Delivery of N-Cadherin Targeting Peptides to Vascular Tissues by Surface-Modified Polyurethane Nanoparticles via a Drug-Coated Balloon.

Restenosis remains a long-standing limitation to effectively maintain functional blood flow after percutaneous transluminal angioplasty (PTA). While the use of drug-coated balloons (DCBs) containing antiproliferative drugs has improved patient outcomes, limited tissue transfer and poor therapeutic targeting capabilities contribute to off-target cytotoxicity, precluding adequate endothelial repair. In this work, a DCB system was designed and tested to achieve defined arterial delivery of an antirestenosis therapeutic candidate, cadherin-2 (N-cadherin) mimetic peptides (NCad), shown to selectively inhibit smooth muscle cell migration and limit intimal thickening in early animal PTA models.

Cardiomyocyte STIM1 downregulation exacerbates post-Myocardial Infarction remodeling by dysregulating mitochondrial ultrastructure and metabolic signaling.

Background: Loss of stromal interaction molecule 1 (STIM1) expression in smooth muscle cells protects against ischemia-reperfusion (I/R) injury. Whether and how decreased STIM1 expression in cardiomyocytes (CM) impacts cardiac remodeling in response to I/R injury remains unknown.

Objective: To examine mechanisms by which decreased CM-STIM1 expression in the adult heart modulates cardiac function before and after I/R injury.

The role of motivation in selection processes-comparing sports and business.

Talent identification and selection in sports pose significant challenges, necessitating a nuanced understanding of factors influencing athletes' elite-level potential. While physical and physiological aspects have conventionally played roles in the selection process, also other constructs of talent development have to be considered. Various talent models have included psychological aspects, especially motivation, as either moderators or catalysts.

Effects of deliberate practice and structured feedback in psychotherapy training (DeeP): a study protocol of a randomized-control-trial.

Background: Psychotherapeutic competencies encompass a variety of skills that influence the work and therapeutic success of psychotherapists. In particular, interpersonal skills and the associated ability to react appropriately in complex therapy situations have already shown significant correlations with later therapeutic success. Strengthening interpersonal skills should therefore be a central aim of psychotherapy training.