Search Results (67)

Background and Objectives: Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of mortality in patients with ANCA-associated vasculitis (AAV) after the first year post-diagnosis. This study investigated relationships between traditional risk factors, echocardiographic findings, disease activity, and major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) in AAV patients. Aim: This retrospective single-center study aimed to evaluate the impact of traditional cardiovascular risk factors and echocardiographic parameters on the occurrence of MACE in patients with AAV. Materials and Methods: This study included adult patients with AAV who were evaluated between 2020 and 2025. Data collected included demographics, cardiovascular risk factors, Birmingham Vasculitis Activity Score version 3 (BVASv3), laboratory parameters, immunosuppressive therapy, and transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) findings. MACE was defined as myocardial infarction, stroke, revascularization, cardiovascular hospitalization, or cardiovascular death. Results: The cohort comprised 32 females (61.5%) and 20 males (38.5%), with a mean age of 62.4 ± 12.4 years. MACE occurred in 38.5% of patients. Male gender (p = 0.002), overweight (p = 0.016), hyperlipidemia (p = 0.003), and prior cardiovascular disease (p = 0.002) were significantly associated with MACE in univariate analyses. Patients with MACE had larger left atrial anteroposterior dimensions on the parasternal long-axis view (median 3.9 vs. 3.3 cm, p = 0.002) and lower left ventricular ejection fraction assessed by the modified biplane Simpson’s method (median 53% vs. 60%, p = 0.002). Valvular dysfunction was not associated with MACE in a statistically significant manner. Disease activity markers (BVASv3 and CRP) showed no significant correlation with cardiovascular events or echocardiographic parameters. Conclusions: Our results demonstrate that traditional cardiovascular risk factors are stronger determinants of MACE in AAV patients than disease-specific parameters. Cardiac structural changes, including left atrial dilation and decreased left ventricular ejection fraction, were significantly associated with cardiovascular outcomes. These findings underscore the importance of integrating systematic cardiovascular risk assessment and aggressive risk factor modification into standard AAV management protocols. Full article

Background/Objectives: The anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) plays a key role in knee stability, biomechanics, and proprioception, and is one of the most frequently injured and reconstructed ligaments in both athletes and the general population. The anatomical placement of femoral and tibial tunnels close to the native ACL insertion sites is critical for long-term clinical outcomes and graft survival. This study aimed to define sagittal and coronal ACL alignment and tibial footprint morphology on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in healthy knees, to explore sex- and side-related differences, and to provide population-specific reference values. Methods: In this retrospective cross-sectional study, knee MRIs acquired between 2018 and 2021 were screened, and knees with an intact ACL and without deformity or joint pathology that could alter alignment were included. After applying inclusion and exclusion criteria, 636 knees (320 right, 316 left) from 545 individuals (338 women, 298 men; 15–80 years, mean age 34.87 ± 11.65 years) were analyzed. On sagittal images, the sagittal ACL angle (S-ANGLE) was measured on the slice where the ligament appeared maximally visualized. The midpoints of the ACL were identified on two adjacent sagittal slices, and a line drawn through these midpoints was used to represent the central axis of the ligament; the angle between this line and the tibial plateau was recorded as the S-ANGLE. For anteroposterior localization of the tibial footprint, an anteroposterior reference distance (S-long) was defined as the length measured parallel to the tibial plateau, extending from the midpoint of the tibial tuberosity (corresponding to the insertion site of the patellar ligament and used as a topographic anterior landmark) toward the posterior aspect of the proximal tibia. A perpendicular line was drawn from the anterior end of S-long to establish the anterior reference boundary. The distance from this anterior reference line to the midpoint of the ACL tibial footprint along the same anteroposterior axis was defined as S-short. The sagittal footprint percentage (S-PERCENTAGE) was calculated as (S-short/S-long) × 100, representing the size-normalized sagittal anteroposterior position of the ACL tibial footprint midpoint. On coronal images, the ACL–tibial plateau angle (C-ANGLE), mediolateral tibial length (C-LONG), and distance from the medial edge to the ACL insertion (C-short) were obtained; C-PERCENTAGE was calculated analogously. Medial mechanical proximal tibial angle (mMPTA) was used to confirm physiological coronal alignment. Non-parametric tests were applied, with p < 0.05 considered statistically significant. Results: Women had significantly greater sagittal ACL angles than men, whereas anteroposterior distances measured from the midpoint of the tibial tuberosity (used as an anterior topographic landmark) and oriented parallel to the tibial plateau (S-LONG) and mediolateral tibial lengths (C-LONG) and absolute distances to the ACL tibial footprint were larger in men. In contrast, normalized sagittal and coronal footprint percentages (S-PERCENTAGE, C-PERCENTAGE) did not differ meaningfully between sexes, indicating the preservation of the relative ACL tibial insertion site despite size differences. Small but statistically significant side-to-side differences were observed in some coronal parameters; however, absolute differences were small and did not substantially modify the overall alignment pattern. Conclusions: This study provides large-sample, population-specific reference values for ACL orientation and tibial footprint location in both sagittal and coronal planes in healthy knees. The combination of higher sagittal ACL angles and shorter anteroposterior distances reference measured from the midpoint of the tibial tuberosity and oriented parallel to the tibial plateau (S-LONG) in women may represent a structural substrate contributing to the higher ACL injury rates reported in females. The morphometric data presented here may assist in individualized ACL reconstruction planning, MRI-based assessment of tibial tunnel position, and the design of knee-related biomedical implants and devices. Full article

