Immigration, acculturation and chronic back and neck problems among Latino-Americans.

Higher acculturation is associated with increased obesity and depression among Latino-Americans, but not much is known about how acculturation is related to their prevalence of back and neck problems. This study examines whether acculturation is associated with the 12-month prevalence of self-reported chronic back or neck problems among US-born and immigrant Latinos. We performed multivariable logistic regression analysis of data from 2,553 noninstitutionalized Latino adults from the 2002-2003 National Latino and Asian American Survey (NLAAS).

Cyclopolymerization and copolymerization of functionalized 1,6-heptadienes catalyzed by Pd complexes: mechanism and application to physical-gel formation.

Cationic Pd complexes, prepared from [PdCl(ArN=C(12)H(6)=NAr)(Me)] and Na[B{3,5(CF(3))(2)C(6)H(3)}(4)] (NaBARF), catalyze the cyclopolymerization of 4,4-disubstituted 1,6-heptadienes. The polymers produced contain a trans-fused five-membered ring in each repeating unit. NMR spectroscopy and FAB mass spectrometry of the polymers formed indicated that the initiation end of the chain contains either the cyclopentyl group derived from the preformed Pd-monomer complex or a hydrogen atom left on the Pd center by the chain-transfer reaction.

Predictors of outcomes from a ward for demented elderly: gender differences.

Background: In a previous study, we found gender differences among care recipients and suggested that elderly women living alone have difficulty receiving care from their families. We investigated the gender differences among predictors which influenced outcomes after discharge from a ward for treatment of demented elderly with severe psychotic symptoms.

Methods: We enrolled the data of 325 patients with dementia who were hospitalized between 1 April 2000 and 31 March 2007, and discharged by 31 March 2008.

Variation in the trajectories of depressive symptoms: results from the Americans' Changing Lives Study.

This study examines the association between race and depressive symptoms over a 16-year study period. The analysis is based on the responses of 3485 African-American and White respondents from four waves of the Americans' Changing Lives Panel Study. Growth mixture modeling was used to identify latent trajectory classes based on the reported levels of depressive symptoms over 16 years.

Endothelin-1 aggravates hepatic ischemia/reperfusion injury during obstructive cholestasis in bile duct ligated mice.

Background: Cholestasis of the liver is known to be an important risk factor for surgical morbidity and mortality after major hepatectomy. However, the mechanism of liver injury in cholestatic liver is not fully understood. The goal of this study was to investigate the process of liver injury due to hepatic ischemia/reperfusion in obstructive cholestasis.

Reduction of brain beta-amyloid (Abeta) by fluvastatin, a hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA reductase inhibitor, through increase in degradation of amyloid precursor protein C-terminal fragments (APP-CTFs) and Abeta clearance.

Epidemiological studies suggest that statins (hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA reductase inhibitors) could reduce the risk of Alzheimer disease. Although one possible explanation is through an effect on beta-amyloid (Abeta) metabolism, its effect remains to be elucidated. Here, we explored the molecular mechanisms of how statins influence Abeta metabolism.

Discrimination and mental health-related service use in a national study of Asian Americans.

Objectives: We examined the association between perceived discrimination and use of mental health services among a national sample of Asian Americans.

Methods: Our data came from the National Latino and Asian American Study, the first national survey of Asian Americans. Our sample included 600 Chinese, 508 Filipinos, 520 Vietnamese, and 467 other Asians (n=2095).

Diabetes-accelerated memory dysfunction via cerebrovascular inflammation and Abeta deposition in an Alzheimer mouse model with diabetes.

Recent epidemiological studies suggest that diabetes mellitus is a strong risk factor for Alzheimer disease. However, the underlying mechanisms remain largely unknown. In this study, to investigate the pathophysiological interaction between these diseases, we generated animal models that reflect the pathologic conditions of both diseases.

Hepatocyte nuclear factor-kappa beta (NF-kappaB) activation is protective but is decreased in the cholestatic liver with endotoxemia.

Background: Obstructive jaundice (OJ) is an important clinical consideration associated with a high risk of bacteremia. Hepatocyte nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-kappaB) activation confers an antiapoptotic function. Although the occurrence of hepatocyte apoptosis has been shown in OJ, the activation and role of NF-kappaB over the time course of OJ in conjunction with endotoxemia have not yet been well defined.

Perceived Social Standing among Asian Immigrants in the U.S.: Do Reasons for Immigration Matter?

We investigate the association between a subjective measure of social status and the reasons for immigration among Asian immigrants in the U.S. We use data from the National Latino and Asian American Study to test several hypotheses about this association.

Perforation of rectal diverticulum with amyloidosis secondary to rheumatoid arthritis: case report and review of the literature.

We report a case of perforation of a rectal diverticulum with amyloidosis secondary to rheumatoid arthritis (RA), and review the clinicopathologic features in 21 Japanese amyloidosis patients with colorectal perforation. A 62-year-old woman with amyloidosis secondary to RA suddenly complained of abdominal pain. Computed tomography (CT) showed ascites and free air in the abdominal cavity, and many diverticula with calculi in the sigmoid colon.

Phenotypic Bias and Ethnic Identity in Filipino Americans.

OBJECTIVE: Links between phenotypes (skin tone, physical features) and a range of outcomes (income, physical health, psychological distress) were examined. Ethnic identity was examined as a protective moderator of phenotypic bias. METHOD: Data were from a community sample of 2,092 Filipino adults in San Francisco and Honolulu.

Recent progress in olefin polymerization catalyzed by transition metal complexes: new catalysts and new reactions.

