Search Results (342)

The evolution of the chilled processing technology has precipitated the emergence of ice-fresh poultry meat as a significant sales channel. The aesthetic appearance of chicken carcasses has become increasingly important in the context of poultry ice-fresh sales, in conjunction with the comprehensive implementation of China’s policies for poultry. Feather follicle development is a significant factor in determining the aesthetic appearance of the carcass. Recent studies have focused on the molecular mechanisms associated with feather follicle development. The WNT, EGF, FGF, SHH, and BMP signalling pathways have been identified as the regulatory mechanisms involved in the development of feather follicles in various segments of poultry skin. However, the BMP signalling pathway, acting as an inhibitor, has been demonstrated to impede the regulatory processes governing feather follicle development via these signalling pathways. This review summarises the structure and overview of feathers and feather follicles, the research progress of signalling pathways that affect the development of poultry feather follicles, the research progress of poultry follicle traits, and the research progress of feather follicle development biotechnology. The present review focuses on summarising the molecular mechanisms that affect feather follicle development, and on providing a summary of the application of biotechnology in this field. It also offers ideas and theoretical references for the molecular mechanism of poultry feather follicle development. Full article

Medulloblastoma (MB), the most common malignant pediatric brain tumor, has undergone reclassification from a histologically defined disease to a genetically stratified spectrum of distinct subgroups: WNT, SHH, Group 3, and Group 4. Advances in molecular profiling, as captured in the 2021 WHO CNS5 classification, have shown meaningful heterogeneity in terms of tumor biology, prognosis, and therapeutic response. However, translating these insights into precise, less toxic treatments remains an ongoing challenge. This review synthesizes current knowledge on MB subgroup biology, treatment strategies, and emerging therapies such as subgroup-specific inhibitors, immunotherapies, and novel chemotherapeutic regimens. This review also explores risk-adapted approaches while addressing global disparities in access to diagnostics and care. As the field moves toward individualized medicine, closing the gap between molecular understanding and equitable implementation will be crucial to improving outcomes and quality of life for children with medulloblastoma worldwide. Full article

Background: Intramuscular fat (IMF) enhances marbling, improving meat quality and value. Transcriptome analysis enables the identification of genes and pathways involved in IMF deposition, supporting targeted breeding and nutritional strategies to improve beef quality. Methods: This study used RNA-Seq to compare gene expression in high- (Hereford; Her), moderate- (Holstein Friesian; Hf), and low-marbling (Limousine; Lim) Semitendinosus muscle. Using Illumina’s NovaSeqX Plus, sequencing data underwent quality control with FastQC to remove low-quality reads and adapters, followed by alignment to the bovine genome using HISAT2. Differential expression analysis was performed using DESeq2, and genes were filtered based on a threshold of p-value < 0.05 and |log2FC| > 0.5 to identify significantly regulated genes. Results: A total of 21,881 expressed genes were detected, with 3025 and 7407 significantly differentially expressed in Her and Hf vs. Lim, respectively (|log2FC| > 0.5, p < 0.05). Protein–protein interaction analysis revealed 20 hub genes, including SMAD3, SCD, PLIN2, SHH, SQLE, RXRA, NPPA, NR1H4, PRKCA, and IL10. Gene ontology and KEGG pathway analyses linked these genes to lipid metabolism and IMF-associated pathways, such as PPAR signaling, fatty acid metabolism, and PI3K–Akt signaling. Conclusions: These findings highlight RNA-Seq’s utility in uncovering the genetic basis of marbling and the importance of aligning beef production with consumer demands through genetic improvements. This study aimed to identify breed-independent molecular mechanisms of intramuscular fat deposition and shared metabolic processes in the Semitendinosus muscle to improve beef quality. Full article

This study investigated the potential of Thymus serpyllum L. and Mentha × piperita L. essential oils (EOs), known for their bioactive properties, as adjunctive treatments targeting Basal cell carcinoma cancer stem cells (BCC CSCs). Primary cultures were established from ten BCC tumor samples and their distant resection margins as controls. The chemical composition of the EOs was analyzed by gas chromatography–mass spectroscopy (GC-MS) and attenuated total reflectance Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (ATR-FTIR). The biological effects were evaluated via colony and spheroid formation, scratch assays, MTT and neutral red cytotoxicity assays, and qRT-PCR for Hh (SHH, PTCH1, SMO, and GLI1) and Notch (Notch1 and JAG1) gene expression. GC analysis identified thymol, p-cymene, and linalool as the main components of the EO of T. serpyllum L., and menthone and menthol in the EO of M. × piperita L. IC50 values were 262 µg/mL for T. serpyllum L. and 556 µg/mL for M. × piperita L. and were applied in all experiments. Both EOs significantly reduced CSC clonogenicity and migration (p < 0.05). The EO of T. serpyllum L. downregulated SMO and GLI1, while the EO of M. × piperita L. upregulated PTCH1, Notch1, and JAG1 (p < 0.05). These findings suggest that both EOs exhibit anticancer effects in BCC CSCs by modulating key oncogenic pathways, supporting their potential in BCC therapy. Full article

