Among the pathophysiological correlates of schizophrenia, recent research suggests a potential role for the Hedgehog (Hh) signalling pathway, which has been traditionally studied in embryonic development and oncology. Its dysregulation may impact brain homeostasis, neuroplasticity, and potential involvement in neural processes. This systematic review provides an overview of the involvement of Hh signalling in the pathophysiology of schizophrenia and antipsychotic responses. We searched the PubMed and Scopus databases to identify peer-reviewed scientific studies focusing on Hh and schizophrenia, following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses statement, finally including eight studies, including three articles focused on patients with schizophrenia, two animal models of schizophrenia, two animal embryo studies, and one cellular differentiation study. The Hh pathway is crucial in the development of midbrain dopaminergic neurons, neuroplasticity mechanisms, regulating astrocyte phenotype and function, brain-derived neurotrophic factor expression, brain glutamatergic neural transmission, and responses to antipsychotics. Overall, results indicate an involvement of Hh in the pathophysiology of schizophrenia and antipsychotic responses, although an exiguity of studies characterises the literature. The heterogeneity between animal and human studies is another main limitation. Further research can lead to better comprehension and the development of novel personalised drug treatments and therapeutic interventions.

Holoprosencephaly (HPE) is the most common malformation of the prosencephalon in humans. It is characterized by a continuum of structural brain anomalies resulting from the failure of midline cleavage of the prosencephalon. The three classic subtypes of HPE are alobar, semilobar and lobar, although a few additional categories have been added to this original classification. The severity of the clinical phenotype is broad and usually mirrors the radiologic and associated facial features. The etiology of HPE includes both environmental and genetic factors. Disruption of sonic hedgehog (SHH) signaling is the main pathophysiologic mechanism underlying HPE. Aneuploidies, chromosomal copy number variants and monogenic disorders are identified in a large proportion of HPE patients. Despite the high postnatal mortality and the invariable presence of developmental delay, recent advances in diagnostic methods and improvements in patient management over the years have helped to increase survival rates. In this review, we provide an overview of the current knowledge related to HPE, and discuss the classification, clinical features, genetic and environmental etiologies and management.

Developmental signalling pathways such as Wnt/β-catenin, Notch and Sonic hedgehog play a central role in nearly all the stages of neuronal development. The term \'embryonic\' might appear to be a misnomer to several people because these pathways are functional during the early stages of embryonic development and adulthood, albeit to a certain degree. Therefore, any aberration in these pathways or their associated components may contribute towards a detrimental outcome in the form of neurological disorders such as Alzheimer\'s disease, Parkinson\'s disease, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and stroke. In the last decade, researchers have extensively studied these pathways to decipher disease-related interactions, which can be used as therapeutic targets to improve outcomes in patients with neurological abnormalities. However, a lot remains to be understood in this domain. Nevertheless, there is strong evidence supporting the fact that embryonic signalling is indeed a crucial mechanism as is manifested by its role in driving memory loss, motor impairments and many other processes after brain trauma. In this review, we explore the key roles of three embryonic pathways in modulating a range of homeostatic processes such as maintaining blood-brain barrier integrity, mitochondrial dynamics and neuroinflammation. In addition, we extensively investigated the effect of these pathways in driving the pathophysiology of a range of disorders such as Alzheimer\'s, Parkinson\'s and diabetic neuropathy. The concluding section of the review is dedicated to neurotherapeutics, wherein we identify and list a range of biological molecules and compounds that have shown enormous potential in improving prognosis in patients with these disorders.

