Unprecedented staining of polar lipids by a luminescent rhenium complex revealed by FTIR microspectroscopy in adipocytes.

Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) microspectroscopy and confocal imaging have been used to demonstrate that the neutral rhenium(i) tricarbonyl 1,10-phenanthroline complex bound to 4-cyanophenyltetrazolate as the ancillary ligand is able to localise in regions with high concentrations of polar lipids such as phosphatidylethanolamine (PE), sphingomyelin, sphingosphine and lysophosphatidic acid (LPA) in mammalian adipocytes

Methylated Re(i) tetrazolato complexes: Photophysical properties and Light Emitting Devices

The irreversible reaction of methyl triflate with neutral Re(I) tetrazolato complexes of the type fac-[Re(diim)(CO)3(L)], where diim is either 1,10-phenanthroline or 2,2′-bipyridine and L is a para substituted 5-aryltetrazolate, yielded the corresponding cationic methylated complexes. While methylation occurred regioselectively at the N4 position of the tetrazole ring, the cationic complexes were found to exist in solution as equilibrating mixtures of linkage isomers, where the Re(I) centre was bound to either the N1 or N2 atom of the tetrazole ring. The existence of these isomers was highlighted both by NMR and X-ray crystallography studies. On the other hand, the two isomers appeared indistinguishable by IR, UV-Vis and luminescence spectroscopy. The prepared cationic complexes are all brightly phosphorescent in fluid and rigid solutions, with emission originating from triplet metal-to-ligand charge transfer excited states. Compared to their neutral precursors, which emit from admixtures of triplet metal-to-ligand and ligand-to-ligand charge transfer states, the methylated complexes exhibit blue-shifted emission characterised by elongated excited state lifetimes and increased quantum yields. The nature of the excited states for both the neutral and the methylated complexes was probed by resonance Raman spectroscopy and with the aid of time-dependent density functional theory calculations. Lastly, both the neutral and the methylated species were used as emitting phosphors in the fabrication of Organic Light Emitting Diodes and Light Emitting Electrochemical Cells

Cancer genetic predisposition: information needs of patients irrespective of risk level

Increased insight into the information needs of people about cancer genetic predisposition could allow materials to be developed to improve decision-making for those at high risk, whilst those at lower risk could have their anxiety reduced without the need for referral to genetics services. This study aimed to identify information needs of patients concerned about a genetic predisposition to cancer, and explore how this varied according to risk perception, cancer worry, personal motivation and demographics. Stage 1 used semi-structured telephone interviews pre and post participants' genetic risk assessment. The findings informed stage two, a structured questionnaire survey of 1,112 patients, pre and post their genetic risk assessment. Participants were stratified by risk level and included those concerned about an inherited predisposition to breast, ovarian or colorectal cancer. About 512 (46%) responded with equal proportions of responders and non-responders across the risk categories. Findings indicated that irrespective of a person's actual or perceived level of risk, cancer worry, demographic background or personal motivation; priorities in the type of information required were similar. Greatest emphasis focused on information provision about how risk was assessed. Least important was acquiring an understanding about genes and inheritance patterns. Most participants reported difficulties accessing or finding information. Peoples' information needs are consistent irrespective of their risk level and therefore generalised information packages could be developed for anyone requesting cancer genetic risk assessment. Better information is likely to assist patients' understanding and ultimately increase concordance with recommended screening and preventative measures.Increased insight into the information needs of people about cancer genetic predisposition could allow materials to be developed to improve decision-making for those at high risk, whilst those at lower risk could have their anxiety reduced without the need for referral to genetics services. This study aimed to identify information needs of patients concerned about a genetic predisposition to cancer, and explore how this varied according to risk perception, cancer worry, personal motivation and demographics. Stage 1 used semi-structured telephone interviews pre and post participants' genetic risk assessment. The findings informed stage two, a structured questionnaire survey of 1,112 patients, pre and post their genetic risk assessment. Participants were stratified by risk level and included those concerned about an inherited predisposition to breast, ovarian or colorectal cancer. About 512 (46%) responded with equal proportions of responders and non-responders across the risk categories. Findings indicated that irrespective of a person's actual or perceived level of risk, cancer worry, demographic background or personal motivation; priorities in the type of information required were similar. Greatest emphasis focused on information provision about how risk was assessed. Least important was acquiring an understanding about genes and inheritance patterns. Most participants reported difficulties accessing or finding information. Peoples' information needs are consistent irrespective of their risk level and therefore generalised information packages could be developed for anyone requesting cancer genetic risk assessment. Better information is likely to assist patients' understanding and ultimately increase concordance with recommended screening and preventative measures

ReZolve-L1^™ detects autophagic compartments in <i>Drosophila</i> fat body tissue during metamorphosis.

<p>(<b>A</b>) Confocal micrographs of fat body cells explanted from wild type <i>Drosophila</i> larvae and pupae, at either -4 h PF, 0 h PF, or +2 h PF and stained with ReZolve-L1^™ (red) and LysoTracker^® Green. Scale bars = 10 μm. (<b>B</b>) Schematic of the relationship between <i>Drosophila</i> developmental progression, autophagic activity and polar lipid content in the lipid droplets of fat body tissue.</p

ReZolve-L1^™ responds to altered autophagy.

<p>Confocal micrographs of <i>Drosophila</i> fat body tissue stained with the ReZolve-L1^™ (red) or LysoTracker^® Green to detect autophagic activity. (<b>A</b>) Representative images from control or <i>Tor</i>^<i>TED</i> larvae at -8 h PF, fed on standard feeding media (-8 h PF Fed). (<b>B</b>) Representative images from control or Atg9^RNAi larvae at -4 h PF, fed on standard feeding media (-4 h PF Fed) (<b>C</b>) or exposed to 4 hours of amino acid and sugar starvation (-4 h PF Starved). LD indicates lipid droplets; arrows indicate co-location between ReZolve-L1^™ and LysoTracker^® Green; arrow heads indicate ReZolve-L1^™ only compartments. Scale = 10 μm. (<b>D</b>) Histogram showing the number of ReZolve-L1^™ autophagic compartments per 100 μm² of cell area. Mean ± s.e.m. presented for control or <i>Tor</i>^<i>TED</i> larvae at -8 h PF, fed on standard feeding medium (-8 h PF, Fed) and control or Atg9^RNAi larvae at -4 h PF, fed on standard media (-4 h PF, Fed) or exposed to 4 hours of amino acid and sugar starvation (-4 h PF, Starved). Groups are compared by ANOVA with Tukey post-hoc test, different letters indicates significance difference between means, P < 0.05.</p