Maternal diet supplemented with African walnuts enhances cortico-hippocampal gene expression and histomorphology in rat offspring.

BACKGROUND: The brain is built up during pregnancy. How it functions afterwards depends on how the expectant mother's diet nourishes it. Walnuts contain significant quantities of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) and bioactive phytochemicals, which enhance brain health and function even with advancing age. This study examined the effects of a walnut-enriched diet (WED) on corticohippocampal histoarchitecture and gene expression in rat offspring. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Twenty-eight female adult Wistar rats (n= 7) averaging about 185 g in weight were used for this study. After mating, pregnant dams were split randomly into four groups: A (standard rat chow/control), B (WED from GD 0 - PND 21), C (WED from GD 0 - PND 1), D (WED from PND 1 - PND 21). Offspring of dams were sacrificed at adolescence (PND 35), with brain tissues of interest harvested for subsequent analyses. RESULTS: We observed no significant correlates in litter size, body, and brain weights across the experimental groups. Histomorphology revealed no distortion in cellular layering and delineation of cells in the PFC and dentate gyrus of both control and WED groups. Nissl staining intensity was enhanced in the offspring of dams exposed to WED versus the control, indicating improved proteostasis. Upregulated mRNA expression of DNMT3a, H2Ax, OPA1, and BDNF was observed in cortical and hippocampal tissues of WEDexposed offspring compared with the control group. CONCLUSION: A diet enriched with African walnuts during early development induced changes predictive of cognitive improvements and enhanced stress-response signalling, plasticity, and neural resilience in rat offspring.

African walnut (Tetracarpidium conophorum) extract upregulates glucocerebrosidase activity and circumvents Parkinsonian changes in the Hippocampus via the activation of heatshock proteins.

BACKGROUND: Neurodegenerative illnesses like Parkinson's and Alzheimer's are largely caused by the accumulation of aggregated proteins. Heat shock proteins (HSPs), which are molecular chaperons, have been linked with the modulation of ß-glucocerebrosidase (GCase) function encoded by GBA1 and Synucleinopathies. Herein, the chaperonic properties of African walnut ethanolic extract (WNE) in manganese-induced Parkinsonian neuropathology in the hippocampus was examined. METHODOLOGY: 48 adult male rats weighing 185 g ± 10 g were randomly assigned into 6 (A - F) groups (n = 8) and treated orally as follows: A-PBS (1 ml daily for 28 days), B-WNE (200 mg/kg daily for 28 days), C- WNE (400 mg/kg daily for 28 days), D-Mn (100 mg/kg daily for 28 days), E-Mn plus WNE (100 mg/kg Mn + 200 mg/kg WNE daily concomitantly for 28 days), F-Mn plus WNE (100 mg/kg Mn + 400 mg/kg WNE daily concomitantly for 28 days). RESULTS: Rats treated with WNE showed increased levels of HSP70 and HSP90 in comparison with the Mn-intoxicated group. GCase activity also increased significantly in animals treated with WNE. Our results further revealed the therapeutic tendencies of WNE against Mn toxicity by modulating oligomeric α-synuclein levels, redox activity, and glucose bioenergetics. Furthermore, immunohistochemical evaluation revealed reduced expression of neurofibrillary tangles, and reactive astrogliosis following WNE treatment. CONCLUSION: The ethanolic extract of African Walnut induced the activation of HSPs and increased the expression of GBA1 gene in the hippocampus. Activated heat shock proteins suppressed neurodegenerative changes due to Manganese toxicity. WNE was also shown to modulate neuroinflammatory, bioenergetics and neural redox balance in Parkinson-like neuropathology. This study was limited to the use of crude walnut extract and the evaluation of non-motor cascades of Parkinson's disease.

Treating nasoethmoidal encephalocele in a low-resource country: a surgical experience from a Philippine multidisciplinary craniofacial team.

