Bis(2-chloro-1,10-phenanthroline-κ2 N,N′)(thio­cyanato-κN)zinc (2-chloro-1,10-phenanthroline-κ2 N,N′)tris­(thio­cyanato-κN)zincate

The asymmetric unit of the title compound, [Zn(NCS)(C12H7ClN2)2][Zn(NCS)3(C12H7ClN2)], contains two cations and two anions. In the cations, the ZnII ions have distorted trigonal–bipyramidal environments formed by four N atoms from two 2-chloro-1,10-phenanthroline (cphen) ligands and one N atom from a thio­cyanate ligand. The ZnII atoms in the complex anions also have distorted trigonal–bipyramidal environments, formed by two N atoms from a cphen ligand and three N atoms from three thio­cyanato ligands. The crystal packing exhibits π–π inter­actions between the rings of the cphen ligands [shortest centroid–centroid distance = 3.586 (5) Å] and short inter­molecular S⋯Cl [3.395 (5) Å] and S⋯S [3.440 (4) Å] contacts

Aqua­[1-(1,10-phenanthrolin-2-yl-κ2 N,N′)-1H-pyrazol-3-amine-κN 2](sulfato-κO)copper(II) methanol monosolvate dihydrate

In the title compound, [Cu(SO4)(C15H11N5)(H2O)]·CH3OH·2H2O, the CuII ion is in a distorted square-pyramidal geometry, in which three N atoms from the chelating 1-(1,10-phenanthrolin-2-yl)-1H-pyrazol-3-amine ligand and one O atom from a sulfate anion define the basal plane and the O atom from the coordinating water mol­ecule is located at the apex. In the crystal, hydrogen-bonding inter­actions involving the coordinating and solvent water mol­ecules, the methanol solvent mol­ecule and the amine group (one with an intra­molecular inter­action to one of the sulfate O atoms) of the complex are observed. π–π inter­actions between symmetry-related phenantroline moieties, with a shortest centroid–centroid inter­action of 3.573 (2)°, are also present

[2,9-Bis(3,5-dimethyl-1H-pyrazol-1-yl-κN 2)-1,10-phenanthroline-κ2 N,N′](methanol-κO)(nitrito-κ2 O,O′)cadmium(II) perchlorate

In the title complex, [Cd(NO2)(C22H20N6)(CH3OH)]ClO4, the CdII ion is in a distorted penta­gonal–bipyramidal CdN4O3 coordination geometry. The dihedral angles formed between the mean planes of the pyrazole rings and the phenanthroline ring system are 4.37 (19) and 5.84 (21)°. In the crystal, the anions and cations are connected by inter­molecular O—H⋯O hydrogen bonding, while pairs of weak inter­molecular C—H⋯O hydrogen bonds connect the cations into centrosymmetric dimers. In addition, there is a π–π stacking inter­action involving two symmetry-related benzene rings, with a centroid–centroid distance of 3.437 (3) Å

Resveratrol Downregulates Interleukin-6-Stimulated Sonic Hedgehog Signaling in Human Acute Myeloid Leukemia

IL-6 and sonic hedgehog (Shh) signaling molecules are considered to maintain the growth of cancer stem cells (CSCs). Resveratrol, an important integrant in traditional Chinese medicine, possesses certain antitumor effects. However, the mechanisms on regulating acute myeloid leukemia (AML) are unclear. This study first used human subjects to demonstrate that the plasma levels of IL-6 and IL-1β in AML patients were higher and lower, respectively, than healthy donors. The expression of Shh preproproteins, and C- and N-terminal Shh peptides increased in bone marrow and peripheral blood mononuclear cells isolated from AML patients, and the plasma N-Shh secretion was greater. To further clarify the effect of IL-6 and resveratrol in Shh signaling, human AML HL-60 cells were tested. IL-6 upregulated Shh and Gli-1 expression and was accompanied by an increase of cell viability. Resveratrol significantly decreased CSC-related Shh expression, Gli-1 nuclear translocation, and cell viability in IL-6-treated HL-60 cells and had synergistic effect with Shh inhibitor cyclopamine on inhibiting cell growth. Conclusions. IL-6 stimulated the growth of AML cells through Shh signaling, and this effect might be blocked by resveratrol. Further investigations of Shh as a prognostic marker and resveratrol as a therapeutic drug target to CSCs in AML are surely warranted

Novel G9 rotavirus strains co-circulate in children and pigs, Taiwan

Molecular epidemiologic studies collecting information of the spatiotemporal distribution of rotavirus VP7 (G) and VP4 (P) genotypes have shown evidence for the increasing global importance of genotype G9 rotaviruses in humans and pigs. Sequence comparison of the VP7 gene of G9 strains identified different lineages to prevail in the respective host species although some of these lineages appear to be shared among heterologous hosts providing evidence of interspecies transmission events. The majority of these events indicates the pig-to-human spillover, although a reverse route of transmission cannot be excluded either. In this study, new variants of G9 rotaviruses were identified in two children with diarrhea and numerous pigs in Taiwan. Whole genome sequence and phylogenetic analyses of selected strains showed close genetic relationship among porcine and human strains suggesting zoonotic origin of Taiwanese human G9 strains detected in 2014–2015. Although the identified human G9P[19] and G9P[13] rotaviruses represented minority strains, the repeated detection of porcine-like rotavirus strains in Taiwanese children over time justifies the continuation of synchronized strain surveillance in humans and domestic animals

