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Sulf1/Sulf2 genes are highly expressed during early fetal cardiovascular development but down-regulated during later stages correlating with a number of cell signalling pathways in a positive or a negative manner. Immunocytochemical analysis confirmed SULF1/SULF2 expression not only in endothelial cell lining of blood vessels but also in the developing cardiomyocytes but not in the adult cardiomyocytes despite persisting at reduced levels in the adult endothelial cells. The levels of both SULFs in adult ischemic human hearts and in murine hearts following coronary occlusion increased in endothelial lining of some regional blood vessels but with little or no detection in the cardiomyocytes. Unlike the normal adult heart, the levels of SULF1 and SULF2 were markedly increased in the adult canine right-atrial haemangiosarcoma correlating with increased TGFβ cell signalling. Cell signalling relationship to ischaemia was further confirmed by in vitro hypoxia of HMec1 endothelial cells demonstrating dynamic changes in not only vegf and its receptors but also sulfotransferases and Sulf1 & Sulf2 levels. In vitro hypoxia of HMec1 cells also confirmed earlier up-regulation of TGFβ cell signalling revealed by Smad2, Smad3, ALK5 and TGFβ1 changes and later down-regulation correlating with Sulf1 but not Sulf2 highlighting Sulf1/Sulf2 differences in endothelial cells under hypoxia.

Despite widespread use of behavioral observations to evaluate child feeding behaviors in research and clinical practice, few studies have comprehensively characterized mealtimes or identified features that differentiate children with and without disordered feeding; these were the aims of the current study. Mealtime observations were conducted for 18 children with avoidant restrictive food intake disorder (ARFID) and 21 typically developing children. Observations were coded inductively, and associations between disorder and observed mealtime actions were examined. Most behaviors were observed across both clinical and nonclinical mealtimes, and many did not differ in frequency between children with and without ARFID. However, significant group differences were observed in the frequencies of behaviors relating to food intake, visual and physical engagement with feeding, and movement during mealtimes. The comparability of behaviors across clinical and nonclinical groups suggests that eating behaviors exist on a continuum from "normal" to "abnormal," with group differences relating to frequency rather than type of behavior. The behavioral differences observed in this study suggest that identification of children with ARFID should focus on child engagement with food and restlessness during mealtimes. Reliance on emotional and escape-maintained behaviors will lead to underrecognition of families in need of clinical support.