Correlation between myocardial blood flow and fasting glucose metabolism in ischemic heart disease. Quantitative assessment by nitrogen-13 ammonia and fluorine-18 fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography

In Poland cutaneous form of anthrax is occurring sporadically. Most of these cases were recognized in the eastern part of the country adjacent to the eastern border (Lomza region and others). The latest literature on epidemiology, diagnosis, prevention and treatment of anthrax is reviewed in order to spread modern views on anthrax and to implement changes in the diagnostic methods of anthrax in Poland.     

Systemic hypertension as a risk factor for complications with an aortic mechanical valve

We sought to determine the effect of preoperative systemic hypertension on prosthesis related complications or postoperative aortic dissection after valve replacement in patients with aortic regurgitation. The patients were divided into two groups according to the presence or absence of systemic hypertension: Group I, with hypertension (n = 35), and Group II, without hypertension (n = 37). The survival rate and event free rate were examined for 72 patients who were alive 30 days after valve replacement with a St. Jude Medical valve for aortic regurgitation. The cumulative 10 year survival rate of Group I (65% +/- 12%) was lower than that of Group II (79% +/- 15%). The 10 year event free rate of all prosthesis related complications was 62% +/- 13% in Group I, and 96% +/- 3% in Group II (p < 0.05). The 10 year event free rate for ascending aortic dissection was 73% +/- 12% in Group I and 100% in Group II (p < 0.05). The linearized event rate of all prosthesis related complication was 3.8% per patient-year in Group I and 0.5% per patient-year in Group II. In conclusion, systemic hypertension was a risk factor for prosthesis related complications and for complicated aortic lesions after aortic valve replacement. Careful postoperative management for hypertension is necessary in patients with systemic hypertension after aortic valve replacement. Tissue valves may be recommended in patients with aortic valve disease and severe hypertension.     

EXAFS characterization and selective olefin hydroformylation on Rh4, Rh2Co2 and RhCo3 carbonyl clusters attached to tris-hydroxymethylphosphine-grafted silica

Rh_4-xCo_x(CO)₁₂ (x = 0, 2, 3) are attached by carbonyl substitution to THP (tris-hydroxymethylphospine)-grafted silica keeping their cluster frameworks. They have been characterized by Rh K-edge EXAFS (extended X-ray absorption fine structure) and Fourier transform IR spectroscopy. They exhibited high catalytic activity with > 98% selectivity in gas phase hydroformylation of ethene and propene to give aldehydes under mild conditions (40 kPa and 300–373 K).On leave from Research Center, Arakawa Chemical Industries, LTD, Tsurumi, Osaka 538, Japan.On leave from Department of Chemistry, National University of Literal, Santiago del Estero, 2829-3000, Santa Fe, Argentina.     

Molecular epidemiology of breast cancers in northern and southern Japan: the frequency, clustering, and patterns of p53 gene mutations differ among these two low-risk populations

Comparison of acquired mutations in the p53 tumor suppressor gene can illuminate factors contributing to carcinogenesis among cancer cohorts. Japan has an ethnically homogeneous population with a low incidence of breast cancer. Previously we reported an unusual frequency, allelic status, and clustering of mutations in breast cancers from the northern part of the main Japanese island. To extend these findings, exons 2-11 and adjacent intronic sequences were analysed in tumors of women from northern (Hokkaido) and southern (Tokushima) Japan. The frequency of breast cancers with p53 gene mutations in the Hokkaido group is the highest reported (81%) while that in Tokushima (28%) is similar to most other populations. Thirteen of the 19 mutations (68.4%) in the Hokkaido cohort were heterozygous, an unusually high frequency for p53 mutations in any tumor type. There were three missense mutations at codon 175, a known hotspot for alterations in the p53 gene, and three missense mutations at codon 179, a rare site for p53 changes. In addition, the patterns of p53 gene mutation differed between the two Japanese cohorts (P=0.04). The multiple differences in acquired p53 mutations suggest unsuspected biological differences among breast cancers in northern and southern Japan. In addition, the high frequency of p53 mutations in breast cancers from Hokkaido predicted a poorer prognosis for this population which was confirmed on examination of mortality data.     

Studies on cytotoxic effect of nickel ions on three cultured fibroblasts

Cytotoxicity of Ni ions on three fibroblasts such as L929, Balb/3T3 clone A31 and MC3T3–E1 were examined by cell count (CC) and Neutral Red assay (NR). Three cells were incubated for 6 days in 1 ml DME medium containing Ni ions which ranged from 0 to 2 mM/l. The results clarified that Ni ions had dose-dependent cytotoxicity. L929 possessed the largest TC₅₀ values (the amount of Ni ion that caused 50% cell death or 50% cell viability) of 0.12 mM/l (CC) and 0.32 mM/l (NR), and Balb/3T3 clone A31 had the least values of 0.05 mM/l (CC) and 0.09 mM/l (NR), whilst MC3T3–E1 had the intermediate values of 0.08 mM/l (CC) and 0.15 mM/l (NR). The dissolution of Ni ions from Ni-containing metallic restorations must be lower than these concentration levels so that body tissues might not be severely damaged. © 2001 Kluwer Academic Publishers     

Intrafullerene electron transfers in Sm-containing metallofullerenes: Sm@C2n (74 < or = 2n < or = 84)

The electronic properties of Sm-containing metallofullerenes, Sm@C74, Sm@C76 (I, II), Sm@C78, Sm@C80, Sm@C82 (I, II, III) and Sm@C84 (I, II, III), are characterized by UV-Vis-NIR absorption spectroscopy and electron energy-loss spectroscopy (EELS). The UV-Vis-NIR absorption spectra of Sm@C74, Sm@C80, Sm@C82 (I, II, III) and Sm@C84 (I, II) are quite similar to those of the corresponding Ca, Sr, Ba, Eu, Tm, Yb-based metallofullerenes. In contrast, the absorption spectra of Sm@C76 (I, II), Sm@C78 and Sm@C84(III) show a novel feature: the onset for Sm@C78 is observed approximately 2600 nm, which corresponds to a small band gap (approximately 0.5 eV). Furthermore, the oxidation states of Sm atom in the various fullerene cages are investigated by EELS, which reveals that the Sm atom takes +2 oxidation state in the fullerene cages. A probable rationale for the tendency to have the Sm2+ state is presented based on a simple thermochemical cycle model.     

Heavy ketones, the heavier element congeners of a ketone

In contrast to ketones, one of the most important classes of organic compounds, their heavier element congeners, "heavy ketones", are much less explored because of their extremely high reactivities. This Account reviews the synthesis, reactivities, and structures of stable heavy ketones containing silicon, germanium, and tin as well as those of moderately stable lead analogues. These heavy ketones are kinetically stabilized by taking advantage of bulky substituents, yet they can undergo a variety of reactions due to the intrinsic high reactivity of heavier group 14-16 double bonds. Systematic comparisons for silicon through lead compounds reveal interesting differences in their properties, depending on the elements.