PLAC8, expressed by interstitial extravillous trophoblasts (iEVTs), plays a crucial role in trophoblast invasion, differentiation, and immunotolerance. Its dysregulation may contribute to pregnancy complications, such as preeclampsia. This study investigates the role of PLAC8 in trophoblast invasiveness and endothelial-like differentiation under different oxygen tensions. Swan-71 cells were transiently transfected with PLAC8 overexpression or knockdown plasmids. Invasion was assessed using Matrigel-coated transwells, endothelial-like differentiation through tube formation assays, and vasculogenic marker expression (VEGF, PGF, ANGPT2) by RT-PCR. Hypoxia experiments were performed at different oxygen conditions. PLAC8 overexpression enhanced trophoblast invasion but reduced endothelial-like differentiation, downregulating VEGF and PGF while upregulating ANGPT2. Hypoxia increased PLAC8 expression, indicating oxygen tension as a regulatory factor. PLAC8 manipulation did not affect cell viability. PLAC8 modulates trophoblast behavior by promoting invasion while inhibiting endothelial-like differentiation. Its regulation of vasculogenic and angiogenic factors suggests a critical role in placental homeostasis and potential relevance to pregnancy disorders, such as preeclampsia.

Objective. To describe the prevalence of obesity, diabetes, hypertension, and cardiovascular risk factors in the Indigenous populations of Northwest Mexico. Method. A cross-sectional study was conducted among Indigenous and rural Mestizo populations of Northwest Mexico, including Coras, Huicholes, Mexicaneros, Tarahumaras, and Tepehuanos, and Mestizos. Obesity was defined by a body mass index (BMI) ≥30 kg/m2. The following cardiovascular risk factors were considered: high waist circumference, hyperglycemia or previous diagnosis of diabetes, elevated blood pressure or previous diagnosis of hypertension, hypertriglyceridemia, and low HDL-C. Results. A total of 472 subjects were enrolled in the study, including Mestizos (n = 48), Coras (n = 73), Huicholes (n = 93), Mexicaneros (n = 74), Tarahumaras (n = 81), and Tepehuanos (n = 103). The prevalence of obesity in the overall population was 11.2%, while specifically in Mestizos, Coras, Huicholes, Mexicaneros, Tarahumaras, and Tepehuanos it was 35%, 18%, 7.5%, 9.4%, 7.4%, and 1.9%, respectively. According to the presence of diabetes, the prevalence in the total population was 3.8%, which in Mestizos, Coras, Huicholes, Mexicaneros, Tarahumaras, and Tepehuanos was 2.0%, 7.8%, 0.0%, 4.0%, 9.8%, and 0.0%, respectively. Regarding hypertension, the prevalence in the overall population was 12.7, whilst in Mestizos, Coras, Huicholes, Mexicaneros, Tarahumaras, and Tepehuanos was 39%, 11.8%, 8.6%, 9.4%, 18.5%, and 1.9%, respectively. Conclusion. Our results revealed that Mexican Indigenous groups exhibit a high prevalence of obesity and hypertension, as well as high blood pressure, hypertriglyceridemia, and low HDL-C.

Background/Objectives: Plants and fruits of Physalis philadelphica Lam. Solanacea are commonly used in traditional medicine to improve some illnesses such as diabetes, in North and Central American countries. The aim was to evaluate the effects of aqueous maceration (He-M) and ultrasound-assisted (He-US) extracts of P. philadelphica husk on hyperglycemia, insulin resistance, hepatic steatosis, and oxidative stress in obese rats. Methods: The effects of husk extracts on carbohydrate and lipid absorption were evaluated using oral starch and lipid tolerance tests in healthy male Wistar rats. Obesity was then induced using a high-fructose and saturated fat diet, followed by 16 weeks of extract administration. Results: He-US significantly reduced the postprandial glycemic spike, while both extracts lowered serum triglyceride levels (~50%) following lipid loading, compared with the negative control. In obese rats, both extracts reduced body weight gain (~10%) and lowered fasting glucose levels (22% for He-M and 15% for He-US), compared with the obese control. He-US also reduced insulin levels (~32%), insulin resistance (~53%), and free fatty acids (~52%), while He-M improved hepatic steatosis and reduced liver triglycerides (~26%). Both extracts reduced hepatic nitrite levels, although only He-M significantly decreased lipid peroxidation (~32%). Additionally, both treatments enhanced hepatic antioxidant enzyme activity. Conclusions: Husk extracts exerted beneficial effects on hyperglycemia, insulin resistance, hepatic steatosis, and oxidative stress markers in obese rats.