Solid-Phase Synthesis of Water-Soluble Helically Folded Hybrid α-Amino Acid/Quinoline Oligoamides.

We report here a solid phase synthesis methodology that allows the incorporation of α-amino acids (X) into quinoline (Q) oligoamide foldamer sequences. Water-soluble hybrid oligoamides based on the XQ2 trimer repeat motif were shown to adopt helical conformations presenting α-amino acid side chains in a predictable linear array on one face of the helix. In contrast, sequences based on the XQ dimer motif expressed less well-defined behavior, most likely due to local conformational variability precluding long-range order. Also presented is a full structural investigation by NMR of a dodecameric XQ2-type foldamer containing four different amino acid residues (Lys, Ala, Asp, and Ser).

Impact of high myopia on the performance of SD-OCT parameters to detect glaucoma.

BACKGROUND: The aim was to evaluate the effects of high myopia on spectral-domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT) parameters, as well as on their ability to detect glaucoma. METHODS: Ninety-three glaucoma and 86 non-glaucoma patients were divided into highly myopic group (HMG; 90 subjects, ≤ -5 diopters [D]) and emmetropic (EG; 89 subjects, spherical equivalent ≤1 D and ≥ -1D) groups in this cross-sectional comparative study. Macular ganglion cell complex (GCC) and circumpapillary retinal nerve fiber layer (cpRNFL) measurements obtained from the algorithms of the SD-OCT system were compared. The effects of refractive errors and glaucoma were assessed using a generalized linear model, after adjusting for age. A receiver operating characteristic curve was constructed for each parameter, and the areas under the curves (AUCs) were compared. RESULTS: The all cpRNFL measurements were significantly related to both refractive errors and glaucoma, while all GCC parameters were not significantly related to the refractive errors. The AUC for average GCC thickness was similar between the HMG (AUC, 0.935) and EG (AUC, 0.933), while the AUC for average cpRNFL thickness differed significantly (p = 0.028) between the HMG (AUC, 0.827) and EG (AUC, 0.939). CONCLUSIONS: Macular GCC parameters showed good ability to detect glaucoma in both groups, whereas the ability of cpRNFL measurement in HMG subjects was inferior to that in EG subjects. Assessment of GCC parameters is a useful technique complementary to cpRNFL thickness assessment, for clinically evaluating patients with concomitant glaucoma and high myopia.