Brain as the house of autistic soul: current trends in analyzing the risk factors and building up the diagnosis in mild forms of autism spectrum disorder.

The number of children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) has significantly increased over the last few years. On the one hand, this surge may be associated with increased awareness of this entity and the greater availability of diagnostic tools. On the other hand, influence of factors believed to cause or facilitate ASD development (including environment pollution, stress of modern civilization, brain trauma and use of drugs) could have a negative impact on individuals in the phase of their social and psychological development. Due to the increasing problem, more and more attention is being focused on early detection of ASD, what allows to intervene at the earliest time point. In consequence, the quality of life of ASD-affected people may be significantly improved if diagnosed early. In this review, the list of possible risk factors for ASD is critically appraised and some "pearls for practice", helping in early diagnosis of even mild ASD are outlined.

Yolkin Isolated from Hen Egg Yolk as a Natural Immunoregulator, Activating Innate Immune Response in BMDM Macrophages.

One of the goals of biomedical sciences is to search and identify natural compounds that are safe, have no side effects, and possess immunostimulatory activity. It has been proven that medicines of natural origin can be effective agents, supporting the therapy of many diseases, not only in the weakened immune system of the body but also in the prevention of many diseases in healthy people. It has been shown that yolkin, a polypeptide complex isolated from hen egg yolk as a fraction accompanying immunoglobulin Y (IgY), possesses potential biological activity. However, the mechanism of its action has not been explained. The objective of this investigation was to examine the molecular mechanisms of innate immune response, activated in response to yolkin, in murine bone marrow-derived macrophages (BMDM). It was shown that yolkin induced phosphorylation of extracellular signal-kinases (ERK1/2) and c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) and upregulated expression and production of type I interferons, TNF-α (tumor necrosis factor α), and nitric oxide (NO), in BMDM cells. Using pharmacological inhibitors of ERK 1/2 and JNK kinases, we revealed that the JNK signaling cascade is required for yolkin-induced inducible NOS expression and upregulation of NO production in mouse macrophages. Using the TLR4-deficient BMDM cell line, we established that yolkin can activate macrophages in a TLR4-dependent manner. It was also shown that NO, TNF-α, and type I IFNs (α/ß) produced by BMDM cells in response to yolkin triggered antiviral activity. These data indicate that yolkin affects the regulation of the immune system and antiviral response; therefore, it can be used as an effective immunostimulator of the innate immunity or as a supplement of the conventional therapy of immunodeficiency.

Histological changes in the retina in experimental alloxan-induced diabetes in rabbits.

Mature rabbits were given a single dose of alloxan at the dose of 100 mg/kg of b.m. After 3 and 6 weeks and after 3 and 6 months the retina samples were taken from the areas immediate to the papilla of the optic nerve. Half-thin sections were stained with Swiss blue and azure, and the changes in the particular layers were evaluated under the light microscope. Morphological changes in the form of decreased number of neurones (especially ganglionic) and narrowed layer of rods and cones occurred after 6 weeks. After 3 months even further increase in the number of neurones and atrophy of the pigmented epithelium cells were observed. After 6 weeks nearly total atrophy of ganglionic neurones and distinct narrowing of all the layers were found.

Histological examination of the thyroid after experimental administration of Metizol.

The investigations were carried out on thyroids of white Wistar rats which were given Metizol for 3 days, 3 and 6 weeks at the dose of 1 mg/kg of b.m. for 24 hrs. The samples were stained with hematoxylin and eosin and by the PAS method. The following changes were observed: 1. Three-day administration of Metizol resulted in the decrease in the quantity of colloid; the secretory epithelium became uniform--i.e. cubic; the quantity of the interfollicular tissue increased. 2. Three-week administration of Metizol resulted in appearing of colloid stained differently than in the control group; secretory epithelium cells were of different height (cubic and cylindrical), a considerate congestion of the gland was visible, the quantity of the interfollicular tissue increased. 3. After 6 weeks of Metizol administration the morphological picture of the thyroid became similar to that of the control group.

[Changes of some physicochemical parameters of gas exchange in aqueous humor of rabbits during treatment of experimental uveitis]. / Zmiany w wartosciach parametrów fizykochemicznych przemiany gazowej plynu komory przedniej oka królików w leczeniu doswiadczalnie wywolanego zapalenia blony naczyniowej.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the usefulness of some parameters of the aqueous humor: pH, pO2 (oxygen pressure), pCO2 (carbon dioxide pressure) and HCO3- concentration in the diagnosis of uveitis. Changes of these parameters following conventional treatment and cryotherapy have also been investigated. MATERIAL AND METHOD: We used 40 grey rabbits (weighing 2.5-3.0 kg). Uveitis was evoked by intravitreal injection of 5 mg of animal albumin. Cryotherapy was performed by transconjunctival, quintuple cryoapplication (30 s) over ciliary body. Samples of aqueous humor were collected 6, 12, 24 and 48 hours after albumin injection. pH, pO2, pCO2 values and HCO3- concentration were determined using Astrup microanalyser. RESULTS: Parameters of aqueous humor, especially pH, pCO2 and HCO3- turned out to be fairly sensitive indicators reflecting the natural history of experimental uveitis. Cryotherapy characteristically modulates the pH, pCO2 and HCO3- values in the anterior chamber. CONCLUSIONS: We came to the conclusion that monitoring of these parameters may give some important information about the intensity of the course of uveitis and the influence of the treatment. Normalisation of the values usually parallels clinical improvement.