Anatomy and embryology of umbilicus in newborns： a review and clinical correlations

Umbilicus is considered a mirror of the abdomen in newborns. Despite its importance, the umbilicus has been stated in literature and textbooks as discrete subjects with many body systems, such as the urinary, digestive, and cardiovascular ones. This article aimed to address the basic knowledge of the umbilicus in relation to clinical disorders under one integrated topic to aid physicians and surgeons in assessing newborns and infants. The umbilicus appears as early as the fourth week of fetal life when the folding of the embryonic plate occurs. The umbilicus appears initially as a primitive umbilical ring on the ventral aspect of the body. The primitive umbilicus contains the connecting stalk, umbilical vessels, vitelline duct and vessels, allantois, and loop of the intestine. Changes occur to form the definitive cord, which contains three umbilical vessels, namely, ＂one vein and two arteries,＂ embedded in Wharton＇s jelly. After birth, the umbilical vessels inside the body obliterate and gradually form ligaments. Congenital disorders at the umbilicus include herniation, bleeding, and discharge of mucous, urine, or feces. Some of these disorders necessitate emergent surgical interference, whereas others may be managed conservatively. The umbilicus has many embryological remnants. Thus, the umbilicus is prone to various clinical disorders. Detecting these disorders as early as possible is essential to prevent or minimize possible complications.

p38-MAPK and CDK5,signaling pathways in neuroinflammation:a potential therapeutic intervention in Alzheimer's disease?

Alzheimer’s disease(AD),the most common type of dementia,affects millions of people worldwide,putting a significant strain on healthcare infrastructure and societal resources.AD is characte rized by the build-up of amyloid-beta(Aβ)plaques and neurofibrillary to ngles containing hyperphosphorylated tau protein.

Monomeric C-reactive protein:a link between chronic inflammation and neurodegeneration?

Pre-diabetic insulin resistance is associated with sub-clinical inflammation and concomitant increase in systemic C-reactive protein(CRP)levels.Type 2 diabetes mellitus(T2DM)patients register even higher chronic levels of inflammation,with excess circulating CRP originating from both typical hepatic synthesis,and also visceral white adipose tissue.

Extracellular vesicles-coupled miRNAs from oviduct and uterus modulate signaling pathways related to lipid metabolism and bovine early embryo development

Background Extracellular vesicles(EVs) present in oviductal(OF) and uterine fluid(UF) have been shown to enhance bovine embryo quality during in vitro culture by reducing lipid contents and modulating lipid metabolism-related genes(LMGs), while also influencing cell proliferation, suggesting their involvement on the regulation of different biological pathways. The regulation of signaling pathways related to cell differentiation, proliferation, and metabo-lism is crucial for early embryo development and can determine the success or failure of the pregnancy. Bioactive molecules within EVs in maternal reproductive fluids, such as micro RNAs(miRNAs), may contribute to this regulatory process as they modulate gene expression through post-transcriptional mechanisms.Results This study evaluated miRNA cargo in OF-EVs from the early luteal phase and UF-EVs from the mid-luteal phase, coinciding with embryo transit within oviduct and uterus in vivo, and its possible influence on LMGs and sign-aling pathways crucial for early embryo development. A total of 333 miRNAs were detected, with 11 exclusive to OF, 59 to UF, and 263 were common between both groups. From the 20 differentially expressed miRNAs, 19 up-regulated in UF-EVs(bta-miR-134, bta-miR-151-3p, bta-miR-155, bta-miR-188, bta-miR-181b, bta-miR-181d, bta-miR-224, bta-miR-23b-3p, bta-miR-24-3p, bta-miR-27a-3p, bta-miR-29a, bta-miR-324, bta-miR-326, bta-miR-345-3p, bta-miR-410, bta-miR-652, bta-miR-677, bta-miR-873 and bta-miR-708) and one(bta-miR-148b) in OF-EVs. These miRNAs were predicted to modulate several pathways such as Wnt, Hippo, MAPK, and lipid metabolism and degradation. Differ-ences in miRNAs found in OF-EVs from the early luteal phase and UF-EVs from mid-luteal phase may reflect differ-ent environments to meet the changing needs of the embryo. Additionally, miRNAs may be involved, particularly in the uterus, in the regulation of embryo lipid metabolism, immune system, and implantation.Conclusions Our study suggests that miRNAs within OF- and UF-EVs could modulate bovine embryo development and quality, providing insights into the intricate maternal-embryonic communication that might be involved in mod-ulating lipid metabolism, immune response, and implantation during early pregnancy.

