Aurora magazine

The microbiota is the set of bacteria that live inside the human intestine. It is an essential community for the proper functioning of the organ and therefore for the well-being of the individual. According to a study led by Dr. Sara Lundgren, feeding during pregnancy could influence the microbiota of the unborn child.

The team of Dr. Lundgren analyzed the composition of the microbiota of 97 children, all born with natural childbirth. They identified the following average bacterial composition:

• 20% enterobatteriacee
• 18.6% bifidobacteria
• 10.44% bacteroids
• 8.10% streptococci

The authors identified three different clusters of microbes in the intestinal bacterial composition. In group 1 there was an abundance of bifidobacteria; in group 2, streptococci and clostridium prevailed; in group 3 there were mostly bacteroids. The intestinal bacterial composition was different in 48 children born by cesarean section. In the latter group 1 showed abundance of bifidobacteria; group 2 was characterized by high levels of clostride and low streptococci; in 3 abounded enterobacteriaceae.

According to the authors of the study, some differences may have also been influenced by the diet of mothers during gestation. In naturally born children, the chances of returning to group 2 increased by 2.73 times for each portion of fruit consumed daily by the mother. In contrast, bifidobacteria levels were very high in children born by caesarean from mothers who consumed so much red meat.

Source: biomedcentral.com

An international team from the Vrije Universiteit in Amsterdam has identified 939 new genes involved in the development of emotional intelligence and stability. The new genes are added to the 77 identified in previous studies.

For the first part of the research, the researchers involved a sample of about 270,000 subjects. In the second, on the other hand, they involved about 500,000 people. The second part focused on the genetic basis behind some mental disorders. On this occasion, scientists have identified a personality trait that increases the risk of incurring these problems.

To identify the genes in question, the researchers relied on genome-wide association studies. These collect the genetic variations of hundreds of thousands of genes by analyzing the presence and activities in thousands of subjects.

Scientists have identified high levels of expression in neurons in the hippocampus and striatum. These could be the genetic causes of the so-called fluid intelligence. The term fluid intelligence when an individual uses logical reasoning to find new solutions, no matter what knowledge you already have. It is in contrast to the crystallized intelligence, or the ability to make the best use of the knowledge that one has.

The study also identified a correlation between intelligence and Alzheimer's risk. Some genetic variants associated with intelligence appear to protect the brain from Alzheimer's and attention disorders. The researchers also focused on the genes on which emotional stability is based.

It seems that emotional stability resides in 599 genes. Some variants within these predispose emotional instability or neuroticism. Subjects who show variants are more likely than average to experience negative emotions. They are also more prone to depression and sometimes to schizophrenia.

Source: lescienze.it

Nephrotic syndrome is a disease that affects about 1 to 7 people per 100,000 each year. In those who suffer from it, the filtering units of the kidneys are damaged. This causes an escape of the proteins in the urine, with consequent deficit for the organism. The lack of proteins in the body also causes retention of salts and liquids, and therefore swelling. In addition, protein deficiency is linked to an increase in fat production by the liver.

Those suffering from nephrotic syndrome tend to have a swelling on the whole body, especially legs and stomach. Sick subjects urinate little and increase in weight apparently without reason. However, the manifestations can change based on whether you are dealing with primary or secondary nephrotic syndrome. The secondary is the result of other diseases, such as cancer or HIV. The most common types of the primary, however, are "glomerulonephritis with minimal lesions" and "segmental focal glomerulosclerosis".

Glomerulonephritis with minimal lesions is the most common type among children. 75% of those suffering from the disease suffer from it, compared to 20% of adults. This type is treatable with corticosteroid drugs, but rarely the effects are permanent. 60% of patients suffer from one or more recurrences of the disease. On the other hand, segmental focal glomerulosclerosis is difficult to treat and often leads to kidney loss.

The diagnosis of nephrotic syndrome occurs through:

• Urine analysis. A too high level of protein in the urine is one of the most important symptoms. The analyzes are done on the urine collected over 24 hours.
• Blood analysis. The levels of hypo-albuminemia and hyperlipidemia are measured.
• Renal biopsy. Doctors take a fragment of kidney and examine the filter units to see if they are damaged.

Source: nephceurope.eu/nc/it/

In in vitro fertilization (IVF), the implantation of fresh embryos often results in children younger than the average. In contrast, the implantation of frozen embryos ends with children a little heavier than the average. A study suggests a possible cause. In vitro fertilization (IVF) acts on regions of genes that regulate embryonic growth. The effects would depend on genetic variations inherited from the parents.

Researchers at the University of Helsinki examined how IVF alters embryonic growth. They recruited 86 couples undergoing in vitro fertilization and 157 couples with natural pregnancies. They divided the first group into two subgroups: those who used fresh embryos and those who used frozen embryos.

In genetic analysis, scientists focused on the regulatory regions of two growth genes: IGF-2 and H19. Variations in these genes in parents have been associated with different epigenetic markers in children. The researchers then observed epigenetic markers in the placenta, dividing them into groups based on the genotype inherited from the parents.

At a later stage, the researchers compared data such as placental weight, birth weight, type of IVF procedure used, and inherited genotype. They noted that infants with a certain genotype and derived from the transfer of frozen embryos were much heavier than the average.
The observations are based on studies on prenatal alcohol exposure, for example. In fact, highlight how embryonic development is influenced by both genetics and environmental factors.

Source: helsinki.fi/en