Developmental Processes Research Articles

P2X7 expression patterns in the developing Fmr1-knockout mouse hippocampus.

Fragile-X Syndrome (FXS)is the leading monogenetic cause of intellectual disability among children but remains without a cure. Using the Fmr1 KO mouse model of FXS, much work has been done to understand FXS hippocampus dysfunction. Purinergic signaling, where ATP and its metabolites are used as signaling molecules, participates in hippocampus development, but it is unknown if purinergic signaling is affected in the developing Fmr1 KO hippocampus. In our study, we characterized the purinergic receptor P2X7. We first found that P2X7 was reduced in Fmr1 KO whole hippocampus tissue at P14 and P21, corresponding to the periods of neurite outgrowth and synaptic refinement in the hippocampus. We then evaluated the cell-specific expression of P2X7 with immunofluorescenceand found differences between WT and Fmr1 KO mice in P2X7 colocalization with hippocampal microglia and neurons. P2X7 colocalized more with microglia at P14 and P21, but there was a sex-specific reduction in P2X7 colocalization with neurons. In contrast, male mice at P14 and P21 showed reduced neuronal P2X7 colocalization compared to females, but only females showed reduced absolute neuronal P2X7 expression across the dorsal hippocampal formation. Together, our results suggest that P2X7 expression is altered during Fmr1-KO hippocampal development, potentially influencing several developmental processes in the Fmr1-KO hippocampus formation.

Polyamines: pleiotropic molecules regulating plant development and enhancing crop yield and quality.

Polyamines (PAs) are pleiotropic bioorganic molecules. Cellular PA contents are determined by a balance between PA synthesis and degradation. PAs have been extensively demonstrated to play vital roles in the modulation of plant developmental processes and adaptation to various environmental stresses. In this review, the latest advances on the diverse roles of PAs in a range of developmental processes, such as morphogenesis, organogenesis, growth and development, and fruit ripening, are summarized and discussed. Besides, the crosstalk between PAs and phytohormones or other signalling molecules, including H2O2 and NO, involved in these processes is dwelled on. In addition, the attempts made to improve the yield and quality of grain and vegetable crops through altering the PA catabolism are enumerated. Finally, several other vital questions that remain unanswered are proposed and discussed. These include the mechanisms underlying the cooperative regulation of developmental processes by PAs and their interplaying partners like phytohormones, H2O2 and NO; PA transport for maintaining homeostasis; and utilization of PA anabolism/catabolism for generating high-yield and good-quality crops. This review aims to gain new insights into the pleiotropic role of PAs in the modulation of plant growth and development, which provides an alternative approach for manipulating and engineering valuable crop varieties that can be used in the future.

Longitudinal Relationships among Parenting, Prosocial Behaviors, and Emotional Problems: Examining Between- and Within-Person Associations in Adolescents.

Although bidirectional associations between parenting and adolescents' social and emotional outcomes have been investigated, how parental warmth and harsh parenting as two different parenting dimensions, adolescents' prosocial behaviors, and emotional problems were longitudinally and bidirectionally related at between- and within-person levels remains unclear. With a three-wave longitudinal design, the present study examined these associations by employing the random-intercept cross-lagged panel model. Data from 606 Chinese adolescents (Mage = 13.80 years, SD = 0.52, at T1; 45.7% girls) were collected at six-month intervals over one year, and participants completed questionnaires assessing their perception of parenting, prosocial behaviors, and emotional problems online. The results indicated that parental warmth and harsh parenting were significantly associated with adolescents' prosocial behaviors and emotional problems at the between-person level. At the within-person level, adolescents' more prosocial behaviors at T1 predicted later within-person decreases in their emotional problems at T2, which in turn predicted subsequent increased prosocial behaviors and more parental warmth at T3. Additionally, a higher level of harsh parenting at T2 unidirectionally predicted more adolescents' emotional problems at T3. These findings highlighted the developmental cascade processes among adolescents' prosocial behaviors, emotional problems, and parenting and the importance of fostering adolescents' prosocial behaviors in reducing their emotional problems and then promoting subsequent psychosocial adjustment and parent-child bonding.

