The prevalence of mild cognitive impairment in diverse geographical and ethnocultural regions: The COSMIC Collaboration

Background Changes in criteria and differences in populations studied and methodology have produced a wide range of prevalence estimates for mild cognitive impairment (MCI). Methods Uniform criteria were applied to harmonized data from 11 studies from USA, Europe, Asia and Australia, and MCI prevalence estimates determined using three separate definitions of cognitive impairment. Results The published range of MCI prevalence estimates was 5.0%-36.7%. This was reduced with all cognitive impairment definitions: performance in the bottom 6.681% (3.2%-10.8%); Clinical Dementia Rating of 0.5 (1.8%-14.9%); Mini-Mental State Examination score of 24-27 (2.1%-20.7%). Prevalences using the first definition were 5.9% overall, and increased with age (P < .001) but were unaffected by sex or the main races/ethnicities investigated (Whites and Chinese). Not completing high school increased the likelihood of MCI (P = .01). Conclusion Applying uniform criteria to harmonized data greatly reduced the variation in MCI prevalence internationally

Plasminogen activator inhibitor type 1 inhibits smooth muscle cell proliferation in pulmonary arterial hypertension

RATIONALE: Pulmonary arterial smooth muscle cells (PASMCs) in the medial layer of the vessel wall are responsible for vessel homeostasis, but also for pathologic vascular remodelling in diseases, such as idiopathic pulmonary arterial hypertension (IPAH). Vascular remodelling in IPAH results in vessel stiffness, occlusion, and increased vascular resistance, but its underlying mechanisms remain to be fully elucidated. In this study, we investigated the expression and function of plasminogen activator inhibitor (PAI)-1, an inhibitor of the plasminogen activator system and target gene of the transforming growth factor (TGF)-beta1 signalling cascade, in PASMC in IPAH. METHODS AND RESULTS: RNA and protein analysis from lung tissues of donors and patients with IPAH (n=7 each) revealed a significant downregulation of PAI-1 in IPAH lungs. Immunohistochemical analysis localised PAI-1 to the bronchial and alveolar epithelium, as well as to vascular and airway smooth muscle cells. PAI-1 was also downregulated in primary PASMC derived from IPAH lungs as compared with donor-derived PASMC. In order to elucidate PAI-1 function, primary PASMC were stimulated with active recombinant (r)PAI-1, or transfected with PAI-1-specific siRNA. Stimulation with rPAI-1 led to decreased PASMC proliferation and adhesion to vitronectin, and increased PASMC migration. In contrast, PAI-1 knock-down with siRNA increased PASMC proliferation and decreased PASMC migration. CONCLUSIONS: PAI-1 is significantly downregulated in PASMC in IPAH, on the mRNA and protein level. PAI-1 negatively regulates PASMC proliferation, while it increases PASMC migration. Thus, its loss in IPAH may therefore contribute to pathologic vascular remodelling in IPAH

Mixed Si-Ge nanoparticle quantum dots: a density functional theory study

73.22.-f Electronic structure of nanoscale materials: clusters, nanoparticles, nanotubes, and nanocrystals, 78.67.Bf Nanocrystals and nanoparticles,

The prevalence of mild cognitive impairment in diverse geographical and ethnocultural regions: The COSMIC Collaboration

10.1371/journal.pone.0142388PLoS ONE1011e014238