Template Synthesis of Decaphyrin without Meso-Bridges: Cyclo[10]pyrrole.

An acenaphthylene-fused cyclo[10]pyrrole 1b was selectively synthesized via an oxidative coupling reaction of the corresponding 2,2'-bipyrrole with the appropriate dianion template, croconate anion. The structure of 1b as the isolated largest cyclo[n]pyrrole was elucidated by X-ray crystallographic analysis. The absorption spectrum exhibited a markedly red-shifted, intensified L band at 1982 nm, which was interpreted by application of Michl's perimeter and Gouterman's 4-orbital models, supported by magnetic circular dichroism (MCD) data and theoretical calculations.

Acenaphthylene-fused cyclo[8]pyrroles with intense near-IR-region absorption bands.

An acenaphthylene-fused cyclo[8]pyrrole was synthesized by using an oxidative coupling reaction of the corresponding 2,2'-bipyrrole. Two conformational isomers 1 a and 1 b were isolated, and their molecular structures were elucidated by X-ray crystallographic studies. The less-polar and lower-symmetry 1 b isomer can be converted into the 1 a isomer through a thermal ring flip. Application of the perimeter model developed by Michl to magnetic circular dichroism spectroscopic data and theoretical calculations demonstrate that there is a marked redshift of the near-IR absorption maxima relative to cyclo[8]isoindole because there is a significant stabilization of the LUMO due to the differing effects of a fused ring expansion with acenaphthylene and benzene moieties on the frontier π molecular orbitals.

Beneficial effect of combination therapy comprising angiotensin II receptor blocker plus calcium channel blocker on plasma adiponectin levels.

The study aim was to examine the effect of combination therapy comprising angiotensin receptor blocker plus calcium antagonist on post-treatment plasma adiponectin levels compared to pretreatment levels. There was a significant gender difference in the relationship between preadiponectin level and age. In the search for contributing factors for treatment-based changes in adiponectin levels, these effects of gender and age were considered in statistical analysis. The adiponectin level in the combination therapy group was further increased compared to that in each of the monotherapy groups, despite there being no significant difference in antihypertensive effect, indicating that the combined medication provided an effect beyond that of lowering blood pressure.

A cytoplasmic helix is required for pentamer formation of the Escherichia coli MscL mechanosensitive channel.

Many membrane proteins such as ion channels are oligomers, but the determinants of the degree of oligomerization are not fully understood. Mechanosensitive channel with large conductance (MscL), which is ubiquitous in bacteria, is a homopentamer with two transmembrane helices and a cytoplasmic helix in each subunit. The carboxyl-terminal cytoplasmic helices assemble into a pentameric bundle that resembles cartilage oligomeric matrix protein. To address the role of cytoplasmic helices in the pentamer formation of Escherichia coli MscL, we generated MscL constructs with various deletions at the carboxyl terminus and translated them in a cell-free system. Deletions of Leu-129 and the downstream sequence resulted in formation of various oligomers without preference to pentamers, suggesting that nearly the whole cytoplasmic helix is required for MscL pentamer formation.

Unstable hemoglobinemia, Hb Buenos Aires, Bryn Mawr, followed up for eighteen years.

A 20-year-old man has been under observation for 18 years because of unstable hemoglobinemia, Hb Buenos Aires, Bryn Mawr (beta-globin, Phe85Ser). At the age of 19 years, he was hospitalized because of fever and hemolytic crisis, and the symptoms resolved after infusion of antibiotics. Nucleotide sequencing of the beta-globin gene confirmed that the patient was heterozygous for the mutation. The patient's erythrocytes showed an increased affinity for oxygen and a prolonged glycerol lysis time. We review a previously reported single family and 5 other cases, and discuss the clinical significance of splenectomy and plasma-derived haptoglobin.

Prognostic factors for the long-term survival in patients with vasospastic angina--analysis of effects of patients' characteristics and therapeutic drugs.

OBJECTIVES: A retrospective study was conducted to elucidate contributing factors on the outcome of patients with vasospastic angina. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: Two hundred ninety-two patients with angina in whom coronary vasospasm was documented were followed up (mean 4.3+/-3.6 years) to determine the relationship between the occurrence of cardiovascular events with available clinical factors including therapeutic drugs. Cardiovascular events were defined as fatal and non-fatal cardiovascular disorder events. RESULTS: Several clinical variables including age, elevated creatinine level, low high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol level, presence of severe coronary artery stenosis, low left ventricular ejection fraction, low cardiac index (CI), large left ventricular mass, and use of beta-blockers proved to be significant risk factors for cardiovascular events. Further analysis by a stepwise regression analysis revealed that, older age (hazard ratio (HR)=1.42), low HDL cholesterol level (HR=0.877), presence of severe coronary artery stenosis (HR=49.32), and decreased CI (HR=14.18) proved to be independent prognostic factors. Ca antagonists were prescribed to 261 patients (89.4%). Among four Ca antagonists, there were significant differences in the frequency of cardiovascular events (2.6% with benidipine, 4.2% with nifedipine, 6.0% with diltiazem, 23.1% with amlodipine; amlodipine vs. benidipine, P<0.05) although the background characteristics of the four different patient groups were non-equivalent. CONCLUSION: These results indicate that the morbidity of patients with vasospastic angina increased with older age, lower CI or HDL cholesterol, and presence of severe coronary artery stenosis, and that treatment with benidipine appeared to reduce cardiovascular events in patients with vasospastic angina.

Additive antihypertensive and antihypertrophic effects of long-acting Ca blockers in uncontrolled hypertensive patients with angiotensin-receptor blocker based treatment.

The aim of the present study was to examine the antihypertensive and antihypertrophic effects of combined treatment with a long-acting calcium antagonist on top of an angiotensin II receptor blocker (ARB) in uncontrolled hypertensive patients. Patients with essential hypertension and a blood pressure > 140/90 mmHg on ARB monotherapy (losartan 50 mg/day or candesartan 8 mg/day) were randomly assigned to a nifedipine controlled release (CR) group (n = 15) or amlodipine group (n = 11). A significant additional antihypertensive effect was noted from 1 month with nifedipine and 2 months with amlodipine. The average daily dose was 25 mg for nifedipine and 5 mg for amlodipine. The cardiothoracic ratio was significantly reduced in both groups after 3 months. Left ventricular wall thickness and left ventricular mass index also decreased. Metabolic parameters, hepatic function, and renal function did not change significantly. Additional treatment with a long-acting calcium antagonist achieved further blood pressure reduction as well as an antihypertrophic effect in the uncontrolled patients with prior ARB monotherapy.

Polymerase chain reaction detection of bacterial 16S rRNA gene in human blood.

Bacterial 16S ribosomal RNA genes (rDNA) were detected in blood samples from two healthy individuals by PCR under conditions involving 30 cycles that did not produce any visible products from negative control saline. Even from control samples, PCR involving 35-40 cycles yielded visible bands. Major clones detected in the blood samples, but not in control, were the Aquabacterium subgroup, Stenotrophomonas subgroup, Budvicia subgroup, Serratia subgroup, Bacillus subgroup and Flavobacteria subgroup. No clone was located within the bacteroides-clostridium-lactobacillus cluster, which is indigenous to gastrointestinal flora.