First 24-Membered Macrocyclic 1,10-Phenanthroline-2,9-Diamides-An Efficient Switch from Acidic to Alkaline Extraction of f-Elements.

A reaction of acyl chlorides derived from 1,10-phenanthroline-2,9-dicarboxylic acids with piperazine allows the preparation of the corresponding 24-membered macrocycles in good yield. The structural and spectral properties of these new macrocyclic ligands were thoroughly investigated, revealing promising coordination properties towards f-elements (Am, Eu). It was shown that the prepared ligands can be used for selective extraction of Am(III) from alkaline-carbonate media in presence of Eu(III) with an SFAm/Eu up to 40. Their extraction efficiency is higher than calixarene-type extraction of the Am(III) and Eu(III) pair. Composition of macrocycle-metal complex with Eu(III) was investigated by luminescence and UV-vis spectroscopy. The possibility of such ligands to form complexes of L:Eu = 1:2 stoichiometry is revealed.

Induction of Ticlike Involuntary Movements in Rats by Striatotomy and Subsequent Neurochemical Sensitization.

OBJECTIVE: It has been proposed that Tourette syndrome is associated with dysfunction in widespread cortical areas and globus pallidus externus hyperactivity secondary to dopaminergic hyperactivity and serotonergic/dynorphinergic hypoactivity. The main objective of this study was to test this hypothesis by developing an animal model of Tourette syndrome via striatotomy, followed by administration of drugs that mimic the neurotransmitter environment, so as to induce globus pallidus externus hyperactivity. METHODS: Rats were assigned to 3 groups: stereotactic striatotomy (STT) and striatal sham -lesion (SHAM) groups, treated with anterior and posterior striatum procedures in both hemispheres, and a group of nonoperated animals (NAIVE). Postoperatively, all rodents were blindly administered 3 drug protocols: levodopa/benserazide; levodopa/benserazide/ergotamine/naloxone (MIX); and saline. The animals were filmed at the peak action of these drugs. The videos were evaluated by a single blinded researcher. RESULTS: Six types of involuntary movements (IMs) were observed: cephalic, trunk jerks, oromandibular, forepaw jerks, dystonic, and locomotive. The number of animals with IM and the mean number of IM after both levodopa/benserazide and MIX was significantly higher in the STT compared with the SHAM and NAIVE groups. In the SHAM and NAIVE, MIX was superior to levodopa/benserazide in the induction of IM. In the STT, MIX was superior to levodopa/benserazide in the induction of trunk jerks. Appendicular IM were more common after posterior than after anterior striatotomy. CONCLUSIONS: These results show that striatotomy, followed by administration of levodopa/benserazide alone or associated with ergotamine and naloxone, is efficacious in inducing IM, supporting the hypothesis that led to this study.

Fatal thrombosis of the portal vein following single-session percutaneous ethanol injection therapy of hepatocellular carcinoma.

Two weeks after percutaneous ethanol injection therapy for hepatocellular carcinoma, performed by injecting 110 mL ethanol in a single session with general anesthesia, a 69-year-old woman with well-compensated liver cirrhosis developed an extensive thrombosis of the whole portal tree that caused severe uncorrectable ascites and progressive deterioration of her general condition, resulting in death 6 weeks after the procedure.

Long-term results of percutaneous ethanol injection therapy for hepatocellular carcinoma in cirrhosis: a European experience.

The objective of our work was to evaluate the long-term results of percutaneous ethanol injection (PEI) for the treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in patients with liver cirrhosis. A total of 184 cirrhotic patients with HCC underwent PEI as the only anticancer treatment over an 8-year period. Patients were followed after therapy by means of clinical examinations, laboratory tests, and US and CT studies performed at regular time intervals. Survival rates were determined according to the Kaplan-Meier method. The overall survival was 67% at 3 years, 41% at 5 years, and 19% at 7 years. The 3-, 5-, and 7-year survival rates of patients with single HCC < or = 3 cm (78, 54, and 28%, respectively) were significantly higher (p < 0.01) than those of patients with single HCC of 3.1-5 cm (61, 32, and 16, respectively) or multiple HCCs (51, 21, and 0%, respectively). Survival of Child-Pugh A patients (79% at 3 years, 53% at 5 years, and 32% at 7 years) was significantly longer (p < 0.01) than that of Child-Pugh B patients (50% at 3 years, 28% at 5 years, and 8% at 7 years). A selected group of 70 patients with Child-Pugh A cirrhosis and single HCC < or = 3 cm had a 7-year survival of 42%. Long-term survival of cirrhotic patients with HCC treated with PEI is comparable to that reported in published series of matched patients submitted to surgical resection.

A stereoscopic technique for seafloor statistical characterization by acoustic remote sensing.

The authors present a new method for performing statistical characterization of underwater surfaces by acoustic remote sensing. A wideband technique is outlined that, by exploiting stereoscopic observation, estimates the roughness height of underwater surfaces however oriented with respect to the instrument. The surface is ensonified by a wideband signal and simultaneously viewed from two or more slightly different directions of view. The corresponding echoes are compared in the frequency domain, and a roughness estimate is obtained. Once the instrument centerband frequency has been fixed, the scale factor in the estimation can be adjusted by varying the differences between the view directions. This permits a wide estimation interval, ranging from a small fraction to many times the wavelength corresponding to the centerband frequency. Preliminary experiments have been carried out in a water tank, and the estimated roughness values are in agreement with the theory.