In Situ Electrochemical Investigations of Inherently Chiral 2,2′-Biindole Architectures with Oligothiophene Terminals

AbstractThe synthesis and characterization of three new inherently chiral N,N′‐dipropyl‐3,3′‐diheteroaryl‐2,2′‐biindole monomers, nicknamed Ind2T4, Ind2T6 and Ind2Ph2T4, which differ in the number of thiophenes as terminals, are reported. In addition to a full monomer characterization, stable electroactive oligomeric films were obtained by electro‐oxidation upon cycling to potentials which activate the thiophene terminals. Cyclic voltammetry, UV‐Vis‐NIR spectroelectrochemistry and in situ conductance measurements show that oligomeric films of Ind2T6 present the best stability and electrochromic switching performance. Enantioselective tests with a chiral ferrocene amine clearly show the potential as chiral selectors for analytical and sensing purposes

Physicians' decision-making when managing pediatric patients with prolonged disorders of consciousness: A qualitative study.

BACKGROUND Advances in medicine have resulted in treatments that can extend the survival of patients with prolonged disorders of consciousness (PDOC) for several years. However, several diagnostic and prognostic uncertainties remain particularly in the care of pediatric patients. In the absence of international guidelines, we aimed to explore physicians' decision-making when managing pediatric patients with PDOC. METHODS We conducted a qualitative study using semi-structured, individual interviews and employed an inductive thematic analytical approach to explore physicians' subjective experiences and decision-making when managing pediatric patients with PDOC. We recruited a purposive sample of 19 Italian-speaking physicians currently or previously employed in intensive care unit, pediatric, internal medicine, or neurology departments in Switzerland. RESULTS Participants stated that making clinical decisions involving pediatric patients with PDOC is extremely challenging because the decisional process requires finding a balance between several contending factors. We found that physicians experienced ambivalence in three domains of care (time, goals of care, and target of care), and that they were aware of the risk of self-fulfilling prophecies for both prognosis and main clinical outcomes. CONCLUSIONS Our study confirmed that experienced clinicians acknowledge the complex nature and challenge of clinical decision-making of pediatric patients with PDOC. More research is warranted to improve and expand existing guidelines aimed at assisting and facilitating clinical and ethical decision-making, and improving physicians' awareness of the factors affecting their decisions when dealing with patients with PDOC

Cover Feature: In Situ Electrochemical Investigations of Inherently Chiral 2,2′-Biindole Architectures with Oligothiophene Terminals (ChemElectroChem 17/2021)

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Reasons for dissatisfaction: a survey of relatives of intensive care patients who died

{OBJECTIVE}: To describe the reasons for eventual dissatisfaction among the families of patients who died in the intensive care unit (ICU), regarding both the assistance offered during the patient's stay in the hospital and the information received from the medical staff. {DESIGN}: Cross-sectional descriptive study, which was conducted after a survey using a questionnaire. {SETTING}: Interdisciplinary ICU (n = 8 beds) at San Giovanni Hospital in Bellinzona (CH). {SUBJECTS}: Three-hundred ninety families of patients who died in the ICU. {INTERVENTIONS}: None. {MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS}: A postal questionnaire (n = 43 questions) was sent to the families of 390 patients who died in the ICU during 8 yrs (1981 to 1989). The results referred to 123 replies: a) 82.6% of the respondents expressed no criticism of the patient's hospital stay; b) 90% considered the patient's treatment was adequate; c) 17% felt that the information received concerning diagnosis was insufficient or unclear; and d) 30% (particularly close relatives and those relatives who were informed of the death by telephone and not in person) expressed dissatisfaction regarding the information received on the cause of death. {CONCLUSIONS}: Our survey found that the relatives of patients who died were most dissatisfied with the care received according to: a) the type of death (e.g., sudden death vs. death preceded by a gradual deterioration in the patient's condition); and b) the manner in which the relatives were notified of the death (in person vs. by telephone). The personal characteristics of the people interviewed, such as gender and the closeness of their relationship to the deceased, also seem to have some bearing on the opinions expressed. A high percentage of respondents were satisfied with the treatment received by their dying relative and the information conveyed by caregivers. Nevertheless, the dissatisfaction expressed by some respondents indicates a need for improvement, especially in communicating information to the relatives of these patients

