Red blood cell distribution width independently predicts 1-month mortality in acute decompensation of cirrhotic patients admitted to emergency department.

Aim: The aim of this study was to explore whether red blood cell distribution width (RDW) can help predict the risk of short-term mortality in patients with acute decompensation of cirrhosis.

Patients And Methods: We carried out a retrospective analysis of all patients consecutively admitted to the emergency department (ED) of the University Hospital of Verona (Italy) for acute decompensation of liver cirrhosis, between 1 June 2013 and 31 December 2016. The RDW value was measured at ED admission, along with collection of clinical features and other laboratory data, and was then correlated with severity of disease (Chronic Liver Failure Consortium Acute Decompensation score; CLIF-C AD score) and 1-month mortality.

Catalytic asymmetric intramolecular alpha-alkylation of aldehydes.

The development of a general catalytic asymmetric aldehyde alpha-alkylation reaction constitutes a major challenge in organic synthesis. Here, we report the first and successful approach toward its solution: (S)-alpha-methyl proline catalyzes the intramolecular alkylation of various halo aldehydes to the corresponding formyl cyclopentanes, -cyclopropanes, or -pyrrolidines in excellent yields and enantioselectivities. Most remarkably, racemization, aldolization, or catalyst alkylation do not occur to any significant extend, further illustrating the power, mildness, and profound selectivity of enamine catalysis.

Efficient synthesis of sulfonic, phosphoric, and phosphinic esters employing alkylating polymer-bound reagents.

The efficient esterification of various sulfonic acids and sulfonates using polymer-bound triazenes based on the triazene T2 linker is described. Esterification of enantiopure alpha-substituted sodium sulfonates was performed in the presence of an alkylating resin without racemization. Racemization is a serious drawback in the esterification route via sulfonyl chlorides because of intermediate sulfene formation.