Topic: prematurity

Cerebral palsy (CP) is the leading cause of motor disability in children. Hypoxia-ischemia (HI) and prematurity are main risk factors. Administration of magnesium sulfate (MgSO4) to mothers before 33 weeks' amenorrhea (SA) reduces the occurrence of CP at 2 years by around 30%. At this age, the white matter composed by oligodendrocytes, is particularly vulnerable. However, at long term, MgSO4 neuroprotective effects are not significant.Given the anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties of 4-phenylbutyrate (4-PBA), its association with MgSO4 may optimize and prolong this neuroprotection in p

Germinal matrix-intraventricular hemorrhage (GM-IVH) is one of the most common complications associated with prematurity. It may lead to life-lasting cognitive, sensory, motor and behavioral impairments and it has no successful treatment. Nevertheless, it has been suggested that early behavioral intervention programs may have beneficial effects in premature infants. Accordingly, we have analyzed the effects on neuronal damage and behavioral impairment of early exposure to an enriched environment (EE) of a murine model of GM-IVH. GM-IVH was induced by intraventricular collagenase administration