PD-1/PD-L1 axis: implications in immune regulation, cancer progression, and translational applications.

The PD-1/PD-L1 axis is a complex signaling pathway that has an important role in the immune system cells. Programmed cell death protein 1 (PD-1) acts as an immune checkpoint on the T lymphocytes, B lymphocytes, natural killer (NK), macrophages, dendritic cells (DCs), monocytes, and myeloid cells. Its ligand, the programmed cell death 1 ligand (PD-L1), is expressed in the surface of the antigen-presenting cells (APCs).

A comprehensive study of the academic benefits and practical recommendations to include resistance training programs in institutional education.

The connection between physical activity and cognitive function has become a focus of attention in educational research in recent years. Regular exercise has been shown to have significant positive effects on physical health, but it also appears to have a significant impact on cognitive function and academic performance. Of all the exercise modalities, resistance training has drawn interest for its ability to improve cerebral abilities in addition to physical well-being.

Dynamic evolutionary interplay between ontogenetic skull patterning and whole-head integration.

The arrangement and morphology of the vertebrate skull reflect functional and ecological demands, making it a highly adaptable structure. However, the fundamental developmental and macroevolutionary mechanisms leading to different vertebrate skull phenotypes remain unclear. Here we exploit the morphological diversity of squamate reptiles to assess the developmental and evolutionary patterns of skull variation and covariation in the whole head.

Validating osteological correlates for the hepatic piston in the American alligator ().

Unlike the majority of sauropsids, which breathe primarily through costal and abdominal muscle contractions, extant crocodilians have evolved the hepatic piston pump, a unique additional ventilatory mechanism powered by the diaphragmaticus muscle. This muscle originates from the bony pelvis, wrapping around the abdominal viscera, extending cranially to the liver. The liver then attaches to the caudal margin of the lungs, resulting in a sub-fusiform morphology for the entire "pulmo-hepatic-diaphragmatic" structure.

Latin American Cerebral Palsy Register (LATAM-CPR): study protocol to develop a collaborative register with surveillance of children with cerebral palsy in Latin American countries.

Introduction: Cerebral palsy (CP) is one of the leading causes of childhood disability globally with a high burden in low-income and middle-income countries (LMICs). Preliminary findings from the global LMIC CP Register (GLM CPR) suggest that the majority of CP in LMICs are due to potentially preventable causes. Such data are lacking in the Latin American region.

The RANK-RANKL-OPG System: A Multifaceted Regulator of Homeostasis, Immunity, and Cancer.

The RANK-RANKL-OPG system is a complex signaling pathway that plays a critical role in bone metabolism, mammary epithelial cell development, immune function, and cancer. RANKL is a ligand that binds to RANK, a receptor expressed on osteoclasts, dendritic cells, T cells, and other cells. RANKL signaling promotes osteoclast differentiation and activation, which leads to bone resorption.

Unraveling the New Perspectives on Antimicrobial Hydrogels: State-of-the-Art and Translational Applications.

The growing impact of infections and the rapid emergence of antibiotic resistance represent a public health concern worldwide. The exponential development in the field of biomaterials and its multiple applications can offer a solution to the problems that derive from these situations. In this sense, antimicrobial hydrogels represent a promising opportunity with multiple translational expectations in the medical management of infectious diseases due to their unique physicochemical and biological properties as well as for drug delivery in specific areas.

Perspectives on lung visualization: Three-dimensional anatomical modeling of computed and micro-computed tomographic data in comparative evolutionary morphology and medicine with applications for COVID-19.

The vertebrate respiratory system is challenging to study. The complex relationship between the lungs and adjacent tissues, the vast structural diversity of the respiratory system both within individuals and between taxa, its mobility (or immobility) and distensibility, and the difficulty of quantifying and visualizing functionally important internal negative spaces have all impeded descriptive, functional, and comparative research. As a result, there is a relative paucity of three-dimensional anatomical information on this organ system in all vertebrate groups (including humans) relative to other regions of the body.

Locomotor characteristics of the ground-walking chameleon Brookesia superciliaris.

Understanding the locomotor characteristics of early diverging ground-walking chameleons (members of the genera Brookesia, Rhampholeon, Palleon, and Rieppeleon) can help to explain how their unique morphology is adapted to fit their environment and mode of life. However, nearly all quantitative studies of chameleon locomotion thus far have focused on the larger "true arboreal" chameleons. We investigated kinematics and spatiotemporal gait characteristics of the Brown Leaf Chameleon (Brookesia superciliaris) on different substrates and compared them with true arboreal chameleons, nonchameleon lizards, and other small arboreal animals.

Supramolecular Enzymatic Labeling for Aptamer Switch-Based Electrochemical Biosensor.

Here we report a novel labeling strategy for electrochemical aptasensors based on enzymatic marking via supramolecular host-guest interactions. This approach relies on the use of an adamantane-modified target-responsive hairpin DNA aptamer as an affinity bioreceptor, and a neoglycoconjugate of β-cyclodextin (CD) covalently attached to a redox enzyme as a labeling element. As a proof of concept, an amperometric aptasensor for a carcinoembryonic antigen was assembled on screen-printed carbon electrodes modified with electrodeposited fern-like gold nanoparticles/graphene oxide and, by using a horseradish peroxidase-CD neoglycoenzyme as a biocatalytic redox label.

