Frequency of thyroid dysfunction in pediatric patients with congenital heart disease exposed to iodinated contrast media - a long-term observational study.

Background The thyroid gland of patients with congenital heart disease may be exposed to large doses of iodine from various sources. We assessed the thyroid response after iodine exposure during conventional angiography in cardiac catheterization and angiographic computer tomography in childhood. Methods Retrospective mid- to long-term follow-up of 104 individuals (24% neonates, 51% infants, 25% children) with a median age and body weight of 104 days [0-8 years] and 5.3 kg [1.6-20]. Serum levels of thyroid-stimulating hormone, free triiodthyronine and free thyroxine were evaluated at baseline and after excess iodine. We also assessed risk factors that may affect thyroid dysfunction. Results Baseline thyroidal levels were within normal range in all patients. The mean cumulative iodinate contrast load was 6.6 ± 1.6 mL/kg. In fact, 75% had experienced more than one event involving iodine exposure, whose median frequency was three times per patient [1-12]. During the median three years follow-up period [0.5-10], the incidence of thyroid dysfunction was 15.4% (n=16). Those patients developed acquired hypothyroidism (transient n=14, long-lasting n=2 [both died]) with 10 of them requiring temporary replacement therapy for transient thyroid dysfunction, while four patients recovered spontaneously. 88 individuals (84.6%) remained euthyroid. Repeated cardiac interventions, use of drugs that interfere with the thyroid and treatment in the intensive care unit at the index date were strong predictors for acquired thyroid dysfunction. Conclusions The incidence of acquired hypothyroidism after iodine excess was 15.4%. However, most patients developed only transient hypothyroidism. Systemic iodine exposure seems to be clinically and metabolically well tolerated during long-term follow-up.

Flupyradifurone: a brief profile of a new butenolide insecticide.

BACKGROUND: The development and commercialisation of new chemical classes of insecticides for efficient crop protection measures against destructive invertebrate pests is of utmost importance to overcome resistance issues and to secure sustainable crop yields. Flupyradifurone introduced here is the first representative of the novel butenolide class of insecticides active against various sucking pests and showing an excellent safety profile. RESULTS: The discovery of flupyradifurone was inspired by the butenolide scaffold in naturally occurring stemofoline. Flupyradifurone acts reversibly as an agonist on insect nicotinic acetylcholine receptors but is structurally different from known agonists, as shown by chemical similarity analysis. It shows a fast action on a broad range of sucking pests, as demonstrated in laboratory bioassays, and exhibits excellent field efficacy on a number of crops with different application methods, including foliar, soil, seed treatment and drip irrigation. It is readily taken up by plants and translocated in the xylem, as demonstrated by phosphor imaging analysis. Flupyradifurone is active on resistant pests, including cotton whiteflies, and is not metabolised by recombinantly expressed CYP6CM1, a cytochrome P450 conferring metabolic resistance to neonicotinoids and pymetrozine. CONCLUSION: The novel butenolide insecticide flupyradifurone shows unique properties and will become a new tool for integrated pest management around the globe, as demonstrated by its insecticidal, ecotoxicological and safety profile.

Formation of cyclodimeric (sp(2)-C(1))-bridged Cp/-oxido ("CpC(1)O"M(IV)X(2)) group 4 metal Ziegler-Natta catalyst systems--how important is the "constrained geometry" effect?

Deprotonation of sodium acetylcyclopentadienide (11) was achieved by treatment with LDA in THF to generate the dianion equivalent [Cp-C(=CH(2))-O](2-)(12). Transmetalation with Cl(2)Ti(NMe(2))(2) gave ([Cp-C(=CH(2))-O]Ti(NMe(2))(2))(2) (17); treatment of 12 with Cl(2)Zr(NEt(2))(2)(THF)(2) furnished (([Cp-C(=CH(2))-O]Zr(NEt(2))(2))(2) (18). Cryoscopy in benzene revealed a dimeric structure of 18 in solution. Complex 18 was characterized further by an X-ray crystal structure analysis and by DFT calculations. The two zirconium centers of 18 are connected by means of two symmetry-equivalent eta(5):kappaO[Cp-C(=CH(2))-O] ligands. The ligand backbone shows no specific steric constraints, different from the formally related "constrained geometry" systems such as [Cp-SiMe(2)-NCMe(3)]Zr(NMe(2))(2) (1b). Nevertheless, upon treatment with MAO the CpCO group 4 metal complex system (18) generates an active homogeneous Ziegler-Natta catalyst for effective ethene/1-octene copolymerization, with up to 20% 1-octene having become incorporated in the resulting copolymer at 90 degrees C.