Human brain organoid model of maternal immune activation identifies radial glia cells as selectively vulnerable

Maternal immune activation (MIA) during critical windows of gestation is correlated with long-term neurodevelopmental deficits in the offspring, including increased risk for autism spectrum disorder (ASD) in humans. Interleukin 6 (IL-6) derived from the gestational parent is one of the major molecular mediators by which MIA alters the developing brain. In this study, we establish a human three-dimensional (3D) in vitro model of MIA by treating induced pluripotent stem cell-derived dorsal forebrain organoids with a constitutively active form of IL-6, Hyper-IL-6. We validate our model by showing that dorsal forebrain organoids express the molecular machinery necessary for responding to Hyper-IL-6 and activate STAT signaling upon Hyper-IL-6 treatment. RNA sequencing analysis reveals the upregulation of major histocompatibility complex class I (MHCI) genes in response to Hyper-IL-6 exposure, which have been implicated with ASD. We find a small increase in the proportion of radial glia cells after Hyper-IL-6 treatment through immunohistochemistry and single-cell RNA-sequencing. We further show that radial glia cells are the cell type with the highest number of differentially expressed genes, and Hyper-IL-6 treatment leads to the downregulation of genes related to protein translation in line with a mouse model of MIA. Additionally, we identify differentially expressed genes not found in mouse models of MIA, which might drive species-specific responses to MIA. Finally, we show abnormal cortical layering as a long-term consequence of Hyper-IL-6 treatment. In summary, we establish a human 3D model of MIA, which can be used to study the cellular and molecular mechanisms underlying the increased risk for developing disorders such as ASD.

A novel period mutation implicating nuclear export in temperature compensation of the Drosophila circadian clock

Circadian clocks are self-sustained molecular oscillators controlling daily changes of behavioral activity and physiology. For functional reliability and precision, the frequency of these molecular oscillations must be stable at different environmental temperatures, known as "temperature compensation." Despite being an intrinsic property of all circadian clocks, this phenomenon is not well understood at the molecular level. Here, we use behavioral and molecular approaches to characterize a novel mutation in the period (per) clock gene of Drosophila melanogaster, which alters a predicted nuclear export signal (NES) of the PER protein and affects temperature compensation. We show that this new per^I530A allele leads to progressively longer behavioral periods and clock oscillations with increasing temperature in both clock neurons and peripheral clock cells. While the mutant PER^I530A protein shows normal circadian fluctuations and post-translational modifications at cool temperatures, increasing temperatures lead to both severe amplitude dampening and hypophosphorylation of PER^I530A. We further show that PER^I530A displays reduced repressor activity at warmer temperatures, presumably because it cannot inactivate the transcription factor CLOCK (CLK), indicated by temperature-dependent altered CLK post-translational modification in per^I530A flies. With increasing temperatures, nuclear accumulation of PER^I530A within clock neurons is increased, suggesting that wild-type PER is exported out of the nucleus at warm temperatures. Downregulating the nuclear export factor CRM1 also leads to temperature-dependent changes of behavioral rhythms, suggesting that the PER NES and the nuclear export of clock proteins play an important role in temperature compensation of the Drosophila circadian clock.

Antioxidant effects of piperine on steroid-induced hepatotoxicity

OBJECTIVE

Glucocorticoids (GCs) are steroids that play an essential role in physiological processes and are valuable therapeutic agents against various diseases. The aim of our study was to evaluate the antioxidant effects of piperine (PIP) on steroid-induced oxidative stress in liver tissue.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

We used 36 fertilized specific-pathogen-free (SPF) chicken eggs that were divided into the following 6 groups: group 1 (n=6), phosphate buffered saline (PBS) (pH 7.4 saline solution [0.9%] isotonic); group 2 (n=6), 0.50 µmol hydrocortisone succinate sodium (HC); group 3 (n=6), 0.50 µmol HC and 100 mg/kg piperine (PIP); group 4 (n=6), 0.50 µmol HC and 50 mg/kg PIP; group 5 (n=6), 0.50 µmol HC and 25 mg/kg PIP; and group 6 (n=6), 0.50 µmol HC and 10 mg/kg PIP. Chick embryos were removed from the eggs and the livers dissected from the embryos. The total antioxidant status (TAS), total oxidant status (TOS), reduced glutathione (GSH), and lipid peroxidation (malondialdehyde [MDA]) levels were measured.

