Unusual 1,6-diphenyl-1,3,5-hexatriene (DPH) spectrophotometric behavior in water/ethanol and water/DMSO mixtures

The absorption spectra of DPH at fixed concentration do not change with water content in organic solvents. It exhibits monomer bands, such as those obtained in ethanol. The absorption did not change for solutions up to 54 and 46% of water in ethanol and DMSO, respectively, for [DPH] = 5.0 × 10-6 mol L-1 at 30 °C. However, at the same experimental conditions, a gradual sharp decay of the DPH fluorescence is observed. It is proposed that water molecules below these water concentration limits act as quenchers of the excited states of DPH. Stern-Volmer quenching constants by intensities measurements are 7.4 × 10-2 (water/ethanol) and 2.6 × 10-2 L mol-1 (water/DMSO). DPH lifetime measurements in the absence and presence of water resulted in 7.1 × 10-2 L mol-1 in water/ethanol, which pointed out that the process is a dynamic quenching by water molecules. For experiments using DPH as probe, this process can affect data, leading to misunderstanding interpretation.

HTLV-1 Tax Specific CD8+ T Cells Express Low Levels of Tim-3 in HTLV-1 Infection: Implications for Progression to Neurological Complications

The T cell immunoglobulin mucin 3 (Tim-3) receptor is highly expressed on HIV-1-specific T cells, rendering them partially ""exhausted'' and unable to contribute to the effective immune mediated control of viral replication. To elucidate novel mechanisms contributing to the HTLV-1 neurological complex and its classic neurological presentation called HAM/TSP (HTLV-1 associated myelopathy/tropical spastic paraparesis), we investigated the expression of the Tim-3 receptor on CD8(+) T cells from a cohort of HTLV-1 seropositive asymptomatic and symptomatic patients. Patients diagnosed with HAM/TSP down-regulated Tim-3 expression on both CD8(+) and CD4(+) T cells compared to asymptomatic patients and HTLV-1 seronegative controls. HTLV-1 Tax-specific, HLA-A*02 restricted CD8(+) T cells among HAM/TSP individuals expressed markedly lower levels of Tim-3. We observed Tax expressing cells in both Tim-3(+) and Tim-3(-) fractions. Taken together, these data indicate that there is a systematic downregulation of Tim-3 levels on T cells in HTLV-1 infection, sustaining a profoundly highly active population of potentially pathogenic T cells that may allow for the development of HTLV-1 complications.

High-Dose Antipsychotic Medication; A Practical Pocket Checklist

There is evidence that a significant number of patients with schizophrenia and other chronic psychotic psychosis are prescribed high-dose antipsychotic drugs despite the fact that clinical guidelines recommend the routine use of a single antipsychotic drug in a standard dose. The prescriptions for high-dose and combined antipsychotic drugs are relatively common in clinical practice. This occurs despite the fact that results of published trials of high-dose antipsychotic drug treatment for schizophrenia provide little evidence to support effectiveness of using high-dose antipsychotic treatment and most importantly such strategy is not recommended. Moreover, there is mounting evidence of higher incidence of side effects and mortality associated with high dose antipsychotic treatment. Therefore we are presenting a practical pocket checklist which is aimed at minimizing predicted and unpredicted side effects during such treatments.

Biliary and pancreatic dysgenesis in mice harboring a mutation in Pkhd1

Autosomal recessive polycystic kidney disease is a hereditary fibrocystic disease that involves the kidneys and the biliary tract. Mutations in the PKHD1 gene are responsible for typical forms of autosomal recessive polycystic kidney disease. We have generated a mouse model with targeted mutation of Pkbd1 by disrupting exon 4, resulting in a mutant transcript with deletion of 66 codons and expression at similar to 30% of wild-type levels. Pkhd1(del4/d3l4) mice develop intrahepatic bile duct proliferation with progressive cyst formation and associated periportal fibrosis. In addition, these mice exhibit extrahepatic manifestations, including pancreatic cysts, splenomegaly, and common bile duct dilation. The kidneys are unaffected both histologically and functionally. Fibrocystin is expressed in the apical membranes and cilia of bile ducts and distal nephron segments but is absent from the proximal tubule. This pattern is unchanged in orthologous models of autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease due to mutation in Pkd1 or Pkd2. Mutant fibrocystin in Pkhd1(del4/d3l4) mice also retains this expression pattern. The hypomorphic Pkhd1(del4/d3l4) mouse model provides evidence that reduced functional levels of fibrocystin are sufficient for cystogenesis and fibrosis in the liver and pancreas, but not the kidney, and supports the hypothesis of species-dependent differences in susceptibility of tissues to Pkbdl mutations.

