Early antenatal sonographic diagnosis of conjoined syncephalus-craniothoraco-omphalopagus twins. Case report.

The paper describes the prenatal ultrasonographic diagnosis of conjoined syncephalus-craniothoraco-omphalopagus twins at 13 weeks' gestation. The mother, after genetic counseling, decided to interrupt the pregnancy. The fetal karyotype, the maternal serum and amniotic fluid alpha-fetoprotein levels were normal. The diagnosis was confirmed by pathologic examination of the fetus after termination of pregnancy.     

Comparative nuclear magnetic resonance studies of diffusional water permeability of red blood cells from different species. VIII. Adult and fetal guinea pig (Cavia procellus)

The diffusional water permeability (P _d) of adult, pregnant female and fetal guinea-pig red blood cells (RBCs) was measured by a doping nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) technique on control cells and following inhibition withp-chloromercuribenzene sulphonate (PCMBS). The values ofP _d were around 5.0 × 10^?3 cm/s at 15 °C, 5.3 × 10-3 cm/s at 20 °C, 6.6 × 10^?3 cm/s at 25 °C, 7.5 × 10^?3 cm/s at 30 °C and 8.6 × 10^?3 cm/s at 37 °C with no significant differences between adult, pregnant female and fetal RBCs. Systematic studies on the effects of PCMBS on water diffusion indicated that the maximal inhibition was reached in 10 min at 37 °C with 0.1 mm PCMBS. The values of maximal inhibition ranged from 70%–77% at 15–30 °C to 57%–63% at 37 °C in the case of adult and from 64%–67% at 15–30 °C to 51% at 37 °C in the case of fetal RBCs. The basal permeability to water was estimated at 1.1 × 10^?3 cm/s at 15 °C ,1.3 × 10^?3 cm/s at 20 °C, 1.6 × 10^?3 cm/s at 25 °C, 2.2 × 10^?3 cm/s at 30 °C and 3.2 × 10^?3 cm/s at 37 °C for adult and slightly higher values for fetal guinea pig RBCs as 1.6 × 10^?3 cm/s at 15 °C, 2.0 × 10^?3 cm/s at 20 °C, 2.4 × 10^?3 cm/s at 25 °C, 2.6 × 10^?3 cm/s at 30 °C and 4.2 × 10^?3 cm/s at 37 °C. The activation energy of water diffusion was around 22 kJ/ mol, with no significant differences between the adult pregnant female and fetal RBCs, and increased to about 40 kJ/mol in the case of adult and pregnant RBCs and 34 kJ/mol for fetal RBCs after incubation with PCMBS in conditions of maximal inhibition of water diffusion. The membrane polypeptide electrophoretic pattern of adult and fetal guinea-pig RBCs was compared with its human counterpart. The guinea-pig membrane contained higher amounts of spectrin (band 1 and 2), whereas the proteins in bands 4.1, 4.2 and 6 were present in lower amounts. Considerable differences in polypeptides migrating in the region of bands 7 and 8 and in front of them were apparent between the two sources of RBC membranes where some bands were present only in the guinea-pig RBC membranes. The adult guinea-pig membranes contained smaller amounts of proteins migrating in band 4.5 and lacked band 8.     

Level 1 neonatal nursing staff perceptions of their role: A qualitative Framework Analysis study investigating the complex and diverse workload undertaken by nurses in special care baby units

This study investigated Level 1 Special Care Bay Unit (SCBU) nurses’ perceptions of the skills required for their role. Eight nurses from a UK inner city Level 1 neonatal unit participated in qualitative interviews about their role. Analyses were based on data collected from semi -structured interviews supported by open -ended questions and use of a topic guide. The SRQR (Standards for Reporting Qualitative Research) checklist was used as a framework to support the qualitative analytical methods undertaken. Level 1 neonatal nurses reported use of a wide range of skills with a high level of parent – infant engagement. Analysis of the participant interviews revealed six themes: a) balancing nursing workload and demands; b) delivering nursing care in a Level 1 SCBU; c) managing clinical risk and emergencies; d) function and sustainability of a SCBU neonatal team; e) delivering family-centered care; and f) external perceptions of Level 1 nursing care. Work on a Level 1 unit consists of a broad range of skills, possibly greater in scope in comparison with skills used by neonatal nurses on Level 2 and Level 3 units. Further in - depth analysis of this role would be useful for the development of practice skills and for recruitment and retention.     

