Control of human endometrial stromal cell motility by PDGF-BB, HB-EGF and trophoblast-secreted factors

Human implantation involves extensive tissue remodeling at the fetal-maternal interface. It is becoming increasingly evident that not only trophoblast, but also decidualizing endometrial stromal cells are inherently motile and invasive, and likely contribute to the highly dynamic processes at the implantation site. The present study was undertaken to further characterize the mechanisms involved in the regulation of endometrial stromal cell motility and to identify trophoblast-derived factors that modulate migration. Among local growth factors known to be present at the time of implantation, heparin-binding epidermal growth factor-like growth factor (HB-EGF) triggered chemotaxis (directed locomotion), whereas platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF)-BB elicited both chemotaxis and chemokinesis (non-directed locomotion) of endometrial stromal cells. Supernatants of the trophoblast cell line AC-1M88 and of first trimester villous explant cultures stimulated chemotaxis but not chemokinesis. Proteome profiling for cytokines and angiogenesis factors revealed neither PDGF-BB nor HB-EGF in conditioned media from trophoblast cells or villous explants, while placental growth factor, vascular endothelial growth factor and PDGF-AA were identified as prominent secretory products. Among these, only PDGF-AA triggered endometrial stromal cell chemotaxis. Neutralization of PDGF-AA in trophoblast conditioned media, however, did not diminish chemoattractant activity, suggesting the presence of additional trophoblast-derived chemotactic factors. Pathway inhibitor studies revealed ERK1/2, PI3 kinase/Akt and p38 signaling as relevant for chemotactic motility, whereas chemokinesis depended primarily on PI3 kinase/Akt activation. Both chemotaxis and chemokinesis were stimulated upon inhibition of Rho-associated, coiled-coil containing protein kinase. The chemotactic response to trophoblast secretions was not blunted by inhibition of isolated signaling cascades, indicating activation of overlapping pathways in trophoblast-endometrial communication. In conclusion, trophoblast signals attract endometrial stromal cells, while PDGF-BB and HB-EGF, although not identified as trophoblast-derived, are local growth factors that may serve to fine-tune directed and non-directed migration at the implantation site

Worldwide trends in underweight and obesity from 1990 to 2022: a pooled analysis of 3663 population-representative studies with 222 million children, adolescents, and adults

Background Underweight and obesity are associated with adverse health outcomes throughout the life course. We estimated the individual and combined prevalence of underweight or thinness and obesity, and their changes, from 1990 to 2022 for adults and school-aged children and adolescents in 200 countries and territories. Methods We used data from 3663 population-based studies with 222 million participants that measured height and weight in representative samples of the general population. We used a Bayesian hierarchical model to estimate trends in the prevalence of different BMI categories, separately for adults (age ≥20 years) and school-aged children and adolescents (age 5–19 years), from 1990 to 2022 for 200 countries and territories. For adults, we report the individual and combined prevalence of underweight (BMI 2 SD above the median). Findings From 1990 to 2022, the combined prevalence of underweight and obesity in adults decreased in 11 countries (6%) for women and 17 (9%) for men with a posterior probability of at least 0·80 that the observed changes were true decreases. The combined prevalence increased in 162 countries (81%) for women and 140 countries (70%) for men with a posterior probability of at least 0·80. In 2022, the combined prevalence of underweight and obesity was highest in island nations in the Caribbean and Polynesia and Micronesia, and countries in the Middle East and north Africa. Obesity prevalence was higher than underweight with posterior probability of at least 0·80 in 177 countries (89%) for women and 145 (73%) for men in 2022, whereas the converse was true in 16 countries (8%) for women, and 39 (20%) for men. From 1990 to 2022, the combined prevalence of thinness and obesity decreased among girls in five countries (3%) and among boys in 15 countries (8%) with a posterior probability of at least 0·80, and increased among girls in 140 countries (70%) and boys in 137 countries (69%) with a posterior probability of at least 0·80. The countries with highest combined prevalence of thinness and obesity in school-aged children and adolescents in 2022 were in Polynesia and Micronesia and the Caribbean for both sexes, and Chile and Qatar for boys. Combined prevalence was also high in some countries in south Asia, such as India and Pakistan, where thinness remained prevalent despite having declined. In 2022, obesity in school-aged children and adolescents was more prevalent than thinness with a posterior probability of at least 0·80 among girls in 133 countries (67%) and boys in 125 countries (63%), whereas the converse was true in 35 countries (18%) and 42 countries (21%), respectively. In almost all countries for both adults and school-aged children and adolescents, the increases in double burden were driven by increases in obesity, and decreases in double burden by declining https://researchonline.ljmu.ac.uk/images/research_banner_face_lab_290.jpgunderweight or thinness. Interpretation The combined burden of underweight and obesity has increased in most countries, driven by an increase in obesity, while underweight and thinness remain prevalent in south Asia and parts of Africa. A healthy nutrition transition that enhances access to nutritious foods is needed to address the remaining burden of underweight while curbing and reversing the increase in obesity

