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Biomedical subjects

Michael J Rivkin

Publications and source records attributed to Michael J Rivkin.

4 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2004

Early experience alters brain function and structure.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effects of early experience on brain function and structure. METHODS: A randomized clinical trial tested the neurodevelopmental effectiveness of the Newborn Individualized Developmental Care and Assessment Program (NIDCAP). Thirty preterm infants, 28 to 33 weeks' gestational age (GA) at birth and free of known developmental risk factors, participated in the trial. NIDCAP was initiated within 72 hours of intensive care unit admission and continued to the age of 2 weeks, corrected for prematurity. Control (14) and experimental (16) infants were assessed at 2 weeks' and 9 months' corrected age on health status, growth, and neurobehavior, and at 2 weeks' corrected age additionally on electroencephalogram spectral coherence, magnetic resonance diffusion tensor imaging, and measurements of transverse relaxation time. RESULTS: The groups were medically and demographically comparable before as well as after the treatment. However, the experimental group showed significantly better neurobehavioral functioning, increased coherence between frontal and a broad spectrum of mainly occipital brain regions, and higher relative anisotropy in left internal capsule, with a trend for right internal capsule and frontal white matter. Transverse relaxation time showed no difference. Behavioral function was improved also at 9 months' corrected age. The relationship among the 3 neurodevelopmental domains was significant. The results indicated consistently better function and more mature fiber structure for experimental infants compared with their controls. CONCLUSIONS: This is the first in vivo evidence of enhanced brain function and structure due to the NIDCAP. The study demonstrates that quality of experience before term may influence brain development significantly.

Brain↗
PubMed2003

Biochemical and molecular analyses of infantile free sialic acid storage disease in North American children.

The differential diagnosis of developmental delays and growth retardation in early childhood includes the allelic lysosomal sialic acid storage disorders, Salla disease and infantile free sialic acid storage disease (ISSD). These diseases, due to defective free sialic acid transport out of lysosomes, derive from mutations in the SLC17A5 gene coding for the protein sialin. We present two patients with clinical, biochemical, and molecular data indicative of lysosomal free sialic acid storage disorders. One patient, with a severe clinical course typical of ISSD, had 86-fold elevated levels of fibroblast free sialic acid, with 62% in the lysosomal fraction. His SLC17A5 mutations include a 148-bp deletion of exon 9, due to a G >A splice site mutation in position 1 of intron 9, and a 15-bp deletion (del 801-815) in exon 6. Another patient, with "intermediate severe" Salla disease, had 9-fold elevated levels of free sialic acid in cultured fibroblasts, of which 87% resided in the lysosomal fraction. This girl is compound heterozygous for the SLC17A5 mutation commonly found in Finnish Salla disease patients (R39C) and a 15-bp deletion found in ISSD patients (del 801-815). These observations emphasize the importance of considering free sialic acid disorders in infants with developmental delays and growth retardation, regardless of whether they are of Finnish ancestry.

Base Sequence↗
PubMed2003

A functional magnetic resonance imaging study of paced finger tapping in children.

Fourteen typically developing children from 7.9-11.3 years in age were studied with functional magnetic resonance imaging to identify the cerebral loci involved in performance of paced finger tapping by children. Each child performed two bimanual alternating paced finger-tapping tasks. In the first, paced finger tapping was conducted to external 3-Hz pacing provided by a metronome. In the second, the metronome was turned off and finger tapping continued while each child tried to maintain the 3-Hz rhythm by self pacing. Individual and group data were analyzed with statistical parametric mapping techniques that resulted in activation maps for the two tasks. Metronome tapping produced activation of the posterior regions of both superior temporal gyri, both primary sensorimotor cortices, anterodorsomedial cerebellum and supplementary motor area. Self-tapping resulted in recruitment of pre-supplementary motor area and cerebellum in addition to bilateral supplementary motor area and primary sensorimotor cortical activation. Bimanual alternating paced finger tapping performed by children activates a neural network involving primary motor cortex, supplementary motor area, and cerebellum. Posterior superior temporal gyrus may be important for encoding auditory information, and presupplementary motor area and midline cerebellum play an important role in self-paced finger tapping.

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