Hexahydroxytriphenylene for the synthesis of group 13 MOFs - a new inorganic building unit in a ß-cristobalite type structure.

Two new, microporous MOFs of framework composition ((CH3)2NH2)2[M3O(HHTP)(HHTP˙)], M = Al3+, Ga3+, H6HHTP = 2,3,6,7,10,11-hexahydroxytriphenylene, are described. Electron diffraction combined with molecular simulations show that these compounds crystallize in the ß-cristobalite structure, containing a new type of trinuclear inorganic building unit for MOFs and radical anions.

Falling through the gap: Dental treatment experiences of patients affected by cleft lip and/or palate.

Introduction: In the UK, one in 600­700 infants is born with a cleft lip and/or palate (CL/P). Previous research has identified patients with CL/P to be at high risk of long-term oral health issues. Yet, few of these patients are currently accessing community dental care. Aims: To assess patients' dental treatment experiences and their suggestions for improving services. Materials and methods: Five focus groups were conducted with 24 adults with CL/P. Thematic analysis was performed on the data. Results: Participants perceived local dental practitioners to lack knowledge about CL/P and its treatment. Consequently, some participants had stopped visiting a dental practice altogether. Participants were also largely unaware of the specialist CL/P services they are entitled to. Discussion: Suggestions are made for the integration of improved training and resources for local dental practitioners. Closer communication between specialist cleft teams and local dental practitioners could also help to bridge the gap in knowledge and improve patients' engagement with dental services. The tertiary sector has a crucial role to play in empowering patients to take more control of their oral health and dental treatment.

Synthesis of M-UiO-66 (M = Zr, Ce or Hf) employing 2,5-pyridinedicarboxylic acid as a linker: defect chemistry, framework hydrophilisation and sorption properties.

Metal-organic frameworks of general composition [M6(OH)4(O)4(PDC)6-x(Cl)2x(H2O)2x] with M = Zr, Ce, Hf; PDC2- = 2,5-pyridinedicarboxylate and 0 ≤ x ≤ 2 were obtained under reflux using formic, nitric or acetic acid as an additive. Rietveld refinements carried out using a fixed occupancy of the linker molecules according to the results of thermogravimetric measurements confirmed that the MOFs crystallize in the UiO-66 type structure and demonstrate that the structural models describe the data well. Further characterization was carried out by NMR spectroscopy, thermogravimetric analysis, Zr K-edge EXAFS- and Ce L3-edge XANES measurements. To highlight the influence of the additional nitrogen atom of the pyridine ring, luminescence and vapour sorption measurements were carried out. The hydrophilisation of the MOFs was shown by the adsorption of water at lower p/p0 (<0.2) values compared to the corresponding BDC-MOFs (0.3). For water and methanol stability cycling adsorption experiments were carried out to evaluate the MOFs as potential adsorbents in heat transformation applications.

Self-reported influenza vaccination rates and attitudes towards vaccination among health care workers: results of a survey in a German university hospital.

OBJECTIVES: The objective of this survey was to analyse vaccination rates and attitudes towards vaccination among health care workers (HCWs). The period prevalence of self-reported acute respiratory infections in the influenza season 2014/2015 was examined. STUDY DESIGN: A cross-sectional study was conducted among HCWs of a German university hospital using an anonymised questionnaire. Recruitment was performed by providing all medical and nursing staff a paper questionnaire with an invitation to participate. METHODS: Descriptive aggregated data were generated from digitalised questionnaires for all variables. Differences in categorical variables were analysed by Chi-squared test. Textual data were analysed by an iterative process based on the grounded theory by Glaser and Strauss. RESULTS: The response rate was 31% (677/2186). Probable influenza was described by 9% (64/677) of the participants. The overall self-reported vaccination rate was 55% (366/666). Self-reported vaccination rate was higher in physicians (172/239, 72%) than in nursing staff (188/418, 45%). HCWs in paediatrics (103/148, 70%) more likely received vaccines than HCWs in surgery (31/84, 37%). Most vaccinations were provided by medical staff on the wards (164/368, 45%). Self-reported lost work-time due to adverse events after vaccination was low (6/336, 2%). Eight categories for vaccine refusal were identified, whereof doubts about effectiveness and indication of the vaccine was most frequently mentioned (72/202, 36%). CONCLUSIONS: Efforts to promote vaccination should focus on nursing staff and should provide scientific evidence on effectiveness, adverse effects, and the benefits of health care workers' vaccination for patients. Administering vaccines at the workplace proved to be a successful strategy in our setting. Studies are needed to assess the frequency of influenza causing disease in HCWs.

A multi-purpose reaction cell for the investigation of reactions under solvothermal conditions.

A new versatile and easy-to-use remote-controlled reactor setup aimed at the analysis of chemical reactions under solvothermal conditions has been constructed. The reactor includes a heating system that can precisely control the temperature inside the reaction vessels in a range between ambient temperature and 180 °C. As reaction vessels, two sizes of commercially available borosilicate vessels (Vmax = 5 and 11 ml) can be used. The setup furthermore includes the option of stirring and injecting of up to two liquid additives or one solid during the reaction to initiate very fast reactions, quench reactions, or alter chemical parameters. In addition to a detailed description of the general setup and its functionality, three examples of studies conducted using this setup are presented.

Synthesis, functionalisation and post-synthetic modification of bismuth metal-organic frameworks.

Two new bismuth metal-organic frameworks (Bi-MOFs) were discovered using high throughput experiments employing bismuth(iii) nitrate pentahydrate and triazine-2,4,6-triyl-tribenzoic acid (H3TATB). The reaction was carried out for long reaction times (∼5 d) in a water/DMF-mixture and resulted in the formation of [Bi2(O)(OH)(TATB)]·H2O (denoted as CAU-35). By switching to short reaction times and a methanol/DMF-mixture as the solvent, an analogue of CAU-7-BTB with the composition [Bi(TATB)]·DMF·6H2O (denoted as CAU-7-TATB) was obtained. The use of the amino-functionalised H3TATB linker (H3TATB-NH2) resulted in the formation of a functionalised porous Bi-MOF with the composition [Bi(TATB-NH2)]·5H2O·0.5DMF (CAU-7-TATB-NH2). The structures of CAU-35 and CAU-7-TATB were successfully solved and refined from the PXRD data. CAU-7-TATB-NH2 was post-synthetically modified using anhydrides (acetic anhydride and valeric anhydride), cyclic anhydrides (succinic anhydride and phthalic anhydride), and 1,3-propane sultone. The degree of conversion ranged from 33% to 79%.

Tuning the stability of bimetallic Ce(iv)/Zr(iv)-based MOFs with UiO-66 and MOF-808 structures.

A series of solid solutions of bimetallic Ce/Zr-UiO-66 and -MOF-808 compounds with a varying ratio of Ce4+ to Zr4+ were obtained under mild reaction conditions within 15 min. The lattice parameters of the mixed-metal compounds are in accordance with Vegard's law. Samples with Ce ≤20 at% exhibit an enhanced thermal stability, better resistance against acids and smaller particle sizes.

Synthesis and structure of Zr(iv)- and Ce(iv)-based CAU-24 with 1,2,4,5-tetrakis(4-carboxyphenyl)benzene.

Two new MOFs denoted as M-CAU-24 (M = Zr, Ce) based on 1,2,4,5-tetrakis(4-carboxyphenyl)benzene (H4TCPB) were obtained under mild reaction conditions within 15 min. The MOFs with composition [M6(µ3-O)4(µ3-OH)4(OH)4(H2O)4(TCPB)2] crystallise in the scu topology, a connectivity hitherto unreported for Zr-MOFs with tetracarboxylate linker molecules. Zr-CAU-24 exhibits UV/blue ligand-based luminescence.

Structure property relationships affecting the proton conductivity in imidazole loaded Al-MOFs.

The structures of the imidazole loaded derivatives of Al-MIL-53 [Al(OH)(1,4-BDC-(CH3)x)] (x = 0, 1, 2) and CAU-11 ([Al(OH)(SDBA)]) (1,4-H2BDC = terephthalic acid; H2SDBA = 4,4'-sulfonyldibenzoic acid) were determined from powder X-ray diffraction data. Impedance spectroscopy measurements were carried out to evaluate their proton conductivities under anhydrous conditions at temperatures up to 110 °C. In Al-MIL-53-(CH3)x_HIm (x = 0, 1, 2) the formation of hydrogen bonds between the framework and the guest molecules results in a decrease in proton conductivity (x0 = 1.7 × 10-6, x1 = 1.9 × 10-8 and x2 = 1.7 × 10-9 S cm-1 at 110 °C and Eact = 0.42, 0.41 and 0.46 eV, for 0, 1 and 2 CH3-groups, respectively). The highest conductivity has been measured for CAU-11_HIm with 3.0 × 10-4 S cm-1 at 110 °C (Eact = 0.19 eV), where no host-guest hydrogen bonding interactions are observed.

Water-based synthesis and characterisation of a new Zr-MOF with a unique inorganic building unit.

A new, microporous Zr-MOF was obtained using 2,5-pyrazinedicarboxylic acid (H2PzDC). The linker leads to the formation of a new 1D inorganic building unit composed of µ-OH bridged {Zr6O4(OH4)} clusters which are arranged in a hexagonal array and connected by the PzDC2- ions. The structure was determined from powder X-ray diffraction data.

