Magdalena Kurnik-Łucka

Impedance-based cellular assays allow determination of biological functions of cell populations in real-time by measuring electrical impedance. As compared to end-point assays, such as trans-epithelial electrical resistance assays, for example, they enable fast, non-invasive, and easy detection of cell kinetics—their growth, attachment, and interaction can be monitored over time. In our experiment, Caco-2 cells were cultured on E-plates 16. Next, fully differentiated cells were treated with either TNF-α or 3,4-dihydroxy-L-phenylalanine (L-DOPA). We aimed to verify the possibility of real-time testing of the viability, monolayer formation, and integrity (i.e., the presence of a functional and polarized monolayer) of Caco-2 cells by the xCELLigence real-time cell analyzer (RTCA) S16 system (Agilent Technologies).

Background/Objectives: Fetal alcohol spectrum disorders comprise a range of neurodevelopmental disorders caused by prenatal alcohol exposure. Recent investigations have revealed that among patients with neurodevelopmental disorders, serum cobalamin (vitamin B12) levels are substantially higher than those of healthy controls. Patients with fetal alcohol spectrum disorders similarly present with higher levels of cobalamin, yet the significance of cobalamin in the pathogenesis of fetal alcohol spectrum disorders remains to be established. This study aimed to examine cobalamin and other cobalamin status markers in patients with fetal alcohol spectrum disorders in comparison with healthy controls. Methods: In total, 80 patients were enrolled in the study—41 diagnosed with fetal alcohol spectrum disorders and 39 healthy controls. The diet history method was used to assess vitamin B12 intake for three days preceding blood sampling. Total vitamin B12 (cobalamin), holotranscobalamin, methylmalonic acid and soluble transcobalamin receptor (CD320) were measured in serum samples. Results: The daily intake of vitamin B12 was higher in patients with fetal alcohol spectrum disorders compared to controls, both in the simple analysis and after adjusting for age (OR for patients with FASDs: 1.82; 95% CI: 1.16–2.87). An elevated serum cobalamin level was noted in some patients from the group with fetal alcohol spectrum disorders. No statistically significant differences were found between the groups in serum levels of cobalamin, holotranscobalamin, CD320 or methylmalonic acid. However, the correlations between cobalamin and its metabolites differed in fetal alcohol spectrum disorders as compared to those in the control group. Conclusions: Our study did not find any deficits of vitamin B12 and its metabolites in patients with fetal alcohol spectrum disorders. Further studies to investigate the role of vitamin B12 in the pathogenesis of fetal alcohol spectrum disorders should be established given the fact that both high and low levels of vitamin B12 may have negative health impacts.

Studies have shown important interactions between the local renin–angiotensin and monoaminergic systems in physiology and pathophysiology. Yet the understanding of such interactions in the gastrointestinal (GI) tract and GI-associated diseases is the least understood. Thus, the aim of our study was to characterize the expression pattern of DDC and ACE2 along the GI tract (duodenum, jejunum, ileum, and colon) of control female Wistar rats.

Introduction: Anorexia nervosa (AN) is a psychiatric disorder with a high mortality rate and significant prevalence in the paediatric population. Preliminary reports during the COVID-19 pandemic suggested an increased incidence of AN among children and adolescents. The objective of this study was to analyse new cases of AN before, during, and after the pandemic, with a particular focus on the physical manifestations of the disease. Methods: This single-centre, retrospective study included new AN cases from the hospital database of a regional paediatric hospital (a reference centre for AN) between 2013 and 2023. Data analysed included the duration of the disease, body mass index (BMI), weight loss, length of hospitalisation, laboratory markers (leukopenia, anaemia, hypoproteinaemia, hyperferritinaemia, hypophosphataemia, dyslipidaemia, and hypothyroxinaemia) and clinical features of malnutrition (such as amenorrhea bradycardia, pericardial effusion, and cortical/subcortical atrophy). Results: This study was conducted in a Polish regional hospital. We analysed 228 hospitalized female patients aged 10 to 18 years diagnosed with AN, focusing on clinical characteristics, biochemical markers, and the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. The COVID-19 pandemic was shown to have a significant impact, with longer hospitalisations observed during and after the pandemic and a lower BMI on admission post-pandemic compared to pre-pandemic. In addition, nutritional treatment became more prevalent over time while biochemical markers such as anaemia, hypothyroidism, hypophosphataemia, and dyslipidaemia were statistically more common post-pandemic. Conclusions: This study demonstrates a significant impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the clinical course and hospitalisation patterns of paediatric patients with AN. These findings suggest that the pandemic may have exacerbated disease severity and altered treatment approaches, emphasizing the need for enhanced clinical management and follow-up strategies for AN in the paediatric population during such health crises.

