Peroxisome Proliferator-Activated Receptor-Gamma Agonists Suppress Tissue Factor Overexpression in Rat Balloon Injury Model with Paclitaxel Infusion

The role and underlying mechanisms of rosiglitazone, a peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-gamma (PPAR-γ) agonist, on myocardial infarction are poorly understood. We investigated the effects of this PPAR-γ agonist on the expression of tissue factor (TF), a primary molecule for thrombosis, and elucidated its underlying mechanisms. The PPAR-γ agonist inhibited TF expression in response to TNF-α in human umbilical vein endothelial cells, human monocytic leukemia cell line, and human umbilical arterial smooth muscle cells. The overexpression of TF was mediated by increased phosphorylation of mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK), which was blocked by the PPAR-γ agonist. The effective MAPK differed depending on each cell type. Luciferase and ChIP assays showed that transcription factor, activator protein-1 (AP-1), was a pivotal target of the PPAR-γ agonist to lower TF transcription. Intriguingly, two main drugs for drug-eluting stent, paclitaxel or rapamycin, significantly exaggerated thrombin-induced TF expression, which was also effectively blocked by the PPAR-γ agonist in all cell types. This PPAR-γ agonist did not impair TF pathway inhibitor (TFPI) in three cell types. In rat balloon injury model (Sprague-Dawley rats, n = 10/group) with continuous paclitaxel infusion, the PPAR-γ agonist attenuated TF expression by 70±5% (n = 4; P<0.0001) in injured vasculature. Taken together, rosiglitazone reduced TF expression in three critical cell types involved in vascular thrombus formation via MAPK and AP-1 inhibitions. Also, this PPAR-γ agonist reversed the paclitaxel-induced aggravation of TF expression, which suggests a possibility that the benefits might outweigh its risks in a group of patients with paclitaxel-eluting stent implanted

Wishes or Constraints? Mothers' Labour Force Participation and its Motivation in Switzerland

The aim of this article is to estimate the impact of various factors related to role conflict theory and preference theory on the reduction of women's labour force participation after their transition to parenthood. Objective and subjective dimensions of women's labour force participation are assessed. The empirical test is based on a survey of couples with children in Switzerland. Results show that compared to structural factors associated with role conflict reduction, preferences have little impact on mothers' labour force participation, but explain a good deal of their frustration if the factual situation does not correspond to their wishes. Structural factors, such as occupation, economic resources, childcare, and an urban environment, support mothers' labour force participation, whereas active networks and a home centred lifestyle preference help them to cope with frustrations

Runoff generation in a pre-alpine catchment: A discussion between a tracer and a shallow groundwater hydrologist

Runoff generation mechanisms vary between catchments and despite decades of research in many catchments, these mechanisms are still not fully understood. In this paper, runoff generation mechanisms in the steep pre-alpine catchments in the Alptal, Switzerland, are discussed. These fast responding catchments are characterized by low permeability soils on top of flysch bedrock. In combination with the high and frequent precipitation, this results in predominantly wet conditions. In many areas, the water table is close to the surface. We review the main results of recent (2009-2016) studies in these catchments that used isotope, stream chemistry and hydrometric data. These field studies focused on the spatial and temporal patterns in groundwater levels, spatial patterns in the isotopic composition and chemistry of streamflow during baseflow conditions, as well as the responses of streamflow and its isotopic composition during rainfall events. The combined results of these studies highlight the establishment of connectivity of areas with a different topographic position and areas with a different land use during rainfall events. They also show the importance of flow in higher conductivity near surface soil layers for runoff generation, as well as the frequent occurrence of surface runoff. Spatial differences in groundwater dynamics are related to topography. Streamflow responses are mainly affected by the rainfall characteristics; differences in streamflow and hydrochemistry between catchments with different portions of forest, meadows and wetlands, were relatively small. However, variations in the chemistry of baseflow along stream reaches within a catchment were considerable. Above all, these studies highlight the value of combining data on spatial patterns of groundwater levels and stream chemistry with long term data on streamflow to derive a more complete picture of the dominant runoff generation mechanisms.Los mecanismos de generación de escorrentía varían entre cuencas y a pesar de décadas de investigación en numerosas cuencas, estos mecanismos todavía no se entienden completamente. En este trabajo se discuten los mecanismos de generación de escorrentía en las cuencas prealpinas de Alptal, Suiza, caracterizadas por fuertes pendientes. Estas cuencas, que presentan respuestas rápidas, poseen suelos poco permeables sobre estratos del flysch. Junto con unas precipitaciones abundantes y frecuentes, esto se traduce en la existencia de condiciones predominantemente húmedas. En muchas zonas, la capa freática está cerca de la superficie del suelo. En este trabajo se revisan los principales resultados de los estudios recientes (2009-2016) llevados a cabo en estas cuencas que utilizaron datos sobre isótopos y química del caudal así como datos hidrométricos. Estos estudios de campo se centraron en los patrones espaciales y temporales de los niveles freáticos, en los patrones espaciales de la composición isotópica y química del flujo de base, así como en la respuesta del caudal y su composición isotópica durante eventos pluviométricos. La combinación de todos estos resultados destaca la conectividad que se establece entre áreas con una posición topográfica diferente y con diferentes usos del suelo durante eventos pluviométricos. También muestra la importancia que tienen los flujos de agua en la mayor conductividad que se produce en las capas de suelo más superficiales para la generación de escorrentía, y la ocurrencia frecuente de escorrentía superficial. Las diferencias espaciales en la dinámica de los niveles freáticos están relacionadas con la topografía. La respuesta del caudal está principalmente afectada por las características de la lluvia; las diferencias de caudal y química del agua entre cuencas con diferentes fracciones de cubierta forestal, prados y humedales fueron relativamente pequeñas. Sin embargo, las variaciones en la química del flujo de base en diferentes secciones del cauce en una misma cuenca fueron considerables. Ante todo estos estudios destacan el valor de combinar datos sobre patrones espaciales de niveles freáticos y química del agua con serie largas de datos de caudal para obtener una imagen más completa de los principales mecanismos de generación de escorrentía