Stay connected: The myoendothelial junction proteins in vascular function and dysfunction.

The appropriate regulation of peripheral vascular tone is crucial for maintaining tissue perfusion. Myoendothelial junctions (MEJs), specialized connections between endothelial cells and vascular smooth muscle cells, are primarily located in peripheral resistance vessels. Therefore, these junctions, with their key membrane proteins, play a pivotal role in the physiological control of relaxation-contraction coupling in resistance arterioles, mainly mediated through endothelium-derived hyperpolarization (EDH).

A Personalized Approach to Vitamin D Supplementation in Cardiovascular Health Beyond the Bone: An Expert Consensus by the Italian National Institute for Cardiovascular Research.

Vitamin D is increasingly recognized for its role in cardiovascular health beyond its well-established effects on bone metabolism. This review synthesizes findings from observational studies, interventional trials, and meta-analyses to clarify the mechanisms through which vitamin D impacts cardiovascular health, including its influence on vascular function, inflammation, and metabolic pathways. Additionally, this review emphasizes the importance of a personalized approach to vitamin D supplementation, integrating individual cardiovascular risk profiles, baseline vitamin D levels, and comorbid conditions, such as hypertension and diabetes.

An intrinsic mechanism of metabolic tuning promotes cardiac resilience to stress.

Defining the molecular mechanisms underlying cardiac resilience is crucial to find effective approaches to protect the heart. A physiologic level of ROS is produced in the heart by fatty acid oxidation, but stressful events can boost ROS and cause mitochondrial dysfunction and cardiac functional impairment. Melusin is a muscle specific chaperone required for myocardial compensatory remodeling during stress.

Effects of ischemic pre-conditioning on electrically stimulated contractions.

Purpose: Ischemic pre-conditioning (IPC) offers protection against future ischemic events and may improve sports performance due to several mechanisms at local and systemic levels. This study investigates the local effects on muscle contractility in electrically induced muscle contractions, thus effectively excluding any uncontrolled change in the motor drive.

Methods: Twenty-one subjects were divided into two groups: 12 subjects in the IPC group (3 × 5/5 min right arm ischemia/reperfusion; cuff pressure 250 mmHg) and 9 subjects in the SHAM group (same treatment at 20 mmHg).