Understanding how seat-induced whole-body vibration (WBV) is transmitted to and actively compensated by the human body is essential for accurately assessing discomfort, fatigue, and postural control in vehicle occupants. This study proposes a visual–inertial fusion framework utilizing IMU-RGB-D data to isolate seated human body vibration in dynamic vehicular environments. In real-cabin monitoring systems, measured motion is a superposition of platform vibration, passive transmission through the body, active postural compensation, and camera jitter. Existing WBV and driver monitoring studies typically rely on single modality sensing, such as inertial or visual approaches, without decomposing these components or modelling camera vibration. The framework synchronized three IMUs with RGB-D landmarks. Seat, human body, and camera accelerations are separated, and body vibration velocity is derived from body–seat differential acceleration via band-pass filtering and spectral integration. The 3D landmarks enable rotational-translational Postural Compensation Index metrics, axis-wise energy distributions, and anthropometric consistency checks. The study is held in an in-service urban tram case. Torso vibration is dominated by 40% anteroposterior components, while head postural is predominantly > 50% lateral sway. Near static anthropometric evaluation was also studied, resulting in shoulder width errors that remain within ±10–20 mm. The results show that the framework can distinguish passive ride phases from strongly compensated phases, separate camera jitter from true body motion, and reveal anisotropic postural strategies, providing a structured basis for vibration and posture analysis in in-vehicle monitoring. Full article

Background and Objectives: Knee osteoarthritis (OA) is a leading cause of pain and disability, with radiographic severity influenced by age, biomechanical alignment, and structural joint features. Data describing the association between common radiographic parameters and OA severity in Eastern European clinical populations remain limited. This study aimed to evaluate the associations between radiographic OA severity and coronal alignment, patellar height, and chondrocalcinosis in a Romanian clinical cohort. Materials and Methods: This single-center cross-sectional study included adult patients undergoing knee radiography for knee-related symptoms and/or functional assessment at a rehabilitation hospital between 2023 and 2025. Radiographs were obtained in the supine, non-weight-bearing position and included anteroposterior and lateral views. OA severity was graded using the Kellgren–Lawrence (KL) classification. Coronal alignment was assessed using the femorotibial angle, patellar height using the Insall–Salvati ratio (ISR), and chondrocalcinosis was recorded as present or absent. Associations between radiographic parameters and KL grade were analyzed using non-parametric statistics. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analyses were performed for exploratory assessment of limited separation between distributions. Results: Moderate to severe OA (KL ≥ 3) was present in 49% of patients. KL grade showed a moderate positive correlation with age (r = 0.50, p < 0.001) and differed significantly across coronal alignment categories (p < 0.001). Varus/valgus and pathological alignment classifications demonstrated moderate sensitivity (0.69–0.85) and variable specificity (0.52–0.85) for higher KL grades. ROC analyses of continuous alignment and ISR measures yielded area under the curve values ranging from approximately 0.65 to 0.68, indicating limited separation between distributions. Radiographically detected chondrocalcinosis was present in 5.3% of patients and showed no significant association with OA severity, and neither did patellar height. Conclusions: In this single-center Romanian clinical cohort, radiographic OA severity was associated with coronal plane alignment but not with patellar height or chondrocalcinosis. Alignment measures demonstrated limited discriminative ability and should be interpreted as complementary rather than diagnostic indicators of OA severity. These findings provide descriptive radiographic data from an Eastern European clinical population and highlight the need for longitudinal and population-based studies incorporating mechanical axis assessment and functional outcomes. Full article

