The aim

of the present study was to investigate the differentiation of human HFSCs (hHFSCs) into cells of an endothelial lineage. hHFSCs were expanded to the second passage in vitro and then induced by the addition of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) to the culture medium. The expression levels of endothelial cell (EC)-related markers, including von Willebrand factor (vWF), vascular endothelial cadherin (VE)-cadherin and cluster of differentiation (CD)31, were detected by immunofluorescence staining, flow cytometric analysis and reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction. The hHFSCs expressed vWF, VE-cadherin and CD31 when selleck screening library exposed to a differentiation medium, similar to the markers expressed by the human umbilical vein ECs. More significantly, differentiated cells were also able to take up low-density lipoprotein. The data of the present study demonstrated that an efficient strategy Selleck LY2090314 may be developed for differentiating hHFSCs into ECs by stimulation with VEGF and bFGF. Thus, hHFSCs represent a novel cell source for vascular tissue engineering and studies regarding the treatment of various forms of ischaemic vascular disease.”
“Objective:

The aim of this study was to investigate whether cardiovascular autonomic reactivity and risk profile are associated with the frequency and severity of hot flashes in recently postmenopausal women.\n\nMethods: A total of 150 postmenopausal women with varying degrees of severity of hot flashes (none, mild, moderate, or severe) underwent 24-hour electrocardiographic recording. The function of the autonomic nervous

system was assessed via heart rate variability in time and frequency domains. The effects of hot flashes on cardiac autonomic function were studied by assessing heart rate variability in the presence and absence of symptoms.\n\nResults: There were no differences in mean heart rate, heart rate extremes, or total number of ectopic beats between women without and women with mild, moderate, or severe hot flashes. However, most women (14/17, 82%) with www.selleckchem.com/products/blebbistatin.html frequent ventricular ectopic beats and all women with ventricular runs belonged to the symptomatic groups. Although there were no differences in 24-hour or nighttime heart rate variability between the study groups, the very-low-frequency spectral component of heart rate variability increased by 72% (P < 0.001) during the hot flash period compared with the control period and was accompanied by an increase in heart rate (3%; P < 0.001).\n\nConclusions: Cardiovascular risk markers based on heart rate variability failed to show an association with the frequency and severity of hot flashes in recently postmenopausal women. However, during a hot flash episode, there were signs of altered autonomic control of heart rate, which may be involved in the regulatory mechanisms of hot flashes.