Nematodes associated with terrestrial gastropod molluscs in Belgium and additional characterisation of Pellioditis californica and P. hermaphrodita

A survey for slug- and snail-associated nematodes was conducted in forests, parks, botanical gardens, and nature reserves at 13 localities in Belgium to uncover more diversity of gastropod mollusc-associated nematodes and to characterise Pellioditis populations found in the country. A total of 319 slugs and snails belonging to nine species were examined. Arion vulgaris was the most commonly found mollusc species in this study (eight locations), and 19.4% of the examined mollusc specimens were found infected by nematodes. The highest prevalence of nematodes was observed in Cornu aspersum (60%) followed by A. vulgaris (34.8%), Limax maximus (28.6%), and Cepaea sp. (20%). Eleven nematode species belonging to eight families were isolated and identified from the mollusc hosts including Alloionema appendiculatum, Angiostoma dentiferum, A. gandavense, Angiostrongylus vasorum, Cosmocerca longicauda, Panagrolaimus cf. subelongatus, Pellioditis californica, P. hermaphrodita, Rhabditis sp., Tetrameres cf. fissispina, and Troglostrongylus cf. brevior.Pellioditis was the most commonly found nematode genus (at nine localities) and C. longicauda and P. californica were reported in Belgium for the first time. Co-infections of more than one nematode species were observed in eight (2.5%) molluscs specimens. Most co-infections consisted of two nematode species. In one A. vulgaris specimen, a co-infection of three nematode species (A. vasorum, P. hermaphrodita, and Tetrameres cf. fissispina) was observed. Four ex vivo cultures of P. californica and six ex vivo cultures of P. hermaphrodita were established from single hermaphrodites, and both species were described based on light microscopy, scanning electron microscopy, and morphometric, morphological, and molecular data.

Feasibility and Outcomes of Multivisceral Resection in Locally Advanced Colorectal Cancer: Experience of a Tertiary Cancer Center in North-East India

Purpose

Locally advanced colorectal cancer may require an en bloc resection of surrounding organs or structures to achieve complete tumor removal. This decision must weigh the risk of complications of multivisceral resection against the potential survival benefit. The purpose of this study is to review a single-center experience of feasibility of en bloc multivisceral resections for locally advanced colorectal carcinoma and to examine the effect of surgical experience on immediate outcome and rate of R0 resections.

Methods

This is a study of 27 patients who underwent multivisceral resection for locally advanced colorectal carcinoma which was performed at our institute from January 2016 to December 2019. Among the 27 patients aged between 21 and 76 years (mean age, 48.67±7.3 years), 13 were males and 14 were females. Overall 18 patients had primary colon carcinoma and 9 had primary rectal carcinoma. All rectal cancer patients received neoadjuvant chemoradiation. All patients underwent surgery with curative intent. All patients underwent open surgery of which 66.7% underwent colectomy, 14.8% underwent anterior resection, 11.1% underwent Miles procedure, and 7.4% underwent pelvic exenteration.

Results

The mean operative time was 268.14±72.2 minutes and the median amount of blood units transfused was 2.07 units. The mean hospital stay was 13.67±3.4 days. Histologically, 44.4% of patients had well-differentiated adenocarcinoma and 55.6% had moderately differentiated adenocarcinoma. The final histopathological examinatio n revealed malignant infiltration of the adjacent organs in 19/27 patients (70.4%). Pathological complete response was seen in 2 patients. R0 resection rate achieved was 96.3%. Lymph node metastasis was seen in 66.7% of patients with colon cancer and 11.1% with rectal cancer with overall mean number of harvested lymph nodes being 12.44±3.01. Postoperative complications were identified in 7 patients (25.9%), while mortality was seen in 2 (7.4%).

Conclusion

Multivisceral resection for advanced colorectal cancer invading into the adjacent organ may be performed with acceptable morbidity and mortality.

Profile of hospital admissions following acute poisoning--experiences from a major teaching hospital in south India

This study was conducted to determine the incidence of hospital admissions following acute poisoning, nature of agents involved and change in pattern of poisoning over a 5-year period. Data from hospital records of all admissions to emergency department following acute poisoning collected prospectively were analysed for the period January 1993 to January 1998. A steady increase in deliberate poisoning using pesticides, particularly among young adults, was noted. Kerosene (paraffin) was the commonest poison in children and plant poisons were also common. There were 52 deaths (3.3%) among the 1584 admissions. The majority of deaths were due to pesticides. Poisoning and mortality followed ingestion of readily-available and commonly used agents. Measures to increase public education, counselling and awareness could prevent a number of these admissions.