Background: The 1 min sit-to-stand test (1-MSTST) is a widely used functional assessment involving repetitive sit-to-stand transitions. This study examined local dynamic stability during the 1-MSTST across three acceleration directions, compared young and middle-aged women, and explored associations between body composition and stability. Methods: Twenty-four young adult women (24.1 ± 5.2 years) and twenty-four middle-aged women (51.4 ± 5.9 years) performed the 1-MSTST. Trunk accelerations were recorded using a tri-axial accelerometer at L5. Local dynamic stability was quantified using the largest Lyapunov exponent (LyE), and movement magnitude using root mean square (RMS). Directional, group, and correlational analyses were performed with correction for multiple testing. Results: Significant directional differences were observed for both LyE and RMS, with all pairwise contrasts between mediolateral (ML), anteroposterior (AP), and vertical (VT) directions remaining significant after correction (p < 0.001). Apparent age effects in LyE were no longer significant after adjusting for cadence, BMI, and multiple testing, indicating no robust age-related difference in local dynamic stability. Body fat percentage showed moderate positive correlations with LyE in the VT (p = 0.003) and AP (p = 0.003) directions. Muscle mass percentage showed a moderate positive correlation with VT LyE (p = 0.002) and moderate negative correlations with ML (p = 0.002) and AP LyE (p = 0.002). Conclusions: Stability during the 1-MSTST differs by direction, with the greatest variability in the mediolateral axis. No independent age effect was found. Higher body fat relates to poorer stability, while greater muscle mass supports better movement control. Full article

Cognitive tasks play a pivotal role in posture control among young adults. This study examined how concurrent cognitive tasks alter balance stability and sensory integration during single-leg stance by analyzing center-of-pressure trajectories and wavelet spectra to elucidate the neurobehavioral mechanisms underlying dual-task balance degradation. A cohort of 24 young adults completed both single postural control tasks and dual cognitive–postural tasks on a force plate. COP data and wavelet decomposition energy were computed and analyzed. The results revealed significant differences between the dual-task and single-task groups for Lxy, Ly, Vxy, and Vy (p < 0.05). Energy content analysis showed that the dual-task group had significantly different energy ratios across four frequency bands along the x-axis (p < 0.05). Our findings showed that dual-task conditions impair postural control in young adults, increasing anteroposterior sway and altering mediolateral energy patterns. This suggests a shift toward proprioceptive reliance during cognitive division, revealing cognitive–postural interference. These results support using dual-task assessments for fall risk evaluation and inform interventions for populations requiring cognitive–motor integration. Full article

Background: A single lumbar-mounted inertial sensor offers a practical alternative to optoelectronic systems for gait analysis, simplifying measurements and improving usability in the clinical field. However, its validity can be influenced by sensor placement and signal choice. This study aimed to develop and validate a novel algorithm for estimating spatiotemporal parameters using anteroposterior linear acceleration and angular velocity around the sagittal axis using a single inertial measurement unit (IMU) placed on the lumbar region. The proposed algorithm was validated comparing the parameters computed by the algorithm with the ones computed using a commercial wearable system based on a two-foot-mounted IMU configuration. Thirty healthy subjects underwent a 2 min walk test, and five spatiotemporal parameters were computed using the two methodologies. Study results showed that cadence and gait cycle time exhibited very high agreement, with only a small, statistically significant bias in cadence negligible for practical purposes. In contrast, swing, stance, and double-support parameters showed disagreement due to the presence of systematic proportional errors. This work introduces a novel algorithm for gait event detection and spatiotemporal parameter estimation, addressing uncertainties related to sensor placement, metric models, processing techniques, and signal selection, while avoiding synchronization issues associated with using multiple sensors. Full article

