Progress in fetal and neonatal brain injury research

The immature brain is vulnerable to prenatal and postnatal stress, which may produce brain damage leading to neurological dysfunction in survivors. The articles in this special issue provide new insights into the pathophysiology and treatment of developmental brain injuries and functional outcomes. Information obtained using preclinical models as well as data from clinical studies emphasize the influence of hypoxia-ischemia, excitotoxicity, oxidative stress, seizures and inflammatory mediators on the outcome of developmental brain injury and ultimate neurological outcome. Importantly, several papers report preclinical tests of new therapies that show real promise in preventing injury to the developing brain including erythropoietin, melatonin and steroids. This publication will be of interest to both clinicians and basic scientists who are interested in the developing nervous system, its vulnerability to various pathophysiological processes and the eventual consequences for neurologic development.