Overlapping expression of microRNAs in human embryonic colon and colorectal cancer

MicroRNAs （miRNAs） are essential for regulating cell differentiation and maintaining the pluripotent state of stem cells. Although dysregulation of specific miRNAs has been associated with certain types of cancer, to date no evidence has linked miRNA expression in embryonic and tumor tissues. We assessed the expression of mature miRNAs in human embryonic colon tissue, and in colorectal cancer and paired normal colon tissue. Overlapping miRNA expression was detected between embryonic colonic mucosa and colorectal cancer. We have found that the miR-17-92 cluster and its target, E2F1, exhibit a similar pattern of expression in human colon development and colonic carcinogenesis, regulating cell proliferation in both cases. In situ hybridization confirmed the high level of expression of miR-17-5p in the crypt progenitor compartment. We conclude that miRNA pathways play a major role in both embryonic development and neoplastic transformation of the colonic epithelium.

Leishmania donovani:Immune response and immune evasion with emphasis on PD-1/PDL-1 pathway and role of autophagy

Leishmania donovani is one of the causative agents of visceral leishmaniasis.The immune response against Leishmania depends on CD4^(+)T helper type 1 cells.The immune system is unable to combat Leishmania because the parasite can exert several immune suppressive mechanisms that facilitate escaping the immune responses.One of these mechanisms is the up-regulation of programmed death-1/programmed death ligand-1 pathway which causes T cells to undergo exhaustion.Autophagy is strongly linked to the immune response,with some research indicating that activating autophagy reduces the immune response to some intracellular pathogens,while others indicate that activating autophagy limits the growth of intracellular pathogens.Leishmania was found to subvert the host defense mechanisms for its own persistence,such as Leishmania-induced autophagy modulation.Leishmania was reported to activate autophagy in different studies,thus getting a dual benefit by evading the immune system and simultaneously utilizing the autophagy byproducts as nutrients.In this review,we introduced different immune evasion/suppressive mechanisms used by Leishmania,and different immunotherapies which were developed accordingly.We focused on the programmed death-1/programmed death ligand-1 pathway as well as autophagy with the potential interplay of both mechanisms.

Extracellular vesicles from oviductal and uterine fluids supplementation in sequential in vitro culture improves bovine embryo quality

Background:In vitro production of bovine embryos is a well-established technology,but the in vitro culture(IVC)system still warrants improvements,especially regarding embryo quality.This study aimed to evaluate the effect of extracellular vesicles(EVs)isolated from oviductal(OF)and uterine fluid(UF)in sequential IVC on the development and quality of bovine embryos.Zygotes were cultured in SOF supplemented with either BSA or EVs-depleted fetal calf serum(dFCS)in the presence(BSA-EV and dFCS-EV)or absence of EVs from OF(D1 to D4)and UF(D5 to D8),mimicking in vivo conditions.EVs from oviducts(early luteal phase)and uterine horns(mid-luteal phase)from slaughtered heifers were isolated by size exclusion chromatography.Blastocyst rate was recorded on days 7-8 and their quality was assessed based on lipid contents,mitochondrial activity and total cell numbers,as well as survival rate after vitrification.Relative mRNA abundance for lipid metabolism-related transcripts and levels of phosphorylated hormonesensitive lipase(pHSL)proteins were also determined.Additionally,the expression levels of 383 miRNA in OF-and UF-EVs were assessed by qRT-PCR.Results:Blastocyst yield was lower(P<0.05)in BSA treatments compared with dFCS treatments.Survival rates after vitrification/warming were improved in dFCS-EVs(P<0.05).EVs increased(P<0.05)blastocysts total cell number in dFCS-EV and BSA-EV compared with respective controls(dFCS and BSA),while lipid content was decreased in dFCSEV(P<0.05)and mitochondrial activity did not change(P>0.05).Lipid metabolism transcripts were affected by EVs and showed interaction with type of protein source in medium(PPARGC1B,LDLR,CD36,FASN and PNPLA2,P<0.05).Levels of pHSL were lower in dFCS(P<0.05).Twenty miRNA were differentially expressed between OF-and UF-EVs and only bta-miR-148b was increased in OF-EVs(P<0.05).Conclusions:Mimicking physiological conditions using EVs from OF and UF in sequential IVC does not affect embryo development but improves blastocyst quality regarding survival rate after vitrification/warming,total cell number,lipid content,and relative changes in expression of lipid metabolism transcripts and lipase activation.Finally,EVs miRNA contents may contribute to the observed effects.

