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BACKGROUND: Virgin olive oil (VOO) is greatly appreciated for its organoleptic features, which can be ascribed mainly to the presence of very chemically diverse volatile components. It is well known that the VOO volatile fraction depends strongly on different aspects, which encompass genetic, agronomic, processing, and post-processing factors. In this research, we developed a method for the qualitative and semiquantitative determination of volatile components in VOOs subjected to thermal stress by headspace extraction online coupled to gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (HS-GC-MS). RESULTS: The method was applied to 100 extra-virgin olive oil (EVOO) samples, which led to the tentative identification of 52 volatile components, including 12 alcohols, 17 aldehydes, three ketones, one ether, two furans, two carboxylic acids, and 15 hydrocarbons. The method was used to study the cultivar effect and the main biochemical pathways involved in the synthesis of volatile compounds, with special emphasis on those formed by degradation of unsaturated fatty acids (FAs). Principal component analysis (PCA), explaining 76.7% of the total variability, showed that the volatile profile of EVOOs subjected to thermal stress allowed discriminating samples from different cultivars. CONCLUSION: Volatiles detected in EVOOs subjected to thermal stress with the highest contribution to discrimination between the selected cultivars were correlated with the concentration of the three main FAs in VOO, namely oleic, linoleic, and linolenic acids. The FA profile seems to be especially relevant to explain the concentration of certain volatile compounds with direct incidence on the organoleptic properties [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: To assess the efficacy of glucagon‐like peptide‐1 receptor agonists (GLP1‐RAs) and sodium‐glucose co‐transporter 2 (SGLT2) inhibitors, administered without metformin on cardiovascular outcomes in type 2 diabetes patients. Methods: A systematic review was performed according to Cochrane's methodological standards. We included randomized clinical trials (RCTs) on adult type 2 diabetes patients, assessing the efficacy of SGLT2 inhibitors and GLP1‐RAs compared to other glucose‐lowering drugs and/or RCTs that presented data of a subgroup of type 2 diabetes patients without metformin use at baseline. The main outcome was the reduction of the risk of any major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) reported individually or as a composite outcome. Results: Five RCTs including 50,725 type 2 diabetes patients, of whom 10,013 had not received metformin, were included in this meta‐analysis. Three of these studies assessed the efficacy of GLP1‐RAs and two of SGLT2 inhibitors. In patients without metformin at baseline, GLP1‐RAs in comparison with placebo reduced the risk of MACE significantly by 20% (HR: 0.80; 95% CI: 0.71–0.89). SGLT2 inhibitors also significantly reduced the risk of MACE by 32% (HR: 0.68; 95% CI: 0.57–0.81). Conclusions: SGLT2 inhibitors and GLP1‐RAs provided without metformin at baseline may reduce the risk of MACE in comparison with placebo in type 2 diabetes patients at increased risk of cardiovascular events. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: Restricting children's exposures to marketing of unhealthy foods and beverages is a global obesity prevention priority. Monitoring marketing exposures supports informed policymaking. This study presents a global overview of children's television advertising exposure to healthy and unhealthy products. Twenty‐two countries contributed data, captured between 2008 and 2017. Advertisements were coded for the nature of foods and beverages, using the 2015 World Health Organization (WHO) Europe Nutrient Profile Model (should be permitted/not‐permitted to be advertised). Peak viewing times were defined as the top five hour timeslots for children. On average, there were four times more advertisements for foods/beverages that should not be permitted than for permitted foods/beverages. The frequency of food/beverages advertisements that should not be permitted per hour was higher during peak viewing times compared with other times (P < 0.001). During peak viewing times, food and beverage advertisements that should not be permitted were higher in countries with industry self‐regulatory programmes for responsible advertising compared with countries with no policies. Globally, children are exposed to a large volume of television advertisements for unhealthy foods and beverages, despite the implementation of food industry programmes. Governments should enact regulation to protect children