The Study of Cerebrospinal Fluid microRNAs in Spinal Cord Injury and Neurodegenerative Diseases: Methodological Problems and Possible Solutions

Despite extensive research on neurological disorders, unanswered questions remain regarding the molecular mechanisms underpinning the course of these diseases, and the search continues for effective biomarkers for early diagnosis, prognosis, or therapeutic intervention. These questions are especially acute in the study of spinal cord injury (SCI) and neurodegenerative diseases. It is believed that the changes in gene expression associated with processes triggered by neurological disorders are the result of post-transcriptional gene regulation. microRNAs (miRNAs) are key regulators of post-transcriptional gene expression and, as such, are often looked to in the search for effective biomarkers. We propose that cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) is potentially a source of biomarkers since it is in direct contact with the central nervous system and therefore may contain biomarkers indicating neurodegeneration or damage to the brain and spinal cord. However, since the abundance of miRNAs in CSF is low, their isolation and detection is technically difficult. In this review, we evaluate the findings of recent studies of CSF miRNAs as biomarkers of spinal cord injury (SCI) and neurodegenerative diseases. We also summarize the current knowledge concerning the methods of studying miRNA in CSF, including RNA isolation and normalization of the data, highlighting the caveats of these approaches and possible solutions.1-1

A Comprehensive Model of Neuropsychological and Speech Assessment for Children with ASD

Modern scientific projects connected with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) study the difficulties in differential diagnosis of ASD and other types of developmental dysphasia, issues of cognitive and physical development of children with ASD, formation of trajectories for their individual and group education and training, their social integration. The relevance of the study is explained by the necessity to work out a system of medical, psychological, linguistic and educational support for children with ASD corresponding to the modern requirements of society and global practices. The aim of the research is to develop a comprehensive model of neuropsychological assessment and study of speech development for preschool children with ASD. This model assumes the implementation of a) the Russian-language version of the Verbal Behavior Milestones Assessment and Placement Program (VB-MAPP), b) the Russian-language version of the BVL battery for speech assessment (BVL_RU), c) traditional for Russia approaches to the diagnosis of developmental disorders and speech impairment. The platform for the project is the kindergarten of Kazan Federal University "We are together". The comprehensive model includes a new methodological framework, which implements the achievements of cognitive sciences, neuropsychology and neurolinguistics in interdisciplinary fields. The results of the research can be implemented into the practice of teaching preschool children with ASD and become the basis for the further development of this comprehensive model for schoolchildren with ASD.1227-123