Effects of Early Life Scarcity-Adversity on Maturational Milestones in Male and Female Rats.

Although many studies have shown a long-term negative impact of early life adversity (ELA) in rodents, literature regarding its effects on maturational milestones in rats is scarce. Available evidence suggests that ELA interferes with normal growth and development in rodents and that effects may be sex-dependent even at an early age. In accordance, we hypothesized that early life scarcity-adversity would impair physical and reflex development in male and female rats. To test this, we used an early life resource scarcity paradigm based on reducing home cage bedding during postnatal days (PND) 2-9 and assessed physical landmarks by measuring weight gain, incisor presence, fur development, and eye opening. We also evaluated the impact of early life scarcity-adversity on developmental reflexes by measuringsurface righting and grasp reflexes, negative geotaxis, cliff avoidance, bar holding, and auditory startle. Early life scarcity-adversity resulted in earlier complete lower incisor presence in males (PND 6), impaired surface righting(PND 6) and grasp reflexes (PND 8) in both sexes, and impaired cliff avoidance responses in females (PND 12). These results extend previous research examining the effects of ELA on developing male and female rodents by showing that it negatively impacts a subset of physical landmarks and developmental reflexes in a sex-dependent manner.

A review of Australian early childhood teacher education. Is physical development missing?

ABSTRACT Early childhood education (ECE) settings play an important role in child development, including children’s physical development. However, ECE educators have low competence and confidence in facilitating learning experiences that promote physical development. Content delivered in teacher education may influence educator’s knowledge, competence, and confidence in this area. No studies have comprehensively explored early childhood teacher education in Australia to determine if such content is included. Therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate the subject offerings of early childhood degrees from Australian universities and to narratively analyze the content of subject descriptions and subject overviews related to physical development. A desktop audit of Australian university undergraduate early childhood degrees was conducted. Subjects for early childhood degrees were categorized based on their title. Subject overviews and general outlines for subjects which broadly focused on physical development were inductively analyzed. Australian early childhood teacher education degrees offer a variety of subjects, including subjects that focused on play, health and wellbeing, and physical education. No subjects specifically focused on child physical development. We suggest early childhood teacher education degrees need to reconsider their subject offerings and include at least one subject that focus on physical development. Physical development is critically important as it underpins children’s social, emotional, language, and cognitive development. This study highlights a potential content area that could be included in early childhood teacher education degrees within the Australian context and internationally.

A quest of Vera M. Danchakoff, a pioneer of stem cell research.

Vera Mikhailovna Danchakova (1877-1950), also written in English as Danchakoff and in German as Dantschakoff, was the first woman to graduate with a PhD in Russia. She was a person of many interests and a strong passion for teaching and social justice that may have interfered with her pioneering stem cell research and cell biology, which was far ahead of its time. Danchakova significantly contributed to the unitarian theory of haematopoiesis along with its founder Alexander A. Maximow. She studied the origin of blood cells, the differentiation of tissues and organs in the process of embryonic development of animals, the formation of germ cells and the effect of hormones on the development of organisms. She discovered the role of stem cells in the laying of new tissues, the proof of the extragonadal origin of primary germ cells in birds and the development of methods for transplanting tissues into live embryos. She has been named 'the mother of stem cells' for her investigations of progenitors of cells.

Genome-wide identification of a MADS-box transcription factor family and their expression during floral development in Coptis teeta wall

