Stages Of Fetal Development Research Articles

Pregnancy and Lactation Alter Vitamin A Metabolism and Kinetics in Rats under Vitamin A-Adequate Dietary Conditions.

Background: Vitamin A (VA) plays critical roles in prenatal and postnatal development; however, limited information is available regarding maternal VA metabolism during pregnancy and lactation. Objectives: We investigated the impact of pregnancy and lactation on VA metabolism and kinetics in rats, hypothesizing that changes in physiological status would naturally perturb whole-body VA kinetics. Methods: Eight-week old female rats (n = 10) fed an AIN-93G diet received an oral tracer dose of 3H-labeled retinol to initiate the kinetic study. On d 21 after dosing, six female rats were mated. Serial blood samples were collected from each female rat at selected times after dose administration until d 14 of lactation. Model-based compartmental analysis was applied to the plasma tracer data to develop VA kinetic models. Results: Our compartmental model revealed that pregnancy resulted in a gradual increase in hepatic VA mobilization, presumably to support different stages of fetal development. Additionally, the model indicates that during lactation, VA derived from dietary intake was the primary source of VA delivered to the mammary gland for milk VA secretion. Conclusion: During pregnancy and lactation in rats with an adequate VA intake and previous VA storage, the internal redistribution of VA and increased uptake from diet supported the maintenance of VA homeostasis.

Major brain malformations: corpus callosum dysgenesis, agenesis of septum pellucidum and polymicrogyria in patients with BCORL1-related disorders.

BCORL1, a transcriptional co-repressor, has a role in cortical migration, neuronal differentiation, maturation, and cerebellar development. We describe BCORL1 as a new genetic cause for major brain malformations. We report three patients from two unrelated families with neonatal onset intractable epilepsy and profound global developmental delay. Brain MRI of two siblings from the first family depicted hypoplastic corpus callosum and septal agenesis (ASP) in the older brother and unilateral perisylvian polymicrogyria (PMG) in the younger one. MRI of the patient from the second family demonstrated complete agenesis of corpus callosum (CC). Whole Exome Sequencing revealed a novel hemizygous variant in NM_021946.5 (BCORL1):c.796C>T (p.Pro266Ser) in the two siblings from the first family and the NM_021946.5 (BCORL1): c.3376G>A; p.Asp1126Asn variant in the patient from the second family, both variants inherited from healthy mothers. We reviewed the patients' charts and MRIs and compared the phenotype to the other published BCORL1-related cases. Brain malformations have not been previously described in association with the BCORL1 phenotype. We discuss the potential influence of BCORL1 on brain development. We suggest that BCORL1 variants present with a spectrum of neurodevelopmental disorders and can lead to major brain malformations originating at different stages of fetal development. We suggest adding BCORL1 to the genetic causes of PMG, ASP, and CC dysgenesis.

Impact of selenium on cerebellar injury and mRNA expression in offspring of rat exposed to methylmercury

During the fetal development stage, the Central Nervous System (CNS) is particularly sensitive to methylmercury (MeHg). However, the mechanism underlying the antagonistic effect of selenium (Se) on MeHg toxicity is still not fully understood. In this study, female rat models with MeHg and Se co-exposure were developed. Pathological changes in the cerebellum and differential mRNA expression profiles in offspring rats were studied. In the MeHg-exposed group, a large number of Purkinje cells showed pathological changes and mitochondria were significantly swollen; co-exposure with Se significantly improved the structure and organization of the cerebellum. In total, 378 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) (including 284 up-regulated genes and 94 down-regulated genes) in the cerebellum of the MeHg-exposed group and 210 DEGs (including 84 up-regulated genes and 126 down-regulated genes) in the cerebellum of the MeHg+Se co-exposed group were identified. The genes involved in neurotransmitter synthesis and release and calcium ion balance in the cerebellum were significantly up-regulated in the MeHg-exposed group. These genes in the MeHg+Se co-exposed group were not changed or down-regulated. These findings demonstrate that the neurotoxicity caused by MeHg exposure is related to the up-regulation of multiple genes in the nerve signal transduction and calcium ion signal pathways, which are closely related to impairments in cell apoptosis and learning and memory. Supplementation with Se can mitigate the changes to related genes and protect neurons in the mammalian brain (especially the developing cerebellum) from MeHg toxicity. Se provides a potential intervention strategy for MeHg toxicity.

