The Prevalence of Minor Physical Anomalies in Mentally Retarded Children

The prevalence of minor physical anomalies was examined in a sample of 109 children with idiopathic mental retardation (65 boys and 44 girls). Control group consisted of 246 healthy schoolchildren (123 boys and 123 girls) aged 8 to 12 years. A comparison was made between number of found minor anomalies per child (W1) and their Waldrop weight scores (W2) in healthy and mentally retarded (MR) children. The MR children were found to have a higher number of minor anomalies per child. In their group predominated those with four or more anomalies (56.9%), whereas among healthy children only 7.7% had four anomalies or more. In contrast to the high weighted score value (W2) of five or greater in 36.7% of MR children, it was absent in all control group subjects. There were highly significant differences between the MR and healthy children in the average value of the number of minor anomalies per child (W1) and in the average weighted score (W2). The average number of minor anomalies per child (W1) in MR and well children was 3.65 and 1.7, respectively. In MR children the average weighted score (W2) was 3.82, being 1.46 in healthy children. Our results suggest that common etiological factors, which had led to a physical and mental disorder, were active early in the development of MR children. The finding of high incidence of multiple minor anomalies in MR children indicates that genetic factors may play an important role in the etiology of the underlying disorder in the child group studied

Biologia Futura: does the aging process contribute to the relativity of time?

In his Theory of relativity, Einstein determined that the time is relative to the reference frame of the observer. Under specific conditions, there is a difference in the elapsed time between two clocks, known as time dilation. A similar relativistic effect could be attributed to the brain operating at different frequencies, e.g., while it is slow and during the thought process. Time flow and the aging process are causally linked. Herein, we introduce physical relativity into the mind/thought context and elaborate changed perception of the time flow (the impression of the time acceleration) with aging. The phenomenology of time is observed in the context of physical and biological clock, as well as by introducing the category of ‘mind time.’ Mental processing impairment is crucial for the “aging-caused relativity of time,” while adjusting of its’ perception seems to be a matter of body/mind rest, mental hygiene and physical activity of the aging subject. We also provide a brief overview of the percep- tion of time flow in some disease states that coincide with aging. Our main idea has a perspective for future development in the interdisciplinary synergy of philosophy, physical–mathematical elaboration, experimental biology and clinical investigations

Daidzein effects on ACTH cells: immunohistomorphometric and hormonal study in an animal model of the andropause

Daidzein is a potential natural alternative to estradiol during therapy of some malignancies in men. Besides weak inhibition of tyrosine kinase activity, daidzein has a sizeable inhibitory effect on calcium channels. The aim of this study was to examine the effects of daidzein on the immunohistomorphometric features of pituitary adrenocorticotropes (ACTH cells) and circulating levels of ACTH and corticosterone, in comparison with estradiol, in an animal model of the andropause. Sixteen-month-old Wistar rats were divided into sham operated (SO), orchidectomized (Orx), estradiol treated orchidectomized (Orx+E) and daidzein treated orchidectomized (Orx+D) groups. Estradiol (0.625 mg/kg/day) and daidzein (30 mg/kg/day) were administered subcutaneously for three weeks, while the SO and Orx groups received the vehicle alone. ACTH cells were identified by the peroxidase-antiperoxidase (PAP) immunohistochemical procedure. Peripheral circulating concentrations of ACTH and corticosterone were measured by immunoassay. Orchidectomy reduced (p<0.05) the cell volume and volume density of adrenocorticotropes by 11% and 16%, respectively, in comparison to SO rats. In Orx+E rats, the volume density of ACTH cells decreased (p<0.05) by 25%, but the circulating level of ACTH increased (p<0.05) by 29%, compared to Orx rats. Daidzein treatment significantly decreased (p<0.05): volume density of ACTH cells, circulating ACTH and corticosterone by 24%, 48% and 33%, respectively, compared to the Orx group. In conclusion, this study revealed that daidzein negatively modulated the immunohistomorphometric features of ACTH cells and, unlike estradiol, decreased ACTH and corticosterone secretion, in an animal model of the andropause

Citrus flavanones naringenin and hesperetin improve antioxidant status and membrane lipid compositions in the liver of old-aged Wistar rats

This study aimed to investigate effects of citrus flavanones naringenin (NAR) and hesperetin (HES) on liver antioxidant status and membrane phospholipid composition in 24-month-old rats. NAR and HES (15 mg/kg) were administrated orally to male Wistar rats, once per day, for 4 weeks. Control group received either vehicle (sunflower oil) or remained intact. The results showed decreased (p < 0.05) activity of antioxidant enzymes (AOE), specifically catalase (CAT), superoxide dismutase (SOD) 1 and glutathione reductase (GR) in the liver of intact control old-aged rats in comparison to young intact controls. Flavanone administration to old-aged males increased (p < 0.05) examined AOE activities in comparison to vehicle-administered animals. Namely, NAR was more potent in comparison to HES regarding the increase (p < 0.05) in activities of examined antioxidant enzymes (SOD 1 and 2, glutathione peroxidase-GPx and GR) and the liver glutathione (GSH), while HES elevated (p < 0.05) only activity of CAT and GR. Both flavanones significantly decreased (p < 0.05) TBARS and improved (p < 0.05) membrane phospholipid composition in favor of n-3 PUFA and n-6/n-3 PUFA ratio. Both flavanones did not affect liver histology and reduced (p < 0.05) alanine aminotransferase and aspartate aminotransferase levels in serum. The results of this study indicate beneficial potential of citrus flavanones in the old-aged rat liver

Late Upper Paleolithic, Early Mesolithic and Early Neolithic from the cave site Zemunica near Bisko (Dalmatia, Croatia)

This paper presents results from lithic, pottery, zooarchaeological, osteological, petrological and geoarcheological analyses from the Early Neolithic, Mesolithic and late Upper Paleolithic levels of Zemunica Cave in Croatia. The site provides valuable information about the aforementioned periods in Dalmatia and original evidence supporting newly proposed models of the spread of Neolithisation in this area

Soy isoflavone effects on the adrenal glands of orchidectomized adult male rats: a comprehensive histological and hormonal study

Genistein (G) and related soy phytoestrogens have been studied for potential usefulness in different chronic diseases, and may ameliorate signs of aging. They have a profound influence on the hypothalamopituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis. The present study utilized the rat model of mild andropause to thoroughly evaluate the effects of G and soy extract on the adrenal gland and related blood hormones. Adult male rats were orchidectomized (Orx) or sham operated (SO). Orx rats received daily subcutaneous injections for 3 weeks of solvent, or G (Orx+G, 30 mg/kg), or commercial soy extract (Orx+Soy, 30 mg/kg). Adrenal glands and blood were harvested at the end of the treatment for hormone analyses, histology and design-based stereology. Compared to SO rats Orx evoked significant (P<0.05) changes including: the replicating cell number in the 3 adrenocortical zones; vascularity and cortical volume and blood levels of adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH), aldosterone and dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA). When comparing Orx vs. Orx+G groups the following significant (P<0.05) changes were observed: a further increase in number of replicating cells in zonas glomerulosa and reticularis, vasculature network presence, cortical and zona reticularis volumes, ACTH and corticosterone concentrations, and lower DHEA levels. Comparing Orx vs. Orx+Soy resulted in elevated (P<0.05) ACTH and corticosterone levels. Structural integrity of the adrenal gland was unchanged vs. SO rats. Overall, G and soy extract treatments resulted in proliferative activity and/or vasculature support in the adrenal cortex. The data and current literature support the impression of a beneficial effect of soy components on the homeostatic response to stress