Synthese, Katalyse und Mechanismen reaktiver Edelmetall-Komplexe eines sterisch abgeschirmten N-heterocyclischen Carbens

Seit der Isolierung des ersten stabilen freien N-heterocyclischen Carbens von Arduengo et al. im Jahre 1991 hat diese Substanzklasse eine breite Anwendung in der Katalyse und als Liganden von Metallkomplexen gefunden. Dabei zeichnen sie sich vor allem durch ihre, im Vergleich zu Phosphanen, erhöhte σ-Donorfähigkeit aus und können so oftmals zu einer besseren Stabilisierung von Intermediaten führen. Neben ihren elektronischen Eigenschaften besitzen N-heterocyclische Carbene häufig einen größeren sterischen Anspruch als Phosphanliganden, was ebenfalls einen Einfluss auf die Stabilität von Metallkomplexen haben kann. In dieser Arbeit wurde das sterisch anspruchsvolle N-heterocyclische Carben IPr** untersucht. Ausgehend vom Imidazoliumsalz bzw. Silberkomplex von IPr** konnten zahlreiche Komplexe mit folgenden Übergangsmetallen erhalten werden: Platin, Kupfer, Palladium und Gold. Die Goldkomplexe IPr**AuCl (11) und IPr**AuNTf2 (12) wurden eingehender untersucht. So führte die Chloridabstraktion von IPr**AuCl (11) mit einem Silbersalz zur Bildung eines kationischen Toluol-stabilisierten Goldkomplexes. Bei der Reaktion in Dichlormethan gelang die Isolierung eines Intermediates dieser Reaktion, bei dem man die Abstraktion des Chlorids vom Goldatom durch das Silberkation beobachten kann. Wird anstelle von AgSbF6 das Natriumsalz des schwach koordinierenden BArF24-Anions als Chloridabstraktionsmittel verwendet, so konnte der entsprechende, bisher einzige nicht durch koordiniertes Lösungsmittel stabilisierte kationische 12-Valenzelektronen-Goldkomplex erhalten werden. Mit der Zeit kam es zur C-B-Bindungsspaltung des BArF24-Anions durch den kationischen Goldkomplex und zur Bildung eines Goldaryl-Komplexes. Somit ist es erstmals gelungen mit Hilfe eines Metallkomplexes der Oxidationsstufe (I) die C-B-Bindung im BArF24-Anion zu aktivieren. Ein weiteres Ziel war die Isolierung eines Gold-Carben-Komplexes durch Umsetzung des in situ darstellbaren, kationischen Goldkomplexes mit Carbenvorläufern. In dieser Arbeit konnte gezeigt werden, dass eine Gold-Kohlenstoff-Doppelbindung auf diese Art nicht erhalten werden kann. Neben der Eignung des IPr**Au-Systems, Intermediate zu stabilisieren, sind auch dessen katalytische Fähigkeiten von Interesse. Hierbei konnte IPr**AuNTf2 (12) eine bisher unerreichte Kombination von katalytischer Aktivität, Stabilität und Selektivität als Katalysator in der Hashmi-Phenolsynthese sowie der goldkatalysierten Hydratisierung von Alkinen erzielen. Die Entstehung eines isomeren Nebenproduktes in der Hashmi Phenolsynthese wurde mit Hilfe eines methylsubstituierten Furanderivats untersucht. Vermutlich beruht dessen Bildung auf einer Wagner-Meerwein-artigen-Methylgruppenverschiebung. Substituenteneffekte, relative Reaktionsgeschwindigkeiten und Konkurrenzexperimente in der goldkatalysierten Hydratisierung von Alkinen belegten, dass die Protonierung des Vinylintermediates der geschwindigkeitsbestimmende Schritt dieser Reaktion ist. Der erhaltene Palladium-PEPPSI-Komplex von IPr** wurde auf seine katalytische Aktivität in der Suzuki-Miyaura-Kreuzkupplung, der Sonogashira-Reaktion und der Buchwald-Hartwig-Aminierung getestet. Die besten Ergebnisse konnten in der Buchwald-Hartwig-Aminierung erzielt werden, welche auch in Bezug auf Katalysatorbeladung und Substratvielfalt eingehend untersucht wurde

