[Surgical treatment of ulnar impaction syndrome : Ulnar shortening osteotomy through the ulnopalmar approach using a low-profile, locking plate]. / Die operative Behandlung des Ulna-Impaction-Syndroms : Ulnaverkürzungsosteotomie mit einer winkelstabilen, Low-profile-Platte über einen ulnopalmaren Zugang.

OBJECTIVE: Extra-articular shortening of the distal ulna in order to decompress the ulnocarpal joint. INDICATIONS: Congenital or posttraumatic, symptomatic ulnar impaction syndrome. CONTRAINDICATIONS: Osteoarthritis or deformation of the distal radioulnar joint. SURGICAL TECHNIQUE: Exactly defined oblique osteotomy in the distal third of the ulna using the saw guide, closing of the osteotomy gap using the compression spindle, osteosynthesis with the locking plate. POSTOPERATIVE MANAGEMENT: Palmar forearm thermoplastic cast or splint for 3 weeks, load bearing after bony union. RESULTS: Between June 2016 and March 2018 ulnar shortening was performed in 17 patients using the new locking plate. In all, 15 patients were reevaluated with complete follow-up data. Postoperatively patients experienced significant pain reduction (Visual Analog Scale 0-10) by 65% (7 before and 2.5 after surgery; p < 0.05) and a significant improvement of function (Disabilities of Arm, Shoulder and Hand 0-100) by 49% (47 before and 24 after surgery; p < 0.05). Bony union was observed in all patients after a mean time of 4 months. Overall patient satisfaction was high.

[Diagnostics and treatment of acute scaphoid fractures]. / Diagnostik und Therapie frischer Skaphoidfrakturen.

BACKGROUND: Fractures of the scaphoid bone are common but can easily be overlooked in standard X­rays. Inadequate diagnostics and therefore inappropriate treatment of scaphoid fractures often leads to problems in healing with formation of non-union and painful osteoarthritis of the wrist. OBJECTIVE: This review summarizes the current practical recommendations in the diagnostics and treatment of acute scaphoid fractures. METHODS: An analysis and review of selected literature including the current S3 guidelines were performed. RESULTS: The main statements are that in cases of a clinically suspected scaphoid fracture, staged diagnostics including radiographs, computed tomography (CT) and when necessary magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) should be applied to confirm or exclude a fracture. Further treatment in the case of a fracture is planned according to a CT-based classification. There are fracture types that can be treated either conservatively or operatively and there are other fracture types that always require operative fixation. The operative technique depends on the exact fracture geometry. For osteosynthesis, cannulated headless compression screws are mostly used.

Velocity distributions in trapped and mobilized non-wetting phase ganglia in porous media.

Understanding the mobilisation of trapped globules of non-wetting phase during two-phase flow has been the aim of numerous studies. However, the driving forces for the mobilisation of the trapped phases are still not well understood. Also, there is little information about what happens within a globule before, at the onset and during mobilization. In this work, we used micro-particle tracking velocimetry in a micro-fluidic model in order to visualise the velocity distributions inside the trapped phase globules prior and during mobilisation. Therefore, time-averaged and instantaneous velocity vectors have been determined using fluorescent microscopy. As a porous medium, we used a polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) micro-model with a well-defined pore structure, where drainage and imbibition experiments were conducted. Three different geometries of trapped non-wetting globules, namely droplets, blobs and ganglia were investigated. We observed internal circulations inside the trapped phase globules, leading to the formation of vortices. The direction of circulating flow within a globule is dictated by the drag force exerted on it by the flowing wetting phase. This is illustrated by calculating and analyzing the drag force (per unit area) along fluid-fluid interfaces. In the case of droplets and blobs, only one vortex is formed. The flow field within a ganglion is much more complex and more vortices can be formed. The circulation velocities are largest at the fluid-fluid interfaces, along which the wetting phase flows and decreases towards the middle of the globule. The circulation velocities increased proportionally with the increase of wetting phase average velocity (or capillary number). The vortices remain stable as long as the globules are trapped, start to change at the onset of mobilization and disappear during the movement of globules. They reappear when the globules get stranded. Droplets are less prone to mobilization; blobs get mobilised in whole; while ganglia may get ruptured and get mobilised only partially.

