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Development (Cambridge, England) Oct 2020The closure of the embryonic ventral body wall in amniotes is an important morphogenetic event and is essential for life. Defects in human ventral wall closure are a...
The closure of the embryonic ventral body wall in amniotes is an important morphogenetic event and is essential for life. Defects in human ventral wall closure are a major class of birth defect and a significant health burden. Despite this, very little is understood about how the ventral body wall is formed. Here, we show that fibroblast growth factor (FGF) ligands FGF8, FGF17 and FGF18 are essential for this process. Conditional mouse mutants for these genes display subtle migratory defects in the abdominal muscles of the ventral body wall and an enlarged umbilical ring, through which the internal organs are extruded. By refining where and when these genes are required using different Cre lines, we show that and are required in the presomitic mesoderm, whereas is required in the somites. This study identifies complex and multifactorial origins of ventral wall defects and has important implications for understanding their origins during embryonic development.
Topics: Animals; Basic Helix-Loop-Helix Transcription Factors; Body Patterning; Embryo, Mammalian; Female; Fibroblast Growth Factor 8; Fibroblast Growth Factors; Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental; Hernia, Umbilical; Male; Mice; Models, Biological; Morphogenesis; Mutation; Organ Specificity; Protein Domains; Somites; Stem Cells
PubMed: 32907848
DOI: 10.1242/dev.189506 -
Cureus Dec 2022The Fibonacci sequence is undoubtedly found in nature such as in the spiral of galaxies and flower petals. Fibonacci numbers are a sequence in which each number is the... (Review)
Review
The Fibonacci sequence is undoubtedly found in nature such as in the spiral of galaxies and flower petals. Fibonacci numbers are a sequence in which each number is the sum of the two preceding ones. The ratio of two consecutive Fibonacci numbers, also called the golden proportion, approximately equals 1.618. We analyzed the existence of Fibonacci numbers and golden ratios in the field of hernia and abdominal wall reconstruction. We found substantial evidence of the use of the golden ratio in siting of the umbilicus. The Fibonacci numbers also showed up frequently in the anatomy of the abdominal wall. However, this was not as appropriate as the other instances in the human body or in nature.
PubMed: 36721618
DOI: 10.7759/cureus.33072 -
Open Biology Sep 2023Alterations in the neuromuscular system underlie several neuromuscular diseases and play critical roles in the development of sarcopenia, the age-related loss of muscle...
Alterations in the neuromuscular system underlie several neuromuscular diseases and play critical roles in the development of sarcopenia, the age-related loss of muscle mass and function. Mammalian Myostatin (MST) and GDF11, members of the TGF-β superfamily of growth factors, are powerful regulators of muscle size in both model organisms and humans. Myoglianin (MYO), the homologue of MST and GDF11, is a strong inhibitor of synaptic function and structure at the neuromuscular junction in flies. Here, we identified Plum, a transmembrane cell surface protein, as a modulator of MYO function in the larval neuromuscular system. Reduction of Plum in the larval body-wall muscles abolishes the previously demonstrated positive effect of attenuated MYO signalling on both muscle size and neuromuscular junction structure and function. In addition, downregulation of on its own results in decreased synaptic strength and body weight, classifying Plum as a (novel) regulator of neuromuscular function and body (muscle) size. These findings offer new insights into possible regulatory mechanisms behind ageing- and disease-related neuromuscular dysfunctions in humans and identify potential targets for therapeutic interventions.
Topics: Animals; Humans; Aging; Bone Morphogenetic Proteins; Down-Regulation; Drosophila; Drosophila melanogaster; Growth Differentiation Factors; Larva; Mammals; Prunus domestica
PubMed: 37699519
DOI: 10.1098/rsob.230171 -
Disease Models & Mechanisms Oct 2018Omphalocele is a human congenital anomaly in ventral body wall closure and may be caused by impaired formation of the primary abdominal wall (PAW) and/or defects in...
Omphalocele is a human congenital anomaly in ventral body wall closure and may be caused by impaired formation of the primary abdominal wall (PAW) and/or defects in abdominal muscle development. Here, we report that mice doubly deficient in homeobox genes and showed the same ventral body wall closure defects as those seen in human omphalocele. SIX4 and SIX5 were localized in surface ectodermal cells and somatic mesoderm-derived mesenchymal and coelomic epithelial cells (CECs) in the PAW. fetuses exhibited a large omphalocele with protrusion of both the liver and intestine, or a small omphalocele with protrusion of the intestine, with complete penetrance. The umbilical ring of embryos was shifted anteriorly and its lateral size was larger than that of normal embryos at the E11.5 stage, before the onset of myoblast migration into the PAW. The proliferation rates of surface ectodermal cells in the left and right PAW and somatic mesoderm-derived cells in the right PAW were lower in embryos than those of wild-type embryos at E10.5. The transition from CECs of the PAW to rounded mesothelial progenitor cells was impaired and the inner coelomic surface of the PAW was relatively smooth in embryos at E11.25. Furthermore, overexpression in CECs of the PAW promoted ingression of CECs. Taken together, our results suggest that and are required for growth and morphological change of the PAW, and the impairment of these processes is linked to the abnormal positioning and expansion of the umbilical ring, which results in omphalocele.