RESULTS

The highest levels of GSH and TAS in the liver tissues were observed in group 3, with a significant difference from those in group 2 (p <0.001 and p =0.006, respectively). The lowest levels of MDA and TOS in the liver tissues were observed in group 3, with a significant difference from those in group 2 (p <0.001 and p =0.021, respectively).

CONCLUSIONS

The antioxidant and hepatoprotective properties of PIP were observed only at high doses.

The protective role of curcumin against toxic effect of nonylphenol on bone development

INTRODUCTION

In the study, it was aimed to investigate the possible protective effects of curcumin, a potent antioxidant, against the toxic effect of nonylphenol on bone development.

METHODS

Thirty pregnant female Wistar albino rats were used. The rats were randomly divided into the following five groups; the control group, corn oil group (150 µl/kg/day), nonylphenol group (50 µl/kg/day), curcumin group (100 mg/kg/day) and curcumin + nonylphenol group (100 mg/kg/day + 50 µl/kg/day). The doses were given by gavage from the 5th day to the 20th day of gestation. The fetuses were removed out on the 20th day of pregnancy by cesarean at the end of the study. After the sacrifice of the animals, double skeletal staining in front extremity (clavicula, scapula, humerus, radius, ulna) and hind extremity (femur, tibia, fibula), additionally histological and immunohistochemical examinations in femur bone were performed.

RESULTS

The nonylphenol group offspring have the lowest weights of fetuses and placenta, head-to-hip lengths, biparietal and occipitofrontal length, and also, bone length percentage and percentage of the ossification area in all measurements of the front extremity and hind extremity Interestingly, the groups treated with curcumin showed close to the control group in terms of double skeletal staining, histological, and immunohistochemical examinations.

CONCLUSIONS

Our findings demonstrated an association between bone development and exposure to nonylphenol. The findings suggest that curcumin treatments may be effective in accelerating bone formation.

Effects of vitamin E in a glucocorticoid induced cataract model in chicken embryos

We investigated the antioxidant effects of vitamin E on a glucocorticoid (GC) induced model of cataracts in chick embryos. We used 70 fertilized eggs divided into seven groups as follows: phosphate-buffered saline (PBS) group, olive oil treatment (OO) group, hydrocortisone treatment (HC) group, olive oil and hydrocortisone treatment (OO + HC) group, 50 mg/kg vitamin E and hydrocortisone treatment (HC + VE (50)) group, 25 mg/kg vitamin E and hydrocortisone treatment (HC + VE (25)) group and 15 mg/kg vitamin E and hydrocortisone treatment (HC + VE (15)) group. On day 17, chick embryos were removed from the eggs and lens and liver tissues were excised. Cataract formation was evaluated and total antioxidant status (TAS), total oxidant status (TOS), malondialdehyde (MDA) and glutathione peroxidase (GPx) were measured in lens and liver tissues; MDA was measured only in liver. The lenses in the HC + VE (50) group exhibited significantly higher levels of GPx and TAS, and lower levels of TOS than for HC and OO + HC groups. The livers of the HC + VE (50) group exhibited significantly higher levels of GPx and lower levels of MDA than for the HC and OO + HC groups. The HC + VE (50) group lenses were evaluated as grade 1, because the nuclei were completely free of cataracts, likely due to the antioxidative effect of high dose VE. VE is an effective antioxidant agent that exhibits a dose-response effect, for ameliorating the negative effects of GCs.

The Evaluation of Stigmatization and Related Factors in Students of Health-Related Faculties

Background

Individuals with disabilities are the people in which health inequalities are mostly experienced. Stigmatization of disabled people reduces their participation in society and causes insufficient health care. Not stigmatize disabled people by health care providers is important to eliminate this insufficiency. The aim of the study was to determine the stigmatization level and communication related factors of students educated in health-related faculties.

Methods

This cross-sectional study conducted in 873 university students who educated in health-related faculties. The level of stigmatization was measured with Disability Stigma Scale(DSS) including the items used in study performed by Mclaughlin et al. The questionnaire consists of sociodemographics and items of contact with disabled persons(CDP) scale.

Results

The mean age of study group was 20.19 ± 1.63, and the 71% were female. The prevelance of stigmatization for disabled people was 33.7%. Of 62.3% study group scored below the mean score from CDP scale. In univariate analysis, the prevelance of stigma was higher in the male group (p &lt; 0.001), low education level group (p &lt; 0.005) and low communication level group (p = 0.020). In multivariate analysis, the risk of stigma for disabled people increases 2.1 times (OR;95% CI, 1.53-2.85) in male group, reduces 0.70 times (0.53-0.93) in high education level parents group and reduces 0.98 times (0.97-0.99) in high communication level group.

