Ionic Liquids Containing Boron Cluster Anions

The combination of different boron cluster anions and some of the cations typically found in the composition of ionic liquids has been possible by straightforward metathetic reactions, producing new low melting point salts; the imidazolium cations have been systematically studied, [C(n)mim](+) (when [C(n)mim](+) = 1-alkyl-3-methylimidazolium; n = 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, 14, 16, or 18). Melting points increase in the anionic order [Co(C2B9H11)(2)](-) =-34 degrees C). The salts [C(n)mim](2)[X] ([X](2-) = [B10Cl10](2-) or [B12Cl12](2-), n = 16 or 18) show liquid crystal phases between the solid and liquid states. Tetraalkylphosphonium salts of [B10Cl10](2-) have also been prepared. Physical properties, such as thermal stability, density, or viscosity, have been measured for some selected samples. The presence of the perhalogenated dianion [B12Cl12](2-) in the composition of the imidazolium salts renders highly thermally stable compounds. For example, [C(2)mim](2)[B12Cl12] starts to decompose above 480 degrees C in a dynamic TGA analysis under a dinitrogen atmosphere. Crystal structures of [C(2)mim][Co(C2B9H11)(2)] and [C(2)mim](2)[B12Cl12] have been determined. H-1 NMR spectra of selected imidazolium-boron cluster anion salts have been recorded from solutions as a function of the concentration, showing trends related to the cation-anion interactions.

Stereotactic radiosurgery for intractable cluster headache: an initial report from the North American Gamma Knife Consortium.

Abstract Object The aim of this study was to evaluate the outcomes of Gamma Knife surgery (GKS) when used for patients with intractable cluster headache (CH). Methods Four participating centers of the North American Gamma Knife Consortium identified 17 patients who underwent GKS for intractable CH between 1996 and 2008. The median patient age was 47 years (range 26-83 years). The median duration of pain before GKS was 10 years (range 1.3-40 years). Seven patients underwent unsuccessful prior surgical procedures, including microvascular decompression (2 patients), microvascular decompression with glycerol rhizotomy (2 patients), deep brain stimulation (1 patient), trigeminal ganglion stimulation (1 patient), and prior GKS (1 patient). Fourteen patients had associated autonomic symptoms. The radiosurgical target was the trigeminal nerve (TN) root and the sphenopalatine ganglion (SPG) in 8 patients, only the TN in 8 patients, and only the SPG in 1 patient. The median maximum TN and SPG dose was 80 Gy. Results Favorable pain relief (Barrow Neurological Institute Grades I-IIIb) was achieved and maintained in 10 (59%) of 17 patients at a median follow-up of 34 months. Three patients required additional procedures (repeat GKS in 2 patients, hypothalamic deep brain stimulation in 1 patient). Eight (50%) of 16 patients who had their TN irradiated developed facial sensory dysfunction after GKS. Conclusions Gamma Knife surgery for intractable, medically refractory CH provided lasting pain reduction in approximately 60% of patients, but was associated with a significantly greater chance of facial sensory disturbances than GKS used for trigeminal neuralgia.

Analysis of HSC activity and compensatory Hox gene expression profile in Hoxb cluster mutant fetal liver cells

Overexpression of Hoxb4 in bone marrow cells promotes expansion of hematopoietic stem cell (HSC) populations in vivo and in vitro, indicating that this homeoprotein can activate the genetic program that determines self-renewal. However, this function cannot be solely attributed to Hoxb4 because Hoxb4(-/-) mice are viable and have an apparently normal HSC number. Quantitative polymerase chain reaction analysis showed that Hoxb4(-/-) c-Kit(+) fetal liver cells expressed moderately higher levels of several Hoxb cluster genes than control cells, raising the possibility that normal HSC activity in Hoxb4(-/-) mice is due to a compensatory up-regulation of other Hoxb genes. In this study, we investigated the competitive repopulation potential of HSCs lacking Hoxb4 alone, or in conjunction with 8 other Hoxb genes. Our results show that Hoxb4(-/-) and Hoxb1-b9(-/-) fetal liver cells retain full competitive repopulation potential and the ability to regenerate all myeloid and lymphoid lineages. Quantitative Hox gene expression profiling in purified c-KIt(+) Hoxb1-bg(-/-) fetal liver cells revealed an interaction between the Hoxa, b, and c clusters with variation in expression levels of Hoxa4, -a11, and -c4. Together, these studies show a complex network of genetic interactions between several Hox genes in primitive hematopoietic cells and demonstrate that HSCs lacking up to 30% of the active Hox genes remain fully competent.

HoxA cluster is haploinsufficient for activity of hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells

Functional compensation between homeodomain proteins has hindered the ability to unravel their role in hematopoiesis using single gene knockouts. Because HoxB genes are dispensable for hematopoiesis, and most HoxA genes are expressed an order of magnitude higher than other cluster genes in hematopoietic stem cell (HSC)-enriched populations, we hypothesize that maintenance of HoxA cluster expression is important for adult hematopoiesis and that global decrease of HoxA gene expression levels affects steady-state hematopoiesis.

A Cluster Randomized Controlled Trial of an Adapted U.S. Model of Pharmaceutical Care for Nursing Home Residents in Northern Ireland (Fleetwood Northern Ireland Study): A Cost-Effectiveness Analysis

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the cost-effectiveness of an adapted U.S. model of pharmaceutical care to improve psychoactive prescribing for nursing home residents in Northern Ireland (Fleetwood NI Study).
DESIGN: Economic evaluation alongside a cluster randomized controlled trial.
SETTING: Nursing homes in NI randomized to intervention (receipt of the adapted model of care; n511) or control (usual care continued; n511).
PARTICIPANTS: Residents aged 65 and older who provided informed consent (N5253; 128 intervention, 125 control) and who had full resource use data at 12 months.
INTERVENTION: Trained pharmacists reviewed intervention home residents’ clinical and prescribing information for 12 months, applied an algorithm that guided them in assessing the appropriateness of psychoactive medication, and worked with prescribers (general practitioners) to make changes. The control homes received usual care in which there was no pharmacist intervention.
MEASUREMENTS: The proportion of residents prescribed one or more inappropriate psychoactive medications (according to standardized protocols), costs, and a cost-effectiveness acceptability curve. The latter two outcomes are the focus for this article.
RESULTS: The proportions of residents receiving inappropriate psychoactive medication at 12 months in the intervention and control group were 19.5% and 50.4%, respectively. The mean cost of healthcare resources used per resident per year was $4,923 (95% con?dence interval.

Molecular abundances in the Magellanic Clouds .2. Deuterated species in the LMC

The first definite discoveries of extragalactic deuterium are reported. DCO+ has been detected in three and DCN has been measured in one star-forming region of the Large Magellanic Cloud (LMC). While the HCO+/DCO+ abundance ratios are found to be 19 +/- 3, 24 +/- 4, and 67 +/- 18 for N113, N44BC and N159HW, respectively, a HCN/DCN abundance ratio of 23 +/- 5 is obtained for N113. These results are consistent with a gas temperature of about 20 K and a D/H ratio of about 1.5 x 10(-5), consistent with that observed in the Galaxy. If the cloud temperature is closer to 30 K, then a D/H ratio is required to be up to an order of magnitude larger. Because this ratio provides a lower limit to the primordial D/H ratio, it indicates that the baryon mass density alone is unable to close the universe.