The Effect of Metformin versus Vitamin E on the Testis of Adult Diabetic Albino Rats: Histological, Biochemical and Immunohistochemistry Study

Background: Impairment of testicular function is one of complications of Diabetes mellitus (D.M) and this may result from increased oxidative stress. Vitamin E (Vit E) has antioxidant properties. Objective: To determine the microscopic changes in the diabetic testis with metformin alone or with Vit E and which of them are better to preserve the testicular structure. Materials and Methods: Fifty adult albino rats, were equally divided into five groups: Group 1: control group;group 2: diabetic group (diabetes was induced by (65 mg/kg;i.p) single dose of streptozotocin (STZ);group 3: vit.E-treated diabetic group (200 mg/kg/day) ip;group 4: Metformin-treated diabetic group (100 mg/kg/day) and group 5 Metformin and vit.E-treated diabetic group for eight weeks. Levels of testosterone, insulin and blood sugar were analyzed and testes specimens were prepared for light microscope and immunohistochemical detection of androgen receptor (AR) and caspase-3. Results: In diabetic group showed irregular seminiferous tubules with depletion, separation, vacuolation of the spermatogenic cells with perivascular and intertubular fibrosis also, the mean diameter of tubules significantly decreases. There are negative immunoexpressions of AR with positive caspase-3. Sections of metformin treated diabetic group showed incomplete or partial regeneration of germ cells while in group 4 and 5 showed almost complete regeneration of spermatogenic cells with increase in mean diameter of tubules, significantly increases in AR and decreases in caspase-3 expression. Conclusion: D.M produce damage in the testicular tissue and the concomitant administration of vit-E with metformin was shown better effect than metformin alone.

Cardiac stem cells: Current knowledge and future prospects

Regenerative medicine is the field concerned with the repair and restoration of the integrity of damaged human tissues as well as whole organs.Since the inception of the field several decades ago,regenerative medicine therapies,namely stem cells,have received significant attention in preclinical studies and clinical trials.Apart from their known potential for differentiation into the various body cells,stem cells enhance the organ's intrinsic regenerative capacity by altering its environment,whether by exogenous injection or introducing their products that modulate endogenous stem cell function and fate for the sake of regeneration.Recently,research in cardiology has highlighted the evidence for the existence of cardiac stem and progenitor cells(CSCs/CPCs).The global burden of cardiovascular diseases’morbidity and mortality has demanded an in-depth understanding of the biology of CSCs/CPCs aiming at improving the outcome for an innovative therapeutic strategy.This review will discuss the nature of each of the CSCs/CPCs,their environment,their interplay with other cells,and their metabolism.In addition,important issues are tackled concerning the potency of CSCs/CPCs in relation to their secretome for mediating the ability to influence other cells.Moreover,the review will throw the light on the clinical trials and the preclinical studies using CSCs/CPCs and combined therapy for cardiac regeneration.Finally,the novel role of nanotechnology in cardiac regeneration will be explored.

Cross-Over Assessment of the AmbuAuraGain, LMA Supreme New Cuff and Intersurgical I-Gel in Fresh Cadavers

