Clinical and environmental factors affecting the survival outcomes among stage 1A TN0M0 first primary non-small cell lung carcinoma patients in the United States.

Background: Lung cancer is the second leading cause of death in the United States (U.S.). The most prevalent histological type of lung cancer is Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer (NSCLC), which has an overall five years survival of 5% if left untreated. Therefore, early treatment of NSCLC is vital to improve overall survival (OS) outcomes. Several factors affect survival outcomes, which can be categorized as modifiable or non-modifiable. The difference in timely receipt of guideline-concordant treatment affects the survival outcomes of patients with stage 1A NSCLC. This dissertation explored factors that affect treatment and survival outcomes among stage 1A NSCLC patients using a nationally representative cancer registry population (i.e., Survival, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) 18 plus cancer registry), air pollution and weather data, and local health resource information. Methods: The first chapter of this study utilized an evidence-based Directed Acyclic Graph (DAG) synthesis method to review the causal pathways explored in the literature for factors affecting treatment receipt and survival outcomes among stage 1A NSCLC patients in the U.S. Subsequently, guided by the theoretical frameworks proposed previously Andersen and Aday1 ; Shi and Steven2, DAGs for the second and third chapter analyses were proposed, respectively. The second chapter utilized logistic regression adjusted for the year of diagnosis and county-specific time-invariant factors with standard errors clustered at the state level. The third chapter employed Kaplan-Meier survival estimates and a Cox proportional regression model adjusted for the year of diagnosis and county-specific time-invariant factors to determine survival outcomes, allowing for right censoring. Findings: The DAGs identified several causal pathways that were accounted for in Chapters Two and Three analyses. The results of the Chapter Two analysis corroborated with the existing literature that there exists a difference in guideline-concordant treatment receipt. The findings of the Chapter Three analysis confirmed a difference in survival outcomes among stage 1A TN0M0 NSCLC first primary patients exposed to higher versus low levels of air pollution in the U.S. Policy implications: Black and Medicaid enrolees are less likely to receive guideline-concordant treatment than others are. This warrants future policy decision-making geared toward reducing the difference in treatment receipt, which ultimately improves survival outcomes. Additionally, the shortage of sufficient air pollution monitoring stations in non-metropolitan areas warrants an improvement in determining the health outcomes for non-metropolitan residents. Ambient air pollution control policies are required to improve the survival outcomes of patients with stage 1A TN0M0 NSCLC

High-throughput mutational analysis of TOR1A in primary dystonia

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Although the c.904_906delGAG mutation in Exon 5 of <it>TOR1A </it>typically manifests as early-onset generalized dystonia, DYT1 dystonia is genetically and clinically heterogeneous. Recently, another Exon 5 mutation (c.863G>A) has been associated with early-onset generalized dystonia and some ΔGAG mutation carriers present with late-onset focal dystonia. The aim of this study was to identify <it>TOR1A </it>Exon 5 mutations in a large cohort of subjects with mainly non-generalized primary dystonia.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>High resolution melting (HRM) was used to examine the entire <it>TOR1A </it>Exon 5 coding sequence in 1014 subjects with primary dystonia (422 spasmodic dysphonia, 285 cervical dystonia, 67 blepharospasm, 41 writer's cramp, 16 oromandibular dystonia, 38 other primary focal dystonia, 112 segmental dystonia, 16 multifocal dystonia, and 17 generalized dystonia) and 250 controls (150 neurologically normal and 100 with other movement disorders). Diagnostic sensitivity and specificity were evaluated in an additional 8 subjects with known ΔGAG DYT1 dystonia and 88 subjects with ΔGAG-negative dystonia.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>HRM of <it>TOR1A </it>Exon 5 showed high (100%) diagnostic sensitivity and specificity. HRM was rapid and economical. HRM reliably differentiated the <it>TOR1A </it>ΔGAG and c.863G>A mutations. Melting curves were normal in 250/250 controls and 1012/1014 subjects with primary dystonia. The two subjects with shifted melting curves were found to harbor the classic ΔGAG deletion: 1) a non-Jewish Caucasian female with childhood-onset multifocal dystonia and 2) an Ashkenazi Jewish female with adolescent-onset spasmodic dysphonia.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>First, HRM is an inexpensive, diagnostically sensitive and specific, high-throughput method for mutation discovery. Second, Exon 5 mutations in <it>TOR1A </it>are rarely associated with non-generalized primary dystonia.</p

An unusual axial–axial combination of alternating cyclic rings in the chair conformations of hexameric water and chlorine-water clusters

An alternating hexameric water (H2O)(6) cluster and a chlorine-water cluster [Cl-2(H2O)(4)](2-) in the chair forms combine axially to each other to form a 1D chain [{Cl-2(H2O)(6)}(2-)](n) in complex [FeL2]Cl center dot(H2O)(3) (L=2-[(2-methylaminoethylimino)-methyl]-phenol)]. The water molecules display extensive H-bonding interactions with monomeric iron-organic units to form a hydrogen-bonded 2D supramolecular assembly

