Association between the number of existing teeth and maintenance dialysis therapy: A cross-sectional study of adult male dentists.

Dental caries and periodontal disease are typical oral diseases frequently observed in patients with renal diseases. Tooth loss is an outcome of dental caries and periodontal disease, and the number of existing teeth is an indicator of oral health status. However, the association between the number of existing teeth and end-stage kidney disease (ESKD) has not been investigated in detail. This study aimed to investigate the association between oral health status, expressed by the number of existing teeth, and ESKD. We analyzed data from the second survey of the Longitudinal Evaluation of Multi-phasic, Odontological, and Nutritional Associations in Dentists, a cohort study conducted among members of the Japan Dental Association. From August 2016 to July 2017, self-administered questionnaires were mailed to 16,128 male dentists and 8,722 responded. Among them, 7,479 men with complete data on age, number of existing teeth, and ESKD were included in the analysis. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was conducted, with ESKD as the dependent variable and the number of existing teeth (≥23 teeth and <23 teeth) as the independent variable. Subgroup analysis by age (<65 years and ≥65 years) was also conducted. The <23 teeth group had a significantly higher rate of ESKD than did the ≥23 teeth group. After adjusting for age, body mass index, smoking habits, hypertension, and diabetes mellitus, there was no significant association between having <23 teeth and ESKD in all participants. However, the subgroup analysis revealed a significant association after adjustment for covariates in participants aged <65 years but not in those aged ≥65 years. In conclusion, having <23 teeth was associated with the risk of requiring maintenance dialysis therapy among Japanese men aged <65 years. Therefore, tooth loss may be associated with renal function decline.

Effects of oral health-related quality of life on total mortality: a prospective cohort study.

BACKGROUND: The effects of oral health on mortality have been reported; however, the association between mortality and Oral Health-Related Quality of Life (OHQOL) is unknown. We investigated the effect of OHQOL on total mortality in a cohort consisting of dentists. METHODS: In this cohort study, we analyzed data from the Longitudinal Evaluation of Multi-phasic, Odonatological and Nutritional Associations in Dentists study. We conducted a baseline survey of general and oral health factors. We called for 31,178 participants and collected responses from 10,256 participants. We followed up with 10,114 participants (mean age ± standard deviation, 52.4 ± 12.1 years; females, 8.9%) for 7.7 years, until March 2014, to determine the average total mortality. OHQOL was assessed using the General Oral Health Assessment Index (GOHAI). The total score was divided into quartiles (Q1 ≤ 51.6, Q2 = 51.7-56.7, Q3 = 56.8-59.9, and Q4 = 60.0), with higher GOHAI scores indicating better OHQOL (score range, 12-60). The association between OHQOL and total mortality was analyzed using the Cox proportional hazards model. RESULTS: We documented 460 deaths. Males with low GOHAI scores possessed a remarkably high risk of total mortality. The multivariate adjusted-hazard ratios (aHRs), were 1.93 (95% confidence interval [CI], 1.07 - 3.48) for Q1, 1.69 (95% CI, 0.90 - 3.17) for Q2, and 0.65 (95% CI, 0.29 - 1.46) for Q3, relative to Q4 (trend p = 0.001). The aHRs in the multivariate model with all background variables were 1.69 (95% CI, 1.15-2.46) for Q1, 1.53 (95% CI, 1.04-2.27) for Q2, and 1.09 (95% CI, 0.71-1.70) for Q3, relative to Q4 (trend p = 0.001). In females, there was no significant association between the quartiles, in both the multivariate-adjusted model (trend p = 0.52) and multivariate-adjusted model with all background variables (trend p = 0.79). CONCLUSIONS: A lower OHQOL indicated an increased risk of total mortality in dentists. OHQOL may be used as an indicator for selecting treatment plans and personalized care interventions, thus contributing to increased healthy life expectancy. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Aichi Cancer Center, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, and Hiroshima University (Approval numbers: 33, 632-3, 8-21, and E2019-1603).

Tooth brushing, tooth loss, and risk of upper aerodigestive tract cancer: a cohort study of Japanese dentisits.

