Thermally Induced trans-to-cis Isomerization and Its Photoinduced Reversal Monitored using Absorption and Luminescence: Cooperative Effect of Metal Coordination and Steric Substituent.

For ethene derivatives with large groups the cis-isomer is often quite unstable and unavailable. Herein, we report an exception of two stable coordination complexes, (cis-L)ZnCl2 , starting from trans-1,2-bis(1-R-benzo[d]imidazol-2-yl)ethene (R=H, L1; R=CH3 , L2) ligands under solvothermal condition (T ≥140 °C). Using the intensity of the absorption and luminescence spectra as probes we proposed its progressive cis-to-trans reversal upon irradiation with UV light, which was confirmed by powder X-ray diffraction (PXRD). Similar results observed in the series of (cis-L2)MII Cl2 [M=Fe (4), Co (5), Ni (6)] demonstrate the universal strategy. The results of PXRD, NMR spectroscopy, ESI-MS and DFT calculations support the above conclusion. NMR spectroscopy indicates that irradiation of 1 converts an optimized 71 % of the cis-isomer to trans, whereas the free trans-L1 ligand transforms to only 15 % cis-isomer under similar conditions.

[Eleven fatal cases with A H1N1 influenza in Tianjin].

OBJECTIVE: To describe the clinical characteristics of fatal cases with confirmed A H1N1 influenza so as to improve the diagnosis and treatment of this severe disease. METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed the medical records of 11 fatal cases with A H1N1 influenza in Tianjin between September 1 and November 4 2009. RESULTS: There were 6 males and 5 females with a median age of 25 (21 - 36) years old. Two cases were pregnant women and 3 patients suffered such concurrent disorders as dilated cardiomyopathy, multiple myeloma or atrophic gastritis. Over 3 lung fields were involved on chest imaging studies and the oxygenation index was less than 300 mm Hg at admission. The therapies of oseltamivir and methylprednisolone were administered and mechanical ventilation was initiated within 24 hours. Refractory hypoxemia and a higher level of lactate dehydrogenase were present during treatment. Pneumothorax or mediastinal emphysema occurred in 4 patients, acute renal failure in 1 and pneumopyothorax in 1. The culture of airway secretion at 3 - 7 days after mechanical ventilation showed Staphylococcus aureus in 4 patients and Aspergillus in 2. The progress of disease was so quick that the duration from onset of clinical symptoms to hospitalization was a median of 4 (3 - 6) days and the duration from onset of clinical symptoms to death a median of 12 days. CONCLUSION: The fatal cases with A H1N1 influenza in Tianjin occurred mostly in young individuals and pregnant women. This severe disease had a rapid progression. And bacterial co-infections were quite common. Refractory hypoxemia resulting in respiratory failure was the main mortality reason.

[Biological effect of gamma-rays and LPS on the murine macrophage cell line RAW264.7 in mice].

AIM: To explore the effect of activating the murine macrophage cell line RAW264.7 by both gamma-rays and lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and to study the expression of calcium-binding protein S100A8 induced by gamma-rays and LPS. METHODS: The RAW264.7 cells were observed by phase contrast microscope. The cell cycle and the level of reactive oxygen intermediates (ROIs) were detected by flow cytometry (FCM). The production of NO was measured by colorimetric Griess reaction. The mRNA expression of S100A8 was recorded by real-time quantitative RT-PCR method. RESULTS: The exposure of RAW264.7 cells to gamma-rays and LPS resulted in the morphological change of cells, the rise of cells number of aneuploid and apoptosis, and the rise of the level of ROI, NO and S100A8 mRNA. The effect of using both gamma-rays and LPS was stronger than that of single gamma-rays or LPS treatment. CONCLUSION: The mechanism of using both gamma-rays and LPS for activating macrophages is owing to the various biological effects including the change of cell cycle, the change of the level of messenger molecules and the expression of inflammation factor such as S100A8. The expression of S100A8 gene is closely correlated with the function and state of macrophages.

Reliability and validity of Job Content Questionnaire in Chinese petrochemical employees.

To evaluate psychometric properties the Chinese (mainland) version of the 30-item Job Content Questionnaire was administered to 889 employees in 4 industries of PetroChina. A retest at 3 months with 296 randomly chosen employees showed reliabilities ranged from .76 to .93. Cronbach coefficients alpha for the 8 dimensions ranged from .43 to .88, indicating that the Job Insecurity subscale had low internal consistency. Exploratory factor analysis showed 8 meaningful factors corresponding to the 8 theoretical dimensions of this questionnaire. This version has variable a but suitable retest to be a reliable and valid measure of job strain, applicable to the Chinese industrial working population of PetroChina.