Background/Objectives: Androgenetic alopecia suppresses hair follicle growth. This occurs via dihydrotestosterone (DHT), which inhibits key molecular pathways such as Wnt/β-catenin and Sonic Hedgehog (SHH) signaling. Exosomes derived from plant callus cultures are promising biomaterials for targeted delivery and regenerative medicine. This study aimed to investigate the protective effects of hemp seed callus-derived exosomes (E40) against DHT-induced inhibition of feather follicle development in a chicken embryo model. Methods: E40 exosomes were isolated and purified from the calli of germinated hemp seeds. A DHT-induced feather loss model was established by injecting chicken embryos on embryonic day 7 (E7) with DHT (50 ng/mL), with or without co-administration of E40 (40 µg/mL). On embryonic day 12 (E12), feather length, density, and expression of molecular markers were analyzed. The methods included FISH, Western blotting, and quantitative analysis of PTCH1, AR, SHH, SMO, GLI1, Wnt, β-catenin, BMP4, and Noggin. Results: DHT treatment significantly reduced feather length and density. It also downregulated SHH and Wnt/β-catenin markers, upregulating BMP4 and androgen receptor expression. Co-treatment with E40 restored feather length and density to levels comparable to controls and significantly recovered the expression of SHH, SMO, GLI1, Wnt, and β-catenin. E40 also suppressed DHT-induced BMP4 upregulation by approximately 30% and reduced androgen receptor expression. Conclusions: These results suggest that hemp seed-derived exosomes (E40) effectively mitigate DHT-induced feather follicle inhibition by modulating critical signaling pathways and immune-related markers, supporting their potential application as a nanocarrier-based therapeutic strategy for alopecia management. Full article

Tooth development (odontogenesis) is regulated by interactions between epithelial and mesenchymal tissues through signaling pathways such as Bone Morphogenetic Protein (BMP), Wingless-related integration site (Wnt), Sonic Hedgehog (SHH), and Fibroblast Growth Factor (FGF). Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) derived from dental tissues—including dental pulp stem cells (DPSCs), periodontal ligament stem cells (PDLSCs), and dental follicle progenitor cells (DFPCs)—show promise for regenerative dentistry due to their multilineage differentiation potential. Epigenetic regulation, particularly DNA methylation, is hypothesized to underpin their distinct regenerative capacities. This study reanalyzed publicly available DNA methylation data generated with Illumina Infinium HumanMethylation450 BeadChip arrays (450K arrays) from DPSCs, PDLSCs, and DFPCs. High-confidence CpG sites were selected based on detection p-values, probe variance, and genomic annotation. Principal Component Analysis (PCA) and hierarchical clustering identified distinct methylation profiles. Functional enrichment analyses highlighted biological processes and pathways associated with specific methylation clusters. Noncoding RNA analysis was integrated to construct regulatory networks linking DNA methylation patterns with key developmental genes. Distinct epigenetic signatures were identified for DPSCs, PDLSCs, and DFPCs, characterized by differential methylation across specific genomic contexts. Functional enrichment revealed pathways involved in odontogenesis, osteogenesis, and neurodevelopment. Network analysis identified central regulatory nodes—including genes, such as PAX6, FOXC2, NR2F2, SALL1, BMP7, and JAG1—highlighting their roles in tooth development. Several noncoding RNAs were also identified, sharing promoter methylation patterns with developmental genes and being implicated in regulatory networks associated with stem cell differentiation and tissue-specific function. Altogether, DNA methylation profiling revealed that distinct epigenetic landscapes underlie the developmental identity and differentiation potential of dental-derived mesenchymal stem cells. This integrative analysis highlights the relevance of noncoding RNAs and regulatory networks, suggesting novel biomarkers and potential therapeutic targets in regenerative dentistry and orthodontics. Full article