Previous studies have focused on the association between poor oral health and upper aerodigestive tract (UADT) cancer. However, whether toothbrushing and tooth loss are associated with UADT cancer risk is still unclear. Therefore, we investigated the association between toothbrushing or tooth loss and UADT cancer in the Longitudinal Evaluation of Multi-phasic, Odontological, and Nutritional Associations in Dentists (LEMONADE) cohort study. From 2001 to 2006, we recruited 20,445 dentists (mean age ± standard deviation, 51.8 ± 12.0 years; 1,607 women [7.9%]) and followed for incidence or mortality of UADT cancer through March 2014. Information on lifestyle and oral health was collected by the baseline questionnaire. The Cox proportional hazards model was used to estimate hazard ratios (HRs) for UADT cancer and corresponding 95% confidence intervals (CI) for brushing frequency and tooth loss with adjustment for covariates. During the mean follow-up of 9.5 years, we confirmed 62 incident or fatal cases of UADT cancer. Infrequent toothbrushing (< 2 times/day) was significantly associated with increased risk of UADT cancer (multivariate HR = 2.13, 95% CI: 1.04-4.37). On the contrary, tooth loss was not significantly correlated with UADT cancer risk; multivariate HR was 1.03 (95% CI: 0.41-2.61) for loss of 15-27 teeth and 1.37 (0.50-3.75) for that of 28 teeth compared to tooth loss of 0-14 teeth. In conclusion, Infrequent toothbrushing was significantly associated with the risk of UADT cancer.

Tooth loss and pneumonia mortality: A cohort study of Japanese dentists.

Although associations between oral health and pneumonia have been reported in previous studies, particularly in the institutionalized elderly, few prospective studies have investigated the association between oral condition and pneumonia among community-dwelling people and whether the findings among inpatients or patients in nursing homes are applicable to the general population is still unclear. The oral bacteria propagated in the periodontal regions may drop into the lung and increase the risk of pneumonia. We, therefore, investigated the association of tooth loss with mortality from pneumonia in a cohort study of Japanese dentists. Members of the Japan Dental Association (JDA) participated in the LEMONADE (Longitudinal Evaluation of Multi-phasic, Odontological and Nutritional Associations in Dentists) Study. From 2001 to 2006, they completed a baseline questionnaire on lifestyle and health factors including the number of teeth lost (excluding third molars). We followed 19,775 participants (mean age ± standard deviation, 51.4 ± 11.7 years; 1,573 women [8.0%] and 18,202 men [92.0%]) for mortality from pneumonia (ICD-10, J12-J18). Mortality data were collected via the fraternal insurance program of the JDA. The hazard ratios (HRs) were estimated with adjustment for sex, age, body mass index, smoking status, physical activity and diabetes history. During the median follow-up period of 9.5 years, we documented 68 deaths from pneumonia. Participants who were edentulous at baseline were at significantly increased risk of mortality from pneumonia. The multivariable-adjusted HRs were 2.07 (95% confidence interval [CI], 1.09-3.95) for the edentulous and 1.60 (95% CI, 0.83-3.10) for loss of 15-27 teeth relative to loss of 0-14 teeth (trend p = 0.026). The HR per one tooth loss was also significant; 1.031 (95% CI, 1.004-1.060). In conclusion, a large number of teeth lost may indicate an increased risk of mortality from pneumonia in community-dwelling populations.

Scan Rate Dependent Spin Crossover Iron(II) Complex with Two Different Relaxations and Thermal Hysteresis fac-[Fe(II)(HL(n-Pr))3]Cl·PF6 (HL(n-Pr) = 2-Methylimidazol-4-yl-methylideneamino-n-propyl).

