15 research outputs found
Q-dependence of the inelastic neutron scattering cross section for molecular spin clusters with high molecular symmetry
For powder samples of polynuclear metal complexes the dependence of the
inelastic neutron scattering intensity on the momentum transfer Q is known to
be described by a combination of so called interference terms. They reflect the
interplay between the geometrical structure of the compound and the spatial
properties of the wave functions involved in the transition. In this work, it
is shown that the Q-dependence is strongly interrelated with the molecular
symmetry of molecular nanomagnets, and, if the molecular symmetry is high
enough, is actually completely determined by it. A general formalism connecting
spatial symmetry and interference terms is developed. The arguments are
detailed for cyclic spin clusters, as experimentally realized by e.g. the
octanuclear molecular wheel Cr8, and the star like tetranuclear cluster Fe4.Comment: 8 pages, 1 figures, REVTEX
Nonreferral of possible soft tissue sarcomas in adults: a dangerous omission in policy
Introduction. The aim of this study is to compare outcomes in three groups of STS patients treated in our specialist centre: patients referred immediately after an inadequate initial treatment, patients referred after a local recurrence, and patients referred directly, prior to any treatment. Patients and methods. We reviewed all our nonmetastatic extremity-STS patients with a minimum follow-up of 2 years. We compared three patient groups: those referred directly to our centre (group A), those referred after an inadequate initial excision (group B), and patients with local recurrence (group C). Results. The study included 174 patients. Disease-free survival was 73%, 76%, and 28% in groups A, B, and C, respectively (P < .001). Depth, size, and histologic grade influenced the outcome in groups A and B, but not in C. Conclusion. Initial wide surgical treatment is the main factor that determines local control, being even more important than the known intrinsic prognostic factors of tumour size, depth, and histologic grade. The influence on outcome of initial wide local excision (WLE), which is made possible by referral to a specialist centre, is paramount
Guía de actuación en las anomalías de la diferenciación sexual (ADS) / desarrollo sexual diferente (DSD)
Las anomalías de la diferenciación sexual (ADS) engloban un amplio espectro de
discordancias entre los criterios cromosómico, gonadal y fenotípico (genital) que definen la diferenciación sexual; actualmente, se aboga por la denominación de «desarrollo sexual diferente»
(DSD). Su origen es congénito; se clasifican en función de los cromosomas sexuales presentes en
el cariotipo; las causas genéticas conocidas son muy diversas y heterogéneas, aunque algunos
casos pueden ser secundarios a factores maternos o medioambientales. Su diagnóstico y tratamiento requieren siempre una atención médica y psicosocial multidisciplinar. El diagnóstico
etiológico precisa la interacción entre las exploraciones clínicas, bioquímicas (hormonales), genéticas, de imagen y, eventualmente, quirúrgicas. El tratamiento debe abordar la asignación
de género, la posible necesidad de tratamiento hormonal substitutivo (suprarrenal si hay insuficiencia suprarrenal y con esteroides sexuales si hay insuficiencia gonadal a partir de la edad
puberal), la necesidad de intervenciones quirúrgicas sobre las estructuras genitales (actualmente se tiende a diferirlas) y/o sobre las gónadas (en función de los riesgos de malignización),
la necesidad de apoyo psicosocial y, finalmente, una adecuada programación de la transición
a la atención médica en las especialidades de adultos. Las asociaciones de personas afectadas
tienen un papel fundamental en el apoyo a familias y la interacción con los medios profesionales y sociales. La utilización de Registros y la colaboración entre profesionales en Grupos de
Trabajo de sociedades médicas nacionales e internacionales es fundamental para avanzar en
mejorar los medios diagnósticos y terapéuticos que precisan los DSD.Disorders of Sex Development (DSD) include a wide range of anomalies among the
chromosomal, gonadal, and phenotypic (genital) characteristics that define sexual differentiation. At present, a definition as Different Sexual Development (DSD) is currently preferred.
