Analyzing Factors Enabling Prostate Cancer Screening Behaviors Among African American Males in the South Region Using the Andersen's Behavioral Model of Healthcare Services Utilization.

Prostate cancer is the second leading cause of cancer death among men in the United States, and African American men especially represent a high risk population for prostate cancer. Although the overall prostate cancer incidence rates have been declining since 1992, the average annual prostate cancer incidence rates among African American men were still higher than any other racial groups, and the mortality rates were 2.1 times higher than that of Caucasian men.

An Alarming Mimicry of Intra-Abdominal Infections: Acute Appendiceal Diverticulitis.

A 65-year-old woman presented with three days of colicky abdominal pain. Abdominal imaging illustrated small bowel enteritis, ascites in both paracolic gutters, and incidental hepatic steatosis. Although ascites fluid demonstrated high neutrophil count consistent with peritonitis and the patient received adequate antibiotics, she clinically deteriorated.

Gender-Specific Risk Factors Contributing to Mortality in Patients Hospitalized With Alcoholic Cirrhosis.

Introduction Identification of gender-specific prognostic factors in patients with alcoholic liver cirrhosis (ALC) is integral to understanding disease severity and mortality rates. We gathered data on various widely-used laboratory values and comorbid conditions among male and female patients with ALC after initial hospitalization. These individual risk factors were assessed for their relationship with mortality based on gender.

PABA/NO lead optimization: Improved targeting of cytotoxicity to glutathione S-transferase P1-overexpressing cancer cells.

PABA/NO [O(2)-{2,4-dinitro-5-[4-(N-methylamino)benzoyloxy]phenyl} 1-(N,N-dimethylamino) diazen-1-ium-1,2-diolate] is a nitric oxide (NO)-releasing arylating agent designed to be selectively activated by reaction with glutathione (GSH) on catalysis by glutathione S-transferase P1 (GSTP1), an enzyme frequently overexpressed in cancer cells. PABA/NO has proven active in several cancer models in vitro and in vivo, but its tendency to be metabolized via a variety of pathways, some that generate inactive metabolites and hydrolysis products, limits its potential as a drug. Here we show that a simple replacement of cyano for nitro at the 4 position to give compound 4b ('p-cyano-PABA/NO') has the dual effect of slowing the undesired side reactions while enhancing the proportion of NO release and arylating activity on catalysis by GSTP1.

Synthesis and biological evaluation of isoxazoline derivatives as potent M₁ muscarinic acetylcholine receptor agonists.

A series of azacyclic compounds substituted with isoxazole and 5-substituted isoxazolines were synthesized as acyclic modifications of the oxime class M1 mACh receptor agonist. Among them, 3-(tetrahydropyrin-3-yl)-5-(2-pyrrolodin-1-yl)isoxazoline compound 4f displayed potent and selective M1 mACh receptor agonist activity in the functional calcium mobilization assay (EC50=31 nM). Introduction of 2-pyrrolidinone and 3-tetrahydropyridine groups are pivotal to the high potency.

Nitric oxide (NO) releasing poly ADP-ribose polymerase 1 (PARP-1) inhibitors targeted to glutathione S-transferase P1-overexpressing cancer cells.

We report the antitumor effects of nitric oxide (NO) releasing derivatives of the PARP-1 inhibitor olaparib (1). Compound 5b was prepared by coupling the carboxyl group of 3b and the free amino group of arylated diazeniumdiolated piperazine 4. Analogue 5a has the same structure except that the F is replaced by H.

Workplace response of companies exposed to the 9/11 World Trade Center attack: a focus-group study.

The terrorist attacks of 11 September 2001 (9/11) left workplaces in pressing need of a mental health response capability. Unaddressed emotional sequelae may be devastating to the productivity and economic stability of a company's workforce. In the second year after the attacks, 85 employees of five highly affected agencies participated in 12 focus groups to discuss workplace mental health issues.