Survival and Recurrence in Nonmycosis Fungoides Primary Cutaneous Lymphoma

Purpose: To evaluate overall and relapse-free survival (RFS) in patients with nonmycosis fungoides (non-MF) primary cutaneous lymphoma (PCL). Methods: Thirty-eight patients with PCL excluding cases of MF treated between 1993 and 2006 were analyzed retrospectively. Survival statistics were estimated by the methods of Kaplan and Meier, and univariate and multivariate significance testing were performed by Cox regression analysis. Results: The median follow-up was 34.6 months (range, 2-138.3 months). The overall survival for the entire study population, at 5 and 10 years, was 97% and 78%, respectively. The RFS for the entire study population, at 5 and 10 years, was 30% and 22%, respectively. For those who received radiotherapy (RT) as a component of their initial therapy, the RFS at 5 and 10 years was 48% and 36%, respectively. Among those receiving RT who relapsed, the site of relapse was out-of-field in 82% of the cases. In our multivariate analysis, only RT as a component of the initial therapy and the absence of bulky disease had a statistically significant improvement in RFS (P = 0.01 and < 0.01, respectively). Conclusion: RT improves the local control and RFS of patients with non-MF PCL.

Bendadaite, a new iron arsenate mineral of the arthurite group

Bendadaite, ideally Fe(2+)Fe(2)(3+)(AsO(4))(2)(OH)(2 center dot).4H(2)O, is a new member of the arthurite group It was found as a weathering product of arsenopyrite on a single hand specimen from the phosphate pegmatite Bendada. central Portugal (type locality) Co-type locality is the granite pegmatite of La via do Almerindo (Almerindo mine), Linopolis, Divmo das Laranjeiras county, Minas Gerais, Brazil Further localities are the Vein Negra mine, Copiapo province, Chile, mid-East, Bou Azzer district, Morocco, and Para Inferida yard, Fenugu Sibirt mine, Gonnosfanadiga, Medio Campidano Province, Sardinia. Italy Type bendadaite occurs as blackish green to dark brownish tufts (<0 1 mm long) and flattened radiating aggregates. in intimate association with an intermediate member of the scorodite-mansfieldite series It is monoclinic. space group P2(l/c). with a = 10 239(3) angstrom. b = 9 713(2) angstrom, c = 5 552(2) angstrom. beta = 94 11(2)degrees. = 550 7(2) angstrom(3). Z = 2 Electron-microprobe analysis yielded (wt %). CaO 0 04, MnO 0 03. CuO 006, ZnO 004. Fe(2)O(3) (total) 43 92, Al(2)O(3) 115. SnO(2) 0 10, As(2)O(5) 43 27. P(2)O(5) 1 86, SO(3) 0.03 The empirical formula is (Fe(0 52)(2+)Fe(0 32)(3+)rectangle(0 16))(Sigma 1 00)(Fe(1 89)(3+)Al(0 11))(Sigma 2 00)(As(1 87)P(0 13))(Sigma 2 00)O(8)(OH)(2 00) 4H(2)O based. CM 2(As,P) and assuming ideal 80, 2(OH), 4H2O and complete occupancy of the ferric on site by Fe(3+) and Al Optically, bendadaite is biaxial, positive, 2V(est) = 85+/-4 degrees, 2V(eale) = 88 degrees, with alpha 1 734(3). 13 1 759(3), 7 1 787(4) Pleochrosim is medium strong X pale reddish brown. Y yellowish brown, Z dark yellowish brown. absorption Z > V > X, optical dispersion weak, r > v. Optical axis plane Is parallel to (010), with X approximately parallel to a and Z nearly parallel to c Bendadaite has vitreous to sub-adamantine luster, is translucent and non-fluorescent It is brittle, shows irregular fracture and a good cleavage parallel to 1010} 3 15 0 10 g/cm(3), 3 193 g/cm3 (for the empirical formula) The five strongest powder diffraction lines [d in angstrom (I)(hkl] are 10 22 (10)(100), 7 036 (8)(110), 4 250 (5)(11 I), 2 865 (4)(311), 4 833 (3)(020,011) The d spacings are very similar to those of its Zn analogue, ojelaite The crystal structure of bendadaite was solved and refined using a crystal from the co-type locality with the composition (Fe(0 95)(2+)rectangle(0 05))(Sigma 1 00)(Fe(1 80)(3+)Al(0 20))Sigma(2 00)(As(1 48)P(0 52))(Sigma 2 00)O(8)) (OH)(2) 4H(2)O (R = 16%) and confirms an arthurite-type atomic arrangement

Crystal structure of the (Mg,Fe)[UO2(P,As)O-4](2) center dot 10H(2)O solid solution - A novel mineral variety of saleeite

The crystal structure of a novel variety {[(Mg0.81Fe0.19)(H2O)(6)](H2O)(4)}{(UO2)[(P0.67As0.33)O-4]}(2) of the mineral saleeite is determined using X-ray diffraction (Bruker Smart diffractometer, lambda MoK alpha, graphite monochromator, 2 theta(max) = 56.62 degrees, R = 0.0321 for 2317 reflections, T = 100 K). The main crystal data are as follows: a = 6.952(6) angstrom, b = 19.865(5) , angstrom, c = 6.969(2) angstrom, beta = 90.806(4)degrees, space group P12(l)/n1, Z = 2, and P-calcd = 3.34 g/cm(3). It is shown that the structure is formed by alternating (along the [010] direction) anionic layers, which are composed of uranium bipyramids and T(P,As) tetrahedra, and cation layers consisting of M(Mg, Fe) octahedra and water molecules, which are joined through a system of asymmetric hydrogen bonds. The hydrogen atoms are located, the scheme of hydrogen bonds is established, and their geometric characteristics are calculated.