Search

In recent years links among vitamin D deficiency, inflammation and cardio-metabolic disease were proposed. As information regarding the associations between vitamin D and inflammatory markers in the general population is sparse, we investigated the associations of 25-hydroxy vitamin D [25(OH)D] with high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP), fibrinogen and white blood cell count (WBC).The study population comprised 2723 men and women aged 25-88 years from the first follow-up of the Study of Health in Pomerania. Analyses of variance, linear and logistic regressions were performed to assess the associations between 25(OH)D and the three inflammatory markers. The models were adjusted for age, sex, waist circumference, diabetes mellitus, dyslipidemia, anti-inflammatory medication and month of blood sampling. The association between 25(OH)D and WBC was assessed separately in smokers (n = 718) and non-smokers (n = 2005) as effect modification was observed.We detected a U-shaped association between 25(OH)D and hs-CRP with a nadir of 21-25 ng/ml in fully-adjusted linear regression models with restricted cubic splines (p0.01; p'0.01). We further detected an inverse association between 25(OH)D and fibrinogen (p0.01). In addition, there was an inverse association between 25(OH)D and WBC in smokers (p = 0.02) but no association in non-smokers (p = 0.73).Our study confirms a potential role of 25(OH)D in chronic inflammation. Yet, different inflammatory biomarkers are differently associated with 25(OH)D. Beneficial effects of increasing 25(OH)D were observed for fibrinogen and WBC (in smokers only). In contrast, the U-shaped association between 25(OH)D and hs-CRP indicates that ever-increasing 25(OH)D concentrations may also be related to proinflammatory states.

Periodontitis is considered to promote atherosclerosis and cardiovascular diseases through increased low-grade systemic inflammation. However, there is no information on the long-term impact of periodontitis on systemic inflammation from cohort studies. Thus, this study aims to assess the impact of periodontitis on systemic inflammation (fibrinogen and white blood cells (WBC)) in a population-based longitudinal survey in north-eastern Germany.The study sample comprised 2622 subjects from the Study of Health in Pomerania with complete 5- and 11-year follow-ups. Periodontitis was assessed by probing depth and clinical attachment level. Multilevel regression analyses were applied to evaluate associations between periodontitis measures and i) fibrinogen/WBC count using 11-year follow-up data and ii) respective z-scores of fibrinogen/WBC count using 5- and 11-year follow-up data. We adjusted for common cardiovascular risk factors and stratified analyses by abdominal obesity (P for interaction0.10).In lean subjects, beta-coefficients of mean probing depth were B = 0.13 (0.08-0.019; P 0.001) for fibrinogen and B = 0.50 (0.37-0.64; P 0.001) for WBC count using 11-year follow-up data only. For lean subjects, models using z-scores confirmed that increased mean probing depths were associated with increased fibrinogen z-scores (B = 0.14 (0.09-0.18; P 0.001)) and increased WBC z-scores (B = 0.16 (0.11-0.20; P 0.001)). Consistent results were found for mean clinical attachment levels. For abdominally obese subjects, relations between periodontitis measures and levels of inflammation markers were less pronounced or non-significant.Modified by abdominal obesity, periodontitis affected systemic inflammation in a significant dose-dependent manner. Results contribute to the discussion on how periodontitis is linked to atherosclerosis and cardiovascular diseases.

In situ-generated N-heterocyclic carbene (NHC) palladium catalysts and isolated NHC-palladium complexes have been tested for the telomerization reaction of 1,3-butadiene with primary and secondary amines. Superior catalyst activity (TON up to 400.000) and selectivity are obtained. Applying optimized conditions a variety of octa-2,7-dienylamines were prepared in high yield and excellent selectivity.

The palladium-catalyzed telomerization of isoprene with methanol and dimerization of isoprene have been studied in presence of in situ generated palladium–carbene catalysts. Unprecedented catalyst productivity has been observed for these two reactions. A selectivity switch from the telomer to the dimer product occurred by using different substituted carbene ligands. Among the imidazolium salts tested 1,3-dimesitylimidazolium mesylate ( 1) , 1,3-dimesityl-4,5-dihydroimidazolium chloride ( 3) gave the best yields for telomerization reaction whereas 1,3-bis-(2,6-diisopropylphenyl)-4,5-dihydroimidazolium tetrafluoroborate ( 5) and 1,3-bis-(2,6-diisopropylphenyl)-4,5-dimethyl-4,5-dihydroimidazolium chloride ( 9) form dimers in high yield and good selectivity.

Objective Higher circulating Angiopoietin-2 (Ang-2) levels predict cardiovascular events and mortality in clinical samples and in the general population. To better understand the underlying mechanisms, we investigated the association of circulating Ang-2 and sTie-2 (the soluble form of the Ang-2 receptor) levels with various measures of subclinical cardiovascular disease. Methods Cross-sectional data of 3204 participants (1654 women) aged 25–88 years from the population-based Study of Health in Pomerania were analysed. LV mass (LVM) and fractional shortening were determined echocardiographically as indices of cardiac structure and function, respectively. Intima media thickness (IMT) of the common carotid artery, the number of carotid plaques and flow-mediated dilation (FMD) were used to characterise large and medium-sized arterial structure and function. Results Multivariable-adjusted linear and negative binomial regression models revealed an inverse association of circulating Ang-2 levels (independent variable) with fractional shortening (s=−0.51 per 1 SD increment; 95% CI −0.86 to −0.16, p=0.005) and a positive association with number of carotid plaques (rate ratio=1.04 95% CI 1.01 to 1.07, p=0.019). No associations of Ang-2 or sTie-2 with LVM, IMT and FMD were found. Conclusions Circulating Ang-2 levels were associated with select subclinical cardiovascular disease traits, consistent with the notion that the Ang-2-pathway plays a role in mediating cardiovascular morbidity.