Differential Response of Heat-Shock-Induced p38 MAPK and JNK Activity in PC12 Mutant and PC12 Parental Cells for Differentiation and Apoptosis

Among the 3 mitogen-activated protein kinases -- ERK, p38 MAPK and JNK -- JNK has been suggested to participate in apoptosis, whereas p38 MAPK is thought to be part of the differentiation response. There are many common inducers of JNK and p38 MAPK, but the mechanisms underlying the differential response to apoptosis and differentiation are poorly understood. We found that heatshock activated p38 MAPK at 3min after exposure to a temperature of 44 in stress-hypersensitive PC12m3 mutant cells, while it activated JNK at 20min after the same heat treatment. However, heat shock activated p38 MAPK 5min after heat treatment and JNK 10min after heat treatment in PC12 parental cells. The extent of phosphorylation of p38 MAPK induced by heat shock in PC12m3 cells was significantly greater than that in PC12 parental cells, and a high level of heat-shock-induced neurite outgrowth was observed only in PC12m3 cells. On the other hand, heat-shock-induced JNK activation appeared more quickly and apoptosis started earlier in PC12 parental cells. These findings indicate that short stress induces p38 MAPK and longer stress induces JNK, and that the response of these kinases to heat shock differs depending on cell type.</p

Seaweed intake and risk of cardiovascular disease: the Japan Public Health Center–based Prospective (JPHC) Study

BackgroundThe minerals, vitamins, soluble dietary fibers, and flavonoids of seaweed are protective for preventing cardiovascular diseases. However, the association between seaweed intake and risk of cardiovascular disease has not been established.ObjectivesWe examined the dietary intake of seaweed and its impact upon stroke and ischemic heart disease risk among a Japanese study population.MethodsWe surveyed 40,707 men and 45,406 women from 2 large cohorts (age range: 40–69 y). Seaweed intake was determined by FFQ at baseline (1990–1994). Incidences of stroke and ischemic heart disease were ascertained until the end of 2009 (Cohort I) or 2012 (Cohort II). Sex-specific cardiovascular disease HRs (95% CIs) were estimated using Cox proportional hazard models after stratification by area and adjustment for cardiovascular disease risk and dietary factors.ResultsDuring 1,493,232 person-years of follow-up, 4777 strokes (2863 ischemic stroke, 1361 intraparenchymal hemorrhages, and 531 subarachnoid hemorrhages) and 1204 ischemic heart disease cases were identified. Among men, significant multivariable HRs (95% CIs) for almost daily consumption compared with almost no consumption of seaweed were seen in ischemic heart disease [0.76 (0.58, 0.99); P-trend = 0.04] and total cardiovascular diseases [0.88 (0.78, 1.00); P-trend = 0.08]. Among women, such inverse associations were 0.56 (0.36, 0.85; P-trend = 0.006) for ischemic heart disease and 0.89 (0.76, 1.05; P-trend = 0.10) for total cardiovascular diseases. No significant associations were observed between seaweed intake and risk of total stroke or stroke types among either men or women.ConclusionsSeaweed intake was inversely associated with risk of ischemic heart disease

Development of Narrow Loop Joint for Precast Concrete Slabs with Fiber-Reinforced Mortar: Experimental Investigation of Material Properties and Flexural Behavior of Joint

In the replacement of the reinforced concrete slab in existing steel girder bridges, a loop joint is commonly used to join precast concrete slabs on site. However, a relatively wide joint is needed, and considerable time and effort are consumed to construct the joint due to the addition of transverse reinforcements to the joint on site. These disadvantages affect the progress of on-site construction and should be addressed, especially when this method is applied to highway bridges, where early traffic opening is necessary in many cases. This study proposes a narrow loop joint that has fiber-reinforced mortar without transverse reinforcements. Several material tests were conducted to determine a suitable material for the joint. A series of flexural loading tests of slabs was conducted to investigate the flexural behavior of the proposed loop joint with the selected material (polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) fibers). The results showed that the flexural capacity and deformation performance of the proposed joint with PVA fibers are equivalent to those of the conventional loop joint