BackgroundMADS-box transcription factors have been shown to be involved in multiple developmental processes, including the regulation of floral organ formation and pollen maturation. However, the role of the MADS-box gene family in floral development of the alpine plant species Coptis teeta Wall, which is widely used in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), is unknown.ResultsSixty-six MADS-box genes were identified in the C. teeta genome. These genes were shown to be unevenly distributed throughout the genome of C. teeta. The majority of which (49) were classified as type I MADS-box genes and were further subdivided into four groups (Mα, Mβ, Mγ and Mδ). The remainder were identified as belonging to the type II MADS-box gene category. It was observed that four pairs of segmental and tandem duplication had occurred in the C. teeta MADS-box gene family, and that the ratios of Ka/Ks were less than 1, suggesting that these genes may have experienced purifying selection during evolution. Gene expression profiling analysis revealed that 38 MADS-box genes displayed differential expression patterns between the M and F floral phenotypes. Sixteen of these MADS-box genes were further verified by RT-qPCR. The 3D structure of each subfamily gene was predicted, further indicating that MADS-box genes of the same type possess structural similarities to the known template.ConclusionsThese data provide new insights into the molecular mechanism of dichogamy and herkogamy formation in C. teeta and establish a solid foundation for future studies of the MADS-box genes family in this medicinal plant species.

The effect of special exercises using some auxiliary tools to develop some bio-kinetic abilities and the accuracy of the crushing and snatch forehand strikes among badminton players

The best means and ways to develop an athlete's physical and skill capabilities, and among these means is the use of training aids that help develop some bio-kinetic abilities, and prepared exercises have had an important role in improving athletic performance in badminton, where the player must possess physical fitness, explosive power, and strength. Characterized by speed as well as accuracy, awareness, and focus while playing on the court, the badminton player must be physically fit through a continuous movement of small and large muscles to achieve good performance, which requires special physical abilities and skills, and the most important of these bio-kinetic abilities are agility, coordination, and measuring the coordination between the eye and the arm. These abilities are needed by the badminton player while playing on the court. The study aimed to prepare special exercises using some auxiliary tools to develop some bio-kinetic abilities and the accuracy of the crushing and lightning forehand strikes among badminton players, in addition to identifying the effect of special exercises using some auxiliary tools on For badminton players, the researcher adopted the experimental method, and the sample number was (10) players from the badminton training center in the Armenian club, aged (17-19). They were distributed into two experimental and control groups, and they were chosen randomly because the research objectives require the use of athletes proficient in the game's technical performance. The researcher applied her main experiment using special exercises with some auxiliary tools, with (4) training units per week for (8) weeks. The results of the study showed that there was a positive effect on the results of bio-kinetic abilities between the two groups and in favor of the experimental group. It was shown in the kinetic response speed test for the first experimental group 7.423, agility 3.012, and compatibility 3.123, and for the second experimental group in the kinetic response speed test 3.208, agility 6.861, and compatibility 6.907. As for the skill tests for the first experimental group, The front smash hit was 7,234 and the diagonal front snap shot was 28.00. It was shown in the skill tests for the second experimental group that the front smash hit was 3,372 and the diagonal front snap shot was 3,400, which included exercises. The researcher recommends adopting the results of this study and disseminating them, and emphasizing equipping the stadiums with modern training methods, due to the results they achieve. Positive physical development serves one of the goals of sustainable development: good health and good education.

Label-free long-term measurements of adipocyte differentiation from patient-driven fibroblasts and quantitative analyses of in situ lipid droplet generation

The visualization and tracking of adipocytes and their lipid droplets (LDs) during differentiation are pivotal in developmental biology and regenerative medicine studies. Traditional staining or labeling methods, however, pose significant challenges due to their labor-intensive sample preparation, potential disruption of intrinsic cellular physiology, and limited observation timeframe. This study introduces a novel method for long-term visualization and quantification of biophysical parameters of LDs in unlabeled adipocytes, utilizing the refractive index (RI) distributions of LDs and cells. We employ low-coherence holotomography (HT) to systematically investigate and quantitatively analyze the 42-day redifferentiation process of fat cells into adipocytes. This technique yields three-dimensional, high-resolution refractive tomograms of adipocytes, enabling precise segmentation of LDs based on their elevated RI values. Subsequent automated analysis quantifies the mean concentration, volume, projected area, and dry mass of individual LDs, revealing a gradual increase corresponding with adipocyte maturation. Our findings demonstrate that HT is a potent tool for non-invasively monitoring live adipocyte differentiation and analyzing LD accumulation. This study, therefore, offers valuable insights into adipogenesis and lipid research, establishing HT and image-based analysis as a promising approach in these fields.

