Cigarette smoking or nicotine exposure during pregnancy is associated with numerous obstetrical, fetal, and developmental complications, as well as an increased risk of adverse health consequences in the adult offspring. In this study, we examined the effects of maternal nicotine exposure during perinatal and lactation stages on behavioral performance and hippocampal neurogenesis in the adolescent stage of offspring mice. Female C57BL/mice received nicotine in drinking water (200 mg/ml nicotine) or vehicle (1% saccharin) starting from 2 weeks premating until the offspring were weaned on postnatal day 20. Experiments started on postnatal day 35. Female offspring with maternal nicotine exposure presented an increase in anxiety-like behavior in an open-field test. BrdU assay revealed that nicotine offspring presented an increase in cell proliferation in hippocampal dentate gyrus, but the number of BrdU + cells was decreased in one week and further decreased in three weeks. The occurrence of disarray of DCX + cells increased in both male and female nicotine offspring. The density of microglial marker protein Iba1 was significantly increased in the nicotine offspring. Furthermore, the expression of microglia marker Iba1, the CX3CL1, CX3CR1, and downstream molecules PKA and pErK were significantly increased in the nicotine group. In summary, maternal nicotine exposure affects both hippocampal neurogenesis and microglial activity in the adolescent offspring.

No abstract

No abstract

Key Clinical MessageThere are limited published cases of primary mediastinal yolk sac tumor (PMYST), with no consensus on the best treatment alternative. By far, the surgery oriented comprehensive therapies are the main treatment methods. The surgical strategy should be individualized and aimed at radical resection, considering all the possibilities, including the use of cardiopulmonary bypass and prosthetic materials.AbstractA 15‐year‐old boy was diagnosed as PMYST. The tumor, with a size about 13 × 12 × 8 cm, was located in the right upper mediastinum, closely adhering to ascending aorta, superior vena cava, right atrium, and the right hilum. After 6 cycles chemotherapy of bleomycin, etoposide, and cisplatin (BEP), no significant change was found in the size of tumor. Subsequently, an extended tumor excision including partial resection of the right lung, the pericardium, the diaphragm and the right phrenic nerve, was performed successfully with cardiopulmonary bypass on standby. During 6 months of follow‐up, there was no tumor recurrence. Meanwhile, in PubMed, we searched the English case reports and case series of PMYST during the past decade. A total of 73 articles were retrieved, in which 22 articles on the therapy and prognosis of PMYST were extracted and reviewed, included 16 case reports and 6 case series with a total of 52 patients. Due to the rarity of PMYST, it is difficult to provide a specific treatment regimen. The surgery‐oriented comprehensive therapies are still the main treatment methods. The surgical strategy should be individualized and aim at radical resection, considering all the possibilities, including the use of cardiopulmonary bypass and prosthetic materials.