Low-density lipoprotein cholesterol goal attainment in Germany: Results from the DA VINCI study.

Background And Aims: Cardiovascular mortality is high in Germany. For patients with high or very high cardiovascular risk, the European Society of Cardiology (ESC)/European Atherosclerosis Society (EAS) guidelines recommend intensive lipid lowering therapy (LLT). This study aimed to assess dyslipidaemia management and achievement of the ESC/EAS guideline-recommended low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) goals.

Configurationally flexible zinc complexes as catalysts for rac-lactide polymerisation.

Zn(N(SiMe3)2)2 was reacted with pyridinemethanol and R,R-N,N'-di(methylbenzyl)-2,5-diiminopyrrole (L1H) to afford the dimeric complex (L1)2Zn2(μ-OR)2. The complex showed moderate activity in rac-lactide polymerization to heterotactic polymer (Pr = 0.75).

Dinuclear iminophenoxide copper complexes in rac-lactide polymerisation.

Dinuclear bis(R'-(R''-iminomethyl)phenoxide) copper complexes L2Cu2(μ-OR)2 were prepared from the reaction of copper methoxide with ROH and LH (ROH = dimethylaminoethanol or pyridylmethanol, R' = H, 4,6-tBu, 1,3-Cl, R'' = benzyl, cyclohexyl, diphenylmethyl and 2,6-dimethylphenyl). Preparation was complicated by formation of homoleptic L2Cu and only 9 of the 24 possible combinations could be prepared. All complexes were characterized by single crystal X-ray diffraction studies and crystallized as dinuclear penta-coordinated complexes.

Exploring the reactivity of manganese(III) complexes with diphenolate-diamino ligands in rac-lactide polymerization.

Manganese(III) complexes of tetradentate diphenolate-diamino (NNOO(2-)) ligands were prepared from aerobic reaction of MnCl2 with the respective ligands in basic methanolic solution. Methoxide complexes (NNOO)Mn(OMe)(MeOH)0-1 were obtained for three ligands, while others only provided the respective chloride complexes (NNOO)Mn(Cl)(MeOH). Complexes were analyzed by X-ray diffraction studies and octahedral complexes showed evidence of Jahn-Teller distortions.

Isotactic rac-Lactide Polymerization with Copper Complexes: The Influence of Complex Nuclearity.

Diiminopyrrolide copper alkoxide complexes, LCuOR (OR(1)=N,N-dimethylamino ethoxide, OR(2)=2-pyridyl methoxide), are active for the polymerization of rac-lactide at ambient temperature in benzene to yield polymers with M(w)/M(n)=1.0-1.2.

Parallel screening for ALK, MET and ROS1 alterations in non-small cell lung cancer with implications for daily routine testing.

Objectives: ALK, MET and ROS1 are prognostic and predictive markers in NSCLC, which need to be implemented in daily routine. To evaluate different detection approaches and scoring systems for optimal stratification of patients eligible for mutation testing in the future, we screened a large and unselected cohort of NSCLCs for all three alterations.

Material And Methods: Using tissue microarrays, 473 surgically resected NSCLCs were tested for ALK and MET expression by IHC and genomic alterations in the ALK, MET and ROS1 gene by FISH.

Multicenter immunohistochemical ALK-testing of non-small-cell lung cancer shows high concordance after harmonization of techniques and interpretation criteria.

Introduction: Detection of anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK)-gene rearrangements in non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is mainly performed by fluorescence in-situ hybridization (FISH). The question was raised if FISH might be replaced by immunohistochemistry (IHC) in a reliable and reproducible manner across different laboratories.

Methods: After calibration of the staining instruments and training of the observers to binary interpretation (positive versus negative), 15 NSCLC were independently tested for ALK protein expression by IHC only in a multicenter setting (16 institutes).

Lactide polymerization catalyzed by Mg and Zn diketiminate complexes with flexible ligand frameworks.

Diketimine ligands bearing N-benzyl, N-9-anthrylmethyl and N-mesitylmethyl substituents (nacnac(Bn)H, nacnac(An)H, and nacnac(Mes)H) were prepared from condensation of the amine with either acetyl acetone or its ethylene glycol monoketal. Chlorination with N-chlorosuccinimide in the 3-position yielded Clnacnac(Bn)H and Clnacnac(An)H. The ligands were reacted with Zn(TMSA)2 (TMSA = N(SiMe3)2) to yield nacnac(An)Zn(TMSA) and Clnacnac(Bn)Zn(TMSA).

Role of diuretics, β blockers, and statins in increasing the risk of diabetes in patients with impaired glucose tolerance: reanalysis of data from the NAVIGATOR study.

Objective: To examine the degree to which use of β blockers, statins, and diuretics in patients with impaired glucose tolerance and other cardiovascular risk factors is associated with new onset diabetes.

Design: Reanalysis of data from the Nateglinide and Valsartan in Impaired Glucose Tolerance Outcomes Research (NAVIGATOR) trial.