Cross-diagnostic evaluation of minor physical anomalies in psychiatric disorders

BackgroundMinor physical anomalies (MPA) are markers of impaired neurodevelopment during the prenatal stage. Assessing MPA across psychiatric disorders may help understand their shared nature. In addition, MPA in family members would indicate a shared liability and endophenotype potential. We examined familial aggregation of MPA and their role as transdiagnostic and disorder-specific markers of 5 major psychiatric/neuropsychiatric conditions (schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, substance dependence, obsessive-compulsive disorder, and Alzheimer's dementia). MethodsModified Waldrop's MPA scale was applied on 1321 individuals from 439 transdiagnostic multiplex families and 125 healthy population controls (HC). Stage of fetal development (morphogenetic/phenogenetic)- and anatomical location (craniofacial/peripheral)-based sub-scores were calculated. Familiality and endophenotypic potential of MPA were analyzed with serial negative binomial mixed-effect regression. Cross-diagnostic differences and the effect of family history density (FHD) of each diagnosis on MPA were assessed. Mixed-effects Cox models estimated the influence of MPA on age-at-onset of illness (AAO). ResultsMPA were found to be heritable in families with psychiatric disorders, with a familiality of 0.52. MPA were higher in psychotic disorders after controlling for effects of sex and intrafamilial correlation. Morphogenetic variant MPA was noted to be lower in dementia in comparison to HC. FHD of schizophrenia and bipolar disorder predicted higher, and that of dementia and substance dependence predicted lower MPA. MPA brought forward the AAO [HR:1.07 (1.03–1.11)], and this was more apparent in psychotic disorders. ConclusionMPA are transmissible in families, are specifically related to the risk of developing psychoses, and predict an earlier age at onset. Neurodevelopmentally informed classification of MPA has the potential to enhance the etiopathogenic and translational understanding of psychiatric disorders.

Pulmonary hypoplasia correlates with the length of anhydramnios in patients with early pregnancy renal anhydramnios (EPRA).

Early pregnancy renal anhydramanios (EPRA) occurs when the fetus is anuric before 22 weeks gestational age (GA) and is considered universally lethal. Serial amnioinfusions have successfully ameliorated the lethal pulmonary hypoplasia associated with EPRA and have resulted in cases of neonatal survival, peritoneal dialysis, and renal transplant. We sought to evaluate the lung pathology of untreated fetuses and neonates that had EPRA. This is a retrospective case series of all fetuses and neonates diagnosed with isolated EPRA that underwent autopsy at a single tertiary care center between 1987 and 2018. Autopsy data were correlated with ultrasound findings and GA at delivery. Fetal weights, lung weights, and lung developmental stage were recorded. Nineteen cases met criteria for analysis and ranged from 16 to 38 weeks GA at termination or birth. The observed-to-expected (O/E) lung-to-body-weight ratio was significantly associated with GA (r = -0.51, p = 0.03), such that as GA increased the O/E ratio decreased. When limited to patients >22 weeks, this relationship strengthened (r = -0.75, p = 0.01). Importantly, overall O/E body weight had no relationship with GA. This study shows that the degree of pulmonary hypoplasia in EPRA increases with the length of anhydramnios. This suggests that amnioinfusions are likely to be of most benefit the soonest they can feasibly be initiated.

1,25-Dihydroxyvitamin D3 and dietary vitamin D reduce inflammation in mice lacking intestinal epithelial cell Rab11a.