Background/Objectives: Medulloblastoma is the most common malignant brain tumor in children and comprises four molecular subtypes—WNT, SHH, Group 3, and Group 4—each with distinct genetic, epigenetic, and metabolic features. Increasing evidence highlights the critical role of metabolic reprogramming and epigenetic alterations in driving tumor progression, therapy resistance, and clinical outcomes. This review aims to explore the interplay between metabolic and epigenetic mechanisms in medulloblastoma, with a focus on their functional roles and therapeutic implications. Methods: A comprehensive literature review was conducted using PubMed and relevant databases, focusing on recent studies examining metabolic pathways and epigenetic regulation in medulloblastoma subtypes. Particular attention was given to experimental findings from in vitro and in vivo models, as well as emerging preclinical therapeutic strategies targeting these pathways. Results: Medulloblastoma exhibits metabolic adaptations such as increased glycolysis, lipid biosynthesis, and altered amino acid metabolism. These changes support rapid cell proliferation and interact with the tumor microenvironment. Concurrently, epigenetic mechanisms—including DNA methylation, histone modification, chromatin remodeling, and non-coding RNA regulation—contribute to tumor aggressiveness and treatment resistance. Notably, metabolic intermediates often serve as cofactors for epigenetic enzymes, creating feedback loops that reinforce oncogenic states. Preclinical studies suggest that targeting metabolic vulnerabilities or epigenetic regulators—and particularly their combination—can suppress tumor growth and overcome resistance mechanisms. Conclusions: The metabolic–epigenetic crosstalk in medulloblastoma represents a promising area for therapeutic innovation. Understanding subtype-specific dependencies and integrating biomarkers for patient stratification could facilitate the development of precision medicine approaches that improve outcomes and reduce long-term treatment-related toxicity in pediatric patients. Full article

(1) Background: As society progresses, increasing numbers of individuals are experiencing hair loss, which can be attributed to factors such as unhealthy diets, insufficient sleep, stress, and hormonal imbalances. Currently available pharmacological treatments for hair loss often cause undesirable side effects, highlighting the urgent need to explore safer and more effective agents to promote hair restoration. This study investigated the role of recombinant human type XVII collagen derived from the α1 chain (rhCOL17A1) in facilitating hair growth and restoration. (2) Methods: We analyzed the impact of rhCOL17A1 on the mRNA expression of several growth factors, as well as Bcl-2 and Bax, at the cellular level. Moreover, the effects of rhCOL17A1 on the expression of key proteins in the Wnt/β-catenin and Sonic Hedgehog (SHH)/GLI signaling pathways were examined by Western blotting (WB). At the organismal level, we established a model in C57BL/6 mice through chronic subcutaneous administration of 5% testosterone propionate. We subsequently assessed the effect of rhCOL17A1 on hair regrowth via histological analysis using hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) staining and immunofluorescence staining. (3) Results: rhCOL17A1 contributes to the resistance of hair follicle dermal papilla cells (HFDPCs) to apoptosis. rhCOL17A1 activates the Wnt/β-catenin and SHH/GLI signaling pathways, and increases the expression of type XVII collagen (COLXVII), thereby creating a favorable environment for hair growth. Furthermore, rhCOL17A1 exerts a significant growth-promoting effect at the animal level. (4) Conclusions: rhCOL17 promotes hair growth by activating the Wnt/β-catenin and SHH/GLI signaling pathways and upregulating COLXVII expression. Full article

Background/Objectives: Medulloblastoma (MB) is the second leading cause of cancer-related death in children. Its tumor microenvironment (TME) includes endothelial, glial, and immune cells that influence tumor architecture and progression. Neuropilin-1 (NRP1), a co-receptor for semaphorins and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), is expressed in various cell types during oncogenesis, yet its role in MB progression remains unclear. This study aimed to evaluate the expression and localization of NRP1 and glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) in MB tissue. Methods: We analyzed MB tissue samples using immunohistochemistry, immunofluorescence, and quantitative PCR. Samples were stratified by molecular subgroup (WNT, SHH, non-WNT/non-SHH). We assessed NRP1 expression in tumor-associated microglia/macrophages (TAMs) and endothelial cells, as well as GFAP expression in astrocytes and tumor cells. Histopathological correlations and survival analyses were also conducted. Results: NRP1 was consistently expressed by TAMs across all MB molecular subgroups. Tumor vasculature showed strong endothelial NRP1 expression, while perivascular astrocytic coverage was frequently absent. Astrocytic processes exhibited spatial differences according to tumor histology. In SHH-MBs, a subset of tumor cells showed aberrant GFAP expression, which correlated with tumor recurrence or progression. Conclusions: NRP1 and GFAP display distinct expression patterns within the MB microenvironment, reflecting subgroup-specific biological behavior. Endothelial NRP1 positivity combined with limited vascular-astrocytic interaction and aberrant GFAP expression in SHH-MB may contribute to dysregulated angiogenesis and tumor progression. These findings warrant further investigation to explore their prognostic and therapeutic implications. Full article