from television advertising of unhealthy products that undermine their health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: Citrus fruits possess a high content of bioactive compounds whose changes during fruit maturation have not been studied in depth. Fruits were sampled from week 1, after fruit onset (7 days after flowering), to week 14. Volatile compounds isolated by headspace–solid‐phase microextraction and polar extracts from all samples were analyzed by gas chromatography–mass spectrometry. RESULTS: The relative abundance of 107 identified metabolites allowed differences among samples at different stages of fruit growth to be established. Principal component analysis showed a clear discrimination among samples, and analysis of variance revealed significant differences in 94 out of the 107 metabolites. Among total volatiles, monoterpenes increased their relative abundance from 86% to 94% during fruit growth, d‐limonene, γ‐terpinene and β‐pinene being the most abundant; conversely, sesquiterpenes decreased from 11.5% to 2.8%, β‐bisabolene and α‐bergamotene being the most concentrated. Sugars, in general, exhibited a gradual increase in abundance, reaching a maximum between weeks 9 and 12. Citric and malic acids, representing approximately 90% of the total identified carboxylic acids, reached a maximum concentration at commercial maturity (week 14). CONCLUSION: Of the 107 tentatively identified metabolites during Persian lime growth, sugars, carboxylic acids, and volatiles were those that experienced more significant changes and more clearly created differences among fruit growth stages. © 2018 Society of Chemical Industry [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Micromolding surface-initiated polymerization enables the fabrication of polymer coatings that reproduce the microscale surface topography of superhydrophobic leaves onto solid supports. Here, the surfaces of superhydrophobic leaves from Trifolium repens and Aristolochia esperanzae are molded and reproduced as the topography of a partially fluorinated polymer coating through the surface-initiated ring-opening metathesis polymerization of 5-(perfluorooctyl)norbornene (NBF8). The polymer coatings have thicknesses exceeding 100 μm, which can be tailored by the amount of monomer added to the mold. These coatings are robustly bound to the substrate, contain compositions not found in nature, and achieve superhydrophobicity that is comparable to the actual leaf. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The prevalence and mortality of heart failure (HF) increase with age. As a result, the early diagnosis of HF in this population is useful to reduce cardiovascular morbidity and probably mortality. However, the diagnosis of HF in the elderly is a challenge. These challenges arise from the under-representation of elderly patients in diagnostic studies and clinical trials, the increasing prevalence of HF with relatively normal ejection fraction, the difficulty in accurate diagnosis, the underuse of diagnostic tests, and the presence of co-morbidities. Particularly in the elderly, symptoms and signs of HF may be atypical and can be simulated or disguised by co-morbidities such as respiratory disease, obesity, and venous insufficiency. This review aims to provide a practical clinical approach for the diagnosis of older patients with HF based on the scarce available evidence and our clinical experience. Therefore, it should be interpreted in many aspects as an opinion paper with practical implications. The most useful clinical symptoms are orthopnoea and paroxysmal nocturnal dyspnoea. However, confirmation of the diagnosis always requires further tests. Although natriuretic peptides accurately exclude cardiac dysfunction as a cause of symptoms, the optimal cut-off level for ruling out HF in elderly patients with other co-morbidities is still not clear. In our opinion, echocardiography should be performed in all elderly patients to confirm the diagnosis of HF, except in those cases with low clinical probability and a concentration of brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) or N-terminal proBNP (NT-proBNP) lower than 100 or 400 pg/mL, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Obesity is associated with numerous risk factors and comorbidities such as hypertension, metabolic syndrome, type 2 diabetes, and cardiovascular diseases. However, numerous studies have reported an obesity paradox; the overweight and obese patients with established cardiovascular disease have better prognosis than those with a BMI <25 kg/m2. This study was designed to assess potential differences in the clinical profile and management of hypertensive outpatients with