A number of studies have examined the effects of 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 (1,25(OH)2 D3 ) on intestinal inflammation driven by immune cells, while little information is currently available about its impact on inflammation caused by intestinal epithelial cell (IEC) defects. Mice lacking IEC-specific Rab11a a recycling endosome small GTPase resulted in increased epithelial cell production of inflammatory cytokines, notably IL-6 and early onset of enteritis. To determine whether vitamin D supplementation may benefit hosts with epithelial cell-originated mucosal inflammation, we evaluated in vivo effects of injected 1,25(OH)2 D3 or dietary supplement of a high dose of vitamin D on the gut phenotypes of IEC-specific Rab11a knockout mice (Rab11aΔIEC ). 1,25(OH)2 D3 administered at 25 ng, two doses per mouse, by intraperitoneal injection, reduced inflammatory cytokine production in knockout mice compared to vehicle-injected mice. Remarkably, feeding mice with dietary vitamin D supplementation at 20,000 IU/kg spanning fetal and postnatal developmental stages led to improved bodyweights, reduced immune cell infiltration, and decreased inflammatory cytokines. We found that these vitamin D effects were accompanied by decreased NF-κB (p65) in the knockout intestinal epithelia, reduced tissue-resident macrophages, and partial restoration of epithelial morphology. Our study suggests that dietary vitamin D supplementation may prevent and limit intestinal inflammation in hosts with high susceptibility to chronic inflammation.

Characterization of a HBB -Locus Fetal Chromatin Domain Region during Adult Erythropoiesis

The hemoglobinopathies including sickle cell disease (SCD) and β-thalassemia are the most common genetic disorders in the world producing significant morbidity and mortality. Drug-mediated fetal hemoglobin (HbF) induction ameliorates the clinical severity of SCD and improves long-term survival. To define mechanisms of γ-globin regulation, previously we demonstrated the role of the Gγ-globin cAMP response element, in drug-mediated HbF induction (Sangerman et al., Blood 2006). Subsequently, data generated by the ENCODE project led us to investigate a region 4 kb upstream of Gγ-globin, which harbors a DNase hypersensitive site and enrichment of the histone 3 lysine 4, mono-methylated (H3K4Me1) enhancer mark, that we named the Fetal Chromatin Domain (FCD). Recently, a synthetic zinc finger DNA-binding domain targeting this region was shown to reduce γ-globin gene expression in K562 cells (Shen et al., Blood 128:320, 2016). Initially, we performed multispecies sequence alignments which revealed the FCD is located in a genomic region shared by Old World monkeys (humans and Baboons) with a delayed fetal to adult globin switch that occurs after birth. By contrast, the FCD region is absent in New World monkeys where the switch occurs during the fetal developmental stage. These findings support involvement of the FCD region in γ-globin regulation during hemoglobin switching.Subsequent studies were performed to define the functional role of the FCD during erythropoiesis. ENCODE long RNA-sequencing assay detected PolyA RNA species throughout the FCD region in K562 cells. Based on these findings, we designed two small-interference RNA molecules targeting the core FCD (siFCD). Both siFCD molecules were transfected into KU812 cells and individual γ-globin gene expression measured using RT-qPCR with gene-specific primers. The level of Gγ-globin mRNA increased by 64%, while Aγ-globin transcription was reduced 38%. These results suggest the FCD facilitates differential regulation of the γ-globin genes. To further characterize FCD function, a series of γ-globin promoter luciferase reporters were constructed with the sense or antisense 500-bp core FCD region, cloned downstream of the luciferase gene. In KU812 stable cell lines, the sense FCD construct enhanced Aγ-globin promoter activity 10-fold, whereas the antisense construct repressed promoter activity. By contrast, the FCD in both orientations silenced Gγ-globin promoter activity. These results support unidirectional gene-specific enhancer properties of the FCD. Subsequent pulldown assay with a 34-bp biotinylated FCD probe confirmed NFE2, BHLHE40 and cMyc binding, which was abolished by mutation of the E-box sequence (CACGTG) in the FCD core.To build on the KU812 cell data, we performed μChIP assay using primary erythroid progenitors generated from adult CD34+ stem cells (Zhu et al., Haematologica 2017). In our system, the γ-globin to β-globin gene switch occurred on day 4 in culture. Initially, we measured levels of acetylated histone H3 (AcH3), H3K4Me1, and TFIID binding in the β-globin locus control region hypersensitivity site 2 (HS2) and FCD. As expected, high AcH3 and H3K4Me1 marks occurred in HS2 consistent with its enhancer function. Similar patterns of histone marks and binding of TFIID, NFE2 and BHLHE40 occurred in HS2 and FCD region. It is known that HS2 participates in DNA looping to accomplish developmentally regulated globin gene expression during hemoglobin switching therefore chromosome conformation capture (3C) assay was performed in primary erythroid progenitors to determine if the FCD facilitates changes in chromatin structure. We observed strong long-range interactions between the FCD and HS2 with 4.4-fold maximal chromatin enrichment on day 5; likewise the FCD showed interactions with Aγ-globin (4.7-fold) and Gγ-globin (3.5-fold) by day 3 before switching occurred. Of note, low level interactions occurred between the FCD and β-globin gene at all time points tested.Collectively, these data support the FCD as a unidirectional enhancer element involved in γ-globin regulation during erythropoiesis. To further define mechanisms of FCD function, the effects of CrisprCas9-mediated deletions in the FCD on globin gene expression will be explored. DisclosuresNo relevant conflicts of interest to declare.

