Xenotransplantation of Genetically Modified Neonatal Pig Islets Cures Diabetes in Baboons.

Xenotransplantation using porcine donors is rapidly approaching clinical applicability as an alternative therapy for treatment of many end-stage diseases including type 1 diabetes. Porcine neonatal islet cell clusters (NICC) have normalised blood sugar levels for relatively short periods in the preclinical diabetic rhesus model but have met with limited success in the stringent baboon model. Here we report that NICC from genetically modified (GM) pigs deleted for αGal and expressing the human complement regulators CD55 and CD59 can cure diabetes long-term in immunosuppressed baboons, with maximum graft survival exceeding 22 months.

Arylation Using Sulfonamides: Phenylacetamide Synthesis through Tandem Acylation-Smiles Rearrangement.

A range of electron-poor and heterocyclic sulfonamides react with phenylacetyl chlorides to produce benzhydryl derivatives in a single step. The reaction proceeds via tandem amide bond formation/Dohmori-Smiles rearrangement under the simple conditions of an aqueous base. In the case of -nosylamides, a further reaction takes place at the nitro group to yield indazoles.

Ruthenium-Catalyzed meta-Carboxylation.

The meta-carboxylation of arenes containing pyridine and other azine-directing groups is reported. Using carbon tetrabromide as the C1 source, ruthenium(III) trichloride catalysis enables functionalization of the arene meta-C-H position, affording carboxy methyl ester products after in situ reaction with methanol.

Clinical nurse specialists: essential resource for an effective NHS.

Despite emerging evidence for the clinical and financial efficacy of the clinical nurse specialist (CNS), the provision of this role is patchy across the country. There is also a risk that incumbent CNS' may be redirected to less specialist work in trusts that do not appreciate the full value of the service that these nurses provide. Optimal and equitable patient access to CNS care will require the development of a strong evidence base showing that specialist nurses not only deliver patient-focused care, but that they can also help to meet healthcare managers' objectives of streamlined, cost-effective clinical services.

An evaluation of a brief motivational intervention among young ecstasy and cocaine users: no effect on substance and alcohol use outcomes.

Aims: To investigate whether a stimulant- and alcohol-focused brief motivational intervention induces positive behaviour change among young, regular users of MDMA ('ecstasy'), cocaine powder and crack cocaine.

Design And Measurements: A randomized trial of the intervention versus a control group who received written health risk information materials only. All participants completed a baseline self-assessment questionnaire before randomization.

Use of libraries and electronic information resources by primary care staff: outcomes from a survey.

Objectives: To assess the use of existing libraries; usage of the Internet and biomedical databases; and need for training on use of the Internet and biomedical databases for primary care staff.

Methods: A postal survey of general practitioners (GPs), practice nurses (PNs) and practice managers (PMs) in Nottingham and Rotherham, UK.

Results: Overall, 243 questionnaires were used.