Race-based demographic, anthropometric and clinical correlates of N-terminal-pro B-type natriuretic peptide.

Background: Population studies have shown that black race is a natriuretic peptide (NP) deficiency state. We sought to assess whether the effects of age, sex, body mass index (BMI) and estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) on N-terminal-pro-B-type NP (NT-proBNP) levels differ in white and black individuals.

Methods: The study population consisted of a stratified random cohort from the REasons for Geographic And Racial Differences in Stroke (REGARDS) study.

Brief Report: Kidney Dysfunction Does Not Contribute Significantly to Antiretroviral Therapy Modification in Treatment-Naive PLWH Receiving Initial ART.

Background: Antiretroviral therapy (ART) durability, time to modification or cessation, has declined. The study objective was to determine whether kidney dysfunction is contributing to reduced durability.

Methods: This retrospective follow-up study of CNICS evaluated treatment-naive PLWH initiating ART between 2007 and 2014.

Lumen apposing metal stents are superior to plastic stents in pancreatic walled-off necrosis: a large international multicenter study.

 The use of lumen apposing metal stents (LAMS) during EUS-guided transmural drainage (EUS-TD) of pancreatic walled-off necrosis (WON) has gained popularity. Data supporting their use in WON over plastic stents (PS), however, remain scarce. The aim of this study was to compare the clinical efficacy of LAMS (Axios, Boston Scientific) with PS in WON.

A PheWAS study of a large observational epidemiological cohort of African Americans from the REGARDS study.

Background: Cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and kidney disease are among the leading causes of death and disability worldwide. However, knowledge of genetic determinants of those diseases in African Americans remains limited.

Results: In our study, associations between 4956 GWAS catalog reported SNPs and 67 traits were examined among 7726 African Americans from the REasons for Geographic and Racial Differences in Stroke (REGARDS) study, which is focused on identifying factors that increase stroke risk.

Genesis and Stability of Hydronium Ions in Zeolite Channels.

The catalytic sites of acidic zeolite are profoundly altered by the presence of water changing the nature of the Brønsted acid site. High-resolution solid-state NMR spectroscopy shows water interacting with zeolite Brønsted acid sites, converting them to hydrated hydronium ions over a wide range of temperature and thermodynamic activity of water. A signal at 9 ppm was observed at loadings of 2-9 water molecules per Brønsted acid site and is assigned to hydrated hydronium ions on the basis of the evolution of the signal with increasing water content, chemical shift calculations, and the direct comparison with HClO in water.

Adiposity and risk of decline in glomerular filtration rate: meta-analysis of individual participant data in a global consortium.

Objective: To evaluate the associations between adiposity measures (body mass index, waist circumference, and waist-to-height ratio) with decline in glomerular filtration rate (GFR) and with all cause mortality.

Design: Individual participant data meta-analysis.

Setting: Cohorts from 40 countries with data collected between 1970 and 2017.

Mechanism of nitrones and allenoates cascade reactions for the synthesis of dihydro[1,2-a]indoles.

Quantum mechanical calculations (DLPNO-CCSD(T) and dispersion-corrected DFT) are employed to gain insights into the mechanism and selectivity in the catalytic synthesis of dihydropyrido[1,2-a]indoles from the cascade reaction between nitrones and allenes. Implications for controlling diverging pathways is discussed.

Templating and Catalyzing [2+2] Photocycloaddition in Solution Using a Dynamic G-Quadruplex.

We describe a templating/covalent capture strategy that enables photochemical formation of 8 cyclobutanes in one noncovalent assembly. This process was characterized by experiment and quantum mechanical/molecular mechanics (ONIOM) calculations. Thus, KI and 16 units of 5'-cinnamate guanosine form a G-quadruplex where C=C π bonds in neighboring G -quartets are separated by 3.

Angiotensinogen rs5050 germline genetic variant as potential biomarker of poor prognosis in astrocytoma.

