UNASSIGNED: Prior literature has described an association between preeclampsia and offspring congenital heart disease (CHD), while suggesting there may be a stronger relationship in individuals with early preeclampsia.
UNASSIGNED: The authors sought to explore the relationship between offspring CHD and preeclampsia among pregnancies in a population-based study.
UNASSIGNED: Retrospective cohort study all singleton pregnancies delivered in the state of California 2000 to 2012. We included singleton births with gestational ages of 23 to 42 weeks and excluded pregnancies complicated by pre-existing diabetes or identified fetal chromosomal anomalies. We used multivariable logistic regression to estimate ORs for associations between offspring CHD and preeclampsia. Further subanalyses examined the relationships in deliveries <34 weeks and >34 weeks to analyze if there was a difference according to timing of preeclampsia development.
UNASSIGNED: Preeclampsia was strongly associated with offspring CHD (aOR: 1.38; 99% CI: 1.29-1.49) in the same pregnancy. Among patients with preeclampsia in the index pregnancy, there was an increased risk of fetal CHD in the subsequent pregnancy (aOR: 1.39; 99% CI: 1.20-1.61). Among patients with offspring CHD in the index pregnancy, there was an increased risk of preeclampsia in the subsequent pregnancy (aOR: 1.39; 99% CI: 1.15-1.68). In all 3 analyses, results remained significant when stratified by <34 weeks and ≥34 weeks.
UNASSIGNED: Our findings suggest a need for further investigation into the etiology of preeclampsia and its relationship to embryologic development of cardiovascular structures.

The Basal Cell Carcinoma (BCC) is a sort of unique tumour due to its combined peculiar histological features and clinical behaviour, such as the constant binary involvement of the epithelium and the stroma, the virtual absence of metastases and the predilection of specific anatomical sites for both onset and spread. A potential correlation between the onset of BCC and a dysembryogenetic process has long been hypothesised. A selective investigation of PubMed-indexed publications supporting this theory retrieved 64 selected articles published between 1901 and 2024. From our analysis of the literature review, five main research domains on the dysembryogenetic pathogenesis of BCC were identified: (1) The correlation between the topographic distribution of BCC and the macroscopic embryology, (2) the correlation between BCC and the microscopic embryology, (3) the genetic BCC, (4) the correlation between BCC and the hair follicle and (5) the correlation between BCC and the molecular embryology with a specific focus on the Hedgehog signalling pathway. A large amount of data from microscopic and molecular research consistently supports the hypothesis of a dysembryogenetic pathogenesis of BCC. Such evidence is promoting advances in the clinical management of this disease, with innovative targeted molecular therapies on an immune modulating basis being developed.

BACKGROUND: John M. Opitz, a towering figure in both stature and scientific achievement, left an indelible mark on the fields of genetics, pediatrics, and embryology. Born in 1935 in Hamburg to a Jewish family, Opitz\'s early life was marked by adversities. Despite these challenges, he pursued a remarkable career, immigrating to the United States at 15 years and becoming a renowned scientist in institutions like Iowa State University and the University of Wisconsin, where he made groundbreaking contributions to clinical genetics.
METHODS: A testament to his compassionate nature, Opitz dedicated himself to understanding and treating rare genetic disorders, earning him eponymous recognition in several medical conditions. His impact extended beyond academia, as evidenced by his collaborative efforts with Sicilian universities to advance clinical genetics in Italy. Opitz\'s teaching style emphasized simplicity, empathy, and meticulous clinical examination, leaving an indelible mark on students and colleagues.
CONCLUSIONS: John M. Opitz\'s towering intellect, compassionate demeanor, and profound impact on medicine and genetics made him a figure of enduring significance. His legacy lives on through the countless lives he touched, the knowledge he transmitted, and the enduring friendships he forged. In remembering John Opitz, we honor not only a man, but also a myth-a symbol of resilience, humanity, and scientific excellence.

