Effects of Nicotine Contained in Tobacco Mainstream Smoke on Vascular Smooth Muscle Cells

Cigarette smoking is a known risk factor for arteriosclerosis. In atheromatous plaques, the accumulation of vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) have a phenotype differing from that of their normal contractile type. Nicotine is a major pharmacological agent in cigarette smoke. However, any direct effect of nicotine on VSMCs remains uncertain. We investigated the changes in the expression levels of differentiation markers and activity of mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs) after nicotine exposure for 48 h using human aorta primary smooth muscle cells (HVSMC) differentiated with transforming growth factor-β. The results indicated that HVSMC phenotype changed to a synthetic-like phenotype after nicotine exposure. Nicotine is a factor that can change the expression of differentiation marker proteins in VSMCs. Thus, we proposed that nicotine directly affects the migration of VSMCs from the tunica media to atheromatous plaques in the vascular intima by inducing the transformation from a contractile-type to a synthetic-like type, which occurs before the development of atheromatous plaques. Nicotine is contained in nicotine patches and gums for smoking cessation. There may also promote atheromatous plaque formation. We anticipate that determining this mechanism will lead to new means of preventing and treating plaque formation and development in arteriosclerosis

Analysis of electric-fluid analogy of pressure transmission through an electro-rheological-fluid in annuli

The article concerns the development of flexible robotic fingers using electro-rheological fluid (ERF) for pressure control. It describes a technique to predict the transient response of a pressure control device using ERF by an electric-flow analogy. The inertia is calculated from the theoretical equation. The resistance and additional voltage source by the ER effect are derived theoretically by assuming the flow in the electrode annuli of the pressure control device as a flow of the Bingham fluid. The capacitance is determined to compare the time-responses of pressures by the prediction based on a model with the results of a simple experiment. The predictions of transient flow, using the determined parameters of the model are in qualitatively good agreement with the experimental results</p

Reduction of exogenous ketones depends upon NADPH generated photosynthetically in cells of the cyanobacterium Synechococcus PCC 7942

Effective utilization of photosynthetic microorganisms as potential biocatalysts is favorable for the production of useful biomaterials and the reduction of atmospheric CO2. For example, biocatalytic transformations are used in the synthesis of optically active alcohols. We previously found that ketone reduction in cells of the cyanobacterium Synechococcus PCC 7942 is highly enantioselective and remarkably enhanced under light illumination. In this study, the mechanism of light-enhanced ketone reduction was investigated in detail using several inhibitors of photosynthetic electron transport and of enzymes of the Calvin cycle. It is demonstrated that light intensity and photosynthesis inhibitors significantly affect the ketone reduction activity in Synechococcus. This indicates that the reduction correlates well with photosynthetic activity. Moreover, ketone reduction in Synechococcus specifically depends upon NADPH and not NADH. These results also suggest that cyanobacteria have the potential to be utilized as biocatalytic systems for direct usage of light energy in various applications such as syntheses of useful compounds and remediation of environmental pollutants

Introduction to the Financial System and Securities & Exchange System Reform Act in Japan

This translation of an original Japanese language work, by Hiroshi Naka and Akio Nakamura, both of the Japanese Ministry of Finance, details the reforms of Japan\u27s financial and securities & exchange system made under the recently enacted System Reform Act. The major reforms under the Act include: (1) altering the Glass Steagall rule (the separation of securities business and banking business) in Japan so that banks and securities companies can engage in each other\u27s business through their subsidiaries; (2) extending securities regulations to some new types of structured finance; (3) amending public offering provisions and providing new articles for private placement; and (4) amending and adding provisions to secure the soundness of banking operations, including capital requirements, and safeguards against harmful side effects (firewalls) which may arise from a bank\u27s moving into securities business. This English language translation, along with the translators\u27 detailed notes, provide an insightful look into these reforms

Inflammatory Diseases and the Role of n-7 Unsaturated Fatty Acids as Functional Lipids

With the increasing childbearing age, the number of mothers with diabetes and gestational diabetes is escalating. Maternal hyperglycemia creates an intrauterine hyperglycemic environment via the placenta, which causes signaling abnormalities in various fetal organs due to excessive glycation. This is associated with future disease development in the child. We have shown that insulin signaling defects are induced in fetal cardiomyoblasts using a rat gestational diabetes mellitus model and cellular models. Furthermore, we reported that maternal intake of eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), an n-3 unsaturated fatty acid, during pregnancy can ameliorate this signaling defect. However, EPA has anti-coagulant effects, and the pollution of marine fish oil, the source for EPA supplements, raises concerns about active intake by pregnant women. Recently, palmitoleic acid, an n-7 unsaturated fatty acid, garnered attention as a candidate functional lipid alternative to EPA because it has been reported to have anti-obesity, lipid metabolism improvement, and cardioprotective effects similar to those of EPA. Palmitoleic acid has cis and trans structural isomers, which differ in their food intake route and metabolism in humans. This article introduces recent findings on the biological functions of palmitoleic acid in lifestyle-related diseases and cardiovascular diseases, ranging from basic research to clinical studies