Introduction: Renin-angiotensin system (RAS) in brain cancer represents a scarcely explored field in neuro-oncology. Recently, some pre- and clinical studies have reported that RAS components play a relevant role in the development and behavior of gliomas. The angiotensinogen (AGT) rs5050 genetic variant has been identified as a crucial regulator of the transcription of AGT mRNA, which makes it a logical and promising target of research.

Adherence to Mediterranean-style diet and risk of sepsis in the REasons for Geographic and Racial Differences in Stroke (REGARDS) cohort.

Sepsis - syndrome of infection complicated by organ dysfunction - is responsible for over 750 000 hospitalisations and 200 000 deaths in the USA annually. Despite potential nutritional benefits, the association of diet and sepsis is unknown. Therefore, we sought to determine the association between adherence to a Mediterranean-style diet (Med-style diet) and long-term risk of sepsis in the REasons for Geographic Differences in Stroke (REGARDS) cohort.

Relationship of Estimated GFR and Albuminuria to Concurrent Laboratory Abnormalities: An Individual Participant Data Meta-analysis in a Global Consortium.

Rationale & Objective: Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is complicated by abnormalities that reflect disruption in filtration, tubular, and endocrine functions of the kidney. Our aim was to explore the relationship of specific laboratory result abnormalities and hypertension with the estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) and albuminuria CKD staging framework.

Study Design: Cross-sectional individual participant-level analyses in a global consortium.

Photoredox/Nickel-Catalyzed Single-Electron Tsuji-Trost Reaction: Development and Mechanistic Insights.

A regioselective, nickel-catalyzed photoredox allylation of secondary, benzyl, and α-alkoxy radical precursors is disclosed. Through this manifold, a variety of linear allylic alcohols and allylated monosaccharides are accessible in high yields under mild reaction conditions. Quantum mechanical calculations [DFT and DLPNO-CCSD(T)] support the mechanistic hypothesis of a Ni to Ni oxidative addition pathway followed by radical addition and inner-sphere allylation.

The Role of Vitamin D in CKD Stages 3 to 4: Report of a Scientific Workshop Sponsored by the National Kidney Foundation.

Deficiency of 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25[OH]D) is common in patients with chronic kidney disease stages 3 and 4 and is associated with poor outcomes. However, the evaluation and management of vitamin D deficiency in nephrology remains controversial. This article reports on the proceedings from a "controversies conference" on vitamin D in chronic kidney disease that was sponsored by the National Kidney Foundation.

Divergent Reactivity in Pd-Catalyzed [3,3]-Sigmatropic Rearrangement of Allyloxy- and Propargyloxyindoles Revealed by Computation and Experiment.

Detailed computational (DFT) studies of the palladium(II)-catalyzed Claisen rearrangement of 2-allyloxy- and propargyloxyindoles revealed an unexpected divergent mode of reactivity. Subsequent experimental kinetic isotope effects are in accord with the mechanism derived from the computations. The computational results led to the development of Pd(II)-catalyzed [3,3]-sigmatropic rearrangement of 3-aryl substituted 2-propargylindoles.

Dietary Oxidative Balance Scores and Biomarkers of Inflammation among Individuals with and without Chronic Kidney Disease.

Background: Oxidative stress and inflammation are proposed mechanisms of nonspecific kidney injury and progressive kidney failure. Higher dietary oxidative balance scores (OBS) are associated with lower prevalence of chronic kidney disease (CKD).

Methods: We investigated the association between OBS and biomarkers of inflammation using data from the Reasons for Geographic and Racial Differences in Stroke (REGARDS) study.

Erratum: EUS-guided gastroenterostomy in management of benign gastric outlet obstruction.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1055/s-0043-123468.].

Plasma 25-Hydroxyvitamin D and the Longitudinal Risk of Sepsis in the REGARDS Cohort.

Background: Low baseline plasma 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) is associated with increased risk of acute respiratory infections, but its association with long-term risk of sepsis remains unclear.

