New genetic loci link adipose and insulin biology to body fat distribution.

Body fat distribution is a heritable trait and a well-established predictor of adverse metabolic outcomes, independent of overall adiposity. To increase our understanding of the genetic basis of body fat distribution and its molecular links to cardiometabolic traits, here we conduct genome-wide association meta-analyses of traits related to waist and hip circumferences in up to 224,459 individuals. We identify 49 loci (33 new) associated with waist-to-hip ratio adjusted for body mass index (BMI), and an additional 19 loci newly associated with related waist and hip circumference measures (P < 5 × 10(-8)). In total, 20 of the 49 waist-to-hip ratio adjusted for BMI loci show significant sexual dimorphism, 19 of which display a stronger effect in women. The identified loci were enriched for genes expressed in adipose tissue and for putative regulatory elements in adipocytes. Pathway analyses implicated adipogenesis, angiogenesis, transcriptional regulation and insulin resistance as processes affecting fat distribution, providing insight into potential pathophysiological mechanisms

Second asymptomatic carotid surgery trial (ACST-2): a randomised comparison of carotid artery stenting versus carotid endarterectomy

Background: Among asymptomatic patients with severe carotid artery stenosis but no recent stroke or transient cerebral ischaemia, either carotid artery stenting (CAS) or carotid endarterectomy (CEA) can restore patency and reduce long-term stroke risks. However, from recent national registry data, each option causes about 1% procedural risk of disabling stroke or death. Comparison of their long-term protective effects requires large-scale randomised evidence. Methods: ACST-2 is an international multicentre randomised trial of CAS versus CEA among asymptomatic patients with severe stenosis thought to require intervention, interpreted with all other relevant trials. Patients were eligible if they had severe unilateral or bilateral carotid artery stenosis and both doctor and patient agreed that a carotid procedure should be undertaken, but they were substantially uncertain which one to choose. Patients were randomly allocated to CAS or CEA and followed up at 1 month and then annually, for a mean 5 years. Procedural events were those within 30 days of the intervention. Intention-to-treat analyses are provided. Analyses including procedural hazards use tabular methods. Analyses and meta-analyses of non-procedural strokes use Kaplan-Meier and log-rank methods. The trial is registered with the ISRCTN registry, ISRCTN21144362. Findings: Between Jan 15, 2008, and Dec 31, 2020, 3625 patients in 130 centres were randomly allocated, 1811 to CAS and 1814 to CEA, with good compliance, good medical therapy and a mean 5 years of follow-up. Overall, 1% had disabling stroke or death procedurally (15 allocated to CAS and 18 to CEA) and 2% had non-disabling procedural stroke (48 allocated to CAS and 29 to CEA). Kaplan-Meier estimates of 5-year non-procedural stroke were 2·5% in each group for fatal or disabling stroke, and 5·3% with CAS versus 4·5% with CEA for any stroke (rate ratio [RR] 1·16, 95% CI 0·86–1·57; p=0·33). Combining RRs for any non-procedural stroke in all CAS versus CEA trials, the RR was similar in symptomatic and asymptomatic patients (overall RR 1·11, 95% CI 0·91–1·32; p=0·21). Interpretation: Serious complications are similarly uncommon after competent CAS and CEA, and the long-term effects of these two carotid artery procedures on fatal or disabling stroke are comparable. Funding: UK Medical Research Council and Health Technology Assessment Programme

Large-scale association analysis provides insights into the genetic architecture and pathophysiology of type 2 diabetes

To extend understanding of the genetic architecture and molecular basis of type 2 diabetes (T2D), we conducted a meta-analysis of genetic variants on the Metabochip involving 34,840 cases and 114,981 controls, overwhelmingly of European descent. We identified ten previously unreported T2D susceptibility loci, including two demonstrating sex-differentiated association. Genome-wide analyses of these data are consistent with a long tail of further common variant loci explaining much of the variation in susceptibility to T2D. Exploration of the enlarged set of susceptibility loci implicates several processes, including CREBBP-related transcription, adipocytokine signalling and cell cycle regulation, in diabetes pathogenesis

