Synthesis of Vinyl-Containing Polydimethylsiloxane in An Active Medium.

This research deals with the synthesis of copoly(methylvinyl)(dimethyl)siloxanes by the copolycondensation of dimethyldiethoxy- and methylvinyldimethoxysilane in an active medium, followed by thermal condensation in a vacuum. We achieved a range of copolymers exhibiting finely tuned molecular weights spanning between 1500 and 20,000 with regulated functional methylvinylsiloxane units. Analysis of the microstructure showed that the copolymerization predominantly formed products demonstrating a random distribution of units (R~1). However, an increase in the content of vinyl-containing monomers increases the R parameter, indicating an enhanced tendency towards alternating linkages within the copolymer matrix.

Synthesis of Siloxane Derivatives of Phenylboronic Acids of Different Structures.

The synthesis of a storage-stable organosilicon modifier with a dioxaborolane-protecting group is described. Its high reactivity and selective anti-Markovnikov addition in hydrosilylation reactions to afford siloxanes of various structures are shown. The possibility of deprotection of both the initial modifier and its siloxane derivatives under mild conditions using water in yields up to 96% is demonstrated. The existence of an equilibrium between the organosilicon derivatives of phenylboronic acids and their cyclic six-membered boroxines was confirmed by 1H NMR spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction analysis data. The use of siloxane derivatives of phenylboronic acids in Suzuki-Miyaura and Chan-Lam cross-coupling reactions was studied. All synthesized compounds were characterized by NMR (1H, 11B, 13C, and 29Si), IR spectroscopy, and high-resolution mass spectrometry.

Caring for the Family Caregiver: Development of a Caregiver Clinic at a Cancer Hospital as Standard of Care.

Family caregivers make significant contributions to the overall care of cancer patients and are the "invisible backbone" of the health care system. Family caregivers experience a wide range of challenges and can be considered patients in their own right, requiring support and dedicated attention, which may benefit them, the patients they are caring for, and the health care system. Despite consistent evidence on caregiver distress and unmet needs, most cancer care is organized around the patient as the target of care and caregiver distress is not screened for or addressed systematically. This article describes the development of a novel clinical, educational, and research program dedicated to supporting family caregivers at the Princess Margaret Cancer Center, Toronto, Canada and presents a model for a brief psychosocial intervention for caregivers. The objective of this article is to assist others in developing services to address the needs of family caregivers as a standard of care.

The impact of coronavirus disease 2019 on medical assistance in dying.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: The COVID-19 pandemic and measures to contain its impact are drastically altering end-of-life and grief experiences around the world, including the practice and experience of medical assistance in dying (MAiD). RECENT FINDINGS: Recent published literature on the impact of COVID-19 on MAiD can be described under the following categories: studies investigating the impact of COVID-19 on MAiD from the healthcare providers' perspective; studies investigating the impact of COVID-19 on MAiD from the patient/family perspective; and opinion papers that review the impact of COVID-19 on MAiD from a legal-ethical perspective. Most of these studies were either conducted in Canada or included mostly Canadian participants. SUMMARY: Recent published research on the impact of COVID-19 on MAiD highlights the tensions between COVID-19 restrictions and individual control over the circumstances of dying, and the resulting impact on patient and family suffering and on moral injury for their MAiD providers. These reports may help inform risk mitigation strategies for the current pandemic and future similar public health crises that acknowledge the value of humane, family-centered care at the end of life.

Dumbbell-Shaped, Graft and Bottlebrush Polymers with All-Siloxane Nature: Synthetic Methodology, Thermal, and Rheological Behavior.

A methodology for synthesizing a wide range of dumbbell-shaped, graft and bottlebrush polymers with all-siloxane nature (without carbosilane linkers) is suggested. These macroarchitectures are synthesized from SiOH-containing compounds-silanol (Et3 SiOH) and siloxanol dendrons of the first and second generations, with various peripheral substituents (Me or Et)-and from linear siloxanes comprising terminal and internal SiH groups by the Piers-Rubinsztajn reaction. Products and key building blocks are obtained in yields up to 95%. These polymers are heat and frost-resistant siloxanes. As it turns out, the product physical properties are determined not only by the macromolecular structure, the linear chain length, the size and frequency of branched pendant, but also by the type of peripheral substituents-Me or Et-in the pendant. Thus, the viscosity of the graft polymers with branched pendant groups comprising peripheral Me-groups is more than ≈3-5 fold lower than that of analogous polymers with peripheral Et-groups.

Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy Intervention for Young Adults with Cancer: A Pilot Mixed-Method Study.

