Condensation of various 6-substituted 4-hydroxypyrones 1 with 1-cyclohexenecarboxaldehydes in the presence of L-proline in ethyl acetate gave high yields of substituted 1H, 7H-5a,6,8,9-tetrahydro-1-oxopyrano[4,3-b][1]benzopyrans. The reaction presumably occurs via the 1,2-addition of the pyrone with the aldehyde followed by dehydration and then cyclization through a 6Π electrocyclic process. A remarkable asymmetric induction was obtained from a stereogenic center (C4) of the cyclohexenecarboxaldehyde [such as (S)-perillaldehyde] to provide only the C5a,7-trans tricyclic pyrone products. On the other hand, condensation of 3-(formyloxy)-or 3-hydroxy-2-methyl-1-cyclohexenecarboxaldehydes with pyrones 1 gave mixtures of C5a,6-cis and -trans products. Several of the tricyclic pyrones strongly inhibit acetylcholinesterase activity, DNA synthesis, and tumor cell growth in vitro.

background: Patients with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) are at increased risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD). The omega-3 fatty acid docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) is a major component of neural tissues, and supplementation with fi sh oils improves autonomic tone and reduces risk for CVD. A link between low DHA status and less mature sleep patterns was observed in newborns. Methods: We investigated the relations between red blood cell (RBC) levels of DHA and OSA severity in 350 sequential patients undergoing sleep studies. Severity categories were defi ned as none/mild, moderate, and severe, based on apnea hypopnea index (AHI) scores of 0 to 14, 15 to 34, and > 34, respectively. Results: After controlling for age, sex, race, smoking, BMI, alcohol intake, fi sh intake, and omega-3 supplementation, RBC DHA was inversely related with OSA severity. For each 1-SD increase in DHA levels, a patient was about 50% less likely to be classifi ed with severe OSA. The odds ratios (95% CI) were 0.47 (0.28 to 0.80) and 0.55 (0.31 to 0.99) for being in the severe group versus the none/mild or moderate groups, respectively. Conclusion: These fi ndings suggest that disordered membrane fatty acid patterns may play a causal role in OSA and that the assessment of RBC DHA levels might help in the diagnosis of OSA. The effects of DHA supplementation on OSA should be explored. keywords: Omega-3 fatty acids, docosahexaenoic acid, epidemiology, sleep disordered breathing, biomarkers Citation: Ladesich JB; Pottala JV; Romaker A; Harris WS. Membrane level of omega-3 docosahexaenoic acid is associated with severity of obstructive sleep apnea.

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Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is a relatively common problem with potentially serious health consequences. The purpose of this study was to identify whether race has any effect on the severity of OSA. Our hypothesis was that OSA, when present, is more severe in black patients than white patients. This cross-sectional study was performed at Truman Medical Centers, a teaching hospital affiliated with University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Medicine (Kansas City, MO). Multiple linear regression analysis was conducted to establish if race was predictive of apnea-hypopnea index (AHI) score when controlling for age, sex, and body mass index. The analysis included 280 patients with complete data for each of the variables in the model. Race (the primary predictor of interest) did not significantly predict AHI score (P = 0.172), and neither did age (P = 0.783). Men had higher AHI scores than women (P < 0.001), and higher body mass index was associated with higher AHI score (P < 0.001). There were more black women in the sample population than white women (P = 0.043). Black patients were also more likely to have hypertension (P = 0.037). This study suggests that race is not a predictor of OSA severity after controlling for age, sex, and body mass index. There is a need for more studies to examine the prevalence of OSA in different races.