Solute carrier family 41 member A1 (SLC41A1) has been suggested to mediate magnesium (Mg
2+
) transport by several in vitro studies. However, the physiological function of SLC41A1 remains to be ...elucidated. In this study, cellular Mg
2+
transport assays combined with zebrafish
slc41a1
knockdown experiments were performed to disclose SLC41A1 function and its physiological relevance. The gene
slc41a1
is ubiquitously expressed in zebrafish tissues and is regulated by water and dietary Mg
2+
availability. Knockdown of
slc41a1
in zebrafish larvae grown in a Mg
2+
-free medium resulted in a unique phenotype characterized by a decrease in zebrafish Mg content. This decrease shows that SLC41A1 is required to maintain Mg
2+
balance and its dysfunction results in renal Mg
2+
wasting in zebrafish larvae. Importantly, the Mg content of the larvae is rescued when mouse SLC41A1 is expressed in
slc41a1
-knockdown zebrafish. Conversely, expression of mammalian SLC41A1-p.Asp262Ala, harboring a mutation in the ion-conducting SLC41A1 pore, did not reverse the renal Mg
2+
wasting.
25
Mg
2+
transport assays in human embryonic kidney 293 (HEK293) cells overexpressing SLC41A1 demonstrated that SLC41A1 mediates cellular Mg
2+
extrusion independently of sodium (Na
+
). In contrast, SLC41A1-p.Asp262Ala expressing HEK293 cells displayed similar Mg
2+
extrusion activities than control (mock) cells. In polarized Madin-Darby canine kidney cells, SLC41A1 localized to the basolateral cell membrane. Our results demonstrate that SLC41A1 facilitates renal Mg
2+
reabsorption in the zebrafish model. Furthermore, our data suggest that SLC41A1 mediates both Mg
2+
uptake and extrusion.
Purpose
To examine implications of the COVID-19 pandemic on eating disorder (ED) features and psychopathology in female adolescents with anorexia nervosa (AN).
Method
In total 79 females with ...first-onset AN (aged 12–22 years) were included and were followed up across a period of 1 year. We assessed AN participants recruited pre-pandemic (
n
= 49) to those recruited peri-pandemic (
n
= 30). Pre- (
n
= 37) and peri-pandemic (
n
= 38) age-, and education-matched typically developing (TD) girls (
n
= 75) were used as a reference cohort. ED features and psychopathology were assessed at baseline. After 1 year of follow-up the association between pandemic timing and clinical course was assessed. Analyses of covariance were used to examine differences in ED features and psychopathology.
Results
Peri-pandemic AN participants experienced less ED symptoms at baseline compared to pre-pandemic AN participants. In particular, they were less dissatisfied with their body shape, and experienced less interpersonal insecurity. In addition, the peri-pandemic AN group met fewer DSM-IV criteria for comorbid disorders, especially anxiety disorders. In contrast, peri-pandemic AN participants had a smaller BMI increase over time. In TD girls, there were no differences at baseline in ED features and psychopathology between the pre- and peri-pandemic group.
Conclusion
Overall, peri-pandemic AN participants were less severely ill, compared to pre-pandemic AN participants, which may be explained by less social pressure and peer contact, and a more protective parenting style during the pandemic. Conversely, peri-pandemic AN participants had a less favorable clinical course, which may be explained by reduced access to health care facilities during the pandemic.
Level of evidence
Level III: Evidence obtained from well-designed cohort or case–control analytic studies.
It is an implicit assumption in the field of brain-computer interfacing (BCI) that BCIs can be satisfactorily used to access augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) methods by people with ...severe physical disabilities. A one-day workshop and focus group interview was held to investigate this assumption. Rehabilitation professionals (N = 28) were asked to critically assess current BCI technology, recommend design requirements and identify target users. The individual answers were analyzed using the theoretical framework of grounded theory. None of the participants expressed a perception of added value of current BCIs over existing alternatives. A major criticism (and requirement) was that the usability of BCI systems should significantly improve. Target users are only those who can hardly or not at all use alternative access technologies. However, such persons often have concurrent physical, sensory, and cognitive problems, which could complicate BCI use. If successful BCI use continues to require a user to sit motionlessly and have intact cognition, then - as previously implicitly assumed - people in the locked-in state (resulting from late-stage amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, multiple sclerosis, spinal muscular atrophy type II or classic or total locked-in syndrome) and people with high spinal cord injury (C1/C2) could be target users.
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