Structural and Electronic Properties of a Triangular Lattice Magnet NaPrTe2_2 Compared with NaNdTe2_2 and NaTbTe2_2

NaPrTe2, NaNdTe2, and NaTbTe2 are found to be triangular lattice magnets with the alpha-NaFeO2 structure, where lanthanoid atoms with 4f electrons form a triangular lattice, based on the structural analysis and physical property measurements of synthesized polycrystalline samples. The alpha-NaFeO2 structure is a new polymorph of NaPrTe2, which has been reported to crystallize in the cubic LiTiO2 structure. Polytypism in NaPrTe2 was discussed based on the structural parameters determined by the Rietveld analysis. NaPrTe2 is suggested to be in the proximity of the phase boundary between the LiTiO2 and alpha-NaFeO2 types, as compared to NaNdTe2 and NaTbTe2, indicating that this compound might be interesting from the perspectives of the dimensional control of geometrically frustrated lattices. The magnetic susceptibility and heat capacity data indicated that NaPrTe2 do not show long-range magnetic order or a spin-glass transition above 2 K.Comment: 6 pages, 7 figure

Crystal structure of the hemolytic lectin CEL-III isolated from the marine invertebrate Cucumaria echinata : Implications of domain structure for its membrane pore-formation mechanism

CEL-III is a Ca^＋ -dependent and galactose-specific lectin purified from the sea cucumber, Cucumaria echinata, which exhibits hemolytic and hemagglutinating activities. Six molecules of CEL-III are assumed to oligomerize to form an ion-permeable pore in the cell membrane. We have determined the crystal structure of CEL-III by using single isomorphous replacement aided by anomalous scattering in lead at 1.7 Å resolution. CEL-III consists of three distinct domains as follows: the N-terminal two carbohydrate-binding domains (1 and 2), which adopt β-trefoil folds such as the B-chain of ricin and are members of the (QXW)_3 motif family; and domain 3, which is a novel fold composed of two α-helices and one β-sandwich. CEL-III is the first Ca^ -dependent lectin structure with two β-trefoil folds. Despite sharing the structure of the B-chain of ricin, CEL-III binds five Ca^ ions at five of the six subdomains in both domains 1 and 2. Considering the relatively high similarity among the five subdomains, they are putative binding sites for galactose-related carbohydrates, although it remains to be elucidated whether bound Ca^ is directly involved in interaction with carbohydrates. The paucity of hydrophobic interactions in the interfaces between the domains and biochemical data suggest that these domains rearrange upon carbohydrate binding in the erythrocyte membrane. This conformational change may be responsible for oligomerization of CEL-III molecules and hemolysis in the erythrocyte membranes.This research was originally published in Journal of Biological Chemistry. Tatsuya Uchida, Takayuki Yamasaki, Seiichiro Eto, Hajime Sugawara, Genji Kurisu, Atsushi Nakagawa, Masami Kusunoki and Tomomitsu Hatakeyama. Crystal structure of the hemolytic lectin CEL-III isolated from the marine invertebrate Cucumaria echinata : Implications of domain structure for its membrane pore-formation mechanism. Journal of Biological Chemistry. 2004; 279, 37133-37141. © the American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology

Why Are Outcomes Different for Registry Patients Enrolled Prospectively and Retrospectively? Insights from the Global Anticoagulant Registry in the FIELD-Atrial Fibrillation (GARFIELD-AF).

Background: Retrospective and prospective observational studies are designed to reflect real-world evidence on clinical practice, but can yield conflicting results. The GARFIELD-AF Registry includes both methods of enrolment and allows analysis of differences in patient characteristics and outcomes that may result. Methods and Results: Patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) and ≥1 risk factor for stroke at diagnosis of AF were recruited either retrospectively (n = 5069) or prospectively (n = 5501) from 19 countries and then followed prospectively. The retrospectively enrolled cohort comprised patients with established AF (for a least 6, and up to 24 months before enrolment), who were identified retrospectively (and baseline and partial follow-up data were collected from the emedical records) and then followed prospectively between 0-18 months (such that the total time of follow-up was 24 months; data collection Dec-2009 and Oct-2010). In the prospectively enrolled cohort, patients with newly diagnosed AF (≤6 weeks after diagnosis) were recruited between Mar-2010 and Oct-2011 and were followed for 24 months after enrolment. Differences between the cohorts were observed in clinical characteristics, including type of AF, stroke prevention strategies, and event rates. More patients in the retrospectively identified cohort received vitamin K antagonists (62.1% vs. 53.2%) and fewer received non-vitamin K oral anticoagulants (1.8% vs . 4.2%). All-cause mortality rates per 100 person-years during the prospective follow-up (starting the first study visit up to 1 year) were significantly lower in the retrospective than prospectively identified cohort (3.04 [95% CI 2.51 to 3.67] vs . 4.05 [95% CI 3.53 to 4.63]; p = 0.016). Conclusions: Interpretations of data from registries that aim to evaluate the characteristics and outcomes of patients with AF must take account of differences in registry design and the impact of recall bias and survivorship bias that is incurred with retrospective enrolment. Clinical Trial Registration: - URL: http://www.clinicaltrials.gov . Unique identifier for GARFIELD-AF (NCT01090362)

Risk profiles and one-year outcomes of patients with newly diagnosed atrial fibrillation in India: Insights from the GARFIELD-AF Registry.

BACKGROUND: The Global Anticoagulant Registry in the FIELD-Atrial Fibrillation (GARFIELD-AF) is an ongoing prospective noninterventional registry, which is providing important information on the baseline characteristics, treatment patterns, and 1-year outcomes in patients with newly diagnosed non-valvular atrial fibrillation (NVAF). This report describes data from Indian patients recruited in this registry. METHODS AND RESULTS: A total of 52,014 patients with newly diagnosed AF were enrolled globally; of these, 1388 patients were recruited from 26 sites within India (2012-2016). In India, the mean age was 65.8 years at diagnosis of NVAF. Hypertension was the most prevalent risk factor for AF, present in 68.5% of patients from India and in 76.3% of patients globally (P < 0.001). Diabetes and coronary artery disease (CAD) were prevalent in 36.2% and 28.1% of patients as compared with global prevalence of 22.2% and 21.6%, respectively (P < 0.001 for both). Antiplatelet therapy was the most common antithrombotic treatment in India. With increasing stroke risk, however, patients were more likely to receive oral anticoagulant therapy [mainly vitamin K antagonist (VKA)], but average international normalized ratio (INR) was lower among Indian patients [median INR value 1.6 (interquartile range {IQR}: 1.3-2.3) versus 2.3 (IQR 1.8-2.8) (P < 0.001)]. Compared with other countries, patients from India had markedly higher rates of all-cause mortality [7.68 per 100 person-years (95% confidence interval 6.32-9.35) vs 4.34 (4.16-4.53), P < 0.0001], while rates of stroke/systemic embolism and major bleeding were lower after 1 year of follow-up. CONCLUSION: Compared to previously published registries from India, the GARFIELD-AF registry describes clinical profiles and outcomes in Indian patients with AF of a different etiology. The registry data show that compared to the rest of the world, Indian AF patients are younger in age and have more diabetes and CAD. Patients with a higher stroke risk are more likely to receive anticoagulation therapy with VKA but are underdosed compared with the global average in the GARFIELD-AF. CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION-URL: http://www.clinicaltrials.gov. Unique identifier: NCT01090362