A new classification for dislocated and displaced proximal humeral fractures.

Background: Although the Neer and AO/OTA classifications have been widely accepted, observer reliability studies of these two classifications have questioned their reliability and reproducibility to date. We developed an entirely new classification, the Mitsuzawa classification, for dislocated and displaced proximal humeral fractures and tested all three classifications for their intra- and interobserver reliability.

Methods: Two experienced shoulder surgeons and two orthopedic residents independently evaluated the Xray (xR) values of 100 proximal humeral fractures (PHFs).

Ethanolamine and Vinyl-Ether Moieties in Brain Phospholipids Modulate Behavior in Rats.

Plasmalogens are brain-enriched phospholipids with a vinyl-ether bond at the -1 position between the glycerol backbone and the alkyl chain. Previous studies have suggested that plasmalogens modulate locomotor activity, anxiety-like behavior, and cognitive functions in rodents; however, the specific moieties contributing to behavioral regulation are unknown. In this study, we examined the behavioral modulation induced by specific phospholipid moieties.

Solitary and Synergistic Effects of Different Hydrophilic and Hydrophobic Phospholipid Moieties on Rat Behaviors.

Glycerophospholipids have hydrophobic and hydrophilic moieties. Previous studies suggest that phospholipids with different moieties have different effects on rodent behavior; however, the relationship between chemical structures and behavioral effects remains unclear. To clarify the functions of phospholipid moieties, we injected male rats with phospholipids with different moieties and conducted behavioral tests.

Effect of operating variables on the separation of radiostrontium from aqueous matrices with ion-selective solid-phase extraction systems.

Radiostrontium (r-Sr: Sr) is one of the primary fission products in nuclear power plants and generates liquid radioactive waste when intermixed to the aqueous matrix. Therefore, separation or preconcentration of r-Sr from the aqueous matrices is necessary for environmental monitoring or nuclear forensics. The solid-phase extraction (SPE) approach is prevalently used for r-Sr isolation and to design matrix-specific methods, while generalized SPE-assisted operating protocols are not proposed by far.

Recombinant Interleukin-19 Suppresses the Formation and Progression of Experimental Abdominal Aortic Aneurysms.

Background Interleukin-19 is an immunosuppressive cytokine produced by immune and nonimmune cells, but its role in abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) pathogenesis is not known. This study aimed to investigate interleukin-19 expression in, and influences on, the formation and progression of experimental AAAs. Methods and Results Human specimens were obtained at aneurysm repair surgery or from transplant donors.

Selective Separation of Radiocesium from Complex Aqueous Matrices Using Dual Solid-Phase Extraction Systems.

The release of radiocesium (r-Cs) into natural aqueous systems is of concern because of its extended solubility as an alkaline metal ion and its facile incorporation into living beings. A technique for the selective separation of Cs from an aqueous matrix using dual solid-phase extraction (SPE) systems in a series is proposed in this paper. The SPEs equipped with chelates (Nobias Chelate-PA1 and Nobias Chelate-PB1), an ion-exchange resin (Nobias Ion SC-1), or macrocycles (MetaSEP AnaLig Cs-01 and MetaSEP AnaLig Cs-02) were evaluated in terms of selectivity and retention/recovery behavior toward Cs and other potentially competing ions (Li, Na, K, Rb, Ba, Ca, Mg, and Sr).

A Chiral Metal-Organic 1D-Coordination Polymer Upon Complexation of Phenylene-Bridged Bipyrrole and Palladium (II) Ion.

Metal-organic 1D-coordination polymers, having unique electronic and optical properties, are expected to be a novel advanced functional material capable of fabricating smart plastics, films, and fibers. In this study, we have synthesized a novel metal-organic 1D-coordination polymer composed of a phenylene-bridged bipyrrole bearing -alkylimino groups (BPI) and palladium(II) ion. The BPI and Pd(II) form square planar bis(bidentate) complex to form a metal coordinated π-conjugation polymer (Poly-BPI/Pd).

Preferential Tumor Accumulation of Polyglycerol Functionalized Nanodiamond Conjugated with Cyanine Dye Leading to Near-Infrared Fluorescence In Vivo Tumor Imaging.

