Rational Design of Palladium(II) Indenyl and Allyl Complexes Bearing Phosphine and Isocyanide Ancillary Ligands with Promising Antitumor Activity

A new class of palladium-indenyl complexes characterized by the presence of one bulky alkyl isocyanide and one aryl phosphine serving as ancillary ligands has been prepared, presenting high yields and selectivity. All the new products were completely characterized using spectroscopic and spectrometric techniques (NMR, FT-IR, and HRMS), and, for most of them, it was also possible to define their solid-state structures via X-ray diffractometry, revealing that the indenyl fragment always binds to the metal centre with a hapticity intermediate between n3 and n5. A reactivity study carried out using piperidine as a nucleophilic agent proved that the indenyl moiety is the eligible site of attack rather than the isocyanide ligand or the metal centre. All complexes were tested as potential anticancer agents against three ovarian cancer cell lines (A2780, A2780cis, and OVCAR-5) and one breast cancer cell line (MDA-MB-231), displaying comparable activity with respect to cisplatin, which was used as a positive control. Moreover, the similar cytotoxicity observed towards A2780 and A2780cis cells (cisplatin-sensitive and cisplatin-resistant, respectively) suggests that our palladium derivatives presumably act with a mechanism of action different than that of the clinically approved platinum drugs. For comparison, we also synthesized Pd-n3-allyl derivatives, which generally showed a slightly higher activity towards ovarian cancer cells and lower activity towards breast cancer cells with respect to their Pd-indenyl congeners

Can Lung Ultrasound Replace Chest Radiography for the Diagnosis of Pneumonia in Hospitalized Children?

Background: Lung ultrasound is a non-radiating accurate alternative tool to chest X-ray (CXR) in the diagnosis of community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) in adults. Objectives: The aim of our study was to define the accuracy of ultrasound in the diagnosis of CAP in children. Methods: 107 consecutive children with suspected CAP underwent clinical examination, blood sample analysis, CXR and lung ultrasound on admission to the Pediatric Department of the San Paolo Hospital. The diagnosis of pneumonia was made by an independent committee of physicians on the basis of the overall clinical and CXR data. Results: The diagnosis of CAP was confirmed by the committee in 81 patients (76%). Ultrasound and CXR were performed in all patients. Ultrasound had a sensitivity of 94% and specificity of 96%, while CXR showed a sensitivity of 82% and a specificity of 94%. In patients with CAP, ultrasound revealed subpleural consolidations with air bronchogram in 70 cases and focal B-lines in 6. A parapneumonic pleural effusion was detected in 17 patients by ultrasound, while only 11 of them could be detected by CXR. Conclusions: In our series, lung ultrasound was highly accurate for the diagnosis of CAP in hospitalized children. These results provide the rationale for a multicenter study in children

Consistency and accuracy of diagnostic cancer codes generated by automated registration: comparison with manual registration

BACKGROUND: Automated procedures are increasingly used in cancer registration, and it is important that the data produced are systematically checked for consistency and accuracy. We evaluated an automated procedure for cancer registration adopted by the Lombardy Cancer Registry in 1997, comparing automatically-generated diagnostic codes with those produced manually over one year (1997). METHODS: The automatically generated cancer cases were produced by Open Registry algorithms. For manual registration, trained staff consulted clinical records, pathology reports and death certificates. The social security code, present and checked in both databases in all cases, was used to match the files in the automatic and manual databases. The cancer cases generated by the two methods were compared by manual revision. RESULTS: The automated procedure generated 5027 cases: 2959 (59%) were accepted automatically and 2068 (41%) were flagged for manual checking. Among the cases accepted automatically, discrepancies in data items (surname, first name, sex and date of birth) constituted 8.5% of cases, and discrepancies in the first three digits of the ICD-9 code constituted 1.6%. Among flagged cases, cancers of female genital tract, hematopoietic system, metastatic and ill-defined sites, and oropharynx predominated. The usual reasons were use of specific vs. generic codes, presence of multiple primaries, and use of extranodal vs. nodal codes for lymphomas. The percentage of automatically accepted cases ranged from 83% for breast and thyroid cancers to 13% for metastatic and ill-defined cancer sites. CONCLUSION: Since 59% of cases were accepted automatically and contained relatively few, mostly trivial discrepancies, the automatic procedure is efficient for routine case generation effectively cutting the workload required for routine case checking by this amount. Among cases not accepted automatically, discrepancies were mainly due to variations in coding practice

