Formal intramolecular [5 + 2] photocycloaddition reactions of maleimides: a novel approach to the CDE ring skeleton of (-)-cephalotaxine.

A concise approach to the cephalotaxine CDE ring skeleton based on the intramolecular formal [5 + 2] photocycloaddition of cyclopentenyl-substituted maleimides is described. An investigation of the diastereoselectivity afforded by various protected alkoxy groups demonstrated that the best selectivity (3.5:1) was afforded by the free hydroxyl group, strongly suggesting a hydrogen-bonded excited state.

Genetic Engineering of Streptomyces coelicolor A3(2) for the Enantioselective Reduction of Unnatural beta-Keto-Ester Substrates.

Potential "reagents" for the enantioselective reduction, and other biotransformations, of beta-keto-esters result from the genetic engineering of Streptomyces coelicolor A3(2). For example, incubation of the N-acetylcysteamine thioester 1 with the recombinant strain CH999/pIJ5675 followed by treatment with MeOH/HCl gave the lactone 2 as essentially a single enantiomer.

Organometallic flavonoid derivatives as spectroscopic probes.

Derivatives of naringenin have been synthesized with organometalcarbonyl reporting groups for IR spectroscopy attached at C-2, C-3', or C-6, and the products have been tested for the induction of nod gene expression using a Rhizobium leguminosarum strain which contains the Escherichia coli lacZ (beta-galactosidase) gene fused to nodABC. Derivatives with an OMe substituent within the reporting group moiety showed residual gene induction activity.

Analysis of the Symmetry of Crystal Packing Forces by Methyl Proton Tunneling: A Strategy for the Unambiguous Assignment of the Magnetic Jahn - Teller Effect in Molecules.

Intrinsic and extrinsic forces behind the distortion in metal atom clusters can be readily distinguished provided that the clusters are embedded in a suitable ligand environment and that the tunneling of the protons in the peripheral ligands is then analyzed by inelastic neutron scattering. For the [Cr O(OOCCH ) (H O) ]Cl⋅6 H O model system studied, the tunneling process is very sensitive to the local environment. Thus a tool is available to allow a better assessment of the cause of structural distortions.

Employment after spinal cord injury: relation to selected participant characteristics.

Objective: To investigate the relation between selected participant characteristics and employment outcomes after spinal cord injury (SCI). Previous studies produced conflicting results with widely varying employment rates due to differences in study participant characteristics.

Design: A field study of the employment history of a large stratified sample of people with SCI.

Incidence of secondary complications in spinal cord injury.

In order to document the incidence of secondary complications following spinal cord injury (SCI), data were collected from 348 patients with post-acute SCI. More than 95% of these patients reported at least one secondary problem, and more than half (58%) reported three or more. Statistical analyses indicated that, in general, the number and severity of complications varied with the time since injury.

Spinal cord injury occurring in patients with ankylosing spondylitis: a multicenter study.

Treatment of spinal fractures causing paralysis in patients with ankylosing spondylitis is difficult. A multicenter concurrent study evaluated 59 patients--22 managed operatively and 37 nonoperatively. The two groups were compared for neurologic outcome, complications, mortality, and length of stay.

Spinal cord injury in youth.

To identify special characteristics of the pediatric spinal cord-injured (SCI) population, we analyzed a database of 1,770 traumatic SCI patients; 88 (5%) fell into the two pediatric subgroups: 0-12 years (n = 26) and 13-15 years (n = 62) at time of injury. Differences between age groups were identified with regard to demographics, neurologic characteristics, associated injuries and complications, and management. Mode level of bony injury was C2 in preteens, C4 in teens, and C4-C5 in adults.

Incontinence and clean intermittent catheterization following spinal cord injury.

Clean intermittent catheterization (CIC) is commonly used by individuals with neuropathic bladder dysfunction caused by spinal injury. Although the incidence of urologic complications such as infection, calculi, and urethral erosion have been documented for patients managed by CIC, little is known about the incidence or characteristics of urinary incontinence among these patients. One hundred and fifty patients who had been discharged on CIC were investigated via a structured interview.

Social support and subsequent mortality among patients with end-stage renal disease.

The association between social support in newly entered dialysis patients and their subsequent risk of mortality was investigated. Two hundred forty-nine dialysis patients were enrolled from dialysis facilities in two southeastern states. A score was calculated for the amount of social support a patient reported giving and receiving from spouse, family, friends, nurses, physicians, staff, and fellow patients.

Social support and health status in spinal cord injury.

In a mailed survey, 125 persons with spinal cord injury responded to questions on the SCI Quality of Life Index (QOLI), and the Reciprocal Social Support Scale. The results indicated that people with SCI who believe that they receive support from the community, compared to those who believed they received less support (1) perceived themselves to be better adjusted to their injury, and (2) had significantly fewer health problems (fewer spinal cysts, lower blood pressure, shorter recovery time from decubitus ulcers, less pain below the level of injury, and fewer hospital admissions). The results also showed that people who believe that they contribute to the community in some way, compared to those who believed they contributed little or nothing (1) perceived themselves to be better adjusted to their injury, and (2) had significantly fewer health problems (fewer urinary tract infections, fewer decubitus ulcers, less severe decubiti, less pain above the level of injury, and fewer hospital admissions).

Functional status and quality of life: predictors of early mortality among patients entering treatment for end stage renal disease.

We investigated the association between functional status and quality of life in newly-entered dialysis patients and the subsequent risk of mortality. We enrolled the patients from 37 dialysis facilities in two southeastern states (n = 294). Functional status was assessed by the Karnofsky Performance Scale (KPS) and quality of life by the Spitzer Quality of Life Index (SQLI).

A further example of the recessive Lu(a-b-) phenotype.

A family study is reported in which two members of the Lu(a-b-) type. A recessive mode of inheritance is postulated from the failure of the phenotype to occur in other generations and from consanguinity in the propositus' parents.