Synthetic investigation of binary-ternary Cr(III)-hydroxycarboxylic acid-aromatic chelator systems. Structure-specific influence on adipogenic biomarkers linked to insulin mimesis.

In an attempt to understand the aqueous interactions of Cr(III) with low-molecular mass physiological ligands and examine its role as an adipogenic metallodrug agent in Diabetes mellitus II, the pH-specific synthesis in the binary-ternary Cr(III)-(HA = hydroxycarboxylic acid)-(N,N)-aromatic chelator (AC) (HA = 2-hydroxyethyl iminodiacetic acid/heidaH2, quinic acid; AC = 1,10-phenanthroline/phen) systems was pursued, leading to four new crystalline compounds. All materials were characterized by elemental analysis, UV-Visible, FT-IR, and ESI-MS spectroscopy, cyclic voltammetry, and X-Ray crystallography. Concurrently, the aqueous speciation of the binary Cr(III)-(2-hydroxyethyl iminodiacetic acid) system, complemented by ESI-MS, provided key-details of the species in solution correlating with the solid-state species. The structurally distinct Cr(III) soluble species were subsequently used in an in vitro investigation of their cytotoxic activity in 3T3-L1 fibroblast cultures. Compound 1 exhibited solubility, bioavailability, and atoxicity over a wide concentration range (0.1-100 µΜ) in contrast to 3, which was toxic. The adipogenic potential of 1 was subsequently investigated toward transformation of pre-adipocytes into mature adipocytes. Confirmation of that capacity relied on molecular biological techniques a) involving genes (glucose transporter type 4, peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma, glucokinase, and adiponectin) serving as sensors of the transformation process, b) comparing the Cr(III)-adipogenicity potential to that of insulin, and c) exemplifying the ultimate maturity of adipocytes poised to catabolize glucose. The collective effort points out salient structural features in the coordination sphere of Cr(III) inducing adipogenic transformation relevant to combating hyperglycemia. The multiply targeted mechanistic insight into such a process exemplifies the role of well-defined Cr(III) complex forms as potential insulin-mimetic adipogenic agents in Diabetes mellitus II.

Heat release at the wetting front during capillary filling of cellulosic micro-substrates.

Spontaneous imbibition in cellulosic materials is an expanding field of research due to the direct applicability in paper-based microfluidics. Here, we show experimentally, using simultaneous thermal and optical imaging that the temperature at the wetting front during capillary filling of paper is temporarily increased, even if the imbibed fluid and the cellulosic substrate are initially at isothermal conditions. Several liquids and two types of filter paper, characterised by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis, were investigated demonstrating a significant temperature rise at the wetting front that cannot be neglected form the process. The temperature rise is found to be related to the energetics of imbibition compounds, including acid-base contributions, that result in electrostatic attractions as the liquid molecules are adhered on the fiber surfaces upon capillary contact.

Heptanuclear antiferromagnetic Fe(III)-D-(-)-quinato assemblies with an S = 3/2 ground state-pH-specific synthetic chemistry, spectroscopic, structural, and magnetic susceptibility studies.

