Focus: Preventive Medicine: Undiagnosed Hypertension and Undiagnosed Type 2 Diabetes among Overweight and Obese Marshallese Participants in a Diabetes Prevention Program

Hypertension and type 2 diabetes (T2D) are major public health issues that disproportionately affect minority communities, including Native Hawaiians and Pacific Islanders (NHPI). Minority communities are also more likely to have undiagnosed hypertension and T2D. Marshallese Pacific Islanders have been shown to have high proportions of diagnosed and undiagnosed hypertension and T2D. Using survey and biometric data collected from 378 overweight/obese Marshallese Pacific Islander adults, this study documents the prevalence of hypertension and T2D, as well as the prevalence of undiagnosed hypertension and T2D. The study also examines associations between undiagnosed hypertension and undiagnosed T2D and age group, sex, health care access (defined by foregone care due to cost and health insurance status), and body mass index (BMI). Among participants with blood pressure readings indicative of hypertension, 68.4% were undiagnosed, and among participants with HbA1c indicative of T2D, 31.6% were undiagnosed. A quarter of participants (24.5%) had blood pressure and HbA1c measures indicative of both undiagnosed hypertension and undiagnosed T2D. Undiagnosed hypertension was significantly associated with age group (p’s<0.0001) and sex (p=0.028). Undiagnosed T2D was significantly associated with age group (p’s<0.05), forgone care due to cost (p=0.018), health insurance status (p=0.035), and BMI (p=0.001). Participants in this study had high proportions of undiagnosed hypertension and undiagnosed T2D. These findings will be immediately useful for those working to address hypertension and T2D disparities among Marshallese and other NHPI populations.     

Peptides containing the sulfonamide junction: Synthesis,structure, and conformation of Z-Tau-Pro-Phe-NHiPr

The taurine (Tau) containing tripeptide derivative Z-Tau-Pro-Phe-NHiPr (1) has been synthesized as suitable sulfonamido-pseudopeptide model to investigate formation and conformational properties of folded secondary structures stabilized by intramolecular H bonds directly involving the sulfonamide junction. In the crystal the pseudopeptide 1 adopts a type I β-turn with the Pro and Phe residues located at the (i + 1) and (i + 2) corner positions, respectively. The turn is stabilized by a 4 → 1 H bond engaging one of the SO₂ oxygen atoms and the isopropylamide NH. In CDCl₃ solution the β-turn folding is accompanied by a γ-turn centered at the Pro and involving a 3 → 1 H bond between the SO₂ and the Phe NH. A comparison of the structural and conformational properties found in 1 with those of the already known sulfonamido-pseudopeptides, with particular reference to the models containing the Tau-Pro junction, is also reported. © 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Biopoly 41: 555–567, 1997.     

Enantiodiscrimination of chiral alpha-aminophosphonic acids by mass spectrometry.

Diastereomeric clusters between first-group metal ions (M(+)) and chiral alpha-aminophosphonic acids (A and B) have been readily generated in the gas phase by electrospray ionization (ESI) and their fragmentation investigated by mass spectrometry. The complexes studied had the general formula [MA(S)B(2)](+) and [MA(R)B(2)](+), where M = H, Li, Na, or K, A(S) and A(R) are the two enantiomers of a given acid A, and B is a reference alpha-aminophosphonic acid of defined configuration. Collision-induced decomposition (CID) of [MA(S)B(2)](+) and [MA(R)B(2)](+) leads to fragmentation patterns characterized by [MAB](+)/[MB(2)] abundance ratios which depend on the configuration of ligand A. These different spectral features were correlated to the different stability of the diastereomeric [MA(S)B(2)](+) and [MA(R)B(2)](+) complexes in the gas phase. The results have been discussed in the light of MM2 Molecular Mechanics Force Field calculations.     

Day-to-day alteration of 24-hour sleep pattern immediately before and after giving birth

Sleep and Biological Rhythms - The current literature suggests that nighttime sleep is compromised during late pregnancy and early postpartum periods, but little is known about the 24-hour sleep...     

Cyclization under mild conditions of salicyloyl-dipeptides

Carboxy-activated linear peptides 6(a-c) of general formula Sal-Xaa-Pro-ONp (Xaa = Phe: Gly; Aib) were synthesized and treated at room temperature with 1,8-diazabicyclo [5,4,0] undec-7-ene (DBU) in benzene solution. The tetrahedral adducts (oxa-cyclols) 7, 11 and 12, tautomeric forms of the corresponding 10-membered cyclodepsitripeptides, have been isolated in each of the three models examined. These adducts, which contain the hydroxylated carbon atom located at the junction between two 6-membered rings, do not show a tendency to isomerize into the corresponding macrocyclic lactones, regardless of the nature of the substituents on the C alpha carbon atom of the central residue. Partially cyclized dimeric products 8 and 13, identified as N-(Sal-Xaa-Pro)-dioxopiperazines (Xaa = Phe;Aib), have been also isolated from the cyclization reactions.     

Yield and proliferation rate of adipose-derived stromal cells as a function of age,body mass index and harvest site—increasing the yield by use of adherent and supernatant fractions?