Background: The AmbuAuraGain is a new single-use supraglottic airway device with gastric channel designed to facilitate intubation. The aim of the study was to assess the anatomic position and the performance of the AuraGain in fresh cadavers compared to that of the Intersurgical i-gel and LMA Supreme New Cuff. Methods: The 3 devices were inserted in random order in 7 fresh cadavers without difficult airway criteria. The assessed items were: Insertion time, number of attempts and ease of insertion, airway seal pressure, ease of gastric tube insertion, endoscopic view of vocal cords, efficacy of guided tracheal intubation through the AuraGain and i-gel, and anatomic fit by lateral X-ray and neck dissections. Results: All devices were successfully inserted within 3 attempts, except for one case of the LMA Supreme. Adjusting manoeuvres were often required to accomplish correct insertion. A 16 G gastric tube was easily advanced through all AuraGain and LMA Supreme devices. Fiberoptic tracheal intubation was effectively achieved through all AuraGain and i-gel devices in less than 60 s. Lateral X-ray and neck dissections confirmed optimal alignment of all devices with the respiratory and digestive tracts. Conclusions: Insertion of the new AmbuAuraGain required adjusting manoeuvres in some cases, as observed with the other two devices, and achieved similar airway seal pressures. Passage of a large bore gastric tube was as fast as with the LMA Supreme and ease of guided intubation was similar to that of the i-gel.

Alcoholic liver disease:Utility of animal models

Alcoholic liver disease(ALD) is a major cause of acute and chronic liver injury. Extensive evidence has been accumulated on the pathological process of ALD during the past decades. However, effective treatment options for ALD are very limited due to the lack of suitable in vivo models that recapitulate the full spectrum of ALD. Experimental animal models of ALD, particularly rodents, have been used extensively to mimic human ALD. An ideal animal model should recapitulate all aspects of the ALD process, including significant steatosis, hepatic neutrophil infiltration, and liver injury. A better strategy against ALD depends on clear diagnostic biomarkers, accurate predictor(s) of its progression and new therapeutic approaches to modulate stop or even reverse the disease. Numerous models employing rodent animals have been established in the last decades to investigate the effects of acute and chronic alcohol exposure on the initiation and progression of ALD. Although significant progress has been made in gaining better knowledge on the mechanisms and pathology of ALD, many features of ALD are unknown, and require further investigation, ideally with improved animal models that more effectively mimic human ALD. Although differences in the degree and stages of alcoholic liver injury inevitably exist between animal models and human ALD, the acquisition and translational relevance will be greatly enhanced with the development of new and improved animal models of ALD.

Optimal dose of busulfan for depleting testicular germ cells of recipient mice before spermatogonial transplantation

Successful spermatogonial transplantation requires depletion of the host germ cells to allow efficient colonization of the donor spermatogonial stem cells. Although a sterilizing drug,busulfan （Myleran）,is commonly used for preparing a recipient mouse before transplantation,the optimal dose of this drug has not yet been defined.The present study investigated the effects of different doses of busulfan （10-50 mg per kg body weight） on survival rate,testicular mass and histomorphology,and on the haploid spermatids and spermatozoa of male BALB/c mice.The results suggest that a dosage of 30 mg kg^-1 is optimal for the ablative treatment withbusulfan used to prepare the recipient mice. This dose results in an adequate depletion of the host germ cells for colonization of donorderived spermatogonial stem cells and causes the lowest death rate of the animals.

In vivo observation of cerebral microcirculation after experimental subarachnoid hemorrhage in mice

Acute brain injury caused by subarachnoid hemorrhage is the major cause of poor prognosis. The pathology of subarachnoid hemorrhage likely involves major morphological changes in the microcirculation. However, previous studies primarily used fixed tissue or delayed injury models. Therefore, in the present study, we used in vivo imaging to observe the dynamic changes in cerebral microcirculation after subarachnoid hemorrhage. Subarachnoid hemorrhage was induced by perforation of the bifurcation of the middle cerebral and anterior cerebral arteries in male C57/BL6 mice. The diameter of pial arterioles and venules was measured by in vivo fluorescence microscopy at different time points within 180 minutes after subarachnoid hemorrhage. Cerebral blood flow was examined and leukocyte adhesion/albumin extravasation was determined at different time points before and after subarachnoid hemorrhage. Cerebral pial microcirculation was abnormal and cerebral blood flow was reduced after subarachnoid hemorrhage. Acute vasoconstriction occurred predominantly in the arterioles instead of the venules. A progressive increase in the number of adherent leukocytes in venules and substantial albumin extravasation were observed between 10 and 180 minutes after subarachnoid hemorrhage. These results show that major changes in microcirculation occur in the early stage of subarachnoid hemorrhage. Our findings may promote the development of novel therapeutic strategies for the early treatment of subarachnoid hemorrhage.

