Synthesis of amino acid-derived ligands and investigation of their metal binding properties and biological applications

In this thesis, two different potential fluorescent probes for metal ions and four potential anticancer drugs have been designed, synthesised, characterised and studied for their metal binding properties and biological applications.This report aims to design and synthesise amino acid-derived ligands as potential metal ion sensors in biological and aqueous systems. Metal ions play many pivotal roles in biological systems such as catalysing biochemical reactions and creating action potentials allowing for the movement of organisms. Dysfunction of such metals can contribute to the development of diseases such as Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and Wilson’s disease. As a result, the biological roles of metal ions are of great intrigue to many scientists in multiple fields. These researchers depend upon the development of more ideal fluorescent sensors for metal ions to conduct their investigations. Unfortunately, current fluorescent probes for metal ions have limitations such as poor selectivity to their analyte, weak fluorescence intensity, and are often unsuitable for biological application due to poor water solubility, and high cytotoxicity. Therefore, the development of new probes is important to enhance the knowledge of metal ions in biology and medicine.The fluorescent sensors synthesised in this thesis report that undergo cell viability assays with low effective concentration (EC) values are declared inappropriate for biological metal sensing. Their high cytotoxicity is therefore explored as potential anticancer agents when bound to lanthanides. Cancer constitutes to the top three of the total world’s deaths. Platinum-based anticancer drugs have been the focal point of many chemotherapies used to treat cancer-related illnesses, however, are limited with intrinsic resistance and have negative side-effects due to a lack of cell selectivity. Other metal-based therapies, such as lanthanides-based therapies, have come of intrigue as potential substitutes for platinum-based drugs due to their unique properties. Despite the potential of lanthanide complexes as alternative anticancer therapies, this area of research has not received much attention

UA3/1/5/3 Airplane View College Heights / An Interpretation

Broadside printed as fund raiser for construction of the Kentucky Building

Palliation of Abdominal Aortic Aneurysms in the Endovascular Era

AbstractObjectivesTo establish outcome of patients with abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) deemed unfit for repair.DesignRetrospective non-randomised study.Materials and methodsIdentification of males with >5.5 cm or females with >5.0 cm AAA turned down for elective repair between 01/01/2006–24/07/2009 from a prospective database. Comorbidities, reasons for non-intervention, aneurysm size, survival, use of CPEX (cardio-pulmonary exercise) testing and cause of death were analysed. Although well-established at the time, patients unfit for open operation were not considered for endovascular repair.ResultsSeventy two patients were unsuitable for AAA repair. Aneurysm size ranged from 5.3 cm to 12 cm. Functional status, comorbidity and patient preference determined decision to palliate. Sixty percent of patients were alive at study close. Aneurysm rupture was cause of death in 46%. CPEX testing was performed in 54%, whose mortality was 28%, vs. 54% in the non-CPEX group (P < 0.05).Median survival of patients with 5.1–6.0 cm AAA was 44 months and 11% died of rupture. Between 6.1 and 7.0 cm median survival was 26 months and 20% died of rupture. However, with >7 cm aneurysms, survival was 6 months and 43% ruptured.ConclusionUnder half the deaths in our comorbid cohort were due to rupture. However, decision to palliate may be revisited as risk-benefit ratio changes with aneurysm expansion

Employment, Unemployment and the Health of Pregnant Women

Much of what little we know about the impact of unemployment or health is based upon data or studies of predominantly unemployed men. These studies, though weak in methodology, imply that unemployment may lead to excess morbidity and mortality. This paper reports a study of 4,000 pregnant women in Brisbane. Unemployment amongst women is associated with high-risk health behaviour, which in turn may lead to low birthweight births. Further, unemployed women are more anxious and depressed than are employed women. The mental health of the mother appears to be more closely related to the employment status of her spouse than to her own employment status

Groundwater surface mapping informs sources of catchment baseflow

This work is funded by the Australian Research Council Discovery Project scheme through project DP120100253. We greatly appreciate the provision of groundwater chemistry data and introduction to the Gellibrand catchment by Alex Atkinson and Ian Cartwright from Monash University. We thank two anonymous reviewers and Ian Cartwright for their insightful and constructive reviews that helped improve this paper.Peer reviewedPublisher PD

Social Class, Religion And Contraceptive Failure In A Sample Of Pregnant Women In Brisbane

The reproductive intent of women at the time of conception has been largely ignored in the social science and epidemiological literature. This is surprising in view of its likely relevance to a wide range of health and welfare issues. Despite the possible short and long term consequences of unplanned reproductive activity, it appears that we know a good deal more about the factors influencing decisions to acquire many consumer goods than we do about the factors influencing the decision to reproduce. The easy availability of contraception and a high level of literacy may contribute to an assumption that women have considerable control over their fertility. The received wisdom relating to reproductive intent suggests that most women are pregnant because they planned their pregnancy. In this study a large sample (4000) of pregnant women were asked about the beginning of their pregnancies. Women were specifically asked about the method of contraception they last used and whether their pregnancy was a consequence of a failure of contraception. Social, economic and religious variables were examined to assess the extent to which these were associated with differing rates of contraceptive failure