Scientific Research Publishing

Read full paper at: http://www.scirp.org/journal/PaperInformation.aspx?PaperID=52706#.VKH3XcCAM4 Author(s) Tuukka A. Helin 1 , Niko Wickholm 2 , Hannu Kautiainen 3 , Heikki Vapaatalo 2 Affiliation(s) 1 Clinical Chemistry and Hematology, HUSLAB Laboratory Services, Helsinki University Hospital, Helsinki, Finland . 2 Institute of Biomedicine, Pharmacology, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland . 3 Medcare Ltd., Äänekoski, Finland . ABSTRACT Experimental and clinical studies have shown that long term anticoagulation therapy with warfarin can induce vascular calcification which is preventable by vitamin K. Osteoporosis has been shown to be associated with vascular calcification. In the present study, we wa...

Read full paper at: http://www.scirp.org/journal/PaperInformation.aspx?PaperID=51519#.VG2xf2fHRK0 Author(s) Naofumi Shiomi , Keiko Watanabe Affiliation(s) School of Human Sciences, Kobe College, Nishinomiya, Japan . ABSTRACT Vascular calcification, which causes occlusion and rupture of the vascular, is often observed in patients in the advanced stages of arteriosclerosis. One of the best procedures for inhibiting the accumulation of vascular calcification is to obstruct the differentiation of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) and/or vascular endothelial cells (VECs) in the vascular to osteoblasts. In this study, we evaluated the biochemical and genetic characteristics of the process of differentiation of MSCs...

Read full paper at: http://www.scirp.org/journal/PaperInformation.aspx?PaperID=51202#.VFspzGfHRK0 Author(s) Aino Siltari 1 , Niko Wickholm 1 , Anne S. Kivimäki 1 , Kaisa Olli 2 , Krista Salli 2 , Kirsti Tiihonen 2 , Riitta Korpela 1 , Heikki Vapaatalo 1 Affiliation(s) 1 Institute of Biomedicine, Pharmacology, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland . 2 DuPont Nutrition and Health, Kantvik Active Nutrition, Kantvik, Finland . ABSTRACT Given that vascular calcification is inversely correlated with the clinical intake of menaquinone, a rat model of warfarin-induced calcification may be useful for testing menaquinone and vitamin K-1 potential effects on vascular function. The aim of the present study was...