Two tiers, not one: Different sources of extrinsic mortality have opposing effects on life history traits.

Guided by concepts from life history (LH) theory, a large human research literature has tested the hypothesis that exposures to extrinsic mortality (EM) promote the development of faster LH strategies (e.g., earlier/faster reproduction, higher offspring number). A competing model proposes that, because EM in the past was intimately linked to energetic constraints, such exposures specifically led to the development of slower LH strategies. We empirically address this debate by examining (1) LH variation among small-scale societies under different environmental conditions; (2) country-, regional- and community-level correlations between ecological conditions, mortality, maturational timing, and fertility; (3) individual-level correlations between this same set of factors; and (4) natural experiments leveraging the impact of externally-caused changes in mortality on LH traits. Partially supporting each model, we found that harsh conditions encompassing energetic stress and ambient cues to EM (external cues received through sensory systems) have countervailing effects on the development of LH strategies, both delaying pubertal maturation and promoting an accelerated pace of reproduction and higher offspring number. We conclude that, although energetics are fundamental to many developmental processes, providing a first tier of environmental influence, this first tier alone cannot explain these countervailing effects. An important second tier of environmental influence is afforded by ambient cues to EM. We advance a 2-tiered model that delineates this second tier and its central role in regulating development of LH strategies. Consideration of the first and second tier together is necessary to account for the observed countervailing shifts toward both slower and faster LH traits.

1.M. Scientific session: Young and lonely – exploring experiences, challenges, and potential solutions

Abstract Experiencing loneliness is a natural facet of human existence, often considered a normative aspect of adolescent life. However, for some adolescents, this experience evolves into a ‘vicious circle’ of prolonged loneliness, making it challenging to reconnect with their social environment. This issue is important given the significance of fulfilling social relationships during adolescence. Peer relationships are particularly important in facilitating various developmental processes such as identity formation, asserting of autonomy from parental influence, and acquisition of social skills. Loneliness among adolescents is notably high, as evidenced by mounting research highlighting its prevalence in this age group surpassing other age groups. Research spanning adulthood and old age consistently demonstrates loneliness as a risk factor for both mental and physical health outcomes, including stress, depression, chronic diseases, and premature mortality. Even during adolescence, loneliness is associated with adverse mental and physical health, with potential long-term consequences extending into adulthood. These findings underscore the imperative of addressing adolescent loneliness and the need for effective interventions and widespread solutions tailored to this demographic. This workshop aims to address adolescent loneliness, exploring their experiences, challenges, and the consequences of loneliness, while also addressing possibilities for mitigation and prevention. Through three presentations followed by a joint discussion with the audience, participants will gain important insights into this critical issue. The workshop will be chaired by Asst. Prof. Julie Christiansen (Defactum - Public Health Research, Denmark, and University of Southern Denmark). Julie Christiansen will provide an introductory overview, describing current knowledge of adolescent loneliness including prevalence, ascendants, and consequences, based on findings from the Danish National Health Survey (How are you?”). The first presentation will be given by Lily Verity (University of Manchester, UK), who will present the findings from a qualitative research study with adolescents highlighting factors that influence their approach to coping with loneliness. Following this, Prof. Mathias Lasgaard (Defactum - Public Health Research, Denmark, and University of Southern Denmark) and Dr. Anne Friis Bo (Defactum - Public Health Research, Denmark) will provide an overview of the intervention landscape, including current knowledge on the effectiveness of various intervention strategies. The presentation will also highlight the potential of community-based approaches. This will be exemplified through an introduction to the Danish initiative ‘More Together’ including 36 partners in Silkeborg Municipality. Lastly, Ph.D. student Lauren Burke (University of Manchester, UK) will present the findings from a comprehensive systematic review and meta-analysis of loneliness interventions for children and adolescents. Key messages • The prevalence of loneliness among adolescents surpasses that of other age groups, substantiated by extensive research spanning nations. • Loneliness during adolescence is potentially modifiable through targeted interventions.