Iron is an essential metal ion with numerous roles in biological systems and advanced abiotic materials. D-(-)-quinic acid is a cellular metal ion chelator, capable of promoting reactions with metal M(II,III) ions under pH-specific conditions. In an effort to comprehend the chemical reactivity of well-defined forms of Fe(III)/Fe(II) toward α-hydroxycarboxylic acids, pH-specific reactions of: (a) [Fe3O(CH3COO)6(H2O)3]·(NO3)·4H2O with D-(-)-quinic acid in a molar ratio 1:3 at pH 2.5 and (b) Mohr's salt with D-(-)-quinic acid in a molar ratio 1:3 at pH 7.5, respectively, led to the isolation of the first two heptanuclear Fe(III)-quinato complexes, [Fe7O3(OH)3(C7H10O6)6]·20.5H2O (1) and (NH4)[Fe7(OH)6(C7H10O6)6]·(SO4)2·18H2O (2). Compounds 1 and 2 were characterized by analytical, spectroscopic (UV-vis, FT-IR, EPR, and Mössbauer) techniques, CV, TGA-DTG, and magnetic susceptibility measurements. The X-ray structures of 1 and 2 reveal heptanuclear assemblies of six Fe(III) ions bound by six doubly deprotonated quinates and one Fe(III) ion bound by oxido- and hydroxido-bridges (1), and hydroxido-bridges (2), all in an octahedral fashion. Mössbauer spectroscopy on 1 and 2 suggests the presence of Fe(III) ions in an all-oxygen environment. EPR measurements indicate that 1 and 2 retain their structure in solution, while magnetic measurements reveal an overall antiferromagnetic behavior with a ground state S = 3/2. The collective physicochemical properties of 1 and 2 suggest that the (a) nature of the ligand, (b) precursor form of iron, (c) pH, and (d) molecular stoichiometry are key factors influencing the chemical reactivity of the binary Fe(II,III)-hydroxycarboxylato systems, their aqueous speciation, and ultimately through variably emerging hydrogen bonding interactions, the assembly of multinuclear Fe(III)-hydroxycarboxylato clusters with distinct lattice architectures of specific dimensionality (2D-3D) and magnetic signature.

Aromatic chelator-specific lattice architecture and dimensionality in binary and ternary Cu(II)-organophosphonate materials.

Synthetic efforts linked to the design of defined lattice dimensionality and architecture materials in the binary/ternary systems of Cu(II) with butylene diamine tetra(methylene phosphonic acid) (H8BDTMP) and heterocyclic organic chelators (pyridine and 1,10-phenanthroline) led to the isolation of new copper organophosphonate compounds, namely, Na6[Cu2(BDTMP)(H2O)4]·[Cu2(BDTMP)(H2O)4]0.5·26H2O (1), [Cu2(H4BDTMP)(py)4]·2H2O (2), and [Cu2(H4BDTMP)(phen)2]n·6.6nH2O·1.5nMeOH (3). 1-3 are the first compounds isolated from the Cu(II)-BDTMP family of species. They were characterized by elemental analysis, spectroscopic techniques (FT-IR, UV-vis), magnetic susceptibility, TGA-DTG, cyclic voltammetry, and X-ray crystallography. The lattice in 1 reveals the presence of discrete dinuclear Cu(II) units bound to BDTMP(8-) and water molecules in a square pyramidal geometry. The molecular lattice of 2 reveals the presence of ternary dinuclear assemblies of Cu(II) ions bound to H4BDTMP(4-) and pyridine in a square pyramidal environment. The molecular lattice of 3 reveals the presence of dinuclear assemblies of Cu(II) ions bound to H4BDTMP(4-) and 1,10-phenanthroline in a square pyramidal environment, with the organophosphonate ligand serving as the connecting link to abutting dinuclear Cu(II) assemblies in a ternary polymeric system. The magnetic susceptibility data on 1, 2, and 3 suggest that compounds 1 and 3 exhibit a stronger antiferromagnetic behavior than 2, which is also confirmed from magnetization measurements. The physicochemical profiles of 1-3 (a) earmark the influence of the versatile H8BDTMP ligand as a metal ion binder on the chemical reactivity in binary and ternary systems of Cu(II) in aqueous and nonaqueous media and (b) denote the correlation of ligand hydrophilicity, aromaticity, denticity, charge, and H-bonding interactions with emerging defined Cu(II)-H8BDTMP structures of distinct lattice identity and spectroscopic-magnetic properties. Collectively, such structural and chemical factors formulate the interplay and contribution of binary and ternary interactions to lattice architecture and specified properties of new Cu(II)-organophosphonate materials with defined 2D-3D dimensionality.

pH-specific hydrothermal assembly of binary and ternary Pb(II)-(O,N-carboxylic acid) metal organic framework compounds: correlation of aqueous solution speciation with variable dimensionality solid-state lattice architecture and spectroscopic signatures.

