The Valemee Visual System Helps Reduce Risk for Chronic Illness by Promoting Physical Fitness, Self-Efficacy and Independence in Adults With Intellectual Disabilities.

Introduction: Sedentary behaviour among individuals with intellectual disabilities, driven by barriers such as limited access to adapted programs and low self-efficacy, contributes to chronic health conditions. This study evaluates the effectiveness of the Valemee Visual System (VVS), a novel tool offering visual support and structured exercise programming, in improving physical fitness and promoting exercise independence in this population.

Methods: A repeated measures design was employed with an 8-week intervention involving 22 participants aged 22-44 with mild to moderate intellectual disabilities.

Attitudes of Dilated Cardiomyopathy Patients and Investigators Toward Genomic Study Enrollment, Consent Process, and Return of Genetic Results.

Precision medicine genetics study design requires large, diverse cohorts and thoughtful use of electronic technologies. Involving patients in research design may increase enrollment and engagement, thereby enabling a means to relevant patient outcomes in clinical practice. Few data, however, illustrate attitudes of patients with dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) and their family members toward genetic study design.

Therapeutic Development of Mesenchymal Stem Cells or Their Extracellular Vesicles to Inhibit Autoimmune-Mediated Inflammatory Processes in Systemic Lupus Erythematosus.

Since being discovered over half a century ago, mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) have been investigated extensively to characterize their cellular and physiological influences. MSCs have been shown to possess immunosuppressive capacity through inhibiting lymphocyte activation/proliferation and proinflammatory cytokine secretion while simultaneously demonstrating limited allogenic reactivity, which subsequently led to the evaluation of therapeutic feasibility to treat inflammatory diseases. Although regulatory constraints have restricted MSC development pharmacologically, limited clinical studies have shown encouraging results using MSC infusions to treat systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE); but, more trials will have to be performed to conclusively determine the clinical efficacy of MSCs to treat SLE.

Plasma Membrane Repair: A Central Process for Maintaining Cellular Homeostasis.

Plasma membrane repair is a conserved cellular response mediating active resealing of membrane disruptions to maintain homeostasis and prevent cell death and progression of multiple diseases. Cell membrane repair repurposes mechanisms from various cellular functions, including vesicle trafficking, exocytosis, and endocytosis, to mend the broken membrane. Recent studies increased our understanding of membrane repair by establishing the molecular machinery contributing to membrane resealing.

Delocalization of Endogenous A-kinase Antagonizes Rap1-Rho-α-Adrenoceptor Signaling in Human Microvascular Smooth Muscle Cells.

The second messenger cyclic AMP (cAMP) plays a vital role in the physiology of the cardiovascular system, including vasodilation of large blood vessels. This study focused on cAMP signaling in peripheral blood vessels, specifically in human vascular smooth muscle (microVSM) cells explanted from skin punch biopsy arterioles (also known as resistance vessels) of healthy volunteers. Using these human microVSM we recently demonstrated cAMP activation of exchange protein activated by cAMP (Epac), the Ras-related small GTPase Rap1A, and RhoA-ROCK-F-actin signaling in human microVSM to increase expression and cell surface translocation of functional α-adrenoceptors (α-ARs) that mediate vasoconstriction.

Mechanosignaling in bone health, trauma and inflammation.

Significance: Mechanosignaling is vital for maintaining the structural integrity of bone under physiologic conditions. These signals activate and suppress multiple signaling cascades regulating bone formation and resorption. Understanding these pathways is of prime importance to exploit their therapeutic potential in disorders associated with bone loss due to disuse, trauma, or disruption of homeostatic mechanisms.