Background/Objectives: Nutrition plays a significant role in preventive medicine, as up to 80% of chronic diseases could be avoided by adhering to healthy dietary principles. The aim of our study was to identify dietary habits, awareness, and nutrition knowledge in a random sample of Polish healthcare students and professionals. Methods: Initially, a total screened sample consisted of 1287 respondents, yet the actual response/participation rate was 634/1287. A validated questionnaire for the Polish population, the Dietary Habits and Nutrition Beliefs Questionnaire (KomPAN), was used for the assessment. Results: The majority of respondents were females (84.2% of medical students and 87.2% of healthcare professionals), current non-smokers (79.6% of medical students and 85.2% of healthcare professionals), and had a normal waist circumference (76.3% of medical students and 63.1% of healthcare professionals). Both clinical dieticians and students studying clinical dietetics received significantly different scores of dietary indexes (pro-healthy pHDI-10 and non-healthy nHDI-14) vs. respective groups of respondents. Both healthcare students and professionals who self-reported better nutritional knowledge indeed yielded significantly better results in the dietary indexes as well as nutritional knowledge scores. The nutrition knowledge score was positively correlated with pHDI-10 and negatively correlated with nHDI-14, BMI, age, and waist circumference. Conclusions: Our results illustrate lifestyle trends among Polish healthcare students and professionals, and such results should encourage the development of evidence-based dietary policies targeting healthcare providers. High-quality continuing nutrition education should be obligatorily provided to all healthcare providers to enhance their dietary awareness as well as ensure high quality of care and outcomes achieved by the Polish healthcare system.

In the first part of this article, the role of intestinal epithelial tight junctions (TJs), together with gastrointestinal dopaminergic and renin–angiotensin systems, are narratively reviewed to provide sufficient background. In the second part, the current experimental data on the interplay between gastrointestinal (GI) dopaminergic and renin–angiotensin systems in the regulation of intestinal epithelial permeability are reviewed in a systematic manner using the PRISMA methodology. Experimental data confirmed the copresence of DOPA decarboxylase (DDC) and angiotensin converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) in human and rodent enterocytes. The intestinal barrier structure and integrity can be altered by angiotensin (1-7) and dopamine (DA). Both renin–angiotensin and dopaminergic systems influence intestinal Na⁺/K⁺-ATPase activity, thus maintaining electrolyte and nutritional homeostasis. The colocalization of B⁰AT1 and ACE2 indicates the direct role of the renin–angiotensin system in amino acid absorption. Yet, more studies are needed to thoroughly define the structural and functional interaction between TJ-associated proteins and GI renin–angiotensin and dopaminergic systems.

Background: Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) is a consequence of prenatal alcohol exposure (PAE) associated with a range of effects, including dysmorphic features, prenatal and/or postnatal growth problems, and neurodevelopmental difficulties. Despite advances in treatment methods, there are still gaps in knowledge that highlight the need for further research. The study investigates the effect of PAE on the autonomic system, including sex differences that may aid in early FASD diagnosis, which is essential for effective interventions. Methods: During gestational days 5 to 20, five pregnant female Wistar rats were orally administered either glucose or ethanol. After 22 days, 26 offspring were born and kept with their mothers for 21 days before being isolated. Electrocardiographic recordings were taken on the 29th and 64th day. Heart rate variability (HRV) parameters were collected, including heart rate (HR), standard deviation (SD), standard deviation of normal-to-normal intervals (SDNN), and the root mean square of successive differences between normal heartbeats (RMSSD). Additionally, a biochemical analysis of basic serum parameters was performed on day 68 of the study. Results: The study found that PAE had a significant impact on HRV. While electrolyte homeostasis remained mostly unaffected, sex differences were observed across various parameters in both control and PAE groups, highlighting the sex-specific effects of PAE. Specifically, the PAE group had lower mean heart rates, particularly among females, and higher SDNN and RMSSD values. Additionally, there was a shift towards parasympathetic activity and a reduction in heart rate entropy in the PAE group. Biochemical changes induced by PAE were also observed, including elevated levels of alanine transaminase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST), especially in males, increased creatinine concentration in females, and alterations in lipid metabolism. Conclusions: PAE negatively affects the development of the autonomic nervous system, resulting in decreased heart rate and altered sympathetic activity. PAE also induces cardiovascular abnormalities with sex-specific effects, highlighting a relationship between PAE consequences and sex. Elevated liver enzymes in the PAE group may indicate direct toxic effects, while increased creatinine levels, particularly in females, may suggest an influence on nephrogenesis and vascular function. The reduced potassium content may be linked to hypothalamus–pituitary–adrenal axis overactivity.

Salsolinol (1-methyl-1,2,3,4-tetrahydroisoquinoline-6,7-diol) is a close structural analogue of dopamine with an asymmetric center at the C1 position, and its presence in vivo, both in humans and rodents, has already been proven. Yet, given the fact that salsolinol colocalizes with dopamine-rich regions and was first detected in the urine of Parkinson's disease patients, its direct role in the process of neurodegeneration has been proposed. Here, we report that R and S enantiomers of salsolinol, which we purified from commercially available racemic mixture by means of high-performance liquid chromatography, exhibited neuroprotective properties (at the concentration of 50 μM) toward the human dopaminergic SH-SY5Y neuroblastoma cell line. Furthermore, within the study, we observed no toxic effect of N-methyl-(R)-salsolinol on SH-SY5Y neuroblastoma cells up to the concentration of 750 μM, either. Additionally, our molecular docking analysis showed that enantiomers of salsolinol should exhibit a distinct ability to interact with dopamine D2 receptors. Thus, we postulate that our results highlight the need to acknowledge salsolinol as an active dopamine metabolite and to further explore the neuroregulatory role of enantiomers of salsolinol.