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Communications Biology Jun 2024AMPK is a well-known energy sensor regulating cellular metabolism. Metabolic disorders such as obesity and diabetes are considered detrimental factors that reduce...
AMPK is a well-known energy sensor regulating cellular metabolism. Metabolic disorders such as obesity and diabetes are considered detrimental factors that reduce fecundity. Here, we show that pharmacologically induced in vitro activation (by metformin) or inhibition (by dorsomorphin) of the AMPK pathway inhibits or promotes activation of ovarian primordial follicles in cultured murine ovaries and human ovarian cortical chips. In mice, activation of primordial follicles in dorsomorphin in vitro-treated ovaries reduces AMPK activation and upregulates Wnt and FOXO genes, which, interestingly, is associated with decreased phosphorylation of β-catenin. The dorsomorphin-treated ovaries remain of high quality, with no detectable difference in reactive oxygen species production, apoptosis or mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase activity, suggesting safe activation. Subsequent maturation of in vitro-treated follicles, using a 3D alginate cell culture system, results in mature metaphase eggs with protruding polar bodies. These findings demonstrate that the AMPK pathway can safely regulate primordial follicles by modulating Wnt and FOXO genes, and reduce β-catenin phosphorylation.
Topics: Animals; Female; Mice; Ovarian Follicle; AMP-Activated Protein Kinases; Pyrimidines; Pyrazoles; Humans; Up-Regulation; Forkhead Transcription Factors; Wnt Proteins; beta Catenin; Phosphorylation; Mice, Inbred C57BL; Metformin; Wnt Signaling Pathway
PubMed: 38902324
DOI: 10.1038/s42003-024-06418-9 -
Journal of Pediatric and Adolescent... Jun 2024Omphalocele is an abnormality where fetal abdominal organs protrude through the abdominal wall. We report a case of a 13-year-old female with a history of omphalocele...
Omphalocele is an abnormality where fetal abdominal organs protrude through the abdominal wall. We report a case of a 13-year-old female with a history of omphalocele repair who presented with acute periumbilical pain, nausea, and vomiting. Computed Tomography scan showed a para-ovarian cyst and mild dilation of the small bowel. During laparoscopy, the right ovary and fallopian tube were detached from the uterus and located behind the cecum. Despite this displacement, the ovary appeared to have retained functionality with intact blood supply. Authors hypothesize that surgical repair led to pelvic adhesion that caused torsion and avulsion of the fallopian tube and utero-ovarian ligament that led to the displacement. This anatomical change should be taken into consideration in surgical patients with history of omphalocele repair.
PubMed: 38901668
DOI: 10.1016/j.jpag.2024.06.003 -
Cureus May 2024Uterine leiomyomas (ULs) are common benign tumors seen in a large percent of women that can be classified based on their location within the uterus. They can cause a...
Uterine leiomyomas (ULs) are common benign tumors seen in a large percent of women that can be classified based on their location within the uterus. They can cause a number of pelvic complications and can be managed medically, but more often surgically. Uterine pyomyomas often occur postpartum, possibly from infarction, and can lead to degeneration and sepsis. Our patient presents with a two-month development of a potential pyomyoma, found initially on computed tomography (CT). Office exam reveals a protruding mass from the cervical os, and removal was attempted but ultimately postponed for general anesthesia exam due to pain. The leiomyoma was removed and shown to be necrosing. Pyomyomas are often insidious and can often mimic other concerning pathologies. Modern imaging can show lesions within the pelvis but struggle to determine between fluid collection and possible infarcted masses. The importance of quality care measures in cases like this deserve to be emphasized to prevent serious complications.
PubMed: 38894786
DOI: 10.7759/cureus.60622 -
Proceedings. Biological Sciences Jun 2024Konrad Lorenz introduced the concept of a 'baby schema', suggesting that infants have specific physical features, such as a relatively large head, large eyes and... (Review)
Review
Konrad Lorenz introduced the concept of a 'baby schema', suggesting that infants have specific physical features, such as a relatively large head, large eyes and protruding cheeks, which function as an innate releaser to promote caretaking motivation from perceivers. Over the years, a large body of research has been conducted on the baby schema. However, there are two critical problems underpinning the current literature. First, the term 'baby schema' lacks consistency among researchers. Some researchers use the term baby schema to refer to infant stimuli (often faces) in comparison with adults (), while others use the term to refer to the extent that features contribute to cuteness perception (). Second, cross-species continuity of the 'baby schema' has been assumed despite few empirical demonstrations. The evolutionary and comparative relevance of the concept is, therefore, debatable, and we cannot exclude the possibility that extreme sensitivity to the baby schema is a uniquely human trait. This article critically reviews the state of the existing literature and evaluates the significance of the baby schema from an evolutionary perspective.