Solvent-free spin crossover Fe(II) complex fac-[Fe(II)(HL(n-Pr))3]Cl·PF6 was prepared, where HL(n-Pr) denotes 2-methylimidazol-4-yl-methylideneamino-n-propyl. The magnetic susceptibility measurements at scan rate of 0.5 K min(-1) showed two successive spin transition processes consisting of the first spin transition T1 centered at 122 K (T1↑ = 127.1 K, T1↓ = 115.8 K) and the second spin transition T2 centered at ca. 105 K (T2↑ = 115.8 K, T2↓ = 97.2 K). The magnetic susceptibility measurements at the scan rate of 2.0, 1.0, 0.5, 0.25, and 0.1 K min(-1) showed two scan speed dependent spin transitions, while the Mössbauer spectra detected only the first spin transition T1. The crystal structures were determined at 160, 143, 120, 110, 95 K in the cooling mode, and 110, 120, and 130 K in the warming mode so as to follow the spin transition process of high-spin HS → HS(T1) → HS(T2) → low-spin LS → LS(T2) → LS(T1) → HS. The crystal structures at all temperatures have a triclinic space group P1̅ with Z = 2. The complex-cation has an octahedral N6 coordination geometry with three bidentate ligands and assume a facial-isomer with Δ- and Λ-enantimorphs. Three imidazole groups of fac-[Fe(II)(HL(n-Pr))3](2+) are hydrogen-bonded to three Cl(-) ions. The 3:3 NH(imidazole)···Cl(-) hydrogen-bonds form a stepwise ladder assembly structure, which is maintained during the spin transition process. The spin transition process is related to the structural changes of the FeN6 coordination environment, the order-disorder of PF6(-) anion, and the conformation change of n-propyl groups. The Fe-N bond distance in the HS state is longer by 0.2 Å than that in the LS state. Disorder of PF6(-) anion is not observed in the LS state but in the HS state. The conformational changes of n-propyl groups are found in the spin transition processes except for HS → HS(T1) → HS(T2).

1D and 2D assembly structures by imidazole···chloride hydrogen bonds of iron(II) complexes [Fe(II)(HL(n-Pr))3]Cl·Y (HL(n-Pr) = 2-methylimidazol-4-yl-methylideneamino-n-propyl; Y = AsF6, BF4) and their spin states.

Two Fe(II) complexes fac-[Fe(II)(HL(n-Pr))(3)]Cl·Y (Y = AsF(6) (1) and BF(4) (2)) were synthesized, where HL(n-Pr) is 2-methylimidazole-4-yl-methylideneamino-n-propyl. Each complex-cation has the same octahedral N(6) geometry coordinated by three bidentate ligands and assumes facial-isomerism, fac-[Fe(II)(HL(n-Pr))(3)](2+) with Δ- and Λ-enantiomorphs. Three imidazole groups per Δ- or Λ-fac-[Fe(II)(HL(n-Pr))(3)](2+) are hydrogen-bonded to three Cl(-) ions or, from the viewpoint of the Cl(-) ion, one Cl(-) ion is hydrogen-bonded to three neighbouring fac-[Fe(II)(HL(n-Pr))(3)](2+) cations. The 3 : 3 NH···Cl(-) hydrogen bonds between Δ- or Λ-fac-[Fe(II)(HL(n-Pr))(3)](2+) and Cl(-) generate two kinds of assembly structures. The directions of the 3 : 3 NH···Cl(-) hydrogen bonds and hence the resulting assembly structures are determined by the size of the anion Y, though Y is not involved into the network structure and just accommodated in the cavity. Compound 1 has a 1D ladder structure giving a larger cavity, in which the Δ- and Λ-fac-[Fe(II)(HL(n-Pr))(3)](2+) enantiomorphs are bridged by two NH···Cl(-) hydrogen bonds. Compound 2 has a 2D network structure with a net unit of a cyclic trimer of {fac-[Fe(II)(HL(n-Pr))(3)](2+)···Cl(-)}(3) giving a smaller cavity, in which Δ- or Λ-fac-[Fe(II)(HL(n-Pr))(3)](2+) species with the same chirality are linked by NH···Cl(-) hydrogen bonds to give a homochiral 2D network structure. Magnetic susceptibility and Mössbauer spectral measurements demonstrated that compound 1 showed an abrupt one-step spin crossover with 4.0 K thermal hysteresis of T(c↓) = 125.5 K and T(c↑) = 129.5 K and compound 2 showed no spin transition and stayed in the high-spin state over the 5-300 K temperature range.

Fasting concentrations of nesfatin-1 are negatively correlated with body mass index in non-obese males.