PURPOSE: It was described that nasoethmoidal encephalocele repair in the Philippines has been limited by insufficient resources, financial constraints, and a lack of surgical expertise. The purpose of this study was to report initial results and complications of Philippine patients with nasoethmoidal encephalocele surgically managed with an approach adapted to an environment with limited financial resources. METHODS: All patients (n = 21) with nasoethmoidal encephalocele who underwent intracranial and extracranial repairs (frontal wedge osteotomy to access the encephalocele cyst and cranial base defect, dural defect repair, split frontal grafts fixed with polydioxanone sutures to reconstruct the cranial defect and nasal dorsum, and medial canthopexy) from January 2015 to May 2017 were included. The correlations between sizes of masses and cranial defects with the occurrence of complications were tested. The surgical results were classified based on a previously published outcome grading scales I-IV on the need for additional surgery. RESULTS: Nineteen patients (90.5%) had unremarkable post-operative course. Two patients (9.5%) presented with complications (cerebrospinal fluid leak and surgical site infection) which were successfully managed with no additional surgery. The sizes of masses and cranial defects were not correlated (p > 0.05) with complications. The overall rate of surgical results ranked according to the need for additional surgery was 2.4 ± 0.5 (between categories II and III). CONCLUSIONS: We reported successful surgical repair of nasoethmoidal encephaloceles in Philippine patients by a local multidisciplinary craniofacial team.

Congenital melanocytic nevus mimicking a turban tumour in an 18-year-old Filipino male.

Congenital melanocytic nevi (CMN) are nevi that are present at birth or arise within the first few weeks of life. They are often found on the trunk, head and neck and extremities. We report herein an unusual presentation of a CMN as a cerebriform tumour presenting as secondary cutis verticis gyrata on the scalp of an 18-year-old Filipino male.

Two Filipino children with oromandibular limb hypogenesis spectrum

@#Oromandibular Limb Hypogenesis Spectrum (OMLHS) [OMIM 103300] is a rare disease characterized by congenital defects of the face, mandible, tongue and hypoplastic limbs. The exact etiology remains unknown. We present two Filipino children diagnosed with OLMHS. Patient 1 is a 2-year-old female noted to have micrognathia, sygnathia and hypoplasia of distal extremities. Patient 2 is a 6-year-old male with hypoplastic mandible, micrognathia, micromelia of both lower extremities and syndactyly of hands. The early recognition of this disease is important so that early surgical correction of deformities particularly the hypoplastic mandible be addressed to avoid complications such as respiratory distress and feeding difficulties.

Sodium azide-induced degenerative changes in the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex of rats: attenuatingmechanisms of kolaviron

Identification of therapeutic targets following neurodegeneration is of major biomedical importance. Kolaviron (Kv) is a biflavonoid complex isolated from seeds of Garcina kola - a common oral masticatory agent in Nigeria known to hold medicinal value. Therefore this study evaluated the therapeutic potential of Kv on cells of the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC), before or after sodium azide (NaN3)-induced neurodegeneration. Rats were randomly assigned into 5 groups (6 each) and treated daily (orally) as follows: 1 ml of corn-oil (vehicle of Kv, 21 days); Kv only (200 mg/kg) for 21 days; NaN3 only (20 mg/kg for 5 days); NaN3 (20 mg/kg for 5 days) followed by Kv (200 mg/kg for 21 days); Kv (200 mg/kg for 21 days) followed by NaN3 (20 mg/kg for 5 days). After treatments, rats were sacrificed and perfused transcardially (with 4% PFA) with brains fixed in accordance with the technique to be used. The DLPFC was examined using histology (H&E), immunoperoxidase (GFAP), immunofluorescence (iNOS & nNOS) and Western blotting (MAPT, MAP2, Bax, BCL-2 and CAD). Quantitative analysis was done using ImageJ software and statistical analysis with Graphpad prism (ANOVA) at p<0.05. NaN3 treatment induced neuronal damage, characterized by reduced relative brain weight, pyknosis, karyorrhesis, astrogliosis, axonal/dendritic damage and cytoskeletal dysregualtion that subsequently resulted in increased expressions of apoptotic regulatory proteins. These degenerative changes were relatable to the observed iNOS and nNOS upregulations. However, Kv administration attenuated the NaN3- initiated destructive molecular cascades in the DLPFC of rats through mechanisms that involved inhibition of stressor molecules and toxic proteins, prevention of stress related biochemical redox, preservation of neuronal integrity, cytoskeletal framework and subsequently, reduced the level of apoptotic regulatory proteins. We conclude that Kv conferred therapeutic benefits on NaN3- induced neurodegeneration, particularly when administered before more than after the insult

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Kolaviron was protective against sodium azide (NaN3) induced oxidative stress in the prefrontal cortex.