Structural and magnetic characterization of Ni(<scp>ii</scp>), Co(<scp>ii</scp>), and Fe(<scp>ii</scp>) binuclear complexes on a bis(pyridyl-triazolyl)alkane basis

Reactions of bis[5-(2-pyridyl)-1,2,4-triazol-3-yl]alkanes (alkane spacers –(CH2)n–: n = 2 in L2, n = 3 in L3, −n = 4 in L4) with Ni, Co, Fe salts resulted in the preparation of five series of mononuclear and binuclear complexes.</p

Structural and magnetic characterization of Ni(II), Co(II), Fe(II) binuclear complexes on bis(pyridyl-triazolyl)alkane basis

Reaction of bis[5-(2-pyridyl)-1,2,4-triazol-3-yl]alkanes (alkane spacers = -CH2- in L2, -C3H6- in L3, -C4H8- in L4) with M(II)A2 salts (M = Ni, Co, Fe) resulted in preparation of five series of mononuclear ([M(L2)(H2O)2]2+, 1a-c) or binuclear ([M2(L3)2(H2O)4]4+, 2a-c; ([M2(L4)2(H2O)4]4+, 3a-c, [M2(L3)2(-ox)]2+, 4a-c; [M2(L4)2(-ox)]2+, 5a-c) complexes. The crystal structures of ten complexes were determined by single-crystal X-ray crystallography. Magnetic properties of the compounds were characterized by SQUID magnetometry and were analyzed by fitting on spin Hamiltonian model . It was revealed that Fe(II) and Co(II) compounds exhibit non-negligible anisotropy and in the case of 2a-c and 3a-c complexes weak ferromagnetic interactions between the metal centers were observed. In the case of complexes containing {M2(-ox)}2+ core strong antiferromagnetic interactions were observed within the dimer. Remarakably, solid state luminiscence of Co(II) and Fe(II) complexes (1b, 2b, 3b and 1c, 2c, 3c) was observed

Cytotoxic and Luminescent Properties of Novel Organotin Complexes with Chelating Antioxidant Ligand

A novel polydentate chelating antioxidant ligand and series of organotin complexes on its base were synthesized and characterized by NMR 1H, 13C, 119Sn, IR spectroscopy, X-ray, and elemental analysis. Their antioxidant activity was evaluated in DPPH and NBT-tests, and as lipoxygenase inhibitory activity. It was shown that ligand alone is a radical scavenger, while introducing tin in the structure of the compound significantly decreases its activity. For the ligand alone the ability to strongly suppress the formation of advanced glycation end products (AGEs) was shown, which may be associated with the established antiradical activity. All synthesized compounds appeared to be moderate lipoxygenase inhibitors. The stability of compounds to hydrolysis under different pH was estimated. The ligand undergoes decomposition after about an hour, while organotin complexes on its base demonstrate vast stability, showing signs of decomposition only after 5 h of experimentation. Cytotoxicity of compounds was studied by standard MTT-test, which showed unorthodox results: the ligand itself demonstrated noticeable cytotoxicity while the introduction of organotin moiety either did not affect the toxicity levels or reduced them instead of increasing. Organotin complexes possess luminescence both as powders and DMSO solutions, its quantum yields reaching 67% in DMSO. The combination of luminescence with unique cytotoxic properties allows us to propose the synthesized compounds as perspective theranostic agents

Barton–Zard Reaction of β‑Fluoro-β-nitrostyrenesa Selective Route to Functionalized 4‑Fluoropyrroles

The Barton–Zard reaction of β-fluoro-β-nitrostyrenes with ethyl α-isocyanoacetate was studied. The reaction was found to proceed in a highly chemoselective manner to form preferably 4-fluoropyrroles in up to 77% yield. The corresponding 4-nitrosubstituted pyrroles are formed as minor products of the reaction. The broad scope of β-fluoro-β-nitrostyrenes was demonstrated in the preparation of a variety of fluorinated pyrroles. The obtained experimental results are in perfect agreement with the data obtained by theoretical investigation of this reaction. The subsequent study of synthetic utility of monofluorinated pyrroles was performed to open a way for the development of a variety of functionalized pyrrole derivatives