Chronic hepatitis virus infection in patients with multiple myeloma: clinical characteristics and outcomes

OBJECTIVES: Cytotoxic agents and steroids are used to treat lymphoid malignancies, but these compounds may exacerbate chronic viral hepatitis. For patients with multiple myeloma, the impact of preexisting hepatitis virus infection is unclear. The aim of this study is to explore the characteristics and outcomes of myeloma patients with chronic hepatitis virus infection. METHODS: From 2003 to 2008, 155 myeloma patients were examined to determine their chronic hepatitis virus infection statuses using serologic tests for the hepatitis B (HBV) and C viruses (HCV). Clinical parameters and outcome variables were retrieved via a medical chart review. RESULTS: The estimated prevalences of chronic HBV and HCV infections were 11.0% (n = 17) and 9.0% (n = 14), respectively. The characteristics of patients who were hepatitis virus carriers and those who were not were similar. However, carrier patients had a higher prevalence of conventional cytogenetic abnormalities (64.3% vs. 25.0%). The cumulative incidences of grade 3-4 elevation of the level of alanine transaminase, 30.0% vs. 12.0%, and hyperbilirubinemia, 20.0% vs. 1.6%, were higher in carriers as well. In a Kaplan-Meier analysis, carrier patients had worse overall survival (median: 16.0 vs. 42.4 months). The prognostic value of carrier status was not statistically significant in the multivariate analysis, but an age of more than 65 years old, the presence of cytogenetic abnormalities, a beta-2-microglobulin level of more than 3.5 mg/L, and a serum creatinine level of more than 2 mg/ dL were independent factors associated with poor prognosis. CONCLUSION: Myeloma patients with chronic hepatitis virus infections might be a distinct subgroup, and close monitoring of hepatic adverse events should be mandatory

Assessment of hypermucoviscosity as a virulence factor for experimental Klebsiella pneumoniae infections: comparative virulence analysis with hypermucoviscosity-negative strain

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p><it>Klebsiella pneumoniae </it>displaying the hypermucoviscosity (HV) phenotype are considered more virulent than HV-negative strains. Nevertheless, the emergence of tissue-abscesses-associated HV-negative isolates motivated us to re-evaluate the role of HV-phenotype.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Instead of genetically manipulating the HV-phenotype of <it>K. pneumoniae</it>, we selected two clinically isolated K1 strains, 1112 (HV-positive) and 1084 (HV-negative), to avoid possible interference from defects in the capsule. These well-encapsulated strains with similar genetic backgrounds were used for comparative analysis of bacterial virulence in a pneumoniae or a liver abscess model generated in either naïve or diabetic mice. In the pneumonia model, the HV-positive strain 1112 proliferated to higher loads in the lungs and blood of naïve mice, but was less prone to disseminate into the blood of diabetic mice compared to the HV-negative strain 1084. In the liver abscess model, 1084 was as potent as 1112 in inducing liver abscesses in both the naïve and diabetic mice. The 1084-infected diabetic mice were more inclined to develop bacteremia and had a higher mortality rate than those infected by 1112. A mini-Tn<it>5 </it>mutant of 1112, isolated due to its loss of HV-phenotype, was avirulent to mice.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>These results indicate that the HV-phenotype is required for the virulence of the clinically isolated HV-positive strain 1112. The superior ability of the HV-negative stain 1084 over 1112 to cause bacteremia in diabetic mice suggests that factors other than the HV phenotype were required for the systemic dissemination of <it>K. pneumoniae </it>in an immunocompromised setting.</p

Structured interviews examining the burden, coping, self-efficacy, and quality of life among family caregivers of persons with dementia in Singapore

Dementia is a global health issue and the effects on caregivers are substantial. The study aimed to examine the associations of burden, coping, self-efficacy with quality of life among family caregivers of persons with dementia in Singapore. Structured interviews were conducted in a convenience sample of 84 family caregivers caring and seeking clinical care for the persons with dementia in an outpatient clinic of a public hospital in Singapore. The outcome measures included the Family Burden Interview Schedule, Family Crisis Oriented Personal Evaluation Scale, General Perceived Self-Efficacy Scale, and World Health Organization Quality of Life Scale - Brief Version. In general, significant correlations were observed between the quality of life scores with coping strategy and family burden scores, but not between the coping strategy and family burden scores. Compared to demographic factors such as caregiver age and household income, psychosocial factors including family burden, coping strategies, and self-efficacy demonstrated greater association with quality of life in the participants. However, the dynamics of these associations will change with an increasing population of persons with dementia, decreasing nuclear family size, and predicted changes in family living arrangements for the persons with dementia in future. As such, it necessitates continuous study examining the needs and concerns of family caregivers and the relevance of ongoing interventions specific to caregivers of persons with dementia