The innards of the cell: studies of water dipolar relaxation using the ACDAN fluorescent probe

This article reviews the use of the 6-acetyl-2-(dimethylamino)naphthalene (ACDAN) fluorophore to study dipolar relaxation in cells, tissues, and biomimetic systems. As the most hydrophilic member of the 6-acyl-2-(dimethylamino)naphthalene series, ACDAN markedly partitions to aqueous environments. In contrast to 6-lauroyl-2-(dimethylamino)naphthalene (LAURDAN), the hydrophobic and best-known member of the series used to explore relaxation phenomena in biological (or biomimetic) membranes, ACDAN allows mapping of spatial and temporal water dipolar relaxation in cytosolic and intra-organelle environments of the cell. This is also true for the 6-propionyl-2-(dimethylamino)naphthalene (PRODAN) derivative which, unlike LAURDAN, partitions to both hydrophobic and aqueous environments. We will (i) summarize the mechanism which underlies the solvatochromic properties of the DAN probes, (ii) expound on the importance of water relaxation to understand the intracellular environment, (iii) discuss technical aspects of the use of ACDAN in eukaryotic cells and some specialized structures, including liquid condensates arising from processes leading to liquid immiscibility and, (iv) present some novel studies in plant cells and tissues which demonstrate the kinds of information that can be uncovered using this approach to study dipolar relaxation in living systems.Fil: Otaiza González, Santiago Nicolás. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Córdoba. Instituto de Investigación Médica Mercedes y Martín Ferreyra. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Instituto de Investigación Médica Mercedes y Martín Ferreyra; Argentina. Instituto Nacional de Tecnologia Agropecuaria. Centro de Investigaciones Agropecuarias. Unidad de Estudios Agropecuarios. - Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Cientificas y Tecnicas. Centro Cientifico Tecnologico Conicet - Cordoba. Unidad de Estudios Agropecuarios.; ArgentinaFil: Cabadas, Manuel. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Córdoba. Instituto de Investigación Médica Mercedes y Martín Ferreyra. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Instituto de Investigación Médica Mercedes y Martín Ferreyra; ArgentinaFil: Robert, Germán. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas Físicas y Naturales. Departamento de Botánica. Laboratorio de Fisiología Vegetal; Argentina. Instituto Nacional de Tecnologia Agropecuaria. Centro de Investigaciones Agropecuarias. Unidad de Estudios Agropecuarios. - Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Cientificas y Tecnicas. Centro Cientifico Tecnologico Conicet - Cordoba. Unidad de Estudios Agropecuarios.; Argentina. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria. Centro de Investigaciones Agropecuarias. Instituto de Fisiología y Recursos Genéticos Vegetales; ArgentinaFil: Stock, Roberto P.. No especifíca;Fil: Malacrida, Leonel. Universidad de la República; UruguayFil: Lascano, Hernan Ramiro. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas Físicas y Naturales. Departamento de Botánica. Laboratorio de Fisiología Vegetal; Argentina. Instituto Nacional de Tecnologia Agropecuaria. Centro de Investigaciones Agropecuarias. Unidad de Estudios Agropecuarios. - Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Cientificas y Tecnicas. Centro Cientifico Tecnologico Conicet - Cordoba. Unidad de Estudios Agropecuarios.; ArgentinaFil: Bagatolli, Luis Alberto. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Córdoba. Instituto de Investigación Médica Mercedes y Martín Ferreyra. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Instituto de Investigación Médica Mercedes y Martín Ferreyra; Argentin