N-Heterocyclic carbene and cyclic (alkyl)(amino)carbene complexes of vanadium(III) and vanadium(V).

[VCl3(THF)3] offers a convenient entrance point into the chemistry of carbene stabilized V(III) complexes. Herein we report the paramagnetic mono- and biscarbene complexes [VCl3(cAACMe)] 1, [VCl3(cAACMe)(THF)] 1(thf), [VCl3(IMes)] 2, [{VCl2(IiPrMe)(µ-Cl)}2] 3, [VCl3(IDipp)] 4, [VCl3(SIDipp)] 5, [VCl3(SIDipp)(THF)] 5(thf), [VCl3(ItBu)] 6, [VCl3(cAACMe)2] 7 and [VCl3(IiPrMe)2] 8. Reaction of 1 with MesMgCl, MesLi and LiNPh2 afforded the complexes [VCl2(Mes)(cAACMe)] 9, [cAACMeH]+[VCl2Mes2]-10 and [VCl2(NPh2)(cAACMe)] 11. The V(V) complexes [V(O)Cl3(IDipp)] 12 and [V(O)Cl3(SIDipp)] 13 were selectively prepared from oxygen oxidation of 4 and 5. [V(O)Cl3(IDipp)] 12 and [V(O)Cl3(IMes)] react with isocyanates to yield the NHC-ligated imido complexes [V(N-p-CH3C6H4)Cl3(IDipp)] 14, [V(N-p-FC6H4)Cl3(IDipp)] 15, [V(N-p-CH3C6H4)Cl3(SIDipp)] 16, [V(N-p-FC6H4)Cl3(SIDipp)] 17, [V(N-p-CH3C6H4)Cl3(IMes)] 18 and [V(N-p-FC6H4)Cl3(IMes)] 19.

Does the principle of homologous groups allow a reduction of allergens in the skin prick test panel?

PURPOSE: Regulatory and economic conditions drive the application of the concept of homologous groups on therapeutic and diagnostic formulations. In this context, a possible reduction of allergens in the skin prick test panel in the clinical routine should be investigated for the grass, birch and Dermatophagoides homologous group. METHODS: Grass and cultivated rye skin prick test results of 1101 patients, birch/hazel/alder skin prick test results of 1131 patients and 1068 Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus and farinae skin prick tests were retrospectively evaluated with regard to sensitivity and false-negative rate detecting sensitization against cultivated rye with grass skin prick test, sensitization against hazel and/or alder with birch skin prick test and sensitization towards Dermatophagoides farinae with Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus skin prick test. RESULTS: Skin prick test results in all groups highly correlated in Spearman Rank Order correlation. Sensitivity of grass skin prick test detecting sensitization against cultivated rye was highest with 98.9%, sensitivity of birch skin prick test detecting sensitization toward hazel and alder was 95.6 and 90.0%, respectively. Sensitivity of skin prick test with Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus detecting sensitization towards Dermatophagoides farinae was 93.6%. Only 26 patients with positive rye, hazel, alder or Dermatophagoides farinae skin prick test that were overlooked by grass, birch or Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus skin prick test reported allergic symptoms. CONCLUSION: In routine clinical practice, sensitization against cultivated rye can safely be detected by skin prick test with grass allergen. In addition, the sensitivity of birch skin prick test is high in terms of sensitization towards hazel, but lower for alder. Sensitivity of Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus skin prick test also is high to detect sensitization towards Dermatophagoides farinae. Further research will indicate if several skin prick test allergens will disappear and be completely replaced by a single skin prick test based on the principle of homologous groups.

Psychopathy and trauma: Exploring a potential association.

This research presents a series of linked studies exploring the association between psychopathy and trauma. It comprises a systematic review (n = 58), followed by an expert Delphi (n = 19), and patient file trawl using a male forensic psychiatric patient sample (n = 66). An association between psychopathy and developmental trauma was predicted. It was further predicted that different types of trauma would be associated with different subtypes of psychopathy and that the severity of trauma would be important. The systematic review identified the following core themes: presence of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder and/or symptoms; trauma type; trauma/abuse variables; and sex differences. The ensuing Delphi study indicated the specific variant of psychopathy to be important, with secondary psychopathy particularly relevant. The final study found that the severity of developmental trauma related differentially to primary and secondary psychopathy. Implications and directions for future research are discussed, most notably with regards to the conceptualisation of psychopathy.

Cholesteatoma of the hypotympanum in a patient with Treacher Collins syndrome.

In the present article we report a cholesteatoma of the hypotympanum extending to the jugular foramen in a 16-year-old male with Treacher Collins syndrome. Preoperative imaging excluded jugular paraganglioma and set the diagnosis of cholesteatoma. We discuss the operative treatment via a large hypotympanotomy and creation of an open hypotympanic cavity. To the authors' knowledge this is the first description of hypotympanal cholesteatoma with such an extension, being treated through this approach.