Genetic fine mapping and genomic annotation defines causal mechanisms at type 2 diabetes susceptibility loci.

We performed fine mapping of 39 established type 2 diabetes (T2D) loci in 27,206 cases and 57,574 controls of European ancestry. We identified 49 distinct association signals at these loci, including five mapping in or near KCNQ1. 'Credible sets' of the variants most likely to drive each distinct signal mapped predominantly to noncoding sequence, implying that association with T2D is mediated through gene regulation.

The Influence of Age and Sex on Genetic Associations with Adult Body Size and Shape: A Large-Scale Genome-Wide Interaction Study.

Genome-wide association studies (GWAS) have identified more than 100 genetic variants contributing to BMI, a measure of body size, or waist-to-hip ratio (adjusted for BMI, WHRadjBMI), a measure of body shape. Body size and shape change as people grow older and these changes differ substantially between men and women. To systematically screen for age- and/or sex-specific effects of genetic variants on BMI and WHRadjBMI, we performed meta-analyses of 114 studies (up to 320,485 individuals of European descent) with genome-wide chip and/or Metabochip data by the Genetic Investigation of Anthropometric Traits (GIANT) Consortium.

The Incidence of Acantholysis in Pityriasis Rubra Pilaris-Histopathological Study Using Multiple-Step Sections and Clinicopathologic Correlations.

Background: The classical histopathological findings in the epidermis of pityriasis rubra pilaris (PRP) do not include acantholysis; however, acantholysis was described in several case reports and a few series of PRP with variable frequencies. We sought to establish the incidence of acantholysis in biopsies from consecutively referred PRP cases using multiple-step sections and clinicopathologic correlations.

Methods: Twenty-three biopsies from 12 consecutively referred patients with classical (type 1) PRP were studied histopathologically.

Rapid development of cardiac dysfunction in a canine model of insulin resistance and moderate obesity.

Aims/hypothesis: The worldwide incidence of obesity and diabetes continues to rise at an alarming rate. A major cause of the morbidity and mortality associated with obesity and diabetes is heart disease, yet the mechanisms that lead to cardiovascular complications remain unclear.

Methods: We performed cardiac MRI to assess left ventricular morphology and function during the development of moderate obesity and insulin resistance in a well-established canine model (n = 26).

Manual Skill Acquisition During Transesophageal Echocardiography Simulator Training of Cardiology Fellows: A Kinematic Assessment.

Objective: To investigate whether a transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) simulator with motion analysis can be used to impart proficiency in TEE in an integrated curriculum-based model.

Design: A prospective cohort study.

Setting: A tertiary-care university hospital.

CB1R antagonist increases hepatic insulin clearance in fat-fed dogs likely via upregulation of liver adiponectin receptors.

The improvement of hepatic insulin sensitivity by the cannabinoid receptor 1 (CB1R) antagonist rimonabant (RIM) has been recently been reported to be due to upregulation of adiponectin. Several studies demonstrated that improvement in insulin clearance accompanies the enhancement of hepatic insulin sensitivity. However, the effects of RIM on hepatic insulin clearance (HIC) have not been fully explored.

Glucose intolerance induced by blockade of central FGF receptors is linked to an acute stress response.

Objective: Central administration of ligands for fibroblast growth factor receptors (FGFRs) such as fibroblast growth factor-19 (FGF19) and FGF21 exert glucose-lowering effects in rodent models of obesity and type 2 diabetes (T2D). Conversely, intracerebroventricular (icv) administration of the non-selective FGFR inhibitor (FGFRi) PD173074 causes glucose intolerance, implying a physiological role for neuronal FGFR signaling in glucose homeostasis. The current studies were undertaken to identify neuroendocrine mechanisms underlying the glucose intolerance induced by pharmacological blockade of central FGFRs.

Supramolecular Ga4L6(12-) Cage Photosensitizes 1,3-Rearrangement of Encapsulated Guest via Photoinduced Electron Transfer.

The K12Ga4L6 supramolecular cage is photoactive and enables an unprecedented photoreaction not observed in bulk solution. Ga4L6(12-) cages photosensitize the 1,3-rearrangement of encapsulated cinnamylammonium cation guests from the linear isomer to the higher energy branched isomer when irradiated with UVA light. The rearrangement requires light and guest encapsulation to occur.

Elevated nocturnal NEFA are an early signal for hyperinsulinaemic compensation during diet-induced insulin resistance in dogs.

Aims/hypothesis: A normal consequence of increased energy intake and insulin resistance is compensatory hyperinsulinaemia through increased insulin secretion and/or reduced insulin clearance. Failure of compensatory mechanisms plays a central role in the pathogenesis of type 2 diabetes mellitus; consequently, it is critical to identify in vivo signal(s) involved in hyperinsulinaemic compensation. We have previously reported that high-fat feeding leads to an increase in nocturnal NEFA concentration.

C-F sp(2) bond functionalization mediated by niobium complexes.

Insertion chemistry of isocyanide molecules was used to functionalize C-F sp(2) bonds after their oxidative addition across the metal center in a β-diketiminate niobium(iii) imido complex (BDI)Nb(N(t)Bu)(C6H6). The complexes formed, 3a-b ([BDI]Nb(PhC[double bond, length as m-dash]N)(N(t)Bu)(F) (R = 1,6-diisopropylphenyl, tert-butyl), were characterized by NMR spectroscopy and X-ray analysis. Further treatment with phenylsilane induced H/F exchange under mild conditions, which was followed by hydride transfer to the inserted isocyanide.

