Ni(2,2′:6′,2′′-terpyridine) 2: a high-spin octahedral formal Ni(0) complex †

We have synthesised and characterised the complex Ni(tpy)2 (tpy = 2,2′:6′,2′′-terpyridine). This formally Ni(0) complex is paramagnetic both in the solid state and in solution (S = 2). The crystal structure shows an octahedral geometry, with molecules arranged in independent dimers involving π-stacking between pairs of complexes. Magnetic measurementes and DFT calculations suggest the existence of temperature-dependent intermolecular antiferromagnetic coupling in the solid state

The expanding role of pertuzumab in the treatment of HER2-positive breast cancer

I Moya-Horno,1 J Cortés1,2 1Department of Medical Oncology, Instituto Oncológico Baselga, Hospital Quirón, 2Department of Medical Oncology, Vall d'Hebron Institute of Oncology, Barcelona, Spain Abstract: Breast cancer tumors that demonstrate gene amplification or overexpression of human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) are classified as HER2-positive. They account for approximately 15% of all breast cancers and represent an adverse prognostic factor. Over the past years, many new therapies have become available for the treatment of breast cancer. Particularly, the treatment of patients with HER2-positive breast cancer has developed with the arrival of anti-HER2 targeted therapies that have been proven to increase survival in both the metastatic and early-stage settings of the disease. Trastuzumab, a monoclonal antibody targeting HER2, significantly improves survival in HER2-positive breast cancer. Nevertheless, it is still a challenge to evolve anti-HER2 therapies, as the disease may progress. Pertuzumab inhibits HER2 by binding to a different HER2 epitope than trastuzumab and represents a complementary mechanism of action to trastuzumab. The efficacy and safety of pertuzumab in combination with trastuzumab with or without chemotherapy have been demonstrated in both advanced and early stages of HER2-positive breast cancer. Herein, we review the available data on the use of pertuzumab for the treatment of patients with HER2-positive breast cancer. Keywords: pertuzumab, anti-HER2 targeted therapies, HER2-positive breast cancer&nbsp

Diffuse double-layer structure in mixed electrolytes considering ions as dielectric spheres

The structure of the diffuse part of the electric double layer at solid-electrolyte solution interfaces is examined using a theoretical model that takes into account the finite ion size by modeling the solution as a suspension of polarizable insulating spheres in water. This formalism is applied to mixed electrolyte solutions using the “Boublik-Mansoori-Carnahan-Starling-Leland” (BMCSL) theory for the steric interactions among ions. It is shown that the ionic size differences have a strong bearing on the diffuse part of the electric double-layer structure of these systems. Moreover, for strong potential values, the different size-related effects become important even for binary electrolyte solutions due to the presence of H+ and OH- ions that are substantially smaller than hydrated ions originated from salt dissociation. The obtained results display some of the qualitative features observed in experiments on aqueous systems that are generally interpreted in terms of totally different mechanisms