Fermitin family homolog-2 (FERMT2) is highly expressed in human placental villi and modulates trophoblast invasion.

Background: Integrins are transmembrane receptors that mediate cell-extracellular matrix (ECM) and cell-cell adhesion and trophoblast cells undergo changes in integrin expression as they differentiate. However, the mechanism(s) of integrin activation leading to integrin-mediated signaling in trophoblast cell differentiation is unknown. The Fermitin family proteins are integrin activators that help mediate integrin-mediated signaling, but have never been studied in detail within the human placenta.

The Jackson Heart KIDS Pilot Study: Theory-Informed Recruitment in an African American Population.

Recruitment for large cohort studies is typically challenging, particularly when the pool of potential participants is limited to the descendants of individuals enrolled in a larger, longitudinal "parent" study. The increasing complexity of family structures and dynamics can present challenges for recruitment in offspring. Few best practices exist to guide effective and efficient empirical approaches to participant recruitment.

Extracellular acidosis activates ASIC-like channels in freshly isolated cerebral artery smooth muscle cells.

Recent studies suggest that certain acid-sensing ion channels (ASIC) are expressed in vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) and are required for VSMC functions. However, electrophysiological evidence of ASIC channels in VSMCs is lacking. The purpose of this study was to test the hypothesis that isolated cerebral artery VSMCs express ASIC-like channels.

Impaired pressure-induced constriction in mouse middle cerebral arteries of ASIC2 knockout mice.

Recent studies from our laboratory demonstrated the importance of mechanosensitive epithelial Na(+) channel (ENaC) proteins in pressure-induced constriction in renal and cerebral arteries. ENaC proteins are closely related to acid-sensing ion channel 2 (ASIC2), a protein known to be required for normal mechanotransduction in certain sensory neurons. However, the role of the ASIC2 protein in pressure-induced constriction has never been addressed.

ASIC proteins regulate smooth muscle cell migration.

The purpose of the present study was to investigate Acid Sensing Ion Channel (ASIC) protein expression and importance in cellular migration. We recently demonstrated that Epithelial Na(+)Channel (ENaC) proteins are required for vascular smooth muscle cell (VSMC) migration; however, the role of the closely related ASIC proteins has not been addressed. We used RT-PCR and immunolabeling to determine expression of ASIC1, ASIC2, ASIC3 and ASIC4 in A10 cells.

Hemodialysis adequacy and quality of life: how do they relate?

There is clear evidence of a link between dialysis adequacy (as measured by urea kinetic modelling or urea reduction ratio) and such important clinical outcomes as morbidity and mortality. Evidence regarding the relationship between dialysis adequacy and quality of life outcomes is less clear. This paper reports the results of a study designed to answer the following research question: What is the impact of changing dialysis adequacy on functional status and well-being in a sample of new hemodialysis patients? The study employed a convenience sampling technique enrolling all willing new patients who started hemodialysis for a four-year period.