Hydrothermal pH-specific reactivity in the binary/ternary systems of Pb(II) with the carboxylic acids N-hydroxyethyl-iminodiacetic acid (Heida), 1,3-diamino-2-hydroxypropane-N,N,N',N'-tetraacetic acid (Dpot), and 1,10-phenanthroline (Phen) afforded the new well-defined crystalline compounds [Pb(Heida)](n)·nH(2)O(1), [Pb(Phen)(Heida)]·4H(2)O(2), and [Pb(3)(NO(3))(Dpot)](n)(3). All compounds were characterized by elemental analysis, FT-IR, solution or/and solid-state NMR, and single-crystal X-ray diffraction. The structures in 1-2 reveal the presence of a Pb(II) center coordinated to one Heida ligand, with 1 exhibiting a two-dimensional (2D) lattice extending to a three-dimensional (3D) one through H-bonding interactions. The concurrent aqueous speciation study of the binary Pb(II)-Heida system projects species complementing the synthetic efforts, thereby lending credence to a global structural speciation strategy in investigating binary/ternary Pb(II)-Heida/Phen systems. The involvement of Phen in 2 projects the significance of nature and reactivity potential of N-aromatic chelators, disrupting the binary lattice in 1 and influencing the nature of the ultimately arising ternary 3D lattice. 3 is a ternary coordination polymer, where Pb(II)-Dpot coordination leads to a 2D metal-organic-framework material with unique architecture. The collective physicochemical properties of 1-3 formulate the salient features of variable dimensionality metal-organic-framework lattices in binary/ternary Pb(II)-(hydroxy-carboxylate) structures, based on which new Pb(II) materials with distinct architecture and spectroscopic signature can be rationally designed and pursued synthetically.

pH-Specific structural speciation of the ternary V(V)-peroxido-betaine system: a chemical reactivity-structure correlation.

Vanadium involvement in cellular processes requires deep understanding of the nature and properties of its soluble and bioavailable forms arising in aqueous speciations of binary and ternary systems. In an effort to understand the ternary vanadium-H(2)O(2)-ligand interactions relevant to that metal ion's biological role, synthetic efforts were launched involving the physiological ligands betaine (Me(3)N(+)CH(2)CO(2)(-)) and H(2)O(2). In a pH-specific fashion, V(2)O(5), betaine, and H(2)O(2) reacted and afforded three new, unusual, and unique compounds, consistent with the molecular formulation K(2)[V(2)O(2)(O(2))(4){(CH(3))(3)NCH(2)CO(2))}]·H(2)O (1), (NH(4))(2)[V(2)O(2)(O(2))(4){(CH(3))(3)NCH(2)CO(2))}]·0.75H(2)O (2), and {Na(2)[V(2)O(2)(O(2))(4){(CH(3))(3)NCH(2)CO(2))}(2)]}(n)·4nH(2)O (3). All complexes 1-3 were characterized by elemental analysis; UV/visible, FT-IR, Raman, and NMR spectroscopy in solution and the solid state; cyclic voltammetry; TGA-DTG; and X-ray crystallography. The structures of 1 and 2 reveal the presence of unusual ternary dinuclear vanadium-tetraperoxido-betaine complexes containing [(V(V)═O)(O(2))(2)] units interacting through long V-O bonds. The two V(V) ions are bridged through the oxygen terminal of one of the peroxide groups bound to the vanadium centers. The betaine ligand binds only one of the two V(V) ions. In the case of the third complex 3, the two vanadium centers are not immediate neighbors, with Na(+) ions (a) acting as efficient oxygen anchors and through Na-O bonds holding the two vanadium ions in place and (b) providing for oxygen-containing ligand binding leading to a polymeric lattice. In 1 and 3, interesting 2D (honeycomb) and 1D (zigzag chains) topologies of potassium nine-coordinate polyhedra (1) and sodium octahedra (3), respectively, form. The collective physicochemical properties of the three ternary species 1-3 project the chemical role of the low molecular mass biosubstrate betaine in binding V(V)-diperoxido units, thereby stabilizing a dinuclear V(V)-tetraperoxido dianion. Structural comparisons of the anions in 1-3 with other known dinuclear V(V)-tetraperoxido binary anionic species provide insight into the chemical reactivity of V(V)-diperoxido systems and their potential link to cellular events such as insulin mimesis and anitumorigenicity modulated by the presence of betaine.