Towards metal-organic framework based field effect chemical sensors: UiO-66-NH2 for nerve agent detection.

We present a highly sensitive gas detection approach for the infamous 'nerve agent' group of alkyl phosphonate compounds. Signal transduction is achieved by monitoring the work function shift of metal-organic framework UiO-66-NH2 coated electrodes upon exposure to ppb-level concentrations of a target simulant. Using the Kelvin probe technique, we demonstrate the potential of electrically insulating MOFs for integration in field effect devices such as ChemFETs: a three orders of magnitude improvement over previous work function-based detection of nerve agent simulants. Moreover, the signal is fully reversible both in dry and humid conditions, down to low ppb concentrations. Comprehensive investigation of the interactions that lead towards this high sensitivity points towards a series of confined interactions between the analyte and the pore interior of UiO-66-NH2.

Development and characterization of polyclonal peptide antibodies for the detection of Yellow fever virus proteins.

There is still a considerable need for development of new tools and methods detecting specific viral proteins for the diagnosis and pathogenesis study of the Yellow fever virus (YFV). This study aimed to develop and characterize polyclonal peptide antisera for detection of YFV-C and -NS1 proteins. The antisera were used further to investigate NS1 protein expression during YFV infection in mammalian cells. YFV target proteins were detected by all antisera in western blot and immunofluorescence assays. No cross-reactivity was observed with Dengue virus, West Nile virus, Tick-borne encephalitis virus and Japanese encephalitis virus. Nuclear localization of the YFV-C protein was demonstrated for the first time. Experiments investigating NS1 expression suggested a potential use of the YFV-NS1 antisera for development of diagnostic approaches targeting the secreted form of the NS1 protein. The antisera described in this study offer new possibilities for use in YFV research and for the development of novel diagnostic tests.

The new triazine-based porous copper phosphonate [Cu3(PPT)(H2O)3]·10H2O.

High throughput methods were employed in the discovery of [Cu3(PPT)(H2O)3]·10H2O (denoted CAU-14). The structure contains one-dimensional channels with a diameter of 9.4 Å. Thermal activation leads to the formation of uncoordinated metal sites and a high water uptake of 39.1 wt% was found.

[Real-time PCR detection of Neisseria meningitidis, Haemophilus influenzae, and Streptococcus pneumoniae DNA in clinical specimens]. / Detekce DNA Neisseria meningitidis, Haemophilus influenzae a Streptococcus pneumoniae v klinickém materiálu metodou real-time PCR.

The study aim was to implement a molecular real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay recommended by the CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) for the detection of Neisseria meningitidis, Haemophilus influenzae, and Streptococcus pneumoniae in clinical (culture negative) specimens from patients with suspected invasive bacterial disease. Clinical specimens are referred to the National Reference Laboratory (NRL) for Meningococcal Infections, Unit for Airborne Bacterial Infections, Centre for Epidemiology and Microbiology, National Institute of Public Health from various regions of the Czech Republic. Clinical specimens are, in particular, cerebrospinal fluid, anti-coagulated blood or serum and, exceptionally, post-mortem specimens. The NRL has implemented molecular diagnosis of these bacterial pathogens involved in meningitis and sepsis from clinical specimens since 1999. The first diagnostic method was semi-nested PCR followed by electrophoretic analysis. In 2014, a molecular qualitative real-time PCR assay was implemented.

Vemurafenib-induced eccrine squamous syringometaplasia.

We report herein a patient treated with vemurafenib for a stage IV melanoma who developed an eruption related to eccrine squamous syringometaplasia (ESS). This entity is a well-described side effect of cytostatic therapies used for malignant neoplasia and is clinically characterized by a symmetric cutaneous eruption composed of papules and vesicles preferentially located on fold and intertriginous areas. It is histologically defined by a squamous metaplasia of eccrine ductal epithelium. ESS represents another skin eruption to be added to the list of cutaneous adverse events associated with vemurafenib, a selective BRAF inhibitor used to treat patients with metastatic melanoma harboring the V600E mutation. The discussion focuses on the pathogenesis of ESS secondary to vemurafenib and on alternative diagnoses.

[Study of the expression of Aurora kinases in renal cell carcinoma]. / Étude de l'expression des kinases Aurora dans le carcinome à cellules rénales.