In vitro and in vivo characterization of a 99mTc complex with tris(hydroxymethyl)phosphine (THP)

The water-soluble, monophosphine ligand tris(hydroxymethyl)phosphine (THMP) was complexed with 99mTc. The 99mTc-THMP was formed in high radiochemical purity by simply mixing 99mTcO4- with THMP over a wide pH range. In vitro and in vivo studies indicated the complex to be highly stable under the respective conditions. HPLC analysis indicated a singular species with a retention time identical to the known [ReO2(THMP)4]1 complex. Results show that the hydroxymethylphosphine functionality is attractive for use in designing new 99mTc radiopharmaceuticals.

Transition metal chemistry of main group hydrazides, Part 14: Evaluation of new Tc-99m chelates of thiol functionalized phosphorus hydrazides

Ligands containing a combination of amine or amide nitrogens and thiol functionalities have been found to form stable chelates with Tc-99m, presumably in oxidation state +5. Two new thio-phosphorus monohydrazides [(MeO)2P(S)NMeNHCH2C6H4SH], SL1 and [(MeO)2P(S)NMeNHC(O)C6H4SH], SL2 were synthesized and their complexation properties with Re(V) and Tc-99m have been studied. Neutral-lipophilic Tc-99m chelates with both SL1 and SL2 were formed in high yields (95-97%) as a single species ascertained by electrophoresis and reversed-phase HPLC. Biodistribution studies show good in vivo stability and primary clearance of both 99mTc chelates is via the hepatobiliary pathway. Re(V) complexes with SL1 and SL2 were also synthesized using the ReOCl3(PPh3)2 precursor to obtain the product ReOCl(L)(PPh3), where L = SL1 or SL2. H+ was lost from the N-atom and the thiol group in these Re chelates. Even though the Tc-99m chelates of SL1 and SL2 formed at tracer levels are not identical to the Re-chelates (different synthons were used), the Re data suggests complexation of Tc-99m by these hydrazido-thiol ligands will be similar to N,S ligand systems previously used. The good in vitro and in vivo stability and high yields of the Tc-99m complexes of SL1 and SL2 indicate the potential hydrazido-thiols hold for use as a basis in formulating new Tc-99m radiopharmaceuticals, particularly when thiol moieties are used in conjunction with multi-functional phosphorous hydrazide compounds.

A new 99mTc-complex with a germanium-hydrazide (GeTH) ligand

A new tetrahydrazido-germanium (GeTH) ligand was synthesized, characterized and complexed with 99mTc. The negatively charged 99mTc-chelate was shown to form in high yields at neutral pH in the absence of other reducing agents and exhibits high in vitro and in vivo stability.

Synthesis, characterization and biodistribution studies of a neutral-lipophilic Tc-99m N3S2 chelate

Diaminedithiols (DADT) are known to form neutral-lipophilic complexes with 99mTc in aqueous solutions, where they are readily formed in high yields and demonstrate excellent stability. A new triaminedithiol (TADT) ligand was synthesized, characterized and shown to form a neutral-lipophilic 99mTc-chelate. The biodistribution of this 99mTc chelate in rats showed that its uptake in brain or heart following i.v. injection of the 99mTc chelate was low, but activity taken up was retained over a long period of time. The in vivo and in vitro properties of this chelate indicate the possibility that chemical modification of this TADT ligand may produce ligand systems that form 99mTc chelates with suitable diagnostic properties.

Incidence of new pulmonary perfusion defects after routine cardiac catheterization

The incidence of pulmonary perfusion defects after routine cardiac catheterization was assessed in 57 patients by comparing ventilation-perfusion lung scans obtained before and 1 day after catheterization. Patients were prospectively randomized to two groups, one in which right heart catheterization was performed using an antecubital venous cutdown procedure and one in which the percutaneous femoral vein approach was used. Seven patients (12 percent) had new postcatheterization perfusion defects consistent with pulmonary emboli. These patients did not differ significantly from patients without new defects in clinical characteristics, duration of catheterization, hemodynamic variables or route of right heart catheterization. The data suggest that pulmonary embolism may be a more common complication of routine cardiac catheterization than previously appreciated.

Technique of scanning for Meckel's diverticulum

99mTc-pertechnetate scanning is now recognized as a useful means of detecting Meckel's diverticula. When these contain gastric mucosa and present with ulceration and bleeding, the ectopic gastric mucosa can be identified by its secretion of 99mTc-pertechnetate. However, the secretions of normal gastric and salivary glands can pool in the gut and simulate a Meckel's diverticulum. We believe the diagnostic procedure of choice to include both continuous nasogastric suction and continuous sequential gamma camera images. To support this view, we present cases illustrating 1) that 99mTc-pertechnetate can appear in the bowel within the first few minutes of administering 99mTc-pertechnetate, even in the absence of a Meckel's diverticulum; 2) that rapid sequential camera views are helpful but not definitive in distinguishing such bowel activity from a Meckel's diverticulum; and 3) that continuous nasogastric suction most successfully eliminates this interference.