Accurate sleep staging and sleep-disordered breathing (SDB) severity prediction are critical for the early diagnosis and management of sleep disorders. However, real-world polysomnography (PSG) data often suffer from modality heterogeneity, label scarcity, and non-independent and identically distributed (non-IID) characteristics across institutions, posing significant challenges for model generalization and clinical deployment. To address these issues, we propose a federated multi-task learning (FMTL) framework that simultaneously performs sleep staging and SDB severity classification from seven multimodal physiological signals, including EEG, ECG, respiration, etc. The proposed framework is built upon a hybrid deep neural architecture that integrates convolutional layers (CNN) for spatial representation, bidirectional GRUs for temporal modeling, and multi-head self-attention for long-range dependency learning. A shared feature extractor is combined with task-specific heads to enable joint diagnosis, while the FedAvg algorithm is employed to facilitate decentralized training across multiple institutions without sharing raw data, thereby preserving privacy and addressing non-IID challenges. We evaluate the proposed method across three public datasets (APPLES, SHHS, and HMC) treated as independent clients. For sleep staging, the model achieves accuracies of 85.3% (APPLES), 87.1% (SHHS_rest), and 79.3% (HMC), with Cohen’s Kappa scores exceeding 0.71. For SDB severity classification, it obtains macro-F1 scores of 77.6%, 76.4%, and 79.1% on APPLES, SHHS_rest, and HMC, respectively. These results demonstrate that our unified FMTL framework effectively leverages multimodal PSG signals and federated training to deliver accurate and scalable sleep disorder assessment, paving the way for the development of a privacy-preserving, generalizable, and clinically applicable digital sleep monitoring system. Full article

Seed germination is recognized for enhancing the accumulation of bioactive compounds. Perilla frutescens (L.) Britt., commonly known as perilla seed, is rich in fatty acids that may be beneficial for anti-hair loss. This study investigated the hair regeneration potential of perilla seed extracts—non-germinated (NG-PS) and germinated in distilled water (0 ppm selenium; G0-PS), and germinated with 80 ppm selenium (G80-PS)—obtained from supercritical fluid extraction (SFE) and screw compression (SC). SFE extracts exhibited significantly higher levels of polyphenols, tocopherols, and fatty acids compared to SC extracts. Among the germinated groups, G0-PS showed the highest bioactive compound content and antioxidant capacity. Remarkably, treatment with SFE-G0-PS led to a significant increase in the proliferation and migration of hair follicle cells, reaching 147.21 ± 2.11% (p < 0.05), and resulted in complete wound closure. In addition, its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties were reflected by a marked scavenging effect on TBARS (59.62 ± 0.66% of control) and suppressed nitrite amounts (0.44 ± 0.01 µM). Moreover, SFE-G0-PS markedly suppressed SRD5A1-3 gene expression—key regulators in androgenetic alopecia—in both DU-145 and HFDPCs, with approximately 2-fold and 1.5-fold greater inhibition compared to finasteride and minoxidil, respectively. Simultaneously, it upregulated the expression of hair growth-related genes, including CTNNB1, SHH, SMO, GLI1, and VEGF, by approximately 1.5-fold, demonstrating stronger activation than minoxidil. These findings suggest the potential of SFE-G0-PS as a natural therapeutic agent for promoting hair growth and preventing hair loss. Full article

