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The skull structure in vertebrates is closely related to feeding mode. This study examines the relationship between the cranial joint morphology variation among different lizard species [ Eumesces schneideri (Daudin, 1802), Anguis colchica (Nordmann, 1840), and Eremias suphani (Başoğlu & Hellmich 1968)] and their feeding habit. This study investigates the cranial anatomical correlates of distinct cranial kinesis models. Different cranial joints permitting intracranial mobility have been observed among these species using histological section and whole-mount techniques. The cranial joints are similar among species that generally exhibit cranial kinesis. The stomach contents of the species were analyzed, and E. schneideri has the highest prey diversity among the examined species, followed by E. suphani and A. colchica in that order. The study indicated that the prey preferences differ among three lizard species. While no plant material was detected in the stomach contents of E. suphani and E. schneideri , it was detected in A. colchica . The diet of the three lizards consisted of various species of small arthropods such as Arachnida, Lepidoptera, Coleoptera, Formicidae, and Gastropoda. Additionally, no significant differences were detected in SVL, head, and jaw size measurements between adult males and females of each species.

Although embryological studies of squamates have a long history, most groups in this large clade remain poorly studied. One such group is the family Scincidae, which consists of morphologically and ecologically diverse lizards. In this study, we describe several stages of embryonic development based on cleared and stained specimens of Heremites auratus and Heremites vittatus . Our analysis indicates that the pterygoid and frontal are the first bones to be ossified at stage 34 in the skull of H. auratus . At stage 37, which was examined in both studied species, the ossified bones include the nasal, maxilla, parietal, prefrontal, premaxilla, postorbital, postfrontal, jugal, squamosal, quadrate, vomer, palatine and all mandible bones. In both species, the skull roof is relatively poorly ossified at stage 37. However, in H. auratus , the frontal and parietal bones ossify at their lateral edges at stage 37, while in H. vittatus , the frontal bones begin to ossify towards the midline. This suggests that ossification occurs later in H. auratus compared to H. vittatus , indicating a heterochronic pattern in ossification between these species. Additionally, pigmentation on the dorsal side of the body and scaling, which covered the entire body by stage 37 in H. vittatus , occur earlier compared to H. auratus . Compared to other scincid species, ossification in these lizards begins at a later stage but is completed earlier.

Ehlers-Danlos syndrome (EDS) is a collection of genetic disorders caused by abnormalities in collagen and typified by hyperflexible joints, hyperextensible skin, and a tendency for easy bruising and tissue injuries. Hypermobile Ehlers-Danlos syndrome (hEDS), the most common subtype, presents a diagnostic challenge due to the lack of specific genetic markers. This case report describes a 13-year-old girl with hEDS, presenting with hypermobility, thoracolumbar scoliosis, constipation, glucosuria, microscopic hematuria, urticaria, and intermittent episodes of bilateral hand and feet swelling. Genetic testing revealed a variant of uncertain significance in the COL9A2 gene. An echocardiogram showed a mildly dilated aortic root. The complexity of her presentation underscores the challenges in diagnosing and managing hEDS with multisystem involvement., Competing Interests: Human subjects: Consent was obtained or waived by all participants in this study. Conflicts of interest: In compliance with the ICMJE uniform disclosure form, all authors declare the following: Payment/services info: All authors have declared that no financial support was received from any organization for the submitted work. Financial relationships: All authors have declared that they have no financial relationships at present or within the previous three years with any organizations that might have an interest in the submitted work. Other relationships: All authors have declared that there are no other relationships or activities that could appear to have influenced the submitted work., (Copyright © 2024, Cosare et al.)