In modern medical curricula, embryology is typically taught through lectures, with a few institutions providing tutorials. The use of 3-D videos or animations enables students to study these embryological structures and how they change with time. The aim of this study was to assess the quality of cardiac embryology videos available on YouTube. A systematic literature review regarding the use of YouTube in teaching or learning cardiac embryology identified no papers that examined this specific question, and next, a systematic search of YouTube was performed. A total of 1200 cardiac embryology videos were retrieved using 12 specific search terms, with 370 videos retrieved under two or more search terms and excluded. A further 511 videos were excluded under additional, specific criteria. The remaining 319 videos were evaluated with the YouTube Video Assessment Criteria (UTvAC), with 121 rated as \"useful.\" Videos on YouTube are uploaded with a wide audience in mind, from children to cardiologists, and content control is imperfect. Multiple videos were identified as duplicates of videos from original channels, typically without attribution. While 49 videos showed operations or human material, none contained an ethical statement regarding consent, and only 10 of these included an age restriction or graphical advisory. While there are useful videos for medical students studying cardiac embryology on YouTube, intuitive search strategies will also identify many with irrelevant content and of variable quality. Digital competence and search strategies are not innate skills, so educators should teach students to assess information so as to avoid overload or \"filter failure.\"

Successful human pregnancy needs several highly controlled steps to guarantee an oocyte\'s fertilization, the embryo\'s pre-implantation development, and its subsequent implantation into the uterine wall. The subsequent placenta development ensures adequate fetal nutrition and oxygenation, with the trophoblast being the first cell lineage to differentiate during this process. The placenta sustains the growth of the fetus by providing it with oxygen and nutrients and removing waste products. It is not surprising that issues with the early development of the placenta can lead to common pregnancy disorders, such as recurrent miscarriage, fetal growth restriction, pre-eclampsia, and stillbirth. Understanding the normal development of the human placenta is essential for recognizing and contextualizing any pathological aberrations that may occur. The effects of these issues may not become apparent until later in pregnancy, during the mid or advanced stages. This review discusses the process of the embryo implantation phase, the molecular mechanisms involved, and the abnormalities in those mechanisms that are thought to contribute to the development of pre-eclampsia. The review also covers the histological hallmarks of pre-eclampsia as found during the examination of placental tissue from pre-eclampsia patients.

UNASSIGNED: To describe 3 cases of midline congenital upper lip sinus (MCULS) and review current literature to inform risk of intracranial involvement in the context of this rare congenital facial anomaly.
UNASSIGNED: A limited case series with chart review is presented. A literature search was conducted to review proposed theories of the embryology of MCULS and to determine the relative frequency of cephalic extension.
UNASSIGNED: Including the 3 new cases presented herein, there have been 42 cases of MCULS described in the literature over the past 53 years. Thirty-nine cases (93%) underwent surgical excision, with 2 of these cases (4.7%) demonstrating cephalic extension of the fistula tract beyond the maxillary crest with termination at the anterior skull base. However, 95% (37/39) of surgically excised MCULS cases demonstrated a more limited depth of extension, with termination of the tract at or below the anterior nasal spine.
UNASSIGNED: The MCULS anomaly is rare, with fewer than 50 cases reported in the literature. Only 2 cases have been described with extension of the MCULS superior to the anterior nasal spine and into the nasal septum. It is the authors\' opinion that preoperative neuroimaging is not routinely required for MCULS. However, if extension of the sinus tract beyond the anterior nasal spine is noted intraoperatively, the surgeon should consider aborting the case and obtaining appropriate neuroimaging.

The intervertebral disc (IVD) is the largest avascular organ of the human body and plays a fundamental role in providing the spine with its unique structural and biomechanical functions. The inner part of the IVD contains the nucleus pulposus (NP), a gel-like tissue characterized by a high content of type II collagen and proteoglycans, which is crucial for the disc\'s load-bearing and shock-absorbing properties. With aging and IVD degeneration (IDD), the NP gradually loses its physiological characteristics, leading to low back pain and additional sequelae. In contrast to surrounding spinal tissues, the NP presents a distinctive embryonic development since it directly derives from the notochord. This review aims to explore the embryology of the NP, emphasizing the pivotal roles of key transcription factors, which guide the differentiation and maintenance of the NP cellular components from the notochord and surrounding sclerotome. Through an understanding of NP development, we sought to investigate the implications of the critical developmental aspects in IVD-related pathologies, such as IDD and the rare malignant chordomas. Moreover, this review discusses the therapeutic strategies targeting these pathways, including the novel regenerative approaches leveraging insights from NP development and embryology to potentially guide future treatments.

