PPARs and the Cardiovascular System

Abstract Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors (PPARs) belong to the nuclear hormone-receptor superfamily. Originally cloned in 1990, PPARs were found to be mediators of pharmacologic agents that induce hepatocyte peroxisome proliferation. PPARs also are expressed in cells of the cardiovascular system. PPARγ appears to be highly expressed during atherosclerotic lesion formation, suggesting that increased PPARγ expression may be a vascular compensatory response. Also, ligand-activated PPARγ decreases the inflammatory response in cardiovascular cells, particularly in endothelial cells. PPARα, similar to PPARγ, also has pleiotropic effects in the cardiovascular system, including antiinflammatory and antiatherosclerotic properties. PPARα activation inhibits vascular smooth muscle proinflammatory responses, attenuating the development of atherosclerosis. However, PPARδ overexpression may lead to elevated macrophage inflammation and atherosclerosis. Conversely, PPARδ ligands are shown to attenuate the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis by improving endothelial cell proliferation and survival while decreasing endothelial cell inflammation and vascular smooth muscle cell proliferation. Furthermore, the administration of PPAR ligands in the form of TZDs and fibrates has been disappointing in terms of markedly reducing cardiovascular events in the clinical setting. Therefore, a better understanding of PPAR-dependent and -independent signaling will provide the foundation for future research on the role of PPARs in human cardiovascular biology. Antioxid. Redox Signal. 11, 1415-1452.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/78115/1/ars.2008.2280.pd

The Embryonic Transcriptome Of The Red-Eared Slider Turtle (Trachemys Scripta)

The bony shell of the turtle is an evolutionary novelty not found in any other group of animals, however, research into its formation has suggested that it has evolved through modification of conserved developmental mechanisms. Although these mechanisms have been extensively characterized in model organisms, the tools for characterizing them in non-model organisms such as turtles have been limited by a lack of genomic resources. We have used a next generation sequencing approach to generate and assemble a transcriptome from stage 14 and 17 Trachemys scripta embryos, stages during which important events in shell development are known to take place. The transcriptome consists of 231,876 sequences with an N-50 of 1,166 bp. GO terms and EC codes were assigned to the 61,643 unique predicted proteins identified in the transcriptome sequences. All major GO categories and metabolic pathways are represented in the transcriptome. Transcriptome sequences were used to amplify several cDNA fragments designed for use as RNA in situ probes. One of these, BMP5, was hybridized to a T. scripta embryo and exhibits both conserved and novel expression patterns. The transcriptome sequences should be of broad use for understanding the evolution and development of the turtle shell and for annotating any future T. scripta genome sequences

A real-world observation of antipsychotic effects on brain volumes and intrinsic brain activity in schizophrenia

Background: The confounding effects of antipsychotics that led to the inconsistencies of neuroimaging findings have long been the barriers to understanding the pathophysiology of schizophrenia (SZ). Although it is widely accepted that antipsychotics can alleviate psychotic symptoms during the early most acute phase, the longer-term effects of antipsychotics on the brain have been unclear. This study aims to look at the susceptibility of different imaging measures to longer-term medicated status through real-world observation. Methods: We compared gray matter volume (GMV) with amplitude of low-frequency fluctuations (ALFFs) in 89 medicated-schizophrenia (med-SZ), 81 unmedicated-schizophrenia (unmed-SZ), and 235 healthy controls (HC), and the differences were explored for relationships between imaging modalities and clinical variables. We also analyzed age-related effects on GMV and ALFF values in the two patient groups (med-SZ and unmed-SZ). Results: Med-SZ demonstrated less GMV in the prefrontal cortex, temporal lobe, cingulate gyri, and left insula than unmed-SZ and HC ( Conclusion: GMV loss appeared to be pronounced to longer-term antipsychotics, whereby imbalanced alterations in regional low-frequency fluctuations persisted unaffected by antipsychotic treatment. Our findings may help to understand the disease course of SZ and potentially identify a reliable neuroimaging feature for diagnosis

In2S3 Quantum Dots: Preparation, Properties and Optoelectronic Application

Low-dimensional semiconductors exhibit remarkable performances in many device applications because of their unique physical, electrical, and optical properties. In this paper, we report a novel and facile method to synthesize In2S3 quantum dots (QDs) at atmospheric pressure and room temperature conditions. This involves the reaction of sodium sulfide with indium chloride and using sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) as a surfactant to produce In2S3 QDs with excellent crystal quality. The properties of the as-prepared In2S3 QDs were investigated and photodetectors based on the QDs were also fabricated to study the use of the material in optoelectronic applications. The results show that the detectivity of the device stabilizes at ~ 1013 Jones at room temperature under 365 nm ultraviolet light irradiation at reverse bias voltage

Volcanic–plutonic connections and metal fertility of highly evolved magma systems: a case study from the Herberton Sn–W–Mo Mineral Field, Queensland, Australia

