Sphingolipids critically regulate microvascular integrity and function, but the role of glycosphingolipids in endothelial survival and angiogenesis remains poorly defined. Herein, we experimentally deactivated or activated UDP-glucose ceramide glucosyltransferase (UGCG), which converts ceramide to glucosylceramide, by the pharmacological inhibitor D-threo-1-phenyl-2-decanoylamino-3-morpholino-1-propanol (D-PDMP), siRNA-mediate...

Serum glial fibrillary acidic protein (sGFAP) is an astroglial biomarker preliminarily investigated in acute ischemic stroke (AIS). We aimed to investigate its temporal pattern and clinical value in two German AIS cohorts. Using immunoassay, we measured sGFAP concentrations in 952 samples of 572 AIS patient and 32 samples of controls recruited in Halle [AIS n = 102, age: 70.9 (± 15.9) years, 52.0% males; controls n = 32, age:...

To determine whether long-term residential air pollution [AP; ozone (O₃) and fine particulate matter (PM₂.₅)] is associated with (1) incident mild cognitive impairment (MCI) or Alzheimer’s disease (AD), (2) biomarkers of core and AD-relevant pathology, and (3) whether these relationships are moderated by APOE4+/- (carrier/non-carrier of one or both ε4 alleles) status or mediated by neuroinflammation. Sample included 795 partic...

Systemic inflammation following ischemic stroke is driven by a complex interplay among pro-inflammatory cytokines, immune cell activation, and neurovascular dysfunction. Both aging and obesity significantly amplify this inflammatory response, exacerbating stroke severity and impeding recovery. Aging induces a chronic low-grade inflammatory state—referred to as inflammaging —that heightens vulnerability to stroke-induced brain...

Vernal ponds are vital components of forest ecosystems in the eastern United States, providing biodiversity support, water filtration, and flood regulation. Climate change may exacerbate hydrological fluctuations, altering the communities these seasonal wetlands support. This study examines the effects of drying disturbances on macroinvertebrate communities in vernal ponds, focusing on comparing biodiversity metrics before and...

Small extracellular vesicles (sEVs) obtained from mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) have shown considerable promise as restorative stroke treatment. In a head-to-head comparison in mice exposed to transient proximal middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO), sEVs obtained from MSCs cultured under hypoxic conditions particularly potently enhanced long-term brain tissue survival, microvascular integrity, and angiogenesis. These obs...