BACKGROUND: We recently identified a novel anorexigenic protein, nesfatin-1, which is processed from nesfatin/nucleobindin-2 (NUCB2). However, the clinical importance of this protein has not been determined. OBJECTIVE: To investigate its clinical significance in humans, we have established a new specific enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for human nesfatin-1 in peripheral blood and measured its circulating concentration in healthy subjects. DESIGN: The new sandwich-type ELISA method was validated and then used to measure nesfatin-1 levels in plasma samples, under overnight fasting conditions, followed by oral glucose tolerance and meal tests. PATIENTS AND MEASUREMENTS: A total of 43 nonobese males (age: 24.5 ± 0.6, body mass index (BMI); 21.1 ± 0.3 kg/m(2)) were recruited to the study for evaluating fasting concentrations of nesfatin-1. In those, fifteen subjects underwent a 75- g oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) and another 15 underwent a meal test. In addition, fasting concentrations of nesfatin-1 were measured in nine males with high BMI (age: 32.4 ± 3.7, BMI; 37.3 ± 3.8 kg/m(2)). RESULTS: Peripheral concentrations of nesfatin-1 showed a significant negative correlation with BMI, percentage body fat, body fat weight and blood glucose (P < 0.05). Nesfatin-1 concentrations were not significantly changed during OGTT and meal tests. Fasting nesfatin-1 levels were significantly lower in subjects with high BMI compared to nonobese subjects (P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: A new specific and sensitive ELISA for nesfatin-1 was established. Further accumulation of clinical observations is necessary to clarify the role of circulating nesfatin-1 in various metabolic disorders.

One-dimensional spin-crossover Iron(II) complexes bridged by intermolecular imidazole-pyridine NH...N hydrogen bonds, [Fe(HL(Me))(3)]X(2) (HL(Me) = (2-methylimidazol-4-yl-methylideneamino-2-ethylpyridine; X = PF(6), ClO(4), BF(4)).

2-Methylimidazol-4-yl-methylideneamino-2-ethylpyridine (abbreviated as HL(Me)) is the 1:1 condensation product of 2-methyl-4-formylimidazole and 2-aminoethylpyridine and functions as a bidentate ligand to the iron(II) ion to produce the 3:1 complexes together with anions, [Fe(HL(Me))(3)]X(2) (X = PF(6) (1), ClO(4) (2), BF(4) (3)). The magnetic susceptibilities, differential scanning calorimetric measurements, and Mossbauer spectral measurements demonstrated that complexes 1, 2, and 3 showed a steep one-step spin crossover (SCO) between the high-spin (HS, S = 2) and low-spin (LS, S = 0) states with small thermal hysteresis. Three complexes have an isomorphous structure and are crystallized in the same monoclinic space group, C2/c, both in the HS and LS states. The iron(II) ion has the octahedral coordination geometry of a facial isomer with N(6) donor atoms of three bidentate ligands, in which an imidazole and an imine nitrogen atom per ligand participate in the formation of the coordination bond, but the pyridine nitrogen is free from coordination. The complex cation fac-[Fe(HL(Me))(3)](2+) is a chiral species with a Delta or Lambda isomer, and the adjacent Delta and Lambda isomers are linked alternately by an intermolecular imidazole-pyridine NH...N hydrogen bond to produce an achiral 1D chain. The two remaining imidazole moieties per complex are hydrogen-bonded to the anions that occupy the space among the chains. The SCO profile becomes steeper with the decrease of the anion size (73.0 A(3) for PF(6)(-), 54.4 A(3) for ClO(4)(-), and 53.4 A(3) for BF(4)(-)). The SCO transition temperature T(1/2) of the PF(6) (1), ClO(4) (2), and BF(4) (3) salts estimated from the magnetic susceptibility measurements are (T( downward arrow) = 151.8 K, T( upward arrow) = 155.3 K), (T( downward arrow) = 184.5 K, T( upward arrow) = 186.0 K), and (T( downward arrow) = 146.4 K, T( upward arrow) = 148.2 K), respectively, indicating that the T(1/2) value is not in accord with the anion size.

Tooth loss and intakes of nutrients and foods: a nationwide survey of Japanese dentists.

