Studying Hospitalizations and Mortality in the Netherlands: Feasible and Valid Using Two-Step Medical Record Linkage with Nationwide Registers.

In the Netherlands, the postal code is needed to study hospitalizations of individuals in the nationwide hospitalization register. Studying hospitalizations longitudinally becomes troublesome if individuals change address. We aimed to report on the feasibility and validity of a two-step medical record linkage approach to examine longitudinal trends in hospitalizations and mortality in a study cohort.

New photophysical insights on effect of gold nanoparticles on the interaction between phthalocyanine and PC(70)BM in solution.

Photoinduced processes in phthalocyanine/functionalized gold nanoparticles (Pc/AuNps) have been investigated by spectroscopic measurements. It is observed while AuNps reduce the magnitude of binding constant for the non-covalent complexation between [6,6]-phenyl C71 butyric acid methyl ester (PC70BM) and H2-Pc by 15.8 times in comparison to PC70BM/ZnPc system in toluene, fluorescence of ZnPc is strongly quenched in presence of AuNp.

Tuning of electron transfer reactions in pluronic-surfactant supramolecular assemblies.

Photoinduced electron transfer (ET) reaction between an anionic acceptor, coumarin-343 (C343), and a neutral donor, N,N-dimethylaniline (DMAN), has been investigated in composite supramolecular assemblies (mixed micelles) comprised of a pluronic copolymer (P123: EO20-PO70-EO20 or F88: EO103-PO39-EO103 where EO: ethylene oxide and PO: propylene oxide) and a cationic surfactant (CTAC: cetyltrimethylammonium chloride), following fluorescence quenching studies. Systematic increase in the quenching rates for the studied donor-acceptor system with the increasing CTAC to pluronic molar ratio in the mixed micelles demonstrates a large modulation in the ET rates. The mixed micellar systems in the present cases are formed through the incorporation of the hydrocarbon chains of CTAC into the poly-PO core of the pluronic micelles whereby the cationic head groups of CTAC are placed at the periphery of the micellar core, protruded into the hydrated poly-EO corona region, leading to the formation of a positively charged layer deep inside these mixed micelles.

Survivorship after childhood cancer: PanCare: a European Network to promote optimal long-term care.

Survival after childhood cancer has improved substantially over recent decades. Although cancer in childhood is rare increasingly effective treatments have led to a growing number of long-term survivors. It is estimated that there are between 300,000 and 500,000 childhood cancer survivors in Europe.

pH-Assisted control over the binding and relocation of an acridine guest between a macrocyclic nanocarrier and natural DNA.

The differential binding affinity of the hydroxypropyl-β-cyclodextrin (HPβCD) macrocycle, a drug delivery vehicle, towards the protonated and deprotonated forms of the well-known DNA binder and model anticancer drug acridine has been exploited as a strategy for dye-drug transportation and pH-responsive delivery to a natural DNA target. From pH-sensitive changes in the ground state absorption and steady-state fluorescence characteristics of the studied acridine dye-HPβCD-DNA ternary system and strongly supported by fluorescence lifetime, fluorescence anisotropy, Job's plots, (1)H NMR and circular dichroism results, it is revealed that in a moderately alkaline solution (pH ∼ 8.5), the dye can be predominantly bound to the HPβCD macrocycle and when the pH is lowered to a moderately acidic region (pH ∼ 4), the dye efficiently detaches from the HPβCD cavity and almost exclusively binds to DNA.

Recommendations for cardiomyopathy surveillance for survivors of childhood cancer: a report from the International Late Effects of Childhood Cancer Guideline Harmonization Group.

Survivors of childhood cancer treated with anthracycline chemotherapy or chest radiation are at an increased risk of developing congestive heart failure. In this population, congestive heart failure is well recognised as a progressive disorder, with a variable period of asymptomatic cardiomyopathy that precedes signs and symptoms. As a result, several clinical practice guidelines have been developed independently to help with detection and treatment of asymptomatic cardiomyopathy.

Metal-ion-mediated assemblies of thiazole orange with cucurbit[7]uril: a photophysical study.

The formation of molecular superstructures by metal-ion-mediated noncovalent self-assembly has been demonstrated using the macrocycle, cucurbit[7]uril (CB7), and the dye, thiazole orange (TO), as building blocks. Interestingly, the association of these molecular building blocks can be tuned by the chemical environment, leading to self-assembled structures of different stoichiometries, which is supported by absorption, fluorescence, (1)H NMR, and AFM measurements. Most importantly, the self-assembly process of the CB7/TO/metal ion system is observed to be remarkably different for alkali (Na(+)) and alkaline earth (Ca(2+)) metal ions.

Prodifferentiation, anti-inflammatory and antiproliferative effects of delphinidin, a dietary anthocyanidin, in a full-thickness three-dimensional reconstituted human skin model of psoriasis.

