Crouzon syndrome is a rare genetic craniofacial malformation caused by heterozygous gain-of-function mutations in the gene. The resulting constitutive activation of the FGFR2 signaling causes the premature osteogenic differentiation of calvarial mesenchymal stromal cells in skull sutures, leading to early suture ossification. Craniectomy is the gold standard treatment, being invasive and burdened by complications.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFOxidative stress is considered one of the major mechanisms by which atmospheric particulate matter (PM) can induce adverse effects on living systems. Recently, the assessment of PM-induced oxidative stress effects has gained importance, and many efforts have been invested in identifying the most suitable techniques for evaluating PM toxicological potential. This paper briefly resumes the current knowledge and criticisms related to the application of the OP and cellular assays and systematically reviews the studies focused on the assessment of PM-induced oxidative stress using model or experimental organisms.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFAlzheimer's disease (AD), a debilitating neurodegenerative disorder, remains one of the foremost public health challenges affecting more than 30 million people worldwide with the etiology still largely enigmatic. The intricate gut-brain axis, serving as a vital communication network between the gut and the brain, appears to wield influence in the progression of AD. Our study showcases the remarkable precision of x-ray phase-contrast tomography (XPCT) in conducting an advanced three-dimensional examination of gut cellular composition and structure.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: Meningiomas are rare tumors in children compared with adults. Their main peculiarities are the frequent convexity or intraventricular location, the common association with neurofibromatosis-2 (NF-2) and the relatively high rate of aggressive and/or hyperostotic variants. Hyperostosis may complicate the surgical management.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: The thymus, responsible for T cell-mediated adaptive immune system, has a structural and functional complexity that is not yet fully understood. Until now, thymic anatomy has been studied using histological thin sections or confocal microscopy 3D reconstruction, necessarily for limited volumes.
Methods: We used Phase Contrast X-Ray Computed Tomography to address the lack of whole-organ volumetric information on the microarchitecture of its structural components.