Architecture of the bronchial tree in Cuvier's dwarf caiman (Paleosuchus palpebrosus).

We imaged the lungs of five Cuvier's dwarf caiman (Paleosuchus palpebrosus) via computed tomography (CT) and micro-computed tomography (μCT) and compared these data to the lungs of the American alligator (Alligator mississippiensis). These data demonstrate anatomical commonalities between the lungs of P. palpebrosus and A.

Comparative development of limb musculature in phylogenetically and ecologically divergent lizards.

Background: Squamate reptiles (lizards, snakes, and amphisbaenians) exhibit incredible diversity in their locomotion, behavior, morphology, and ecological breadth. Although they often are used as models of locomotor diversity, surprisingly little attention has been given to muscle development in squamate reptiles. In fact, the most detailed examination was conducted almost 80 years ago and solely focused on the proximal limb regions.

Environmental Thermal Stress Induces Neuronal Cell Death and Developmental Malformations in Reptiles.

Every stage of organismal life history is being challenged by global warming. Many species are already experiencing temperatures approaching their physiological limits; this is particularly true for ectothermic species, such as lizards. Embryos are markedly sensitive to thermal insult.

Serpentovirus (Nidovirus) and Orthoreovirus Coinfection in Captive Veiled Chameleons () with Respiratory Disease.

Serpentoviruses are an emerging group of nidoviruses known to cause respiratory disease in snakes and have been associated with disease in other non-avian reptile species (lizards and turtles). This study describes multiple episodes of respiratory disease-associated mortalities in a collection of juvenile veiled chameleons (). Histopathologic lesions included rhinitis and interstitial pneumonia with epithelial proliferation and abundant mucus.

Development of sexual dimorphism in two sympatric skinks with different growth rates.

Sexual size dimorphism (SSD) is widespread in animals, especially in lizards (Reptilia: Squamata), and is driven by fecundity selection, male-male competition, or other adaptive hypotheses. However, these selective pressures may vary through different life history periods; thus, it is essential to assess the relationship between growth and SSD. In this study, we tracked SSD dynamics between a "fading-tail color skink" (blue tail skink whose tail is only blue during its juvenile stage: ) and a "nonfade color" tail skink (retains a blue tail throughout life: ) under a controlled experimental environment.

Dosimetric Comparison of Four Volumetric-Modulated Arc Therapy Beam Arrangements Utilized for Hippocampal-Sparing Whole-Brain Radiation Therapy.

Purpose: In the present study, the performance of four VMAT beam arrangements used for hippocampal-sparing whole-brain radiation therapy is addressed.

Material And Methods: Data corresponding to 20 patients were utilized so as to generate plans for every beam configuration. A preliminary study was conducted to assess the optimal distance between optimization structures (PTVx) and hippocampi.

Filling in the phylogenetic gaps: Induction, migration, and differentiation of neural crest cells in a squamate reptile, the veiled chameleon (Chamaeleo calyptratus).

Neural crest cells comprise a migratory progenitor cell population that differentiate into cell types such as neurons and glia of the peripheral nervous system, pigment cells, hormone secreting cells in glands, and skeletal and connective tissue in the head, thus making important contributions to most tissues and organs throughout the vertebrate body. The evolutionary appearance of neural crest cells is considered synonymous with the origin of vertebrates and their subsequent diversification and radiation. While the comparative biology of neural crest cells has been studied for a century and a half beginning with their discovery by Wilhelm His in 1868, most of our understanding of their development and function has come from a small number of species.

Management of interruptions in radiotherapy treatments: Adaptive implementation in high workload sites.

Owing to predictable or unpredictable causes, interruptions may arise during therapy. On average, the extension of fractionated radiotherapy treatments is prone to be delayed by several weeks and interruptions can come up extending overall treatment time (OTT). Clonogenic cells of aggressive tumors might benefit from this situation, modifying local control (LC).

Performance of the eclipse monitor unit objective tool utilizing volumetric modulated arc therapy for rectal cancer.

Aim: To assess the performance of the monitor unit (MU) Objective tool in Eclipse treatment planning system (TPS) utilizing volumetric modulated arc therapy (VMAT) for rectal cancer.

Background: Eclipse VMAT planning module includes a tool to control the number of MUs delivered: the MU Objective tool. This tool could be utilized to reduce the total number of MUs in rectal cancer treatments.

The transcriptome of the veiled chameleon (Chamaeleo calyptratus): A resource for studying the evolution and development of vertebrates.

Purpose: The veiled chameleon (Chamaeleo calyptratus) is an emerging model system for studying functional morphology and evolutionary developmental biology (evo-devo). Chameleons possess body plans that are highly adapted to an arboreal life style, featuring laterally compressed bodies, split hands/ft for grasping, a projectile tongue, turreted independently moving eyes, and a prehensile tail. Despite being one of the most phenotypically divergent clades of tetrapods, genomic resources for chameleons are severely lacking.