They originate in the pre-natal stage, are classified according to the sex chromosomes present in
the karyotype. The known genetic causes are numerous and heterogeneous, although, in some
cases, they may be secondary to maternal factors and/or exposure to endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs). The diagnosis and treatment of DSD always requires multidisciplinary medical and
psychosocial care. An aetiological diagnosis needs the interaction of clinical, biochemical (hormonal), genetic, imaging and, sometimes, surgical examinations. The treatment should deal
with sex assignment, the possible need for hormone replacement therapy (adrenal if adrenal
function is impaired, and with sex steroids from pubertal age if gonadal function is impaired),
as well as the need for surgery on genital structures (currently deferred when possible) and/or
on gonads (depending on the risk of malignancy), the need of psychosocial support and, finally,
an adequate organisation of the transition to adult medical specialties. Patient Support Groups
have a fundamental role in the support of families, as well as the interaction with professional
and social media. The use of Registries and the collaboration between professionals in Working
Groups of national and international medical societies are crucial for improving the diagnostic
and therapeutic tools required for the care of patients with DSD
Risk profiles and one-year outcomes of patients with newly diagnosed atrial fibrillation in India: Insights from the GARFIELD-AF Registry.
BACKGROUND: The Global Anticoagulant Registry in the FIELD-Atrial Fibrillation (GARFIELD-AF) is an ongoing prospective noninterventional registry, which is providing important information on the baseline characteristics, treatment patterns, and 1-year outcomes in patients with newly diagnosed non-valvular atrial fibrillation (NVAF). This report describes data from Indian patients recruited in this registry. METHODS AND RESULTS: A total of 52,014 patients with newly diagnosed AF were enrolled globally; of these, 1388 patients were recruited from 26 sites within India (2012-2016). In India, the mean age was 65.8 years at diagnosis of NVAF. Hypertension was the most prevalent risk factor for AF, present in 68.5% of patients from India and in 76.3% of patients globally (P < 0.001). Diabetes and coronary artery disease (CAD) were prevalent in 36.2% and 28.1% of patients as compared with global prevalence of 22.2% and 21.6%, respectively (P < 0.001 for both). Antiplatelet therapy was the most common antithrombotic treatment in India. With increasing stroke risk, however, patients were more likely to receive oral anticoagulant therapy [mainly vitamin K antagonist (VKA)], but average international normalized ratio (INR) was lower among Indian patients [median INR value 1.6 (interquartile range {IQR}: 1.3-2.3) versus 2.3 (IQR 1.8-2.8) (P < 0.001)]. Compared with other countries, patients from India had markedly higher rates of all-cause mortality [7.68 per 100 person-years (95% confidence interval 6.32-9.35) vs 4.34 (4.16-4.53), P < 0.0001], while rates of stroke/systemic embolism and major bleeding were lower after 1 year of follow-up. CONCLUSION: Compared to previously published registries from India, the GARFIELD-AF registry describes clinical profiles and outcomes in Indian patients with AF of a different etiology. The registry data show that compared to the rest of the world, Indian AF patients are younger in age and have more diabetes and CAD. Patients with a higher stroke risk are more likely to receive anticoagulation therapy with VKA but are underdosed compared with the global average in the GARFIELD-AF. CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION-URL: http://www.clinicaltrials.gov. Unique identifier: NCT01090362
Heptanuclear hydroxo-bridged copper cluster of the dicubane-like type: Structural and magnetic characterisations of [Cu7(OH)6Cl2(pn)6(H 2O)2](C(CN)3)4Cl2 (pn = 1,3-diaminopropane)
cited By 32International audienceA new polynuclear copper(II) complex [Cu7(OH)6Cl2-(pn) 6(H2O)2](C(CN)3)4Cl 2 with hydroxo-bridging ligands has been prepared; the centrosymmetric cluster cation can be described as two Cu4O3Cl distorted cubane units sharing one copper cation
Different phosphorylated forms of an insulin-sensitive glycosylphosphatidylinositol from rat hepatocytes
Labeling with [3H]galactose was employed to isolate a glycosylphosphatidylinositol from rat hepatocytes which might be involved in the action of insulin. The polar head group of this glycosylphosphatidylinositol was generated by phosphodiesterase hydrolysis with a phosphatidylinositol-specific phospholipase C from Bacillus cereus. By Dowex AG1 x 8 chromatography the polar head group could be separated into three radioactive peaks eluting at 100 mM (peak I), 200 mM (peak II) and 500 mM (peak III) ammonium formate, respectively. Peak III was the most active as an inhibitor of the cAMP-dependent protein kinase. Treatment of peak III with alkaline phosphatase markedly reduced its activity on cAMP-dependent protein kinase. When peaks I, II or III were treated with alkaline phosphatase and analyzed again by Dowex AG1 x 8 chromatography, the radioactivity eluted with the aqueous fraction. The above results indicate that the polar head group of the insulin-sensitive glycosylphosphatidylinositol from rat hepatocytes exists in three different phosphorylated forms and that the biological activity of this molecule depends on its phosphorylation state
