Ironing out differences in attenuation and blooming artifact in acute stroke thrombi.

This study aims to improve our understanding of acute ischemic stroke clot imaging by integrating CT attenuation information with MRI susceptibility signal of thrombi. For this proof-of-principle experimental study, fifty-seven clot analogs were produced using ovine venous blood with a broad histological spectrum. Each clot analog was analyzed to determine its RBC content and chemical composition, including water, Fe III, sodium, pH, and pO2.

Sphingosine 1-phosphate receptor 1signaling in macrophages reduces atherosclerosis in LDL receptor-deficient mice.

Sphingosine 1-phosphate (S1P) is a lysosphingolipid with antiatherogenic properties, but mechanisms underlying its effects remain unclear. We here investigated atherosclerosis development in cholesterol-rich diet-fed LDL receptor-deficient mice with high or low overexpression levels of S1P receptor 1 (S1P1) in macrophages. S1P1-overexpressing macrophages showed increased activity of transcription factors PU.

The sperm-specific K channel Slo3 is inhibited by albumin and steroids contained in reproductive fluids.

To locate and fertilize the egg, sperm probe the varying microenvironment prevailing at different stages during their journey across the female genital tract. To this end, they are equipped with a unique repertoire of mostly sperm-specific proteins. In particular, the flagellar Ca channel CatSper has come into focus as a polymodal sensor used by human sperm to register ligands released into the female genital tract.

Extreme founder effect associated with hyperglycemia and hyperlipidemia on the island of NIAS/Indonesia.

The island of Nias/Indonesia shows an extremely reduced genetic diversity indicating a strong founder effect. As a consequence, the prevalence of some disease genes should significantly differ among populations depending on the gene pool passed on to the founder population and their successive expansion as it has already been documented for several monogenic diseases. Results of the current study based on routine laboratory blood examination give rise to the notion that this might also hold true for polygenic disorders.