Structures and magnetism of two novel heptanuclear lanthanide-centered trigonal prismatic clusters: [LnCu(6)(mu(3)-OH)(3)(HL)(2)(L)(4)](ClO4)(2)center dot 25H(2)O (Ln = La, Tb; H2L = iminodiacetic acid)

The new heteronuclear iminodiacetic acid (H2L) complexes (LnCu(6)(mu(3)-OH)(3)(HL)(2)(L)(4)](ClO4)(2). 25H(2)O with Ln = La (1) and Tb (2) have been prepared in aqueous solution and characterized by single-crystal X-ray diffraction to be isomorphous (crystallographic data for 1 and 2: hexagonal, P6(3)/m; a = b = 12.6425(14) Angstrom, c = 24.541(5) Angstrom, Z = 2 (1); a = b = 12.5802(9) Angstrom, c = 24.285(4) Angstrom, Z = 2 (2)). Ln(3+) was found to be located in the center of the trigonal prismatic cage formed by six Cu2+ ions, with a tricapped trigonal prismatic coordination environment of nine O atoms. The magnetic properties of complexes 1 and 2 have been studied. The results indicate the presence of ferromagnetic couplings between Tb3+ and Cu2+ in compound 2

Intravitreal Anti-VEGF Therapy in the Management of Diabetic Macular Edema

Diabetic macular edema (DME), an ocular complication of diabetes mellitus, can potentially lead to devastating visual outcomes. Traditionally, laser photocoagulation has been the gold standard in the management of this condition. Over the recent years, however, several landmark clinical trials have shown beneficial effects of anti-VEGF agents over both sham injections and laser photocoagulation. These results have led to the wide adoption of intravitreal anti-VEGF therapy in DME treatment. Currently, two anti-VEGF agents, ranibizumab and aflibercept, are FDA approved in the United States for the management of DME. Recently, the Diabetic Retinopathy Clinical Research Network released its protocol T results showing that compared to bevacizumab and ranibizumab, aflibercept yielded significantly better outcomes in patients with visual acuity (VA) of 20/50 or worse at baseline. Among patients with baseline VA better than 20/50, however, all three anti-VEGF drugs had comparable results