EDUCAÇÃO INFANTIL E A SUA IMPORTÂNCIA NO DESENVOLVIMENTO DAS CRIANÇAS

Early childhood education is an essential phase in children's development, which covers the first years of life, generally up to the age of five. This period is crucial for children's cognitive, emotional, social and physical development, providing the foundation for future learning. Early childhood education is not limited to teaching academic content, but also focuses on stimulating children's curiosity, creativity, autonomy and socio-emotional skills. Through playful, interactive activities focused on sensory experience, children explore the world around them, develop their language, motor coordination and social skills. In addition, early childhood education plays an essential role in promoting equal opportunities, social inclusion and preparing them for life in society. Therefore, investing in the quality and universal access to early childhood education is important to ensure the healthy and equitable development of children and to build a more just and democratic society in the future.

O IMPACTO DA DOR CRÔNICA NA QUALIDADE DE VIDA DAS CRIANÇAS O PAPEL DO ENFERMEIRO NO MANEJO DA DOR

The impact of chronic pain on children's quality of life and the role of nurses in pain management is the central approach of this study, which was carried out through a literature review. The aim is to analyze how chronic pain affects children's physical, emotional and social development, as well as to assess the importance of nurses in identifying and treating this pathology. The review aims to strengthen the improvement of nursing practices and enhance the multidisciplinary approach in the hospital environment. Scientific articles and recent publications on the subject were used to support the discussions. The main results indicate that the proper management of chronic pain in children, led by nurses, is indispensable for minimizing the negative impacts on the child's quality of life, and that continuous and personalized interventions are necessary. The research also highlights the importance of adequate training for professionals and the implementation of protocols that consider both the physical and emotional aspects of pain, reinforcing the need for a holistic, effective, interdisciplinary approach guided by nurses.

Validity and reliability of a physical literacy knowledge, attitudes, self-efficacy and behaviors questionnaire for early childhood educators (PLKASB-ECE): An exploratory factor analysis.

Nurturing physical literacy in young children offers a unique opportunity to address global physical inactivity trend. Early childhood education and care (ECEC) environments, with their extensive reach into this age group, and early childhood educators, through their daily interactions with children, are strategically positioned to influence children's physical literacy development. However, enhancing educators' ability to foster physical literacy requires valid and reliable assessment tools to measure holistic physical literacy constructs (i.e., cognitive, affective, behavioral) to assess the impact of physical literacy educational interventions. The purpose of this study was to develop a holistic digital tool to measure physical literacy knowledge, attitudes, self-efficacy, and behaviors of early childhood educators (PLKASB-ECE) for both their professional teaching context as well as the educator's own personal physical literacy behaviours. This study was conducted in two phases. Phase 1 involved item generation and content validation. Phase 2 employed a cross-sectional validation study design to assess the psychometric properties of the PLKASB-ECE tool. Based on a literature review an initial 19-item instrument was developed that subsequently underwent three rounds of expert content validation. Six additional items were added, resulting in a final 25-item self-report measure with a readability score equivalent to an 8th grade reading level (Flesch-Kincaid Grade Level: 8.7). This included 1 global rating item, 2 qualitative response items, 7 knowledge items, and 15 items addressing physical literacy attitudes, self-efficacy and behaviors using a 7-point Likert response scale. The PLKASB-ECE tool was administered to 470 educators in Alberta, Canada between 2019 to 2022. The 15 items were subjected to exploratory factor analysis and resulted in a five-factor scale with one item not loading. The five-factor scale held with the final 14 items with loadings ranging from 0.481 to 0.886, Cronbach's alpha ranging from 0.70 to 0.82, with ordinal omega ranging from 0.72 to 0.82. Usability, as assessed by completion time, was 8.15 minutes. These findings demonstrate good indices of reliability and validity for the PLKASB-ECE tool. This tool will be valuable as a research outcome measure for assessing educational interventions aimed at enhancing educators' understanding, confidence, and strategies for fostering holistic concepts of physical literacy in young children within ECECs.

The mechanical journey of primordial germ cells.