Purpose: Group mindfulness-based interventions are emerging as a promising, nonstigmatizing, and cost-effective strategy that may improve the well-being of individuals living with cancer. This study is a pilot pre-post mixed-method study to examine the feasibility, acceptability, and effects of an 8-week Mindfulness-based Cognitive Therapy group for Young Adults with Cancer (YA-MBCT). Methods: We approached young adults with cancer, who enrolled in YA-MBCT groups, offered at a large cancer hospital in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Feasibility and acceptability were assessed through attendance rate and a postintervention satisfaction scale. Psychosocial outcomes were evaluated with a pre-post questionnaire package, with validated self-report measures, assessing depression, anxiety, perceived stress, quality of life, mindfulness, and self-compassion. Qualitative interviews were completed among a subset of participants to gain additional feedback. Results: Participants were 70 young adults with cancer, recruited from five YA-MBCT groups. Sixty participants (85%) attended a minimum of six of eight sessions, and overall satisfaction rates were high. All psychosocial outcomes demonstrated statistically significant changes (p < 0.01), with medium to large effect sizes (Cohen's d > 0.5). Qualitative interviews (n = 14) demonstrated overall positive views about the intervention, and provided insight into unique age-specific benefits, including reducing fear of cancer recurrence, improving body image, and creating a sense of belonging. Conclusion: The YA-MBCT is feasible and acceptable among young adults with cancer, with the potential to improve psychosocial outcomes. Our preliminary results should be replicated with larger studies with an active control group.

Conjugate Addition of Carbon Acids to ß,γ-Unsaturated α-Keto Esters: Product Tautomerism and Applications for Asymmetric Synthesis of Benzo[a]phenazin-5-ol Derivatives.

A correlation between the equilibrium ratio of tautomeric products generated by the asymmetric Michael reactions of cyclic carbon acids with ß,γ-unsaturated α-keto esters and the chemical shift of the α-proton in starting nucleophilic substrates was revealed which makes equilibration predictable. New tetrahydropyran-fused benzo[a]phenazins were enantioselectively (up to 99% ee) synthesized from ß,γ-unsaturated α-keto esters and benzo[a]phenazin-5-ol, a powerful anti-cancer agent sAJM589. Facile recyclability of catalyst Ia in the catalytic reactions was demonstrated.

Synthesis and In Vitro Anticancer Activity of 6-Ferrocenylpyrimidin-4(3H)-one Derivatives.

AIM AND OBJECTIVE: Some ferrocenyl derivatives are active in vitro and in vivo against cancer. Generally, ferrocenyl derivatives for cancer research have three key components: a ferrocene moiety, a conjugated linker that lowers the oxidation potential and some derivative (peptide, nucleobase and others) that can interact with biomolecules. Since the pyrimidine fragment can easily pass through the membrane into the cells and become involved in metabolism; it appears to be promising. Furthermore, this fragment is an electron-acceptor group, so a spacer can be excluded. Therefore, the synthesis of 6-ferrocenylpyrimidin-4(3H)-one derivatives and the study of their anticancer activity have scientific and practical interest. METHODS: The syntheses of 6-ferrocenylpyrimidin-4(3H)-one derivatives were performed by the condensation of ethyl 3-ferrocenyl-3-oxopropionate with thiourea or acetamidine or guanidine. The cytotoxicity of four 6- ferrocenylpyrimidin-4(3H)-one derivatives was evaluated by using the MTT assay in vitro against Human breast adenocarcinoma MCF-7 and normal human skin fibroblast HSF cells. The tested derivatives induced a concentration-dependent cytotoxic response in cell lines. RESULTS: A study of the cytotoxic activity of 6-ferrocenylpyrimidin-4(3H)-one derivatives by the MTT test has found that all compounds have a dose-dependent toxic effect on the lines of breast cancer cells (MCF-7) and normal human fibroblast cells (HSF). The most pronounced cytotoxic effect is exhibited by 2-methyl-6-ferrocenylpyrimidin- 4(3H)-one (MCF-7, IC50 17 ± 1 µM). CONCLUSION: The experimental results confirm the importance of investigation and design of ferrocenylpyrimidin- 4(3H)-one derivatives as anticancer agents. Compounds where the pyrimidine derivatives are directly linked to the ferrocene unit rather than via a spacer group also may be of interest for antiproliferative drug design.

Nosocomial infections after cardiac surgery in infants and children: incidence and risk factors.

This prospective study was undertaken to determine the spectrum, sites and main risk factors for hospital-acquired infections (HAI) in our paediatric cardiothoracic intensive care unit (PCICU), and to determine the main organisms causing bloodstream infection in this setting. All patients admitted between January and December 1999 were prospectively followed for the development of HAI. To define risk factors, patients were grouped by age, complexity score, length of stay in PCICU, and whether the patient's chest was open or closed postoperatively. Three hundred and thirty-five patients underwent cardiac surgery. Fifty-five patients acquired 69 HAIs (HAI patient rate 16.4%). The most common HAI were bloodstream and surgical wound infection in 10 and 8%, respectively. The main causative organisms were Klebsiella spp.,Enterobacter spp. and Pseudomonas spp. in 22, 17 and 16% of episodes, respectively. Staphylococcus spp. accounted for 16% of episodes. The main risk factors for developing HAI were: neonatal age [P < 0.05, odds ratio (OR): 5.89, 95% confidence interval (CI): 2.96-11.58] prolonged PCICU stay (P < 0.05, OR: 6.82, 95% CI: 3.37-14.48), open chest postoperatively (P < 0.05, OR: 3.44, 95% CI: 1.31-8.52) and high complexity score (P < 0.05, OR: 4.03 95% CI: 1.87-8.43). The main causative organisms of bloodstream infections in children hospitalized in the PCICU differ from those in adult and pediatric general intensive care units (ICUs) and include mainly Gram-negative bacilli. High complexity score, neonatal age, prolonged ICU stay, and open chest postoperatively are risk factors of HAI in this patient population.