Preferential accumulation of nanoparticles in a tumor is realized commonly by combined effects of active and passive targeting. However, passive targeting based on an enhanced permeation and retention (EPR) effect is not sufficient to observe clear tumor fluorescence images in most of the in vivo experiments using tumor-bearing mice. Herein, polyglycerol-functionalized nanodiamonds (ND-PG) conjugated with cyanine dye (Cy7) are synthesized and it is found that the resulting ND-PG-Cy7 is preferentially accumulated in the tumor, giving clear fluorescence in in vivo and ex vivo fluorescence images.

Spiroborate-Based Double-Stranded Helicates: Meso-to- Racemo Isomerization and Ion-Triggered Springlike Motion of the Racemo-Helicate.

A one-handed double-stranded spiroborate helicate exhibits a unique reversible extension-contraction motion coupled with a twisting motion in one direction triggered by binding and release of a Na ion while retaining its handedness. Here we report that an extended meso-helicate was also produced together with the racemo-helicate, and the meso-helicate was readily converted to the racemo-helicate assisted by a Na ion as a template in the presence of water. The thermodynamic analyses of the ion-triggered springlike motion of the racemo-helicate using a series of monovalent cations with different sizes revealed that the association constants of the extended racemo-helicate decreased in the following order: Li > Na > NH > Ag ≥ K > Cs > Rb, which roughly agrees with the reverse order of their ionic radii except for the NH ion due to the more elongated contracted helicates when complexed with larger cations as supported by the crystal and DFT calculated structures.

Production of a High-affinity Monoclonal Antibody Reactive with Folate Receptors Alpha and Beta.

Folate receptors α (FRα) and β (FRβ) are two isoforms of the cell surface glycoprotein that binds folate. The expression of FRα is rare in normal cells and elevated in cancer cells. Thus, FRα-based tumor-targeted therapy has been a focus area of laboratory research and clinical trials.

Rapamycin limits the growth of established experimental abdominal aortic aneurysms.

Objectives: Abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) is a chronic inflammatory disease affecting 4-8% of men older than 60 years. No pharmacologic strategies limit disease progression, aneurysm rupture, or aneurysm-related death. We examined the ability of rapamycin to limit the progression of established experimental AAAs.

Supramolecular Organogels Formed through Complementary Double-Helix Formation.

Optically active amidine ((R)-1) and achiral carboxylic acid (2) dimers with a m-terphenyl backbone linked by a 1,4-phenylene diacetylene unit form a double helix, (R)-1⋅2, through complementary amidinium-carboxylate salt bridges in THF. Upon the addition of poor solvents, such as n-hexane, the duplex forms an organogel as a result of supramolecular polymerization of the duplex by intermolecular rearrangement of the salt bridges. In sharp contrast, an analogous racemic duplex composed of achiral amidine residues and an optically active duplex linked by a shorter diacetylene unit with a higher binding affinity than that of (R)-1⋅2 does not show any gelation.

Synthesis of helically twisted [1 + 1]macrocycles assisted by amidinium-carboxylate salt bridges and control of their chiroptical properties.

A series of optically active, helically twisted [1 + 1]macrocycles connected via o-, m-, and p-linkages (o-, m-, and p-) was prepared from the corresponding linear duplexes stabilized by complementary amidinium-carboxylate salt bridges bearing two arms with terminal vinyl groups at both ends through the ring-closing metathesis reaction in the good yields of 67, 92, and 96%, respectively. The chiroptical properties of the macrocycles were dependent on the linker geometries and could be controlled by acid-base interactions and zinc coordination, the changes in which were detected by their CD and absorption spectral changes and fluorescence colors.

Novel Therapy for Atherosclerosis Using Recombinant Immunotoxin Against Folate Receptor β-Expressing Macrophages.

Background: Folate receptor β (FRβ) is induced during macrophage activation. A recombinant immunotoxin consisting of the truncated Pseudomonas exotoxin A (PE38) conjugated to an anti-FRβ antibody (anti-FRβ-PE38) has been reported to kill activated macrophages in inflammatory diseases. To elucidate the effect of an immunotoxin targeting FRβ on atherosclerosis, we determined the presence of FRβ-expressing macrophages in atherosclerotic lesions and administered the FRβ immunotoxin in apolipoprotein E-deficient mice.

Thermodynamic and kinetic stabilities of complementary double helices utilizing amidinium-carboxylate salt bridges.