OBJECTIVES: To clarify the association of tooth loss with dietary intakes among dentists, for whom sufficient dental care is available. METHODS: We analyzed the data from 20 366 Japanese dentists (mean age +/- SD, 52.2 +/- 12.1 years; women 8.0%) who participated in a nationwide cohort study from 2001 to 2006. The baseline questionnaire included a validated food-frequency questionnaire to estimate intakes of foods and nutrients. We computed the geometric means of daily intakes by the number of teeth, adjusting for age, sex, smoking, physical activity, and history of diabetes. RESULTS: The mean intakes of some key nutrients and food groups, such as carotene, vitamins A and C, milk and dairy products, and vegetables including green-yellow vegetables, decreased with the increasing number of teeth lost (P for trend <0.05). On the contrary, mean intakes of carbohydrate, rice, and confectioneries were increased among those with fewer teeth (P for trend <0.05). The difference in the geometric mean (%) between totally edentulous subjects and those with > or =25 teeth, that is [(Geometric mean for > or =25 teeth) - (Geometric mean for 0 teeth)]/(Geometric mean for > or =25 teeth) x 100, was 14.3%, 8.6%, 6.1%, and -6.1% for carotene, vitamin C, vitamin A, and carbohydrate, respectively. For food groups, it was 26.3%, 11.9%, 5.6%, -9.5%, and -29.6% for milk and dairy products, green-yellow vegetables, total vegetables, rice, and confectioneries, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Tooth loss was linked with poorer nutrition even among dentists.

One-step and two-step spin-crossover iron(II) complexes of ((2-methylimidazol-4-yl)methylidene)histamine.

A tridentate ligand ((2-methylimidazol-4-yl)methylidene)histamine (abbreviated as H(2)L(2-Me)), that is, the 1:1 condensation product of 2-methyl-4-formylimidazole and histamine, was used for the syntheses of a new family of iron(II) spin-crossover (SCO) complexes with the general chemical formulas [Fe(H(2)L(2-Me))(2)]X(2) x solvent (X = Cl, ClO(4), and BPh(4); solvent = 2-PrOH and CH(3)CN) and [Fe(H(2)L(2-Me))(2)]X x Y x solvent (X = Cl and Br; Y = ClO(4), BF(4), PF(6), and AsF(6); solvent = EtOH and 2-PrOH). The complex cation [Fe(H(2)L(2-Me))(2)](2+) is a chiral species due to an octahedral coordination of two unsymmetrical tridentate ligands, has a ligand field strength around the spin-crossover point, and is hydrogen-bonded to anions to form a variety of network structures. The dichloride complexes [Fe(H(2)L(2-Me))(2)]Cl(2) x 2-PrOH x 0.5 H(2)O (1) and [Fe(H(2)L(2-Me))(2)]Cl(2) x 2-PrOH x H(2)O (1') have a one-dimensional (1D) structure, in which adjacent two chiral complex-cations are doubly bridged by two Cl(-) ions through NH(histamine)...Cl(-)...HN(2-methyl-4-formylimidazole) hydrogen bonds to give a chiral 1D rod. The chiral rods with the same chirality are stacked in the crystal lattices to give a conglomerate, 1, and those with the opposite chiralities are stacked to give a racemic compound, 1'. The enantiomeric circular dichromism spectra of 1 gave definitive evidence of the conglomerate. Compound 1 showed a two-step SCO, while the desolvated sample showed a steep one-step SCO at T(1/2) = 180 K. A series of complexes, [Fe(H(2)L(2-Me))(2)]Cl x X x EtOH (X = ClO(4) (2a), BF(4) (2b), PF(6) (2c), and AsF(6) (2d)), [Fe(H(2)L(2-Me))(2)]Cl x ClO(4) x 0.5(1-PrOH) x 1.5 H(2)O (2a'), and [Fe(H(2)L(2-Me))(2)]Br x ClO(4) x 0.5 EtOH (2a''), display an isomorphous two-dimensional (2D) network at room temperature (296 K), in which the structure is constructed by the NH...Cl(-) (or Br(-)) hydrogen bonds between the imidazole NH groups of [Fe(H(2)L(2-Me))(2)](2+) and the Cl(-) (or Br(-)) ion as a connector. The complexes showed a variety of SCO properties depending on the anion, solvent molecule, and the kind of bridging halogen ion. The complexes of ClO(4)(-) (2a, 2a', 2a'') and BF(4)(-) (2b) with smaller anions showed a two-step SCO with a wide temperature region of the intermediate state of (high-spin (HS) + low-spin (LS))/2 state, their values of (T(1/2,1), T(1/2,2)) being (75, 255 K), (100, 220 K), (110, 220 K), and (100, 260 K), respectively, where the crystal changes from monoclinic P2(1)/n in the HS state to triclinic P1 in the intermediate state. The complexes of PF(6)(-) (2c) and AsF(6)(-) (2d) with larger anions showed a one-step SCO at T(1/2) = 198 and 173 K, respectively, in which the crystal system and space group showed no change during the spin transition. The crystal solvent and halide ion also affected the completeness of the SCO in the lower-temperature region and the steepness of the SCO profile. The experimental results were correlated to the theoretical results based on an Ising-like model. [Fe(H(2)L(2-Me))(2)](BPh(4))(2) x CH(3)CN (3) has no network structure. [Fe(H(2)L(2-Me))(2)](ClO(4))(2) (4) assumes a chiral 3D network structure constructed by the hydrogen bonds between the imidazole groups of one enantiomorph [Fe(H(2)L(2-Me))(2)](2+) and the bridging ClO(4)(-) ion. Compounds 3 and 4 in the solid states are in the HS state, demonstrating that the formation of imidazole-Cl(-) or Br-hydrogen bonds can give SCO properties, but the hydrogen bond of imidazole-ClO(4)(-) cannot give SCO.