chronic ischemic heart disease in obese and lean patients that could explain these two apparently contradictory points. Overweight and obesity were defined as a BMI 25-29.9 kg/m2 and ≥30 kg/m2, respectively. Cardiovascular risk factors goals were considered according to European Society of Hypertension-European Society of Cardiology 2003, National Cholesterol Education Program Adult Treatment Panel III and American Diabetes Association 2005 guidelines. A sample of 2,024 patients (66.8 ± 10.1 years; 31.7% women) was included. Of these, 0.1% had a BMI <20 kg/m2; 17.1% BMI 20-24.9 kg/m2; 53.7% BMI 25-29.9 kg/m2; 23.7% BMI 30-34.9 kg/m2; 4.3% BMI 35-39.9 kg/m2; and 1.1% BMI ≥40 kg/m2. The subgroup of patients with BMI ≥30 kg/m2 had a higher proportion of women, diastolic dysfunction, diabetes, dyslipidemia, left ventricular hypertrophy, and heart failure. There was an inverse relationship between risk factors control rates and BMI (all comparisons BMI 20-24.9 kg/m2 vs. 25-29.9 kg/m2 vs. ≥30 kg/m2): blood pressure (BP) control (51.7% vs. 42.4% vs. 29.2%, P < 0.001); low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) control (35.2% vs. 30.5% vs. 27.9%, P = 0.03) and diabetes control (38.6% vs. 27.6% vs. 22.2%, P = 0.023). In conclusion, in patients with hypertension and chronic ischemic heart disease, as BMI increases, the clinical profile worsens as well as risk factors control rates. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The majority of patients with hypertension need at least two antihypertensive agents to achieve blood pressure (BP) objectives. As current European guidelines for the treatment of arterial hypertension recommend, combined therapy is required when monotherapy fails and as a first-line treatment in certain situations, such as subjects at high or very high cardiovascular risk, markedly elevated BP values, or when lower targets are required (<130/80 mmHg). The advantages of combined therapy are well known and include an earlier and higher antihypertensive efficacy because of complementary mechanisms of action, and a lower incidence of side effects due to the possible compensatory responses and, in many cases, the lower doses used. In the present study, available evidence about the efficacy and tolerability of combined therapy for the treatment of hypertension is updated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The authors examined the clinical profile of the hypertensive population with the metabolic syndrome (MetS) and elevated pulse pressure (PP) in a sample of 5866 patients (3291 women and 2575 men) included in a large hypertension survey performed in primary care setting. Elevated PP was defined as ≥80 mm Hg in women and ≥75 mm Hg in men; 92.7% of women and 87.6% of men had normal PP values. Patients with higher PP levels were older, were more commonly diabetic, and exhibited more frequently target organ damage and associated clinical conditions. Blood pressure was less well controlled in the subgroup of patients with elevated PP: control rates were 4.1% vs 19.2%, P<.001; men, 3.9% vs 19.0%, P<.001; P=NS between sexes. Low-density lipoprotein cholesterol was similarly controlled regardless of PP: control rates were, 17.0% vs 17.8%; in women with high PP vs normal PP and 25.2% vs 25.1% in men with high PP vs normal PP, both P=NS; P<.001 between sexes with high PP. In the patients with high PP, the female subgroup was older, was more obese, and had more left ventricular hypertrophy and fewer associated clinical conditions than did men. The odds ratio of having high PP in women with MetS vs no MetS was 3.13 and in men was 1.9 (both P<.01). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cardiopatía Isquémica Crónica e Hipertensión Arterial en la Práctica Clínica en España (CINHTIA) was a survey designed to assess the clinical management of hypertensive outpatients with chronic ischemic heart disease. Sex differences were examined. Blood pressures (BP) was considered controlled at levels of <140/90 or <130/80 mm Hg in diabetics (European Society of Hypertension/European Society of Cardiology 2003); low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) was considered controlled at levels <100 mg/dL (National Cholesterol Education Program Adult Treatment Panel III). In total, 2024 patients were included in the study. Women were older, with a higher body mass index and an increased prevalence of atrial fibrillation. Dyslipidemia, smoking, sedentary lifestyle, and peripheral arterial disease were more frequent in men. In contrast, diabetes, left ventricular hypertrophy, and heart failure were more common in women. BP and LDL-C control rates, although poor in both groups, were better in men (44.9% vs 30.5%, P<.001 and 33.0% vs 25.0%, P<.001, respectively). Stress testing and coronary angiography were more frequently performed in men. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The authors assessed the effect of an angiotensin receptor blocker (candesartan)-based regimen on electrocardiographic left ventricular hypertrophy (ECG-LVH) in 276 patients with hypertension, including 141 with the metabolic syndrome (MS). Baseline blood pressure (BP) and ECG-LVH parameters did not differ in patients with and without MS. At the study's end, BP had decreased similarly in both groups. At baseline, 26.1% of patients with MS and 24.7% without MS exhibited ECG-LVH by Cornell product (CorP) criteria (P =NS); 26.8% and 17.2%, respectively, by Sokolow-Lyon product (SokP) (P =.01); 11.4%and 11.8% by Cornell voltage (CorV) (P =NS); and 12.4% and 6.5% by Sokolow-Lyon voltage (SokV) (P =.01). At the study's end, in the MS group, prevalence of ECG-LVH was reduced to 19.5% from 26.1% (P =.001), to 8.5% from 11.4% (P =.01), and to 24.4% from 26.8%(P =.03) by CorP, CorV, and SokP, respectively. In patients without MS, only the CorP criterion showed a significant decrease in ECG-LVH prevalence, declining to 20.5% (P =.01). The relative risk reduction of ECG-LVH was higher in patients with MS according to CorV and SokP criteria (P <.01). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study was designed to evaluate whether primary care physicians in Spain accurately diagnose the metabolic syndrome in hypertensive patients, to define the profile and management of these patients in clinical practice, and to ascertain the level of blood pressure and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol control. Data were analyzed from a cross-sectional survey involving 12,954 patients with hypertension (Prevención Cardiovascular en España en Atención Primaria: Intervención Sobre el Colesterol en Hipertensión [PRESCOT] study), wherein 52% of the cohort fulfilled the National Cholesterol Education Program-Adult Treatment Panel criteria for the metabolic syndrome. The majority of patients (54.6%) had 3 risk factors, 32.4% had 4, and 13% had 5 risk factors. Physician diagnosis of the metabolic syndrome was poor, with 43.7% of physicians missing the diagnosis and 12.9% wrongly diagnosing the metabolic syndrome. Blood pressure and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol control rates were very low, with only 4.7% of metabolic syndrome patients achieving control for both blood pressure and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol vs 13.5% for non-metabolic syndrome patients ( P<.0001). These findings demonstrate that the metabolic syndrome is common in patients with hypertension and that it is generally poorly diagnosed and treated by primary care physicians. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Substituent effects on the fragments, intermediates and indigo dyes have been evaluated using global and local descriptors of the chemical reactivity. In terms of the global electrophilicity, one of the fragments, indoleninone, is classified as the electrophile and the other, indoxyl, as the nucleophile. The resonance, field and polarizability contributions of the substituents play an important role in the description of the fragments' electrophilicity. The interaction of the two fragments, to form the intermediate complex, has been shown to be as a superposition of two molecular planes, one coming from the indoxyl HOMO and the other from the indoleninone LUMO, both oriented by the dipole moment. Also, it has been shown that the complex formation is guided by the most nucleophilic indoxyl compound and not by the most electrophilic indoleninone. In spite of the indigoids having symmetrical structures, the substituent effects described in terms of the resonance, field and polarizability effects have an important effect on the maximum wavelength absorption in the electronic spectra. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

