Novel Sugar-incorporated N-heterocyclic Carbene (NHC) Gold(I) Complexes as Potential Anticancer Agents

New metal complexes containing anticancer drugs are one of the major interests in bioinorganic or bioorganometallic medicinal chemistry. The development of novel metallodrugs is shifting to the use of non platinum central atoms coordinating different organic ligands in order to overcome the drawbacks (e.g. resistance, side effects) of the platinum antitumor agents. [1]. Gold(I) complexes show a very promising antiproliferative effects, but they are remarkable oxidizing properties. In order to reduce this character, in the last years, several studies have been reported based on gold(I) N-heterocyclic carbenes (NHCs) in vitro and in a few cases also in vivo [2]. Within this frame we have designed new gold(I) complexes based on sugar incorporated N-heterocyclic carbene. The presence of the sugar moiety allows to tune the lipophilicity behavior of the complexes. The complexes have been synthesized according to the scheme reported below. After the preparation of the NHC ligand, in the first step the corresponding Ag-complex (1AgBr) was prepared from Ag2O, to act as starting materials for transmetalation. The reaction of 1AgBr with gold(I) precursor, THTAuCl (THT = tetrahydrothiophene), in dichloromethane at room temperature overnight afford to gold complex. The compound was identified by NMR and RX. Starting from 1Cl, the cationic gold derivatives were prepared adding phosphorous and sulphur based neutral ligands, in the presence of silver tetrafluoroborate, as a chloride abstractor. The ligands have been selected in order to modulate electronic and hydrophilic complexes properties. The compounds will be investigated in screening on human cell line

Mathematical model for preoperative identification of obstructed nasal subsites

The planning of experimental studies for evaluation of nasal airflow is particularly challenging given the difficulty in obtaining objective measurements in vivo. Although standard rhinomanometry and acoustic rhinometry are the most widely used diagnostic tools for evaluation of nasal airflow, they provide only a global measurement of nasal dynamics, without temporal or spatial details. Furthermore, the numerical simulation of nasal airflow as computational fluid dynamics technology is not validated. Unfortunately, to date, there are no available diagnostic tools to objectively evaluate the geometry of the nasal cavities and to measure nasal resistance and the degree of nasal obstruction, which is of utmost importance for surgical planning. To overcame these limitations, we developed a mathematical model based on Bernoulli's equation, which allows clinicians to obtain, with the use of a particular direct digital manometry, pressure measurements over time to identify which nasal subsite is obstructed. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study to identify two limiting curves, one below and one above an average representative curve, describing the time dependence of the gauge pressure inside a single nostril. These upper and lower curves enclosed an area into which the airflow pattern of healthy individuals falls. In our opinion, this model may be useful to study each nasal subsite and to objectively evaluate the geometry and resistances of the nasal cavities, particularly in preoperative planning and follow-up

Mathematical model for preoperative identification of obstructed nasal subsites

La realizzazione di studi sperimentali per la valutazione dei flussi aerei nasali è particolarmente indaginosa, data la difficoltà di ottenere in vivo unaccurata misurazione degli stessi. Inoltre, sebbene la rinomanometria standard e la rinometria acustica rappresentino i metodi più utilizzati nella pratica clinica, esse forniscono solo una misura globale ed approssimativa dei flussi aerei nasali, senza definirne i particolari temporali o spaziali. Allo stesso modo gli studi sulla fluidodinamica computazionale rappresentano solo una simulazione numerica, ben lontana da quelle che sono le variabili anatomiche e fisiologiche delle cavità nasali. Pertanto, ad oggi, non esistono ancora strumenti diagnostici in grado di misurare oggettivamente la geometria delle cavità nasali, le resistenze ed il grado di ostruzione nei diversi sotto-siti nasali, elemento questultimo fondamentale per una corretta programmazione chirurgica. Allo scopo di superare i limiti della diagnostica standard abbiamo elaborato un modello matematico basato sullequazione di Bernoulli applicata alle cavità nasali di soggetti sani per lo studio dei gradienti pressori di vari sotto-siti nasali, che sono stati misurati grazie ad un particolare manometro digitale. Il nostro studio, unico in letteratura, ha identificato due curve limite che racchiudono unarea rappresentativa entro cui cadono i livelli normali di flusso in corrispondenza del vestibolo nasale. Il modello descritto potrebbe essere utile per studiare tutti i sotto-siti nasali sede di ostruzione ai fini di una corretta programmazione chirurgica e di un valido follow-up postoperatorio

Prevalenza di Campylobacter spp. in rapaci diurni e notturni.

A total of 170 birds of prey admitted to two Wildlife Rescue and Rehabilitation Centers of Italy were examined. Birds were subdivided in diurnal (n=15) and nocturnal (n=7) species, sampled by cloacal swabs and examined for Campylobacter spp. by cultural and molecular methods. Campylobacter spp. was isolated in 43 out of the 170 (25.3%) birds of prey examined. Among these, 43/43 (100%) were identiied as C. jejuni and 10/43 (23.3%) were identiied as C. coli recovered from mixed infections. Diurnal birds of prey showed a signicantly higher prevalence value (P = 0.0006) for Campylobacter spp. than nocturnal birds of prey

Campylobacter spp. and birds of prey

A total of 170 birds of prey admitted to two Wildlife Rescue and Rehabilitation Centers of Italy were examined. Birds were divided by diurnal (n = 15) and nocturnal (n = 7) species, sampled by cloacal swabs, and examined for Campylobacter spp. by cultural and molecular methods. Campylobacter spp. were isolated in 43 out of the 170 (25.3%) birds of prey examined. Among these, 43/43 (100%) were identified as Campylobacter jejuni and 10/43 (23.3%) were identified as Campylobacter coli recovered from mixed infections. Diurnal birds of prey showed a significantly higher prevalence value (P = 0.0006) for Campylobacter spp. than did nocturnal birds of prey

Polyostotic Chondroblastic Osteosarcoma in a Kestrel (Falco tinnunculus)

We report a case of polyostotic chondroblastic osteosarcoma in a kestrel (Falco tinnunculus) admitted to the Wildlife Rehabilitation and Rescue Center (Naples, Italy). A consolidated fracture of the left tibiotarsus bone and a deviation of the limb were evident. After radiographic, cytologic, and histopathologic examinations, a diagnosis of polyostotic chondroblastic osteosarcoma was made. To our knowledge, this is the first report on polyostotic chondroblastic osteosarcoma in a kestrel

First report of Salmonella enterica serovar Infantis in common swifts (Apus apus)

Forty common swifts (Apus apus), synanthropic birds living in an urban environment closely with humans and other animals, were hospitalized in the public veterinary hospital of the Regional Reference Center of Urban Veterinary Hygiene located in Naples, Campania Region, Italy. Each bird was sampled for bacteriological analyses. Out of 40 common swifts examined, eight were found positive for Salmonella enterica serovar Infantis although no sign of salmonellosis (e.g. diarrhoea) was shown. This is believed to be the first report of Salmonella spp. infection in common swifts. Our results suggest this avian species as a novel potential reservoir for one of most important Salmonella serovars