Parameningeal rhabdomyosarcoma in pediatric age: results of a pooled analysis from North American and European cooperative groups

BACKGROUND

Parameningeal (PM) site is a well-known adverse prognostic factor in children with localized rhabdomyosarcoma (RMS). To identify risk factors associated with outcome at this site, we pooled data from 1105 patients treated in 10 studies conducted by European and North American cooperative groups between 1984 and 2004.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Clinical factors including age, histology, size, invasiveness, nodal involvement, Intergroup Rhabdomyosarcoma Study (IRS) clinical group, site, risk factors for meningeal involvement (MI), study group, and application of radiotherapy (RT) were studied for their impact on event-free and overall survival (EFS and OS).

RESULTS

Ten-year EFS and OS were 62.6 and 66.1% for the whole group. Patients without initial RT showed worse survival (10-year OS 40.8% versus 68.5% for RT treated patients). Multivariate analysis focusing on 862 patients who received RT as part of their initial treatment revealed four unfavorable prognostic factors: age <3 or >10 years, signs of MI, unfavorable site, and tumor size. Utilizing these prognostic factors, patients could be classified into different risk groups with 10-year OS ranging between 51.1 and 80.9%.

CONCLUSIONS

While, in general, PM localization is regarded as an adverse prognostic factor, the current analysis differentiates those with good prognosis (36% patients with 0-1 risk factor: 10-year OS 80.9%) from high-risk PM patients (28% with 3-4 factors: 10-year OS 51.1%). Furthermore, this analysis reinforces the necessity for RT in PM RMS.

Cyclic Esters of Phosphorous — Phosphoric Anhydride as a Tool for Studying the “Abnormal” Biphilic Reactivity of PIII—PV Anhydride System

A series of esters of phosphorous-phosphoric anhydride containing cyclic ester groups at one or both phosphorus atoms were prepared. The typical biphilic character of these compounds has been found. Unexpectedly observed lack of reactivity of anhydrides containing cyclic ester groups at trivalent phosphorus atom with respect to diethylphosphoric and acetic acids is the starting point for discussion on the mechanism of acidolysis. Unusual inertness of PIII cyclic esters of phosphorous-phosphoric anhydride towards protic acids is discussed in terms of Hudson’s concept of steric retardation on quaternisation.

Notizen: Inhibitor-Effekt von BF3 auf die Umlagerung von / Inhibitory Effect of BF3 on the Rearrangement of

The rapid conversion of phosphorus thiocyanates into isothiocyanates is caused by nucleophilic reagents. Thiocyanate structures can be stabilized by adding BF3. The mechanisms of conversion and stabilization are discussed.

Structure, vibrational spectra and DFT characterization of the intra- and inter-molecular interactions in 2-hydroxy-5-methylpyridine-3-carboxylic acid--normal modes of the eight-membered HB ring

Fourier transform IR and Raman spectra, XRD studies and DFT quantum chemical calculations have been used to characterize the structural and vibrational properties of 2-hydroxy-5-methylpyridine-3-carboxylic acid. In the unit-cell of this compound two molecules related by the inversion center interact via OH⋯N hydrogen bonds. The double hydrogen bridge system is spaced parallel to the (102) crystallographic plane forming eight-membered arrangement characteristic for pyridine derivatives. The six-membered ring is the second characteristic unit formed via the intramolecular OH⋯O hydrogen bond. The geometry optimization of the monomer and dimer have been performed applying the Gaussian03 program package. All calculations were performed in the B3LYP/6-31G(d,p) basis set using the XRD data as input parameters. The relation between the molecular and crystal structures has been discussed in terms of the hydrogen bonds formed in the unit cell. The vibrations of the dimer have been discussed in terms of the resonance inside the system built of five rings coupled via hydrogen bonds.

Intra- and inter-molecular hydrogen bonds, conformation and vibrational characteristics of hydrazo-group in 5-nitro-2-(2-phenylhydrazinyl)pyridine and its 3-, 4- or 6-methyl isomers

Syntheses of 5-nitro-2-(2-phenylhydrazinyl)pyridine (5-nitro-2-phenylhydrazopyridine), 3-methyl-5-nitro-2-(2-phenylhydrazinyl)pyridine (3-methyl-5-nitro-2-phenylhydrazopyridine), 4-methyl-5-nitro-2-(2-phenylhydrazinyl)pyridine (4-methyl-5-nitro-2-phenylhydrazopyridine) and 6-methyl-5-nitro-2-(2-phenylhydrazinyl)pyridine (6-methyl-5-nitro-2-phenylhydrazopyridine) have been described. Their IR and Raman spectra have been measured and analyzed in terms of DFT quantum chemical calculations. The 6-311G(2d,2p) basis set with the B3LYP functional has been used to discuss the optimized structure and vibrational spectra. The vibrational characteristics of the hydrazo-bond have been reported with their relation to the inter- and intra-molecular hydrogen bonds formed in the studied systems. The role and influence of substitution position of the methyl chromophore on the structure and vibrational data have been discussed.

Vibrational spectra, crystal structure, DFT quantum chemical calculations and conformation of the hydrazo-bond in 6-methyl-3-nitro-2-(2-phenylhydrazinyl)pyridine

The crystal and molecular structures of 6-methyl-3-nitro-2-(2-phenylhydrazinyl)pyridine (6-methyl-3-nitro-2-phenylhydrazopyridine) have been determined by X-ray diffraction and quantum chemical DFT analysis. The crystal is monoclinic, space group C2/c, with Z=8 formula units in the elementary unit cell of dimensions a=16.791(4), b=6.635(2), c=21.704(7)Å, β=100.54(3)°. The molecule consists of two nearly planar pyridine subunits. A conformation of the linking hydrazo-bridge CNHNHC is bend and the dihedral angle between the planes of the phenyl and pyridine rings is 88.2(5)°. The hydrogen bonding of the type NH···N and possibly also CH···O favors a dimer formation in the crystal structure. The dimers are further linked by a NH···O hydrogen bond, so forming a layer parallel to the ab plane. The molecular structure of the studied compound has been determined using the DFT B3LYP/6-311G(2d,2p) approach and compared to that derived from X-ray studies. The IR and Raman wavenumbers have been calculated for the optimized geometry of a possible monomer structural model but the possibility of the dimer formation through the NH···N hydrogen bond has also been considered. The structural and vibrational properties of the intra-molecular NH···O interaction are described.