These findings implicate a role for MIP in the maturation of the CNS and evoke a hypothesis regarding the regulation of inositol phosphate biosynthesis in brain development.

Background: Congenital hydrocephalus, an important cause of neurologic morbidity and mortality in children, is a medical condition characterized by an abnormal accumulation of cerebrospinal fluid in the brain. It can be caused by abnormal brain development, obstruction of the cerebral aqueduct flow, Chiari malformations, and Dandy-Walker malformation. The prevalence of congenital hydrocephalus is 2.2 to 18 per 10,000 live births. Objectives: To determine the prevalence of congenital hydrocephalus among livebirths in the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan (HKJ). Methods: Clinical data were collected from medical records of all livebirths with congenital hydrocephalus born at Al Bashir Hospital, Amman/The Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan in 2004-2005 and 2008-2011. Descriptive analysis was carried out using the Statistical Package for the Social Science (SPSS 20). Results: The prevalence of hydrocephalus was 0.092% with a relative predominance among males. Conclusion: The study concluded that the prevalence of congenital hydrocephalus is comparable to that of developed countries. The efforts made by the Ministry of Health seem to have paid off. More research on stillbirths is recommended

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Background: As a medicinal herb, Equisetum ramossisemum has been utilized for centuries as a diuretic and has been recommended for different disorders. The aim of this study was to investigate the maternal toxicity of aerial parts of Equisetum ramosissimum extract on pregnant Sprague-Dawley rats. Methods: Females were mated and the coupling time was recorded at gestation day 0– E0. Four experimental groups I, II, III, and IV, received daily gavage doses of 0 mg, 500 mg, 250 mg, and 125 mg/kg, respectively, of Equisetum ramosissimum extract. Pregnant rats were observed for mortality and toxicological effects during daily treatment. On day E20, samples of blood were withdrawn from the retro-orbital sinus under light ether anaesthesia for haematological and clinical chemistry examinations. Results: Data analyses detected significant differences in biochemical and haematological parameters between the control group and other groups receiving extract. Conclusion: This study constitutes a first approach to defining adverse effects of using Equisetum ramosissimum as a medicinal plant during pregnancy. Daily gavage doses of Equisetum ramosissimum extract produced significant differences in biochemical and haematological parameters in pregnant Sprague-Dawley rats as compared to the control group.

Background Myo-Inositol Phosphate Synthase (MIP) catalyzes the conversion of glucose 6- phosphate into inositol phosphate, an essential nutrient and cell signaling molecule. Data obtained, first in bovine brain and later in plants, established MIP expression in organelles and in extracellular environments. A physiological role for secreted MIP has remained elusive since its first detection in intercellular space. To provide further insight into the role of MIP in intercellular milieus, we tested the hypothesis that MIP may function as a growth factor, synthesizing inositol phosphate in intercellular locations requiring, but lacking ability to produce or transport adequate quantities of the cell–cell communicator. This idea was experimentally challenged, utilizing a Saccharomyces cerevisiae inositol auxotroph with no MIP enzyme, permeable membranes with a 0.4 µm pore size, and cellular supernatants as external sources of inositol isolated from S. cerevisiae cells containing either wild-type enzyme (Wt-MIP), no MIP enzyme, auxotroph (Aux), or a green fluorescent protein (GFP) tagged reporter enzyme (MIP- GFP) in co- culturing experiments. Results Resulting cell densities and microscopic studies with corroborating biochemical and molecular analyses, documented sustained growth of Aux cells in cellular supernatant, concomitant with the uptakeof MIP, detected as MIP-GFP reporter enzyme. These findings revealed previously unknown functions, suggesting that the enzyme can: (1) move into and out of intercellular space, (2) traverse cell walls, and (3) act as a growth factor to promote cellular proliferation of an inositol requiring cell. Conclusions Co-culturing experiments, designed to test a probable function for MIP secreted in extracellular vesicles, uncovered previously unknown functions for the enzyme and advanced current knowledge concerning spatial control of inositol phosphate biosynthesis. Most importantly, resulting data identified an extracellular vesicle (a non-viral vector) that is capable of synthesizing and transporting inositol phosphate, a biological activity that can be used to enhance specificity of current inositol phosphate therapeutics.

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Previous research, defining spatial control of inositol phosphate biosynthesis in the developing brain of CBA (normal) and CT [curly tail (ct-CT) and straight tail (st-CT)] mutant mice implicated a role for 1l-myo-inositol 1-phosphate synthase (MIP) in normal functioning of the central nervous system. Biochemical research indicated that MIP enzymatic activity, conversion of glucose 6-phosphate into inositol phosphate, is highest in the cerebellum of ct-CT and lowest in st-CT, when compared to that of CBA mice. Here, we utilized microscopic and biochemical investigations to analyze and extend previous findings of MIP expression in the cerebellum. Results of this research indicated that MIP expression correlates, well, with its enzymatic activity in the cerebellum of CBA and CT mutant mice. Statistical analyses of fluorescent micrographs detected a significant difference in fluorescence intensity between MIP from ct-CT, st-CT, and CBA mice. These data support vital links between inositol phosphate biosynthesis, MIP expression, and normal functioning of the cerebellum. Moreover, published data, identifying significant behavioral differences in the CT mutant, as well as data linking motor and non-motor cerebellar functions to abnormal levels of inositol, support the conclusion that aspects of normal cerebellar functions require temporal and spatial control of inositol phosphate biosynthesis, MIP expression.