A unique dinuclear mixed V(V) oxo-peroxo complex in the structural speciation of the ternary V(V)-peroxo-citrate system. potential mechanistic and structural insight into the aqueous synthetic chemistry of dinuclear V(V)-citrate species with H2O2.

Diverse vanadium biological activities entail complex interactions with physiological target ligands in aqueous media and constitute the crux of the undertaken investigation at the synthetic level. Facile aqueous redox reactions, as well as nonredox reactions, of V(III) and V(V) with physiological citric acid and hydrogen peroxide, under pH-specific conditions, led to the synthesis and isolation of a well-formed crystalline material upon the addition of ethanol as the precipitating solvent. Elemental analysis pointed to the molecular formulation (NH4)4[(VO2){VO(O2)}(C6H5O7)2]·1.5H2O (1). Complex 1 was further characterized by Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy, nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), Raman spectroscopy, cyclic voltammetry, and X-ray crystallography. The crystallographic structure of 1 reveals the presence of the first dinuclear V(V)-citrate complex with non-peroxo- and peroxo-containing V(V) ions, concurrently present within the basic VV2O2 core. The nonperoxo unit VO2+ and the peroxo unit VO(O2)+ are each coordinated to a triply deprotonated citrate ligand in a distinct coordination mode and coordination geometry around the V(V) ions. These units are similar to those in homodinuclear complexes bearing oxo or peroxo groups. The unique assembly of both units in the anion of 1 renders the latter as a potential intermediate in the peroxidation process, from [V2O4(C6H5O7)2]4­ to [V2O2(O2)2(C6H6O7)2]2­. The transformation reactions of 1 establish its connection with several V(V) and V(IV) dinuclear species present in the aqueous distribution of the V(IV,V)-citrate systems. The shown position of 1 as an intermediate in the mechanism of H2O2 addition to dinuclear V(V)-citrate species portends its role in the complex aqueous distribution of species in the ternary V(V)-peroxo-citrate system and its potential reactivity in (bio)chemically relevant media.

Hydrothermal synthesis and characterization of 2D M(II)-Quinate (M = Co,Zn) metal-organic lattice assemblies: solid-state solution structure correlation in M(II)-hydroxycarboxylate systems.

Co(II) and Zn(II) ions exhibit variable reactivity toward O-containing ligands in aqueous media, affording isolable materials with distinct solid-state lattice properties. d-(-)-quinic acid is a cellular α-hydroxycarboxylate metal ion binder, which reacts with Co(II) and Zn(II) under pH-specific hydrothermal conditions, leading to the isolation of two new species [Co(2)(C(7)H(11)O(6))(4)](n)·nH(2)O (1) and [Zn(3)(C(7)H(11)O(6))(6)](n)·nH(2)O (2). Compound 1 was characterized by elemental analysis, spectroscopic techniques (FT-IR, UV-visible, EPR), magnetic studies, and X-ray crystallography. Compound 2 was characterized by elemental analysis, spectroscopic techniques (FT-IR, ESI-MS), and X-ray crystallography. The 2D molecular lattices in 1 and 2 reveal the presence of octahedral M(II) units bound exclusively to quinate in a distinct fashion, thereby projecting a unique chemical reactivity in each investigated system. The magnetic susceptibility and solid-state/frozen solution EPR data on 1 support the presence of a high-spin octahedral Co(II) in an oxygen environment, having a ground state with an effective spin of S = 1/2. Concurrent aqueous speciation studies on the binary Zn(II)-quinate system unravel the nature and properties of species arising from Zn(II)-quinate interactions as a function of pH and molar ratio. The physicochemical profiles of 1 and 2, in the solid state and in solution, earmark the importance of (a) select synthetic hydrothermal reactivity conditions, affording new well-defined lattice dimensionality and nuclearity M(II)-quinate materials, (b) structural speciation approaches delineating solid state-aqueous solution correlations in the binary M(II)-quinate systems, and (c) pH-specific chemical reactivity in binary M(II)-quinate systems reflecting structurally unique associations of simple aqueous complexes into distinctly assembled 2D crystalline lattices.

