1,1,1,5,5,5-Hexafluoro-2,4-dimeth­oxy­pentane-2,4-diol

The title compound, C7H10F6O4, was isolated as an unexpected product from a reaction of tantalum(V) methoxide with hexa­fluoro­acetyl­acetone in a methanol solution. The asymmetric unit consists of one half-mol­ecule with the middle C atom lying on a twofold axis. The crystal structure is stabilized by O—H⋯O and an array of C—H⋯F hydrogen-bonding inter­actions. These inter­actions link the mol­ecules into a stable supra­molecular three-dimensional network. The mol­ecules pack in a ribbon-like form in the ac plane as a result of these inter­actions

The emerging role of endothelin-1 in the pathogenesis of preeclampsia

Pre-eclampsia (PE) is the most frequently encountered medical complication during pregnancy. It is characterized by a rise in systemic vascular resistance with a relatively low cardiac output and hypovolemia, combined with severe proteinuria. Despite the hypovolemia, renin–angiotensin system (RAS) activity is suppressed and aldosterone levels are decreased to the same degree as renin. This suggests that the RAS is not the cause of the hypertension in PE, but rather that its suppression is the consequence of the rise in blood pressure. Abnormal placentation early in pregnancy is widely assumed to be an important initial event in the onset of PE. Eventually, this results in the release of anti-angiogenic factors [in particular, soluble Fms-like tyrosine kinase-1 (sFlt-1)] and cytokines, leading to generalized vascular dysfunction. Elevated sFlt-1 levels bind and inactivate vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF). Of interest, VEGF inhibition with drugs like sunitinib, applied in cancer patients, results in a PE-like syndrome, characterized by hypertension, proteinuria and renal toxicity. Both in cancer patients treated with sunitinib and in pregnant women with PE, significant rises in endothelin-1 occur. Multiple regression analysis revealed that endothelin-1 is an independent determinant of the hypertension and proteinuria in PE, and additionally a renin suppressor. Moreover, studies in animal models representative of PE, have shown that endothelin receptor blockers prevent the development of this disease. Similarly, endothelin receptor blockers are protective during sunitinib treatment. Taken together, activation of the endothelin system emerges as an important pathway causing the clinical manifestations of PE. This paper critically addresses this concept, taking into consideration both clinical and preclinical data, and simultaneously discusses the therapeutic consequences of this observation

Prediction of response to pemetrexed in non-small-cell lung cancer with immunohistochemical phenotyping based on gene expression profiles

Figure S1. Scatter plots of gene expression levels of selected molecular markers and TS gene expression. Dot plots showing correlations between relative mRNA expression of TS and mRNA expression of TOP2A, MCM2, EZH2, CPA3, TPX2. Abbreviations: IHC, immunohistochemical; EZH2, Enhancer of zeste homolog; TOP2A, Topoisomerase II; TPX2, Microtubule Nucleation Factor; CPA3, Carboxypeptidase A3; MCM2, Minichromosome Maintenance Complex Component 2. (EPS 180 kb

Blood-based biomarkers of inflammation in mild traumatic brain injury:A systematic review

Inflammation is an important secondary physiological response to traumatic brain injury (TBI). Most of the current knowledge on this response is derived from research in moderate and severe TBI. In this systematic review we summarize the literature on clinical studies measuring blood based inflammatory markers following mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) and identify the value of inflammatory markers as biomarkers. Twenty-three studies were included. This review suggests a distinct systemic inflammatory response following mTBI, quantifiable within 6 hours up to 12 months post-injury. Interleukin-6 is the most promising biomarker for the clinical diagnosis of brain injury while interleukin-10 is a potential candidate for triaging CT scans. The diagnostic and prognostic utility of inflammatory markers may be more fully appreciated as a component of a panel of biomarkers. However, discrepancies in study design, analysis and reporting make it difficult to draw any definite conclusions. For the same reasons, a meta-analysis was not possible. We provide recommendations to follow standardized methodologies to allow for reproducibility of results in future studies

Femoral Neck Design Does Not Impact Revision Risk After Primary Total Hip Arthroplasty Using a Dual Mobility Cup

Background: The use of dual mobility (DM) cups has increased quickly. It is hypothesized that femoral neck taper geometry may be involved in the risk of prosthetic impingement and DM cup revision. We aim to (1) explore the reasons for revision of DM cups or head/liners and (2) explore whether certain femoral neck characteristics are associated with a higher risk of revision of DM cups. Methods: Primary total hip arthroplasties with a DM cup registered in the Dutch Arthroplasty Register between 2007 and 2021 were identified (n = 7603). Competing risk survival analyses were performed, with acetabular component and head/liner revision as the primary endpoint. Reasons for revision were categorized in cup-/liner-related revisions (dislocation, liner wear, acetabular loosening). Femoral neck characteristics were studied to assess whether there is an association between femoral neck design and the risk of DM cup/liner revision. Multivariable Cox proportional hazard analyses were performed. Results: The 5- and 10-year crude cumulative incidence of DM cup or head/liner revision for dislocation, wear, and acetabular loosening was 0.5% (CI 0.4-0.8) and 1.9% (CI 1.3-2.8), respectively. After adjusting for confounders, we found no association between the examined femoral neck characteristics (alloy used, neck geometry, CCD angle, and surface roughness) and the risk for revision for dislocation, wear, and acetabular loosening. Conclusions: The risk of DM cup or head/liner revision for dislocation, wear, and acetabular loosening was low. We found no evidence that there is an association between femoral neck design and the risk of cup or head/liner revision.</p

(Acetyl­acetonato-κ2 O,O′)chlorido­trimethano­latoniobium(V)

In the title compound, [Nb(CH3O)3(C5H7O2)Cl], the NbV atom is coordinated by two O atoms from the chelating acetyl­acetonate ligand, three O atoms from the methano­late groups and one chloride ligand. The octa­hedral environment around niobium is slightly distorted with Nb—O distances in the range 1.8603 (15)–2.1083 (15) Å and an Nb—Cl distance of 2.4693 (9) Å. The O—Nb—O angles vary between 80.74 (6) and 100.82 (7)°, while the trans Cl—Nb—O angle is 167.60 (5)°. There are no hydrogen bonds observed, only an inter­molecular C—H⋯O inter­action