The course of postdisaster psychiatric disorders in directly exposed civilians after the US Embassy bombing in Nairobi, Kenya: a follow-up study.

Purpose: While disasters are common in Africa, disaster studies in Africa are underrepresented in the published literature. This study prospectively examined the longitudinal course of psychopathology, coping, and functioning among 128 directly exposed Kenyan civilian survivors of the 1998 US Embassy bombing in Nairobi.

Methods: The Diagnostic Interview Schedule/Disaster Supplement assessed predisaster and postdisaster psychiatric disorders and variables related to coping, functioning, safety, and religion near the end of the first and third postdisaster years.

Synthesis of 3,4-dimethylidene oxacycles through Prins-type cyclization of allenylmethylsilanes.

An efficient synthesis of 3,4-dimethylidene oxacycles including oxolanes and oxepanes through Prins-type cyclization of hydroxy(allenylmethyl)silanes is described. We have shown that 2-substituted tetrahydrofuran derivatives could be produced by using this strategy although the 5-endo-trig cyclization mode is stereoelectronically disfavored. We also applied our method to the stereoselective synthesis of 2,7-cis-3,4-dimethylidene oxepanes, which were used for constructing more complex ring systems, such as polyether bicycles or tricycles.

The business of healing: focus group discussions of readjustment to the post-9/11 work environment among employees of affected agencies.

Objective: Understanding postdisaster workplace adjustment may help guide interventions for postdisaster emotional functioning and recovery.

Methods: One to two years after the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, 12 focus groups were conducted with 85 employees of companies directly affected by the 9/11 attacks on New York City, to discuss mental health issues surrounding return to the workplace after the disaster.

Results: Risk communication, tension between workplace productivity and employees' emotional needs, and postdisaster work space were topics discussed in the focus groups.

Stereocontrolled synthesis of oxaspirobicycles via Prins-pinacol annulation.

We have developed the stereoselective synthesis of 2-oxaspiro[m,n]alkane derivatives using the Prins-pinacol annulation of alkene diols with a wide range of aliphatic or aromatic aldehydes and ketones. This approach was further applied for the synthesis of oxatricyclic ring system.

Intermolecular double Prins-type cyclization: a facile and efficient synthesis of 1,6-dioxecanes.

Double or nothing: The title reaction converts a range of aromatic aldehydes and allenylmethyl/allyl silanes into 1,6-dioxecane derivatives in good to excellent yields (see scheme; Ar = aryl, Tf = triflate, THF = tetrahydrofuran, TMS = trimethylsilyl). In addition, the bisdiene product has been transformed into the corresponding tricyclic compound through a Diels-Alder reaction.

5- And 6-exocyclic products, cis-2,3,5-trisubstituted tetrahydrofurans, and cis-2,3,6-trisubstituted tetrahydropyrans via Prins-type cyclization.

Exocyclic products having cis-2,5 and cis-2,6 substitution were synthesized from terminally substituted alkynyl alcohols with various aldehydes via Prins-type cyclization in good yields. It is of interest that synthesized 5- and 6-exocyclic vinyl cations generated as a result of Prins-type cyclization could be trapped as a vinyl triflate in CH2Cl2 to give 3-furanylidenes and 3-pyranylidenes. Those 3-furanylidenes and 3-pyranylidenes underwent hydrolysis to give the corresponding 3-acyl-substituted products having all-cis-configured isomers, such as 2,3,5-trisubstituted tetrahydrofurans and 2,3,6-trisubstituted tetrahydropyrans.

Morpholin-2-one derivatives as novel selective T-type Ca2+ channel blockers.

Morpholin-2-one-5-carboxamide derivatives were prepared by using the one-pot Ugi multicomponent reaction and evaluated for blocking effects on T- and N-type Ca(2+) channels. Among them, compound 5i produced the highest potency (IC(50)=0.45+/-0.

Indium-mediated one-pot three-component reaction of aromatic amines, enol ethers, and allylic bromides.