BACKGROUND: The use of current available treatment for male erectile dysfunction (ED) has some limitations that are related to efficacy and adverse effects. Nanotechnology has been used as a new tool in medicine to improve these limitations and new medications potentially to alleviate and cure ED.
OBJECTIVE: To review the currently literature on new nano medications for ED based on scientific and clinical studies, efficacy, safety, mechanisms of action, and to identify gaps for future research.
METHODS: A comprehensive literature review was conducted via Google Scholar, Science Direct, and PubMed on English publications using different keywords such as \"erectile dysfunction\", \"emerging treatments\", \"nanotechnology\", and \"herbal medicine\". The retrieved papers were organized into groups according to the sections covered in this review paper.
METHODS: We reviewed novel ED treatments such as nanotechnological phosphodiesterase inhibitors, papaverine hydrochloride, sialorphin, adipose tissue-derived stem cells, sonic hedgehog, and herbal medicine.
RESULTS: Numerous preclinical studies have addressed novel phosphodiesterase 5 inhibitors nanoparticle, and their recent delivery systems. Nitric oxide, sialorphin, sonic hedgehog, and herbal medicine loaded nanoparticles and nano adipose tissue-derived stem cells as a potential new treatment for ED. In addition, papaverine-containing nanoparticles have been reported. A limited number of randomized clinical studies have determined the mechanism of these treatments.
CONCLUSIONS: A literature review on the application of nanotechnology in ED therapy was successfully conducted. New nano medications are promising to treat ED. However, further studies are warranted to further assess their efficacy and safety. Masuku NP, Unuofin JO, Lebelo SL. Advances in Nanoparticle Delivery System for Erectile Dysfunction: An Updated Review. Sex Med 2021;9:100420.

Cancers of the urinary tract, as well as those of the female and male reproductive systems, account for a large percentage of malignancies worldwide. Mortality is frequently affected by late diagnosis or therapeutic difficulties. The Sonic Hedgehog (SHH) pathway is an evolutionary conserved molecular cascade, which is mainly associated with the development of the central nervous system in fetal life. The present review aimed to provide an in‑depth summary of the SHH signaling pathway, including the characterization of its major components, the mechanism of its upstream regulation and non‑canonical activation, as well as its interactions with other cellular pathways. In addition, the three possible mechanisms of the cellular SHH cascade in cancer tissue are discussed. The aim of the present review was to summarize significant findings with regards to the expression of the SHH pathway components in kidney, bladder, ovarian, cervical and prostate cancer. Reports associated with common deficits and de‑regulations of the SHH pathway were summarized, despite the differences in molecular and histological patterns among these malignancies. However, currently, neither are SHH pathway elements included in panels of prognostic/therapeutic molecular patterns in any of the discussed cancers, nor have the drugs targeting SMO or GLIs been approved for therapy. The findings of the present review may support future studies on the treatment of and/or molecular targets for gynecological and genitourinary cancers.

Gorlin-Goltz syndrome, also known as nevoid basal cell carcinoma syndrome, is a genetic disorder with several neurological, cutaneous and skeletal manifestations. Epilepsy has been previously reported as a finding in Gorlin-Goltz syndrome but remains ill-described in the context of this disease. We report two new patients with Gorlin-Goltz syndrome featuring epilepsy and review the existing literature on the topic.

BACKGROUND: Medulloblastomas are common childhood central nervous system tumors that are prone to leptomeningeal spread. Intramedullary dissemination is rare with very few case reports existing in the available literature.
METHODS: The authors here present a case of a 14-year-old boy with Li-Fraumeni syndrome and medulloblastoma who underwent surgical resection of spinal intramedullary spread. Histopathology revealed the tumor to be anaplastic medulloblastoma, same as the intracranial lesions. Genetic testing of the metastatic deposit revealed loss of functions mutations in SUFU, NOTCH3, and TP53 and TERC amplification. An improvement in ambulatory function at short-term follow-up was noted before the patient died of disseminated disease.
CONCLUSIONS: Intramedullary metastasis of medulloblastoma remains a rare disease. Surgical resection might play a possible role in management in addition to radiation and chemotherapy.

BACKGROUND: Postaxial polydactyly (PAP) is one of the commonest congenital malformations and usually is associated to several syndromes. There is no primary investigational strategy for PAP cases with single gene disorder in literature. PAP cases with single gene disorder can be classified according to common pathways and molecular basis. Molecular classification may help in diagnostic approach.
METHODS: All single gene disorders associated with PAP reported on PubMed and OMIM are analyzed and classified according to molecular basis.
RESULTS: Majority of genes related to cilia structure and functions are associated with PAP, so we classified them as ciliopathies and non-ciliopathies groups. Genes related to Shh-Gli3 pathway was the commonest group in non-ciliopathies.
CONCLUSIONS: Genes related to cilia are most commonly related to PAP due to their indirect relationship to Shh-Gli3 signaling pathway. Initially, PAP may be the only clinical finding with ciliopathies so those cases need follow up. Proper diagnosis is helpful for management and genetic counseling. Molecular approach may help to define pleiotropy.