Is Maternal Use of Paracetamol during Pregnancy Associated with Anogenital Distance in Male Newborns? The Results from the NELA Birth Cohort.

Paracetamol is the one of the most commonly used medications during pregnancy. However, its potential antiandrogenic effect has been suggested. The objective of this study was to evaluate associations between maternal paracetamol use during pregnancy and anogenital distance (AGD) in male newborns from a Spanish birth cohort. The study included two hundred and seventy-seven mother-male child pairs with self-reported paracetamol use and frequency during each trimester of pregnancy. AGD measurements were taken employing standardized methods. The associations between maternal paracetamol use and AGD measures were evaluated using linear regression models, adjusting for potential confounders and covariates. Overall, 61.7% of pregnant women consumed paracetamol at any time of pregnancy with an average of 9.43 (SD = 15.33) days throughout pregnancy. No associations between the maternal use of paracetamol or its frequency and AGD measures among different trimesters or during the whole pregnancy were found in the adjusted final models. A non-differential misclassification error may have occurred—the recall of paracetamol intake independent of AGD measurements—introducing bias towards the null hypothesis. Nevertheless, the current evidence suggests that paracetamol might have a potential antiandrogenic effect especially in the early stages of fetal development. Thus, it would be highly recommendable to pursue further studies to elucidate the potential effects of paracetamol in human perinatal health and its use among pregnant women.

Методи оцінки нейротоксичного впливу хімічних речовин на розвиток організму в пре- і постнатальному періодах

Aim of the research. Analysis of approaches to the assessment of neurotoxic effects of chemicals during ontogenesis. The dangerous tendency of the increase in the incidence of pathology of the nervous system in the child and the mother, who during pregnancy was exposed to neurotoxicants, necessitates the protection of the child’s body from such a negative effect of chemicals. One of the possible preventive ways to solve this problem is screening of xenobiotics before their widespread application, as well as identification of their ability to cause neurotoxic effects on the body during its development, and banning substances, neurotoxic effects of which on the development of progeny are proven. Materials and Methods. Detection of adverse effects at the stage of foetal development and then at the beginning of the functioning of a nervous system in the postnatal period requires complex experimental studies in laboratory animals, which are described in the recommendations of OECD guideline 426 (OECD Guideline for Testing of Chemicals; Guideline 426: Developmental Neurotoxicity Study, 2007). The OECD guideline 426 protocol provides for a wide range of methods for assessing sensory, motor, behavioural and cognitive functions. Conclusions. Analysis of data given in publications and methodological approaches to research and evaluation of neurotoxic effects of chemicals on the developing organism showed that to obtain representative results it is important to take into account all factors that may affect the result, select adequate informative tests and comply with all requirements. In Ukraine, international methodological approaches to the study of neurotoxic effects of pesticides on the body at the stage of development in the process of ontogenesis are applied at the L.I. Medved’s Research Center of Preventive Toxicology, Food and Chemical Safety, Ministry of Health, Ukraine (State Enterprise), Kyiv, Ukraine. Key Words: nervous system, neurotoxic effects, OECD guideline 426, neurobehavioral tests.