[reaction: see text] A new and efficient indium-mediated one-pot three-component reaction for the synthesis of N-aryl-substituted homoallylamines from aromatic amines, enol ethers, and allylic bromides in THF at room temperature is described.

Stereoselective syntheses of rolliniastatin 1, rollimembrin, and membranacin.

A radical cyclization of beta-alkoxyvinyl sulfoxides-Pummerer rearrangement-allylation protocol was successfully applied to the synthesis of the threo/cis/threo/cis/erythro bis-oxolane moiety in rolliniastatin 1 (1), rollimembrin (2), and membranacin (3).

Comparison of post-disaster psychiatric disorders after terrorist bombings in Nairobi and Oklahoma City.

Background: African disaster-affected populations are poorly represented in disaster mental health literature.

Aims: To compare systematically assessed mental health in populations directly exposed to terrorist bombing attacks on two continents, North America and Africa.

Method: Structured diagnostic interviews compared citizens exposed to bombings of the US Embassy in Nairobi, Kenya (n=227) and the Oklahoma City Federal Building (n=182).

Drosophila serpin 4 functions as a neuroserpin-like inhibitor of subtilisin-like proprotein convertases.

The proteolytic processing of neuropeptide precursors is believed to be regulated by serine proteinase inhibitors, or serpins. Here we describe the molecular cloning and functional expression of a novel member of the serpin family, Serine protease inhibitor 4 (Spn4), that we propose is involved in the regulation of peptide maturation in Drosophila. The Spn4 gene encodes at least two different serpin proteins, generated by alternate splicing of the last coding exon.

Stereoselection in radical cyclization of beta-alkoxyvinyl sulfoxides: synthesis of tetrahydrofuranyl allyl carbinols.

[reaction: see text] Tetrahydrofuranyl allyl carbinols may be prepared stereoselectively via radical cyclization of beta-alkoxyvinyl sulfoxides, Pummerer rearrangement, and reaction with allylstannane.

An efficient synthesis of 2,5-diketopiperazine derivatives by the Ugi four-center three-component reaction.

A facile synthetic approach to 2,5-diketopiperazines 4 by the Ugi four-center three-component reaction using commercially available dipeptides as a bifunctional component, aldehydes, and isocyanides was described.

Orchestrating development and function: retrograde BMP signaling in the Drosophila nervous system.

Recent work has shown that bone morphogenetic protein (BMP) growth factors regulate development of the larval neuromuscular junction (NMJ) of Drosophila. Intriguingly, the same BMP growth factors also influence the expression of circulating hormones that modulate the physiological properties of NMJs. Together, the results suggest that retrograde growth factor signaling by BMPs integrates neuromuscular development and function at both local and global levels in the animal.

Abelson tyrosine kinase is required to transduce midline repulsive cues.

Tyrosine phosphorylation-dependent signaling cascades play key roles in determining the formation of an axon pathway. The cytoplasmic Abelson tyrosine kinase participate in several signaling pathways that orchestrate both growth cone advance and steering in response to guidance cues. Here, a genetic approach is used to evaluate the role for Abelson in growth cones during a decision to cross or not to cross the Drosophila embryonic midline.

Indium-mediated reductive elimination of halohydrins.

Olefin formation has been successfully carried out by reductive elimination reactions of halohydrins with Pd(PPh(3))(4)/In/InCl(3) in aqueous media.

Constitutively active myosin light chain kinase alters axon guidance decisions in Drosophila embryos.

Conventional myosin II activity provides the motile force for axon outgrowth, but to achieve directional movement during axon pathway formation, myosin activity should be regulated by the attractive and repulsive guidance cues that guide an axon to its target. Here, evidence for this regulation is obtained by using a constitutively active Myosin Light Chain Kinase (ctMLCK) to selectively elevate myosin II activity in Drosophila CNS neurons. Expression of ctMLCK pan-neurally or in primarily pCC/MP2 neurons causes these axons to cross the midline incorrectly.