Descriptive epidemiology of selected birth defects, areas of Lombardy, Italy, 1999

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Birth defects are a leading cause of neonatal and infant mortality in Italy, however little is known of the etiology of most defects. Improvements in diagnosis have revealed increasing numbers of clinically insignificant defects, while improvements in treatment have increased the survival of those with more serious and complex defects. For etiological studies, prevention, and management, it is important to have population-based monitoring which provides reliable data on the prevalence at birth of such defects.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>We recently initiated population-based birth defect monitoring in the Provinces of Mantova, Sondrio and Varese of the Region of Lombardy, northern Italy, and report data for the first year of operation (1999). The registry uses all-electronic source files (hospital discharge files, death certificates, regional health files, and pathology reports) and a proven case-generation methodology, which is described.</p> <p>The data were checked manually by consulting clinical records in hospitals. Completeness was checked against birth certificates by capture-recapture. Data on cases were coded according to the four-digit malformation codes of the International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision (ICD-9). We present data only on selected defects.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>We found 246 selected birth defects in 12,008 live births in 1999, 148 among boys and 98 among girls. Congenital heart defects (particularly septal defects) were the most common (90.8/10,000), followed by defects of the genitourinary tract (34.1/10, 000) (particularly hypospadias in boys), digestive system (23.3/10,000) and central nervous system (14.9/10,000), orofacial clefts (10.8/10,000) and Down syndrome (8.3/10,000). Completeness was satisfactory: analysis of birth certificates resulted in the addition of two birth defect cases to the registry.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>This is the first population-based analysis on selected major birth defects in the Region. The high birth prevalences for septal heart defect and hypospadias are probably due to the inclusion of minor defects and lack of coding standardization; the latter problem also seems important for other defects. However the data produced are useful for estimating the demands made on the health system by babies with birth defects.</p

Is "option B+" also being adopted in pregnant women in high-income countries? Temporal trends from a national study in Italy

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Association between solar insolation and a history of suicide attempts in bipolar I disorder

In many international studies, rates of completed suicide and suicide attempts have a seasonal pattern that peaks in spring or summer. This exploratory study investigated the association between solar insolation and a history of suicide attempt in patients with bipolar I disorder. Solar insolation is the amount of electromagnetic energy from the Sun striking a surface area on Earth. Data were collected previously from 5536 patients with bipolar I disorder at 50 collection sites in 32 countries at a wide range of latitudes in both hemispheres. Suicide related data were available for 3365 patients from 310 onset locations in 51 countries. 1047 (31.1%) had a history of suicide attempt. There was a significant inverse association between a history of suicide attempt and the ratio of mean winter solar insolation/mean summer solar insolation. This ratio is smallest near the poles where the winter insolation is very small compared to the summer insolation. This ratio is largest near the equator where there is relatively little variation in the insolation over the year. Other variables in the model that were positively associated with suicide attempt were being female, a history of alcohol or substance abuse, and being in a younger birth cohort. Living in a country with a state-sponsored religion decreased the association. (All estimated coefficients p <0.01). In summary, living in locations with large changes in solar insolation between winter and summer may be associated with increased suicide attempts in patients with bipolar disorder. Further investigation of the impacts of solar insolation on the course of bipolar disorder is needed.Peer reviewe

Recent Advances in Bioconjugated Transition Metal Complexes for Cancer Therapy

The introduction of biologically relevant organic moieties in the coordination sphere of transition metal complexes has recently become a well-established strategy to increase the selectivity and biocompatibility of metallodrugs. In this review, the major advances achieved in this area of research in the last three years are described in detail. Particular attention is given to the metal complexes bearing the main biomolecules of life: carbohydrates, lipids, nucleotides, proteins and vitamins. Each paragraph summarizes the synthetic strategy employed to obtain the complexes of interest as well as the most interesting biological results obtained with these potential metallodrugs. Moreover, the structure–activity relationships observed by the different research groups are described and discussed, with the goal of suggesting to the reader the ligand/metal centre combinations that provide the most promising results in the fight against cancer. Some of the compounds examined in this review as well as other bioconjugated metal complexes published in recent decades exhibit interesting selectivity towards cancer cells over normal ones and a specific mode of action. These latter aspects are the basis of what is commonly known as anticancer target therapy

SUBTHRESHOLD MICROPULSE YELLOW LASER VERSUS SUBTHRESHOLD MICROPULSE INFRARED LASER IN CENTER-INVOLVING DIABETIC MACULAR EDEMA: Morphologic and Functional Safety.

