We investigated the cause of skeletal deformities found in brown trout from the Aspromonte mountain area in Reggio Calabria, Italy. Toxicological, histopathological and parasitological analyses were carried out on 14 fish with evident macro-morphological alterations from 2 different locations in the same river, and 4 control fish without morphological alterations from a different river (far from the first river but still within the area under study). Histopathological and radiological observations confirmed severe skeletal deformities in the specimens investigated. Parasitological examinations highlighted the presence of the nematode Cystidicoloides ephemeridarum, found only within the gastrointestinal tract of specimens showing deformities. Moreover, a direct correlation between parasite number and fish size was found. Given the low heavy metal levels and the presence of a massive parasitosis in teleosts showing deformities, we postulate a correlation between skeletal deformities and nematode infestation: the parasites caused a serious vitamin and mineral deficiency in the fish, which led to a dysplastic vertebral column. The low calcium levels found in malformed specimens compared with negative controls effectively confirm this hypothesis.
Download full-text PDF |
Source |
---|---|
http://dx.doi.org/10.3354/dao03559 | DOI Listing |
Clin Dysmorphol
December 2024
Department of Pediatric Genetics.
Introduction: Spondyloepimetaphyseal dysplasia with joint laxity type 1 (SEMD-JL1) is an extremely rare skeletal dysplasia belonging to a group of disorders called linkeropathies. It is characterized by skeletal and connective tissue abnormalities. Biallelic variants in genes encoding enzymes that synthesize the tetrasaccharide linker region of glycosaminoglycans lead to linkeropathies, which exhibit clinical and phenotypic features that overlap with each other.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFMol Biol Rep
January 2025
Institute of Health Sciences, Department of Medical and Surgical Research, Hacettepe University, Ankara, Turkey.
Background: La-related protein 7 (LARP7) is a key regulator of RNA metabolism and is thought to play a role in various cellular processes. LARP7 gene autosomal recessive mutations are the cause of Alazami syndrome, which presents with skeletal abnormalities, intellectual disabilities, and facial dysmorphisms. This study aimed to determine the role of LARP7 in modulating gene expression dynamics during osteogenesis.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFCureus
December 2024
Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Unidade Local de Saúde de Lisboa Ocidental, Lisbon, PRT.
Chondrodysplasia punctata (CP) is a rare skeletal dysplasia characterized by punctate calcifications in areas of endochondral ossification, with Conradi-Hünermann-Happle syndrome (CDPX2) being the most common form. This study presents a clinical case of a 10-month-old female child, diagnosed with CDPX2 following a referral from a neonatology department of a secondary hospital center to a genetics consultation at a tertiary hospital center in Portugal. Despite normal prenatal monitoring, postnatal evaluations revealed typical manifestations of the syndrome, including nasomaxillary hypoplasia, macrocephaly, and skeletal abnormalities confirmed through imaging.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFToxicol Res
January 2025
Department of Pharmacology, College of Medicine, Chungnam National University, 266, Munhwa-ro, Jung-gu, Daejeon, 35015 Republic of Korea.
Over the last decade, the functions of PHD finger protein 20 (PHF20) in several signaling processes have been studied, including those of protein kinase B (PKB)-mediated phosphorylation, p53 regulation, muscle differentiation, and histone modification including histone H3 lysine 4 (H3K4) methylation. One PHF20 human mutation lacks the first nonspecific lethal complex of the component that binds to H3K4me2 to facilitate cancer cell survival. In carcinoma cells, PHF20 expression is regulated by PKB; PHF20 becomes phosphorylated when DNA is damaged, thus inhibiting the p53 activity that maintains cancer cell survival.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFJ Orthop Case Rep
January 2025
Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, The Lifeline Multi Speciality Hospital, Kerala, India.
Introduction: Ellis-van Creveld syndrome (EVC) is a rare autosomal recessive disorder characterized by growth retardation, dysplastic nails, cardiac defects, dental abnormalities, and polydactyly. Early diagnosis and multidisciplinary management are essential for improving patient outcomes.
Case Report: We present a case of a 12-year-old male with EVC, born to consanguineous parents, who presented with bilateral bowing of the legs and difficulty walking.
Enter search terms and have AI summaries delivered each week - change queries or unsubscribe any time!