Water-soluble and photo-stable silver(I) dicarboxylate complexes containing 1,10-phenanthroline ligands: Antimicrobial and anticancer chemotherapeutic potential, DNA interactions and antioxidant activity.

The complexes [Ag2(OOC-(CH2)n-COO)] (n=1-10) (1-10) were synthesised and reacted with 1,10-phenanthroline (phen) to yield derivatives formulating as [Ag2(phen)x(OOC-(CH2)y-COO)]·zH2O (x=2 or 3; y=1-10; z=1-4) (11-20) which are highly water-soluble and photo-stable in aqueous solution. The phen derivatives 11-20 exhibit chemotherapeutic potential against Candida albicans, Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa and against cisplatin-sensitive breast (MCF-7) and resistant ovarian (SKOV-3) cancer cell lines. Cyclic voltammetric analysis and DNA binding and intercalation studies indicate that the mechanism of action of 11-20 is significantly different to that of their silver(I) dicarboxylate precursors and they do not induce DNA damage or ROS generation in mammalian cells. The representative complexes 9 and 19 (containing the undecanedioate ligand) were both found to significantly reduce superoxide and hydrogen peroxide induced oxidative stress in the yeast S. cerevisiae.

Giovanni Maria Lancisi (1654-1720): anatomist and papal physician.

Giovanni Maria Lancisi (1654-1720) was an Italian physician who made significant contributions to many fields of medicine. De subitaneis mortibus was the first autoptic manuscript, suggesting that myocardial disease was a factor in a 1706 sudden death epidemic in Rome. His book De motu cordis et aneurysmatibus described the pathology and etiology of aneurysms, and Tractatus de urinis was the first discussion of the physiological mechanism of urine formation. Arguably, Lancisi's most notable medical contribution was the anatomical description of the medial longitudinal striae of the corpus callosum, in addition to other documents he wrote in the field of neurology. Aside from his medical work, Lancisi developed the "stamping out" method for eradication of the cattle plague in Europe, and he contributed to early work in malarial research. Lancisi was a multifaceted man with vast interests outside of medicine including language and literature. Over the course of his life, Lancisi opened his own medical library, was chair of anatomy for 13 years at Sapienza University, and served as papal physician to three popes.

Ascending aortic aneurysms in unicommissural aortic valve disease.

BACKGROUND: Aneurysms of the ascending aorta occur as result of intrinsic changes in the aortic wall and have been well documented in patients with bicuspid aortic valve (BAV). In few reported clinical studies, documenting aneurysmal dilatation in unicommissural aortic valves (UAV); there have been no comments on the aortic wall pathology. This study presents the pathological findings of the ascending aorta in patients with UAV. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The clinical data from 39 patients with concomitant excision of the UAV and aneurysmal aortic tissue were reviewed. In all cases, the gross features of the valve and aortic segments were noted and submitted for histology. The sections of the aorta were semi-quantitatively graded for the extent of medionecrosis, cystic medial change, fibrosis, and elastic tissue changes (fragmentation/ loss) in the media. The medial alterations were correlated with patient age, gender, and valvular dysfunction, and compared to aneurysmal disease in BAV and three-cuspid aortic valves (TAV) excised over a 3-year period. RESULTS: Among 39 patients studied, a majority were males (92.3%), with a mean age at surgery of 39.92 years. Only three patients (7.69%) were above the age of 50 years. Eighteen patients (46.1%) had aortic stenosis with regurgitation. Ascending aorta diameters ranged from 4 to 5.5 cm. The overall pattern of medial changes was nearly the same in all cases of UAV, irrespective of age and nature of valvular dysfunction. Most cases showed mild histological changes, with medionecrosis and fibrosis being the more common and consistent features. However, varying grades of change affected different portions of the media and/or the aortic wall in the same patient. The changes in UAV aortae were comparable to the changes seen in the TAV and BAV, but these differed with the age of onset. CONCLUSIONS: This study demonstrates the presence of medial changes in the ascending aortic tissue in all patients of UAV with aneurysms. These changes, while mild to moderate in degree, likely have a similar pathogenetic mechanism as those seen in BAV disease. The significant difference in age, at the time of surgery, suggests a more rapid progression of the aortic changes.

Surgical pathology of chronic ascending aortic dissections.

AIMS: A majority of aortic dissections affect the ascending aorta and are acute in nature. Chronic dissections in this region are uncommon. This report characterises the clinicopathological features of 15 non-iatrogenic chronic ascending aortic dissections. METHODS: Among 65 patients who had surgery for ascending aortic dissection over a period of 6 years, 15 showed morphological evidence of chronic dissection. Clinical data and morphological features of these were analysed. RESULTS: Twelve patients (80%) were over the age of 50 years, with a male predominance (11 patients, 73.33%). Exertional dyspnoea was the most common presenting symptom, while chest pain was noted in three cases. An echocardiographic diagnosis of dissection was made in six patients. The disease was restricted to the ascending aorta in nine (60%) and all had aortic regurgitation of varying severity. Areas of recent dissection were also noted in three specimens. The risk factors or pathogenetic mechanisms noted were hypertension in four and Marfan's syndrome, penetrating atherosclerotic ulcer, patent ductus arteriosus, and vehicular accident, in one patient each. The aortic segment of the latter patient had shown intimal flaps to be associated with multiple saucer-shaped depressions with thin walls. These features were also noted in two of the seven patients without risk factors and in two hypertensives. This raises the possibility of subclinical intimal injury sustained during sudden deceleration with blunt chest trauma. Significant aortopathy was seen in 10 cases. CONCLUSIONS: Chronic dissections as a cause of aortic regurgitation and aneurysmal dilatation, especially in the elderly, should be kept in mind. This may follow sudden deceleration intimal injuries, superimposed on aged-related medial degeneration.

Inflammatory myofibroblastic tumor with valvular involvement: a case report and review of the literature.

BACKGROUND: Inflammatory myofibroblastic tumor (IMT) of the heart is extremely rare with unpredictable clinical expression. IMTs, characterized by spindle cells, plasma cells, and a polymorphic inflammatory infiltrate, have a predilection for children and young adults. Clinically, IMT mimics malignancy, making a definitive diagnosis difficult, prior to histopathological examination. METHODS AND RESULTS: We describe a case of an intracardiac IMT in a 69-year-old woman. Histopathological examination of excised specimens revealed a marked, polymorphic, infiltrate of lymphocytes and plasma cells. CONCLUSIONS: Cardiac IMTs are benign lesions with favorable prognosis. Herein, we present this case, along with a review of all cardiac IMTs published after the last review in 2002, with emphasis on clinical, pathologic, and immunohistochemical features.

The Ross procedure--valvular pathology of synchronous pulmonary autograft and homograft insufficiency.

We report the morphological changes in a patient with combined pulmonary autograft and homograft dysfunction after 9 years of implantation. The case highlights long-term adaptive changes in the autograft to withstand systemic blood pressure with formation of exuberant pannus rich in elastic tissue. In the homograft, maturation of pannus had produced shortening of the 3 cusps with resultant incompetence.