Dystonia is a neurological movement disorder characterized by sustained or intermittent muscle contractions, repetitive movement, and sometimes abnormal postures. DYT1 dystonia is one of the most common genetic dystonias, and most patients carry heterozygous DYT1 ∆GAG mutations causing a loss of a glutamic acid of the protein torsinA. Patients can be treated with anticholinergics, such as trihexyphenidyl, suggesting an abnormal cholinergic state. Early work on the cell-autonomous effects of Dyt1 deletion with ChI-specific Dyt1 conditional knockout mice (Dyt1 Ch1KO) revealed abnormal electrophysiological responses of striatal ChIs to muscarine and quinpirole, motor deficits, and no changes in the number or size of the ChIs. However, the Chat-cre line that was used to derive Dyt1 Ch1KO mice contained a neomycin cassette and was reported to have ectopic cre-mediated recombination. In this study, we generated a Dyt1 Ch2KO mouse line by removing the neomycin cassette in Dyt1 Ch1KO mice. The Dyt1 Ch2KO mice showed abnormal paw clenching behavior, motor coordination and balance deficits, impaired motor learning, reduced striatal choline acetyltransferase protein level, and a reduced number of striatal ChIs. Furthermore, the mutant striatal ChIs had a normal muscarinic inhibitory function, impaired quinpirole-mediated inhibition, and altered current density. Our findings demonstrate a cell-autonomous effect of Dyt1 deletion on the striatal ChIs and a critical role for the striatal ChIs and corticostriatal pathway in the pathogenesis of DYT1 dystonia., (Copyright © 2021 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Dendritic cells (DCs) can shape the immune system towards an inflammatory or tolerant state depending on the bacterial antigens and the environment they encounter. In this study we provide a proteomic catalogue of differentially expressed proteins between distinct DC maturation states, brought about by bacteria that differ in their endotoxicity. To achieve this, we have performed proteomics and phosphoproteomics on murine DC cultures. Symbiont and pathobiont bacteria were used to direct dendritic cells into a semi-mature and fully-mature state, respectively. The comparison of semi-mature and fully-mature DCs revealed differential expression in 103 proteins and differential phosphorylation in 118 phosphosites, including major regulatory factors of central immune processes. Our analyses predict that these differences are mediated by upstream elements such as SOCS1, IRF3, ABCA1, TLR4, and PTGER4. Our analyses indicate that the symbiont bacterial strain affects DC proteome in a distinct way, by downregulating inflammatory proteins and activating anti-inflammatory upstream regulators. Biological significance In this study we have investigated the responses of immune cells to distinct bacterial stimuli. We have used the symbiont bacterial strain B. vulgatus and the pathobiont E. coli strain to stimulate cultured primary dendritic cells and performed a shotgun proteome analysis to investigate the protein expression and phosphorylation level differences on a genome level. We have observed expression and phosphorylation level differences in key immune regulators, transcription factors and signal transducers. Moreover, our subsequent bioinformatics analysis indicated regulation at several signaling pathways such as PPAR signaling, LXR/RXR activation and glucocorticoid signaling pathways, which are not studied in detail in an inflammation and DC maturation context. Our phosphoproteome analysis showed differential phosphorylation in 118 phosphosites including those belonging to epigenetic regulators, transcription factors and major cell cycle regulators. We anticipate that our study will facilitate further investigation of immune cell proteomes under different inflammatory and non-inflammatory conditions., (Copyright © 2017. Published by Elsevier B.V.)

Background: Toll-like receptor (TLR) expression in patients with inflammatory bowel disease is increased when compared with healthy controls. However, the impact of TLR signaling during inflammatory bowel disease is not fully understood., Methods: In this study, we used a murine model of acute phase inflammation in bone marrow chimeric mice to investigate in which cell type TLR2/4 signal induction is important in preventing intestinal inflammation and how intestinal dendritic cells are influenced. Mice were either fed with wild-type bacteria, able to initiate the TLR2/4 signaling cascade, or with mutant strains with impaired signal induction capacity., Results: The induction of the TLR2/4 signal cascade in epithelial cells resulted in inflammation in bone marrow chimeric mice, whereas induction in hematopoietic cells had an opposed function. Furthermore, feeding of wild-type bacteria prevented disease; however, differing signal induction of bacteria had no effect on lamina propria dendritic cell activation. In contrast, functional TLR2/4 signals resulted in increased frequencies of CD103-expressing lamina propria and mesenteric lymph node dendritic cells, which were able to ameliorate disease., Conclusions: The TLR-mediated amelioration of disease, the increase in CD103-expressing cells, and the beneficial function of TLR signal induction in hematopoietic cells indicate that the increased expression of TLRs in patients with inflammatory bowel disease might result in counterregulation of the host and serve in preventing disease.