FUNDC1 is Essential for Maintaining Cardiac Function During Prolonged Fasting

Mitochondrial quality control via mitophagy is necessary to ensure proper metabolic functioning. However, various heart diseases have been associated with mitochondrial dysfunction and thus linked to increased mortality. Our past studies have shown a time-dependent differential effect of fasting on cardiac mitophagy. Specifically, one-day fasting accelerated mitophagy flux in the mouse heart, whereas two-day fasting actually reduced mitophagy flux, which was associated with the impairment of cardiac function. However, it remains unclear if the reduced mitophagy was responsible for the impaired cardiac function. In the present study, we determined the functional role of mitophagy in the heart during fasting using mice lacking FUNDC1, a mitochondrial outer-membrane protein that serves as a mitophagy receptor. We demonstrated that a two-day fasting impaired cardiac function in wild-type mice, which was exacerbated in FUNDC1 knockout (KO) mice as determined by echocardiography and hemodynamic measurements. This suggests that FUNDC1 or FUNDC1-mediated mitophagy was essential for maintaining cardiac function during fasting. Additionally, the total ATP levels in the hearts showed no dramatic difference between fasted wild type mice and FUNDC1 KO mice, suggesting that the exacerbated cardiac function in FUNDC1 KO mice was likely unrelated to ATP production. Interestingly, FUNDC1 deficiency reduced the expression of cardiac alpha myosin heavy chain (α-MHC) but increased that of β-MHC, a gene that normally expresses during fetal development stage and has the lowest contractile capability among the 3 MHC isoforms. Thus, the altered expression of α-MHC and β-MHC might have contributed to the more severe cardiac dysfunction in FUNDC1 KO mice during fasting.

Assessments of Heart Rate and Sympathetic and Parasympathetic Nervous Activities of Normal Mouse Fetuses at Different Stages of Fetal Development Using Fetal Electrocardiography

Heart rate is controlled by the activity of the autonomic nervous system: the sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous systems increase and suppress heart rate, respectively. To evaluate the activity of the autonomic nervous system, it is possible to determine heart rate variability using electrocardiography (ECG). During the fetal period, the heart and autonomic nerves develop in coordination; however, physiological changes, including autonomic nervous activities that occur during the fetal stage, remain largely unknown. Therefore, in this study, we measured ECG signals of mouse fetuses using our established method to evaluate the development of heart rate and autonomic nervous activity at different fetal developmental stages. We found that heart rate was significantly increased in fetal mice at embryonic day (E) 18.5 compared with that at E13.5, E15.5, and E17.5, indicating that fetal heart rate increases only at the stage immediately prior to birth. Interestingly, fetal parasympathetic nervous activity was reduced at E17.5 and E18.5 compared with that at E13.5, whereas fetal sympathetic nervous activity remained unchanged, at least from E13.5 to E18.5. These results indicate that parasympathetic activity rather than sympathetic activity affects fetal heart rate and that the decrease in parasympathetic activity toward the end of pregnancy could result in the observed increase in fetal heart rate.

Pregnancy in the Cardiac Catheterization Laboratory: A Safe and Feasible Endeavor.

Concerns over radiation exposure are ubiquitous to all interventional cardiologists; however, fear of exposure during childbearing years disproportionately deters women from entering the field. This review summarizes the available data on occupational radiation exposure during pregnancy with an emphasis on radiation quantification, the impact of exposure at various stages of fetal development, societal recommendations for safe levels of exposure during gestation, threshold levels necessary to induce fetal harm, and safe practices for the pregnant interventionalist. Reconciling the available information, we conclude that pregnancy in the cardiac catheterization laboratory is both safe and feasible. This review also highlights new technologies that may augment standard radiation safety techniques and are of particular interest to the pregnant interventional cardiologist. Finally, we propose steps to improve female representation in this field, underscoring the importance of a sex-balanced workforce.