Primordial germ cells (PGCs) are the earliest progenitors of germline cells of the gonads in animals. The tissues that arise from primordial germ cells give rise to the male as well as female gametes and are thus responsible for transmitting genetic information to subsequent generations. Their development from single cells to fully formed tissues has thus been of great importance. In most higher animals, PGCs are initially specified at a site away from the gonads. They then migrate across multiple tissue contexts to reach a mesodermal mass of cells called the genital ridge, where they associate with somatic cells to form the sex-specific reproductive organs. This migratory behavior has been studied extensively to identify the various tissues PGCs interact with and how this might affect their development. A crucial point overlooked by classical studies has been the physical environment experienced by PGCs as they migrate and the mechanical challenges they might encounter. It has long been understood that migrating cells can sense and adapt to physical forces around them via a variety of mechanisms. Studies have also shown that these mechanical signals can guide stem cell fate. In this review, we summarize the mechanical microenvironment of migrating PGCs in different organisms. We describe how cells can adapt to this environment and how this adaptation can influence cell fate. We propose that mechanical signals play a crucial role in normal development of the germline and shed light on this unexplored area of developmental biology.

Rupture strength of living cell monolayers.

To fulfil their function, epithelial tissues need to sustain mechanical stresses and avoid rupture. Although rupture is usually undesired, it is central to some developmental processes, for example, blastocoel formation. Nonetheless, little is known about tissue rupture because it is a multiscale phenomenon that necessitates comprehension of the interplay between mechanical forces and biological processes at the molecular and cellular scales. Here we characterize rupture in epithelial monolayers using mechanical measurements, live imaging and computational modelling. We show that despite consisting of only a single layer of cells, monolayers can withstand surprisingly large deformations, often accommodating several-fold increases in their length before rupture. At large deformation, epithelia increase their stiffness multiple fold in a process controlled by a supracellular network of keratin filaments. Perturbing the keratin network organization fragilized the monolayers and prevented strain-stiffening. Although the kinetics of adhesive bond rupture ultimately control tissue strength, tissue rheology and the history of deformation set the strain and stress at the onset of fracture.

Pan-Genome-Wide Investigation and Co-Expression Network Analysis of HSP20 Gene Family in Maize

Heat shock protein 20 (HSP20) is a diverse and functionally important protein family that plays a crucial role in plants’ tolerance to various abiotic stresses. In this study, we systematically analyzed the structural and functional characteristics of the HSP20 gene family within the Zea pan-genome. By identifying 56 HSP20 pan-genes, we revealed the variation in the number of these genes across different maize inbreds or relatives. Among those 56 genes, only 31 are present in more than 52 inbreds or relatives. Further phylogenetic analysis classified these genes into four major groups (Class A, B, C, D) and explored their diversity in subcellular localization, physicochemical properties, and the terminal structures of those HSP20s. Through collinearity analysis and Ka/Ks ratio calculations, we found that most HSP20 genes underwent purifying selection during maize domestication, although a few genes showed signs of positive selection pressure. Additionally, expression analysis showed that several HSP20 genes were significantly upregulated under high temperatures, particularly in tassels and leaves. Co-expression network analysis revealed that HSP20 genes were significantly enriched in GO terms related to environmental stress responses, suggesting that HSP20 genes not only play key roles in heat stress but may also be involved in regulating various other biological processes, such as secondary metabolism and developmental processes. These findings expand our understanding of the functions of the maize HSP20 family and provide new insights for further research into maize’s response mechanisms to environmental stresses.

