First total synthesis of (R,R,R)- and (3R,5S,9R)-bejarol by gold-catalyzed allene cycloisomerization and determination of absolute configuration of the natural product.

The first total synthesis of (R,R,R)-bejarol and its (3R,5S,9R)-isomer has been accomplished which confirms the absolute configuration of the natural products. The key step is the gold-catalyzed cycloisomerization of the enantiomerically pure beta-hydroxyallenes 12/13 to the corresponding dihydropyrans 14/15.

Work time and 11-year progression of carotid atherosclerosis in middle-aged Finnish men.

Introduction: Studies of the relationship between work time and health have been inconclusive. Consequently, we sought to examine the effect of work time on progression of atherosclerosis.

Methods: This prospective study of 621 middle-aged Finnish men evaluated effects of baseline and repeat measures of work time on 11-year progression of ultrasonographically assessed carotid intima-media thickness (IMT) and interactions with cardiovascular disease.

Ischemic and inflammatory lung impairment by extracorporeal circulation: effect of PARP-inhibition by INO1001.

Objective: Among the complications after cardiac surgery the development of postoperative pulmonary distress is a serious problem. Typically, the patients leave the operating theatre with good blood gas values and O(2)-saturation, but develop their respiratory problems within the next hours/days. We investigated whether extracorporeal circulation may induce biochemical and histological changes in the lungs which may help to explain this development.

Gender differences in health among the Japanese elderly.

Evidence has emerged recently to challenge the widely held notion that women experience more physical health problems than men. The purpose of this study is to re-evaluate this issue with a broad range of health measures gathered in a culturally diverse population--older adults in Japan. Taken as a whole, the findings suggest that there are gender differences in health.

Planar microfluidic chamber for generation of stable and steep chemoattractant gradients.

The extracellular availability of growth factors, hormones, chemokines, and neurotransmitters under gradient conditions is required for directional cellular responses such as migration, axonal pathfinding, and tissue patterning. These responses are, in turn, important in disease and developmental processes. This article addresses critical barriers toward devising a chemotaxis assay that is broadly applicable for different kinds of cancer cells through the design of a microfluidic chamber that produces a steep gradient of chemoattractant.

The relationship between human resource investments and organizational performance: a firm-level examination of equilibrium theory.

It is commonly believed that human resource investments can yield positive performance-related outcomes for organizations. Utilizing the theory of organizational equilibrium (H. A.

Negative life events and age-related decline in mastery: are older adults more vulnerable to the control-eroding effect of stress?

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to see if exposure to life events influences age-related decline in control.

Methods: The data came from a large, nationally representative sample of Canadians aged 18 and older (n = 17, 291). We examined the principal research question by testing for an interaction between age, life events, and mastery using linear regression, both cross-sectionally and over time.

Musculoskeletal biopsies using computed tomography fluoroscopy.

Objective: To determine the diagnostic yield, accuracy, and safety of computed tomography (CT) fluoroscopy guidance for musculoskeletal biopsies.

Materials And Methods: A retrospective analysis of musculoskeletal biopsies performed with CT fluoroscopy guidance over a 2-year period was made. Data collected were biopsy sites, CT fluoroscopic times, and biopsy results.

Associations between psychological demands, decision latitude, and job strain with smoking in female hotel room cleaners in Las Vegas.

Background: Little is known of the impact of the work environment on smoking among women holding low-paid jobs in the service sector.

Purpose: To study the associations between the components of the demand-control model with smoking in hotel room cleaners.

Methods: We conducted a survey on work and health among 776 female hotel room cleaners in Las Vegas.

Apical regional wall motion abnormalities reminiscent to Tako-Tsubo cardiomyopathy following consumption of psychoactive fungi.

Consumption of natural hallucinogenic substances continues to be a problem. In this case we report from a young male patient presenting with an acute coronary syndrome with significant ST-elevation after the abuse of psychoactive fungi, commonly referred to as "magic mushrooms". Coronary angiography excludes relevant coronary artery disease.

Occupational physical activity, energy expenditure and 11-year progression of carotid atherosclerosis.

Objectives: This study prospectively assessed the effects of occupational physical activity on atherosclerosis progression.

Methods: This population-based prospective study of ultrasonographically assessed carotid intima media thickness (IMT) used repeated measures of occupational physical activity during baseline, 4-year, and 11-year examinations of 612 Finnish men 42-60 years of age at baseline. The association between five measures of energy expenditure and the 11-year change in maximum IMT was evaluated in regression models adjusting for 21 potential confounders, including biological factors, leisure-time physical activity, smoking, socioeconomic status, psychosocial job factors, and baseline health status.

