A simple method for the synthesis of amides has been developed by molybdenum-mediated carbamoylation of aryl halides. Whereas the conventional palladium-catalyzed three-component coupling reaction requires a large excess of gaseous carbon monoxide, the incorporation of carbon monoxide in this Mo-mediated carbamoylation reaction is so efficient that it requires only a slight excess amount of carbon monoxide in the form of its molybdenum complex, Mo(CO)(6). The reaction is applicable for the synthesis of a wide variety of not only secondary and tertiary amides but also primary amides by using aqueous ammonia.

A practical and simple method for deaminoborylation of aryltriazene with bis(pinacolato)diboron has been developed that is mediated by BF(3)·OEt(2). Various arylboronic esters are prepared in moderate to good yields with this facile transition-metal-free procedure.

Horizontal (HOR) and vertical (VERT) vestibulo-ocular reflex (VOR) responses to whole-body triangular velocity profiles with constant accelerations of 10, 15 and 20 deg/s2 were studied in two populations: normals, and patients with acute unilateral peripheral vestibular paralysis. The effect of this type of unilateral deficit on VOR gain and long time constant were determined as well as the time course of the compensation processes for HOR and VERT VOR dynamics. In the patient population, HOR VOR gain was asymmetric post deficit, being, on average, 50% and 75% of normal for rotations toward and away from the deficit, respectively. For the VERT VOR, on average, a symmetric 66% reduction occurred. The VERT VOR time constant was marginally affected by the deficit. HOR time constants were reduced for both directions of rotation. HOR and VERT VOR gain was within normal limits 1-3 months following an acute paralysis; time constants required a longer recovery period. Our results indicate that a unilateral deficit causes a markedly different alteration for HOR VOR dynamics compared to the effect on VERT VOR.

It has been speculated that the use of hydroxy-methyl-glutaryl coenzyme A reductase inhibitors (statins) is associated with the risk of malignant diseases. Considering their immunosuppressive activities, malignant diseases that are associated with an immunosuppressive status seem feasible to examine the association. We therefore examined the association between statin use and development of lymphoid malignancies in a case-control study. Cases were 221 consecutive incident cases with histopathologically proven lymphoid malignancies (lymphoma and myeloma), hospitalized in the Department of Hematology of Toranomon Hospital (Tokyo, Japan) between 1995 and 2001. Two independent control groups, comprising 442 and 437 inpatients without malignancies from the Departments of Orthopedics and Otorhinolaryngology of the same hospital, were selected to test for consistency of association. Controls were matched individually with cases for age, sex and year of admission. Subject information, including statin use, was abstracted from medical records at the time of hospitalization. Strength of association was evaluated as an adjusted odds ratios (aOR) using a conditional logistic regression model. A higher frequency of statin use was found among patients with lymphoid malignancies in comparison with both orthopedic (aOR 2.11, 95% CI 1.20-3.69, P = 0.009) and otorhinolaryngology patients (aOR 2.59, 95% CI 1.45-4.65, P = 0.001), the significance being maintained when the two control groups were combined (aOR 2.24, 95% CI 1.37-3.66, P = 0.001). In conclusion, we observed an elevated risk of lymphoid malignancy with statin use among Japanese patients. Further evaluations in different populations are required to draw conclusions as to the carcinogenicity of lymphoid malignancies with statin use.

In the presence of aminepentacarbonyltungsten, base, and a catalytic amount of palladium(0) complex, carbamoylation of aryl halide proceeds to afford amide. The reaction may involve transmetalation between palladium(II) intermediate and carbamoyltungstenate that is generated in situ. This catalytic cross-coupling reaction provides an alternative method to the conventional palladium-catalyzed amidation by using gaseous carbon monoxide.