Potential of covalently linked tamoxifen hybrids for cancer treatment: recent update.

Cancer is a complex disease and the second leading cause of death globally, and breast cancer is still a leading cause of cancer death in women. Tamoxifen is the most commonly used drug for breast cancer (ER-positive) treatment and chemoprevention, saving the lives of millions of patients every year. In addition, the tamoxifen template has been explored extensively for the development of selective estrogen receptor modulators (SERMs) applicable in breast cancer, osteoporosis, and postmenopausal symptom treatment. Numerous anticancer drugs, including tamoxifen, are in use, but the complexity and heterogeneous nature of cancer complicate the effect of conventional targeted drugs, leading to adverse reactions and resistance. One of the significant approaches to overcome these shortcomings is drug hybrids, generated by covalently linking two or more active pharmacophores. These drug hybrids are remarkably effective in acting on multiple drug targets with higher selectivity and specificity. In recent years, several tamoxifen hybrids have been discovered as potential candidates for cancer treatment. The review highlights the recent progress in developing anticancer hybrids, including organometallic, fluorescent, photocaged, and novel ligand-based tamoxifen hybrids. It also demonstrates the significance of merging various pharmacophores with tamoxifen to produce more potent, precise, and effective anticancer agents. The study offers valuable knowledge to researchers working on cancer research with the hope of enhancing drug potency and reducing drug toxicity to improve cancer patients' lives.

Characterizing Covalently Sidewall-Functionalized SWCNTs by using 1H NMR Spectroscopy.

Unambiguous evidence for covalent sidewall functionalization of single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) has been a difficult task, especially for nanomaterials in which slight differences in functionality structure produce significant changes in molecular characteristics. Nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy provides clear information about the structural skeleton of molecules attached to SWCNTs. In order to establish the generality of proton NMR as an analytical technique for characterizing covalently functionalized SWCNTs, we have obtained and analyzed proton NMR data of SWCNT-substituted benzenes across a variety of para substituents. Trends obtained for differences in proton NMR chemical shifts and the impact of o-, p-, and m-directing effects of electrophilic aromatic substituents on phenyl groups covalently bonded to SWCNTs are discussed.

Early detection of a blood transfusion reaction utilizing a wireless remote monitoring device.

Continuously monitoring vital signs on general care units may provide earlier detection and intervention of instabilities in patients. These earlier interventions could prevent deaths and admission to critical care units, thereby increasing patient safety and improving patient outcomes.

Recruiting children onto research studies by the Scottish Primary Care Research Network: a real team effort.

BACKGROUND: Recruiting for research studies is always a challenge, particularly in paediatric studies. Here we report on experiences recruiting children to five studies through primary care. METHODS: The Scottish Primary Care Research Network (SPCRN) has approval to identify for research studies eligible participants on primary care practice lists. The number of potential participants and the proportion recruited onto five paediatric studies are provided along with factors involved in recruiting practices and patients. RESULTS: A total of 4910 individuals were recruited, of whom 367 (7%) participated. Recruitment of practices varied between 7 and 44% for different studies. There was evidence that practices who had participated in previous studies were more likely to participate again. Patient participation was positively related to affluence and there was evidence that adults were more likely to participate than children. DISCUSSION: Despite the pressing clinical workload in primary care, many general practices are still able to make accommodation for research activity. What is required is effective communication between colleagues in primary care, researchers, the SPCRN and patients. Given that the majority of medicine is practiced in primary care, there is a desire for evidence-based medicine to be generated from primary care and the SPCRN and other networks can help to provide this.

Characterization of a tamoxifen-tethered single-walled carbon nanotube conjugate by using NMR spectroscopy.

We report the synthesis and characterization of a tamoxifen-tethered single-walled carbon nanotube (SWCNT) conjugate, in which tamoxifen is covalently attached to the single-walled carbon nanotube via oxidation and esterification reactions for the first time. The functionalized SWCNT derivative was characterized by using spectroscopic techniques: IR, UV-vis, Raman, and (1)H NMR Spectroscopy. The attachment of the drug tamoxifen to SWCNTs is analogous to the gold conjugate, which provided an endocrine treatment for breast cancer.

Regiochemical Reversals in Nitrosobenzene Reactions with Carbonyl Compounds: α-Aminooxyketone versus α-Hydroxyaminoketone Products.

The Lewis acid-catalyzed reaction of nitrosobenzene with a ketone can produce an α-aminooxyketones or an α-hydroxyaminoketone, with reaction regiochemistry switching from the latter to the former, dependent upon the addition of Lewis acid or sterically-hindered solvent. While the latter (C-N bond formation) is easily explained by attack of the enolate α-carbon at N, the former (C-O bond formation) has been an enigma, with few proposed explanations, and none which explain simultaneously formation of both products and all the regiochemical reversals. Herein, the regiochemistry reversal is proposed to occur via (1) nucleophile formation governed by Hard and Soft Acids and Bases (HSAB) theory, (2) a nucleophilic attack by the enolate O at N, followed by (3) a [2,3]-sigmatropic rearrangement. This mechanistic pathway and HSAB considerations account for formation of both products and explain the three reported regiochemistry reversals, which are observed upon the introduction of (A) Lewis acid catalyst, (B) AcOH, or (C) solvent bulkiness.

Nurse adoption of continuous patient monitoring on acute post-surgical units: managing technology implementation.

