Impaired Communication through Gap Junctions Reduces the Angiogenic Potential of the Secretome in Mesenchymal Stromal Cell-Endothelial Cell Interactions In Vitro.

Highly specialized gap junctions play an important role in the interaction between endothelial (EC) and multipotent mesenchymal stromal cells (MSC). Inhibition of gap junctions with a specific inhibitor carbenoxolone attenuates the effects of the medium conditioned by MSC-EC co-culture on proliferation and migration of cultured EC. In conditioned medium from co-culture, the levels of angiogenic mediators (VEGF-A, FGF-2, MCP-1, etc.

Upregulation of cholinergic modulators Lypd6 and Lypd6b associated with autism drives anxiety and cognitive decline.

Intellectual disability and autistic features are associated with chromosome region 2q23.q23.2 duplication carrying LYPD6 and LYPD6B genes.

A Simple and User-Friendly Method for High-Quality Preparation of Pollen Grains for Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM).

Pollen is becoming an increasingly important subject for molecular researchers in genetic engineering, plant breeding, and environmental monitoring. To broaden the scope of these studies, it is essential to develop accessible methods for scientists who are not specialized in palynology. The article presents a simplified technical procedure for preparing pollen grains for scanning electron microscopy (SEM).

The COSPAR planetary protection policy for missions to Icy Worlds: A review of history, current scientific knowledge, and future directions.

Recent discoveries related to the habitability and astrobiological relevance of the outer Solar System have expanded our understanding of where and how life may have originated. As a result, the Icy Worlds of the outer Solar System have become among the highest priority targets for future spacecraft missions dedicated to astrobiology-focused and/or direct life detection objectives. This, in turn, has led to a renewed interest in planetary protection concerns and policies for the exploration of these worlds and has been a topic of discussion within the COSPAR (Committee on Space Research) Panel on Planetary Protection.

The role of nuclear fragmentations in high energy transfers to a micro-object exposed to primary space radiation.

This paper describes events of anomalously high energy transfer to a micro-object by fragments of nuclei generated in nuclear interactions in the environment on board a spacecraft in flight in low-Earth orbit. An algorithm has been developed that allows for the calculation of the absorbed energy from one or more fragments - products of nuclear interaction. With this algorithm the energy distributions for a spherical micro-volume in an aqueous medium were calculated.

Influence of a Passive Tilt Test on the Proteomic Composition of the Blood of Healthy Humans.

In order to identify changes in the blood proteome of healthy volunteers after passive tilt test carried out on day 19 of head-down bed rest, a chromato-mass-spectrometric analysis of samples of dried blood spots was carried out. It was revealed that the body's response to the tilt test was characterized by a decrease in the level of HDL and kininogen-1. After the tilt test, we observed an increase in the level of vimentin, vitamin K-dependent protein C, Wnt signaling pathway proteins, proteins involved in autophagy and adaptive immune response, focal adhesion proteins, vascular damage marker S100A8, PEDF regulator, and some proteins of the heart: cardiac actin ACTC1 and transcription factor GATA4.

Aβ1-42 Accumulation Accompanies Changed Expression of Ly6/uPAR Proteins, Dysregulation of the Cholinergic System, and Degeneration of Astrocytes in the Cerebellum of Mouse Model of Early Alzheimer Disease.

Alzheimer disease (AD) is a widespread neurodegenerative disease characterized by the accumulation of oligomeric toxic forms of β-amyloid (Aβ1-42) and dysfunction of the cholinergic system in the different brain regions. However, the exact mechanisms of AD pathogenesis and the role of the nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs) in the disease progression remain unclear. Here, we revealed a decreased expression of a number of the Ly6/uPAR proteins targeting nAChRs in the cerebellum of 2xTg-AD mice (model of early AD) in comparison with non-transgenic mice both at mRNA and protein levels.

Modification of the Properties of Extracellular Matrix of Senescent Mesenchymal Stem Cells.

Cell senescence leads to changes in the secretory activity of mesenchymal stem cells (MSC), including proteins of extracellular matrix (ECM). Here we studied the regulatory properties of ECM of senescent MSC in a model with endothelial cells (EC). EC were seeded onto a decellularized extracellular matrix of senescent MSC.

Space agency-specific standards for crew dose and risk assessment of ionising radiation exposures for the International Space Station.

The Partner Agencies of the International Space Station (ISS) maintain separate career exposure limits and shared Flight Rules that control the ionising radiation exposures that crewmembers can experience due to ambient environments throughout their space missions. In low Earth orbit as well as further out in space, energetic ions referred to as galactic cosmic radiation (GCR) easily penetrate spacecraft and spacecraft contents and consequently are always present at low dose rates. Protons and electrons that are trapped in the Earth's geomagnetic field are encountered intermittently, and a rare energetic solar particle event (SPE) may expose crew to (mostly) energetic protons.

Distributions of energy imparted to a micro-volume by secondary charged fragments of nuclear interactions in space radiation field.

The field of cosmic radiation at low-Earth orbit (LEO) has a complex composition. It always contains a component of secondary charged particles, formed by the products of nuclear interactions of the primary high-energy radiation with the nuclei of spacecraft's shielding material, electronic components and biological matter on board. Generation of this secondary radiation can be observed in some track detectors in the form of "stars" formed by tracks-fragments with a common vertex.

