Boronic acids for sensing and other applications - a mini-review of papers published in 2013

Boronic acids are increasingly utilised in diverse areas of research. Including the interactions of boronic acids with diols and strong Lewis bases as fluoride or cyanide anions, which leads to their utility in various sensing applications. The sensing applications can be homogeneous assays or heterogeneous detection. Detection can be at the interface of the sensing material or within the bulk sample. Furthermore, the key interaction of boronic acids with diols allows utilisation in various areas ranging from biological labelling, protein manipulation and modification, separation and the development of therapeutics. All the above uses and applications are covered by this mini-review of papers published during 2013

Implications of a Postoperative Rehabilitation Program on Quality of Life in Women with Primary Breast Cancer Treated with Sentinel Lymph Node Biopsy or Complete Axillary Lymph Node Dissection

Background: The aim of this clinical study was to evaluate quality of life (QoL) in early-stage breast cancer patients and to investigate the effects of a comprehensive rehabilitation program comparing women undergoing sentinel node biopsy (SNB) versus complete axillary lymph node dissection (ALND). QoL was assessed with the Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-General and Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-Breast (FACT-B) questionnaire. Methods: Eighty-nine women with histologically confirmed primary breast cancer stages I-II were enrolled. Recruitment began on May 2006 and ended on December 2007. According to current standards of care, 58 women were found clinically fit to undergo SNB, and the other 31 were elected for ALND. Thirty women who underwent SNB were randomly allocated to participate in a comprehensive postoperative rehabilitation program, and the 28 remaining were dismissed and scheduled to return for clinical follow-up. Results: Women undergoing ALND had a better QoL within 30 days of surgery on the FACT-B, FACT-G, Trial Outcome Index (TOI), emotional well-being (EWB), and breast concern subscale (BCS) (P < .005) and at 6 months after surgery on the EWB subscale only. Women undergoing SNB had a significant improvement in QoL only on the EWB subscale 6 months after surgery in the group with rehabilitation and 30 days after surgery in the group without rehabilitation. Conclusion: Women undergoing ALND benefited from a rehabilitation program and had a better QoL. Women undergoing BLS, regardless of rehabilitation, showed improvement in QoL for the emotional well-being subscale only.151233423349postoperative rehabilitation progra