Liver X receptor activation mitigates oxysterol-induced dysfunction in fetoplacental endothelial cells.

Maintaining the homeostasis of the placental vasculature is of paramount importance for ensuring normal fetal growth and development. Any disruption in this balance can lead to perinatal morbidity. Several studies have uncovered an association between high levels of oxidized cholesterol (oxysterols), and complications during pregnancy, including gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) and preeclampsia (PE).

CIS controls the functional polarization of GM-CSF-derived macrophages.

The cytokine granulocyte-macrophage-colony stimulating factor (GM-CSF) possesses the capacity to differentiate monocytes into macrophages (MØs) with opposing functions, namely, proinflammatory M1-like MØs and immunosuppressive M2-like MØs. Despite the importance of these opposing biological outcomes, the intrinsic mechanism that regulates the functional polarization of MØs under GM-CSF signaling remains elusive. Here, we showed that GM-CSF-induced MØ polarization resulted in the expression of cytokine-inducible SH2-containing protein (CIS) and that CIS deficiency skewed the differentiation of monocytes toward immunosuppressive M2-like MØs.

May Measurement Month 2017-2019: an analysis of blood pressure screening results from Ukraine.

Hypertension is a key cardiovascular disease risk factor leading to premature mortality worldwide. The purpose of the May Measurement Month (MMM) campaign in Ukraine is to improve awareness of hypertension at the individual and population level. Adults (≥18 years) were screened at sites in Ukraine.

Biomechanical properties of native and cultured red blood cells-Interplay of shape, structure and biomechanics.

Modern medicine increases the demand for safe blood products. cultured red blood cells (cRBC) are eagerly awaited as a standardized, safe source of RBC. Established culture models still lack the terminal cytoskeletal remodeling from reticulocyte to erythrocyte with changes in the biomechanical properties and interacts with membrane stiffness, viscosity of the cytoplasm and the cytoskeletal network.