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Medicina
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New Insights into Neurodevelopmental Biology and Disorders
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New Insights into Neurodevelopmental Biology and Disorders

A special issue of Medicina (ISSN 1648-9144). This special issue belongs to the section "Neurology".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 30 September 2025 | Viewed by 5435

Special Issue Editor

Dr. Rekha Jagadapillai

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Pediatrics, University of Louisville, Louisville, KY, USA
Interests: neurodegenerative diseases; neurodevelopmental diseases; autism spectrum disorder; neuroinflammation
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Neurodevelopmental biology aims to understand the cellular and molecular mechanisms by which the nervous system develops from the initial stages of embryonic development to adulthood. Neuronal development denotes the intricate process of neuronal extensions and the formation of synaptic connections. Neuronal development occurs in different stages of embryonic development, including neurogenesis, neuronal migration, formation, the growth of axons and dendrites to connect with other neurons, and synapse development to begin neuronal communication. Neurodevelopmental disorders are caused by the disturbances of neurodevelopmental processes. They have multiple etiologies, including genetic origin, environmental and epigenetic factors or a combination of these factors, and may play a role in the onset of the disorder. A few examples of neurodevelopmental disorders in children include autism spectrum disorders (ASDs), Down syndrome-caused intellectual disabilities, attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), impairments in the motor system and other disabilities. This Special Issue focuses on, but is not limited to, highlighting new advances in the field of nervous system development research and disorders. We welcome articles discovering all aspects of neurodevelopmental biology, regeneration and aging. We invite original research articles, reviews, case reports and brief communications from a range of studies, including behavioral, genetics, molecular, environmental, pharmacological and therapeutical advances in both human and animal models.

Dr. Rekha Jagadapillai
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Medicina is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2200 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • neurodevelopment
  • neurodevelopmental biology
  • neurodevelopmental disorders
  • autism spectrum disorders (ASDs)
  • down syndrome
  • ADHD
  • cerebral palsy
  • learning disability

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Published Papers (2 papers)

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Research

21 pages, 1117 KiB  
Article
Impact of Brain Lesion Characteristics on Motor Function and Cortical Reorganization in Hemiplegic Cerebral Palsy
by Katerina Gaberova, Iliyana Pacheva, Nikolay Sirakov, Elena Timova and Ivan Stefanov Ivanov
Medicina 2025, 61(2), 205; https://doi.org/10.3390/medicina61020205 - 24 Jan 2025
Viewed by 949
Abstract
Background and Objectives: Hemiplegic or unilateral cerebral palsy (UCP) is primarily characterized by motor impairment, mainly affecting the upper limb. Research has centered on factors influencing the varying degrees of motor deficit in UCP, using neuroscience advancements for in vivo exploration of [...] Read more.
Background and Objectives: Hemiplegic or unilateral cerebral palsy (UCP) is primarily characterized by motor impairment, mainly affecting the upper limb. Research has centered on factors influencing the varying degrees of motor deficit in UCP, using neuroscience advancements for in vivo exploration of brain structure (morphometry) and cortical reorganization (functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI)). This study aims to evaluate functional activation in the motor cortex in UCP and to explore how lesion characteristics and timing affect neuroplasticity and motor function. Materials and Methods: Between 2017 and 2021, structural and functional MRIs were performed on 44 UCP patients (mean age 15.5 years, 24 males, 20 females), all with Manual Ability Classification System (MACS) levels I-III and Intelligence Quotient (IQ) ≥ 50. The lesion characteristics of size, type, and time of occurrence (ante-, peri-, or early postnatal) were analyzed. An association was sought between the characteristics of the lesion and the degree of motor deficit of the upper limb, as determined by the MACS level. fMRI assessed cortical activation during a finger-tapping task for the paretic hand and compared activation patterns based on lesion characteristics. Results: Six lesion types were identified, with arterial ischemic stroke being the most common and largest in volume. Lesion size strongly correlated with patients’ MACS levels, while lesion type and timing showed no association with the severity of motor impairment classified by MACS. Motor reorganization varied, with activation occurring ipsi-, contra-, or bilaterally to the affected hand, depending on lesion size and type. Smaller, subcortical lesions primarily showed ipsilesional activation, while larger, cortical lesions did not exhibit a specific group activation, possibly due to varying individual reorganization. No association was found between the lesion timing and the reorganization model. Conclusions: Motor functional reorganization in UCP is closely linked to lesion characteristics, with smaller, subcortical lesions favoring typical organization in the contralateral motor cortex. The timing of the lesion does not significantly affect cortical reorganization. Lesion size was a key determinant of motor function, whereas lesion type (e.g., ischemic stroke) and timing (early vs. late occurrence) were less critical for predicting functional outcome. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue New Insights into Neurodevelopmental Biology and Disorders)
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13 pages, 35081 KiB  
Article
Comparison of the Effects of Perineural and Intraperitoneal Ozone Therapy on Nerve Healing in an Experimental Sciatic Nerve Injury Model
by Burcu Ayık, Abdullah Ortadeveci, Fulya Bakılan, Dilek Burukoğlu Dönmez, Semih Öz, Cengiz Bal, Hilmi Özden and Onur Armağan
Medicina 2024, 60(12), 2097; https://doi.org/10.3390/medicina60122097 - 21 Dec 2024
Viewed by 1005
Abstract
Background and Objectives: The aim was to evaluate nerve healing using immunohistochemical, histological, and functional techniques and to compare the effects of two different therapeutic ozone application methods by perineural and intraperitoneal ozone treatment in rats with a crush injury model of sciatic [...] Read more.
Background and Objectives: The aim was to evaluate nerve healing using immunohistochemical, histological, and functional techniques and to compare the effects of two different therapeutic ozone application methods by perineural and intraperitoneal ozone treatment in rats with a crush injury model of sciatic nerve. Materials and Methods: Forty male Sprague Dawley rats were divided into four subgroups of ten rats each: (1) Control group: The left sciatic nerve incised and closed without crush injury, no treatment; (2) Paralyzed group: Crush injury to the left sciatic nerve, no treatment; (3) Perineural ozone group: Crush injury to the left sciatic nerve, treated with perineural ozone therapy; (4) Intraperitoneal ozone group: Crush injury to the left sciatic nerve, treated with intraperitoneal ozone therapy. The treatments were administered for a 14-day period. Hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) and toluidine blue staining were used for histological examination; TUNEL staining was used for immunohistochemical examination. Pinch test and rotarod performance assessment were utilized for functional evaluation. Results: The pinch test scores showed significant improvement in perineural and intraperitoneal ozone treatment groups after treatment (p < 0.001 and p = 0.003, respectively). The scores of myelin degeneration, vascular congestion, vascular wall thickness, inflammation, and toluidine blue and TUNEL staining were significantly lower in both ozone treatment groups compared to the paralyzed group (p < 0.001). Vascular wall thickness scores were significantly higher in the perineural ozone group compared to the control and intraperitoneal ozone groups (p = 0.004 and p = 0.013, respectively). The Schwann cell proliferation scores were significantly higher in the perineural ozone group compared to the control group and intraperitoneal ozone groups (p < 0.001). Conclusions: Both applications of ozone therapy accelerated the healing of nerve regeneration, reduced inflammation and apoptosis based on histopathological results, and enhanced nerve function in rats with sciatic nerve injury. Perineural ozone therapy has been demonstrated to be an efficacious alternative to systemic ozone treatments in the management of sciatic nerve injury. Further studies are needed to determine optimal ozone dosage and administration protocols for the treatment of nerve injury. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue New Insights into Neurodevelopmental Biology and Disorders)
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