Synthetic, structural and solution speciation studies on binary Al(III)-(carboxy)phosphonate systems. Relevance to the neurotoxic potential of Al(III).

Efforts to delineate the interactions of neurotoxic Al(III) with low molecular mass substrates relevant to neurodegenerative processes, led to the investigation of the pH-specific synthetic chemistry of the binary Al(III)-[N-(phosphonomethyl) iminodiacetic acid] (Al-NTAP), Al(III)-[nitrilo-tris(methylene-phosphonic acid)] (Al-NTA3P), and Al(III)-[1-hydroxy ethylidene-1,1-diphosphonic acid] (Al-HEDP) systems, in correlation with solution speciation studies. Reaction of Al(NO(3))(3).9H(2)O with NTAP at pH 7.0 and 4.0 afforded the new species (CH(6)N(3))(4)[Al(2)(C(5)H(6)NPO(7))(2)(OH)(2)].8H(2)O (1) and (NH(4))(2)[Al(2)(C(5)H(6)NPO(7))(2)(H(2)O)(2)].4H(2)O (2), while reaction of Al(NO(3))(3).9H(2)O with NTA3P led to K(8)[Al(2)(C(3)H(6)NP(3)O(9))(2)(OH)(2)].20H(2)O (3). Complexes 1-3 were characterized by elemental analysis, FT-IR, (13)C, (31)P, (1)H NMR (for 1-2 solid state and solution NMR where feasible), and X-ray crystallography. The structures of 1-3 reveal the presence of uniquely defined dinuclear complexes of octahedral Al(III) bound to fully deprotonated phosphonate ligands, water and hydroxo moieties. The aqueous solution speciation studies on the aforementioned binary systems project a clear picture of the binary Al(III)-(carboxy)phosphonate interactions and species under variable pH-conditions and specific Al(III):ligand stoichiometry. The concurrent solid state and solution work (a) exemplifies essential structural and chemical attributes of soluble aqueous species, reflecting well-defined interactions of Al(III) with phosphosubstrates and (b) strengthens the potential linkage of neurotoxic Al(III) chemical reactivity toward O,N-containing (carboxy)phosphate-rich cellular targets.

Probing for missing links in the binary and ternary V(V)-citrate-(H2O2) systems: synthetic efforts and in vitro insulin mimetic activity studies.

In a pH-specific fashion, V(2)O(5) and citric acid in the absence and presence of H(2)O(2) reacted and afforded, in the presence of NaOH and (CH(6)N(3))(2)CO(3), two new dinuclear V(V) binary non-peroxo (CH(6)N(3))(6)[V(2)O(4)(C(6)H(4)O(7))(2)].2H(2)O (1) and ternary peroxo (CH(6)N(3))(4)[V(2)O(2)(Omicron(2))(2)(C(6)H(5)O(7))(2)].6Eta(2)Omicron (2) species, respectively. Complexes 1 and 2 were further characterized by elemental analysis, UV/Vis, FT-IR, NMR (solution and solid state Cross Polarization-Magic Angle Spinning (CP-MAS)) and Raman spectroscopies, cyclic voltammetry, and X-ray crystallography. Both 1 and 2 are members of the family of dinuclear V(V)-citrate species bearing citrate with a distinct coordination mode and degree of deprotonation, with 2 being the missing link in the family of pH-structural variants of the ternary V(V)-peroxo-citrate system. Given that 1 and 2 possess distinct structural features, relevant binary V(III), V(IV) and V(V), and ternary V(V) species bearing O- and N-containing ligands were tested in in vitro cell cultures to assess their cellular toxicity and insulin mimetic capacity. The results project a clear profile for all species tested, earmarking the importance of vanadium oxidation state and its ligand environment in influencing further binary and ternary interactions of vanadium arising with variable mass cellular targets, ultimately leading to a specific (non)toxic phenotype and glucose uptake ability.