A number of transition metal catalysts including early and late transition metals have been investigated for olefin polymerization and copolymerization. Progress of the field in this decade is reviewed, and important topics among them such as binary catalysts and polymerization of new monomers are described in detail. Our recent results on the polymerization of olefins having cycloalkenes and non-conjugated dienes using late transition metal complexes are also mentioned.

One hundred seven consecutive surgical resections for hilar cholangiocarcinoma of Bismuth types II, III, IV between 2001 and 2008.

Many authors at high-volume centers all over the world have reported improved outcomes of hilar cholangiocarcinoma by several aggressive surgical approaches such as extended hepatic resection, combined vascular resection, and hepatopancreaticoduodenectomy in recent years. There has been great progress in the surgical treatment of hilar cholangiocarcinoma with these previous efforts by aggressive hepatobiliary surgeons. In particular, surgical techniques, diagnostic modalities, and perioperative management have been remarkably improved as compared with before.

Racial/ethnic differences in the effects of psychiatric disorders on employment.

Prior research on the disability burden of mental disorders has focused on the non-Latino white population, despite the growing size and importance of racial/ethnic minorities in the labor market and in the US population as a whole. This paper is one of the first to test for racial/ethnic differences in the effects of mental disorder on employment outcomes with data from the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) Collaborative Psychiatric Epidemiological Studies (CPES). We find that recent psychiatric disorder is associated with a reduction in the likelihood of employment for men of all racial/ethnic groups relative to non Latino whites with the possible exception of Caribbeans.

Does place of education matter? Contextualizing the education and health status association among Asian Americans.

The educational gradient in health is one of the most robust associations in social science research. Results of the current study indicate that, like the pattern observed among other racial and ethnic minority groups, the well-established educational gradient in health is attenuated among Asian Americans. We also show that the gradient association between educational attainment and self-rated health among Asian Americans depends on whether they receive the bulk of their education in the United States or abroad.

Selective cyclopolymerization of alpha,omega-dienes and copolymerization with ethylene catalyzed by Fe and Co complexes.

Fe complexes with bis(imino)pyridine ligands catalyze cyclopolymerization of 1,6-heptadiene in the presence of MMAO (modified methylalumoxiane) co-catalyst to produce the polymer containing five-membered rings in every repeating unit. The complexes with Me, Et, and Cl substituents at the N-aryl groups of the ligand produce the polymer in high yields and in high trans-cis ratio of the five-membered rings. The molecular weights of the polymers, M(n) by GPC, are higher than 6000.

Angiotensin receptor blocker prevented beta-amyloid-induced cognitive impairment associated with recovery of neurovascular coupling.

Recent studies suggest that vascular risk factors play a considerable role in the development of Alzheimer disease. Furthermore, the use of antihypertensive drugs has been suggested to reduce the incidence of dementia, including Alzheimer disease. In this study, we examined the effects of an angiotensin receptor blocker, olmesartan, on beta-amyloid-induced cerebrovascular dysfunction and cognitive impairment.

Use of specialty mental health services by Asian Americans with psychiatric disorders.

Research suggests that Asian Americans underutilize mental health services but an understanding of the multiple factors involved in utilization has not been examined in a nationally representative sample. The current study analyzed data from the National Latino and Asian American Study (NLAAS) and examined 368 individuals with disorders to understand utilization and what factors were related to the utilization of specialty mental health services. Significant underutilization was found for Asian Americans; moreover, underutilization was especially acute among Asian American immigrants.

Structure analysis of the flavoredoxin from Desulfovibrio vulgaris Miyazaki F reveals key residues that discriminate the functions and properties of the flavin reductase family.

The crystal structure of flavoredoxin from Desulfovibrio vulgaris Miyazaki F was determined at 1.05 A resolution and its ferric reductase activity was examined. The aim was to elucidate whether flavoredoxin has structural similarity to ferric reductase and ferric reductase activity, based on the sequence similarity to ferric reductase from Archaeoglobus fulgidus.

Association between family structure in childhood and lifetime depressive disorder in adulthood among a nationally representative sample of Blacks.

Objective: This study investigated whether there were associations between family structure in childhood and lifetime prevalence of major depressive disorder in adulthood in a representative national sample of 4918 Blacks in the United States. We explored whether the associations between family structure and depressive disorder differed based on four types of family structure: (1) the presence of both biological parents; (2) one biological parent and a nonbiological parent; (3) one biological parent and (4) neither biological parent.

Method: The data used were from the National Survey of American Life.

English proficiency and language preference: testing the equivalence of two measures.

Objectives: We examined the association of language proficiency vs language preference with self-rated health among Asian American immigrants. We also examined whether modeling preference or proficiency as continuous or categorical variables changed our inferences.

Methods: Data came from the 2002-2003 National Latino and Asian American Study (n = 1639).

Surgical strategy for mucin-producing bile duct tumor.

Tumors with copious mucin production within the intra- or extrahepatic bile ducts have been reported as mucin-producing bile duct tumors (MPBTs). Because mucin produced by these tumors causes recurrent cholangitis and obstructive jaundice, surgical resection should be indicated even if these tumors are regarded as benign. In order to choose the appropriate surgical procedure, exact preoperative assessment of tumor location and cancer extension is important, especially evaluation of the extent of superficial spreading through cholangioscopic observation and biopsy.

Isomerization polymerization of 4-alkylcyclopentenes catalyzed by Pd complexes: hydrocarbon polymers with isotactic-type stereochemistry and liquid-crystalline properties.

Isomerization polymerization of 4-alkylcyclopentenes catalyzed by Pd-diimine complexes produces the polymers with trans-1,3-disubstituted cyclopentane rings located regularly along the polymer chain. The polymers with isotactic structure formed by using a C(2)-symmetric catalyst exhibited liquid-crystalline properties.