Kolaviron is a phytochemical isolated from Garcina kola (G. kola); a common oral masticatory agent in Nigeria (West Africa). It is a bioflavonoid used--as an antiviral, anti-inflammatory and antioxidant--in relieving the symptoms of several diseases and infections. In this study we have evaluated the neuroprotective and regenerative effect of kolaviron in neurons of the prefrontal cortex (Pfc) before or after exposure to sodium azide (NaN3) induced oxidative stress. Separate groups of animals were treated as follows; kolaviron (200 mg/Kg) for 21 days; kolaviron (200 mg/Kg for 21 days) followed by NaN3 treatment (20 mg/Kg for 5 days); NaN3 treatment (20 mg/Kg for 5 days) followed by kolaviron (200 mg/Kg for 21 days); 1 ml of corn-oil (21 days-vehicle); NaN3 treatment (20 mg/Kg for 5 days). Exploratory activity associated with Pfc function was assessed in the open field test (OFT) following which the microscopic anatomy of the prefrontal cortex was examined in histology (Haematoxylin and Eosin) and antigen retrieval Immunohistochemistry to show astroglia activation (GFAP), neuronal metabolism (NSE), cytoskeleton (NF) and cell cycle dysregulation (p53). Subsequently, we quantified the level of Glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PDH) and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) in the brain tissue homogenate as a measure of stress-related glucose metabolism. Kolaviron (Kv) and Kolaviron/NaN3 treatment caused no prominent change in astroglia density and size while NaN3 and NaN3/Kv induced astroglia activation and scar formation (astrogliosis) in the Pfc when compared with the control. Similarly, Kolaviron and Kv/NaN3 did not alter NSE expression (glucose metabolism) while NaN3 and NaN3/Kv treatment increased cortical NSE expression; thus indicating stress related metabolism. Further studies on enzymes of glucose metabolism (G6PDH and LDH) showed that NaN3 increased LDH while kolaviron reduced LDH in the brain tissue homogenate (P < 0.001). In addition kolaviron treatment before (P < 0.001) or after (P < 0.05) NaN3 treatment also reduced LDH expression; thus supporting its role in suppression of oxidative stress. Interestingly, NF deposition increased in the Pfc after kolaviron treatment while Kv/NaN3 showed no significant change in NF when compared with the control. In furtherance, NaN3 and NaN3/Kv caused a decrease in NF deposition (degeneration). Ultimately, the protective effect of KV administered prior to NaN3 treatment was confirmed through p53 expression; which was similar to the control. However, NaN3 and NaN3/Kv caused an increase in p53 expression in the Pfc neurons (cell cycle dysregulation). We conclude that kolaviron is not neurotoxic when used at 200 mg/Kg BW. Furthermore, 200 mg/Kg of kolaviron administered prior to NaN3 treatment (Kv/NaN3) was neuroprotective when compared with Kolaviron administered after NaN3 treatment (NaN3/Kv). Some of the observed effects of kolaviron administered before NaN3 treatment includes reduction of astroglia activation, absence of astroglia scars, antioxidation (reduced NSE and LDH), prevention of neurofilament loss and cell cycle regulation.

[Role expectations of various professional groups in the operating theatre]. / Rollenerwartungen unterschiedlicher Berufsgruppen im OP.

BACKGROUND: Clearly defined professional roles have the advantage that team members know what they are expected to do and what their expectations of other professional groups are. For the definition of roles a distinct number of interactions between persons are a prerequisite. In a typical operations room (OR) team members are not constantly involved and are often exchanged. Interactions between personnel are not strong enough to fulfil the designing process of role shaping. In this study the possible substitution of defined roles by a distinct professional culture in an OR was studied. METHODS: Using a shortened form of the SYMLOG questionnaire, 179 persons working in the ORs of 2 Swiss hospitals were interviewed. The three main professional groups in the OR setting were represented in this cohort: anaesthesia personnel (physicians and nurses), surgeons and operating room technicians and nurses. The SYMLOG questionnaire allows the rating of sympathy, influence and goal orientation of the professional groups. RESULTS: Surgeons and anaesthetists had the strongest influence and higher ratings for goal orientation. In comparison, the influence of members of the nursing profession was less valued. All three professional groups rated themselves higher than in the perception of the other professional groups. CONCLUSIONS: It is concluded that in this analysis the role definition was not clear. Optimization is therefore possible which could reduce conflict potential and contribute to a higher productivity.

[Hormone replacement therapy: toxicity of glycol ethers]. / Hormonothérapie de substitution: toxicité des éthers de glycol.