MADRID, A.H.,et al.:The Role of Angiotensin Receptor Blockers and/or Angiotensin Converting Enzyme Inhibitors in the Prevention of Atrial Fibrillation in Patients with Cardiovascular Diseases: Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Clinical Trials. The inhibition of the renin-angiotensin system has demonstrated both experimental and clinical effects in preventing atrial fibrillation. However, there is still uncertainty about the role of these drugs in clinical practice. The objective of this review has been to assess the effects of angiotensin II type-1 receptor blockers (ARBs) and/or angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors (ACEIs) for preventing atrial fibrillation. We searched the Cochrane controlled Trials Register (Cochrane Library Issue 4, 2002), MEDLINE (January 1980 to November 2003), EMBASE (January 1980 to November 2003) and reference list of articles. We also contacted manufacturers and researchers in the field. Selection criteria: We conducted a meta–analysis of all randomized controlled clinical trials that compared ARBs and/or ACEIs with either placebo or conventional therapy in patients with either hypertension, heart failure, ischemic heart disease, or diabetes mellitus. The pooled outcome was the development of new onset atrial fibrillation. Two reviewers independently assessed trial quality and extracted data. In some cases, the study authors were contacted for additional information. Seven trials involving a total of 24,849 patients were included (11,328 randomized to active therapy and 13,521 to control). There was a significant statistical difference in the pooled development of atrial fibrillation between the treatment and control group. (OR, 0.57; 95% CI, 0.39 to 0.82); test for overall effect z= 2.98 P= 0.003). Treatment with ACEIs/ARBs markedly reduces the risk of development or recurrence of atrial fibrillation.(PACE 2004; 27:1405–1410) [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

PENG, J., et al.: Saline Irrigated Catheter Ablation for Pulmonary Vein Isolation in Pigs: An Experimental Model. Focal AF is amenable to radical cure by RF ablation within the PV. The primary purpose of this study was to compare lesion characteristics for irrigated versus standard ablation using three power settings for PV isolation in pigs. Secondary analyses were the comparisons of ablation time and temperature characteristics, and evaluation of short-term safety in the pig model. In 20 pigs from 25 to 35 kg in weight, transseptal catheterization was performed and then the ablation catheter was advanced into the PV. RF energy was delivered to the ostium of the PV until its isolation was achieved. The animals were euthanized 1 week after ablation for pathological examination. Electrophysiological isolation of the PV was achieved, although it was difficult to achieve a complete circumferencial lesion in the ostium of the PV. Both of these catheters can produce transmural necrosis, even using 15 W of power. The authors did not see any stenosis of the PV. This might be due to the low energy delivery and the short follow-up. Pulmonary hemorrhage was present in two animals with 50 W of power, high energy output is dangerous for the ablation of the PV. (PACE 2004; 27:495–501) [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study analyses the anatomical arrangement of the projections linking the Wistar rat parafascicular thalamic nucleus (PF) and basal ganglia structures, such as the striatum and the subthalamic nucleus (STN), by using neuroanatomical tract-tracing techniques. Both the thalamostriatal and the striato-entopeduncular projections were topographically organized, and several areas of overlap between identified circuits were noticed, sustaining the existence of up to three separated channels within the Nauta–Mehler loop. Thalamic afferents arising from dorsolateral PF territories are in register with striatofugal neurons located in dorsolateral striatal areas, which in turn project to dorsolateral regions of the entopeduncular nucleus (ENT). Medial ENT regions are innervated by striatal neurons located within medial striatal territories, these neurons being the target for thalamic afferents coming from medial PF areas. Finally, afferents from neurons located in ventrolateral PF areas approached striatal neurons in ventral and lateral striatal territories, which in turn project towards ventral and lateral ENT regions. Efferent STN neurons projecting to ENT were found to be the apparent postsynaptic target for thalamo-subthalamic axons. The thalamo-subthalamic projection was also topographically organized. Medial, central and lateral STN territories are innervated by thalamic neurons located within medial, ventrolateral and dorsolateral PF areas, respectively. Thus, each individual PF subregion projects in a segregated fashion to specific parts of the striato-entopeduncular and subthalamo-entopeduncular systems. These circuits enabled the caudal intralaminar nuclei to modulate basal ganglia output. