Genetics of human hydrocephalus

Human hydrocephalus is a common medical condition that is characterized by abnormalities in the flow or resorption of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), resulting in ventricular dilatation. Human hydrocephalus can be classified into two clinical forms, congenital and acquired. Hydrocephalus is one of the complex and multifactorial neurological disorders. A growing body of evidence indicates that genetic factors play a major role in the pathogenesis of hydrocephalus. An understanding of the genetic components and mechanism of this complex disorder may offer us significant insights into the molecular etiology of impaired brain development and an accumulation of the cerebrospinal fluid in cerebral compartments during the pathogenesis of hydrocephalus. Genetic studies in animal models have started to open the way for understanding the underlying pathology of hydrocephalus. At least 43 mutants/loci linked to hereditary hydrocephalus have been identified in animal models and humans. Up to date, 9 genes associated with hydrocephalus have been identified in animal models. In contrast, only one such gene has been identified in humans. Most of known hydrocephalus gene products are the important cytokines, growth factors or related molecules in the cellular signal pathways during early brain development. The current molecular genetic evidence from animal models indicate that in the early development stage, impaired and abnormal brain development caused by abnormal cellular signaling and functioning, all these cellular and developmental events would eventually lead to the congenital hydrocephalus. Owing to our very primitive knowledge of the genetics and molecular pathogenesis of human hydrocephalus, it is difficult to evaluate whether data gained from animal models can be extrapolated to humans. Initiation of a large population genetics study in humans will certainly provide invaluable information about the molecular and cellular etiology and the developmental mechanisms of human hydrocephalus. This review summarizes the recent findings on this issue among human and animal models, especially with reference to the molecular genetics, pathological, physiological and cellular studies, and identifies future research directions

Electrocatalytic urea mineralization in aqueous alkaline medium using NiIIcyclam-modified nanoparticulate TiO2 anodes and its relationship with the simultaneous electrogeneration of H2 on Pt counterelectrodes

NiIIcyclam-modified nanoparticulate TiO2-coated ITO electrodes (ITO/TiO2//NiIIcyclam) were prepared by electropolymerization of NiIIcyclam monomers to TiO2-coated ITO electrodes (ITO/TiO2) to improve electrocatalytic urea CO(NH2)2 oxidation in alkaline aqueous solutions. A high value adding secondary effect was the collection of electrons at Pt cathodes, to simultaneously generate H2 from water reduction. NiIIcyclam-modified ITO electrodes (ITO//NiIIcyclam) were also prepared by electropolymerization of NiIIcyclam monomers to bare ITO electrodes (ITO) for comparison purposes. In the presence of the TiO2 nanoparticles, the urea mineralization on NiIIcyclam coatings was doubled (23.95% – organic carbon removal at 120 min of electrolysis) compared to those without TiO2 nanoparticles (13.02% – organic carbon removal at 120 min of electrolysis). In agreement, the faradaic efficiency for H2 generation at the Pt cathode, electrically connected to an anode having TiO2 nanoparticles (0.99 at 120 min of electrolysis), was also twice as effective than that observed when the same Pt cathode was electrically connected to an anode without TiO2 nanoparticles (0.46 at 120 min of electrolysis). The experimental results indicated that the poisoning of NiII centers (which is caused by an excessive production of CO intermediates during the urea oxidation on both NiIIcyclam-modified anodes) was strongly inhibited in the presence of the nanoparticulate TiO2|NiIIcyclam junction. A final comparison between our results and those reported in selected publications revealed that the NiIIcyclam-modified nanoparticulate TiO2-coated ITO anodes here developed, constitutes a promising electrocatalytic system for performing direct urea mineralization at a relative short electrolysis time. Furthermore, the combination of the following phenomena: (a) effective charge separation on the semiconducting ITO|nanoparticulate TiO2 junctions, (b) remarkable capabilities of the nanoporous TiO2 films for tuning the load of OH� anions demanded by the urea oxidation and, (c) outstanding capabilities of the TiO2 nanoparticles for capturing CO intermediates (at Ti3+ donor sites), successfully promoted the enhancement of the electron external transport to Pt cathodes, and consequently improved the faradaic efficiency associated to the cathodic generation of H2