ODD-PARITY BANDS OF Ru-108,Ru-110,Ru-112

Two similar sets of odd-parity bands are observed in each of three eveneven neighbors, 108, 110, 112Ru, from a study of prompt spontaneous-fission gamma rays at Gammasphere. A careful study of the odd-parity levels of these nuclei shows evidence for the features of chiral doubling. Comparisons are made with reported other candidates for chiral doubling. © 2009 World Scientific Publishing Company

New band structures in Neutron-Rich Mo and Ru Isotopes

Rotational bands in Ru and Mo have been investigated by means of γ-γ-γ and γ-γ(θ) coincidences of prompt γ rays emitted in the spontaneous fission of Cf. New δI = 1 negative parity doublet bands are found. These bands in Ru and Mo have all the properties expected for chiral vibrations. Microscopic calculations that combine the TAC meanfield with random phase approximation support this interpretation. 110,112 108 252 110,112 10

New band structures in Neutron-Rich Mo and Ru Isotopes

Rotational bands in 110,112Ru and 108Mo have been investigated by means of γ-γ-γ and γ-γ(θ) coincidences of prompt γ rays emitted in the spontaneous fission of 252Cf. New δI = 1 negative parity doublet bands are found. These bands in 110,112Ru and 108Mo have all the properties expected for chiral vibrations. Microscopic calculations that combine the TAC meanfield with random phase approximation support this interpretation

A new approach for preparation of metal-containing polyamide/carbon textile laminate composites with tunable electrical conductivity

Multiscale thermoplastic laminate composites based on polyamide 6 (PA6) dually reinforced by carbon fiber woven textile structures (CFT) and different micron-sized metal particles are prepared for the first time by microencapsulation strategy. In a first step, activated anionic ring-opening polymerization (AAROP) of epsilon-caprolactam is carried out in suspension, in the presence of different metal particles, to produce shell-core PA6 microcapsules (PAMC) loaded with 13-19% metal. In a second step, the loaded PAMC are distributed between CFT plies with fiber volume fractions V (f) = 0.25 or V (f) = 0.50 and then the ply arrays are consolidated by compression molding. Separately, metal-loaded PA6 hybrid composites are prepared by direct compression molding of PAMC and used to compare their properties to the CFT-metal laminates. Light- and scanning electron microscopy are used to study the morphology and the interfaces between the fillers and the polymeric matrix. These structural results are related to the mechanical behavior in tension and the electrical properties. A notable increase of the d.c. electrical conductivity in 7 orders of magnitude is observed for the CFT-metal laminates with respect to the neat PA6. This increase is accompanied by a 2.5-3.0 times growth of the Young's modulus and of the strength at break. It is concluded that the microencapsulation strategy can be applied to produce multifunctional CFT-metal-PA6 thermoplastic composites with tailored electrical and improved mechanical properties for advanced applications.The authors gratefully acknowledge the financial support of the project TSSiPRO NORTE-01-0145-FEDER-000015, supported by the regional operation program NORTE2020, under the Portugal 2020 Partnership Agreement, through the European Regional Development Fund, as well as funding from FCT-Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology within the strategic projects UID/CTM/50025/2013, LA25/2013-2014 and UID/FIS/04650/2013. FMO acknowledges also the PhD grant PD/BD/114372/2016 of FCT-Portugal (AdvaMTech-PhD Program in Advanced Materials and Processing) and PM the FCT SFRH/BPD/96227/2013 grant. Finally, ZZD is thankful to FCT for the SFRH/BSAB/130271/2017 personal research grant. Finally, SLM acknowledges funding from the Basque Government Industry Department under the ELKARTEK program.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio