Electrochemical control of the switching process of photochromic dimethyldihydropyrene derivatives.

The electrochemical control of the isomerization process of a photo-switchable dimethyldihydropyrene (DHP) derivative has been investigated. Spectro-electrochemical experiments clearly evidence that the substitution of the DHP core by electron-withdrawing entities can be used to control the opening/closing process.

Self-assembled dimethyldihydropyrene-pyridyl substituted ligands with zinc(ii) meso-tetraphenylporphyrin via axial coordination.

A series of dimethyldihydropyrene (DHP)-pyridyl photochromic derivatives has been synthesized and its photochemical behaviour characterized by spectroscopic and electrochemical methods. The corresponding noncovalently-linked electron donor-acceptor complexes have been isolated. They combine the DHP-pyridyl ligand as a donor and the zinc(ii) tetraphenylporphyrin as acceptor. Such association allowed to explore the efficiency of dative bonds to monitor the interactions between the two units.

Probing the photophysical capability of mono and bis(cyclometallated) Fe(ii) polypyridine complexes using inexpensive ground state DFT.

The abundance and low toxicity of iron with respect to ruthenium would certainly make it valuable for photophysical applications if one could circumvent its tendency to make high-spin compounds and the kinetic lability of its polypyridine complexes, both related to the presence of low-lying quintet metal-centered excited states. The aim of this study was to probe the photophysical potential of six cyclometallated Fe(ii) polypyridine complexes by means of ground state DFT and TDDFT calculations. Quantitative and qualitative indicators were extracted from such calculations and bring us to the conclusion that two complexes should display promising photophysical properties: Fe(NCN)(NNC) and Fe(NNC)2.

Bovine lactoferrin prevents invasive fungal infections in very low birth weight infants: a randomized controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: Lactoferrin is a mammalian milk glycoprotein involved in innate immunity. Recent data show that bovine lactoferrin (bLF) prevents late-onset sepsis in preterm very low birth weight (VLBW) neonates. METHODS: This is a secondary analysis of data from a multicenter randomized controlled trial where preterm VLBW neonates randomly received bLF (100 mg/day; group A1), bLF + Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG (10(6) colony-forming units per day; group A2), or placebo (group B) for 6 weeks. Here we analyze the incidence rates of fungal colonization, invasive fungal infection (IFI), and rate of progression from colonization to infection in all groups. RESULTS: This study included 472 neonates whose clinical, nutritional, and demographical characteristics were similar. Overall, the incidence of fungal colonization was comparable (17.6%, 16.6%, and 18.5% in A1, A2, and B, respectively; P = .89 [A1] and .77 [A2]). In contrast, IFIs were significantly decreased in A1 and A2 (0.7% and 2.0%, respectively) compared with B (7.7%; P = .002 [A1] and .02 [A2]), and this was significantly true both in <1000 g (0.9% [A1] and 5.6% [A2], vs 15.0%) and in 1001 to 1500 g infants (0% and 0% vs 3.7%). The progression rate colonization-infection was significantly lower in the bLF groups: 3.7% (A1) and 12% (A2), vs 41.9%; P < .001 (A1) and P = .02 (A2). No IFI-attributable deaths occurred in the treatment groups, versus 2 in placebo. No adverse effects or intolerances occurred. CONCLUSIONS: Prophylactic oral administration of bLF reduces the incidence of IFI in preterm VLBW neonates. No effect is seen on colonization. The protective effect on IFI is likely due to limitation of ability of fungal colonies to progress toward invasion and systemic disease in colonized infants.

Concepções sobre criatividade em atividades motoras / Conceptions about criativity in motor ativities

Esta pesquisa, pautada em princípios humanistas e nas concepções de docentes universitários da Educação Física, busca entender e interpretar os conceitos de criatividade e criatividade motora. Os dados foram obtidos por meio de questionário e entrevista semi-estruturada com 20 docentes universitários de diferentes faculdades de Educação Física da Grande São Paulo. A análise qualitativa aponta que a criatividade motora é um tipo diferenciado de criatividade que implica a expressão de idéias, sentimentos, emoções por meio da motricidade; depende de experiências anteriores, mas não necessariamente da técnica de movimentos dos esportes; além disso, a criatividade motora é considerada um atributo do profissional da Educação Física, assim como a comunicação verbal.

This research, based on humanistic principles and on the conceptions of the Physical Education Faculty teaching staff, seeks to understand and interpret the concepts of creativity and motor creativity. These data were obtained through questionnaires and semi-structured interviews with 20 university teachers of different Physical Education Faculties in São Paulo. The qualitative analysis and the data interpretation allow to conclude that motor creativity is a different kind of creativity that involves the expression of ideas, feelings and emotions thorough motion; depending on previous experience, but not necessarily on the technique of sports motion. Motor Creativity, like oral communication, is an important professional quality.

Massive cerebellar infarct complicated by hydrocephalus.

We report a case of massive cerebellar infarction in which CT and MRI led to the diagnosis of acute hydrocephalus. All the neurological symptoms cleared after CSF shunting.

Tratamento prolongado da vaginite atrófica pelo promestriene: resultados e tolerância / Prolonged treatment of athrophic vaginitis with promestriene: results and tolerance

Vinte pacientes menopausadas portadoras de vaginite atrófica com ausência de células superficiais ao esfregaço cito-hormonal foram tratadas durante quatro a seis meses, através de terapias mensais de 20 dias, com cápsulas vaginais de promestriene. O tratamento proporcionou modificaçäo significativa da citologia vaginal, que consistiu principalmente no desenvolvimento das células intermediárias às custas das células basais. Näo houve elevaçäo da taxa plasmática do estradiol e näo foi observada qualquer modificaçäo nos parâmetros clínicos e biológicos examinados. Tais conclusöes foram estatisticamente significativas. O estudo confirmou também a boa tolerância do promestriene administrado em tratamentos prolongados e/ou repetidos, freqüentemente necessários nas pacientes menopausadas.

[Reliability of Doppler ultrasonography in relation to computerized digital angiography in patients with carotid bruit]. / Affidabilità dell'ultrasonografia Doppler in rapporto all'angiografia digitale computerizzata in pazienti portatori di soffio carotideo.

The results of the carotid artery Doppler ultrasound examination were compared with those of digital subtraction angiography in 256 patients (187 men and 69 women) with carotid bruit. The hemodynamically significant stenoses of more than 50% and the occlusions in the 512 carotid arteries examined were considered and the sensibility, the specificity and the overall accuracy of the Doppler ultrasound examination were calculated. When a carotid stenosis was diagnosed a sensibility of 97%, a specificity of 95% and an overall accuracy of 96% was found, while, for the diagnosis of carotid occlusion, the extimated sensibility, specificity and overall accuracy was 95%. Therefore, the ability to recognize a normal or an occluded carotid artery was of 95% (we found 125 out of 131 normal carotid arteries and 52 out of 55 occluded carotid arteries), whereas a stenotic carotid artery was identified in the 97% of cases (316 out of 326 stenotic carotid arteries). When both diagnoses of carotid stenosis and carotid occlusion were considered together, the extimated sensibility, specificity and overall accuracy were of 98%, 95% and 98% respectively. So the probability of misdiagnosing was of 2% (we made 10 wrong diagnoses out of 512 carotid arteries examined).

[Concordance of carotid bruit and positivity of computerized digital angiography of the epiaortic vessels in carotid stenotico-occlusive pathology]. / Concordanza tra soffio carotideo e positività dell'angiografia digitale computerizzata dei vasi epiaortici nella patologia steno-occlusiva carotidea.

256 patients (187 men and 69 women, aged 60 on the average) with carotid artery bruits, underwent digital subtraction angiography of the epiaortic vessels. The carotid artery stenoses of more than 50% and the carotid artery occlusions have been considered angiographically and compared with the evidences of the auscultation over the carotid bifurcation. The sensibility, specificity and overall accuracy of the carotid bruits were estimated. The sensibility was of 95%, the specificity of 83% and the overall accuracy of 92% when a carotid artery stenosis of more than 50% was detected. When a carotid occlusion was found the sensibility was of 71%, the specificity of 84% and the overall accuracy of 80%. When both the carotid stenosis of more than 50% and the carotid occlusion have been considered together, the sensibility was of 92%, the specificity of 84% and the overall accuracy of 90%. The Authors suggest that the carotid bruits are trustworthy witnesses of occlusive carotid artery disease.

Regional chemotherapy by a totally infusion pump preceding radiotherapy in advanced cervical carcinoma: a preliminary report.

The authors report the preliminary results of a prospective study on intra-arterial chemotherapy and radiotherapy of advanced cervix carcinoma. The drugs were delivered by a totally implanted Infusaid Model 400 pump and patients received cyclic therapy consisting of Cis-Platinum, Methotrexate and Bleomycin. The catheter tips were positioned during a laparotomy in the hypogastric arteries with sutures and the pump was implanted in a subcutaneous pouch in the abdomen. After chemotherapy all patients had radiotherapy. Five patients entered in the study. Preliminary results suggest that long-term intra-arterial infusion chemotherapy for the treatment of advanced cervix carcinoma is practical for many patients. Two of five patients, after intra-arterial chemotherapy and radiotherapy, had radical hysterectomy.

[Use of ticlopidine in patients with acute non-embolic cerebral infarcts]. / Impiego della ticlopidina in pazienti con infarto cerebrale acuto non embolico.

Different dosages, varying from 250 to 500 mg/die, of ticlopidine per os have been employed in 46 patients (32 men and 14 women), average age 66, who had been admitted for acute non-embolic cerebral infarction. In the two clinical examinations, effected on average 5.4 and 18.3 days after the admission, significant alterations in 9 among the considered items have been noticed, i.e.: central deficit of the VIIth cranial nerve, motor function and gait impairment, Babinski's sign, loss of sensibility, dysarthria, visual field defect, cerebellar signs, motor and/or receptive dysphasia. A global improvement of these clinical signs has been noticed on average in 48.2% of the patients, while an exacerbation has occurred in 2.1% of the cases. None of the patients who have been considered in this study has decreased or has shown relapses of ischemic cerebral attacks during the observation. The treatment with ticlopidine has been discontinued in 3 cases (6.5%) for the occurrence of temporary adverse side-effects.