Evaluation of nutritive value of daily food rations consumed by children attending to primary schools in Warsaw

Wprowadzenie. Żywienie zbiorowe w szkołach stanowi ważny element prawidłowego sposobu żywienia dzieci i młodzieży. Cel. Celem badań była ocena wartości odżywczej całodziennych racji pokarmowych uczniów warszawskich szkół podstawowych spożywających obiady serwowane w szkole w porównaniu do uczniów nie spożywających takich obiadów w szkole. Materiał i metody. Badania przeprowadzono na przełomie 2009/2010 roku wśród 380 uczniów w wieku 11-13 lat z klas V i VI uczęszczających do pięciu, losowo wybranych warszawskich szkół podstawowych. W badaniach wykorzystano metodę wywiadu o spożyciu z ostatnich 24 godzin poprzedzających badanie. Wyniki. Regularne spożywanie obiadów w szkole deklarowało 45,5% uczniów. Nie zaobserwowano istotnych różnic w wartości energetycznej diety oraz w zawartości większości składników odżywczych pomiędzy uczniami korzystającymi z obiadów w szkole a nie korzystającymi z tych posiłków. Cechą różnicującą obie badane grupy była zawartość sodu i jodu w dietach. Zawartość sodu w diecie dzieci spożywających obiady w szkole wynosiła odpowiednio 3278±1251 mg, a w diecie dzieci nie spożywających obiadów w szkole - 2919±863 mg (p<0,001). Spożycie jodu w grupie dzieci spożywających obiady w szkole wynosiło 136±70,5 μg, a w grupie dzieci nie spożywających tych posiłków w szkole - 102±59 μg (p<0,0001). Wnioski. Regularne spożywanie obiadów w szkole nie wpływało na poprawę sposobu żywienia badanej grupy dzieci. W celu poprawy żywienia należałoby wprowadzić obligatoryjne standardy żywieniowe oparte na normach żywienia odnośnie wartości odżywczej szkolnych posiłków obiadowych.Background. Meals served in schools are significant part of proper nutrition of children and adolescents. Objective. The aim of the study was to compare nutritive value of daily food rations intake by children attending to primary schools in Warsaw who consumed school lunches regularly with those who don’t consume school lunches. Material and methods. From 2009 to 2010, 380 children in age 11-13 years attending to five randomly selected schools from Warsaw were enrolled. Dietary intake was assessed by using 24h dietary recall for 1 day before the egzamination. Results. 45,5% of examined children declared the consumption school lunches regularly. There was no significant differences in energy and most of the nutrient intake between children who consumed school lunches regularly and children, who didn’t eat lunches in school. The exception was sodium and iodine intake which was higher in children who regularly consumed school lunches. Sodium intake in children who consumed school lunches regularly was 3278±1251 mg and in the group of children who didn’t consume lunches in school - 2919±863 mg (p<0.001). The iodine intake in the group of children who consumed school lunches regularly was 136 ±70.5 μg and in the group of children who didn’t consume lunches in school - 102±59 μg (p<0.0001). Conclusions. Regular consumption of school lunches did not improve the nutritional habits of examined school-aged children from Warsaw. Obligatory standards based on nutritional recommendations relating to nutritional value of school lunches should help to improve the schoolchildren nutrition

Nanofiber mat spinal cord dressing-released glutamate impairs blood-spinal cord barrier