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The concept of equal mobility of gravel transport is 2 decades old. The weak form of the hypothesis states that in order to transport the coarse half of the mean annual gravel load through a river reach at a rate equal to the fine half, the coarser material must be overrepresented on the bed surface, giving rise to a mobile-bed armor. The degree of mobile-bed armoring necessary to accomplish this diminishes with increasing bed shear stress. The strong form of the hypothesis states that the grain size distribution of the gravel portion of the bed load should be similar to that of the substrate and finer than that of the surface layer. Here the hypothesis is subjected to a rigorous test in the laboratory under controlled conditions which are nevertheless chosen to be as representative as possible of actual field conditions. The grain size distributions used in the experiment included both model 'gravel' and model 'sand.' At the end of the experiment the entire surface layer and a significant depth of substrate were removed from an entire reach of the channel and sieved. The results of the experiment confirmed the weak form of equal mobility: The surface layer was significantly coarsened compared with the bed load, even when the 'sand' was excluded from the size distributions. The strong form of equal mobility was also supported by the experiment, in that the size distribution of the 'gravel' substrate was nearly identical to the size distribution of the 'gravel' portion of the load. The gravel substrate was, however, slightly but measurably coarser than the gravel load, a tendency that has been observed in the field in cases for which the strong form is not satisfied. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Inner ear melanocytes are mainly present in the cochlea, vestibular organ, and endolymphatic sac, but their exact biological function has not been determined. In this investigation, we study the pigment cells in the membranous labyrinth of the gerbil. The inner ear melanocytes of M. unguiculatus show an irregular dendritic shape with cytoplasmic processes. These cells are disposed following the distribution of striai marginal and vestibular dark cells that have an important metabolic activity. Gerbil inner ear melanocytes are characterized by the presence of melanosomes, which are homogeneously dense organelles, of variable size and shape, that are surrounded by a membrane. In these cells, the Golgi apparatus plays a important role in melanin synthesis. When melanocytes were incubated in L-DOPA solution, the vesicles and cisterns of the Golgi apparatus exhibited a positive tyrosinase reaction. An interesting observation is the relation between melanocytes and inner ear capillaries. Sometimes, near to sensory vestibular areas, the melanocytes were in contact with Schwann cells and with myelinated fibres of vestibular nerve. The ultrastructural findings of this investigation are consistent with the hypothesis that melanocytes may have functional significance in the inner ear. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective. This study analyzes the major clinical characteristics of patients with active leprosy in relation to the in vitro immune response to the T-lymphocyte activator anti-CD3. Methods. Thirty-eight patients with an established diagnosis of leprosy were classified according to the Ridley and Jopling table. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells from both lepromatous leprosy (LL) and tuberculoid leprosy (TL) patients and healthy controls were used to evaluate lymphocyte proliferation; immunoenzymatic assays were used to evaluate cytokine production (IL-1, IL-2, IL-4, IL- 6, IL-10, IFN-gamma). Results. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells from both LL and TL patients displayed blastogenic responses to anti-CD3. The cytokines IL-1β, IL-6, IL-10, and IFN-γ were detected in culture supernatants. Endogenous production of IL-1ß was significantly higher in cell cultures from patients with the lepromatous form of the disease compared to those with tuberculoid leprosy. Production of IL-6 in response to anti-CD3 was observed in a significantly higher proportion of LL than TL patients (P = 0.0025). Gamma-interferon production did not differ between TL and LL, but a direct correlation was observed between time of multidrug treatment and IFN production in vitro (P = 0.016). Interleukin-10 was detected in culture supernatants of lymphocytes activated by anti-CD3 from both patient groups, but not from healthy controls. Conclusions. The findings of this study suggest that patients with the two distinct forms of leprosy are capable of responding to a polyclonal T-lymphocyte stimulus such as anti-CD3 and provide evidence suggestive of alterations in the immune responses mediated by cytokines that may contribute to the spectrum of disease and response to treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background. Dopa-negative, inactive melanocytes, present in the middle portion of the hair follicle, but also in hair