Stable negative social exchanges and health.

Negative social exchanges with family, friends, and neighbors are known to be an important source of stress in daily life, and chronic stress is theorized to have especially potent impacts on health. Little is known about the health effects of stably high levels of negative social exchanges, however. In a national, longitudinal study of older adults (N = 666), we examined the association between stable negative social exchanges and health over a 2-year period.

(1R,4'S)-4-(tert-Butyl-dimethyl-silan-oxy)-1-[2,2-dimethyl-3-(p-tolyl-sulfon-yl)-1,3-oxazolidin-4-yl]but-2-yn-1-ol.

The chiral title compound, C(22)H(35)NO(5)SSi, is a precursor of novel furan-omycin derivatives. It crystallizes with two molecules in the asymmetric unit; these show different conformations of the silyl substitutent, as indicated by the Si-O-C-C torsion angles of 41.4 (7) and -84.

Social Involvement in Religious Institutions and God-Mediated Control Beliefs: A Longitudinal Investigation.

This study examines the relationships among race, education, formal as well as informal involvement in the church, and God-mediated control. Formal involvement in the church was assessed by the frequency of attendance at worship services, Bible study groups, and prayer groups. Informal involvement was measured with an index of spiritual support provided by fellow church members.

Effort-reward imbalance and incidence of low back and neck injuries in San Francisco transit operators.

Objectives: Effort-reward imbalance (ERI) has been associated with musculoskeletal disorders in cross-sectional and case-control studies, but no longitudinal studies have been published yet. The effect of ERI on the incidence of compensated low back and neck injuries was examined in a 7.5-year follow-up study among 1179 San Francisco transit operators.

Expression profiling of cardiac genes in Tako-Tsubo cardiomyopathy: insight into a new cardiac entity.

Tako-Tsubo cardiomyopathy (TTC) is characterized by a transient contractile dysfunction, but its specific pathomechanism remains unknown. Thus, we performed a systematic expression profiling of genes by microarray analysis in the acute phase and after functional recovery. We studied 3 female patients presenting with TTC.

Intertwining courses of functional status and subjective health among older Japanese.

Objectives: We sought to depict how trajectories of functional status are related to the average changes in self-rated health and its underlying trajectories.

Methods: Data came from a five-wave panel study of a national sample of 2,200 Japanese older adults between 1987 and 1999. We employed hierarchical linear models and multinomial logistic regression to depict the interrelationships among patterns of temporal change in functional status and self-rated health.

Longitudinal study of social support and meaning in life.

The purpose of this study was to see whether 3 types of social support (enacted support, negative interaction, and anticipated support) are associated with change in meaning in life. Data from a nationwide longitudinal survey of older people suggested that greater anticipated support (i.e.

Evaluating the stress-buffering function of meaning in life among older people.

Objectives: The purpose of this study is to see if a strong sense of meaning in life helps older adults cope more effectively with the effects of lifetime trauma.

Methods: The data were obtained from a nationwide longitudinal survey of older adults (N = 1,093). Questions were asked about traumatic events arising at any point in an individual's life and depressive symptoms.

A randomised controlled trial evaluating an alternative mouse and forearm support on upper body discomfort and musculoskeletal disorders among engineers.

Objectives: The aim of this intervention study was to determine the effects of an alternative mouse and/or a forearm support board on the change in upper body discomfort scores and the development of incident musculoskeletal disorders.

Methods: This randomised controlled intervention trial followed 206 engineers for one year. Participants were randomised to receive (1) a conventional mouse only, (2) an alternative mouse only, (3) a forearm support board, or (4) an alternative mouse plus forearm support board.

Witnessing violence across the life course, depressive symptoms, and alcohol use among older persons.

The purpose of this study is to see whether witnessing a very violent act at any point in the life course is associated with depressive symptoms and alcohol use in late life. The data come from a nationwide probability sample of older adults (N = 1,498). The findings reveal that witnessing violence is associated with more symptoms of depression for older women but not older men.

Golden opportunities in natural product synthesis: first total synthesis of (-)-isocyclocapitelline and (-)-isochrysotricine by gold-catalyzed allene cycloisomerization.

The first enantioselective total syntheses of the beta-carboline alkaloids (-)-isochrysotricine (1) and (-)-isocyclocapitelline (2) are reported which confirm the absolute configuration of these natural products. Key steps are the copper-mediated S(N)2'-substitution of propargyl oxiranes 13/14 and the gold-catalyzed cycloisomerization of alpha-hydroxyallene 15, resulting in a highly efficient center-to-axis-to-center chirality transfer.