Topics: Abdominal Wall; Animals; Cell Proliferation; Embryo, Mammalian; Hernia, Umbilical; Homeodomain Proteins; Humans; Mesoderm; Mice, Inbred C57BL; Mice, Knockout; Models, Biological; Muscles; Stem Cells; Trans-Activators
PubMed: 30237319
DOI: 10.1242/dmm.034611 -
Orphanet Journal of Rare Diseases Jan 2021Langerhans cell histiocytosis (LCH) is a rare disease that originates from the uncontrolled proliferation and accumulation of bone marrow-derived immature myeloid... (Review)
Review
BACKGROUND
Langerhans cell histiocytosis (LCH) is a rare disease that originates from the uncontrolled proliferation and accumulation of bone marrow-derived immature myeloid dendritic cells. Dendritic cells are a type of histiocyte that play an important role in the human immune system and are found in the bone, skin, stomach, eyes, intestines, and lungs.
OBJECTIVE
This systematic review aimed to collect and report published case reports of rare bone disease caused by LCH to avoid misdiagnoses or delays in diagnosis.
METHODS
We systematically searched Scopus, PubMed, Embase, and Web of Sciences from August 1, 2000 to December 31, 2019. Studies reporting cases of LCH with rare bone involvement were included.
RESULTS
We identified 60 articles including 64 cases. Of the identified cases, 31 (48.4%) involved children, and 33 (51.6%) involved adults. Additionally, 46.9% (30 individuals) were from Asian countries. The mean age of the children was 7.6 ± 4.3 years and that of the adults was 36 ± 12 years. The findings indicated that unifocal bone involvements were the most prevalent form of the disease (68.7%), and, overall, the skull and chest wall were the most commonly affected bones in both adults and children. The spine and long bones were the second most commonly affected bones in children, and the spine and jaw were the second most commonly affected bones in adults. Pain and swelling were the most frequent presenting signs among the investigated cases, and loss of consciousness, myelopathy, nerve palsy, visual loss, torticollis and clicking sounds were rare signs. Osteolytic lesions were the most frequent radiologic feature (62.5%), and intracranial hemorrhage, fluid-fluid level, dura and intracranial extension and pathologic fractures were rare radiological features. Total excision, curettage and observation in the unifocal group of patients and systemic chemotherapy in the other groups (i.e., multifocal and multisystem) were the most frequent management approaches. The recovery rates of the unifocal and multifocal groups were 77.3% and 81.8%, respectively, while that of the multisystem group was 55.5%. The rates of recurrence and mortality in the multisystem group were 11% and were higher than those in the other groups.
CONCLUSIONS
LCH is a rare disease that can affect any organ in the human body. However, bone is the most commonly involved organ, and rare bone involvements may be the first or only symptom of the disease due to the rarity of such lesions; a lack of familiarity with them may result in misdiagnosis or delayed diagnosis.
Topics: Adult; Asia; Bone Diseases; Child; Child, Preschool; Histiocytosis, Langerhans-Cell; Humans; Retrospective Studies; Skull
PubMed: 33388073
DOI: 10.1186/s13023-020-01625-z -
Healthcare Technology Letters Dec 2015Radio frequency tracking of medical micro-robots in minimally invasive medicine is usually investigated upon the assumption that the human body is a homogeneous...
Radio frequency tracking of medical micro-robots in minimally invasive medicine is usually investigated upon the assumption that the human body is a homogeneous propagation medium. In this Letter, the authors conducted various trial programs to measure and model the effective complex permittivity ε in terms of refraction ε', absorption ε″ and their variations in gastrointestinal (GI) tract organs (i.e. oesophagus, stomach, small intestine and large intestine) and the porcine abdominal wall under in vivo and in situ conditions. They further investigated the effects of irregular and unsynchronised contractions and simulated peristaltic movements of the GI tract organs inside the abdominal cavity and in the presence of the abdominal wall on the measurements and variations of ε' and ε''. They advanced the previous models of effective complex permittivity of a multilayer inhomogeneous medium, by estimating an analytical model that accounts for reflections between the layers and calculates the attenuation that the wave encounters as it traverses the GI tract and the abdominal wall. They observed that deviation from the specified nominal layer thicknesses due to non-geometric boundaries of GI tract morphometric variables has an impact on the performance of the authors' model. Therefore, they derived statistical-based models for ε' and ε'' using their experimental measurements.
PubMed: 26713157
DOI: 10.1049/htl.2015.0024 -
Sensors (Basel, Switzerland) Mar 2022Compared to 25 years ago, the climbing sport itself has changed dramatically. From a rock climbing modification to a separation in three independent disciplines, the...