The ostrich (Struthio camelus) is an important wild species highlighted in national and international livestock industry. This research was conducted to analyze the development of the ostrich respiratory system during fetal and embryonic stages. A total of 50 fertile ostrich eggs were collected from commercial farms and then incubated at 36.00 - 37.00 ˚C and 25.00 ± 2.00% humidity for 40 days. Sections were taken on days 13, 22, 26, 30, 36, and 42 of incubation from the lung and the cranial, middle, and caudal parts of the neck after decapitation of ostrich embryos and blood drainage. After fixation, processing, blocking, and sectioning, all samples were stained by Hematoxylin and Eosin, Alcian Blue (AB), Van Gieson, and Periodic acid-Schiff (PAS) techniques. It was concluded that the trachea in the 13-day-old embryo and goblet cells (PAS-positive and AB-positive) had incomplete rings of hyaline cartilage and differentiation of mesenchymal to the loose connective tissue. The bronchial stage of the lung was observed in the 22-day-old embryo, pseudoglandular stage in the 26-day-old embryo, and parabrachial and air capillary stage in the 30-day-old embryo. The information obtained from this study will be useful for diagnosing pathologies affecting this vital system and results in improving industrial breeding management.

The current study aims to uncover the early life-history stages of Systomus sarana, a medium-sized smiliogastrin cyprinid important for aquaculture in South Asia. The fish were effectively bred in captivity by administering 0.25 mL of breeding hormone per kilogram of fish. The spawning occurred 8.54 ± 0.55 h after the injection, and the eggs were phyto-lithophilic with a pale yellow color and a diameter of 1.49 ± 0.04 mm. Hatching occurred 17 h after fertilization, and the yolk-sac larvae of 3.43 ± 0.08 mm total length (TL) were adhering to the plant parts and other substrata with the cement glands on the forehead. On the third day, with complete absorption of the yolk sac and the disappearance of the attachment organ, the pre-flexion larvae measured 5.3 ± 0.11 mm TL. On the eighth day, the flexion larvae measured 6 ± 0.4 mm TL with a well-inflated posterior swim bladder, and the post-flexion larvae, at 11 days post-hatching (dph), developed a two-chambered gas bladder. The juvenile stage, on day 21 post-hatching, was marked by the loss of the median finfolds and the appearance of black blotches on the caudal, subdorsal, and supra-anal regions. The commencement of squamation and the appearance of the rudiments of maxillary barbels distinguished the juvenile stage. The subadults measuring 4.6 ± 0.36 cm TL had finished squamation and completely lost the subdorsal and supra-anal blotches. We propose that the presence of subdorsal blotches is a distinctive ontogenetic and systematic feature of larval and juvenile forms of smiliogastrin barbs.

Developmental evolution and diversification of morphology can arise through changes in the regulation of gene expression or protein-coding sequence. To unravel mechanisms underlying early developmental evolution in cavefish of the species Astyanax mexicanus, we compared transcriptomes of surface-dwelling and blind cave-adapted morphs at the end of gastrulation. Twenty percent of the transcriptome was differentially expressed. Allelic expression ratios in cave X surface hybrids showed that cis-regulatory changes are the quasi-exclusive contributors to inter-morph variations in gene expression. Among a list of 108 genes with change at the cis-regulatory level, we explored the control of expression of rx3, which is a master eye gene. We discovered that cellular rx3 levels are cis-regulated in a cell-autonomous manner, whereas rx3 domain size depends on non-autonomous Wnt and Bmp signalling. These results highlight how uncoupled mechanisms and regulatory modules control developmental gene expression and shape morphological changes. Finally, a transcriptome-wide search for fixed coding mutations and differential exon use suggested that variations in coding sequence have a minor contribution. Thus, during early embryogenesis, changes in gene expression regulation are the main drivers of cavefish developmental evolution.