A series of dimer strands consisting of m-terphenyl backbones bearing complementary chiral or achiral amidines and achiral carboxylic acid residues connected by various types of linkers, such as diacetylene, Pt(II)-acetylide, and p-diethynylbenzene linkages, were synthesized by a modular strategy, and their chiroptical properties on the complementary double helix formations were investigated by absorption, circular dichroism (CD), and (1)H NMR spectroscopies. The thermodynamic and kinetic stabilities of the complementary double helices assisted by amidinium-carboxylate salt bridges are highly dependent on their linkages, and the thermodynamic analyses of the dimer duplexes revealed that the association constants increased in the order: Pt(II)-acetylide linker < p-diethynylbenzene linker < diacetylene linker, which is in agreement with the reverse order of their bulkiness. The substituents on the amidine groups were also found to affect the stabilities on the duplexes and the association constants increased in the order: isopropyl < (R)-1-phenylethyl < cyclohexyl.

Diastereoselective imine-bond formation through complementary double-helix formation.

Optically active amidine dimer strands having a variety of chiral and achiral linkers with different stereostructures are synthesized and used as templates for diastereoselective imine-bond formations between two achiral carboxylic acid monomers bearing a terminal aldehyde group and racemic 1,2-cyclohexanediamine, resulting in a preferred-handed double helix stabilized by complementary salt bridges. The diastereoselectivity of the racemic amine is significantly affected by the chirality of the amidine residues along with the rigidity and/or chirality of the linkers in the templates. NMR and kinetic studies reveal that the present imine-bond formation involves a two-step reversible reaction.

Waon therapy upregulates Hsp90 and leads to angiogenesis through the Akt-endothelial nitric oxide synthase pathway in mouse hindlimb ischemia.

Background: Thermal therapy, namely Waon therapy, has previously been reported to regulate nitric oxide (NO) and endothelial NO synthase (eNOS) and augment ischemia-induced angiogenesis in mice and improve limb ischemia in patients with peripheral artery disease. The aim of this study was to clarify the precise mechanism by which Waon therapy augments angiogenesis in mice with hindlimb ischemia.

Methods And Results: Unilateral hindlimb ischemia was induced in apolipoprotein E-deficient mice and Waon therapy was performed for 5 weeks.

Effects of valsartan on fibrinolysis in hypertensive patients with metabolic syndrome.

Background: The purpose of this study was to analyze the effect of valsartan on abnormal adipocyte metabolism and prothrombotic state in hypertensive patients with metabolic syndrome (MetS).

Methods And Results: We conducted a multicenter, prospective, randomized, parallel-group controlled trial in 150 hypertensive patients with MetS. They were randomly assigned to receive either 80-160 mg valsartan per day (valsartan group, n=79) or other conventional treatment without a renin-angiotensin system (RAS) inhibitor (non-RAS inhibitor group, n=71).

Comparative study of therapeutic effects of short- and long-acting loop diuretics in outpatients with chronic heart failure (COLD-CHF).

Background: Loop diuretics have two different classes with different duration of activity: short-acting such as furosemide (duration of activity, 6h) and long-acting such as azosemide (duration of activity, 10-12h). We conducted a multicenter, randomized, controlled trial in order to compare the therapeutic effects of azosemide, a long-acting loop diuretic, and furosemide, a short-acting one, on neurohumoral factors and cardiac function in outpatients with chronic heart failure (CHF).

Methods: We enrolled 98 patients with CHF who were receiving furosemide and an angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor, and they were randomly divided into furosemide (n=49) and azosemide (n=49) groups.

Synthesis and optical resolution of a Cu(I) double-stranded helicate with ketimine-bridged tris(bipyridine) ligands.

A tetranuclear Cu(I) double-stranded helicate was synthesized from ketimine-bridged tris(bipyridine) ligands and Cu(I) ions, and the racemate was successfully resolved by diastereomeric salt formation using an optically pure phosphate anion followed by anion exchange with NaPF(6) without racemization.

Recovery of toxic metal ions from washing effluent containing excess aminopolycarboxylate chelant in solution.

Aminopolycarboxylate chelants (APCs) are extremely useful for a variety of industrial applications, including the treatment of toxic metal-contaminated solid waste materials. Because non-toxic matrix elements compete with toxic metals for the binding sites of APCs, an excess of chelant is commonly added to ensure the adequate sequestration of toxic metal contaminants during waste treatment operations. The major environmental impacts of APCs are related to their ability to solubilize toxic heavy metals.