Background aimsAdipose-derived stem cells are easily accessed and have a relatively high density compared with other mesenchymal stromal cells. Isolation protocols of adipose-derived stem cells (ASC) rely on the cell's ability to adhere to tissue culture plastic overnight. It was evaluated whether the floating ASC fractions are also of interest for cell-based therapies. In addition, the impact of age, body mass index (BMI) and harvest site was assessed.MethodsThe surface protein profile with the use of flow cytometry, the cell yield and the doubling time of passages 4, 5 and 6 of ASC from 30 donors were determined. Adherent and supernatant fractions were compared. The impact of age, BMI and harvest site on cell yield and doubling times was determined.ResultsBoth adherent and supernatant fractions showed high mean fluorescence intensities for CD13, CD29, CD44, CD73, CD90 and CD105 and comparatively low mean fluorescence intensities for CD11b, CD62L, intracellular adhesion molecule-1 and CD34. Doubling times of adherent and supernatant fractions did not differ significantly. Whereas the old age group had a significantly lower cell yield compared with the middle aged group, BMI and harvest site had no impact on cell yield. Finally, doubling times for passages 4, 5 and 6 were not influenced by the age and BMI of the donors, nor the tissue-harvesting site.ConclusionsThe floating ASC fraction is an equivalent second cell source just like the adherent ASC fraction. Donor age, BMI and harvest site do not influence cell yield and proliferation rate.     

Synthesis and structural studies of N-p-toluensulfonyl cyclodipeptides

In view of the chemical and structural interest of cyclopeptides bearing an electron withdrawing substituent directly bonded at the amide nitrogen atom, the two N-p-toluensulfonyl (N-tosyl) derivatives cyclo[-Phe(Tos)-D-Phe-] (I) and cyclo[-Phe(Tos)-D-Pro-] (II) have been synthesized and their stereochemistry defined. The molecular structure of I, as determined by x-ray diffraction analysis, is reported together with 1H-nmr parameters indicating the preferred rotameric conformation in chloroform solution. The N-tosyl group alters the geometry of the cyclodipeptide ring by lengthening both the N-C bonds departing from the tosylated nitrogen and reducing the corresponding ring angle. The 6-membered peptide ring adopts an unusual "sofa" conformation with the Tos-Phe C alpha atom deviating 0.230(3) A out of the mean plane of the other five ring atoms. One of the two S-O bonds forms a planar system that involves the tosylated nitrogen and the corresponding amide carbonyl. In the crystal, both the benzylic side chains are folded over the heterocyclic ring, whereas in chloroform solution, the benzylic side chain of the D-Phe prefers an extended conformation.     

Morphology of corpuscular receptors in hairy and nonhairy human skin as visualized by an antiserum to protein gene product 9.5 compared to anti-neuron-specific enolase and anti-S-100 protein.

The present study elucidates the morphology of encapsulated receptors in human skin by means of immunohistochemistry for the recently characterized neurospecific marker protein gene product 9.5, in comparison with neuronal specific enolase and S-100 protein. Only two types of corpuscles are identified, Meissner's corpuscles and simple coiled corpuscles. Moreover, this investigation reveals that though regional specialization may exist with regard to the encapsulated receptor density, the comparison of hairy and nonhairy skin does not reveal important differences.     

18F-fluoro-deoxy-glucose focal uptake in very small pulmonary nodules: fact or artifact? Case reports

ABSTRACT: BACKGROUND: F-fluoro-deoxy-glucose (18F-FDG) positron emission tomography integrated/combined with computed tomography (PET-CT) provides the best diagnostic results in the metabolic characterization of undetermined solid pulmonary nodules. The diagnostic performance of 18F-FDG is similar for nodules measuring at least 1 cm and for larger masses, but few data exist for nodules smaller than 1 cm. CASE PRESENTATION: We report five cases of oncologic patients showing focal lung 18F-FDG uptake on PET-CT in nodules smaller than 1 cm. We also discuss the most common causes of 18F-FDG false-positive and false-negative results in the pulmonary parenchyma. In patient 1, contrast-enhanced CT performed 10 days before PET-CT did not show any abnormality in the site of uptake; in patient 2, high-resolution CT performed 1 month after PET showed a bronchiole filled with dense material interpreted as a mucoid impaction; in patient 3, contrast-enhanced CT performed 15 days before PET-CT did not identify any nodules; in patients 4 and 5, contrast-enhanced CT revealed a nodule smaller than 1 cm which could not be characterized. The 18F-FDG uptake at follow-up confirmed the malignant nature of pulmonary nodules smaller than 1 cm which were undetectable, misinterpreted, not recognized or undetermined at contrast-enhanced CT. CONCLUSION: In all five oncologic patients, 18F-FDG was able to metabolically characterize as malignant those nodules smaller than 1 cm, underlining that: 18F-FDG uptake is not only a function of tumor size but it is strongly related to the tumor biology; functional alterations may precede morphologic abnormalities. In the oncologic population, especially in higher-risk patients, PET can be performed even when the nodules are smaller than 1 cm, because it might give an earlier characterization and, sometimes, could guide in the identification of alterations missed on CT.     

Novel glutathione analogues containing the dithiol and disulfide form of the Cys-Cys dyad

Summary The glutathione analogue -(H-Glu-OH)--OH (5), containing the 8-membered disulfide ring- replacing the native -Cys-Gly fragment, has been synthesized and characterized together with its reduced dithiol form -(H-Glu-OH)-Cys-Cys-OH (6).Abbreviations DBU 1,8-diazabicyclo [5.4.0] undec-7-ene; - DCCI N,N-dicyclohexylcarbodiimide - NMM N-methylmorpholine - THF tetrahydrofuran; (n-Bu)₃P, tri-n-butylphosphine