Objective— Pleiotropic atheroprotective effects of HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors may be mediated on the level of vascular gene transcription. The aim of this study was to characterize the effects of statins on the activation of transcription factors known to regulate inflammation and cell proliferation/differentiation. Methods and Results— Simvastatin, atorvastatin, and lovastatin (0.1 to 10 μmol/L) inhibited the binding of nuclear proteins to both the nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB) and activator protein-1 (AP-1) DNA consensus oligonucleotides in human endothelial and vascular smooth muscle cells as assessed by electrophoretic mobility shift assay (EMSA). The inhibitory effects of statins on NF-κB or AP-1–dependent transcriptional activity were examined by transient transfection studies. HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors upregulated IκB-α protein levels in endothelial cells and decreased c-Jun mRNA expression in smooth muscle cells as analyzed by Western and Northern blotting, respectively. Furthermore, statins inhibited DNA binding of hypoxia-inducible factor-1α. Downstream effects of statins included inhibition of plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 and vascular endothelial growth factor-A mRNA levels in endothelial cells. Conclusions— HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors downregulate the activation of transcription factors NF-κB, AP-1, and hypoxia-inducible factor-1α. These findings support the concept that statins have antiinflammatory and antiproliferative effects that are relevant in the treatment of atherosclerotic diseases.

Solid-liquid phase transitions are basic physical processes, but atomically resolved microscopy has yet to capture their full dynamics. A new technique is developed for controlling the melting and freezing of self-assembled molecular structures on a graphene field-effect transistor (FET) that allows phase-transition behavior to be imaged using atomically resolved scanning tunneling microscopy. This is achieved by applying electric fields to 2,3,5,6-tetrafluoro-7,7,8,8-tetracyanoquinodimethane-decorated FETs to induce reversible transitions between molecular solid and liquid phases at the FET surface. Nonequilibrium melting dynamics are visualized by rapidly heating the graphene substrate with an electrical current and imaging the resulting evolution toward new 2D equilibrium states. An analytical model is developed that explains observed mixed-state phases based on spectroscopic measurement of solid and liquid molecular energy levels. The observed nonequilibrium melting dynamics are consistent with Monte Carlo simulations.

© 2016 Author(s). The uniform electron gas and the hydrogen atom play fundamental roles in condensed matter physics and quantum chemistry. The former has an infinite number of electrons uniformly distributed over the neutralizing positively charged background, and the latter only one electron bound to the proton. The uniform electron gas was used to derive the local spin density approximation to the exchange-correlation functional that undergirds the development of the Kohn-Sham density functional theory. We show here that the ground-state exchange-correlation energies of the hydrogen atom and many other 1- and 2-electron systems are modeled surprisingly well by a different local spin density approximation (LSDA0). LSDA0 is constructed to satisfy exact constraints but agrees surprisingly well with the exact results for a uniform two-electron density in a finite, curved three-dimensional space. We also apply LSDA0 to excited or noded 1-electron densities, where it works less well. Furthermore, we show that the localization of the exact exchange hole for a 1- or 2-electron ground state can be measured by the ratio of the exact exchange energy to its optimal lower bound.

This study indicates that propofol, etomidate, and pentobarbital increased critical oxygen delivery in a dose-dependent manner. This effect was mainly related to a decrease in tissue oxygen extraction capabilities.

Society of Critical Care Medicine; 28th Educational and Scientific Symposium; San Francisco, California, USA; January 23-27, 1999: Poster Presentations: Poster Hall

Twisted graphene systems with flat bands have attracted much attention for they are excellent platforms to research novel quantum phases. Recently, transport measurements about twisted monolayer–bilayer graphene (tMBG) have shown the existence of correlated states and topological states in this system. However, the direct observations of the band structures and the corresponding spatial distributions are still not sufficient. Here we show that the distributions of flat bands in tMBG host two different modes by scanning tunneling microscopy and spectroscopy (STM/S). By tuning our tMBG device from the empty filling state to the full filling state through the back gate, we observe that the distributions of two flat bands develop from localized mode to delocalized mode. This gate-controlled flat band wavefunction polarization is unique to the tMBG system. Our work suggests that tMBG is promising to simulate both twisted bilayer graphene (TBG) and twisted double bilayer graphene (tDBG) and would be an ideal platform to explore novel moiré physics.

Disease status of AS appears to be associated with elevated VEGF plasma levels. Whether this reflects inflammation or a truly angiogenic pathomechanism requires further investigation.

Summary: Background: Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-γ (PPARγ) is a ligand inducible transcription factor expressed mainly in adipose tissue and involved in regulation of lipid and glucose metabolism.Methods: Among the exogenous PPARγ ligands are thiazolidinediones (TZDs, insulin sensitizers), and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAID), whereas the endogenous inducers comprise prostaglandin D2 (PGD2) and prostaglandin J2 (PGJ2). Ligands of PPARγ are also involved in regulation of inflammation and angiogenesis.Results: Recently PPARγ has been detected in endothelium, vascular smooth muscle cells, and, to the highest extent, in macrophages/foam cells within atherosclerotic plaques.Conclusions: Here we summarize the possible roles played by PPARγ in the vessel wall. Zusammenfassung: Grundlagen: Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-γ (PPARγ) ist ein Liganden-induzierbarer Transkriptionsfaktor, der hauptsächlich im adipösen Gewebe exprimiert wird und in die Regulation der Lipid- und Glukosemetabolismen involviert ist.Methodik: Zu den exogenen PPARγ-Liganden gehören die Thiazolidindione (TZDs) und die nicht-steroidalen Antiphlogistika (NSAID). Prostaglandin D2 (PgD2) und Prostaglandin J2 (PgJ2) können PPARγ endogen induzieren. Die Liganden von PPARγ sind auch in der Regulation von Entzündung und Angiogenese involviert.Ergebnisse: Vor kurzem konnte PPARγ im Endothel, in den glatten Gefäßmuskulaturzellen und mit der höchsten Konzentration in Makrophagen/Schaumzellen in atherosklerotischen Plaques gemessen werden.Schlußfolgerungen: Wir fassen hier die möglichen Rollen, die PPARγ in der Gefäßwand spielt, zusammen.

Abdominal compartment syndrome may be defined as the deleterious pathophysiologic consequences of a significant increase in intra-abdominal pressure. These alterations can affect respiratory mechanics, cardiovascular system, regional blood flow, renal function, urine output, and intracranial pressure. Although the syndrome may be associated with many clinical situations, the most common are severe abdominal trauma and ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysm. Diagnosis depends upon recognition of the clinical syndrome followed by an objective measurement of intraabdominal pressure, the most common being the measurement of bladder pressure. Treatment consists of adequate fluid resuscitation and surgical decompression when necessary.