Setting: NAVIGATOR trial.

Square-planar Cu(II) diketiminate complexes in lactide polymerization.

Cu(OiPr)2 was reacted with several β-diketimine ligands, nacnac(R)H. Sterically undemanding ligands with N-benzyl substituents afforded the dimeric heteroleptic complexes [nacnac(Bn)Cu(μ-OiPr)]2 and [3-Cl-nacnac(Bn)Cu(μ-OiPr)]2 (Bn = benzyl). With sterically more demanding amines, dimerization was not possible, and the putative nacnacCuOiPr intermediate underwent ligand exchange to the homoleptic bisdiketiminate complexes Cu(nacnac(ipp))2 and Cu(nacnac(Naph))2 (ipp = 2-isopropylphenyl, Naph = 1-napthyl).

Physical activity is strongly inversely related to post-challenge plasma glucose and glycemic spikes in a risk population for type 2 diabetes.

Aim: To examine the relationship between physical activity (PA) and various cardiometabolic risk factors during an oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT), including glycemic spikes (PGS) in individuals at risk for type 2 diabetes.

Subjects And Methods: A total of 949 middle-aged subjects from the Risk factors in Impaired Glucose Tolerance for Atherosclerosis and Diabetes (RIAD) trial aged 40-70 years were included in the present cross-sectional analysis. Standard 75 g OGTT was performed and blood was collected every 30 min for 2 hours for measurements of plasma glucose (PG) and other cardiometabolic risk factors.

Exceptionally high lactide polymerization activity of zirconium complexes with bridged diketiminate ligands.

A cyclohexanediyl-bridged, bis(N-xylyl) diketiminate ligand, (±)-C6H10(nacnac(Xyl)H)2, LH2 (Xyl = 2,6-dimethylphenyl), was obtained from the reaction of [(2,6-dimethylphenyl)amino]-pent-3-en-2-one first with Meerwein's salt, then with (±)-cyclohexanediamine. The reaction of the ligand with Zr(NMe2)4 yielded LZr(NMe2)2. Protonation of the remaining diamide ligands with EtOH or [H2NMe2]Cl yielded LZr(OEt)2 and LZrCl2, respectively.

Association of physical activity with insulin resistance, subclinical inflammation, coagulation, and fibrinolytic biomarkers among population at high risk for type 2 diabetes.

Objective: TO investigate the association of physical activity with insulin resistance and biomarkers of inflammation, coagulation, and fibrinolysis in a population at high risk for type 2 diabetes.

Patients And Methods: A total of 778 subjects from the Risk factors in Impaired Glucose Tolerance for Atherosclerosis and Diabetes (RIAD) study aged 40-70 years were included in the present cross-sectional analysis.

Results: Participants classified as having low physical activity (PA) were more insulin resistant in comparison to participants with medium (P = 0.

Nacnac(Bn)CuOiPr: a strained geometry resulting in very high lactide polymerization activity.

N,N'-Dibenzyl diketiminate copper isopropanolate, (nacnac(Bn)CuOiPr)(2), polymerizes rac- and S,S-lactide in the presence or absence of isopropanol as a chain-transfer reagent with very high activity (k(2) = 32 M(-1) s(-1)), narrow polydispersities and without evidence of side reactions such as transesterification, epimerization or catalyst decomposition.

Potential association of paraoxonase-1, type 2 diabetes mellitus, and periodontitis.

Background: The association between periodontitis and systemic diseases, including cardiovascular diseases and diabetes mellitus (DM), has been recognized repeatedly. Paraoxonase-1 (PON-1) is involved in the prevention of atherosclerosis, and decreased enzyme activity in patients with DM has been shown. The aim of this study is to investigate a possible correlation between decreased PON-1 activity and the association between impaired glucose metabolism or DM and periodontitis.

Formation and reactivity of 3-diazopyridinium cations and influence on their reductive electrografting on glassy carbon.

The in situ generation of 3-diazonium cations from 3-aminopyridine and their subsequent stability under experimental conditions used for electrografting of pyridine groups were investigated by spectroscopy and electrochemistry. UV spectroscopy revealed the rapid kinetics for the reaction of 3-aminopyridine with sodium nitrite in HCl to form the 3-diazopyridinium cation with a second-order rate constant of 550 ± 20 L mol(-1) s(-1) at 22 °C. UV spectroscopy showed that the 3-diazopyridinium ion was relatively unstable and its transformation into 3-hydroxypyridine was proven by (1)H NMR.

A cluster-randomised trial of staff education to improve the quality of life of people with dementia living in residential care: the DIRECT study.

Background: The Dementia In Residential care: EduCation intervention Trial (DIRECT) was conducted to determine if delivery of education designed to meet the perceived need of GPs and care staff improves the quality of life of participants with dementia living in residential care.

