Morphology of the Dentate Gyrus in a Large Cohort of Sudden Infant Deaths—Interrelation Between Features but Not Diagnosis

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rita Machaalani ◽  
Arunnjah Vivekanandarajah ◽  
Vanessa Despotovski ◽  
Michael Rodriguez ◽  
Karen A Waters
Keyword(s):  
Dentate Gyrus ◽  
Granule Cell ◽  
Sudden Infant Death ◽  
Sudden Infant ◽  
Infant Deaths ◽  
Formalin Fixed Paraffin ◽  
Cell Dispersion ◽  
Formalin Fixed Paraffin Embedded ◽  
Morphological Differences ◽  
Vessel Dissection

Abstract Morphological differences in the dentate gyrus (DG) have been reported in sudden unexpected deaths in infancy (SUDI), with the feature of focal granule cell (GC) bilamination (FGCB) reported as increased in unexplained SUDI, including sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS), compared with explained SUDI (eSUDI). However, it remains to be determined how these morphologies relate to each other and their extent along the anteroposterior length. This retrospective study evaluated the prevalence of FGCB, single or clustered ectopic GCs, granule cell dispersion (GCD), heterotopia, hyperconvolution, gaps, thinning, blood vessel dissection (BVD), and cuffing (BV cuffing), in an Australian SUDI cohort, and compared the prevalence of these features in eSUDI and unexplained SUDI. We analyzed 850 formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded serial and subserial sections of the hippocampus at the level of the lateral geniculate nucleus from 90 infants, and identified GCD in 97% of infants, single ectopic cells, hyperconvolution, thinning, and BVD in 60%-80%, heterotopia in 36%, gaps, clusters of ectopic cells and BV cuffing in 9%–15%, and FGCB in 18%. These features are clustered within 3–5 serial sections. The presence of FGCB correlated with single ectopic GCs and hyperconvolution. There were no differences in the prevalence of these features between unexplained SUDI (n = 74) and eSUDI (n = 16). Our findings highlight that DG morphological features are highly localized, extending 14–35 µm at their focal location(s) along the anteroposterior length. Consequently, multiple sections along the longitudinal extent are required to identify them. No feature differentiated SUDI from eSUDI in our cohort, thus we cannot conclude that any of these features are abnormal and it remains to be determined their functional significance.

Molecular typing of Pneumocystis jirovecii found in formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded lung tissue sections from sudden infant death victims

Microbiology ◽  
2004 ◽  
Vol 150 (5) ◽  
pp. 1167-1172 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. Chabé ◽  
S. L. Vargas ◽  
I. Eyzaguirre ◽  
E. M. Aliouat ◽  
A. Follet-Dumoulin ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Dna Extraction ◽  
Lung Tissue ◽  
Infant Death ◽  
Sudden Infant Death ◽  
Pneumocystis Jirovecii ◽  
Sudden Infant ◽  
Tissue Sections ◽  
Formalin Fixed Paraffin ◽  
Formalin Fixed Paraffin Embedded ◽  
Formalin Fixed

Previous studies have provided histological evidence of an association between primary Pneumocystis infection and sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS). The aim of this work was to determine the species of clustered Pneumocystis organisms found in formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded (FFPE) lung tissue sections from Chilean sudden infant death (SID) victims. This approach needed first to optimize a DNA extraction method from such histological sections. For that purpose, the QIAamp DNA Isolation from Paraffin-Embedded Tissue method (Qiagen) was first tested on FFPE lung tissue sections of immunosuppressed Wistar rats inoculated with rat-derived Pneumocystis. Successful DNA extraction was assessed by the amplification of a 346 bp fragment of the mitochondrial large subunit rRNA gene of the Pneumocystis species using a previously described PCR assay. PCR products were analysed by direct sequencing and sequences corresponding to Pneumocystis carinii were found in all the samples. This method was then applied to FFPE lung tissue sections from Chilean SID victims. Pneumocystis jirovecii was successfully identified in the three tested samples. In conclusion, an efficient protocol for isolating PCR-ready DNA from FFPE lung tissue sections was developed. It established that the Pneumocystis species found in the lungs of Chilean SID victims was P. jirovecii.

scholarly journals Ten Percent of SIDS Cases are Murder — or are They?

2017 ◽  
Vol 7 (2) ◽  
pp. 163-170 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christopher M. Milroy ◽  
Charis Kepron
Keyword(s):  
Sudden Infant Death ◽  
Current Data ◽  
Related Question ◽  
Sudden Infant ◽  
Court Cases ◽  
Unexpected Death ◽  
Infant Deaths ◽  
Lower Figure ◽  
History Of ◽  
Made In

Sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) has been used as a cause of death for over four decades. It has allowed deaths of infants to be registered as natural. Within this group of deaths, a certain number have been recognized to be homicides from inflicted smothering rather than being natural or accidental deaths. Research has been conducted using confidential inquires to determine how frequent homicide is in cases called SIDS. This paper traces the history of quoted rates of homicide. Early work suggested the figure was between 2-10% of all SIDS cases, though other workers have suggested figures as high as 20-40%. With the fall in the rate of infant deaths following the “Back to Sleep” campaigns, these figures have been reevaluated. If the higher figures were correct that 20-40% of SIDS were homicides, the fall in infant deaths would be expected to be less than it has been. Current data suggests a much lower figure than 10% of current cases, with much lower overall rates of infant deaths. As well as 10% of SIDS cases having been stated to be homicides, a related question is whether multiple deaths classified as SIDS are really homicides. The paper discusses the maxim that one death is a tragedy, two is suspicious, and three deaths indicate homicide. The paper also looks at court cases and the approach that has been made in prosecutions of sudden unexpected death in infancy as multiple murder.

scholarly journals An Approach to the Classification of Apparent Asphyxial Infant Deaths

