Blood vessel walls are built and maintained by 2 interdependent cell types, endothelial cells and mural cells. Signals exchanged between these 2 cell types control the formation, maturation, remodeling, and function of microvascular networks. Mural cells are either pericytes in the microvasculature or smooth muscle cells (SMCs) in larger vessels. Interactions between endothelial cells and mural...

BACKGROUND Blood vessels comprise endothelial cells, mural cells (pericytes/vascular smooth muscle cells) and basement membrane. During angiogenesis, mural cells are recruited to sprouting endothelial cells and define a stabilizing context, comprising cell-cell contacts, secreted growth factors and extracellular matrix components, that drives vessel maturation and resistance to anti-angiogenic ...

OBJECTIVE The focus of this study was to investigate the role of connexin (Cx) 45 in endothelial-induced mural cell differentiation. METHODS AND RESULTS We created mural cell precursors that stably express only Cx45 in Cx43-deficient mesenchymal cells (ReCx45), and used our in vitro model of blood vessel assembly to assess the capacity of this Cx to support endothelial-induced mural cell diff...

The subtypes of intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasms (IPMNs) are closely associated with the clinicopathological behavior and recurrence after surgical resection. However, there no established non-invasive methods to confirm IPMNs without surgery. aim this study is predict using findings endoscopic ultrasonography (EUS). Sixty-two consecutive patients who underwent EUS before surgery were r...

Dear Editor, Nodular histiocytic/mesothelial hyperplasia (NHMH) is a rare and benign tumor-like lesion and easily misdiagnosed clinically and pathologically. We report a case of right spermatic cord cyst with NHMH. A 4-year-old patient presented with a right spermatic cord cyst, which developed 4 years ago. He had no history of trauma, inflammation, urinary tract infection, or surgery. Transill...

Left atrioventricular valve regurgitation often occurs as a postoperative hemodynamic complication from repair of an atrioventricular septal defect. In this study, cross-sectional two-dimensional Doppler flow mapping of the left atrium was used to quantify postoperative regurgitant flow in 29 patients. Its severity and location was related to the shape of the three leaflets of the left componen...

Angiogenesis is a multi-step process that culminates in vascular maturation whereby nascent vessels stabilize to become functional, and mural cells play an essential role in this process. Recent studies have shown that mural cells in tumors also promote and maintain vascular integrity, with wide-reaching clinical implications including the regulation of tumor growth, metastases, and drug delive...

the nodular thyroid diseas is one of the most common disturbances o the thyroid gland wheras malignant tumors are among the most unusual entities of it. not only differentiation of these two spectra but also the problems to achieve early diagnosis and treatment, have been a matter of concern, research, and controversy. two hundred patients were assessed at the cancer institute of imam khomeini ...