Electron transfer mechanism of aromatic 'nucleophilic' substitution

Mechanistic implications of the ready formation of aryl iodides from aryldiazonium salt solutions and the iodide ion (in contrast with the general need for cuprous or other catalysts with other halides) have been studied. The reaction between benzenediazonium fluoroborate and potassium iodide in methanol at 0�C has been investigated. A new mechanism involving initial one-electron transfer from the iodide anion to the benzenediazonium cation, resulting in the formation of radical intermediates by heterolytic cleavage of a bond, has been proposed in order to account for the products, viz. iodobenzene, benzene, biphenyl, iodine, anisole, and formaldehyde, and the effect of photochemical catalysis.

Chemical and spectroscopic studies in metal β-diketonates. IX. A novel intermolecular charge-transfer system involving metal acetylacetonate (donor) and iodine (acceptor)

A spectrophotometric study of 1 : 1 charge-transfer complexes derived from five metal acetylacetonates (donor) and iodine (acceptor) has been carried out. Iomzation potential of each metal acetylacetonate and the equilibrium constants for the formation of the chelate-iodine complex have been evaluated. The plot of ionization potential of donors against hvCt values gave a straight line.

Chemical and spectroscopic studies in metal β-diketonates. VIII. Electronic spectral studies on some trivalent 3d metal diketonates and their γ-substituted derivatives

Electronic absorption spectra of solutions of chromium(III), iron(III), and cobalt(III) β-diketonates have been measured in the 200- 1200mμ region. Detailed interpretation of the spectral data are provided in terms of the πg → π4, the electron transfer (dε → π4), and the ligand field (d → d*) transitions of the various components. The effects of γ-substituents on the chelate rings upon the positions of different transitions are discussed. Substitution of a halogen results in bathochromic shift in π3 → π4, dε → π4, and d → d* transitions of each chelate, presumably due to extension of conjugation, interaction among dε and π3 orbitals (which raises dε orbitals to a higher energy), and decrease in ligand field effect respectively. The hypsochromic shifts observed in the cases of NO2, SCN, Ac, and CHO γ-substituents are perhaps due to the steric inhibition of resonance with the chelate ring.

Chemical and spectroscopic studies in metal β-diketonates. I. Preparation and study of halogenate metal acetylacetonates

Introduction of chlorine, bromine, and iodine into the rings of acetylacetonates of CuII, NiII, AlIII, CrIII, FeIII, CoIII, and VOIV has been effected by direct halogenation under varied but carefully controlled electrophilic substitution reaction conditions (usually applicable to aromatic systems) such as with chlorine, N-chlorosuccinimide (NCS), bromine, N-bromosuccinimide (NBS), or iodine monochloride in chloroform, acetic acid, or methanol solvent. Infrared and ultraviolet spectroscopic data on the metal chelates and their halogen derivatives have been obtained with a view to studying possible changes brought about by such substitution in the acetylacetonate rings of different metals. The v(C=C) and v(C=O) values were both found to show a linear relationship with the mass numbers of the substituents as also with the third ionization potential of trivalent metals. The halogenation of these chelates apparently results in an extension of conjugation.

Chemical and spectroscopic studies in metal β-diketonates. II. Nitration of metal β-diketonates

Bis(3-nitropentane-2,4-dionato)-beryllium(II), -copper(II), and - palladium(II); tris(3-nitropentane-2,4-dionato)-aluminium(III), - chromium(III), -manganese(III), -iron(III), and -cobalt(III); tetrakis(3-nitropentane-2,4-dionato)zirconium(IV); and tris (3-nitro- 1,3-diphenylpropane-1,3-dionato)-aluminium(III) and -chromium(III) have been prepared by the nitration of the respective metal chelates of acetylacetone and 1,3-diphenylpropane-1,3-dione. Ferric nitrate, cobaltous nitrate, and nickel nitrate have been used as nitrating agents for the first time. The nitro chelates have also been prepared by a direct, single-step process using metal nitrates, acetic anhydride, and the ligands. In several cases, metal replacement reactions have been observed to be taking place in conjunction with nitration under nitration reaction conditions. Infrared, ultraviolet, and visible electronic spectra have been recorded and are discussed.