2017 ◽  
Vol 7 (2) ◽  
pp. 200-211 ◽  
Author(s):  
Evan W. Matshes ◽  
Emma O. Lew
Keyword(s):  
Risk Factors ◽  
Sudden Infant Death Syndrome ◽  
Infant Death ◽  
Sudden Infant Death ◽  
Sudden Infant ◽  
Death Certification ◽  
High Quality ◽  
Infant Deaths ◽  
Unexpected Infant Death

Recent evidence indicates that with thorough, high quality death investigations and autopsies, forensic pathologists have recognized that many unexpected infant deaths are, in fact, asphyxial in nature. With this recognition has come a commensurate decrease in, and in some cases, abolition of, the label “sudden infant death syndrome” (SIDS). Current controversies often pertain to how and why some infant deaths are determined to be asphyxial in nature and whether or not apparent asphyxial circumstances are risk factors for SIDS, or rather, harbingers of asphyxial deaths. In an effort to sidestep these controversies, some forensic pathologists elected to instead use the noncommittal label “sudden unexpected infant death” (SUID), leading to the unfortunate consequence of SUID – like SIDS – gaining notoriety as an actual disease that could be diagnosed, studied, and ultimately cured. Although it is not possible to provide death certification guidance for every conceivable type of unexpected infant death, we recognize and propose a simple classification system for overarching themes that cover the vast majority of cases where infants die suddenly and unexpectedly.

scholarly journals Sudden infant death syndrome in Brazil: fact or fancy?

2008 ◽  
Vol 126 (1) ◽  
pp. 48-51 ◽  
Author(s):  
Francesca Maia Woida ◽  
Fabiano Pinto Saggioro ◽  
Maria Alice Rossato Ferro ◽  
Luiz Cesar Peres
Keyword(s):  
Sudden Infant Death Syndrome ◽  
Infant Death ◽  
Sudden Infant Death ◽  
Mortality Rates ◽  
Sudden Infant ◽  
Brazilian Literature ◽  
True Incidence ◽  
Infant Deaths ◽  
Live Births ◽  
The City

CONTEXT AND OBJECTIVE: The true incidence of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) in Brazil is unknown. The aim here was to identify SIDS cases in the city of Ribeirão Preto, State of São Paulo, between 2000 and 2005, in order to estimate its incidence. DESIGN AND SETTING: Retrospective analysis of data on live births and infant deaths in Ribeirão Preto and from autopsies of infants performed at the Death Verification Service of the Interior (SVOI) between 2000 and 2005. RESULTS: There were 47,356 live births and 537 deaths, with infant mortality rates ranging from 12.9‰ to 10.9‰ of live births. Among the 24 infants who died possibly due to SIDS and who were autopsied at the SVOI, six were from families living in the municipality (0.13‰ of live births): three (50%) were diagnosed as SIDS, and one each (16.66%) as indeterminate cause, bronchoaspiration and cerebral edema. Two deaths occurred in the first month of life (33.33%) and one each (16.66%) at two, four, six and eight months. Two deaths each (33.33%) occurred in the months of February and December, one each in August and October (16.66%). Four cases (66.7%) occurred in the summer and one each (16.66%) in winter and spring. There was 5:1 predominance of males over females. CONCLUSIONS: The frequency of SIDS was lower than what has been reported worldwide and in the Brazilian literature, thus suggesting underdiagnosis, indicating the lack of any specific postmortem protocol for SIDS identification and showing the need to implement this.

Balloon cells associated with granule cell dispersion in the dentate gyrus in hippocampal sclerosis

2008 ◽  
Vol 115 (6) ◽  
pp. 697-700 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. Thom ◽  
L. Martinian ◽  
L. O. Caboclo ◽  
A. W. McEvoy ◽  
S. M. Sisodiya
Keyword(s):  
Dentate Gyrus ◽  
Granule Cell ◽  
Hippocampal Sclerosis ◽  
Balloon Cells ◽  
Cell Dispersion

scholarly journals Implementation of Safe Sleep Practices by Mothers with 0-1 Year-Old Infants

2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (2) ◽  
pp. 56-64
Author(s):  
Ilknur Yildiz
Keyword(s):  
Supine Position ◽  
Family Health ◽  
Active Role ◽  
Sudden Infant Death ◽  
Sudden Infant ◽  
Safe Sleep ◽  
Infant Deaths ◽  
Chi Squared ◽  
Sleep Environment ◽  
Number Percentage

Aim: The sleep environment of an infant affects the likelihood of sudden infant death syndrome and other sleep-related infant deaths. This study was performed to determine the safe sleep practices of mothers with 0–1 year-old infants. Methods: This descriptive study included 204 mothers with 0–1 year-old infants who visited family health centers between October 30 and December 28, 2018. The data were collected using a questionnaire form and evaluated using the number, percentage, mean, standard deviation, and chi-squared test. Results: The mean age of the mothers was 28.48 ±5.83 years; 43.1% were primary school graduates and 84.8% were housewives; 53.9% of the infants were girls and 39.2% were 0–3 months old. It was found that 47.5% of the mothers put their infant to sleep in the supine position, 46.1% in the non-supine position, 70.1% on a soft bed, and 76.5% by using a pillow. In addition, 41.2% of the mothers stated that they used pacifiers while putting their infant to sleep, 9.8% stated that they slept in the same bed with their infant, and 92.9% stated that they slept in the same room. Conclusion: It was determined that the mothers performed certain risky practices related to the sleep environment, particularly regarding soft beds’ use, sleeping positions, pillow use, and bed-sharing. It may be recommended that healthcare professionals play an active role and take responsibility in increasing the level of knowledge and awareness of parents regarding safe sleep. Keywords: sleep, infant, mothers, family practice

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