin (SOM) and neuropeptide Y (NPY) expression in the developing human hippocampus after perinatal HI. Two rostrocaudal sections of the body of the hippocampus were analysed, and the number of immunostained cells in the polymorphic layer of the dentate gyrus (DG) and the pyramidal cell layer and stratum oriens of the CA3, CA2 and CA1 fields of the hippocampus proper were quantified. The results showed a lower density of both neuropeptides in hypoxic compared to control cases. In the HI group, the number of SOM‐immunoreactive cell bodies was statistically significantly lower in the pyramidal cell layer and stratum oriens of CA1, while the number of NPY‐expressing neurons was statistically lower in the pyramidal cell layer of CA2. Besides, the number of SOM‐expressing neurons was significantly higher in the stratum oriens of CA1 compared to that in CA2. In sum, we observed a different vulnerability of SOM‐ and NPY‐containing neurons in the developing human hippocampus following perinatal HI damage. Our results could contribute to a better understanding of the behaviour of these neuronal populations under stressful conditions during the perinatal period.     

Women’s opinions on the legalisation of abortion in Chile 2009–2013

Chile is one of only four countries in the world where there is no explicit legal exception to prohibitions on abortion, and where the criminalisation of abortion endangers women’s health and may be misaligned with public opinion. In this study we explored attitudes towards the legalisation of abortion and differences in levels of support across time. Among Chilean women in 2009 and 2013, we examined: (1) an additive index indicating support for legalisation of abortion in several situations and (2) support for each situation separately. We investigated the demographic characteristics associated with support for legalisation using multivariate regression. Over 70% of women supported the legalisation of abortion in cases of risk to the woman’s life, rape and foetal malformation, and support was higher in 2013 compared to 2009 (β = 0.28; 95% CI: 0.12, 0.44). Women with increasing education and those attending church services less frequently were more likely to support the legalisation of abortion (β = 0.27; 95% CI: 0.11, 0.43), while those affiliated to a religion other than Catholicism (β = ? 0.32; 95% CI: ? 0.48, ? 0.16) were less likely to do so. Our study is the first to examine public opinions on abortion in Chile and differences in levels of support across time periods. Results indicate that current policies may not reflect trends in public opinion.     

Enamel hypoplasia in relation to caries in Guatemalan children.

Guatemalan children with anterior linear enamel hypoplasia (LEH) had a significantly greater caries experience in posterior dentition than their peers who did not have anterior LEH. The findings suggest that the synergistic mechanism of undernutrition and infection, which may underlie the occurrence of anterior LEH, may also predispose clinically normal appearing deciduous molars to an excessive caries attack equal to that observed in the grossly hypoplastic anterior teeth. The nutritional implications merit further investigation.     

Violence Committed Against Migrants in Transit: Experiences on the Northern Mexican Border

Thousands of Mexican and Central American migrants converge at the Mexico-United States border. Undocumented migrants in transit to the United States are vulnerable due to their lack of access to health care and legal assistance. This study attempts to provide evidence on the violent-related consequences that migration has on migrants. A mixed-method study was conducted between April 2006-May 2007 in shelters in Baja California, Mexicali and Tijuana, Mexico. 22 in depth interviews were performed and fifteen hundred and twelve migrants responded a questionnaire. Results from both in-depth interviews and the analysis of the quantitative data shows the different types of violence experiences by migrants which include threats, verbal abuse, and arbitrary detention based on ethnicity, as well as assaults, beatings and sexual violence. It is crucial to stress the importance and the need to evidence the condition in which migrants’ transit to the US and to effectively respond to the violence they experience.     

Mechanism of ethacrynic acid-induced choleresis in the rat.

Ethacrynic acid (EA) was injected to rats with functional nephrectomy after a control period of steady-state bile flow sustained by taurocholate infusion. Biliary clearance of [14C]mannitol was measured in order to estimate canalicular bile flow and bile salt-independent fraction (BSIF). After EA infusion, bile flow increased by 56%; bile salt excretion rate decreased by 10%; electrolyte excretion rates all increased, principally Na+ and K+. Mannitol clearance increased in parallel with bile flow. The BSIF increased. EA was excreted into bile as a metabolite identified as the cysteine adduct of EA; its excretion rate was linearly correlated with the increment in bile flow. The results are consistent with the hypothesis that the biliary excretion of an EA derivative results in an osmotic water flow increasing the canalicular BSIF. Since EA ia a Na+-K+-ATPase inhibitor, it is necessary to reconsider the relationship between secretion of canalicular BSIF and active Na+ transport mediated by the Na+-K+-ATPase system.