Topics: Humans; Infant; Biological Evolution; Face
PubMed: 38889779
DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2024.0570 -
The American Journal of Case Reports Jun 2024BACKGROUND Bartter syndrome is a rare, inherited salt-wasting tubulopathy caused by mutations in 1 of 6 genes that express ion transport channels in the thick ascending...
BACKGROUND Bartter syndrome is a rare, inherited salt-wasting tubulopathy caused by mutations in 1 of 6 genes that express ion transport channels in the thick ascending limb of nephrons. Excessive prostaglandin E2 and associated hyperreninemic hyperaldosteronism occurs, causing polyhydramnios, polyuria, prematurity, failure to thrive, and characteristic physical features. Hypokalemia, hypochloremic metabolic alkalosis, and, depending on the affected gene, hypercalciuria and nephrocalcinosis are hallmarks of Bartter syndrome. CASE REPORT A 9-month-old male infant, born prematurely due to polyhydramnios, presented in the Emergency Department with dehydration due to incoercible vomiting and significant polyuria. A 6-year-old male infant with a previous history of prematurity due to polyhydramnios was referred to the Pediatric Endocrinology Department due to short stature and notable polydipsia and polyuria. Considering these marked symptoms, both cases triggered suspicion and started workup for arginine-vasopressin insufficiency/resistance. However, during the investigations, a broader clinical revision revealed that both had dysmorphic physical features (triangularly shaped face, prominent forehead, protruding ears, drooping mouth), poor growth, impaired weight gain, and typical biochemical findings (hypokalemic metabolic alkalosis, hypercalciuria, secondary hyperaldosteronism) of Bartter syndrome. Genetic testing confirmed the diagnosis of Bartter syndrome types 1 and type 2, respectively, and this diagnosis allowed proper treatment and significant clinical improvements, personalized follow-up, and genetic counseling for parents desiring further healthy pregnancies. CONCLUSIONS Here, we present clinical and follow-up findings of 2 patients with Bartter syndrome types 1 and 2 discovered upon a broader clinical revision of suspected arginine-vasopressin insufficiency/resistance. We also review pertinent data on diagnosis and management of this challenging syndrome.
Topics: Humans; Bartter Syndrome; Male; Infant; Child; Arginine Vasopressin
PubMed: 38885190
DOI: 10.12659/AJCR.942872 -
Journal of Visualized Experiments : JoVE May 2024Intracameral injection is a standard administration routine in ophthalmology. The application of intracameral injection in rodents for research is challenging due to the...
Intracameral injection is a standard administration routine in ophthalmology. The application of intracameral injection in rodents for research is challenging due to the limiting dimensions and anatomy of the eye, including the small aqueous humor volume, the lens curvature, and lens thickness. Potential damage during intracameral injections introduces adverse effects and experimental variability. This protocol describes a procedure for intracameral injection in rats, allowing precision and reproducibility. Sprague-Dawley rats were used as experimental models. Since the lens position in rats protrudes into the anterior chamber, injecting from the periphery, as done in humans, is unfavorable. Therefore, an incision is created in the central corneal region using a 31 gauge 0.8 mm stiletto blade to form a self-sealing tunnel into the anterior chamber. An incision at an angle close to the flat allows to create a long tunnel, which minimizes the loss of aqueous humor and shallowing of the anterior chamber. A 34 gauge nanoneedle is inserted into the tunnel for injection. This enables penetration with minimal friction resistance and avoids touching the lens. Injection of trypan-blue allows visualization by slit microscopy the presence of the dye in the anterior chamber and exclude leakage. Bioavailability to the corneal endothelial layer is demonstrated by injection of Hoechst dye, which stained the nuclei of corneal endothelial cells after injection. In conclusion, this protocol implements a procedure for accurate intracameral injection in rats. This procedure may be used for intracameral delivery of various drugs and compounds in experimental rat models, increasing the efficiency and reproducibility of ophthalmic research.
Topics: Animals; Rats, Sprague-Dawley; Rats; Injections, Intraocular; Anterior Chamber; Intracameral Injection
PubMed: 38884464
DOI: 10.3791/66662 -
Indian Journal of Otolaryngology and... Jun 2024Osteochondroma (OC) is an uncommon reason for the mandibular condyle to grow excessively. Usually unilateral, it can impact the entire mandible, the condyle and ramus,...