Comparative Anatomy of the Nasal Cavity in the Common Dolphin Delphinus delphis L., Striped Dolphin Stenella coeruleoalba M. and Pilot Whale Globicephala melas T.: A Developmental Study.

Simple SummaryThe developmental anatomy of the dolphin head has been studied mostly in single fetuses and few works have been made using a wide range of specimens. In this study, fetal specimens are the main subjects, but newborn, juvenile and adult specimens were also used. Our study analyzes the external nose and nasal cavities during pre- and postnatal development. The nose and nasal cavities were studied using a high-resolution endoscopy to analyze changes in the mucosa of fetal specimens, newborns and juveniles. Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) was also used in fetuses to locate and identify significant structures. Computed Tomography (CT) allowed us to understand the development of the facial bones and the nasal cavity. The histological samples were compared with a horse, a terrestrial mammal with a complex nasal anatomy. Dissections and anatomical sections in two spatial planes were compared with MRI and CT studies. Endoscopy of the external nose showed interesting morphological changes as only two different diverticula (air sacs) were observed in the vestibular part and one recess in the respiratory and olfactory part. We conclude that nasal cavity development of the striped and common dolphins and the pilot whale is simpler than in the bottlenose dolphin and the melon is part of the nose both anatomically and functionally.Our goal was to analyze the main anatomical structures of the dolphin external nose and nasal cavity from fetal developmental stages to adult. Endoscopy was used to study the common development of the external nose and the melon, and nasal mucosa. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and anatomical sections were correlated with anatomical sections. Computed tomography (CT) was used to generate 3D reconstructions of the nasal bones and nasal cavities to study its development. Dissections, histological and pathological studies were carried out on the nasal mucosa to understand its function. These results were compared with the horse. Endoscopy showed an external nose with two lips and the upper lip is divided by a groove due to the nasal septum and an obstruction of right nasal cavity was diagnosed in a newborn. Two diverticula (air sacs) were found in the nasal vestibule and an incisive recess (premaxillary sac) in the nasal cavity. These findings were corroborated by 3D reconstructions of the nasal cavities, MRI, anatomical sections and dissections. The presphenoid and ethmoid bones were fused at early stages of fetal development. The ethmoid is the last bone to ossify in the nasal cavity.

The moral status of the fetus: Implications of the somatic integration definition of human life.

This account of the moral status of the human fetus makes four interlocking claims, which together comprise the Fetal Life Moral Status Thesis: (1) life as a human organism begins at the fetal stage of development; (2) the non-organismal life of the human embryo begins at fertilization; (3) the human fetus has intrinsic moral status as a human being; and (4) the human embryo has extrinsic moral status as a non-organismal human individual. The somatic integration definition of human life functions as a premise in two supporting arguments: the Fetal Life Argument and the Fetal Moral Status Argument. These arguments are articulated, objections are considered, and the resulting account of the moral status of the human fetus is applied to the problem of abortion.

Clinical, Cognitive and Behavioural Assessment in Children with Cerebellar Disorder