Understanding the connection between the highly evolved intrusive and extrusive systems is essential to explore the evolution of high silicic magma systems, which plays an important role in discussions of planetary differentiation, the growth of continents, crustal evolution, and the formation of highly evolved magma associated Sn–W–Mo mineral systems. To discern differences between "fertile" and "non-fertile" igneous rocks associated with Sn–W–Mo mineralizationand reveal the genetic links between coeval intrusive and extrusive rocks, we integrate whole rock geochemistry, geochronology and Hf isotope signatures of igneous zircons from contemporaneous plutonic and volcanic rocks from the world-class Herberton Mineral Field of Queensland, Australia. The 310–300 Ma intrusive rocks and associated intra-plutonic W–Mo mineralizationformed from relatively oxidizedmagmas after moderate degrees of crystal fractionation. The geochemical and isotopic features of the coeval volcanic succession are best reconciled utilizingthe widely-accepted volcanic–plutonic connection model, whereby the volcanic rocks represent fractionated derivatives of the intrusive rocks. Older intrusions emplaced at 335–315 Ma formed from relatively low fO2magmas that fractionated extensively to produce highly evolved granites that host Sn mineralization. Coeval volcanic rocks of this suite are compositionally less evolved than the intrusive rocks, thereby requiring a different model to link these plutonic–volcanic sequences. In this case, we propose that the most fractionated magmas were not lost to volcanism, but instead were effectively retained at the plutonic level, which allowed further localized build-up of volatiles and lithophile metals in the plutonic environment. This disconnection to the volcanism and degassing may be a crucial step for forming granite-hosted Sn mineralization. The transition between these two igneous regimes in Herberton region over a ∼30 m.y. period is attributed to a change from an early compressive tectonic environment with a thickened crust, to conditions of crustal thinning and lithospheric extension due to progressive slab rollback. Such tectonic transitions may provide favorable conditions for intrusion-related mineralization. Given the common occurrence of volcanic and plutonic rocks associated with Sn–W–Mo mineralization worldwide, we suggest that a combined understanding of temporal tectonic evolution and plutonic–volcanic connections can assist in assessment of regional-scale mineralization potential, which in turn can aid strategies for future ore deposit exploration

The origin of the world class tin-polymetallic deposits in the Gejiu district, SW China: constraints from metal zoning characteristics and ⁴⁰Ar-³⁹Ar geochronology

The Gejiu tin-polymetallic deposits in the Western Cathaysia Block of South China comprise the world's largest primary tin district, with a total resource of approximately 300 million metric ton ores, at an average grade of 1 wt percent Sn. Tin polymetallic mineralization occurs in five deposits and has four ore types, i.e., greisen, skarn, stratabound cassiterite-sulfide (mostly oxidized) and vein type ore. In each deposit the orebodies typically occur in an extensive hydrothermal system centered on a shallow Late Cretaceous granitoid cupola. Metal zoning is well developed both vertically and horizontally over the entire district, from W + Be + Bi ± Mo ± Sn ores inside granite intrusions, to Sn + Cu-dominated ores at intrusion margins and farther out to Pb + Zn deposits in the surrounding host carbonate. This zoning pattern is similar to that of other hydrothermal deposits in other parts of the world, indicating a close genetic relationship between magmatism and mineralization. In this paper, we dated thirteen mica samples from all types of mineralization and from the five deposits in the Gejiu district. The ages range from 77.4 ± 0.6 Ma to 953 ± 0.7 Ma and are similar to the existing zircon U-Pb age of the granitic intrusions (77.4 ± 2.5-85.8 ± 0.6), indicating a genetic relationship between the mineralization and the intrusions. Geological characteristics, metal zoning patterns and new geochronological data all indicate that the tin-polymetallic ores in the Gejiu district are hydrothermal in origin and are genetically related to the nearby granitic intrusions. It is unlikely that the deposits are syngenetic, as has been proposed in recent years

Geology, geochemistry and genesis of Kafang copper deposit in Gejiu, Yunnan Province

Gejiu is the largest polymetallic tin ore-field over the world. Kafang copper deposit is a main copper provider in Gejiu. There are two kinds of ore-body in Kafang copper deposit. One is stratiform-like ore-body, and the other is contact ore-body. The main wall-rock alterations comprise skarnization, actinolitization and phlogopitization. The analytical results of electron microprobe show that the clinopyroxene is diopside-andradite series. The end member of garnet is dominated by andradite and grossular, with minor spessartine and almandine. Fluid inclusion analysis indicate that the temperature of ore-forming fluid decreased significantly (260-360°C to 160 - 280°C) and the salinity of ore-forming fluid keeps constant basically ( 1.74% - 12.51% to 1.74% -11.93% ) from main mineralization stage to post mineralization stage. Hydrogen isotope analysis and oxygen isotope analysis show that the ore-forming fluid is dominated by magmatic water in the early stage, but in late stage, it could be mixed with magmatic and meteoric water. The compositions of sulfur isotope show that sulfur of stratiform-like ore-body was derived from Triassic basalt, yet both of Triassic basalt and Yanshanian granite provide sulfur for contact ore-body. The compositions of lead isotope show that the source of ore-forming material of stratiform-like ore-body is Triassic basalt, yet the source of lead of contact ore-body is Yanshanian granite