Resistance exercise has an antihypertensive effect comparable to that of aerobic exercise in hypertensive patients: a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.

Hypertension increases the risk of cerebrovascular disease and death. In addition to aerobic exercise, which is currently recommended for its antihypertensive effects, recent studies have suggested that dynamic and isometric resistance exercises also have antihypertensive effects. However, the magnitude of the antihypertensive effect of such resistance exercises is not well known.

Differences in the effects of exercise on blood pressure depending on the physical condition of the subject and the type of exercise: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Although hypertension is a major cause of cardiovascular disease, the control of blood pressure (BP) is insufficient worldwide. Exercise is an effective treatment for reducing BP, but the differences in the blood pressure lowering effects of exercise according to the underlying pathophysiological condition, the type of exercise, and the geographic region are not fully understood. An umbrella review with a meta-analysis of 435 randomized controlled trials that investigated the BP-lowering effects of exercise was performed using Ovid MEDLINE and the Cochrane Library, covering the period from inception to August 1, 2023.

Discovery and structure-activity relationship of dimesulfazet: a novel rice paddy herbicide.

Dimesulfazet, a novel herbicide for use in paddy rice, was discovered during studies on haloalkylsulfonanilide derivatives. Our research revealed that cyclic sulfonamide derivatives exhibited herbicidal efficacy against paddy weeds prevalent in Japan, such as Schoenoplectiella juncoides (Roxb.) Lye.

Lipoprotein Apheresis Alleviates Treatment-Resistant Peripheral Artery Disease Despite the Normal Range of Atherogenic Lipoproteins: The LETS-PAD Study.

Aim: Peripheral artery disease (PAD) severely impairs patient prognosis and quality of life (QOL). Although lipoprotein apheresis (LA) has been applied to patients with PAD and elevated serum atherogenic lipoproteins, we hypothesized that LA can be effective for treating PAD even in patients with controlled serum lipoproteins through pleiotropic anti-atherosclerotic effects beyond lipoprotein removal. This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of LA in patients with treatment-resistant PAD and controlled serum lipoproteins focusing on QOL.

The Role of TRPM4 in Cardiac Electrophysiology and Arrhythmogenesis.

The transient receptor potential melastatin 4 (TRPM4) channel is a non-selective cation channel that activates in response to increased intracellular Ca levels but does not allow Ca to pass through directly. It plays a crucial role in regulating diverse cellular functions associated with intracellular Ca homeostasis/dynamics. TRPM4 is widely expressed in the heart and is involved in various physiological and pathological processes therein.

Cytosolic Glutamine Synthetase GS1;3 Is Involved in Rice Grain Ripening and Germination.

Ammonium is combined with glutamate to form glutamine. This reaction is catalyzed by glutamine synthetase (GS or GLN). Plants harbor several isoforms of cytosolic GS (GS1).

Identification and Enzymatic Analysis of an Archaeal ATP-Dependent Serine Kinase from the Hyperthermophilic Archaeon .

Serine kinase catalyzes the phosphorylation of free serine (Ser) to produce -phosphoserine (Sep). An ADP-dependent Ser kinase in the hyperthermophilic archaeon Thermococcus kodakarensis (-SerK) is involved in cysteine (Cys) biosynthesis and most likely Ser assimilation. An ATP-dependent Ser kinase in the mesophilic bacterium Staphylococcus aureus is involved in siderophore biosynthesis.

An Arrhythmic Mutation E7K Facilitates TRPM4 Channel Activation via Enhanced PIP Interaction.

A Ca-activated monovalent cation-selective TRPM4 channel is abundantly expressed in the heart. Recently, a single gain-of-function mutation identified in the distal N-terminus of the human TRPM4 channel (Glu to Lys; E7K) was found to be arrhythmogenic because of enhanced cell membrane expression. In this study, we conducted detailed analyses of this mutant channel from more functional aspects, in comparison with its wild type (WT).

Fibulin-1 Integrates Subendothelial Extracellular Matrices and Contributes to Anatomical Closure of the Ductus Arteriosus.

Objective: The ductus arteriosus (DA) is a fetal artery connecting the aorta and pulmonary arteries. Progressive matrix remodeling, that is, intimal thickening (IT), occurs in the subendothelial region of DA to bring anatomic DA closure. IT is comprised of multiple ECMs (extracellular matrices) and migrated smooth muscle cells (SMCs).