Conclusions

It was concluded that stigmatization against disabled people is very important issue for investigation and intervention in males, parents with low education groups and low communication level groups.

Key messages

Communication with disabled people is a very important factor that could be modified and improved for reducing the stigmatization about disabled people. Intervention studies are needed for reducing stigmatization against disabled people in students educated in health-related faculties to eliminate inequalities in health.

Evaluation of Cyber Bullying and Self-Esteem in High School Students

Background

Cyber bullying (CB) is a repetitive use of information and communication technologies to harm other individuals. In recent years, CB has become more common among adolescents with the increase in availability of technological devices and technological developments. CB may harm the emotional, social and psychological development of the individuals of developmental age and social relations. CB is reported to be higher in people with low self-esteem. The aim of this study is to determine the frequency of CB among high school students, to examine some variables which may be related and to evaluate self-esteem.

Methods

This is a cross-sectional study conducted between 1 May-30 June 2018 among high school students in Sivrihisar. The study group consisted of 712 students which 60.1% were female, 39.9% were male and the mean of ages was 16.3±1.2 years (ranged 13-20). CB was evaluated with 2nd Revision of the Revised Cyber Bullying Inventory (RCBI-II) and self-esteem was evaluated with Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale (RSES). Chi-square, logistic regression and Spearman correlation analyses were used to analyze the data.

Results

The frequency of CB was 57.6% (n = 410). The frequency of CB was higher in men (OR:1.45,CI:1.01-2.1), the group who accept the friendship request of the people they don’t know in the virtual environment (OR:1.84,CI:1.22-2.78), who had problems with anyone on internet (OR:2.27,CI:1.54-3.35), who tells about something that can’t speak in real life (OR:2.13, CI:1.48-3.06), who share the problem orginated from online communication with anyone around (OR:1.48, CI:1.03-2.15). There was a positive weak correlation between the scores of the RCBI-II and RSES.

Conclusions

CB is a common problem among high school students. There is a weak negative relationship between the level of CB and self-esteem. It may be useful to increase the awareness of students, parents and teachers on the subject and to provide psychological support to students to reduce the level of CB.

Key messages

It is remarkable that the self-esteem of cyber-bullies is low. Risky behavior on the internet is an important risk factor for cyber bullying.

Reliability and Validity of Disability Literacy Scale for Medical School Students

Background

Disability literacy is the ability to perceive definition of disabled person, their characteristics, difficulties in daily life and solution suggestions, their rights and false thoughts and orientations about them. The aim of the study was to develop the Disability Literacy Scale (DLS) to determine the disability literacy of medical school students with a high probability of encountering disabled people.

Methods

This study was conducted in 1110 medical school students in 2018-2019 academic year. By using literature 97 questions were collected. DLS was created with 22 questions by taking expert opinions. Correct answer was scored as 1, while wrong or ’do not know’ answer as 0. In order to evaluate the reliability of the scale, item total score correlation and internal consistency (Cronbach’s alpha) analyzes and exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis were used for construct validity.

Results

Of the 51.1% students were female and their age ranged from 17-40, the mean was 21.1±2.2. After the scale development study, the scale consisted of 14 items and 3 sub-dimensions. Scale items explain 43.21% of total variance and factor loadings ranged from 0.37-0.80. The Cronbach’s alpha coefficient was 0.61, 0.64, 0.51 for communication, health problems and social life sub-dimensions, and 0.68 for the whole scale. The fit of scale and the fit index were found to be acceptable after confirmatory factor analysis. In the last form of the scale, the score that can be taken from scale range 0-14. It was accepted that by increasing of the score, disability literacy level was increased. The mean score of students was 9.79±2.57 and the median was 10.0. The scores obtained from DLS were found to be lower in the first 3 grades (p &lt; 0.001), low level mother and father education (p &lt; 0.001/p=0.012) and who have not yet taken lesson about disability (p = 0.021).

Conclusions

DLS is a valid-reliable tool for assessing disability literacy levels of medical school students.

Key messages

It is essential to place disability related lessons from the earliest grades of medical school curriculum. In the literature, DLS seems the first scale about disability literacy and needs to be tested in large communities.