bulbs, have been reported as a source of pigment cells, when repopulation of epidermal melanocytes occurs. A melanocyte reservoir in these anatomical sites has been suggested. Our objective was to investigate the ability of the lower third of the hair follicle (hair bulb) to repigment achromic skin in vitiligo. Methods. Scalp hair bulbs were transplanted within leuko-dermic areas in 10 patients with vitiligo. Results. Repigmentation around the grafts was suitable for evaluation in four cases. Dopa-positive (+) cells were seen in the epidermal basal cell layer of the repigmented areas. Conclusions. Although these findings were observed only in a few patients, they suggest that melanocytes from the implanted lower third portion of the hair follicle (hair bulb) act as a reservoir in this anatomic location and are able to migrate and repigment achromic areas in vitiligo. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Medication adherence is crucial to improve the prognosis of patients with hypertension. Importantly, the variables associated with antihypertensive medication withdrawal do not occur immediately after the cessation, but likely in the following years. Nevertheless, since the current randomized clinical trials are limited to a short or mid follow-up, the results provided from these studies cannot exactly reflect the importance of the therapy discontinuation. We discuss about two recent examples, the ONTARGET and the TRANSCEND trials, in which the inclusion of the discontinuation rates in the primary analysis change the results of these studies and subsequently, the interpretation of the data. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Back Cover: Superhydrophobic polymer coatings (right and bottom) are fabricated by direct copying of nature. The process known as micromolding surface‐initiated polymerization consists of molding a superhydrophobic plant leaf (e.g. white clover, Dutchman's pipe), lining the mold with initiator and filling it with monomer, and placing against a surface that is activated for ring‐opening metathesis polymerization. Further details can be found in the article by C. A. Escobar, M. P. Spellings, T. J. Cooksey, and G. K. Jennings* on page 1937. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The 1,5-benzodiazepine ring system exhibits a puckered boat-like conformation for all four title compounds [4-(2-hydroxyphenyl)-2-phenyl-2,3-dihydro-1 H-1,5-benzodiazepine, C21H18N2O, (I), 2-(2,3-dimethoxyphenyl)-4-(2-hydroxyphenyl)-2,3-dihydro-1 H-1,5-benzodiazepine, C23H22N2O3, (II), 2-(3,4-dimethoxyphenyl)-4-(2-hydroxyphenyl)-2,3-dihydro-1 H-1,5-benzodiazepine, C23H22N2O3, (III), and 2-(2,5-dimethoxyphenyl)-4-(2-hydroxyphenyl)-2,3-dihydro-1 H-1,5-benzodiazepine, C23H22N2O3, (IV)]. The stereochemical correlation of the two C6 aromatic groups with respect to the benzodiazepine ring system is pseudo-equatorial–equatorial for compounds (I) (the phenyl group), (II) (the 2,3-dimethoxyphenyl group) and (III) (the 3,4-dimethoxyphenyl group), while for (IV) (the 2,5-dimethoxyphenyl group) the system is pseudo-axial–equatorial. An intramolecular hydrogen bond between the hydroxyl OH group and a benzodiazepine N atom is present for all four compounds and defines a six-membered ring, whose geometry is constant across the series. Although the molecular structures are similar, the supramolecular packing is different; compounds (I) and (IV) form chains, while (II) forms dimeric units and (III) displays a layered structure. The packing seems to depend on at least two factors: (i) the nature of the atoms defining the hydrogen bond and (ii) the number of intermolecular interactions of the types O—H...O, N—H...O, N—H...π(arene) or C—H...π(arene). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The molecule of the title compound, C19H20O2S, corresponds to a chiral sulfinyldienol with two stereogenic centres, viz, the C atom susbtituted by the hydroxy group and the sulfinyl S atom. The molecule displays a V-shape in the solid state. The dihedral angle defined by the least-squares planes of the aromatic rings is 72.9 (1)° . The packing pattern exhibits the following intermolecular hydrogen bonds: one O—H…O[H…O = 1.98 Å,O… = 2.785(4)Å and O—H…O = 166°] and two C—H…O [H…O = 2.58 and 2.60 Å, C…O = 3.527 (5) and 3.347 (5) Å, and C—H…O = 164 and 134°]. These define a chain along b. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The mol-ecular structure of the title compound, C(17)H(15)BrO(3), consists of a bromo-phenyl and a 3,4-dimeth-oxy-phenyl group linked through a prop-2-en-1-one spacer. The C=C double bond displays an E conformation, while the carbonyl group shows an S-cis conformation relative to the double bond.