none6restrictedVujosevic, S; Martini, F; Longhin, E; Convento, E; Cavarzeran, F; Midena, EVujosevic, Stela; Martini, F; Longhin, E; Convento, E; Cavarzeran, F; Midena, Edoard

Microperimetry and fundus autofluorescence in patients with early age‐related macular degeneration

Microperimetry and fundus autofluorescence in patients with early age-related macular degeneration. Midena E, Vujosevic S, Convento E, Manfre' A, Cavarzeran F, Pilotto E. SourceDepartment of Ophthalmology, University of Padova, Via Giustiani 2, 35128 Padova, Italy. [email protected] Abstract BACKGROUND: Early age-related macular degeneration (AMD) has been correlated with different functional alterations, but the exact relationship between fundus lesions and overlying sensitivity is not well known. The aim of this study was to compare fundus-related sensitivity (microperimetry) and fundus autofluorescence (FAF) of the macular area with drusen and pigment abnormalities in early AMD. METHODS: 13 consecutive patients with early AMD and visual acuity of 20/20 were studied by means of microperimetry, which automatically analyses macular light differential threshold and fixation patterns. Fundus colour photo and FAF of the macular area were recorded on the same day. Microperimetry was exactly (topographically) superimposed over FAF images. RESULTS: Macular sensitivity significantly decreased over large drusen (11.2 +/- 5.6 dB, p<0.0001) and over pigment abnormalities (13.1 +/- 3.6 dB, p<0.0001). When both characteristics were present the reduction was greater if compared with its absence (9.6 +/- 4.3 versus 15.0 +/- 4.5 dB, p<0.0001). Sensitivitity reduction was significant in areas with altered FAF when compared with areas with normal FAF (p<0.0001). CONCLUSIONS: Increased FAF in early AMD has a functional correlate exactly quantified by microperimetry. In retinal areas affected by early AMD retinal sensitivity deteriorates, despite good visual acuity. Microperimetry may allow the early detection of functional impairment caused by these lesions. Both microperimetry and FAF may be useful to monitor AMD progression. PMID: 17504849 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] PMCID: PMC209542

Audiometria vocale adattiva e abilità linguistiche ricettive in bambini con impianto cocleare: risultati a lungo termine.

Razionale: I risultati a lungo termine in bambini con impianto cocleare (IC) sono importanti per guidare le famiglie e i professionisti nel processo terapeutico e di consulenza sulle aspettative e sui fattori coinvolti nei processi di sviluppo delle capacità comunicative, educative e occupazionali dei bambini che cresceranno con IC. Pochi studi in letteratura correlano gli esiti audiologici e il vocabolario recettivo e/o morfosintassi a lungo termine con i risultati all’ audiometria vocale adattiva. Materiali e metodi: Studio osservazionale retrospettivo su 52 soggetti con uso di IC a lungo termine, 34 unilaterali e 18 bilaterali (età media 19,5 anni; età media all’IC 33 mesi); follow-up medio 14,8. 34 soggetti sono stati impiantati con Advanced Bionics, 12 con Cochlear e 6 con dispositivi MedEl. I dati personali e audiologici sono stati correlati con l'audiometria vocale in quiete e con SNR +10/+5 e con i risultati dell' It-Matrix Sentence Test (It-MST). Il vocabolario ricettivo (PPVT) e la morfosintassi (TROG 2) sono stati correlati ai risultati dell' It-MST. Risultati: 51/52 soggetti sono stati valutati con It-MST, 7/52 con It-Matrix semplificato. L'età all'impianto era correlata positivamente agli esiti all’It-MST (r=0,3; p=0,032). Età all’It-MST e FF non erano correlati al It-MST mentre, come aspettato erano correlati all’età all’IC. I risultati dell' It-MST erano correlati negativamente a parole e frasi in silenzio (r=-5 / -0,7) e solo nel rumore con SNR +10 (r=-4). Il vocabolario ricettivo e la morfosintassi erano correlati negativamente ai risultati di It-MST (TROG 2 r=-0,6; p&lt;0,001) (PPVT r=-0,5; p&lt;0,001). Conclusioni: Questi dati a lungo termine contribuiscono ad aumentare la conoscenza degli effetti di variabili quali l’età all’IC sugli outcomes della riabilitazione uditiva con IC, e di come questo a lungo termine influenzi le abilità linguistiche