Effect of BCG vaccine on tuberculin skin tests in 7-11-year-old children

AIM

To determine the effect of Bacillus Calmette Guerin (BCG) vaccination on tuberculin skin test responses in 7-11-year-old children, and also to clarify whether the number of vaccinations and the time interval between vaccination and tuberculin skin test have an effect on the test responses.

METHOD

1200 primary school children were evaluated for the presence and number of BCG scars. They were then given 5 TU PPD-S intra-dermally. Seventy-two hours after the application of tests, PPD indurations were measured.

RESULTS

Mean indurations were 3.7 +/- 3.9, 6.5 +/- 5.4 and 9.2 +/- 7.1 mm in children with no scar, one scar and two scars, respectively. No statistical difference was found between mean induration of children with one scar and those with two scars.

CONCLUSION

The effect of the number of BCG vaccinations and the time interval between vaccination and tuberculin skin test application on tuberculin skin test responses was statistically insignificant.

Effect of BCG vaccine on tuberculin skin tests in 1-6-year-old children

Bacillus Calmette Guerin (BCG) vaccination used in the prevention of tuberculosis may cause problems in interpreting the tuberculin skin test (TST), which is commonly used in the diagnosis of infection. A limited number of studies have been undertaken to investigate how length of time after BCG vaccination affects TST results. TST induration values of unvaccinated children were compared with those of children vaccinated once in order to determine the changes in TST responses after BCG vaccination. Mantoux TSTs were administered to 1145 children aged 1-6 y and induration was measured at 72 h. BCG scar status and average TST induration diameters were identified for each age group.

CONCLUSION

Average TST induration in vaccinated children is significantly higher than that in unvaccinated children, and in the vaccinated group there is no statistically significant difference between induration values in the different age groups. BCG vaccination at the age of 0-2 mo affects TST for a long period and this condition does not change until 6 y of age.

Postpartum maternal levels of hemoglobin A1c and cord C-peptide in macrosomic infants of non-diabetic mothers

OBJECTIVE

This study was designed to test the hypothesis that macrosomia in infants born to non-diabetic mothers is associated with an increased incidence of hyperinsulinemia and normal maternal glucose regulation in late pregnancy.

METHODS

Twenty mothers and their macrosomic infants were chosen as the study group, and 20 mothers with their appropriate-for-gestational-age infants were chosen as the control group.

RESULTS

No difference in postpartum mean hemoglobin A1c levels was observed between the mothers of macrosomic infants and those of control infants. Cord plasma C-peptide levels were significantly higher in macrosomic than in control infants.

CONCLUSIONS

This study revealed that macrosomic infants of non-diabetic mothers were significantly more likely to have hyperinsulinemia than were normal-sized infants, and this hyperinsulinemia was not caused by dysregulation in glucose metabolism.

Acute infantile haemorrhagic oedema associated with hepatitis A

Acute infantile haemorrhagic oedema (AIHO) is characterised by purpura, ecchymosis and inflammatory oedema of the face and extremities. It is seen in children aged 4-24 months. The atiology is not known. We report a case of AIHO diagnosed by skin biopsy demonstrating leukocyte-elastic vasculitis. Laboratory studies showed positive hepatitis A IgM and IgG antibodies. The liver function tests were normal, indicating subclinical hepatitis. Cryoglobulinaemia was detected, suggesting that the disease was related to hepatitis A.

Investigation of the relationship between low Apgar scores and early neonatal thyroid function

BACKGROUND

The aim of the present study was to assess the effects of low Apgar scores on perinatal thyroid function.

METHODS

Forty full-term infants delivered by the normal spontaneous vaginal route were enrolled into the study. All babies had 1 and 5 min Apgar scores below 4. The control group consisted of 26 full-term healthy neonates. Cord blood and serum tri-iodothyronine (T3), thyroxine (T4), reverse tri-iodothyronine (rT3), free thyroxine (FT4), thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) and thyroid-binding globulin (TBG) determinations were performed by an enzyme immunoassay method.

RESULTS

The mean values of FT4 and T4 observed in the cord blood of the study group were significantly lower compared with matched controls, whereas the mean TSH values were significantly higher. There were no differences in concentrations of T3, rT3 and TBG between the two groups.

CONCLUSIONS

These results demonstrate the existence of transient hypothyroidism at birth in babies with Apgar scores below 4 delivered by the spontaneous vaginal route.