Optogenetics and Its Transformative Role in Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine

ABSTRACTOptogenetics, a revolutionary technique leveraging light stimulation for precise cellular control, holds immense potential in regenerative medicine. Offering unparalleled spatial and temporal accuracy, the entrance of optogenetics into tissue engineering and regenerative medicine (TERM) empowers researchers to modify genes precisely and reversibly, control signal pathways and antibodies, as well as alter biomaterial properties. Optogenetics provides unprecedented control in the manipulation of physiological regeneration, replication of intricate developmental processes, and tissue engineering in a laboratory setting. Although further investigation is required for the safe and feasible injection of optogenetic systems into human bodies, the use of optogenetics has already led to a great amount of research on several tissues and systems. It has found diverse applications in TERM of skin and connective tissue, endothelium, bone, cartilage, and muscle; with researchers leveraging optogenetics for precise control over the in vitro or in vivo production of these tissues, the investigation of critical proteins and pathways, the creation of light‐controlled wound coverings and even as a tool for directional tissue growth in living subjects. Optogenetics emerges as a transformative force in shaping the future of medical science, demonstrating a pivotal role in advancing regenerative medicine and paving the way for innovative therapeutic strategies.

Genomic landscape of adult testicular germ cell tumours in the 100,000 Genomes Project

Testicular germ cell tumours (TGCT), which comprise seminoma and non-seminoma subtypes, are the most common cancers in young men. In this study, we present a comprehensive whole genome sequencing analysis of adult TGCTs. Leveraging samples from participants recruited via the UK National Health Service and data from the Genomics England 100,000 Genomes Project, our results provide an extended description of genomic elements underlying TGCT pathogenesis. This catalogue offers a comprehensive, high-resolution map of copy number alterations, structural variation, and key global genome features, including mutational signatures and analysis of extrachromosomal DNA amplification. This study establishes correlations between genomic alterations and histological diversification, revealing divergent evolutionary trajectories among TGCT subtypes. By reconstructing the chronological order of driver events, we identify a subgroup of adult TGCTs undergoing relatively late whole genome duplication. Additionally, we present evidence that human leukocyte antigen loss is a more prevalent mechanism of immune disruption in seminomas. Collectively, our findings provide valuable insights into the developmental and immune modulatory processes implicated in TGCT pathogenesis and progression.

Пути оптимизации антропометрических параметров у детей с фармакорезистентной эпилепсией, получающих кетогенную диетотерапию

Ketogenic diet (KD) whilst being an effective method of diet therapy for drug-resistant epilepsy (DRE) is nevertheless accompanied by a significant number of side effects that include the possibility for the delayed physical development in pediatric patients. The problem is multifactorial and is primarily associated with the non-physiological nature of the ketogenic diet itself. Foreign studies on the KD effect on the physical development in children are contradictory and there are none domestic ones. The purpose of this research was to study the dynamics of anthropometric parameters in children with DRE against the background of KD and to assess the possibilities of the alimentary factor in its improvement. Materials and methods used: single-center retrospective cohort study had been carried out on the basis of the Russian Federal Research Centre for Nutrition, Biotechnology and Food Safety (Moscow, Russia) in 2016-2024. The study included patients with an established diagnosis of DRE against the background of KD aged 1 to 18 y/o. Patients were monitored for 24 months as follows: quarterly during the first year and semiannually during the second year of observation, using anthropometric, clinical-laboratory and clinical-instrumental research methods. Results: by the 3rd month of KD, out of 174 pediatric patients, the diet was effective in 105 (60%); by 12th month, 100% control over attacks was achieved in 11 (6%). Analysis of anthropometric parameters made it possible to establish that at the initial point of observation, in accordance with the z-score of the body mass index (BMI), 108 (64%) had normal nutritional status, 22 (13%) had malnutrition and 40 (24%) were overweight/obese. When studying the dynamics of weight and height indicators of children who were on KD throughout the observation period, it was found that the median BMI z-score statistically significantly changed upward (p=0.047), which was largely due to growth retardation, with a decrease in the height/age z-score throughout the observation period (p<0.001). It was found that the protein component of the diet, as well as the level of ketonemia, have a significant impact on the dynamics of the BMI z-score in KD patients. The amount of protein in the diet at 6% to 7% of the energy value contributed to the maintenance of optimal growth parameters in children within this research. Conclusion: the significance of the BMI indicator in assessing the nutritional status over KD decreases against the background of growth retardation. Taking into account the value of the protein/energy indicator when calculating nutrition helps in maintaining of the physical development rate in such patients.