Downregulation of thioredoxin reductase 1 expression in the substantia nigra pars compacta of Parkinson's disease mice

Because neurons are susceptible to oxidative damage and thioredoxin reductase 1 is extensively distributed in the central nervous system and has antioxidant properties, we speculated that the enzyme may be involved in the pathogenesis of Parkinson＇s disease. A Parkinson＇s disease model was produced by intraperitoneal injection of 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine into C57BL/6 mice. Real-time reverse transcription-PCR, western blot analysis and colorimetric assay showed that the levels of thioredoxin reductase 1 mRNA and protein were decreased, along with a significant reduction in thioredoxin reductase activity, in the midbrain of Parkinson＇s disease mice compared with normal mice. Immunohistochemical staining revealed that the number of thioredoxin reductase 1-positive neurons in the substantia nigra pars compacta of Parkinson＇s disease mice was significantly decreased compared with normal mice. These experimental findings suggest that the expression of thioredoxin reductase 1 in the substantia nigra pars compacta of Parkinson＇s disease mice is significantly decreased, and that the enzyme may be associated with disease onset.

Principle of relative positioning of structures in the human body

The arrangement of various biological structures should generally ensure the safety of crucial structures and increase their working efficiency; however, other principles governing the relative positions of structures in humans have not been reported. The present study therefore investigated other principles using nerves and their companion vessels in the human body as an example. Nerves and blood vessels usually travel together and in the most direct way towards their targets. Human embryology, histology, and gross anatomy suggest that there are many possible positions for these structures during development. However, for mechanical reasons, tougher or stronger structures should take priority. Nerves are tougher than most other structures, followed by arteries, veins, and lymphatic vessels. Nerves should therefore follow the most direct route, and be followed by the arteries, veins, and lymphatic vessels. This general principle should be applicable to all living things.

KN-93,a specific inhibitor of CaMKⅡ inhibits human hepatic stellate cell proliferation in vitro

AIM： To investigate the effects of KN-93, a CaMKⅡ selective inhibitor on cell proliferation and the expression of p53 or p21 protein in human hepatic stellate cells. METHODS： Human hepatic stellate cells （LX-2） were incubated with various concentrations （0-50 μmol/L） of KN-93 or its inactive derivative, KN-92. Cell proliferation was measured by CCK-8 assay, and the expression of two cell cycle regulators, p53 and p21, was determined by SDS-PAGE and Western blotting. RESULTS： KN-93 （5-50 μmol/L） decreased the proliferation of human hepatic stellate cells in a dosedependent manner from 81.76% （81.76% ± 2.58% vs 96.63% ± 2.69%, P 〈 0.05） to 27.15% （27.15% ± 2.86% vs 96.59% ± 2.44%, P 〈 0.01） after 24 h treatment. Incubation of 10 μmol/L KN-93 induced the cell growth reduction in a time-dependent manner from 78.27% at 8 h to 11.48% at 48 h. However, KN-92, an inactive derivative of KN-93, did not inhibit cell proliferation effectively. Moreover, analysis of cell cycle regulator expression revealed that KN-93 rather than KN-92 reduced the expression of p53 and p21. CONCLUSION： KN-93 has potent inhibitory effect on proliferation of LX-2 cells by modulating the expression of two special cell cycle regulators, p53 and p21.

Peripheral nerve regeneration through nerve conduits evokes differential expression of growth-associated protein-43 in the spinal cord