Background: Psoriasis is a chronic inflammatory disorder of skin and joints for which conventional treatments that are effective in clearing the moderate-to-severe disease are limited due to long-term safety issues. This necessitates exploring the usefulness of botanical agents for treating psoriasis. We previously showed that delphinidin, a diet-derived anthocyanidin endowed with antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, induces normal epidermal keratinocyte differentiation and suggested its possible usefulness for the treatment of psoriasis [1].

Photophysical and quantum chemical studies on the interactions of oxazine-1 dye with cucurbituril macrocycles.

Supramolecular host-guest interaction of cationic oxazine-1 (OX1) dye with two cucurbit[n]uril (CBn) hosts, namely, CB7 and CB8, has been investigated using photophysical and quantum chemical studies. Both CB7 and CB8 display much stronger binding affinities for OX1 dye compared to conventional cyclodextrin (CD) hosts, which arises due to strong ion-dipole interaction in stabilizing the dye-host inclusion complexes in the present systems. From photophysical studies supported by (1)H NMR results and quantum chemical calculations, it is inferred that 1:1 inclusion complexes are mainly formed in the present systems, though a small percentage of 1:2 (dye·host2) complexes are also indicated from time-resolved (TR) fluorescence studies.

Targeting drivers of melanoma with synthetic small molecules and phytochemicals.

Melanoma is the least common form of skin cancer, but it is responsible for the majority of skin cancer deaths. Traditional therapeutics and immunomodulatory agents have not shown much efficacy against metastatic melanoma. Agents that target the RAS/RAF/MEK/ERK (MAPK) signaling pathway - the BRAF inhibitors vemurafenib and dabrafenib, and the MEK1/2 inhibitor trametinib - have increased survival in patients with metastatic melanoma.

Is outcome of differentiated thyroid carcinoma influenced by tumor stage at diagnosis?

Background: There is no international consensus on surveillance strategies for differentiated thyroid carcinoma (DTC) after radiotherapy for childhood cancer. Ultrasonography could allow for early detection of DTC, however, its value is yet unclear since the prognosis of DTC is excellent. We addressed the evidence for the question: 'is outcome of DTC influenced by tumor stage at diagnosis?'.

Topical application of delphinidin reduces psoriasiform lesions in the flaky skin mouse model by inducing epidermal differentiation and inhibiting inflammation.

Background: Psoriasis is a chronic inflammatory skin disease characterized by hyperproliferation and aberrant keratinocyte differentiation. We have shown that treatment of reconstituted human skin with delphinidin, an anthocyanidin, present in pigmented fruits and vegetables, increased the expression and processing of caspase-14, which is involved in cornification. Delphinidin also increases the expression of epidermal differentiation marker proteins.

Valvular abnormalities detected by echocardiography in 5-year survivors of childhood cancer: a long-term follow-up study.

Purpose: To determine the prevalence of valvular abnormalities after radiation therapy involving the heart region and/or treatment with anthracyclines and to identify associated risk factors in a large cohort of 5-year childhood cancer survivors (CCS).

Methods And Materials: The study cohort consisted of all 626 eligible 5-year CCS diagnosed with childhood cancer in the Emma Children's Hospital/Academic Medical Center between 1966 and 1996 and treated with radiation therapy involving the heart region and/or anthracyclines. We determined the presence of valvular abnormalities according to echocardiograms.

Triple emission from p-dimethylaminobenzonitrile-cucurbit[8]uril triggers the elusive excimer emission.

The intriguing dual-emission behavior of p- dimethylaminobenzonitrile (DMABN) and the identity of the associated excited states is, arguably, the most extensively investigated and also controversially discussed molecule- specific phenomenon of modern photochemistry. We have now found a new, third fluorescence band when DMABN is encapsulated within the water-soluble molecular container cucurbit[8]uril (CB8). It is centered between the previously observed emissions and assigned to the elusive excimer emission from DMABN through 1:2 CB8:DMABN complex formation.

Individual prediction of heart failure among childhood cancer survivors.

Purpose: To create clinically useful models that incorporate readily available demographic and cancer treatment characteristics to predict individual risk of heart failure among 5-year survivors of childhood cancer.

Patients And Methods: Survivors in the Childhood Cancer Survivor Study (CCSS) free of significant cardiovascular disease 5 years after cancer diagnosis (n = 13,060) were observed through age 40 years for the development of heart failure (ie, requiring medications or heart transplantation or leading to death). Siblings (n = 4,023) established the baseline population risk.

Fisetin inhibits UVB-induced cutaneous inflammation and activation of PI3K/AKT/NFκB signaling pathways in SKH-1 hairless mice.

