Electrochemical Characterization and CO2 Reduction Reaction of a Family of Pyridazine-Bridged Dinuclear Mn(I) Carbonyl Complexes.

Three recently synthesized neutral dinuclear carbonyl manganese complexes with the pyridazine bridging ligand, of general formula [Mn2(µ-ER)2(CO)6(µ-pydz)] (pydz = pyridazine; E = O or S; R = methyl or phenyl), have been investigated by cyclic voltammetry in dimethylformamide and acetonitrile both under an inert argon atmosphere and in the presence of carbon dioxide. This family of Mn(I) compounds behaves interestingly at negative potentials in the presence of CO2. Based on this behavior, which is herein discussed, a rather efficient catalytic mechanism for the CO2 reduction reaction toward the generation of CO has been hypothesized.

Clinical, Sociodemographic, and Psychological Factors Associated with Transition Readiness in Patients with Epilepsy.

BACKGROUND: The transition to adult care for patients with epilepsy is a complicated clinical issue associated with adverse outcomes, including non-adherence to treatment, dropout of medical care, and worse prognosis. Moreover, youngsters with epilepsy are notably prone to emotional, psychological, and social difficulties during the transition to adulthood. Transition needs depend on the type of epilepsy and the epileptic syndrome, as well as on the presence of co-morbidities. Having a structured transition program in place is essential to reduce poor health consequences. A key strategy to optimize outcomes involves the use of transition readiness and associated factors assessment to implement the recognition of vulnerability and protective aspects, knowledge, and skills of these patients and their parents. Therefore, this study aims to provide a comprehensive framework of clinical and psychosocial aspects associated with the transition from pediatric to adult medical care of patients with epilepsy. METHODS: Measures examining different aspects of transition readiness and associated clinical, socio-demographic, psychological, and emotional factors were administered to 13 patients with epilepsy (Mage = 22.92, SD = 6.56) with (n = 6) or without (n = 7) rare diseases, and a respective parent (Mage = 56.63, SD = 7.36). RESULTS: patients showed fewer problems in tracking health issues, appointment keeping, and pharmacological adherence as well as low mood symptoms and moderate resiliency. Moreover, they referred to a low quality of sleep. Notably, parents of patients with rare diseases reported a lower quality of sleep as compared to the other group of parents. CONCLUSIONS: Increasing awareness around transition readiness is essential to promote self-management skills of patients with epilepsy and their parents. Anticipating the period of transition could be beneficial, especially to prevent problematic sleep patterns and promote independence in health care management. Parents of patients with epilepsy and rare diseases should be monitored for their mental status which can affect patients' well-being.

Triarylamine-based hydrido-carboxylate rhenium(i) complexes as photosensitizers for dye-sensitized solar cells.

Two new dyes based on a dinuclear rhenium complex and (E)-3-(5-(4-(bis(2',4'-dibutoxy-[1,1'-biphenyl]-4-yl)amino)phenyl)thiophen-2-yl)-2-cyanoacrylic acid (namely D35) have been investigated as sensitizers for dye sensitized solar cells (DSSCs). Two different pyridazine ligands have been used, namely 4-pyridazine-carboxylic acid for dye 2 ([Re2(µ-H)(-D35)(CO)6(µ-pyridazine-4-COOH)]) and 4-pyridazinyl-butanoic acid for dye 3 ([Re2(µ-H)(-D35)(CO)6(µ-pyridazine-4-C3H6-COOH)]). The performances of these new dyes have been compared with those of the dye containing the bare 4-diphenylaminobenzoic acid, namely TPA, as the ancillary ligand (dye 1). Compared to dye 1, dyes 2 and 3 show an impressive tenfold increase in the absorption intensity in the range of 487-493 nm on TiO2 films, with great improvement of the light harvesting. Cyclic voltammetry experiments, performed on derivatives containing the methyl ester of the pyridazine ligands, show narrow electrochemical band gaps in the range of 1.36-1.84 eV. Solar cells with each dye have been prepared, using both iodide/triiodide and cobalt redox couples as the electrolytes, platinum or carbon as the counter electrodes, and TiO2 or SnO2 as the metal oxide photoelectrodes, respectively. The best DSSC results have been obtained using dye 3, with an overall solar-to-electric conversion efficiency of 3.5%, which greatly overcomes the previous result of 1.0% obtained for dye 1 in a not-optimized setup of the device. The performances of dye 3 are due to the presence of D35 ligand, which further suppresses the recombination of the injected electron with the electrolyte and with the oxidized state of the dye.

The early HCV RNA dynamics in patients with acute hepatitis C treated with pegylated interferon-alpha2b.

Interferon and pegylated interferon (peg-IFN) are highly effective in patients with acute hepatitis caused by hepatitis C virus (acute hepatitis C, AHC), but the optimal timing of treatment is still under debate. In this open-labelled, uncontrolled trial, 19 patients with AHC, including 12 intravenous drug users (IVDUs), were treated early in the course of the infection with peg-IFN-alpha2b for 12 weeks. Diagnosis was made according to standardized criteria. The HCV RNA decay was analysed during the first 4 weeks of treatment by quantitative branched-DNA and by qualitative RT-PCR. Of the patients, 11 (58%) had genotype 1. Sustained virological response (SVR) was achieved in 14 out of 19 patients (74%) and the mean time to achieve a negative RT-PCR for HCV RNA was 2.5 weeks. The SVR was associated by univariate analysis with peg-IFN dosage < or = 1.33 microg/kg/week (P = 0.026) and HCV RNA level at onset of therapy (P = 0.017). Using a logistic regression model, only peg-IFN dosage > or = 1.33 microg/kg/weekly was significantly associated with SVR (P = 0.0379, OR: 14.7; 95% CI: 1.16-185.2). The SVR was 100% and 83.3%, respectively, in genotype 1 and non-1 infected patients treated with a dosage equal to or higher than 1.33 microg/kg, compared with 40% and 50%, respectively, in those who received a lower dosage. Efforts should be made to propose a 12-week treatment with peg-IFN-alpha2b for AHC, and to maximize peg-IFN dosage. Early treatment is associated with early disappearance of HCV RNA.

Resolution of HCV infection after highly active antiretroviral therapy in a HIV-HCV coinfected patient.

The effect of HAART on HCV infection and HCV-RNA plasma levels is controversial. We describe a patient with HIV-HCV coinfection with persistent disappearance of HCV-RNA after immunological and virological response to HAART, and we briefly discuss similar cases reported in the literature.