The spatial zonation of the murine placental vasculature is specified by epigenetic mechanisms.

The labyrinthian fetoplacental capillary network is vital for proper nourishment of the developing embryo. Dysfunction of the maternal-fetal circulation is a primary cause of placental insufficiency. Here, we show that the spatial zonation of the murine placental labyrinth vasculature is controlled by flow-regulated epigenetic mechanisms.

CAF Specific Expression of Podoplanin May Be Dispensable for the Malignancy of Malignant Melanoma.

Within the tumor microenvironment (TME), cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) were shown to be an active and pivotal cell population, supporting many protumorigenic mechanisms. Podoplanin (PDPN)-positive CAFs are of special interest since their abundance correlated with a worse prognosis for patients of different cancer entities, including malignant melanoma. In this study, we applied a loss-of-function approach in an in vivo mouse melanoma model to evaluate the contribution of CAF-specific PDPN expression to melanoma formation and progression.

Development of a novel immunocompetent murine tumor model for urothelial carcinoma using in vivo electroporation.

A lack of advanced preclinical mouse tumor models impedes the progress in urothelial carcinoma research. We present here a novel fast, robust, reliable, and highly reproducible model for the genetic induction of bladder cancer in immunocompetent mice. Different sets of oncogenic transposons (Cmyc, Kras) and Cre drivers were transfected into the murine bladder wall of two different genetic backgrounds (Trp53 and Braf, Pten, Ctnnb1).

Dietary patterns during pregnancy in relation to maternal dietary intake: The Mutaba'ah Study.

Aim: To relate adherence to healthy dietary patterns, evaluated by different dietary indices, to the intake of nutrients and food groups among pregnant women in the United Arab Emirates.

Methods: The analyses included 1122 pregnant women from the Mutaba'ah Study. Dietary intake was assessed using a semi-quantitative Food Frequency Questionnaire.

Perceived healthiness of foods, food avoidance and diet-related anxiety in individuals with self-reported irritable bowel syndrome: a cross-sectional study.

Background: Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a common gastrointestinal disorder in which the intake of food is known to exacerbate symptoms. Experiencing food related symptoms can lead to avoidance of food, and cause anxiety related to food intake. We aimed to explore perceptions of the healthiness of food, food avoidance, and food-related worry and anxiety among individuals with and without IBS.