Solar ultraviolet B (UVB) radiation has been shown to induce inflammation, DNA damage, p53 mutations and alterations in signaling pathways eventually leading to skin cancer. In this study, we investigated whether fisetin reduces inflammatory responses and modulates PI3K/AKT/NFκB cell survival signaling pathways in UVB-exposed SKH-1 hairless mouse skin. Mice were exposed to 180 mJ cm(-2) of UVB radiation on alternate days for a total of seven exposures, and fisetin (250 and 500 nmol) was applied topically after 15 min of each UVB exposure.

Observation of the Marcus inverted region for bimolecular photoinduced electron-transfer reactions in viscous media.

The general observation of Marcus inverted region (MIR) for bimolecular electron-transfer (ET) reactions in different viscous media, e.g., micelles, reverse micelles, vesicles, ionic liquids, DNA scaffold, etc.

Aggregation studies of dipolar coumarin-153 dye in polar solvents: a photophysical study.

Photophysical studies have been carried out to explore the aggregation behavior of coumarin-153 (C153) dye in polar organic solvents of both aprotic and protic nature, namely acetonitrile (ACN) and ethanol (EtOH). No unusual behavior is observed in aprotic ACN solvent, suggesting only the monomers of the dye as the single emitting species in the solution. In protic EtOH solvent, however, the dye shows the presence of multiple emitting species in the solution.

A new method to facilitate valid and consistent grading cardiac events in childhood cancer survivors using medical records.

Background: Cardiac events (CEs) are among the most serious late effects following childhood cancer treatment. To establish accurate risk estimates for the occurrence of CEs it is essential that they are graded in a valid and consistent manner, especially for international studies. We therefore developed a data-extraction form and a set of flowcharts to grade CEs and tested the validity and consistency of this approach in a series of patients.

Haemorrhagic pericardial effusion in type I Gaucher's disease.

Gaucher's disease is a rare lysosomal storage disorder. Excess accumulation of glucosylceramide predominantly occurs in abdominal viscera. Cardiac involvement is rare, though they generally represent as restrictive cardiomyopathy and pericarditis.

The use of equivalent radiation dose in the evaluation of late effects after childhood cancer treatment.

Purpose: In epidemiologic research radiation-associated late effects after childhood cancer are usually analyzed without considering fraction dose. According to radiobiological principles, fraction dose is an important determinant of late effects. We aim to provide the rationale for using equivalent dose in 2-Gy fractions (EQD2(α/β)) as the measure of choice rather than total physical dose as prescribed according to the clinical protocol.

A study on the photophysics of 9-amino-10-cyanoanthracene: probing its dual absorption and emission behavior.

The photophysics of a donor-acceptor substituted chromophore, 9-amino-10-cyanoanthracene (ACAN), has been investigated in polar and nonpolar solvents to understand its intriguing dual absorption and emission behavior. Steady-state and time-resolved fluorescence studies clearly indicate that the short wavelength emission band of ACAN arises from the higher excited singlet state, S2, while the longer wavelength emission band arises from the intramolecular charge transfer (ICT) state, S1. Interestingly, both these states can be populated by direct excitation from the ground state.

Stimuli-responsive supramolecular micellar assemblies of cetylpyridinium chloride with cucurbit[5/7]urils.

This article demonstrates, for the first time, construction of novel cucurbituril (CB)-adorned supramolecular micellar assemblies of a cationic surfactant, cetylpyridinium chloride (CPC), through noncovalent host-guest interactions. The distinct cation receptor features and cavity dimensions of the CB5 and CB7 homologues assert that the macrocyclic hosts remain complexed with the CPC monomers and take part in the micelle formation, a unique observation in contrast to that of the classical host, β-cyclodextrin. The cooperative contributions of the CB macrocycles in the micelle formation have been documented by the photochemical, surface tension, conductivity, DOSY NMR, and SANS measurements.

Atypical energetic and kinetic course of excited-state intramolecular proton transfer (ESIPT) in room-temperature protic ionic liquids.

The excited-state intramolecular proton-transfer (ESIPT) process in 1,8-dihydroxyanthraquinone (18DHAQ) dye has been investigated in protic ionic liquid (PIL) solvents using photochemical measurements. The results demonstrate noteworthy modulations in both steady-state and time-resolved emission characteristics of excited normal (N*) and tautomeric (T*) forms of the dye. That the emission of T* increases unexpectedly upon increasing solvent viscosity indicates that subsequent to the initial forward ESIPT, there is also a relatively slower back ESIPT process involved for the excited dye.

Fisetin inhibits human melanoma cell invasion through promotion of mesenchymal to epithelial transition and by targeting MAPK and NFκB signaling pathways.

Malignant melanoma is responsible for approximately 75% of skin cancer-related deaths. BRAF plays an important role in regulating the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling cascade in melanoma with activating mutations in the serine/threonine kinase BRAF occurring in 60-70% of malignant melanomas. The BRAF-MEK-ERK (MAPK) pathway is a key regulator of melanoma cell invasion.