Methods: We performed a case-cohort analysis of participants selected from the Reasons for Geographic and Racial Differences in Stroke (REGARDS) study, a US cohort of 30239 adults aged ≥45 years. We measured baseline plasma 25(OH)D in 711 sepsis cases and in 992 participants randomly selected from the REGARDS cohort.

Active Sites on Nickel-Promoted Transition-Metal Sulfides That Catalyze Hydrogenation of Aromatic Compounds.

Hydrogenation on Mo and W sulfides occurs at the edges of the sulfide slabs. The rate of hydrogen addition is directly proportional to the concentration of sulfhydryl (SH) groups at the slab edge and the metal atom attached to it. Sulfhydryl groups vicinal to edge-incorporated Ni hydrogenate with much higher rates than SH close to Mo and W.

Free-energy model for nanoparticle self-assembly by liquid crystal sorting.

We modeled the experimentally observed self-assembly of nanoparticles (NPs) into shells with diameters up to 10 μm, via segregation from growing nematic domains. Using field-based Monte Carlo simulations, we found the equilibrium configurations of the system by minimizing a free-energy functional that includes effects of excluded-volume interactions among NPs, orientational elasticity, and the isotropic-nematic phase-transition energy. We developed a Gaussian-profile approximation for the liquid crystal (LC) order-parameter field that provides accurate analytical values for the free energy of LC droplets and the associated microshells.

Redox-Neutral Photocatalytic Cyclopropanation via Radical/Polar Crossover.

A benchtop stable, bifunctional reagent for the redox-neutral cyclopropanation of olefins has been developed. Triethylammonium bis(catecholato)iodomethylsilicate can be readily prepared on multigram scale. Using this reagent in combination with an organic photocatalyst and visible light, cyclopropanation of an array of olefins, including trifluoromethyl- and pinacolatoboryl-substituted alkenes, can be accomplished in a matter of hours.

Nephropathy Risk Variants and Incident Cardiovascular Disease Events in Community-Dwelling Black Adults.

Background: renal risk variants are strongly associated with chronic kidney disease in Black adults, but reported associations with cardiovascular disease (CVD) have been conflicting.

Methods: We examined associations of with incident coronary heart disease (n=323), ischemic stroke (n=331), and the composite CVD outcome (n=500) in 10 605 Black participants of the REGARDS study (Reasons for Geographic and Racial Differences in Stroke). Primary analyses compared individuals with high-risk genotypes to low-risk genotypes in Cox proportional hazards models adjusted for CVD risk factors and African ancestry.

Serum Calcitriol Concentrations and Kidney Function Decline, Heart Failure, and Mortality in Elderly Community-Living Adults: The Health, Aging, and Body Composition Study.

Rationale & Objectives: Lower 25-hydroxyvitamin D concentrations have been associated with risk for kidney function decline, heart failure, and mortality. However, 25-hydroxyvitamin D requires conversion to its active metabolite, calcitriol, for most biological effects. The associations of calcitriol concentrations with clinical events have not been well explored.

A Simple Procedure for the Synthesis of -Hydroxyallenamides via Homoallenylation of Aldehydes.

A simple one-pot synthesis of β-hydroxyallenamides is reported. This procedure entails chemo- and regioselective hydroboration of 3-en-1-ynyl-sulfonylamides with CyBH followed by homoallenylation of aldehydes to yield β-hydroxyallenamides (up to 94% yield and >20:1 dr). Controlled synthesis of up to three continuous stereochemical elements was realized.

A nitrogen-doped PtSn nanocatalyst supported on hollow silica spheres for acetic acid hydrogenation.

A novel PtSn/NHSS bimetallic catalyst with N-doped hollow silica spheres as the support was synthesized for the gas-phase hydrogenation of acetic acid to ethanol. Its specific activity was 30% higher than that of PtSn/SiO2 due to the enhanced surface exposure of Pt active sites, induced by the strong interaction between Pt and N.