Enabling New Modes of Reactivity via Constrictive Binding in a Supramolecular-Assembly-Catalyzed Aza-Prins Cyclization.

Supramolecular assembly 1 catalyzes a bimolecular aza-Prins cyclization featuring an unexpected transannular 1,5-hydride transfer. This reaction pathway, which is promoted by constrictive binding within the supramolecular cavity of 1, is kinetically disfavored in the absence of 1, as evidenced by the orthogonal reactivity observed in bulk solution. Mechanistic investigation through kinetic analysis and isotopic labeling studies indicates that the rate-limiting step of the transformation is the encapsulation of a transient iminium ion and supports the proposed 1,5-hydride transfer mechanism.

Regio- and Diastereoselective Synthesis of Highly Substituted, Oxygenated Piperidines from Tetrahydropyridines.

Diastereoselective epoxidation and regioselective ring-opening methods were developed for the synthesis of densely substituted, oxygenated piperidines from two classes of tetrahydropyridines with distinct stereochemical displays of functionalities. A new and practical in situ prepared epoxidation reagent was developed for the diastereoselective epoxidation of one class of sterically hindered tetrahydropyridines. The novel bifunctional epoxidation reagent, 2-carboperoxy-3,4,5,6-tetrafluorobenzoic acid, was designed to incorporate highly reactive percarboxy acid and pendant carboxylic acid groups, which through hydrogen bonding to the amino group successfully overrode steric effects and directed epoxidation to occur at the more hindered face of the tetrahydropyridine.

Long-term outcome of patients after out-of-hospital cardiac arrest in relation to treatment: a single-centre study.

Introduction: Outcome after out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) remains poor. With the introduction of automated external defibrillators, percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) and mild therapeutic hypothermia (MTH) the prognosis of patients after OHCA appears to be improving. The aim of this study was to evaluate short and long-term outcome among a non-selected population of patients who experienced OHCA and were admitted to a hospital working within a ST elevation myocardial infarction network.

Facile Rh(III)-Catalyzed Synthesis of Fluorinated Pyridines.

A Rh(III)-catalyzed C-H functionalization approach was developed for the preparation of multisubstituted 3-fluoropyridines from α-fluoro-α,β-unsaturated oximes and alkynes. Oximes substituted with aryl, heteroaryl, and alkyl β-substituents were effective coupling partners, as were symmetrical and unsymmetrical alkynes with aryl and alkyl substituents. The first examples of coupling α,β-unsaturated oximes with terminal alkynes was also demonstrated and proceeded with uniformly high regioselectivity to provide single 3-fluoropyridine regioisomers.

In vivo assessment of aged human skin with a unilateral NMR scanner.

Human skin undergoes morphological and biochemical changes as a result of chronological aging and exposure to solar ultraviolet irradiation (photoaging). Noninvasive detection of these changes may aid in the prevention and treatment of both types of aging. This article presents a noninvasive method for the evaluation of aging skin with a unilateral stray field NMR scanner.

Lewis Acidity of Bis(perfluorocatecholato)silane: Aldehyde Hydrosilylation Catalyzed by a Neutral Silicon Compound.

Bis(perfluorocatecholato)silane Si(cat(F))2 was prepared, and stoichiometric binding to Lewis bases was demonstrated with fluoride, triethylphosphine oxide, and N,N'-diisopropylbenzamide. The potent Lewis acidity of Si(cat(F))2 was suggested from catalytic hydrosilylation and silylcyanation reactions with aldehydes. Mechanistic studies of hydrosilylation using an optically active silane substrate, R-(+)-methyl-(1-naphthyl)phenylsilane, proceeded with predominant stereochemical retention at silicon, consistent with a carbonyl activation pathway.

High-fat diet-induced insulin resistance does not increase plasma anandamide levels or potentiate anandamide insulinotropic effect in isolated canine islets.

Background: Obesity has been associated with elevated plasma anandamide levels. In addition, anandamide has been shown to stimulate insulin secretion in vitro, suggesting that anandamide might be linked to hyperinsulinemia.

Objective: To determine whether high-fat diet-induced insulin resistance increases anandamide levels and potentiates the insulinotropic effect of anandamide in isolated pancreatic islets.

Lipid-induced insulin resistance does not impair insulin access to skeletal muscle.

Elevated plasma free fatty acids (FFA) induce insulin resistance in skeletal muscle. Previously, we have shown that experimental insulin resistance induced by lipid infusion prevents the dispersion of insulin through the muscle, and we hypothesized that this would lead to an impairment of insulin moving from the plasma to the muscle interstitium. Thus, we infused lipid into our anesthetized canine model and measured the appearance of insulin in the lymph as a means to sample muscle interstitium under hyperinsulinemic euglycemic clamp conditions.

Glucose homeostasis during short-term and prolonged exposure to high altitudes.

Most of the literature related to high altitude medicine is devoted to the short-term effects of high-altitude exposure on human physiology. However, long-term effects of living at high altitudes may be more important in relation to human disease because more than 400 million people worldwide reside above 1500 m. Interestingly, individuals living at higher altitudes have a lower fasting glycemia and better glucose tolerance compared with those who live near sea level.