Different phosphorylated forms of an insulin-sensitive glycosylphosphatidylinositol from rat hepatocytes
Labeling with [3H]galactose was employed to isolate a glycosylphosphatidylinositol from rat hepatocytes which might be involved in the action of insulin. The polar head group of this glycosylphosphatidylinositol was generated by phosphodiesterase hydrolysis with a phosphatidylinositol-specific phospholipase C from Bacillus cereus. By Dowex AG1 x 8 chromatography the polar head group could be separated into three radioactive peaks eluting at 100 mM (peak I), 200 mM (peak II) and 500 mM (peak III) ammonium formate, respectively. Peak III was the most active as an inhibitor of the cAMP-dependent protein kinase. Treatment of peak III with alkaline phosphatase markedly reduced its activity on cAMP-dependent protein kinase. When peaks I, II or III were treated with alkaline phosphatase and analyzed again by Dowex AG1 x 8 chromatography, the radioactivity eluted with the aqueous fraction. The above results indicate that the polar head group of the insulin-sensitive glycosylphosphatidylinositol from rat hepatocytes exists in three different phosphorylated forms and that the biological activity of this molecule depends on its phosphorylation state
Electronic and Magnetic Study of Polycationic Mn-12 Single-Molecule Magnets with a Ground Spin State S=11
International audienceThe preparation, magnetic characterization, and X-ray structures of two polycationic Mn-12 single-molecule magnets (Mn12O12(bet)(16)(EtOH)(4)](PF6)(14)center dot 4CH(3)CN center dot H2O (1) and [Mn12O12(bet)(16)(EtOH)(3)(H2O)](PF6)(13)(OH)center dot 6CH(3)CN center dot EtOH center dot H2O (2) (bet = betaine = (CH3)(3)N+-CH2-CO2-) are reported. 1 crystallizes in the centrosymmetric P2/cspace group and presents a (0:2:0:2) arrangement of the EtOH molecules in its structure. 2 crystallizes in the noncentrosymmetric P (4) over bar space group with two distinct Mn-12 polycations, [Mn12O12(bet)(16)(EtOH)(2)(H2O)(2)](14+) (2A) and [Mn12O12(bet)(16)(EtOH)(4)](14+)(2B) per unit cell. 2A and 2B show a (1:1:1:1) distribution of the coordinated solvent molecules. Interestingly, bond valence sum calculations extracted from X-ray diffraction data indicate the presence of two Mn2+ ions in the Mn2+ core for both 1 and 2. This finding is confined by X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS) measurements. A complete magnetic characterization, including subkelvin micro-SQUID magnetometry and inelastic neutron scattering (INS) measurements, permits to extract the parameters of the giant spin Hamiltonian of these polycations. Compared with the archetypal Mn2+ acetate, an increase in the value of the ground spin state from S = 10 to S = 11 together with a decrease in the effective energy barrier, is observed for 1 and 2. Such a result is consistent with the reduction of two Mn3+ to the less anisotropic Mn2+ ion in the structures
Changes in the nanoparticle uptake and distribution caused by an intramacrophagic parasitic infection
This study investigates if visceral leishmaniasis (VL) infection has some effects on the organ and cellular
uptake and distribution of 100–200 nm near-infrared fluorescently labelled non-biodegradable polystyrene latex beads (PS NPs) or biodegradable polylactic-co-glycolic nanoparticles (PLGA NPs), as this
parasitic infection produces morphological alterations in liver, spleen and bone marrow, organs highly
involved in NP sequestration. The results showed that the magnitude of the effect was specific for each
organ and type of NP. With the exception of the liver, the general trend was a decrease in NP organ and
cellular uptake, mostly due to immune cell mobilization and/or weight organ gain, as vascular permeability was increased. Moreover, NPs redistributed among different phagocytic cells to adapt infection
associated changes and cellular alterations. In the liver, it is noteworthy that only isolated Kuffer cells
(KCs) captured NPs, whereas they were not taken up by KC forming granulomas. In the spleen, NPs redistributed from macrophages and dendritic cells towards B cells and inflammatory monocytes although
they maintained their preferential accumulation in the marginal zone and red pulp. Comparatively, the
infection rarely affected the NP cellular distribution in the bone marrow. NP cellular target changes in VL
infection could affect their therapeutic efficacy and should be considered for more efficient drug deliver