The Klotho gene was identified as an 'aging suppressor' in mice. Overexpression of the Klotho gene extends lifespan and defective Klotho results in rapid aging and early death. Both the membrane and secreted forms of Klotho have biological activity that include regulatory effects on general metabolism and a more specific effect on mineral metabolism that correlates with its effect on aging. Klotho serves as a co-receptor for fibroblast growth factor (FGF), but it also functions as a humoral factor that regulates cell survival and proliferation, vitamin D metabolism, and calcium and phosphate homeostasis and may serve as a potential tumor suppressor. Moreover, Klotho protects against several pathogenic processes in a FGF23-independent manner. These processes include cancer metastasis, vascular calcification, and renal fibrosis. This review covers the recent advances in Klotho research and discusses novel Klotho-dependent mechanisms that are clinically relevant in aging and age-related diseases.

Aim:The aim of this work has been to present the frequency, etiology and several other socio-demographic characteristics of acute poisoning in children.The treated patients and methods of work:The treated patients were children of all age groups hospitalized in the Pediatric Clinic of Prishtina during year 2009. The study was done retrospectively. The diagnosis was done on the basis of heteroanamnesis and in several cases on the basis of the anamnesis data of a child, routine laboratory tests and toxicologic analysis.Results:66 (9.4%) poisoned children were treated in the Intensive Care Unit. The biggest number of patients, 37 (56.06%) of them, were male, and out of that number 36 (54.55%) cases were coming from rural areas. The biggest number of them 49 (74.98%) were over 2-6 years old. The poisoning was mostly caused through the digestive tract (ingestion), it happened with 55 cases (83.33%), 56 cases (84,80%) suffered from severe poisoning, whereas 59 cases (89,50%) suffered from accidental poisoning. Regarding the type of the substances that caused poisoning, the most frequent were drugs in 34 (51.50%) cases and pesticides in 20 (30.30%) cases. Among drugs, the most dominant were those belonging to a group of benzodiazepines (10 cases) and metoclopramide (4 cases). Among pesticides the most dominant one that caused poisoning was malation (5 cases), then paration and cipermetrina appeared in 3 cases each. The biggest number of cases, 64 (96.96%) of them, were treated, whereas 2 cases (3.40%) passed away.Conclusion:The practice proved that that our people are not well informed about the poisoning in general, therefore it is necessary that they be educated by the use of all media, written and electronic, as well as other methods of medical education.

Conflict of interest: none declared.AimThe aim of this research was to ascertain the frequency of three basic cytogenetical types of Down syndrome among Kosova Albanian population and to evaluate the maternal age effect on the frequency of births of children with Down syndrome.MethodsCytogenetics diagnosis has been made according to the standard method of Moorhead and Seabright.ResultsIn the time period 2000-2010 cytogenetics diagnosis of overall 305 children with Down syndrome has been realized. Of which in 285 children (93.4%) were found free trisomy 21 (regular type), and in three other children (~1.0%) were detected mosaic trisomy 21. Translocation trisomy 21 was detected in 17 children (5.6%), of which in 14 children it occurred de novo translocation, whereas in 3 other children translocation has been inherited by a parent translocation carrier. The highest number of children with Trisomy 21 due to translocation was caused by Robertsonian translocation created by a fusion of two homologous chromosomes 21 (3.3%). Analysis showed that the number of children born with Down’s syndrome, from 2000 to 2010, was not decreasing among the Kosova Albanian population.ConclusionDown syndrome resulted by an extra free chromosome 21 is the most common genetic cause for that condition. Robertsonian translocations present in Down syndrome children often are de novo or inherited from a carrier parent with translocation.

Chromosomal aberration that our patient suffered from and that is presented in this paper has caused spontaneous miscarriages and birth of children with Down syndrome. Based on cytogenetic analysis in prenatal diagnosis and genetic consultation of affected family with Robertsonian translocation 21q;21q, it is unlikely to select healthy offspring by a parent with that aberration.

Aim:The aim of work was presentation of several socio-demographic, clinical and laboratory characteristics of gastroenteritis caused by rotavirus.The examinees and methods:The examinees were children under the age of five years treated at the Pediatric Clinic due to acute gastroenteritis caused by rotavirus. Rotavirus is isolated by method chromatographic immunoassay by Cer Test Biotec.Results:From the total number of patients (850) suffering from acute gastroenteritis, feces test on bacteria, viruses. protozoa and fungi was positive in 425 (49.76%) cases. From this number the test on bacteria was positive in 248 (58.62%) cases, on viruses it was positive in 165 (39.0%), on protozoa in 9 (2.12%) cases and on fungi only one case. Rotavirus was the most frequent one in viral test, it was isolated in 142 (86.06%) cases, adenoviruses were found in 9 (5.45%) cases and noroviruses in only one case. The same feces sample that contained rotavirus and adenoviruses were isolated in five cases, whereas rotavirus with bacteria was isolated in the same feces sample in five cases. The biggest number of cases 62 (43.66%) were of the age 6-12 months, whereas the smallest number 10 (7.04%) cases were of the age 37-60 months. There were 76 (53.52%) of cases of male gender, from rural areas there were 81 (57.04%) cases and there were 58 (40.80%) cases during the summer period. Among the clinical symptoms the most prominent were diarrhea, vomiting, high temperature, whereas the different degree of dehydration were present in all cases (the most common one was moderate dehydration). The most frequent one was isonatremic dehydration in 91 (64.08%) cases, less frequent one was hypernatremic dehydration in 14 (9.85%) cases. The majority of cases (97.89%) had lower blood pH values, whereas 67 (47.17%) cases had pH values that varied from 7.16 -7.20 (curve peak), normal values were registered in only 3 (2.11%) cases. Urea values were increased in 45 (31.07%) cases (the maximum value was 26.5 mmol/L), whereas creatinine value was increased in 41 (28.87%) cases (maximum value was 302 mmol/L).Conclusion:The results show the high frequency of rotavirus infections in children hospitalized with acute gastroenteritis. Rotavirus may cause different dehydration degree with electrolyte, acid-base and other biochemical disorders. Preventing the infection caused by rotavirus is of a great importance.