Complexes of NiX2 (X=Cl− and NO3−) with a NNO donor Schiff base: anion dependent structural variations and spectroscopic behaviour

Two new nickel(11) complexes, [NiLL'(H2O)(2)Cl] (1) and [{NiLL'(H2O)](2)(mu-H)]NO3·H2O(2), have been synthesized using a tridentate Schiff base ligand, HL, 2-[(2-dimethylamino-ethylimino)-methyl]-phenol, along with Cl- or NO3(-) as an anionic co-ligand or counter anion (where L'H = salicylaldehyde). Both complexes have been characterized by X-ray crystallography. The structural analyses reveal that complex 1 is mononuclear whereas 2 is a hydrogen-bridged dinuclear complex. The Ni(II) ions possess a distorted octahedral geometry in both structures. Both complexes show negative solvatochromic behaviour with increasing donor number (DN) of the solvent. In more coordinating solvents, like DMSO or methanol, the colour of the solutions is green, whereas in less coordinating solvents, like dichloromethane (DCM) or acetonitrile, it is red

Structural variations in self-assembled coordination polymers constructed by some carboxylate bridged di-copper(II) nodes and hexamethylenetetramine spacers

Four new copper(II)-hexamethylenetetramine (hmt) complexes [Cu₃(2-nbz)₆(&#956;₂-hmt)]_n (1), [Cu₃(pa)₆(&#956;₃-hmt)]_n (2), [Cu₃(4-nbz)₆(&#956;₃-hmt)]_n (3) and [Cu(3-nbz)₂(&#956;₄-hmt)•H₂O]_n (4) with three isomeric nitrobenzoates, [2-nbz = 2-nitrobenzoate, 3-nbz = 3-nitrobenzoate, 4-nbz = 4-nitrobenzoate] and phenylacetate (pa) have been synthesized and structurally characterized by X-ray crystallography. Their identities have also been established by elemental analysis and IR studies. In all four complexes, the respective [Cu₂(carboxylato)₄] unit with four bridging carboxylate ligands in the familiar &#951;₁:&#951;₁:&#956; coordination mode acts as a linear node whereas the spacer hmt coordinates in different ways which result in the observed structural variations. Complex 1 is a 1D zigzag polymer where hmt acts as angular spacer. In complexes 2 and 3, μ3-hmt is pyramidal and the resulting structures are 2D polymers with fused hexagonal rings. Complex 4 is a very rare example of a 3D diamondoid polymer with &#956;₄-hmt acting as a tetrahedral spacer. Various weak forces, i.e. lone pair–&#960;, &#960;–&#960; and CH–&#960; interactions, play a key role in stabilizing the observed structures

Structural variations in self-assembled coordination complexes of Zn(II) with hexamethylenetetramine and isomeric 2-, 3- and 4-nitrobenzoates

Three new zinc(II)-hexamethylenetetramine (hmt) complexes [Zn-2(4-nbz)(4)(mu(2)-hmt)(OH2)(hmt)] (1). [Zn-2(2-nbz)(4)(mu(2)-hmt)(2)](n) (2) and [Zn-3(3-nbz)(4)(mu(2)-hmt)(mu(2)-OH)(mu(3)-OH)](n) (3) with three isomeric nitrobenzoate, [4-nbz = 4-nitrobenzoate, 2-nbz = 2-nitrobenzoate and 3-nbz = 3-nitrobenzoate] have been synthesized and structurally characterized by X-ray crystallography. Their identities have also been established by elemental analysis: IR, NMR, UV-Vis and mass spectral studies. 1 is a dinuclear complex formed by bridging hmt with mu(2) coordinating mode. The geometry around the Zn centers in 1 is distorted tetrahedral. Paddle-wheel centrosymmetric Zn-2(2-nbz)(4) units of complex 2 are interconnected by mu(2)-hmt forming a one-dimensional chain with square-pyramidal geometries around the Zn centers. Compound 3 contains a mu(2)/mu(3)-hydroxido and mu(2)-hmt bridged 1D chain. In this complex, varied geometries around the Zn centers are observed viz, tetrahedral, square pyramidal and trigonal bipyramidal. Various weak forces, i.e. lone pair-pi, pi-pi and CH-pi interactions, play a key role in stabilizing the observed structures for complexes 1,2 and 3. This series of complexes demonstrates that although the nitro group does not coordinate to the metal center, its presence at the 2-, 3- or 4-position of the phenyl ring has a striking effect on the dimensionality as well as the structure of the resulted coordination polymers, probably due to the participation of the nitro group in 1.p.center dot center dot center dot pi and/or C-H center dot center dot center dot pi interactions

Structural variations in the complexes of cadmium(II), hexamethylenetetramine and 2-, 3- and 4-nitrobenzoates