The COSPAR planetary protection requirements for space missions to Venus.

The Committee on Space Research's (COSPAR) Planetary Protection Policy states that all types of missions to Venus are classified as Category II, as the planet has significant research interest relative to the processes of chemical evolution and the origin of life, but there is only a remote chance that terrestrial contamination can proliferate and compromise future investigations. "Remote chance" essentially implies the absence of environments where terrestrial organisms could survive and replicate. Hence, Category II missions only require simplified planetary protection documentation, including a planetary protection plan that outlines the intended or potential impact targets, brief Pre- and Post-launch analyses detailing impact strategies, and a Post-encounter and End-of-Mission Report.

Mathematical Model of Antibiotic Resistance Determinants' Stability Under Space Flight Conditions.

Increasing antibiotic resistance (AR) poses dangers of treatment complications and even treatment failure to astronauts. An AR determinant is a gene of resistance carried by bacteria. This article considers the issue of the stability of AR determinants and the influence of manned spaceflight conditions on this characteristic.

Prolonged microgravity induces reversible and persistent changes on human cerebral connectivity.

The prospect of continued manned space missions warrants an in-depth understanding of how prolonged microgravity affects the human brain. Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) can pinpoint changes reflecting adaptive neuroplasticity across time. We acquired resting-state fMRI data of cosmonauts before, shortly after, and eight months after spaceflight as a follow-up to assess global connectivity changes over time.

Endothelial dysfunction markers and immune response indices in cosmonauts' blood after long-duration space flights.

Space flight factors are known to cause a malfunction in the human immune system and lead to damage to blood vessels. The hemostatic function of endothelium during space missions and its interaction with human immunity has not been determined so far. In this work, we investigated the markers of endothelial activation and damage (plasma concentrations of soluble thrombomodulin fraction (sTM), von Willebrand factor (vWF), highly sensitive C-reactive protein (hs-CRP)), as well as the level of D-dimer and compared them to the immunological parameters characterizing the state of human humoral and cellular immunity.

Monomeric form of C-reactive protein in the assessment of the residual inflammatory cardiovascular risk in patients with subclinical carotid atherosclerosis.

Aim      To study the relationship between monomeric C-reactive protein (mCRP) and the progression of asymptomatic carotid atherosclerosis in patients with a moderate risk for cardiovascular diseases (CVD) as assessed with the SCORE model.Material and methods  The study included 80 men and women aged 53.1±5.

Antioxidant Properties of New Phenothiazine Derivatives.

Phenothiazine and its derivatives have a number of properties that contribute to their wider practical use in the production of biologically active substances, drugs, dyes, etc. Therefore, the synthesis and study of new compounds is of great relevance. The aim of this work was to investigate the antioxidant activity of a number of new phenothiazine derivatives.

The Effects of Acidosis on eNOS in the Systemic Vasculature: A Focus on Early Postnatal Ontogenesis.

The activity of many vasomotor signaling pathways strongly depends on extracellular/intracellular pH. Nitric oxide (NO) is one of the most important vasodilators produced by the endothelium. In this review, we present evidence that in most vascular beds of mature mammalian organisms metabolic or respiratory acidosis increases functional endothelial NO-synthase (eNOS) activity, despite the observation that direct effects of low pH on eNOS enzymatic activity are inhibitory.

Region-specific effects of antenatal/early postnatal hypothyroidism on endothelial NO-pathway activity in systemic circulation.

Background: Antenatal/early postnatal hypothyroidism weakens NO-mediated anticontractile influence of endothelium in coronary arteries of adult rats, but it remains unclear whether this occurs in other vascular regions. We hypothesized that developmental thyroid deficiency is followed by region-specific changes in the endothelial NO-pathway activity in systemic vasculature. To explore this, we estimated the effects of antenatal/early postnatal hypothyroidism on NO-pathway activity and its potential local control mechanisms in rat mesenteric and skeletal muscle (sural) arteries.

Intrauterine L-NAME Exposure Weakens the Development of Sympathetic Innervation and Induces the Remodeling of Arterial Vessels in Two-Week-Old Rats.

Nitric oxide (NO) has been shown to stimulate differentiation and increase the survival of ganglionic sympathetic neurons. The proportion of neuronal NOS-immunoreactive sympathetic preganglionic neurons is particularly high in newborn rats and decreases with maturation. However, the role of NO in the development of vascular sympathetic innervation has never been studied before.

Real-world experience of feasibility and efficacy of electrical muscle stimulation in elderly patients with acute heart failure: A randomized controlled study.

Background: Reduced aerobic capacity and deconditioning contributes to morbidity and mortality in elderly acute heart failure (AHF) patients. Electrical muscle stimulation (EMS) has shown to be a suitable alternative to exercise in AHF. However, feasibility and efficacy are unknown in a real-world setting.

Whither the Third Quarter Phenomenon?

In 1991, Bechtel and Berning proposed that a decrement in morale and well-being affects people working in isolated and confined environments during the third quarter of their mission. Studies conducted during such conditions have suggested that whereas some people may experience such a phenomenon, it is not a typical occurrence in space or space simulation environments. Possible reasons for varying outcomes include demand characteristic bias, individual personality traits, training omissions, experimental methodological issues, and the impact of mission events on crewmember well-being.