An excessive glutamate level can result in excitotoxic damage and death of central nervous system (CNS) cells, and is involved in the pathogenesis of many CNS diseases. It may also be related to a failure of the blood-spinal cord barrier (BSCB). This study was aimed at examining the effects of extended administration of monosodium glutamate on the BSCB and spinal cord cells in adult male Wistar rats. The glutamate was delivered by subarachnoidal application of glutamate-carrying electrospun nanofiber mat dressing at the lumbar enlargement level. Half of the rats with the glutamate-loaded mat application were treated systemically with the histone deacetylase inhibitor valproic acid. A group of intact rats and a rat group with subarachnoidal application of an ‘empty’ (i.e., carrying no glutamate) nanofiber mat dressing served as controls. All the rats were euthanized three weeks later and lumbar fragments of their spinal cords were harvested for histological, immunohistochemical and ultrastructural studies. The samples from controls revealed normal parenchyma and BSCB morphology, whereas those from rats with the glutamate-loaded nanofiber mat dressing showed many intraparenchymal microhemorrhages of variable sizes. The capillaries in the vicinity of the glutamate-carrying dressing (in the meninges and white matter alike) were edematous and leaky, and their endothelial cells showed degenerative changes: extensive swelling, enhanced vacuo­lization and the presence of vascular intraluminal projections. However, endothelial tight junctions were generally well preserved. Some endothelial cells were dying by necrosis or apoptosis. The adjacent parenchyma showed astrogliosis with astrocytic hypertrophy and swelling of perivascular astrocytic feet. Neurons in the parenchyma revealed multiple symptoms of degeneration, including, inter alia, perikaryal, dendritic and axonal swelling, and destruction of organelles. All the damage symptoms were slightly less severe in the rats given valproic acid treatment, and were absent from both the intact rats and the rats with ‘empty’ nanofiber mat dressing. These results demonstrate that glutamate-loaded nanofiber mat dressing can locally create glutamate levels capable of damaging BSCB and that the resulting damage can be mitigated with concurrent systemic valproate treatment

Intervention for improvement the diet and physical activity of children and adolescents in Poland

Background. The effects of a two-year educational Programme “Keep Balance” addressed to children and adolescents have been evaluated. Its purpose has been to implement the rules of proper nutrition and increasing the level of physical activity on the population level. Objective. The main objective of the evaluation was an indication if, after two years of programme activities, outcome indicators have been achieved. Material and methods. Approximately 400,000 pupils/students from 1600 educational units from the territory of the whole country have been included in the education programme. The efficiency evaluation has been carried out in a sample of n = 1506 pupils/students in the interventional group and n = 1589 in the control group. Education has been addressed to the entire school environment, pupils, students, parents, teachers, headmasters, and the local community. The survey methodology, body weight and height measurements, the BMI index, and EUROFIT physical fitness tests have been used to assess the effects of the education programme in the scope of knowledge and nutritional behaviour regarding physical activity. There were assumed outcome indicators. The certification of schools/kindergartens with “The Certificate of a School/Kindergarten Friendly to Nutrition and Physical Activity” has been used to evaluate the activation of school environments. Results. There was an improvement achieved over the assumed target points in the level of knowledge of pupils/students in the scope of nutrition and the role of physical activity, in the changes of nutritional habits, and in the results of physical fitness tests. There were achieved 20% increase in knowledge in the scope of nutrition and 5% increase in physical activity. There have been changes in the frequency in the consumption of the first breakfast before going to school (by 25% among the younger ones and by 17% among the older ones), an increase in the consumption of bottled water by 49% and reduction of sweet drinks by 19%. The percentage of the pupils/students consuming the recommended 5 meals increased by 33%. Physical fitness indicators were achieved over assumed 5% increase in the individual exercise tests. The Certificate was obtained after meeting the criteria and documenting the durability of the changes by 65% of 1600 educational units included in the Programme. A decrease in the frequency of overweight and obesity occurrence in the whole intervention sample by 1% was obtained; it was greater (but statistically insignificant) among younger students by 3.3% in comparison to the older ones where there was an increase of 1%. Conclusions. Summing up all achieved results the educational programme “Keep Balance” implemented on the population level aimed at children and adolescents has turned out to be effective and deserves to be continued after minor adjustments. Many positive changes have been identified as well as those that ought to be improved. Comprehensively included education and sometimes small changes in much of nutritional and physical behaviour have influenced the reduction of the percentage of pupils/students with excessive body weight, despite the fact that the average BMI has basically remained on the same level