The mol-ecular conformation of the title compound, C(18)H(18)O(5), is stabilized by a strong intra-molecular hydrogen bond between the hydroxyl and carbonyl groups. The C=C double bond displays an E configuration while the carbonyl group shows an S-cis configuration relative to the double bond. The dihedral angle between the two rings is 15.0 (1)°.

A series of five compounds containing the bicyclo[3.3.0]octa-2,6-diene skeleton are described, namely tetramethyl cis,cis-3,7-dihydroxybicyclo[3.3.0]octa-2,6-diene-2,4-exo,6,8-exo-tetracarboxylate, C(16)H(18)O(10), (I), tetramethyl cis,cis-3,7-dihydroxy-1,5-dimethylbicyclo[3.3.0]octa-2,6-diene-2,4-exo,6,8-exo-tetracarboxylate, C(18)H(22)O(10), (II), tetramethyl cis,cis-3,7-dimethoxybicyclo[3.3.0]octa-2,6-diene-2,4-exo,6,8-exo-tetracarboxylate, C(18)H(22)O(10), (III), tetramethyl cis,cis-3,7-dimethoxy-1,5-dimethylbicyclo[3.3.0]octa-2,6-diene-2,4-exo,6,8-exo-tetracarboxylate, C(20)H(26)O(10), (IV), and tetramethyl cis,cis-3,7-diacetoxybicyclo[3.3.0]octa-2,6-diene-2,4-exo,6,8-exo-tetracarboxylate, C(20)H(22)O(12), (V). The bicyclic core is substituted in all cases at positions 2, 4, 6 and 8 with methoxycarbonyl groups and additionally at positions 3 and 7 with hydroxy [in (I) and (II)], methoxy [in (III) and (IV)] or acetoxy [in (V)] groups. The conformations of the methoxycarbonyl groups at positions 2 and 4 are exo for all five compounds. Each C(5) ring of the bicyclic skeleton is almost planar, but the rings are not coplanar, with dihedral angles of 54.93 (7), 69.85 (5), 64.07 (4), 80.74 (5) and 66.91 (7) degrees for (I)-(V), respectively, and the bicyclooctadiene system adopts a butterfly-like conformation. Strong intramolecular hydrogen bonds exist between the -OH and C=O groups in (I) and (II), with O...O distances of 2.660 (2) and 2.672 (2) A in (I), and 2.653 (2) and 2.635 (2) A in (II). The molecular packing is stabilized by weaker C-H...O(=C) interactions, leading to dimers in (I)-(III) and to a chain structure in (V). The structure series presented in this article shows how the geometry of the cycloocta-2,6-diene skeleton changes upon substitution in different positions and, consequently, how the packing is modified, although the intermolecular interactions are basically the same across the series.

The molecule of the title compound, C19H20O2S, corresponds to a chiral sulfinyldienol with two stereogenic centres, viz. the C atom susbtituted by the hydroxy group and the sulfinyl S atom. The molecule displays a V-shape in the solid state. The dihedral angle defined by the least-squares planes of the aromatic rings is 72.9 (1) degrees. The packing pattern exhibits the following intermolecular hydrogen bonds: one O-H...O [H...O = 1.98 A, O...O = 2.785 (4) A and O-H...O = 166 degrees] and two C-H...O [H...O = 2.58 and 2.60 A, C...O = 3.527 (5) and 3.347 (5) A, and C-H...O = 164 and 134 degrees]. These define a chain along b.