SummarySeveral coagulation proteins have been implicated as possible risk factors for the development of atherosclerotic diseases, among which are factor VIII and von Willebrand factor. As part of the Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities (ARIC) Study, a prospective study designed to assess risk factors for the development of atherosclerotic diseases, baseline measurements of factor VIII and von Willebrand factor (vWF) were performed to determine their relationship to the development of atherosclerosis. We herein report the associations of factor VIII and vWF with constitutional, lifestyle, and biochemical factors. Factor VIII and vWF were strongly correlated with each other (r = 0.73), and, therefore, had similar associations with risk factors. Mean levels of both factors were higher in women than in men, in blacks than in whites, and increased with age. In univariate analysis, both were positively associated with diabetes, body mass index, waist-to-hip ratio, serum insulin, and plasma triglycerides. Both were negatively associated with alcohol intake, educational level, physical activity (with some exceptions), and HDL-cholesterol. No correlations were observed between factor VIII or vWF and plasma LDL-cholesterol or lipoprotein(a). Although factor VIII was negatively associated with smoking in both sexes, vWF was not associated with smoking status. Most of these associations were confirmed in multivariate analysis. The strongest associations observed were of factor VIII and vWF with race and diabetes. In multivariate analysis, blacks had factor VIII and vWF levels 15 to 18 percentage points higher than whites, and diabetics had factor VIII and vWF levels 11 to 18 percentage points higher than non-diabetics. These associations must be taken into account when analyzing the possible role of factor VIII and vWF in the development of atherosclerotic diseases.

These data suggest that the increased mRNA expression of FTO could be responsible for the reduction of m(6)A in T2DM, which may further increase the risk of complications of T2DM. Low m(6)A should be investigated further as a novel potential biomarker of T2DM.

A steady-state isothermal model is presented for the electrochemical reduction of CO 2 to CO in a microfluidic flow cell. The full cell model integrates the transport of charge, mass, and momentum with electrochemistry for both the cathode and anode. Polarization curves obtained from experiments conducted at different flow rates with varying applied cell potentials are used to determine the kinetic parameters in the electrochemical reaction rate equations. The parameterized model is validated using a different set of experimental results. Good agreement is observed, especially at high cell potentials (-2.5 to -3 V). The model is further used to analyze the effects of several operating parameters, such as applied cell potential, CO 2 concentration of the feed and feed flow rates. The use of the model to analyze the effect of design parameters, such as channel length and porosity of the gas diffusion electrodes, is also demonstrated.) unless CC License in place (see abstract). ecsdl.org/site/terms_use address. Redistribution subject to ECS terms of use (see 130.126.226.173 Downloaded on 2015-05-18 to IP ) unless CC License in place (see abstract). ecsdl.org/site/terms_use address. Redistribution subject to ECS terms of use (see 130.126.226.173 Downloaded on 2015-05-18 to IP ) unless CC License in place (see abstract). ecsdl.org/site/terms_use address. Redistribution subject to ECS terms of use (see 130.126.226.173 Downloaded on 2015-05-18 to IP ) unless CC License in place (see abstract). ecsdl.org/site/terms_use address. Redistribution subject to ECS terms of use (see 130.126.226.173 Downloaded on 2015-05-18 to IP F28 Journal of The Electrochemical Society, 162 (1) F23-F32 (2015) ) unless CC License in place (see abstract). ecsdl.org/site/terms_use address. Redistribution subject to ECS terms of use (see 130.126.226.173 Downloaded on 2015-05-18 to IP ) unless CC License in place (see abstract). ecsdl.org/site/terms_use address. Redistribution subject to ECS terms of use (see 130.126.226.173 Downloaded on 2015-05-18 to IP Journal of The Electrochemical Society, 162 (1) F23-F32 (2015) ) unless CC License in place (see abstract). ecsdl.org/site/terms_use address. Redistribution subject to ECS terms of use (see 130.126.226.173 Downloaded on 2015-05-18 to IP ) unless CC License in place (see abstract). ecsdl.org/site/terms_use address. Redistribution subject to ECS terms of use (see 130.126.226.173 Downloaded on 2015-05-18 to IPOn page F28, left column, Figure 2 should beFigure 2. Comparison of polarization curves for (a) parameter fitting and (b) model validation. Feed gas flow rate and compositions are specified inTable 2. Other operating conditions take the base case values in Table 1. ) unless CC License in place (see abstract). ecsdl.org/site/terms_use address. Redistribution subject to ECS terms of use (see 130.126.226.173 Downloaded on 2015-05-18 to IP

The expression of mRNA and distribution of α1(IV), α3(IV) chains of type IV collagen, matrix metalloproteinase 2 (MMP-2), and tissue inhibitor of metallo-proteinase 1 (TIMP-1) were examined in kidneys from streptozotocin-diabetic rats, 2.5 months after administration of the drug, an early time point when specific diabetic glomerular changes were still minimal. Ten age-matched Sprague-Dawley rats were assigned to control and diabetic groups. Compared to the controls, the diabetic rats had a significantly lower body weight, higher kidney weight and serum glucose levels, but no significant changes of glomerular surface area and urine albumin were observed. Northern blot analysis, using whole kidney mRNA, revealed that diabetic rat kidneys expressed 113.5% more α1(IV), 46.5% more α3(IV), 54.8% less MMP-2 and 246% more TIMP-1 (in all instances: p < 0.05). These results were corroborated by in situ hybridization for RNA expression. A quantitative analysis of the data indicated the following changes in glomeruli: (1) 74.6% more α1(IV), (2) 103.8% more α3(IV), (3) 40.7% less MMP-2 and (4) 80.9% more TIMP-1. Similar changes were observed in tubular (proximal and distal) cells. We conclude that an increased synthesis and decreased degradation of renal extracellular matrix components occur early after induction of experimental diabetes, before the onset of typical structural changes in the kidneys, and represent changes of specific gene expression at the transcriptional level. All the cell types in the glomerulus as well as the proximal and distal tubules appear to be involved in this alteration of expression, and this is a novel finding.