Is Human Cytomegalovirus Infection Associated with Hypertension? The United States National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 1999–2002

PURPOSE: Recent studies have implicated the human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) as a possible pathogen for causing hypertension. We aimed to study the association between HCMV infection and hypertension in the United States National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES). METHODS: We analyzed data on 2979 men and 3324 women in the NHANES 1999-2002. We included participants aged 16-49 years who had valid data on HCMV infection and hypertension. RESULTS: Of the participants, 54.7% had serologic evidence of HCMV infection and 17.5% had hypertension. There were ethnic differences in the prevalence of HCMV infection (P<0.001) and hypertension (P<0.001). The prevalence of both increased with age (P<0.001). Before adjustment, HCMV seropositivity was significantly associated with hypertension in women (OR = 1.63, 95% CI = 1.25-2.13, P = 0.001) but not in men. After adjustment for race/ethnicity, the association between HCMV seropositivity and hypertension in women remained significant (OR = 1.55, 95% CI = 1.20-2.02, P = 0.002). Further adjustment for body mass index, diabetes status and hypercholesterolemia attenuated the association (OR = 1.44, 95% CI = 1.10-1.90, P = 0.010). However, after adjusting for age, the association was no longer significant (OR = 1.24, 95% CI = 0.91-1.67, P = 0.162). CONCLUSIONS: In this nationally representative population-based survey, HCMV seropositivity is associated with hypertension in women in the NHANES population. This association is largely explained by the association of hypertension with age and the increase in past exposure to HCMV with age.published_or_final_versio

Porous, robust highly conducting Ni-YSZ thin film anodes prepared by magnetron sputtering at oblique angles for application as anodes and buffer layers in solid oxide fuel cells

Uniform, highly porous, columnar thin films incorporating YSZ and NiO prepared by magnetron sputtering with deposition at glancing incidence exhibited stoichiometries close to that of the Y–Zr–Ni sputter target. Characterization by means of SEM, XRD, XPS and RBS revealed that the uniformly distributed nickel component in the as-deposited films consisted of NiO, and that the YSZ component was essentially amorphous. Annealing such films at 850 °C in hydrogen resulted in crystallization of the YSZ phase with preservation of the columnar morphology, while the NiO underwent reduction to metallic Ni, which partially segregated to the film surface. The hydrogen-annealed thin film anodes exhibited high conductivity, comparable to that of conventionally-prepared anodes, in both hydrogen and hydrogen/water mixtures at temperatures relevant to SOFC operation. They were also robust against strain-induced separation from the substrate under limited thermal cycling in both oxidizing and reducing atmospheres and are promising candidates for use as anodes in their own right and as strain-accommodating buffer layers between conventional anodes and the electrolyte for use in SOFC applications.Peer reviewe

Cis-trans ring substituent isomerism in cyano-substituted metallathietane-3,3-dioxide complexes of platinum(II) and palladium(II)

Reactions of the platinum complexes cis-[PtCl₂(PPh₃)₂ ], [PtCl₂(dppf)], or [PtCl₂(dppe)], and the palladium complexes, [PdCl₂(PPh₃)₂] or [PdCl₂(dppe)], with bis(cyanomethyl)sulfone NCCH₂SO₂ CH₂CN in methanol with added trimethylamine base gave the new cyano-substituted metallathietane-3,3- dioxide complexes [M{CH(CN)SO₂ CH(CN)}L₂ ] (M = Pd, Pt) in good yields and purities. ¹H and ³¹P{¹H} NMR spectroscopy indicates that (in the majority of cases) the products are formed as a mixture of cis and trans isomers, with regard to the disposition of the cyano groups across the four-membered ring. An X-ray structure determination on a crystal of [Pd{CH(CN)SO₂CH(CN)}(PPh₃)₂] showed it to be of the cis isomer, the first structurally characterized cis isomer of this type of complex. The four-membered palladacyclic ring is highly planar, in contrast to other metallathietane-3,3-dioxide complexes that have puckered rings. Factors influencing the relative abundances of the two isomers of [Pd{CH(CN)SO₂CH(CN)}(PR₃)₂] have been investigated by means of NMR spectroscopy and DFT calculations

Neurotensin serum levels and skin gene expression are increased in atopic dermatitis

Background Neurotensin (NT) participates in immune responses, but the mechanisms are not known. We have previously shown that NT augments the ability of corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH) to increase mast-cell-dependent vascular permeability in rodents. We also showed that NT stimulates human mastcell release of vascular endothelial growth factor, and that CRH is increased in the serum of patients with atopic dermatitis (AD), an inflammatory skin condition involving mast cells. Objectives To measure serum levels of NT, and lesional skin expression of NT and the main NT receptor (NTR-1) in AD, and to compare it with skin expression in chronic urticaria (CU) and urticaria pigmentosa (UP). Methods Serum NT was measured with a Milliplex microbead array. Skin NT and NTR-1 gene expression was determined with quantitative polymerase chain reaction. Immunohistochemistry was performed using a mouse monoclonal antibody for NT, and a rabbit polyclonal antibody for NTR-1. Mast cells were counter-stained with Leder dye. Results Neurotensin is significantly elevated in the serum of patients with AD compared with healthy controls (P = 0.0001). NT gene expression is also significantly increased in lesional skin of patients with AD compared with controls (P = 0.0194). Moreover, immunohistochemistry of AD lesions shows NT &gt; NTR-1 staining of perivascular cells, many of which are identified as mast cells after staining with Leder dye. There was no statistically significant difference in NT and NTR-1 lesional skin gene expression in patients with either CU or UP. Conclusions These results suggest that interactions between NT and mast cells may occur and contribute to AD pathogenesis