Cerebellar disorders are characterised clinically by specific signs and symptoms, often associated with neurodevelopmental disorder. While the clinical signs of cerebellar disorders are clearly recognisable in adults and have a precise anatomo-functional correlation, in children the semiotics are less clear and vary with age because of the particular nature of the cerebellum’s maturation. Unlike other structures of the central nervous system, this begins at a later stage of foetal development and extends over a longer period of time, even after birth. As a result, the typical signs of cerebellar dysfunction will only become evident when the cerebellar functions have become integrated into the complex circuits of the central nervous system. This means that poor motor coordination in the very early years of life may not necessarily correlate with cerebellar dysfunction, and this may also be encountered in healthy children. The cerebellum’s role in cognitive and emotional functions relies on its structure and the complexity of its connections. Cognitive and behavioral impairment in cerebellar disorders can be the results of acquired lesions or the action of genetic and environmental risk factors, to which the cerebellum is particularly vulnerable considering its pattern of development. In the pathological setting, early evidence of cerebellar damage may be very vague, due, partly, to spontaneous compensation phenomena and the vicarious role of the connecting structures (an expression of the brain’s plasticity). Careful clinical assessment will nonetheless enable appropriate instrumental procedures to be arranged. It is common knowledge that the contribution of neuroimaging is crucial for diagnosis of cerebellar conditions, and neurophysiological investigations can also have a significant role. The ultimate goal of clinicians is to combine clinical data and instrumental findings to formulate a precise diagnostic hypothesis, and thus request a specific genetic test in order to confirm their findings, wherever possible.

Body measurements correlation and x-ray imaging of three Hystrix javanica fetuses in different fetal development stages.

Hystrix javanica is endemic species in Indonesia. Study about fetal development of Hystrix javanica are very rare because of sample limitation. This study was carried out to describe the morphometrics and x-ray analysis of three fetuses in different stage to give basic information about fetal development of Hystrix javanica. Three fetus samples fixed in Bouin’s solution was used in this study. Observation was carried out to identify the characteristic of three fetus samples. This included the pattern of hair, body measurements, body volume, and body weight. X-ray analysis was carried out to know the ossification process in the fetal development. Statistical analysis was carried out using Microsoft 365® Excel program software. Three fetus samples had different specific hair pattern, that was hairless, smooth hairs, and smooth hairs with dense-non dense pattern. Body volume of 1st, 2nd, and 3rd fetus were 23mL, 90mL, and 170mL, respectively. Body weight of 1st, 2nd, and 3rd fetus were 19.5g, 79.22g, and 153.18g, respectively. Pearson’s correlation analysis shown strong relationship between total body length, front body length, back body length, horizontal body diameter, vertical body diameter, head length, and head diameter against body volume and body weight of three fetuses. Significant positive correlation was shown between horizontal body diameter, vertical body diameter, and head diameter against body volume and body length with P value < 0.05. Faint radiopaque images showed in the 2nd fetus sample and strong radiopaque images showed in the 3rd fetus sample. Radiopaque images were identified in the teeth, cranium, vertebrae, and extremities bones. In this study we concluded that there was a specific hair pattern in different fetal stage. All body measurements have positive correlation with body volume and body weight and x-ray analysis shown that the ossification of the bone was started to happen while the smooth hair was growth.

Single-Cell Mapping of Progressive Fetal-to-Adult Transition in Human Naive T Cells

Whereas the human fetal immune system is poised to generate immune tolerance and suppress inflammation in utero, an adult-like immune system emerges to orchestrate anti-pathogen immune responses in post-natal life. It has been posited that cells of the adult immune system arise as a discrete ontological "layer" of hematopoietic stem-progenitor cells (HSPCs) and their progeny; evidence supporting this model in humans has, however, been inconclusive. Here, we combine bulk and single-cell transcriptional profiling of lymphoid cells, myeloid cells, and HSPCs from fetal, perinatal, and adult developmental stages to demonstrate that the fetal-to-adult transition occurs progressively along a continuum of maturity-with a substantial degree of inter-individual variation at the time of birth-rather than via a transition between discrete waves. These findings have important implications for the design of strategies for prophylaxis against infection in the newborn and for the use of umbilical cord blood (UCB) in the setting of transplantation.

