CdII-based compound as a multi-responsive fluorescent probe for sensing FeIII cations and CrVI oxyanions.

A new luminescent CdII compound, poly[[µ2-1,4-bis(1H-imidazol-1-yl)benzene]{µ2-5-[(3-carboxylphenoxy)methyl]isophthalato}cadmium(II)], [Cd(C16H10O7)(C12H10N4)]n or [Cd(HL)(1,4-bib)]n {H3L is 5-[(3-carboxyphenoxy)methyl]isophthalic acid and 1,4-bib is 1,4-bis(1H-imidazol-1-yl)benzene}, I, has been synthesized successfully from CdII and a semirigid tricarboxylic ligand under hydrothermal conditions. Structure analysis shows that I is a two-dimensional structure with the point symbol {44.62}. The three-dimensional framework is constructed by O-H...O hydrogen bonds and π-π stacking interactions. Furthermore, the obtained CdII compound displays high solvent stability and excellent thermal stability, as shown by powder X-ray diffraction and thermogravimetry measurements. Studies of the luminescence properties reveal that compound I can act as a promising luminescent sensor for detecting FeIII cations and CrVI oxyanions with high selectivity and low detection limits (0.19 µM for Fe3+ and 1.13 µM for Cr2O72-), and is additionally free from the interference of other ions. The mechanism of selective quenching was studied by measuring the UV-Vis absorption of the host compound and the target analytes.

Antimyoclonic Effect of Levetiracetam and Clonazepam Combined Treatment on Myoclonic Epilepsy with Ragged-Red Fiber Syndrome with m.8344A>G Mutation.

BACKGROUND: Treatment of myoclonic seizures in myoclonic epilepsy with ragged-red fibers (MERRFs) has been empirical and ineffective. Guideline on this disease is not available. Additional trials must be conducted to find more suitable treatments for it. In this study, the antimyoclonic effects of monotherapies, including levetiracetam (LEV), clonazepam (CZP), valproic acid (VPA), and topiramate (TPM) compared to combination therapy group with LEV and CZP on MERRF, were evaluated to find a more advantageous approach on the treatment of myoclonic seizures. METHODS: Treatments of myoclonic seizures with VPA, LEV, CZP, and TPM were reported as monotherapies in 17 MERRF patients from Qilu Hospital between 2003 and 2016, who were diagnosed through clinical data and genetic testing. After 1-4 months of follow-up (mean: 82.9 ± 28.1 days), 12 patients that exhibited poor responses to monotherapy were given a combined treatment consisting of LEV and CZP subsequently. The follow-up period was 4-144 months (mean: 66.3 ± 45.3 months), the effective rates of monotherapy group (17 patients) and combination therapy group (12 patients) were analyzed by Chi-square test. RESULTS: The m.8344 A>G mutation was detected in all patients. There were four patients with partial response (4/17, two in the CZP group and two in the LEV group), ten patients with stable disease (10/17, six in the CZP group, three in the LEV group, and one in the TPM group), and three patients with progressive disease (3/18, two in the VPA group and one in the TPM group). Twelve of the patients with LEV combined with CZP showed a positive effect and good tolerance (12/12), eight of them demonstrated improved cognition and coordination. There was a significant difference between the monotherapy group and combination therapy group in the efficacy of antimyoclonic seizures (χ2 = 13.7, P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: LEV in combination with CZP is an efficient and safe treatment for myoclonic seizures in patients with this disease exhibiting the m.8344A>G mutation.

A Monte Carlo approach to estimate the uncertainty in soil CO2 emissions caused by spatial and sample size variability.

The soil CO2 emission is recognized as one of the largest fluxes in the global carbon cycle. Small errors in its estimation can result in large uncertainties and have important consequences for climate model predictions. Monte Carlo approach is efficient for estimating and reducing spatial scale sampling errors. However, that has not been used in soil CO2 emission studies. Here, soil respiration data from 51 PVC collars were measured within farmland cultivated by maize covering 25 km(2) during the growing season. Based on Monte Carlo approach, optimal sample sizes of soil temperature, soil moisture, and soil CO2 emission were determined. And models of soil respiration can be effectively assessed: Soil temperature model is the most effective model to increasing accuracy among three models. The study demonstrated that Monte Carlo approach may improve soil respiration accuracy with limited sample size. That will be valuable for reducing uncertainties of global carbon cycle.

The value of T(2) (*)-weighted gradient echo imaging for detection of familial cerebral cavernous malformation: A study of two families.

The aim of this study was to investigate the value of T(2) (*)-weighted gradient echo imaging (GRE T(2) (*)-WI) for the detection of familial cerebral cavernous malformation (FCCM). Twenty-six members of 2 families with FCCM were examined using computed tomography (CT), conventional magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and GRE T(2) (*)-WI sequences. We identified 12 cases of FCCM using GRE T(2) (*)-WI sequences. These 12 patients had multiple lesions (mean 23). The lesions were most commonly located in the ganglia. Other areas included the cortex-subcortex, thalamus, cerebellum and brainstem. These lesions appeared as a reticulated core of mixed signal intensity with a surrounding rim of decreased signal intensity representing hemosiderin from previous hemorrhages. The mean numbers of lesions and cases of FCCM identified by various conventional MRI sequences were 5-17 and 3-9, respectively. Conventional MRI examination involved T(1)-weighted imaging (T(1)WI), T(2)-weighted imaging (T(2)WI), T(2)-fluid-attenuated inversion recovery (T(2)Flair), diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) and spin-echo imaging (SE) sequences, in that order. The numbers of lesions identified by MRI were fewer than those identified by GRE T(2) (*)-WI. CT only identified 3 cases with large lesions combined with hemorrhage and calcification. These findings suggest that GRE T(2) (*)-WI is the first choice when diagnosing FCCM compared with CT and conventional MRI.