Efficient preparation of TMSCCl2Br and its use in dichlorocyclopropanation of electron deficient alkenes

The reaction of excess TMSCl and LiCCl2Br at low temperature is a technically simple high yield route to TMSCCl2Br. The latter is a stable source of the dichlorobromomethide carbanion, which undergoes 1,4-addition with cyclic nitroalkenes and (E)-fumarates leading to dichlorocyclopropanes after bromide explusion. For nitrostyrenes the reaction arrests at the 1,4-addition product. Low temperature NMR studies and DFT calculations suggest the formation of an ‘ate’ species [(nitronate)SiFMe3]- which, upon boil off of TMSF at 10 - 20 °C, yields the cyclopropane. DFT calculations also support the experimental differences between fluoride and acetate as promotors

Lifestyle Risk Factors and Cardiovascular Disease in Cubans and Cuban Americans

Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of mortality in Cuba. Lifestyle risk factors for coronary heart disease (CHD) in Cubans have not been compared to risk factors in Cuban Americans. Articles spanning the last 20 years were reviewed. The data on Cuban Americans are largely based on the Hispanic Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (HHANES), 1982–1984, while more recent data on epidemiological trends in Cuba are available. The prevalence of obesity and type 2 diabetes mellitus remains greater in Cuban Americans than in Cubans. However, dietary preferences, low physical activity, and tobacco use are contributing to the rising rates of obesity, type 2 diabetes mellitus, and CHD in Cuba, putting Cubans at increased cardiovascular risk. Comprehensive national strategies for cardiovascular prevention that address these modifiable lifestyle risk factors are necessary to address the increasing threat to public health in Cuba

Association Between Depressive Symptoms and Cardiac Structure and Function in a Peruvian Population.

Depressive disorders are a leading cause of disability and are globally pervasive. It is estimated that 80% of depression occurs in low-income and middle-income countries. Depression is associated with worse outcomes in patients with cardiac disease including heart failure (HF); however, mechanistic understanding to explain heightened risk in HF remains poorly characterized. We examined the association between depressive symptoms and cardiac structure and function by transthoracic echocardiography. We selected a random sample of adult participants in Puno and Pampas de San Juan de Miraflores, Peru, from the CRONICAS cohort study. Depression symptoms were self-reported and measured with the Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale in 2010. Participants underwent transthoracic echocardiography in 2014. Multivariable linear regression was used to examine the relationship between depressive symptoms and echocardiographic measures of cardiac structure and function and was adjusted for relevant covariates. Three hundred and seventy-three participants (mean age 56.7 years, 57% female) were included in this analysis of which 91 participants (24%) had clinically significant depressive symptoms. After adjustment, clinically significant depressive symptoms were associated with a reduced diastolic relaxation velocity compared to non-depressed subjects (-0.72 cm/s, 95% CI -1.21 to -0.24, p = 0.004). Other differences between depressed and non- depressed participants were less obvious. In conclusion, clinically significant depressive symptoms were associated with a lower septal e' velocity in the Peruvian population. Depressive symptoms were not obviously associated with other abnormalities in cardiac structure or function

Usefulness for surveillance of hypertension prevalence studies in Latin America and the Caribbean: the past 10 years Utilidad de los estudios de prevalencia para la vigilancia de la hipertensión en América Latina y el Caribe: los 10 últimos años

OBJECTIVE: To compare the usefulness for surveillance of the peer-reviewed literature on the prevalence of hypertension in Latin America and the Caribbean published from 2001 to 2010 with a previous study of the published literature from 1962 to 2000. METHODS: A bibliographic search was conducted of publications from 2001 to 2010 that examined the prevalence of hypertension using MEDLINE and LILACS databases. The methodology of each paper was evaluated with the same critical appraisal tool used in the previous study. RESULTS: A total of 81 papers were published from 2001 to 2010 on the prevalence of hypertension in Latin America and the Caribbean. Only 24 of these studies met the minimum methodologic criteria for evaluation. While the total number of studies published in the past 10 years exceeds the number published from 1962 to 2000, the percentage of studies that met the minimum methodologic criteria has not substantially increased. In addition to major methodologic shortcomings, less than 46% of the published studies reported rates of awareness, treatment, and control of hypertension. The hypertension prevalence estimates from the peer-reviewed literature range from 7% to 49%. These studies were primarily done in urban centers and are not evenly distributed throughout the region. CONCLUSIONS: The quality and geographic distribution of the published literature on the prevalence of hypertension in Latin America and the Caribbean are inadequate. Research resources and efforts should be directed in the future toward closing this gap.OBJETIVO: Comparar la utilidad para la vigilancia epidemiológica de los artículos sobre prevalencia de hipertensión en América Latina y el Caribe publicados en revistas con arbitraje científico del 2001 al 2010, con un estudio anterior de la bibliografía publicada en el período 1962-2000. MÉTODOS: En las bases de datos MEDLINE y LILACS se efectuó una búsqueda bibliográfica de los artículos que examinaron la prevalencia de hipertensión publicados del 2001 al 2010. La metodología empleada en cada artículo se valoró con la misma herramienta de evaluación usada en el estudio anterior. RESULTADOS: Del 2001 al 2010 se publicaron 81 artículos sobre la prevalencia de la hipertensión en América Latina y el Caribe. Solo 24 de estos estudios cumplieron los criterios metodológicos mínimos para la evaluación. Aunque en los 10 últimos años se publicaron más estudios que en el período 1962-2000, el porcentaje de estudios que cumplieron los criterios metodológicos mínimos no aumentó sustancialmente. Además de presentar deficiencias metodológicas importantes, menos de 46% de los estudios publicados incluyeron información sobre la concientización, el tratamiento y el control de la hipertensión. Las estimaciones sobre la prevalencia de hipertensión en los artículos estudiados varían entre 7% y 49%. Estos estudios se realizaron principalmente en centros urbanos y no se distribuyeron de manera uniforme en toda la región. CONCLUSIONES: La bibliografía publicada sobre la prevalencia de la hipertensión en América Latina y el Caribe es insuficiente para ser útil con fines de vigilancia, y su calidad y la distribución geográfica son inadecuadas. En el futuro, los recursos y los esfuerzos de investigación deben enfocarse en reducir esta diferencia