Role of Tension in Skin Scarring

Skin scarring is a natural process of healing and represents a massive burden on individuals and societies .Scars appear due to sealing of an open skin that occurs more quickly than the normal skin growing process. Depending on the place where scars form, people may suffer severe issues like not able to bend their joints, open or close their mouth parts and lastly suffer from social stigma. A scar is not bad if it is small, not visible or easy to heal. But it is astonishing that recent researches have opened up new ways for us to treat scars instead of hiding them under clothes.&#x0D; Recently, scientists suggested the critical role of tension during process of scarring. They observed that early in the fetal developmental stage, when the skin is more gelatinous (less tight), the skin injury does not lead to scarring and likewise, at the older age (95 years) scarring is minimal due to less tightening of skin. Now, the questions arise; why and how tension in the skin induces scar formation during healing?&#x0D; The gene named "engrailed" helps produce a protein (sometimes found in fibroblast; a skin cell) that stimulates scar formation. Researchers observed that fibroblasts did not expressed engrailed when grown on tension-free gel; but the expression occurs when grown on stress-inducing plastic. In the later case, inhibition in expression of engrailed was observed after addition of a chemical which inhibit mechanical strain signaling. Similarly, a number of studies in mice suggested crucial role of tension in induction of scarring.&#x0D; For a successful wound healing therapy, three outcomes are important to be true skin regeneration; appearance of normal hair follicles and glands, normal epidermal appearance under microscope and regenerated skin needs to be as strong as normal skin. Concurrent to these outcomes, scientists are working with mice by blocking mechanical stress signals with U.S approved drugs and waiting for next stage with pre-clinical trials with other mammalian species.&#x0D; In summary, with the rising social and financial burdens of scarring, advancements in the research inspire novel therapies to tackle outcomes of scar formation. Recent studies focus on the role of mechanical forces during scarring whereas, clinical trials favor minimizing tension may led to minimal scar formation. However, tension free therapies for scar reduction persist various limitations and sometimes, not applicable. It is also noteworthy that considerable differences between the mouse and human skin may limit the applications of clinical findings.

Distribution of the minutiae in palmprints: Topological and sexual variability.

Palmprints have been systematically less studied than fingerprints, despite being of great use in the identification process. In Spain, they were not included in Automated Fingerprint Identification Systems (AFIS) until 2009. Very few investigations performed within the field of palmprints have assessed the sexual and population variability of the number and distribution of minutiae on its surface, despite the fact that these particularities are the basis for personal identification in forensic science. That is why a study was conducted to assess total, bimanual, and sexual density per morphological regions (superior or distal, thenar, and hypothenar) and per counting areas of 1cm2 on 120 palmprints obtained from 30 male and 30 female individuals of Spanish nationality. Also, the frequency in the location of each type of delta or triradius (a, b, c, d, and t) per count area was calculated. Results have shown a topological variability in the distribution of the density of minutiae, which is similar between sexes and a specular effect between both hands. The most frequent locations of the deltas coincide with areas of high minutiae density. It has also been shown that there are sexual differences in the total number of minutiae, which cannot be due to sexual dimorphism in adult hand size, since minutiae are established at an early stage of fetal development and their number will not change during later postnatal growth. These differences can only be attributed to genetic factors related to sexual determination.

A Review of Maternal Nutrition during Pregnancy and Impact on the Offspring through Development: Evidence from Animal Models of Over- and Undernutrition.

Similarities in offspring phenotype due to maternal under- or over-nutrition during gestation have been observed in studies conducted at University of Wyoming. In these studies, ewes were either nutrient-restricted (NR) from early to mid-gestation, or fed an obesogenic diet (MO) from preconception through term. Offspring necropsies occurred at mid-gestation, late-gestation, and after parturition. At mid gestation, body weights of NR fetuses were ~30% lighter than controls, whereas MO fetuses were ~30% heavier than those of controls. At birth, lambs born to NR, MO, and control ewes exhibited similar weights. This was a consequence of accelerated fetal growth rates in NR ewes, and reduced fetal growth rates in MO ewes in late gestation, when compared to their respective controls. These fetal growth patterns resulted in remarkably similar effects of increased susceptibility to obesity, cardiovascular disease, and glucose intolerance in offspring programmed mostly during fetal stages of development. These data provide evidence that maternal under- and over-nutrition similarly induce the development of the same cadre of physical and metabolic problems in postnatal life.