Synthesis of Novel Spiro-Tetrahydroquinoline Derivatives and Evaluation of Their Pharmacological Effects on Wound Healing.

A highly diastereoselective method for the synthesis of novel spiro-tetrahydroquinoline derivatives is reported here, using a one-pot reaction method. All compounds were characterized by 1H-nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) and mass spectroscopy, and their stereo configurations were confirmed by X-ray analysis. These activities of these derivatives were then tested in human keratocyte cells. The responses of cells to treatment with selected compounds were studied using scratch analysis, and the compounds were tested in a mouse excision wound model. Three of the derivatives demonstrated significant wound-healing activities.

Which obesity index is the best predictor for high cardiovascular disease risk in middle-aged and elderly population?

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: The aim was to investigate the relationships between visceral fat rating scale (VFR), waist circumference (WC), body mass index (BMI) and cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk. METHODS: In this cross-sectional, community-based study, participants completed questionnaire that included personal and medical history, and underwent anthropometric measurement and blood sampling. The 2008 general CVD risk model was used to predict CVD risk. Associations between CVD risk and VFR, WC, BMI were evaluated by means of analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) with gender as covariate, Chi-squared test, Pearson's correlation, Cochran-Armitage test, multivariate logistic regression and receiver operating characteristic curves. RESULTS: A total of 377 people were enrolled. A significant association was identified between VFR, WC, BMI, and CVD risk, with coefficient of determination (r2) of 0.32 (p < 0.001), 0.18 (p < 0.001) and 0.03 (p = 0.001), respectively. There was a trend toward increasing prevalence of high CVD risk as VFR, WC, and BMI increased (all p values <0.05). Multivariate logistic regression revealed VFR (OR = 1.21; 95%CI = 1.02-1.24), WC (OR = 1.07; 95%CI = 1.04-1.11) and BMI (OR = 1.11; 95%CI = 1.02-1.21) to be independent predictors of high CVD risk. In male, the area under curves of VFR and WC are greater than BMI: 0.641, 0.647 and 0.562. In female, the area under curves of VFR and WC are also greater than BMI: 0.656, 0.688 and 0.601. CONCLUSIONS: VFR and WC were more strongly associated with high CVD risk than BMI among middle-aged and elderly persons in Taiwan.

Association between self-reported sleep duration and serum lipid profile in a middle-aged and elderly population in Taiwan: a community-based, cross-sectional study.

OBJECTIVES: The association between sleep duration and serum lipid profile in the middle-aged and the elderly is unclear. The aim of this study was to investigate and evaluate the relationships between sleep duration and levels of serum total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) and triglycerides in these populations. DESIGN: Cross-sectional observational study. SETTING: Community-based investigation in Guishan Township of northern Taiwan. PARTICIPANTS: A total of 400 community-dwelling middle-aged and elderly individuals were enrolled. All participants underwent a baseline assessment in 2014, which included anthropometrics, blood samples and self-administered questionnaires. Participants were classified into three groups based on their sleep duration. OUTCOME MEASURES: Multivariate logistic regression was used to obtain ORs and 95% CIs to assess the relationship between sleep duration and lipid profiles. RESULTS: Participant mean age was 64.5 years and 35.3% were men. Subjects with longer (>7 hours) and shorter (<6 hours) nightly sleep duration had a higher prevalence of low HDL-C levels (HDL <40 mg/dL) than those with moderate sleep duration (6-7 hours). Multivariate logistic regression revealed that, compared with individuals with sleep duration of 6-7 hours, the ORs of having low HDL-C were 3.68 (95% CI 1.59 to 8.49) greater for individuals with sleep duration of <6 hours and 2.89 (95% CI 1.10 to 7.61) greater for individuals with sleep duration of >7 hours. CONCLUSIONS: There was a U-shaped relationship between sleep duration and HDL-C levels. Sleep duration >7 hours or <6 hours increased the risk of low serum HDL-C levels.