Compared to 25 years ago, the climbing sport itself has changed dramatically. From a rock climbing modification to a separation in three independent disciplines, the requirements to athletes and trainers increased rapidly. To ensure continuous improvement of the sport itself, the usage of measurement and sensor technology is unavoidable. Especially in the field of the discipline speed climbing, which will be performed as a single discipline at the Olympic Games 2024 in Paris, the current state of the art of movement analysis only consists of video analysis and the benefit of the experience of trainers. Therefore, this paper presents a novel method, which supports trainers and athletes and enables analysis of motion sequences and techniques. Prerecorded video footage is combined with existing feature and human body keypoint detection algorithms and standardized boundary conditions. Therefore, several image processing steps are necessary to convert the recorded movement of different speed climbing athletes to significant parameters for detailed analysis. By studying climbing trials of professional athletes and the used techniques in different sections of the speed climbing wall, the aim among others is to get comparable results and detect mistakes. As a conclusion, the presented method enables powerful analysis of speed climbing training and competition and serves with the aid of a user-friendly designed interface as a support for trainers and athletes for the evaluation of motion sequences.
Topics: Algorithms; Athletes; Human Body; Humans; Sports
PubMed: 35336423
DOI: 10.3390/s22062251 -
Microbiology and Molecular Biology... Mar 2016Bacteria display an abundance of cellular forms and can change shape during their life cycle. Many plausible models regarding the functional significance of cell... (Review)
Review
Bacteria display an abundance of cellular forms and can change shape during their life cycle. Many plausible models regarding the functional significance of cell morphology have emerged. A greater understanding of the genetic programs underpinning morphological variation in diverse bacterial groups, combined with assays of bacteria under conditions that mimic their varied natural environments, from flowing freshwater streams to diverse human body sites, provides new opportunities to probe the functional significance of cell shape. Here we explore shape diversity among bacteria, at the levels of cell geometry, size, and surface appendages (both placement and number), as it relates to survival in diverse environments. Cell shape in most bacteria is determined by the cell wall. A major challenge in this field has been deconvoluting the effects of differences in the chemical properties of the cell wall and the resulting cell shape perturbations on observed fitness changes. Still, such studies have begun to reveal the selective pressures that drive the diverse forms (or cell wall compositions) observed in mammalian pathogens and bacteria more generally, including efficient adherence to biotic and abiotic surfaces, survival under low-nutrient or stressful conditions, evasion of mammalian complement deposition, efficient dispersal through mucous barriers and tissues, and efficient nutrient acquisition.
Topics: Animals; Bacillus subtilis; Cell Wall; Environment; Escherichia coli; Fimbriae, Bacterial; Host-Pathogen Interactions; Humans; Microbial Consortia; Microbial Viability; Movement
PubMed: 26864431
DOI: 10.1128/MMBR.00031-15 -
Folia Morphologica 2022The sympathetic chain serves to distribute visceral efferents and afferents over the entire body. The sympathetic chain courses from the base of the skull to the coccyx...
The sympathetic chain serves to distribute visceral efferents and afferents over the entire body. The sympathetic chain courses from the base of the skull to the coccyx and sends branches to distribute along spinal nerves and a number of visceral nerves that distribute to cardiac muscle, smooth muscle and glands. During dissection of the posterior abdominal wall, we identified a rare variation of the sympathetic chain. In this subject, the sympathetic chain failed to send grey rami to the L2-4 spinal nerves and terminated by joining the S1 anterior ramus. Such a variation has only been reported once in the literature in 1895. We provide both schematic and photographic documentation of this variation and propose a number of possible circuits whereby visceral axons can reach their target despite these anatomical barriers.
Topics: Spinal Nerves; Lumbosacral Region; Axons
PubMed: 34545560
DOI: 10.5603/FM.a2021.0089 -
Microorganisms Jul 2022Metabolites and fragments of bacterial cells play an important role in the formation of immune homeostasis. Formed in the course of evolution, symbiotic relationships... (Review)
Review
Metabolites and fragments of bacterial cells play an important role in the formation of immune homeostasis. Formed in the course of evolution, symbiotic relationships between microorganisms and a macroorganism are manifested, in particular, in the regulation of numerous physiological functions of the human body by the innate immunity receptors. Low molecular weight bioregulators of bacterial origin have recently attracted more and more attention as drugs in the prevention and composition of complex therapy for a wide range of diseases of bacterial and viral etiology. Signaling networks show cascades of causal relationships of deterministic phenomena that support the homeostasis of multicellular organisms at different levels. To create networks, data from numerous biomedical and clinical research databases were used to prepare expert systems for use in pharmacological and biomedical research with an emphasis on muramyl dipeptides. Muramyl peptides are the fragments of the cell wall of Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria. Binding of muramyl peptides with intracellular NOD2 receptors is crucial for an immune response on pathogens. Depending on the microenvironment and duration of action, muramyl peptides possess positive or negative regulation of inflammation. Other factors, such as genetic, pollutions, method of application and stress also contribute and should be taken into account. A system biology approach should be used in order to systemize all experimental data for rigorous analysis, with the aim of understanding intrinsic pathways of homeostasis, in order to define precise medicine therapy and drug design.
PubMed: 36013944
DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms10081526