Methodology/principal Findings: This cluster-randomised controlled trial was conducted in 39 residential aged care facilities in the metropolitan area of Perth, Western Australia. 351 care facility residents aged 65 years and older with Mini-Mental State Examination ≤ 24, their GPs and facility staff participated.

'Gotta be sit down and worked out together': views of Aboriginal caregivers and service providers on ways to improve dementia care for Aboriginal Australians.

Introduction: Dementia is five-fold more prevalent among Aboriginal than non-Aboriginal Australians. Despite this, the quality of care available to people living with dementia in remote Aboriginal communities is poor. The objective of this study was to determine ways to overcome factors affecting the successful delivery of services to Aboriginal people with dementia living in remote communities, and to their families and communities.

Correlation of SHOX2 gene amplification and DNA methylation in lung cancer tumors.

Background: DNA methylation in the SHOX2 locus was previously used to reliably detect lung cancer in a group of critical controls, including 'cytologically negative' samples with no visible tumor cell content, at a high specificity based on the analysis of bronchial lavage samples. This study aimed to investigate, if the methylation correlates with SHOX2 gene expression and/or copy number alterations. An amplification of the SHOX2 gene locus together with the observed tumor-specific hypermethylation might explain the good performance of this marker in bronchial lavage samples.

Nacnac(Bn)MgOtBu: a diketiminate-based catalyst for the polymerisation of rac-lactide with slight isotactic preference.

The reaction of N,N'-dibenzyl-2-amino-4-imino-pent-2-ene, nacnac(Bn)H, with 1 or 2 equiv. of MgnBu₂ afforded the homoleptic complex nacnac(Bn)₂Mg. The reaction of nacnac(Bn)H with Mg(N(SiMe₃)₂)₂ yielded nacnac(Bn)MgN(SiMe₃)₂, which reacted with tert-butanol to form nacnac(Bn)MgOtBu.

Factors associated with self and informant ratings of the quality of life of people with dementia living in care facilities: a cross sectional study.

Background: There is no consensus regarding the optimal approach to assessment of the quality of life of people with dementia. We undertook the present study to describe and determine the factors associated with ratings of the quality of life of a cohort of people with dementia living in a residential care facility.

Methodology/principal Findings: 351 people with dementia living in residential care facilities, and their staff and family informants participated in this cross sectional observational study.

Development and evaluation of an educational intervention for general practitioners and staff caring for people with dementia living in residential facilities.

Background: Despite high levels of participation in dementia education, general practitioners (GPs) and residential care facility (RCF) staff report perceived learning needs. Small group education, which is flexible, individualized, practical and case-based, is sought. We aimed to develop educational interventions for GPs and RCF staff tailored to meet their perceived educational needs.

Intramolecular pi-stacking in copper(I) diketiminate phenanthroline complexes.

Diketimines N,N'-dibenzyl-2-amino-4-imino-pent-2-ene (1), S,S-N,N'-di(phenylethyl)-2-amino-4-imino-pent-2-ene (2), N,N'-bis(3,4,5-trimethoxyphenylmethyl)-2-amino-4-imino-pent-2-ene (3), N,N'-bis(pentafluorophenylmethyl)-2-amino-4-imino-pent-2-ene (4) and N,N'-diisobutyl-2-amino-4-imino-pent-2-ene (5) react with CuOtBu in the presence of 2,9-R2-1,10-phenanthroline to give the respective neutral, tetracoordinated diketiminate copper(I) phenanthroline complexes 1a+2a (R = H), 1b, 3b-5b (R = Me) and 1c+3c (R = Ph). Crystal structures were obtained for all complexes except 5b and intramolecular π-stacking between the phenanthroline ligand and one or two N-benzyl substituents were observed in 1a, 2a, 1b and 1c, or 3b and 4b, respectively. UV/vis absorption spectra show two transitions in the visible region, a diketiminate-based transition at 373-386 nm and a transition at 600-666 nm, tentatively assigned as an MLCT to phenanthroline.

Dementia in residential care: education intervention trial (DIRECT); protocol for a randomised controlled trial.

Background: There is scope to improve the quality of life (QOL) of people with dementia living in residential care facilities (RCF). The DIRECT study will determine if delivery of education to General Practitioners (GPs) and care staff improves the quality of life of residential care recipients with cognitive impairment.

Methods/design: A prospective randomised controlled trial conducted in residential aged care facilities in the metropolitan area of Perth, Western Australia.

Effect of valsartan on the incidence of diabetes and cardiovascular events.

Background: It is not known whether drugs that block the renin-angiotensin system reduce the risk of diabetes and cardiovascular events in patients with impaired glucose tolerance.

Methods: In this double-blind, randomized clinical trial with a 2-by-2 factorial design, we assigned 9306 patients with impaired glucose tolerance and established cardiovascular disease or cardiovascular risk factors to receive valsartan (up to 160 mg daily) or placebo (and nateglinide or placebo) in addition to lifestyle modification. We then followed the patients for a median of 5.