AIM: To report an exploratory action-research process used during the implementation of continuous patient monitoring in acute post-surgical nursing units. BACKGROUND: Substantial US Federal funding has been committed to implementing new health care technology, but failure to manage implementation processes may limit successful adoption and the realisation of proposed benefits. Effective approaches for managing barriers to new technology implementation are needed. METHOD: Continuous patient monitoring was implemented in three of 13 medical/surgical units. An exploratory action-feedback approach, using time-series nurse surveys, was used to identify barriers and develop and evaluate responses. Post-hoc interviews and document analysis were used to describe the change implementation process. RESULTS: Significant differences were identified in night- and dayshift nurses' perceptions of technology benefits. Research nurses' facilitated the change process by evolving 'clinical nurse implementation specialist' expertise. CONCLUSIONS: Health information technology (HIT)-related patient outcomes are mediated through nurses' acting on new information but HIT designed for critical care may not transfer to acute care settings. Exploratory action-feedback approaches can assist nurse managers in assessing and mitigating the real-world effects of HIT implementations. IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING MANAGEMENT: It is strongly recommended that nurse managers identify stakeholders and develop comprehensive plans for monitoring the effects of HIT in their units.

Alkene selenenylation: A comprehensive analysis of relative reactivities, stereochemistry and asymmetric induction, and their comparisons with sulfenylation.

A broad perspective of various factors influencing alkene selenenylation has been developed by concurrent detailed analysis of key experimental and theoretical data, such as asymmetric induction, stereochemistry, relative reactivities, and comparison with that of alkene sulfenylation. Alkyl group branching α to the double bond was shown to have the greatest effect on alkene reactivity and the stereochemical outcome of corresponding addition reactions. This is in sharp contrast with other additions to alkenes, which depend more on the degree of substitution on C=C or upon substituent electronic effects. Electronic and steric effects influencing asymmetric induction, stereochemistry, regiochemistry, and relative reactivities in the addition of PhSeOTf to alkenes are compared and contrasted with those of PhSCl.

Statistical Trends in Women's Participation in Science: Commentary on Valla and Ceci (2011).

Valla and Ceci (2011, this issue) describe the participation of women in science and claim that the increases in quantitative fields (e.g., mathematics, engineering, and physical sciences) are an exception to the statement that "Women's growth in the scientific workforce has been meteoric over the past 40 years" (p. 134). We disagree and present statistics demonstrating a more positive view of the increase of the number of women in quantitative fields.

Effect of Single-Walled Carbon Nanotube Association upon H NMR Spectra of Representative Organonitrogen Compounds.

This report is important to achieving SWCNT solvation, understanding adsorption of molecules on SWCNT surfaces, and SWCNT characterization by NMR. Complexation of 1-methyl-2-pyrrolidone (NMP) and other selected organonitrogens with single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) was studied by proton nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR). The magnitude of (1)H NMR chemical shift change upon SWCNT:organonitrogen complex formation represents the strength of the association. Magnitudes of changes in NMR signals of different protons in the organonitrogen reveal which protons are in close proximity to SWCNTs. Results reveal that (1) in amides and aminoketones, SWCNT association with carbonyls is stronger than with nitrogen, (2) in aminoalcohols, SWCNT association with nitrogen is stronger than with oxygen, and (3) protons bonded to heteroatoms have greater changes in their chemical shifts than those bonded to carbons. Changes (broadening and downfield shifts) in (1)H NMR signals of the organonitrogen compounds, which accompany SWCNT:organonitrogen association, are dependent upon (1) type of proton within R (α, ß, etc.), (2) proximity to the carbonyl (R-CO versus NR(2)), (3) steric effects of alkyls, (4) electronic effects of alkyls, and (5) effects of tethering two ends of a molecule.

Pristine single-walled carbon nanotube purity evaluation by using (1)H NMR spectroscopy.

Proper purity characterization of single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) is an increasingly hot topic in the area of carbon nanotechnology. There are inconsistencies in purity characterization of SWCNT from manufacturers and in the literature. Purity of "as received," oven dried, and NaHCO(3)-washed SWCNTs of three commercially available brands (NanoLab, SWeNT, and HiPco) is explored by using a consistent methodology via proton nuclear magnetic resonance ((1)H NMR) spectroscopy comparison, across three NMR solvents: DMSO-d (6), CDCl(3), and D(2)O. Important insights into the purity of commercially available SWCNT and the importance of washing (cleaning) samples before use are offered.

Using correlations to compare additions to alkenes: homogeneous hydrogenation by using Wilkinson's catalyst.

Plots of the logarithms of relative rates of homogeneous catalytic hydrogenation of alkenes (log k(rel) values) by using Wilkinson's catalyst versus their ionization potentials (IPs) and versus their lowest unoccupied molecular orbital energy levels (LUMOs) display good-to-excellent correlations. The correlations indicate that the rate-determining step of this reaction is a nucleophilic addition to the alkene double bond, which is dependent upon both electronic effects and steric effects. This conclusion is in agreement with only two of three previously proposed mechanisms for the reaction, effectively ruling out one in which the rate-determining step involves electrophilic addition to the alkene. Characteristics of the analysis using these correlations are compared and contrasted with other additions to alkenes, such as the Wacker oxidation, to probe patterns in transition state characteristics.