Approach or avoidance behaviors toward appetitive stimuli, such as alcohol and food, reflect the engagement of motivational states that are fundamental to adaptation of human behavior. Investigating early motor or neural responses to these stimuli provides valuable insights into the underlying mechanisms of these behaviors. This study employed an integrative approach combining postural and electrophysiological measures to explore the impact of alcohol consumption levels on early postural and neural responses to visual alcohol and food stimuli. The objective was to identify early automatic markers of approach or avoidance, and to examine correlations between motor and neural responses. Forty-six participants were divided into two groups (“Low” and “High”) according to their level of alcohol consumption (AUDIT scores). They were exposed to images of alcoholic beverages, non-alcoholic beverages, and appetitive or neutral foods. Postural responses were recorded using a force platform, and brain activity was measured via EEG. Displacement of the center of pressure along the anteroposterior axis, as well as the P100 and N100 components, were analyzed. “High” participants exhibited greater anterior postural displacement in response to alcohol during the first two seconds of stimulus exposure. In contrast, “Low” participants showed early avoidance responses. Significant correlations were found between event-related potential (ERP) wave latencies and postural displacement during the first second of exposure to alcohol-related stimuli. AUDIT scores were also positively correlated with early postural displacement and N100 latency following the viewing of alcoholic beverage images. Early perceptual and motor responses are modulated by alcohol consumption habits. These findings support the value of integrative EEG–posture approaches for identifying implicit motivational markers. Full article

This study investigated the interplay of bodily degrees of freedom (DoFs) governing the collective variable comprising the center of pressure (CoP) and center of mass (CoM) in postural control through the analytical lens of multiplicative interactions across scales. We employed a task combination involving a wobble board, introducing mechanical instability mainly along the mediolateral (ML) axis and the Trail Making Task (TMT), which imposes precise visual demands primarily along the anteroposterior (AP) axis. Using Multiscale Regression Analysis (MRA), a novel analytical method rooted in Detrended Fluctuation Analysis (DFA), we scrutinized CoP-to-CoM and CoM-to-CoP effects across multiple timescales ranging from $100\mathrm{ms}$ to $10\mathrm{s}$. CoP was computed from ground reaction forces recorded via a force plate, and CoM was derived from full-body 3D motion capture using a biomechanical model. We found that the wobble board attenuated CoM-to-CoP effects across timescales ranging from $100\mathrm{to}400\mathrm{ms}$. Further analysis revealed nuanced changes: while there was an overall reduction, this encompassed an accentuation of CoM-to-CoP effects along the AP axis and a decrease along the ML axis. Importantly, these alterations in CoP’s responses to CoM movements outweighed any nonsignificant effects attributable to the TMT. CoM exhibited no sensitivity to CoP movements, regardless of the visual and mechanical task demands. In addition to identifying the characteristic timescales associated with bodily DoFs in facilitating upright posture, our findings underscore the critical significance of directionally challenging biomechanical constraints, particularly evident in the amplification of CoP-to-CoM effects along the AP axis in response to ML instability. These results underscore the potential of wobble board training to enhance the coordinative and compensatory responses of bodily DoFs to the shifting CoM by prompting appropriate adjustments in CoP, thereby suggesting their application for reinstating healthy CoM–CoP dynamics in clinical populations with postural deficits. Full article

Balance control in pirouettes has previously been characterized by constraint of the topple angle. However, there is a paucity of research using the margin of stability (MoS) as a dynamic measure of balance related to pirouettes. Therefore, this study aimed primarily to examine the MoS as a metric of balance during a single-turn en dehors pirouette in healthy female amateur ballet dancers. Four participants performed pirouettes until five successful pirouettes were achieved without hopping or loss of balance. Three-dimensional motion capture was used to record the motion trajectories of anatomical markers based on the Plug-in-Gait and Oxford Foot models. Motion synchronized with ground reaction forces was used to calculate the center of pressure (CoP), base of support (BoS), center of the pivot foot, center of mass (CoM), and extrapolated center of mass (XCoM) throughout the turn phase, using laboratory (LCS) and virtual left foot (LFT) coordinate systems. In the LCS and LFT coordinate system, the excursions and patterns of motion of both the CoM and XCoM relative to the CoP were similar, suggesting a neurological relationship. Two different measures of the margin of stability (MoS) in the LFT coordinate system were tabulated: the distance between the (1) XCoM and CoP and (2) XCoM and BoS center. The magnitude of both versions of the MoS was greatest at turn initiation and toe-touch, which was associated with two foot contacts. The MoS values were at a minimum approximately 50% of the stance during the turn phase: close to zero along the anteroposterior (A/P) axis and approximately 50 mm along the mediolateral (M/L) axis. On average, MoS magnitudes were reduced (mean across participants: approximately 20 mm) along the A/P axis, and larger MoS magnitudes (mean across participants: approximately 50 mm) along the M/L axis throughout the turn phase. Although all turns analyzed were completed successfully, the larger MoS values along the M/L axis suggest a fall potential. The variability between trials within a dancer and across participants and trials was documented and showed moderate inter-trial (16% to 51%) and across-participant CV% (range: 10% to 28%), with generally larger variations along the A/P axis. Although our results are preliminary, they suggest that the MoS may be useful for detecting faults in the control of dynamic balance in dehors pirouette performance, as a part of training and rehabilitation following injury. Full article

