International Classification of Diseases coding changes lead to profound declines in reported idiopathic pulmonary arterial hypertension mortality and hospitalizations: implications for database studies.

Background: Database studies have reported several associations between the diagnosis of idiopathic pulmonary arterial hypertension (IPAH) and mortality attributable to IPAH, including older age, black race, and diabetes.

Methods: We investigated reported deaths and hospital discharges coded as IPAH and compared these with other forms of pulmonary hypertension. Three databases were used: the US National Center for Health Statistics database (1979-2006), queried for mortality data; the Nationwide Inpatient Sample database (1993-2007), queried for hospital discharge data; and the University of Texas Southwestern Hospital-Zale Lipshy discharge database (1999, 2002).

HDL cholesterol: physiology, pathophysiology, and management.

Numerous epidemiological studies have identified high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL) to be an independent risk factor for coronary heart disease (CHD). HDL is an emerging therapeutic target that could rival the impact of 3-hydroxy-3-methyl-glutaryl-CoA (HMG-CoA) reductase inhibitors (statins) on LDL and CHD risk reduction. HDL metabolism, HDL kinetics, the concentration of various HDL subclasses, and other genetic factors affecting HDL functionality may all contribute to the anti-atherogenic properties of HDL; thus, standard plasma measurement may not capture the full range of HDL effects.

Trimethylsilyl-directed 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition reactions in the solid-phase synthesis of 1,2,3-triazoles.

[reaction: see text] A regioselective method for the preparation of 1,5-trisubstituted 1H-1,2,3-triazoles via a 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition of 1-trimethylsilylacetylenes with organoazides is described. Immobilization of the azide on REM resin and subsequent cycloaddition afforded a 2 x 2 x 4 x 3 membered 1,5-disubstituted 1H-1,2,3-triazole library with an average purified yield of 68%.

Temporal genomics of vein bypass grafting through oligonucleotide microarray analysis.

Objective: Autologous vein is the conduit of choice for small artery reconstruction. Despite excellent patency, these conduits undergo remodeling over time. The purpose of this study was to identify temporal gene expression in vein grafts versus control veins through microarray analysis.

2-azabicyclo[2.2.2]octa-3,5-dione via a nitrile Diels-Alder reaction.

The hetero-Diels-Alder reaction of an electron-deficient nitrile, p-toluenesulfonyl cyanide, with the silyl enol ether of cyclohexenone produced a hydrolytically sensitive [4 + 2] adduct in good yield. Use of Mander's reagent, ethyl cyanoformate, with the same diene, produced an unstable adduct. Hydrolysis of the tosyl cyanide adduct resulted in the isoquinuclidinone 2-aza[2.

Oxa-di-pi-methane photochemical rearrangement of quinuclidinones. Synthesis of pyrrolizidinones.

[reaction: see text] The oxa-di-pi-methane (ODPM) photochemical rearrangement, a triplet-sensitized sigmatropic 1,2-acyl shift of beta,gamma-enones, was successful utilizing methyl and heptyl 1-aza-3-carboalkoxybicyclo[2.2.2]oct-2-en-5-ones (quinuclidinones) as the photoprecursors.

Alternative solvents for elevated-temperature solid-phase parallel synthesis. Application to thionation of amides.

A new class of higher-boiling solvents was investigated for elevated-temperature solid-phase parallel synthesis. Extremely low vapor pressures at high temperature and a broader range of solvent effect tuning make this new class of solvents an ideal choice for high-temperature parallel solid-phase synthesis. Benzyl benzoate is identified as a superior high-boiling solvent for parallel solid-phase Lawesson's thionation reactions.