OBJECTIVES: The Aurora kinase family plays a crucial role in the regulation of mitosis. Over-expression of Aurora A and B has been reported in many malignant tumors. The objective of this study was to analyze the expression of Aurora A and B in renal cell carcinoma (RCC) and its correlation with usual clinical and pathological parameters. METHODS: In a retrospective study, have been studied the tumoral samples of 40 consecutive patients who had been operated between 2003 and 2006 for a renal tumor. RNA was extracted from frozen corresponding tumoral samples. Thirty-one samples were retained based on RNA quality. RT-PCR was done on each of these samples to assess the expression of Aurora A and B genes. Statistical analysis was performed using Chi-square test to compare Aurora A and B levels. RESULTS: Median age was 65 years (35-82). Seven (22%) patients had nodal invasion and eight (26%) had distant metastases. Most of the tumors (74%) were grade 3 or 4. Eighteen patients (58%) had clear cell cancer histology, 12 (39%) had papillary histology, and one a Bellini type tumor. Aurora A overexpression was associated with lymph node invasion (p=0.001). Aurora B over-expression was associated with both nodal involvement (p=0.02) and histologic subtype (significantly over-expressed in clear cell tumors; p=0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Aurora A and B were differentially over-expressed in clear cell RCC and primary tumors of patients with lymph node involvement.

[Surgical margins in soft tissue sarcoma]. / Les marges d'exérèses dans les sarcomes des tissus mous.

OBJECTIVES: To state about adequacy of surgery margins in soft tissue sarcoma (STS). METHODS: Review of the relevant literature. RESULTS: The end point for measuring the quality of margins in STS is local recurrence (LR). The rate of LR in specialised centres lies between 16 and 22%. The rates of LR should be given by the actuarial estimations. The methods determining margins are variable in the literature. By the quantitative methods, measuring the distance between the tumour edge and the limits of resection on the excision specimen, a twofold difference in LR is seen between adequate and inadequate margins. This difference is fourfold by the qualitative, consensual method from the French Sarcoma Group, appearing here more discriminatory. Obtaining adequate margins depends on the planned character of surgery, tumour size, tumour infiltration and grade. CONCLUSION: An actuarial 5-year LR rate ranging from 10 to 20% is a criterion for good quality of surgery. These results appear to be obtained best in specialised centres.

[Pseudomalignant endoscopic appearance in hyperplastic polyp at esophagogastric junction: case report]. / Aspect endoscopique pseudocarcinomateux d'un polype hyperplasique au niveau de la jonction oesogastrique: à propos d'un cas.

Hyperplastic polyps are by far the most common benign tumors in the stomach larger than 5mm. Although the malignant potential of hyperplastic gastric polyps was originally denied, a low risk for carcinomatous conversion is now recognized. Its has been recommended that all gastric polyps of 5mm or more in diameter have to be removed. We present here the case of a large hyperplastic gastric polyp located at the esophagogastric junction with endoscopic malignant appearance. The description of its endoscopic and histological characteristics gives us the opportunity to discuss the difficulty of endoscopic diagnosis in the case of gastric polyps and to remind their prognosis.

Mapuera virus, a rubulavirus that inhibits interferon signalling in a wide variety of mammalian cells without degrading STATs.

Mapuera virus (MPRV) is a paramyxovirus that was originally isolated from bats, but its host range remains unknown. It was classified as a member of the genus Rubulavirus on the basis of structural and genetic features. Like other rubulaviruses it encodes a V protein (MPRV/V) that functions as an interferon (IFN) antagonist. Here we show that MPRV/V differs from the IFN antagonists of other rubulaviruses in that it does not induce the proteasomal degradation of STAT proteins, key factors in the IFN signalling cascade. Rather, MPRV/V prevents the nuclear translocation of STATs in response to IFN stimulation and inhibits the formation of the transcription factor complex ISGF3. We also show that MPRV/V blocks IFN signalling in cells from diverse mammalian species and discuss the IFN response as a barrier to cross-species infections.

[Sebaceous tumors of the eyelids in a patient with Muir-Torre syndrome]. / Tumeurs palpébrales à différenciation sébacée dans le cadre d'un syndrome de Muir-Torre.

Muir-Torre syndrome is an autosomal dominant hereditary condition predisposing to cancer. It is characterized by cutaneous tumors (such as sebaceous adenomas, epitheliomas, or carcinoma, and/or keratoacanthomas) and internal malignancies. A 47-year-old male patient with cancer antecedents consulted for two tumors of the eyelid. Histological study of the exeresis biopsies of the eyelid lesions showed a sebaceous adenoma and an epidermoid carcinoma with sebaceous differentiation. With the suspicion of Muir-Torre syndrome, a genetic consultation was requested. The geneticist found a mutation of the MSH2 gene, which was not classified as pathological. Cancer screening was begun for the patient and his descendants. The clinical outcome was death from urothelial carcinoma. Eyelid sebaceous tumors require complete medical check-up in search of carcinoma. Demonstrating Muir-Torre syndrome allows the medical team to propose early cutaneous and visceral carcinoma screening for patients, their collaterals, and their descendants.