Pediatric high-grade gliomas (pHGGs), particularly diffuse midline gliomas (DMGs), are among the most lethal brain tumors due to poor survival and resistance to therapies. DMGs possess a distinct genetic profile, primarily driven by hallmark mutations such as H3K27M, ACVR1, and PDGFRA mutations/amplifications and TP53 inactivation, all of which contribute to tumor biology and therapeutic resistance. Developing physiologically relevant preclinical models that replicate both tumor biology and the tumor microenvironment (TME) is critical for advancing effective treatments. This review highlights recent progress in in vitro, ex vivo, and in vivo models, including patient-derived brain organoids, genetically engineered mouse models (GEMMs), and region-specific midline organoids incorporating SHH, BMP, and FGF2/8/19 signaling to model pontine gliomas. Key genetic alterations can now be introduced using lipofectamine-mediated transfection, PiggyBac plasmid systems, and CRISPR-Cas9, allowing the precise study of tumor initiation, progression, and therapy resistance. These models enable the investigation of TME interactions, including immune responses, neuronal infiltration, and therapeutic vulnerabilities. Future advancements involve developing immune-competent organoids, integrating vascularized networks, and applying multi-omics platforms like single-cell RNA sequencing and spatial transcriptomics to dissect tumor heterogeneity and lineage-specific vulnerabilities. These innovative approaches aim to enhance drug screening, identify new therapeutic targets, and accelerate personalized treatments for pediatric gliomas. Full article

Background and Clinical Significance: Hereditary Fibrinogen Disorders (HFDs) are a group of rare, inherited coagulation disorders with a wide spectrum of clinical presentations, ranging from asymptomatic cases to severe bleeding or thrombotic events. Among these, hereditary hypofibrinogenemia (HH) poses particular challenges in obstetric care due to its unpredictable course and limited evidence-based guidelines. Case Presentation: This case report describes the novel obstetrical management of a 37 years old multiparous woman with severe HH (SHH) guided not only by fibrinogen levels but also by rotational thromboelastometry (ROTEM^®), a global test of hemostasis using specific parameters such as FIBTEM^® and NATEM^® assays. Despite persistent low fibrinogen levels during labor and peripartum (<100 mg/dL), favorable maternal and neonatal outcomes were achieved by relying on ROTEM^®-based parameters to guide clinical decisions. Conclusions: Current recommendations for managing pregnancies in women with HFDs are largely based on expert consensus and exclusively use fibrinogen levels. This case supports the use of specific assays (FIBTEM^® and NATEM^®) of the ROTEM^® global test of hemostasis as valuable tools in the obstetric management of women with HH. The use of FIBTEM^® and NATEM^® assays could provide individualized perinatal care, avoiding unnecessary therapeutic interventions and aiming for optimal perinatal outcomes. Full article

Odontogenesis, the development of teeth, is a complex, multistage process that unfolds from early embryogenesis through tooth eruption and maturation. It serves as a classical model of organogenesis due to the intricate reciprocal interactions between cranial neural crest-derived mesenchyme and oral epithelium. This narrative review synthesizes current scientific knowledge on human tooth development, tracing the journey from the embryological origins in the first branchial arch to the formation of a fully functional tooth and its supporting structures. Key morphogenetic stages—bud, cap, bell, apposition, and root formation—are described in detail, highlighting the cellular events and histological features characterizing each stage. We discuss the molecular and cellular regulatory networks that orchestrate odontogenesis, including the conserved signaling pathways (Wnt, BMP, FGF, SHH, EDA) and transcription factors (e.g., PAX9, MSX1/2, PITX2) that drive tissue patterning and cell differentiation. The coordinated development of supporting periodontal tissues (cementum, periodontal ligament, alveolar bone, gingiva) is also examined as an integral part of tooth organogenesis. Finally, developmental anomalies (such as variations in tooth number, size, and form) and the fate of residual embryonic epithelial cells are reviewed to underscore the clinical significance of developmental processes. Understanding the normal course of odontogenesis provides crucial insight into congenital dental disorders and lays a foundation for advances in regenerative dental medicine. Full article

The hedgehog pathway is a major regulator of cell growth and differentiation during embryogenesis and early development. The literature suggests that variations in this pathway’s genes play a role in tumor progression and response to therapy. This study aimed to assess the correlation between the expression levels of selected genes of this pathway and the progression-free and overall survival of ovarian cancer patients. Using the database Kaplan–Meier plotter, which includes the gene expression and survival data of 1565 ovarian cancer patients, higher expression levels of the genes SHH, PTCH1, PTCH2, and GLI1 displayed better survival correlations, while GLI, GLI3, and SUFU correlated with adverse outcomes. Further dissection revealed a differential impact of the genes in specific clinical-histopathological categories. Notably, higher expression levels of SUFU were associated with a negative impact on ovarian cancer patients under many clinical–histopathological aspects. These results shed new light on the role of these genes in the chemoresponsiveness of ovarian cancer, especially SUFU, which could be considered a novel indicator for poor prognosis in epithelial ovarian cancer. Full article