Glycol ethers (GE) belong to two main series: series E, which include ethylene glycol ethers (EGE) and series P which include propylene glycol ethers (PGE). GE are widely used as solvents in a large number of industrial, household and cosmetic applications. EGE can be found in water paints, varnishes, inks, household products. Severe adverse effects have been noted with pharmaceutical formulations containing diethylene glycol monoethyl-ethers and this led to withdrawal from the French market. The toxicity of GE depends on the molecular weight and the metabolites generated. It can manifest following acute or chronic exposure by disorders of the nervous system, bone marrow, immune system, kidneys as well as fertility, reproduction and embryofetal development. Several EGE are mutagenic. The carcinogenic risk is not known. The most toxic derivatives EGME, EGMEA, EGEE and EGEEA alter male and female fertility, and induce malformations. Taking these toxic effects into consideration, what is the place of GE as absorption promoting agents? An example is DEGEE, which facilitates estradiol penetration when used as a gel in the treatment of estrogen deficiency. This review is intended to address this issue.

Effect of ethanolic extract of Khaya senegalensis on some biochemical parameters of rat kidney.

The effect of administration of ethanolic extract of Khaya senegalensis (2mg/kg body weight) on some biochemical parameters of rat kidney were investigated. Experimental animals were randomly divided into the control, those administered with the extract for 6 days and those administered with extract for 18 days, respectively. The prolonged administration of the extract resulted in significant reduction in the alkaline phosphatase activities of the kidney and its body weight ratio (P<0.05). In contrast, the same prolonged administration of the extract resulted in significant increase in the serum sodium ion concentration (P<0.05) while there was no significant difference in serum potassium ion concentration when compared to control (P>0.05). Administration of the extract for 6 days produced no significant difference from the control values in all the parameters investigated except in serum urea concentration which produced a significant increase (P<0.05). The available evidence in this study suggest that the ethanolic extract of Khaya senegalensis exerted more deleterious effect on the kidney when administered continuously over a prolonged period than a short one and this will adversely affect the functioning of the kidney.

Characterization and comparison of the DNAs of the three closely related bacteriophages gd, ge and gf with the genome DNA of the hydrogen-oxidizing host strain Pseudomonas pseudoflava GA3.

The double-stranded (ds)DNAs of the three closely related temperate Pseudomonas pseudoflava bacteriophages gd, ge and gf were studied biochemically and biophysically. The GC content of the DNA was 67.4 +/- 0.5% and differed only slightly from that of the host P. pseudoflava. By electron microscopic length measurements a mol. wt. of 26.1 X 10(6) to 26.7 X 10(6) was calculated for the three bacteriophage DNAs. Homogeneity of the bacteriophage DNAs was further demonstrated by specific cleavage with restriction endonucleases WcoRI and HindIII. It was concluded that the three homo-immune bacteriophages are identical. The genome size of the host P. pseudoflava GA3 was 3.7 X 10(9) as calculated from optical renaturation rate measurement with Xanthomonas pelargonii reference DNA. The bacteriophage gd genome thus amounts to 0.7% of the chromosome of this bacterial host.

Restriction endonuclease cleavage map of mitochondrial DNA from Aspergillus nidulans.

Mitochondrial DNA of the ascomycete fungus Aspergillus nidulans, a circular molecule of 31 500 base pairs, is cleaved by restriction endonucleases Eco R I, Hind II, Hind III and Bgl II into 3, 7, 9 and 5 fragments, respectively. The relative positions of the cleavage sites could be mapped by analysis of fragments obtained by double enzyme digestions of whole DNA and by complete and partial redigestion of isolated restriction fragments.

Physical map of Neurospora crassa mitochondrial DNA and its transcription unit for ribosomal RNA.

A circular denaturation and restriction map of mitochondrial DNA from Neurospora crassa is presented. The map shows the position of all twelve fragments produced by restriction endonuclease Eco R I and the position of the largest Hin III fragment along the previously established map of AT-rich sequences. The two wild type strains Em 5256 and 7A differ in the lengths of two Eco R I fragments. No difference was found between the mitochondrial mutant "poky" and its parent strain. The position of the DNA segment carrying the transcription unit for the two ribosomal RNA molecules has been determined by molecular hybridization.

Denaturation map of the circular mitochondrial genome of Neurospora crassa.

A denaturation map of mitochondrial DNA from the wild type strain 5256 of Neurospora crassa was constructed by computer analysis of the contour length distribution of single- and double-stranded regions of nineteen circular and three full length linear molecules after partial denaturation. The data suggest that mitochondrial DNA in this strain is a homogeneous population of a circular molecule of molecular weight 41 - 10(6) with an asymmetric distribution of AT-rich regions, and that linear molecules derive from this genome by random breaks during isolation.