The dorsomedial caudate–putamen (dmCPu), a key input structure of the basal ganglia, plays a crucial role in goal-directed behaviors and the transition to habits. The functional specialization of the dmCPu along its anteroposterior axis suggests that distinct prefrontal cortex (PFC) subregions may differentially contribute to these processes. However, the precise topographical organization of PFC and adjacent areas projections to the anterior and posterior dmCPu remains poorly understood. We employed retrograde tracing using Fluoro-Gold to map the projections from PFC subregions and adjacent areas to the anterior and posterior dmCPu in male Sprague Dawley rats. Histological verification and immunohistochemical labeling were conducted to confirm injection sites and neuronal labeling. Quantitative analyses were performed to assess the effects of injection site placement (anterior vs. posterior dmCPu), laterality (ipsilateral vs. contralateral), and cortical subregion on projection density. The posterior dmCPu received significantly higher projection densities than the anterior dmCPu, with a pronounced ipsilateral dominance across all cortical subregions. Among the subregions examined, the cingulate cortex exhibited the highest number of labeled neurons projecting to the dmCPu, with distinct patterns of connectivity between anterior and posterior injection sites. Notably, motor and somatosensory cortical projections were more prominent in the posterior dmCPu, whereas cingulate projections demonstrated robust anteroposterior and lateralized differences. These findings provide a comprehensive map of the topographical organization of cortical inputs to the dmCPu, highlighting differential connectivity patterns that may underlie distinct functional roles in goal-directed and habitual behaviors. This work advances our understanding of corticostriatal circuits and their relevance to adaptive behaviors and neuropsychiatric disorders. Full article

Background/Objectives: Understanding sex-based differences in both the pathophysiology and clinical presentation of diseases is necessary to improve health care towards precision medicine. The endocrine system is deeply involved in human health, and endocrine diseases may be influenced by steroidal hormone exposure. Thyroid nodular disease and differentiated thyroid cancer, in particular, show a high prevalence in the female sex; however, little is known about sex-related differences in risk factors and clinical presentation. This study aims to assess whether morphological differences, which can be detected by ultrasound examination, can be related to sex in order to refine diagnostic approaches and oncological risk classification. Methods: A retrospective observational study on 1355 ultrasound images of thyroid nodules obtained from 2017 to 2020 at a single university center was conducted. The images were reviewed by a single observer blinded to the patient’s sex and the cytological nature of the nodules. The qualitative description, size, anatomical location and oncological risk classification were assessed. Results: A taller-than-wide shape (anteroposterior/craniocaudal axis ratio > 1) was found to be more frequent in men than in women (6.7% vs. 3.6%, p = 0.027); the nodular volume was significantly larger in males (p << 0.01) than in females. Significant tropism for the upper lobe and isthmus was described in women (26% vs. 16.5%, p = 0.011) and for medium–lower thyroid lobes in men (83.5% vs. 73.8%, p = 0.011). Background thyroiditis was more common in women, while the number of cytological diagnoses of malignant or likely malignant nodules was higher than expected in men (9% vs. 6%, p = 0.01). Conclusions: Thyroid nodules show different distributions, in terms of a larger volume, more frequent taller-than-wide shape and lobular caudal location, in men vs. women. These results should be confirmed by further investigations, and the underlying mechanism should be clarified. However, our explorative research is of interest due to its novelty and possible future clinical implications. Full article