Growth-associated protein 43 plays a key role in neurite outgrowth through cytoskeleton remodeling.We have previously demonstrated that structural damage of peripheral nerves induces growth-associated protein 43 upregulation to promote growth cone formation.Conversely,the limited regenerative capacity of the central nervous system due to an inhibitory environment prevents major changes in neurite outgrowth and should be presumably associated with low levels of growth-associated protein 43 expression.However,central alterations due to peripheral nerve damage have never been assessed using the growthassociated protein 43 marker.In this study,we used the tubulization technique to repair 1 cm-long nerve gaps in the rat nerve injury/repair model and detected growth-associated protein 43 expression in the peripheral and central nervous systems.First,histological analysis of the regeneration process confirmed an active regeneration process of the nerve gaps through the conduit from 10 days onwards.The growth-associated protein 43 expression profile varied across regions and follow-up times,from a localized expression to an abundant and consistent expression throughout the regeneration tissue,confirming the presence of an active nerve regeneration process.Second,spinal cord changes were also histologically assessed,and no apparent changes in the structural and cellular organization were observed using routine staining methods.Surprisingly,remarkable differences and local changes appeared in growth-associated protein 43 expression at the spinal cord level,in particular at 20 days post-repair and beyond.Growth-associated protein 43 protein was first localized in the gracile fasciculus and was homogeneously distributed in the left posterior cord.These findings differed from the growth-associated protein 43 pattern observed in the healthy control,which did not express growth-associated protein 43 at these levels.Our results revealed a differential expression in growth-associated protein 43 protein not only in the regenerating nerve tissue but also in the spinal cord after peripheral nerve transection.These findings open the possibility of using this marker to monitor changes in the central nervous system after peripheral nerve injury.

Study on the role of JAK/STAT signaling pathway during chicken spermatogonial stem cells generation based on RNA-Seq

Spermatogonia! stem cells（SSCs） form the foundation for spermatogenesis and sustain male fertility.To explore the regulatory mechanisms of chicken SSCs generation,we obtained highly purified chicken embryonic stem cells（ESCs）,primordial germ cells（PGCs） and SSCs by fluorescence-activated cell sorting（FACS）.High-throughput analysis methods（RNA-Seq） were used to sequence the transcriptome level of these cells.Gene ontology and Kyoto encyclopedia of genes and genomes（KEGG） pathway enrichment were used to analyze RNA-Seq results.BMP4 was used to induce chicken ESCs differentiation to SSCs-like cells in vitro.The quantitative real-time（qRT）-PCR was used to detect the expression changes of the key genes.The results showed that 22 relevant critical pathways were found by RNA-Seq,one of them was the Janus kinase/signal transducer and activator of transcription（JAK/STAT） signaling pathway.Total of 103 related genes were detected in this pathway.Protein-protein interactions analysis found that 87 proteins were significantly related to 19 key proteins in this pathway.These 87 proteins were enriched in 21 biological processes and 18 signaling pathways.Moreover,during the differentiation of chicken ESCs to SSCs-like cells induced by BMP4 in vitro,JAK2 and STAT3 were activated.The qRT-PCR results showed that the expression trends of JAK2 and STAT3 were basically the same as in vivo.We concluded that JAK/STAT signaling pathway plays an important role in the process of chicken SSCs generation both in vivo and in vitro;it may achieve its function through multiple biological processes and other related pathways.

Ankfy1 is dispensable for neural stem/precursor cell development

There are few studies on the membrane protein Ankfyl. We have found Ankfyl is specifically expressed in neural stem/precursor cells during early development in mice （murine）. To further explore Ankfyl function in neural development, we developed a gene knockout mouse with a mixed Balb/C and C57/BL6 genetic background. Using immunofluorescence and in situ hybridization, neural defects were absent in mixed genetic Ankfyl null mice during development and in adults up to 2 months old. However, Ankfyl gene knockout mice with a pure genetic background were found to be lethal in the C57/BL6 inbred mice embryos, even after seven generations of backcrossing. Polymerase chain reaction confirmed homozygotes were unattainable as early as embryonic day 11.5. We conclude that Ankfyl protein is dispensable in neural stem/precursor ceils, but could be critical for early embryonic murine development, depending on the genetic background.

Methylene blue attenuates white matter damage after focal cerebral ischemia-reperfusion in rats

Methylene blue(MB)was reported to have neuronal protective effect after brain ischermia.In this study,we aimed to investigate the effect of MB on white matter in rats after focal cerebral ischemia-reperfusion(MCAO/R)injury.MCAO/R model was set and 54 male SD rats were randomly divided into 3 groups:control(sham surgery group),middle cerebral artery occlusion and reperfusion(MCAO),MCAO treated with MB of 10 mg/kg(MB)by intraperitoneal injection 1.5 h after surgery.We observed the neurological deficits in different groups using foot fault test 24 h after MCAO.We measured the infarction volume using TTC staining and showed the morphological changes of neurons and myelin using Nissl and black gold staining.