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Background: Statin treatment is a potent lipid‐lowering therapy associated with decreased cardiovascular risk and mortality. Recent studies including the PARADIGM trial have demonstrated the impact of statins on promoting calcified coronary plaque. Hypothesis: The degree of systemic inflammation impacts the amount of increase in coronary plaque calcification over 2 years of statin treatment. Methods: A subgroup of 142 participants was analyzed from the Risk Stratification with Image Guidance of HMG CoA Reductase Inhibitor Therapy (RIGHT) study (NCT01212900), who were on statin treatment and underwent cardiac computed tomography angiography (CCTA) at baseline and 2‐year follow‐up. This cohort was stratified by baseline median levels of high‐sensitivity hs‐CRP and analyzed with linear regressions using Stata‐17 (StataCorp). Results: In the high versus low hs‐CRP group, patients with higher baseline median hs‐CRP had increased BMI (median [IQR]; 29 [27–31] vs. 27 [24–28]; p <.001), hypertension (59% vs. 41%; p =.03), and LDL‐C levels (97 [77–113] vs. 87 [75–97] mg/dl; p =.01). After 2 years of statin treatment, the high hs‐CRP group had significant increase in dense‐calcified coronary burden versus the low hs‐CRP group (1.27 vs. 0.32 mm2 [100×]; p =.02), beyond adjustment (β =.2; p =.03). Conclusions: Statin treatment over 2 years associated with a significant increase in coronary calcification in patients with higher systemic inflammation, as measured by hs‐CRP. These findings suggest that systemic inflammation plays a role in coronary calcification and further studies should be performed to better elucidate these findings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The current coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‐19) pandemic presents a global challenge for managing acutely ill patients and complications from viral infection. Systemic inflammation accompanied by a "cytokine storm," hemostasis alterations and severe vasculitis have all been reported to occur with COVID‐19, and emerging evidence suggests that dysregulation of lipid transport may contribute to some of these complications. Here, we aim to summarize the current understanding of the potential mechanisms related to COVID‐19 dyslipidemia and propose possible adjunctive type therapeutic approaches that modulate lipids and lipoproteins. Specifically, we hypothesize that changes in the quantity and composition of high‐density lipoprotein (HDL) that occurs with COVID‐19 can significantly decrease the anti‐inflammatory and anti‐oxidative functions of HDL and could contribute to pulmonary inflammation. Furthermore, we propose that lipoproteins with oxidized phospholipids and fatty acids could lead to virus‐associated organ damage via overactivation of innate immune scavenger receptors. Restoring lipoprotein function with ApoA‐I raising agents or blocking relevant scavenger receptors with neutralizing antibodies could, therefore, be of value in the treatment of COVID‐19. Finally, we discuss the role of omega‐3 fatty acids transported by lipoproteins in generating specialized proresolving mediators and how together with anti‐inflammatory drugs, they could decrease inflammation and thrombotic complications associated with COVID‐19. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The biodegradation of compounds with C−F bonds is challenging due to the fact that these bonds are stronger than the C−H bond in methane. In this work, results on the unprecedented reactivity of a biomimetic model complex that contains an N‐bridged diiron‐phthalocyanine are presented; this model complex is shown to react with perfluorinated arenes under addition of H2O2 effectively. To get mechanistic insight into this unusual reactivity, detailed density functional theory calculations on the mechanism of C6F6 activation by an iron(IV)‐oxo active species of the N‐bridged diiron phthalocyanine system were performed. Our studies show that the reaction proceeds through a rate‐determining electrophilic C−O addition reaction followed by a 1,2‐fluoride shift to give the ketone product, which can further rearrange to the phenol. A thermochemical analysis shows that the weakest C−F bond is the aliphatic C−F bond in the ketone intermediate. The oxidative defluorination of perfluoroaromatics is demonstrated to proceed through a completely different mechanism compared to that of aromatic C−H hydroxylation by iron(IV)‐oxo intermediates such as cytochrome P450 Compound I. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Series of substituted µ‐carbido diruthenium(IV) bisphthalocyaninates [Pc*Ru]2(µ‐C) [where Pc* = tetra‐tert‐butyl‐, octa‐n‐butoxy‐, tetra‐15‐crown‐5‐ and hexa‐n‐butoxy‐mono‐(15‐crown‐5)‐substituted ligands] were synthesized using two alternative approaches – (i) direct metalation of phthalocyanines with Ru3(CO)12 in refluxing o‐dichlorobenzene where [Pc*Ru]2(µ‐C) are formed as by‐products together with monomeric complexes [Pc*Ru](CO) and (ii) dimerization of [Pc*Ru](CO) by dichlorocarbene generated in situ from chloroform and bases (KOH or NMe4OH), which affords target complexes in high yield. Application of the appropriate base – NMe4OH was found to be crucial in the case of synthesis of crown‐substituted µ‐carbido dimers. Reaction of Ru3(CO)12 with the phthalocyanine bearing bulky mesityloxy‐groups yielded solely monomeric complex which could not be dimerized under any studied conditions. Therefore, the influence of nature of peripheral substituents in phthalocyanines on their reactivity in metalation and dimerization reactions was revealed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The cover image is based on the Full Article I Inflammation, coronary plaque progression, and statin use: A secondary analysis of the Risk Stratification with Image Guidance of HMG CoA Reductase Inhibitor Therapy (RIGHT) study i by Nehal N Mehta et al., https://doi.org/10.1002/clc.23808. [Extracted from the article]