Structures and spin states of bis(tridentate)-type mononuclear and triple helicate dinuclear iron(II) complexes of imidazole-4-carbaldehyde azine.

Mononuclear [Fe(H(2)L(R))(2)](2+) and dinuclear [Fe(2)(H(2)L(R))(3)](4+) (R = H, 2-Me, 5-Me) complexes containing the new imidazole-4-carbaldehyde azine ligand (H(2)L(H)) and its derivatives (H(2)L(2-Me) and H(2)L(5-Me)) prepared from the condensation reaction of 4-formylimidazole or 2-methyl- or 5-methyl-4-formylimidazole with hydrazine (2:1) were prepared, and their magnetostructural relationships were studied. In the mononuclear complexes, H(2)L(R) acts as an unsymmetrical tridentate ligand with two imidazole nitrogen atoms and one azine nitrogen atom, while in the dinuclear complexes, H(2)L(R) acts as a dinucleating ligand employing four nitrogen atoms to form a triple helicate. At room temperature, [Fe(2)(H(2)L(H))(3)](ClO(4))(4) and [Fe(2)(H(2)L(2-Me))(3)](ClO(4))(4) were in the high-spin (HS) and low-spin (LS) states, respectively. The results are in accordance with the ligand field strength of H(2)L(2-Me) with electron-donating methyl groups being stronger than H(2)L(H), with the order of the ligand field strengths being H(2)L(2-Me) > H(2)L(H). However, in the mononuclear [Fe(H(2)L(H))(2)](ClO(4))(2) and [Fe(H(2)L(2-Me))(2)](ClO(4))(2) complexes, a different order of ligand field strengths, H(2)L(H) > H(2)L(2-Me), was observed because [Fe(H(2)L(H))(2)](ClO(4))(2) was in the LS state while [Fe(H(2)L(2-Me))(2)](ClO(4))(2) was in the HS state at room temperature. X-ray structural studies revealed that the interligand steric repulsion between a methyl group of an H(2)L(2-Me) ligand and the other ligand in [Fe(H(2)L(2-Me))(2)](ClO(4))(2) is responsible for the observed change in the spin state. Two kinds of crystals, needles and blocks, were isolated for [Fe(2)(H(2)L(H))(3)](BF(4))(4), and both exhibited a sharp spin transition, [LS-HS] <--> [HS-HS]. The spin transition of the block crystals is more abrupt with a hysteresis, T(c) upward arrow = 190 K and T(c) downward arrow = 183 K with DeltaT = 7 K.

Ferro- and antiferromagnetic interactions in face-sharing trioctahedral Ni(II)Mn(II)Ni(II) and Ni(II)Fe(III)Ni(II) complexes with the same 1-5/2-1 spin system.