Four new cadmium(II)-)–hexamethylenetetramine (hmt) complexes {[Cd(2-nbz)2(&#956;2-hmt)(OH2)]•2H2O}n (1), [Cd(3-nbz)2(hmt)2(OH2)2]•2(3-nbzH) (2), [Cd(3-nbz)4(&#956;2-hmt)]n (3) and {[Cd2(4-nbz)4(&#956;2-hmt)2(OH2)2]•H2O}n (4) with three isomeric nitrobenzoates, [2-nbz = 2-nitrobenzoate, 3-nbz = 3-nitrobenzoate and 4-nbz = 4-nitrobenzoate] have been synthesized and structurally characterized by X-ray crystallography. Their identities have also been established by elemental analyses and IR studies. Complex 2 is a monomer. Complexes 1, 3 and 4 are 1D chains with varied stereo arrangements. The presence of coordinating water and non-coordinating 3-nbzH molecules change the stereo arrangement of complex 2 from that of 3, which is devoid of both these types of molecules. In 3, two nitrogen atom of hmt coordinate to Cd(II) ion with N-–Cd-–N angle 114.4°. Various weak forces, i.e. &#960;–&#960;, CH–&#960; and cation–&#960; interactions play a key role in stabilizing the observed structures. This series of complexes demonstrates that although the nitro group does not coordinate to the metal center, its presence at the 2-, 3- or 4- position of the phenyl ring has a striking effect on the dimensionality as well as the structure of the resulted coordination polymers, probably due to the participation of the nitro group in cation⋯&#960; and/or C-–H⋯&#960; interactions

Synthesis, crystal structure, and magnetic properties of a very rare double &#956;-1,1-Azido- and a &#956;-1,1-(OMe)-Bridged Fe^III dimer containing a N,N,O-donor tridentate Schiff base ligand

Two new Fe^III complexes, [Fe₂L₂ (&#956;-OMe) ₂ (NCS) ₂] (1) and [Fe₂L₂ (&#956;-N₃)₂ (N₃)₂] (2), have been synthesized using a N,N,O-donor tridentate Schiff base ligand HL {2-[(2-dimethylaminoethylimino)methyl]phenol}, the condensation product of salicylaldehyde and N,N-dimethyl-1,2-diaminoethane. The complexes were characterized by X-ray structural analyses and variable-temperature magnetic susceptibility measurements. Both crystal structures are centrosymmetric dimers containing two Fe_III atoms, which are bridged in compound 1 by two methoxy anions and in compound 2 by two &#956;-1,1-azides. The chelating tridentate Schiff base and a terminal thiocyanato (for 1) or azido (for 2) group complete the hexacoordination of the distorted octahedral environment of each iron center. The magnetic properties of compound 1 show the presence of antiferromagnetic exchange interactions mediated by double methoxy bridges (J = –29.45 cm^–1). Compound 2 shows the presence of very weak ferromagnetic exchange interactions mediated by double &#956;-1,1-N₃ bridges (J = 1.08 cm^–1)

Structural and magnetic studies of Schiff base complexes of nickel(ii) nitrite: change in crystalline state, ligand rearrangement and a very rare μ-nitrito-1κO:2κN:3κO′ bridging mode

Four new nickel(II) complexes, [Ni2L2(NO2)2]·CH2Cl2·C2H5OH, 2H2O (1), [Ni2L2(DMF)2(m-NO2)]ClO4·DMF (2a), [Ni2L2(DMF)2(m-NO2)]ClO4 (2b) and [Ni3L¢2(m3-NO2)2(CH2Cl2)]n·1.5H2O (3) where HL = 2-[(3-amino-propylimino)-methyl]-phenol, H2L¢ = 2-({3-[(2-hydroxy-benzylidene)-amino]-propylimino}-methyl)-phenol and DMF = N,N-dimethylformamide, have been synthesized starting with the precursor complex [NiL2]·2H2O, nickel(II) perchlorate and sodium nitrite and characterized structurally and magnetically. The structural analyses reveal that in all the complexes, NiII ions possess a distorted octahedral geometry. Complex 1 is a dinuclear di-m2-phenoxo bridged species in which nitrite ion acts as chelating co-ligand. Complexes 2a and 2b also consist of dinuclear entities, but in these two compounds a cis-(m-nitrito-1kO:2kN) bridge is present in addition to the di-m2-phenoxo bridge. The molecular structures of 2a and 2b are equivalent; they differ only in that 2a contains an additional solvated DMF molecule. Complex 3 is formed by ligand rearrangement and is a one-dimensional polymer in which double phenoxo as well as m-nitrito-1kO:2kN bridged trinuclear units are linked through a very rare m3-nitrito-1kO:2kN:3kO¢ bridge. Analysis of variable-temperature magnetic susceptibility data indicates that there is a global weak antiferromagnetic interaction between the nickel(II) ions in four complexes, with exchange parameters J of -5.26, -11.45, -10.66 and -5.99 cm-1 for 1, 2a, 2b and 3, respectivel