Rhamnolipids produced by the bacteria Pseudomonas aeruginosa are known as very efficient biosurfactant molecules. They are used for a wide range of industrial applications, especially in food, cosmetics and pharmaceutical formulations as well as in bioremediation of pollutants. In this paper, the role of rhamnolipids as novel molecules triggering defence responses and protection against the fungus Botrytis cinerea in grapevine is presented. The effect of rhamnolipids was assessed in grapevine using cell suspension cultures and vitro-plantlets. Ca2+ influx, mitogen-activated protein kinase activation and reactive oxygen species production form part of early signalling events leading from perception of rhamnolipids to the induction of plant defences that include expression of a wide range of defence genes and a hypersensitive response (HR)-like response. In addition, rhamnolipids potentiated defence responses induced by the chitosan elicitor and by the culture filtrate of B. cinerea. We also demonstrated that rhamnolipids have direct antifungal properties by inhibiting spore germination and mycelium growth of B. cinerea. Ultimately, rhamnolipids efficiently protected grapevine against the fungus. We propose that rhamnolipids are acting as microbe-associated molecular patterns (MAMPs) in grapevine and that the combination of rhamnolipid effects could participate in grapevine protection against grey mould disease. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

For many crops, a narrowing genetic base is becoming an increasingly significant problem for improvements made through breeding. Commonly used breeding procedures systematically reduce genetic diversity within elite gene pools. Here we describe a new technique for activation of genes in lines carrying Spm or dSpm transposon insertions. Activation of genes in Arabidopsis harbouring Spm or dSpm insertions in their promoters can be induced by over-expression of the TnpA–VP16 fusion protein, which binds Spm ends and activates local transcription. As a result, a variety of phenotypes are recovered from multiple-copy Spm lines in Arabidopsis. Application of this technique to a number of Spm insertion collections in Arabidopsis provides a valuable approach for new insights into plant gene functions. It also provides a proof-of-principle demonstration that the method could be used to generate new variation in elite lines of maize. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cover Feature: Mechanism of Oxidative Activation of Fluorinated Aromatic Compounds by N-Bridged Diiron-Phthalocyanine: What Determines the Reactivity? Keywords: biomimetic models; enzyme models; epoxidation; hydroxylation; reaction mechanisms Biomimetic models, enzyme models, epoxidation, hydroxylation, reaction mechanisms. [Extracted from the article]

Review: 38 refs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Review: 303 refs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]