Genetically based low oxygen affinities of felid hemoglobins: Lack of biochemical adaptation to high-altitude hypoxia in the snow leopard

Genetically based modifications of hemoglobin (Hb) function that increase blood–O2 affinity are hallmarks of hypoxia adaptation in vertebrates. Among mammals, felid Hbs are unusual in that they have low intrinsic O2 affinities and reduced sensitivities to the allosteric cofactor 2,3-diphosphoglycerate (DPG). This combination of features compromises the acclimatization capacity of blood–O2 affinity and has led to the hypothesis that felids have a restricted physiological niche breadth relative to other mammals. In seeming defiance of this conjecture, the snow leopard (Panthera uncia) has an extraordinarily broad elevational distribution and occurs at elevations above 6000 m in the Himalayas. Here, we characterized structural and functional variation of big cat Hbs and investigated molecular mechanisms of Hb adaptation and allosteric regulation thatmay contribute to the extreme hypoxia tolerance of the snow leopard. Experiments revealed that purified Hbs from snow leopard and African lion exhibited equally low O2 affinities and DPG sensitivities. Both properties are primarily attributable to a single amino acid substitution, β2His→Phe, which occurred in the common ancestor of Felidae. Given the low O2 affinity and reduced regulatory capacity of feline Hbs, the extreme hypoxia tolerance of snow leopards must be attributable to compensatory modifications of other steps in the O2-transport pathway

The price of tumor control: an analysis of rare side effects of anti-CTLA-4 therapy in metastatic melanoma from the ipilimumab network

Background: Ipilimumab, a cytotoxic T-lymphocyte antigen-4 (CTLA-4) blocking antibody, has been approved for the treatment of metastatic melanoma and induces adverse events (AE) in up to 64% of patients. Treatment algorithms for the management of common ipilimumab-induced AEs have lead to a reduction of morbidity, e.g. due to bowel perforations. However, the spectrum of less common AEs is expanding as ipilimumab is increasingly applied. Stringent recognition and management of AEs will reduce drug-induced morbidity and costs, and thus, positively impact the cost-benefit ratio of the drug. To facilitate timely identification and adequate management data on rare AEs were analyzed at 19 skin cancer centers. Methods and Findings: Patient files (n = 752) were screened for rare ipilimumab-associated AEs. A total of 120 AEs, some of which were life-threatening or even fatal, were reported and summarized by organ system describing the most instructive cases in detail. Previously unreported AEs like drug rash with eosinophilia and systemic symptoms (DRESS), granulomatous inflammation of the central nervous system, and aseptic meningitis, were documented. Obstacles included patientś delay in reporting symptoms and the differentiation of steroid-induced from ipilimumab-induced AEs under steroid treatment. Importantly, response rate was high in this patient population with tumor regression in 30.9% and a tumor control rate of 61.8% in stage IV melanoma patients despite the fact that some patients received only two of four recommended ipilimumab infusions. This suggests that ipilimumab-induced antitumor responses can have an early onset and that severe autoimmune reactions may reflect overtreatment. Conclusion: The wide spectrum of ipilimumab-induced AEs demands doctor and patient awareness to reduce morbidity and treatment costs and true ipilimumab success is dictated by both objective tumor responses and controlling severe side effects

Genetically based low oxygen affinities of felid hemoglobins: Lack of biochemical adaptation to high-altitude hypoxia in the snow leopard

Genetically based modifications of hemoglobin (Hb) function that increase blood–O2 affinity are hallmarks of hypoxia adaptation in vertebrates. Among mammals, felid Hbs are unusual in that they have low intrinsic O2 affinities and reduced sensitivities to the allosteric cofactor 2,3-diphosphoglycerate (DPG). This combination of features compromises the acclimatization capacity of blood–O2 affinity and has led to the hypothesis that felids have a restricted physiological niche breadth relative to other mammals. In seeming defiance of this conjecture, the snow leopard (Panthera uncia) has an extraordinarily broad elevational distribution and occurs at elevations above 6000 m in the Himalayas. Here, we characterized structural and functional variation of big cat Hbs and investigated molecular mechanisms of Hb adaptation and allosteric regulation thatmay contribute to the extreme hypoxia tolerance of the snow leopard. Experiments revealed that purified Hbs from snow leopard and African lion exhibited equally low O2 affinities and DPG sensitivities. Both properties are primarily attributable to a single amino acid substitution, β2His→Phe, which occurred in the common ancestor of Felidae. Given the low O2 affinity and reduced regulatory capacity of feline Hbs, the extreme hypoxia tolerance of snow leopards must be attributable to compensatory modifications of other steps in the O2-transport pathway