Excessive EP4 Signaling in Smooth Muscle Cells Induces Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm by Amplifying Inflammation.

Objective: Excessive prostaglandin E production is a hallmark of abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA). Enhanced expression of prostaglandin E receptor EP4 (prostaglandin E receptor 4) in vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) has been demonstrated in human AAAs. Although moderate expression of EP4 contributes to vascular homeostasis, the roles of excessive EP4 in vascular pathology remain uncertain.

Reactive fibrosis precedes doxorubicin-induced heart failure through sterile inflammation.

Aims: Doxorubicin (DOX)-induced heart failure has a poor prognosis, and effective treatments have not been established. Because DOX shows cumulative cardiotoxicity, we hypothesized that minimal cardiac remodelling occurred at the initial stage in activating cardiac fibroblasts. Our aim was to investigate the initial pathophysiology of DOX-exposed cardiac fibroblasts and propose prophylaxis.

Prostaglandin E receptor EP4 regulates cell migration through Orai1.

The EP4 prostanoid receptors are one of four receptor subtypes for prostaglandin E (PGE ). Therefore, EP4 may play an important role in cancer progression. However, little information is available regarding their function per se, including migration and the cellular signaling pathway of EP4 in oral cancer.

Doxorubicin induces trans-differentiation and MMP1 expression in cardiac fibroblasts via cell death-independent pathways.

Although doxorubicin (DOX)-induced cardiomyopathy causes lethal heart failure (HF), no early detection or effective treatment methods are available. The principal mechanisms of cardiotoxicity are considered to involve oxidative stress and apoptosis of cardiomyocytes. However, the effect of DOX on cardiac fibroblasts at non-lethal concentrations remains unknown.

Translationally controlled tumor protein (TCTP) plays a pivotal role in cardiomyocyte survival through a Bnip3-dependent mechanism.

Prevention of cardiomyocyte death is an important therapeutic strategy for heart failure. In this study, we focused on translationally controlled tumor protein (TCTP), a highly conserved protein that is expressed ubiquitously in mammalian tissues, including heart. TCTP plays pivotal roles in survival of certain cell types, but its function in cardiomyocytes has not been examined.

Usefulness of Exchanged Protein Directly Activated by cAMP (Epac)1-Inhibiting Therapy for Prevention of Atrial and Ventricular Arrhythmias in Mice.

Background: It has been suggested that protein directly activated by cAMP (Epac), one of the downstream signaling molecules of β-adrenergic receptor (β-AR), may be an effective target for the treatment of arrhythmia. However, there have been no reports on the anti-arrhythmic effects or cardiac side-effects of Epac1 inhibitors in vivo.

Methods and results: In this study, the roles of Epac1 in the development of atrial and ventricular arrhythmias are examined.

The urea transporter DUR3 contributes to rice production under nitrogen-deficient and field conditions.

Nitrogen is one of the most important elements for plant growth, and urea is one of the most frequently used nitrogen fertilizers worldwide. Besides the exogenously-supplied urea to the soil, urea is endogenously synthesized during secondary nitrogen metabolism. Here, we investigated the contribution of a urea transporter, DUR3, to rice production using a reverse genetic approach combined with localization studies.

Alternating magnetic field enhances cytotoxicity of Compound C.

We previously reported the efficacy of anti-cancer therapy with hyperthermia using an alternating magnetic field (AMF) and a magnetic compound. In the course of the study, unexpectedly, we found that an AMF enhances the cytotoxicity of Compound C, an activated protein kinase (AMPK) inhibitor, although this compound is not magnetic. Therefore, we examined the cellular mechanism of AMF-induced cytotoxicity of Compound C in cultured human glioblastoma (GB) cells.

Epac1 deficiency inhibits basic fibroblast growth factor-mediated vascular smooth muscle cell migration.

Vascular smooth muscle cell (VSMC) migration and the subsequent intimal thickening play roles in vascular restenosis. We previously reported that an exchange protein activated by cAMP 1 (Epac1) promotes platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF)-induced VSMC migration and intimal thickening. Because basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) also plays a pivotal role in restenosis, we examined whether Epac1 was involved in bFGF-mediated VSMC migration.