Effect of Beetroot Juice Supplementation on Aerobic Response during Swimming

The beneficial effects of beetroot juice supplementation (BJS) have been tested during cycling, walking, and running. The purpose of the present study was to investigate whether BJS can also improve performance in swimmers. Fourteen moderately trained male master swimmers were recruited and underwent two incremental swimming tests randomly assigned in a pool during which workload, oxygen uptake (VO₂), carbon dioxide production (VCO₂), pulmonary ventilation (VE), and aerobic energy cost (AEC) of swimming were measured. One was a control swimming test (CSW) and the other a swimming test after six days of BJS (0.5l/day organic beetroot juice containing about 5.5 mmol of NO₃⁻). Results show that workload at anaerobic threshold was significantly increased by BJS as compared to the CSW test (6.3 ± 1 and 6.7 ± 1.1 kg during the CSW and the BJS test respectively). Moreover, AEC was significantly reduced during the BJS test (1.9 ± 0.5 during the SW test vs. 1.7 ± 0.3 kcal·kg⁻¹·h⁻¹ during the BJS test). The other variables lacked a statistically significant effect with BJS. The present investigation provides evidence that BJS positively affects performance of swimmers as it reduces the AEC and increases the workload at anaerobic threshold.     

Synthesis and biological study of acridine-based imidazolium salts

A new series of acridine based imidazolium salts was synthesized and evaluated for in vitro cytotoxicity against human cancer cell lines by an MTT assay. The synthesis applied a coupling of imidazoles with 9-chloroacridines, which originated from an Ullmann condensation of a 2-chloro-benzoic acid with an aniline. The target compounds were obtained in high yields. The DPPH assay indicated considerable antioxidant activity for target compounds with simple and short alkyl chains on the imidazole, while increasing chain length and the introduction of an additional π-electron system in most cases reduced the activity. All compounds exhibited low biotoxicity against non-cancerous cell lines, whereas a few compounds showed promising anticancer activity. Unlike for the reference drugs Tamoxifen and Paclitaxel, the anticancer activity of acridine imidazolium ions is specific for only selected cancer types. Reasonable fluorescent behaviour of the products provide potential for visualization of the distribution of active drugs in tissue.

A series of acridine-based imidazolium salts was synthesized and studied on cytotoxicity against human cancer cell lines.     

Formation of Citrazinic Acid Ions and Their Contribution to Optical and Magnetic Features of Carbon Nanodots: A Combined Experimental and Computational Approach

The molecular model is one of the most appealing to explain the peculiar optical properties of Carbon nanodots (CNDs) and was proven to be successful for the bottom up synthesis, where a few molecules were recognized. Among the others, citrazinic acid is relevant for the synthesis of citric acid-based CNDs. Here we report a combined experimental and computational approach to discuss the formation of different protonated and deprotonated species of citrazinic acid and their contribution to vibrational and magnetic spectra. By computing the free energy formation in water solution, we selected the most favoured species and we retrieved their presence in the experimental surface enhanced Raman spectra. As well, the chemical shifts are discussed in terms of tautomers and rotamers of most favoured species. The expected formation of protonated and de-protonated citrazinic acid ions under extreme pH conditions was proven by evaluating specific interactions with H₂SO₄ and NaOH molecules. The reported results confirm that the presence of citrazinic acid and its ionic forms should be considered in the interpretation of the spectroscopic features of CNDs.     

Antenatal diagnosis of deletion chromosome 11(q23-qter) (Jacobsen syndrome)

A case of Jacobsen syndrome, suspected antenatally on the grounds of trigonocephaly and hypoplastic left heart syndrome, is presented. Clinicians are reminded that a hypoplastic left heart should not be assumed to be an isolated malformation and that a careful search for associated malformations can facilitate the recognition of an underlying genetic syndrome.