Osteochondroma (OC) is an uncommon reason for the mandibular condyle to grow excessively. Usually unilateral, it can impact the entire mandible, the condyle and ramus, or just the condyle. It is a bony projection covered in cartilage that protrudes from the damaged bone's exterior. Condylar OC are more prevalent as a result of endochondral ossification-related development. The most notable characteristic is the gradual asymmetry of the face over time. Clinical symptoms of the patient include pain, asymmetry, malocclusion, partial or total hearing loss, trismus, and hypomobility of the TMJ. We report a case of 40-year-old male patient complaining of reduced mouth opening since last 10 years. Clinical examination revealed gross facial asymmetry, hard swelling over right TMJ, jaw deviation towards left side, restricted mouth opening of 3 mm and deranged occlusion. An irregular radiopaque mass was seen over the right condylar region in OPG. A large, hyperdense mass that obliterated the sigmoid notch and extended medially to the right condyle was visible on CT scans. Using a pre-auricular Alkayat-Bramley technique, the mass was surgically removed. Occlusal corrections and jaw physiotherapy were then administered. On follow up, deviation was corrected and adequate mouth opening was achieved.
PubMed: 38883440
DOI: 10.1007/s12070-023-04469-8 -
Clinical Case Reports Jun 2024A plunging ranula may present initially as an extensive vallecular cyst and correct diagnosis may be reached with the use of ultrasound, fluid aspiration for amylase...
KEY CLINICAL MESSAGE
A plunging ranula may present initially as an extensive vallecular cyst and correct diagnosis may be reached with the use of ultrasound, fluid aspiration for amylase detection, and MRI imaging.
ABSTRACT
The ranula is a pseudocyst of the sublingual salivary gland and can be divided into two known subtypes. The simple ranula and plunging ranula. While the simple type can be found in the floor of the mouth, the plunging ranula usually pervades the mylohoid muscle and presents as a cervical swelling. The presented case should outline the difficulties in diagnostic and treatment of an uncommon expression of a mucocele above the mylohoid muscle without presenting either a cervical or an intraoral swelling, only extending towards the vallecula. We present a previously unreported clinical manifestation of a ranula of an 18-year old male, which extends posteriorly, remaining confined in the supramylohyoid muscle space. The cystic lesion protrudes in the oropharynx, and clinically appears as an extensive vallecular cyst. On magnetic resonance imaging the initial suspected diagnosis of a vallecular cyst was changed to the final diagnosis of a plunging ranula. The marsupialization of the cyst sac was performed. Outpatient follow-up revealed a persisting ostium, indicating a continuous extravasation of the sublingual gland. The present case report describes an unusual clinical presentation of a plunging ranula, remaining above the mylohyoid muscle and protruding into the oropharynx, misdirecting to the first suspected diagnosis of a vallecular cyst. The case highlights the useful contribution of the MRI imaging for differential diagnoses and the need for criteria to indicate further investigations.
PubMed: 38883226
DOI: 10.1002/ccr3.8964 -
Cureus May 2024We report a case of uterine prolapse in pregnancy, which was successfully managed before delivery. A 35-year-old woman (G2P1) complained consistently of a protruding...
We report a case of uterine prolapse in pregnancy, which was successfully managed before delivery. A 35-year-old woman (G2P1) complained consistently of a protruding uterus at 36 weeks gestation, and an engorged uterine cervix without tenderness, urinary disturbance, and incontinence were recognized (Pelvic Organ Prolapse Quantification (POP-Q) score C: +7). Manual retraction of the edematous cervix was gently performed with gauze packing, and strikingly improved edema of the cervix with a POP-Q score of C: -2 was observed one day after the gauze packing. Induction of labor was planned due to a suspected large-for-gestational-age infant, and the patient uneventfully delivered at 39 weeks gestation without any obstacles to delivery and cervical laceration. Cervical edema in pregnancy increases the risk of cervical dystocia and cervical lacerations. However, lacerations with edema are predicted to have a poor wound-healing process. The technique with gauze packing presented in this case may be useful in the protective handling of the uterine cervix during pregnancy.
PubMed: 38883038
DOI: 10.7759/cureus.60456 -
Cureus May 2024Inguinal hernia is common. However, only a few cases have been reported in the literature of inguinal interparietal hernia, in which the herniated sac exits the...
Inguinal hernia is common. However, only a few cases have been reported in the literature of inguinal interparietal hernia, in which the herniated sac exits the intraperitoneal cavity through the deep inguinal ring and then protrudes into one of the anatomical planes of the anterior abdominal wall. Only one of the reported inguinal interparietal hernia cases was managed laparoscopically. We report the case of a right inguinal interparietal hernia in a young, healthy adult with a herniated cecum, terminal ileum, and appendix. He presented with right iliac fossa pain. On investigation, he was found to have an interparietal hernia in the inguinal region. Diagnostic laparoscopy showed a clear herniated cecum through the internal inguinal ring into the anterior abdominal wall. The patient was treated with regular laparoscopic hernioplasty and was discharged on the second postoperative day with no complications. Although the diagnosis might be difficult for interparietal hernias, laparoscopic diagnosis and management provide precise assessment and less invasive management.
PubMed: 38883002
DOI: 10.7759/cureus.60448