HOX genes play essential roles in patterning the anteroposterior axis of animal embryos and in the formation of various organs. In mammals, there are 39 HOX genes organized into four clusters (HOXA–D) located on different chromosomes. In relationship with their orderly arrangement along the chromosomes, these genes show nested expression patterns which imply that embryonic territories co-express multiple HOX genes along the main body axis. Interactomic database entries, as well as a handful of publications, support that some HOX proteins can form homodimers or interact with other HOX proteins. However, the consequences of HOX protein interactions have been poorly investigated and remain largely elusive. In this study, we compiled a repository of all HOX–HOX interactions from available databases, and taking HOXA1, HOXA2, and HOXA5 as examples, we investigated the capacity of HOX proteins to form homo- and heterodimers. We revealed that while the DNA-binding domain, the homeodomain, is not necessary for HOXA1 homodimerization, the nuclear localization of the dimerization is dependent on the homeodomain, particularly the integrity of the third helix of HOXA1. Furthermore, we demonstrated that HOXA1 can influence the localization of HOXA1 when it is deprived of the homeodomain, increasing its abundance in the chromatin-containing fraction. Moreover, HOXA1 nuclear homodimerization occurs independently of the integrity of the hexapeptide and, consequently, of its well-known interactor, the homeodomain protein PBX. These results hint at a potential involvement of dimerization in the complex landscape of HOX regulatory mechanisms. Full article

Two convex polyhedra that markedly resemble the head of the flatback sea turtle hatchling are identified. The first example is a zygomorphic tetragonal dodecahedron, while the other, an even better matching structure, is a related tetradecahedron, herein speculated to arise from this particular dodecahedron via known mechanisms gleaned from studies of the behavior of foams. A segmented, biomorphic, convex polyhedral model to address cephalic topology is thus presented stemming from solid geometry, anatomical observations, and a recently computed densest local packing arrangement of fifteen slightly oblate spheroids in which fourteen oblate spheroids surround a central such spheroid. This particular array of oblate spheroids shares salient structural features with the aforementioned dodecahedron. Successful testing of the model has been achieved by converting this array of fifteen oblate spheroids constructed with putty to the cephaloid dodecahedron in a process involving ventral elongation induced by stretching in the anterior direction along the anteroposterior axis (convergent extension). During convergent extension, the two left most anterolateral oblate spheroids that are in direct contact with the ventral spheroid of the array merge into a single lateral facet of the incipient dodecahedron, while the corresponding two right such oblate spheroids do the same. Thus, the fourteen outer oblate spheroids of the array give rise to the twelve facets of the finalized dodecahedron, while the central oblate spheroid remnant assumes an interior dodecahedral position. The hypothetical dodecahedron to tetradecahedron transformation entails the collapse of a tetravalent vertex (which is known to occur in foams as part of a T1 transition) followed by bilateral facet splitting. Remarkably, a model stipulating that convexity is to be retained in connection with this sequence of steps necessitates that the starting dodecahedral template undergoes modification to become a tetradecahedron in possession of precisely the highly ordered feature found at the top of the head of numerous specimens of the flatback sea turtle hatchling, namely, a fused medial pentagon–heptagon pair in the form of a pentagonal frontal scute and heptagonal frontoparietal scute. Such a possible new instance of geometric biomorphy, taken together with the correct anticipation of the cephalic pentagon–heptagon pair, might serve to instill further confidence in renewed efforts to shed light on morphogenesis with foam embryo models. Full article

The formation of embryonic axes is a critical step during animal development, which contributes to establishing the basic body plan in each particular organism. Wnt signaling pathways play pivotal roles in this fundamental process. Canonical Wnt signaling that is dependent on β-catenin regulates the patterning of dorsoventral, anteroposterior, and left–right axes. Non-canonical Wnt signaling that is independent of β-catenin modulates cytoskeletal organization to coordinate cell polarity changes and asymmetric cell movements. It is now well documented that components of these Wnt pathways biochemically and functionally interact to mediate cell–cell communications and instruct cellular polarization in breaking the embryonic symmetry. The dysfunction of Wnt signaling disrupts embryonic axis specification and proper tissue morphogenesis, and mutations of Wnt pathway genes are associated with birth defects in humans. This review discusses the regulatory roles of Wnt pathway components in embryonic axis formation by focusing on vertebrate models. It highlights current progress in decoding conserved mechanisms underlying the establishment of asymmetry along the three primary body axes. By providing an in-depth analysis of canonical and non-canonical pathways in regulating cell fates and cellular behaviors, this work offers insights into the intricate processes that contribute to setting up the basic body plan in vertebrate embryos. Full article