Pericytes Enrich the Basement Membrane and Reduce Neutrophil Transmigration in an In Vitro Model of Peripheral Inflammation at the Blood-Brain Barrier.

Sepsis is the most lethal and expensive condition treated in intensive care units. Sepsis survivors frequently suffer long-term cognitive impairment, which has been linked to the breakdown of the blood-brain barrier (BBB) during a sepsis-associated "cytokine storm". Because animal models poorly recapitulate sepsis pathophysiology, human models are needed to understand sepsis-associated brain injury and to develop novel therapeutic strategies.

Rapid Assessment of Biomarkers on Single Extracellular Vesicles Using "Catch and Display" on Ultrathin Nanoporous Silicon Nitride Membranes.

Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are particles released from cells that facilitate intercellular communication and have tremendous diagnostic and therapeutic potential. Bulk assays lack the sensitivity to detect rare EV subsets relevant to disease, and while single EV analysis techniques remedy this, they are often undermined by complicated detection schemes and prohibitive instrumentation. To address these issues, a microfluidic technique for EV characterization called "catch and display for liquid biopsy (CAD-LB)" is proposed.

Protein kinase C epsilon contributes to chronic mechanoreflex sensitization in rats with heart failure.

We investigated second-messenger signalling components linked to the stimulation of G protein-coupled receptors (e.g. thromboxane A and bradykinin B2 receptors) on the sensory endings of thin fibre muscle afferents in the chronic mechanoreflex sensitization in rats with myocardial infarction-induced heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HF-rEF).

Rapid Assessment of Biomarkers on Single Extracellular Vesicles Using 'Catch and Display' on Ultrathin Nanoporous Silicon Nitride Membranes.

Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are particles secreted by all cells that carry bioactive cargo and facilitate intercellular communication with roles in normal physiology and disease pathogenesis. EVs have tremendous diagnostic and therapeutic potential and accordingly, the EV field has grown exponentially in recent years. Bulk assays lack the sensitivity to detect rare EV subsets relevant to disease, and while single EV analysis techniques remedy this, they are undermined by complicated detection schemes often coupled with prohibitive instrumentation.

Sex differences in the purinergic 2 receptor-mediated blood pressure response to treadmill exercise in rats with simulated peripheral artery disease.

We investigated the role played by ATP-sensitive purinergic 2 (P2) receptors in evoking the pressor response to treadmill exercise in male and female rats with and without femoral arteries that were ligated for ∼72 h to induce simulated peripheral artery disease (PAD). We hypothesized that PPADS (P2 receptor antagonist, 10 mg iv) would reduce the pressor response to 4 min of treadmill exercise (15 m·min, 1° incline) and steady-state exercise plasma norepinephrine (NE) values in male and female rats, and that the magnitude of effect of PPADS would be greater in rats with simulated PAD ("ligated") than in sham-operated rats. In males, PPADS significantly reduced the difference between steady-state exercise and baseline mean arterial pressure (ΔMAP) response to treadmill exercise in sham ( = 8; pre-PPADS: 12 ± 2, post-PPADS: 1 ± 5 mmHg; = 0.