Silver derivatives of multi-donor heterocyclic thioamides as antimicrobial/anticancer agents: unusual bio-activity against methicillin resistant S. aureus,S. epidermidis,and E. faecalis and human bone cancer MG63 cell line

The basic aim of this study pertains to the synthesis of silver nitrate complexes and the study of their antimicrobial and anticancer bio-activity. A series of new silver(i) derivatives of N-substituted-imidazolidine-2-thiones (L-NR, R = Et, Prⁿ, Buⁿ, Ph), purine-6-thione (purSH₂), 2-thiouracil (tucH₂), pyrimidine-2-thione (pymSH) and pyridine-2-thione (pySH) of composition [Ag(S-L-NR)(PPh₃)₂(ONO₂)] {R = Et (1), Prⁿ (2), Buⁿ (3), Ph (4)}, [Ag₂(N,S-purSH₂)₂(μ-dppm)₂](NO₃)₂·2H₂O (5) (dppm = Ph₂P–CH₂–PPh₂), [Ag(L)(PPh₃)₂](NO₃) {L = N,S-purSH₂ (6); S-tucH₂ (7)}, [Ag(N,S-pymS)(PPh₃)₂](CH₃OH) (8), and [Ag(N,S-pyS)(PPh₃)₂] (9) have been synthesized and structurally characterized. These new and some previously reported complexes {[Ag₂(L-NH)₄(PPh₃)₂](NO₃)₂ (10), [Ag(L-NMe)₂(PPh₃)](NO₃) (11), and [Ag(S-bzimSH)₂(PPh₃)₂](OAc) (12), L-NH = 1,3-imidazolidine-2-thione; L-NMe = 1-methyl-3-imidazolidine-2-thione and bzimSH₂ = benzimidazoline-2-thione)} have shown moderate to high anti-microbial activity against Gram positive bacteria, namely methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and Staphylococcus aureus (MTCC 740), and Gram negative bacteria, namely Staphylococcus epidermidis (MTCC 435), Enterococcus faecalis (MTCC 439), Shigella flexneri (MTCC 1457) and a yeast Candida albicans (MTCC 22). These complexes have also been found to be bio-safe as studied using MTT [3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyl tetrazolium bromide] assay. The anti-tumor study of silver complexes against human osteosarcoma cell line (MG63) has shown IC₅₀ values in the range of 6–33 μM.

A series of biosafe mixed-ligand complexes of silver with heterocyclic thioamides have been studied for their antimicrobial/anticancer activity.     

Securin predicts aneuploidy and survival in breast cancer

Karra H, Pitkänen R, Nykänen M, Talvinen K, Kuopio T, Söderström M & Kronqvist P
(2012) Histopathology  60, 586–596
Securin predicts aneuploidy and survival in breast cancer Aims: Securin is known to participate in maintaining chromosomal integrity during the cell cycle through regulation of metaphase–anaphase transition, DNA damage repair, and apoptosis. The aim of this study was to investigate the role of securin in aneuploidy and prognosis in human breast cancer. Methods and results: The study was based on 603 breast cancer patients with up to 20 years of follow‐up. DNA content was determined by image cytometry on cell imprints, and securin immunohistochemistry was performed on tissue microarrays of breast cancer tissue. We show, for the first time in human breast cancer, that high‐level securin expression predicts abnormal DNA content, with up to 9.8‐fold odds for aneuploid DNA content (P = 0.0007). Securin also shows strong independent prognostic value for disease‐specific survival, with a significant difference in survival time between patients with low‐level and high‐level securin expression. Conclusions: The main result of the present study is the association of aneuploidy and securin expression. According to our results, securin immunohistochemistry is also a potential new prognosticator for treatment decisions concerning breast cancer patients.     

Effects of media exposure on adolescents traumatized in a school shooting

This study analyzes the impact of the media on adolescents traumatized in a school shooting. Participants were trauma-exposed students (n = 231) and comparison students (n = 526), aged 13-19 years. A questionnaire that included the Impact of Event Scale and a 36-item General Health Questionnaire was administered 4 months after the shooting. Being interviewed was associated with higher scores on the Impact of Event Scale (p = .005), but posttraumatic symptoms did not differ between those who refused to be interviewed and those not approached by reporters. Following a higher number of media outlets did not affect symptoms.