First events from the CNGS neutrino beam detected in the OPERA experiment

The OPERA neutrino detector at the underground Gran Sasso Laboratory (LNGS) was designed to perform the first detection of neutrino oscillations in appearance mode, through the study of nu_mu to nu_tau oscillations. The apparatus consists of a lead/emulsion-film target complemented by electronic detectors. It is placed in the high-energy, long-baseline CERN to LNGS beam (CNGS) 730 km away from the neutrino source. In August 2006 a first run with CNGS neutrinos was successfully conducted. A first sample of neutrino events was collected, statistically consistent with the integrated beam intensity. After a brief description of the beam and of the various sub-detectors, we report on the achievement of this milestone, presenting the first data and some analysis results.Comment: Submitted to the New Journal of Physic

Operative management of acute abdomen after bariatric surgery in the emergency setting: the OBA guidelines

Background: Patients presenting with acute abdominal pain that occurs after months or years following bariatric surgery may present for assessment and management in the local emergency units. Due to the large variety of surgical bariatric techniques, emergency surgeons have to be aware of the main functional outcomes and long-term surgical complications following the most performed bariatric surgical procedures. The purpose of these evidence-based guidelines is to present a consensus position from members of the WSES in collaboration with IFSO bariatric experienced surgeons, on the management of acute abdomen after bariatric surgery focusing on long-term complications in patients who have undergone laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy and laparoscopic Roux-en-Y gastric bypass. Method: A working group of experienced general, acute care, and bariatric surgeons was created to carry out a systematic review of the literature following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-analysis Protocols (PRISMA-P) and to answer the PICO questions formulated after the Operative management in bariatric acute abdomen survey. The literature search was limited to late/long-term complications following laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy and laparoscopic Roux-en-Y gastric bypass. Conclusions: The acute abdomen after bariatric surgery is a common cause of admission in emergency departments. Knowledge of the most common late/long-term complications (> 4 weeks after surgical procedure) following sleeve gastrectomy and Roux-en-Y gastric bypass and their anatomy leads to a focused management in the emergency setting with good outcomes and decreased morbidity and mortality rates. A close collaboration between emergency surgeons, radiologists, endoscopists, and anesthesiologists is mandatory in the management of this group of patients in the emergency setting

Standalone vertex finding in the ATLAS muon spectrometer

A dedicated reconstruction algorithm to find decay vertices in the ATLAS muon spectrometer is presented. The algorithm searches the region just upstream of or inside the muon spectrometer volume for multi-particle vertices that originate from the decay of particles with long decay paths. The performance of the algorithm is evaluated using both a sample of simulated Higgs boson events, in which the Higgs boson decays to long-lived neutral particles that in turn decay to bbar b final states, and pp collision data at √s = 7 TeV collected with the ATLAS detector at the LHC during 2011

Measurements of Higgs boson production and couplings in diboson final states with the ATLAS detector at the LHC

Measurements are presented of production properties and couplings of the recently discovered Higgs boson using the decays into boson pairs, H →γ γ, H → Z Z∗ →4l and H →W W∗ →lνlν. The results are based on the complete pp collision data sample recorded by the ATLAS experiment at the CERN Large Hadron Collider at centre-of-mass energies of √s = 7 TeV and √s = 8 TeV, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of about 25 fb−1. Evidence for Higgs boson production through vector-boson fusion is reported. Results of combined fits probing Higgs boson couplings to fermions and bosons, as well as anomalous contributions to loop-induced production and decay modes, are presented. All measurements are consistent with expectations for the Standard Model Higgs boson