Two heterotrinuclear complexes, [Mn(II)(Ni(II)L)2].2CH3OH (where H3L = 1,1,1-tris(N-salicylideneaminomethyl)ethane) and [Fe(III)(Ni(II)L)2]NO3.C2H5OH, consisting of three face-sharing octahedra have been prepared; although these complexes have closely related structures and have the same 1-5/2-1 spin system, they show completely different magnetic interactions between the adjacent metal ions: ferromagnetic (Ni(II)-Mn(II)) and antiferromagnetic (Ni(II)-Fe(III)).

Determination of apolipoprotein B-48 in serum by a sandwich ELISA.

BACKGROUND: Apolipoprotein B-48 (apoB-48) is produced by the small intestine, as a part of chylomicrons (CMs), and appears to be a suitable marker for clinical studies of postprandial lipoproteins and related cardiovascular risk factors. We have developed an assay for routine analysis to quantify apoB-48 in serum or plasma. METHODS: A microtiter plate was coated with monoclonal antibody (4C8) raised against apoB-48 C-terminal specific decapeptide. Serum samples were diluted 100-fold with 0.05 mol/l Tris-HCl buffer (with or without 0.1% Triton X-100). Appropriate calibration curves were obtained in the ELISA by using apoB-48 recombinant antigen. RESULTS: No cross-reactivity (<0.001%) was found with apoB-100, as verified by ELISA and Western blot analyses. Intra- and inter-assay CVs were 4.8% and 5.4%, respectively. Recovery of added recombinant apoB-48 in serum was within 94-105%. The assay linearity was intact >5-fold dilution of serum by dilution buffer. ApoB-48 levels in healthy controls (n=18) at fasting were within the range of 2.69-6.56 microg/ml (mean+/-S.D.: 4.60+/-1.54 microg/ml). In healthy subjects, serum apoB-48 concentrations markedly increased in the postprandial state, in parallel with serum triglycerides. CONCLUSION: This method for measuring apoB-48 using the monoclonal antibody 4C8 is simple, reliable and suitable for routine analyses.

Supramolecular spin-crossover iron complexes based on imidazole-imidazolate hydrogen bonds.

The [Fe(II)(H(3)L)](BF(4))(2).3H(2)O (1) complex was synthesized, where H(3)L (tris[[2-[(imidazole-4-yl)methylidene]amino]ethyl]amine) is a tripodal ligand obtained by condensation of tris(2-aminoethyl)amine and 4-formylimidazole (fim) in a 1:3 molar ratio. Starting from 1, a series of complexes, [Fe(II)(H(1.5)L)](BF(4))(0.5) (2) (=[Fe(II)(H(3)L)][Fe(II)(L)]BF(4)), [Fe(H(1.5)L)]BF(4) (3) (=[Fe(II)(H(3)L)][Fe(III)(L)](BF(4))(2)), [Fe(III)(H(3)L)](BF(4))(3).fim.H(2)O (4), and [Fe(III)(L)].2.5H(2)O (5), has been synthesized and characterized. The single-crystal X-ray structure of each complex has been determined. The Fe(II) compound, 2, and a mixed valence Fe(II)-Fe(III) compound, 3, involve formally hemi-deprotonated ligands, H(1.5)L. The structure of 3 consists of a homochiral two-dimensional assembled sheet, arising from the intermolecular hydrogen bonds between [Fe(II)(H(3)L)](2+) and [Fe(III)(L)](0) (3). All but 5 exhibit spin crossover between low-spin (LS) and high-spin (HS) states. This is a rare case where both Fe(II) and Fe(III) complexes containing the same ligand exhibit spin-crossover behavior. Magnetic susceptibility and Mössbauer studies showed that 3 has three accessible electronic states: LS Fe(II)-LS Fe(III), HS Fe(II)-LS Fe(III), and HS Fe(II)-HS Fe(III). Compounds 1-3 show the light-induced excited spin-state trapping effect at the Fe(II) sites upon irradiation with green light. The solution magnetic properties, electronic spectra, and electrochemical properties of 1, 4, and 5 were also studied.