Fascin can be an auxiliary immunomarker of ovarian granulosa cell tumors: comparison with calretinin and inhibin-alpha.

The histopathologic diagnosis of granulosa cell tumor adult type (AGCT) can be supported by the use of established immunomarkers such as inhibin-alpha and calretinin. Previously unreported data is presented on the detection of fascin in AGCT, in nonneoplastic granulosa cells and in other types of sex-cord stromal tumors. In addition, by staining a panel of various tumors, potentially included in the differential diagnosis of AGCT, we assessed the value of fascin as an auxiliary AGCT immunomarker. Intense and strong fascin staining may assist in cases with ambiguous calretinin or inhibin-alpha staining. On the contrary, absence of fascin should question a provisional morphologic diagnosis of AGCT.

pH-specific synthesis and spectroscopic, structural, and magnetic studies of a chromium(III)-citrate species. Aqueous solution speciation of the binary chromium(III)-citrate system.

In an attempt to understand the aqueous interactions of Cr(III) with the low-molecular-mass physiological ligand citric acid, the pH-specific synthesis in the binary Cr(III)-citrate system was explored, leading to the complex (NH4)4[Cr(C6H4O7)(C6H5O7)].3H2O (1). 1 crystallizes in the monoclinic space group I2/a, with a = 19.260(10) A, b = 10.006(6) A, c = 23.400(10) A, beta = 100.73(2) degrees , V = 4431(4) A3, and Z = 8. 1 was characterized by elemental analysis and spectroscopic, structural, thermal, and magnetic susceptibility studies. Detailed aqueous speciation studies in the Cr(III)-citrate system suggest the presence of a number of species, among which is the mononuclear [Cr(C6H4O7)(C6H5O7)]4- complex, optimally present around pH approximately 5.5. The structure of 1 reveals a mononuclear octahedral complex of Cr(III) with two citrate ligands bound to it. The two citrate ligands have different deprotonation states, thus signifying the importance of the mixed deprotonation state in the coordination sphere of the Cr(III) species in aqueous speciation. The latter reveals the distribution of numerous species, including 1, for which the collective structural, spectroscopic, and magnetic data point out its physicochemical profile in the solid state and in solution. The importance of the synthetic efforts linked to 1 and the potential ramifications of Cr(III) reactivity toward both low- and high-molecular-mass biotargets are discussed in light of (a) the quest for well-characterized soluble Cr(III) species that could be detected and identified in biologically relevant fluids, (b) ongoing efforts to delineate the aqueous speciation of the Cr(III)-citrate system and its link to biotoxic Cr(III) manifestations, and (c) the synthetic utility of convenient Cr(III) precursors in the synthesis of advanced materials.

Helix formation in linear achiral dendronized polymers: a computer simulation study.

We present a molecular simulation study of the structure of linear dendronized polymers. We use excluded volume interactions in the context of a generic coarse grained molecular model whose geometrical parameters are tuned to represent a poly(paraphenylene) backbone with benzyl ether, Frechet-type dendrons. We apply Monte Carlo sampling in order to investigate the formation of packing-induced chiral structures along the polymer backbone of these chemically achiral systems. We find that helical structures can be formed, usually with defects consisting of domains with reversed helical handedness. Clear signs of helical arrangements of the dendrons begin to appear for dendritic generation g=4, while for g=5 these arrangements dominate and perfect helices can be observed as equilibrium structures obtained from certain types of starting configurations.

Protein disulfide isomerase expression is related to the invasive properties of malignant glioma.

By serial transplantation of human glioblastoma biopsies into the brain of immunodeficient nude rats, two different tumor phenotypes were obtained. Initially, the transplanted xenografts displayed a highly invasive phenotype that showed no signs of angiogenesis. By serial transplantation in animals, the tumors changed to a less invasive, predominantly angiogenic phenotype. To identify novel proteins related to the invasive phenotype, the xenografts were analyzed using a global proteomics approach. One of the identified proteins was protein disulfide isomerase (PDI) A6 precursor. PDI is a chaperone protein that mediates integrin-dependent cell adhesion. It is both present in the cytosol and at the cell surface. We show that PDI is strongly expressed on invasive glioma cells, in both xenografts and at the invasive front of human glioblastomas. Using an in vitro migration assay, we also show that PDI is expressed on migrating glioma cells. To determine the functional significance of PDI in cell migration, we tested the effect of a PDI inhibitor, bacitracin, and a PDI monoclonal antibody on glioma cell migration and invasion in vitro. Both tumor spheroids derived from human glioblastoma xenografts in nude rat brain and cell line spheroids were used. The PDI antibody, as well as bacitracin, inhibited tumor cell migration and invasion. The anti-invasive effect of bacitracin was reversible after withdrawal of the inhibitor, indicating a specific, nontoxic effect. In conclusion, using a global proteomics approach, PDI was identified to play an important role in glioma cell invasion, and its action was effectively inhibited by bacitracin.

Angiogenesis-independent tumor growth mediated by stem-like cancer cells.

In this work, highly infiltrative brain tumors with a stem-like phenotype were established by xenotransplantation of human brain tumors in immunodeficient nude rats. These tumors coopted the host vasculature and presented as an aggressive disease without signs of angiogenesis. The malignant cells expressed neural stem cell markers, showed a migratory behavior similar to normal human neural stem cells, and gave rise to tumors in vivo after regrafting. Serial passages in animals gradually transformed the tumors into an angiogenesis-dependent phenotype. This process was characterized by a reduction in stem cells markers. Gene expression profiling combined with high throughput immunoblotting analyses of the angiogenic and nonangiogenic tumors identified distinct signaling networks in the two phenotypes. Furthermore, proinvasive genes were up-regulated and angiogenesis signaling genes were down-regulated in the stem-like tumors. In contrast, proinvasive genes were down-regulated in the angiogenesis-dependent tumors derived from the stem-like tumors. The described angiogenesis-independent tumor growth and the uncoupling of invasion and angiogenesis, represented by the stem-like cancer cells and the cells derived from them, respectively, point at two completely independent mechanisms that drive tumor progression. This article underlines the need for developing therapies that specifically target the stem-like cell pools in tumors.

Cell therapies for glioblastoma.

Malignant gliomas, including the most devastating type, glioblastoma multiforme (GBM), are characterised by their local growth and aggressive infiltration of the normal brain. GBMs result in a profound disability, leading to death in almost all cases. There has been little improvement in outcome despite intensive clinical and laboratory research during recent decades. Interestingly, many researchers have been successful in treating GBM models in animals, but the success has been limited when new treatment principles have been translated into the clinic. One reason for this failure is the lack of appropriate animal models that reflect the behaviour of human GBMs. Therapeutic progress has also been hindered by the limited delivery of effective therapeutic compounds to an extremely heterogenic tumour cell population. This article discusses the present use and limitations of preclinical animal models to study glioma growth and progression. In addition, it focuses on the potential use of cell-based therapies for the treatment of GBMs. This includes aspects of gene therapy, stem cell therapy and immunotherapy. Several of these treatment modalities use the principle of transplanting cells or compounds that either directly or indirectly show therapeutic efficacy. Many of these principles depend on an increased biological knowledge of gliomas. The development of new therapeutic principles based on such knowledge may finally provide glioma patients with an improved survival.