Design, synthesis, and anticancer properties of 4,4'-dihydroxybenzophenone-2,4-dinitrophenylhydrazone and analogues

4,4'-dihydroxybenzophenone-2,4-dinitrophenylhydrazone (A-007) has recently completed a phase I clinical trial in advanced cancer with minimal toxicity, and impressive objective responses were noted. A-007 possesses three moieties that appear to have an influence on its anticancer activities: diphenylmethane, hydrazone, and dinitrophenyl. The goals of this study were to modify A-007's chemical moieties with the ultimate goal of maximizing its anticancer activity through increased planarity and introduction of functional groups. Thirty-five phenylhydrazone analogues of A-007 were synthesized and evaluated in vitro in a human primary cancer explant assay. Anticancer activities for selected analogues were also assayed for activity vs established human/murine cell lines. One-hundred-eighty-six fresh human solid tumors were used to screen for anticancer activity. Selected analogues were assayed for therapeutic indices (vs GM-CFC from bone marrow) in preparation for preclinical studies. Several polyaryl phenylhydrazones demonstrated improved cytotoxic activities by factors of 10(2)-10(3) when compared with A-007. However, the polyaryl quinone moieties of the latter analogues introduced potential toxic properties (cardiac, hematological) that do not exist with A-007.     

Factors influencing subjective noise sensitivity in an urban population

This study was designed to define the individual variables influencing subjective noise sensitivity in an urban population and to investigate the distribution of subjective noise sensitivity with regard to noise exposure. A general questionnaire, a ten-graded noise annoyance scale, the Weinstein's Noise Sensitivity Scale, and the Eysenck Personality Questionnaire were applied to a sample of 413 inhabitants of Belgrade. Distribution of noise sensitivity scores was normal and independent of noise exposure. No significant differences in average noise sensitivity scores were observed concerning gender and exposure to low (Leq < 55 dBA), and high level of traffic noise (Leq > 65 dBA). Multiple regression analysis revealed that neuroticism was the best individual predictor for SNS, for both sexes in the noisy area and for women only, in the quiet area (P < 0.001). Age, education level and introversion were not significantly related to noise sensitivity. Positive relation between reported noise annoyance and noise sensitivity was highly significant (P < 0.0001).     

Mechanical Properties of Lightweight Cementitious Cellular Composites Incorporating Micro-Encapsulated Phase Change Material

This work focuses on combining digitally architected cellular structures with cementitious mortar incorporating micro-encapsulated phase change material (mPCM) to fabricated lightweight cementitious cellular composites (LCCCs). Voronoi structures with different randomness are designed for the LCCCs. Aided by the indirect 3D printing technique, the LCCCs were prepared with a reference mortar (REF) and a mortar incorporating mPCM. The compressive behavior of the LCCCs was studied at the age of 28 days, by experimental and numerical methods. It was found that the highly randomized Voronoi structure and the mPCM have minor negative influence on the compressive properties of the LCCCs. The mPCM incorporated LCCCs have high relative compressive strength compared to conventional foam concrete. Furthermore, the critical role of air voids defects on the compressive behavior was identified. The highly randomized porous Voronoi structure, high mPCM content and good compressive strength ensure the LCCCs’ great potential as a novel thermal insulation construction material.     

GustiloⅢB和ⅢC高能量胫骨骨折--截肢与保肢的比较

截肢和保肢患者长期的功能和心理结果相似。如果早期不截肢而采取保肢,就必须考虑到:二期截肢的风险(5%～14%)、潜在的并发症(保肢术通常更高)以及住院时间延长。由于胫骨骨折严重程度不同采取的治疗可能不同(G ustiloⅢC型比ⅢB型更可能截肢),这使得对比很困难,而且相关的队列研究文献很少。     

The calcified ascending aorta in aortocoronary bypass

Heavily calcified ascending aorta significantly increased morbidity and lethality during open-heart surgery. Cannulation and clamping (partial or total) of severely atherosclerotic ascending aorta can easily cause damage and rupture of aortic wall, with consequential distal (often fatal) embolization with atheromatous debris (brain, myocardium). From June 1998. until June 2000, 11 of 2,136 (0.5%) patients who underwent coronary artery bypass grafting were with the severe atheromatous ascending aorta. The site of cannulation was in the aortic arch in three patients (aorta was occluded with Foley catheter in one case, and single clamp technique was used in the other two cases). The femoral artery was the cannulation site in other five cases. Profound hypothermia, ventricular fibrillation, and circulatory arrest, with no cross-clamping or cardioplegia, were used in three patients. Two patients were operated on with extracorporeal circulation, one in normothermia, on the beating heart, the other in moderate hypothermia, on fibrillating heart. In three patients myocardial revascularization was performed on the beating heart, in normothermia, without extracorporeal circulation. Postoperative course was uneventful in all 11 patients. Neither atheroembolism in the peripheral organs, nor atheroembolism of the extremities occurred. The proposed surgical approaches have the potential to reduce the prevalence of stroke and systemic embolization associated with coronary artery bypass grafting in patients with heavily calcified ascending aorta. This result was achieved due to the applied modifications of standard cardiosurgical technique.     

Automatic detection of left ventricular ejection time from a finger photoplethysmographic pulse oximetry waveform: comparison with Doppler aortic measurement

Left ventricular ejection time (LVET) is a useful measure of ventricular performance and preload. The present study explores a novel method of continuous LVET monitoring using a noninvasive finger photoplethysmographic pulse oximetry waveform (PPG-POW). A method for the automatic beat-to-beat detection of LVET from the finger PPG-POW is presented based on a combination of derivative analysis, waveform averaging and rule-based logic. The performance of the detection method was evaluated on 13 healthy subjects during graded head-up tilt. Overall, the correlation between the PPG-POW derived LVET and the aortic flow derived LVET was high and significant (r = 0.897, p < 0.05). The bias was -14 +/- 14 ms (mean +/- SD), and the percentage error was 9.7%. Although these results would not be sufficient to satisfy the requirement for clinical evaluation of LVET when absolute accuracy was demanded, the strong correlation between the PPG-POW LVET and the aortic LVET on an intra-subject basis (r = 0.945 +/- 0.043, mean +/- SD) would support the application of PPG-POW to detect the directional change in LVET of an individual. This could be very useful for the early identification of progressive hypovolaemia or blood loss. The present study has demonstrated a promising approach to extract potentially useful information from a noninvasive, easy-to-obtain signal that could be readily acquired either from existing patient monitoring equipment or from inexpensive instrumentation. More extensive investigation is necessary to evaluate the applicability of the present approach in clinical care monitoring.     

桡骨远端骨折:经皮穿针合并石膏固定与石膏固定的比较

来自五项随机或半随机对照研究的证据表明,桡骨远端骨折常优先采用经皮穿针合并石膏固定治疗而非单纯的石膏固定,但是在大多数的临床试验中发现,两种治疗方法的效果并无统计学差异.在解剖测量和功能评分方面,经皮穿针固定(除Kapandlii穿针外)与石膏固定的效果相近或较之更好,并且并发症的发生率更低.采用Kapandii穿针技术时,在功能评分方面与石膏固定效果相当,但是桡侧缩短畸形更为严重,而且桡神经浅支的损伤也更为常见.这些结果并不代表最终的结论,根据标准指引进一步开展严格的临床试验将会更有利.