Cadmium Dicyanoaurates and Their Reaction with Ammonia.

The synthesis and crystal structures of two anionic cadmium dicyanoaurate coordination polymers, [BuN][(CdCl)(Au(CN))][CdCl] (TCCA) and [BuN][Cd(Au(CN))], and their reaction with ammonia vapour is reported. TCCA and the isostructural [BuN][(CdBr)(Au(CN))][CdBr] form 3-D arrays with [CdX] (X=Cl, Br) cubane clusters linked from each octahedral Cd(II) centre by three bridging [Au(CN)] units. TCCA reacts with ammonia with concentrations of 1000 ppm or higher to give a product with a quantum yield of 0.

Zinc Tetracyanoplatinate: A Reversible Luminescence-Based Ammonia Sensor.

ZnPt(CN) was shown to be an effective material for ammonia sensing, and can be synthesized using either solution or mechanochemical methods. A combination of luminescence and Raman spectroscopy revealed that multiple species are involved in the reaction between ammonia and ZnPt(CN) . The crystal structure of one of these species, Zn(NH ) Zn(NH ) (Pt(CN) ) , was elucidated.

Estimating the likelihood of sustained virological response in chronic hepatitis C therapy.

The likelihood of a sustained virological response (SVR) is the most important factor for physicians and patients in the decision to initiate and continue therapy for chronic hepatitis C (CHC) infection. This study identified predictive factors for SVR with peginterferon plus ribavirin (RBV) in patients with CHC treated under 'real-life' conditions. The study cohort consisted of patients from a large, retrospective German multicentre, observational study who had been treated with peginterferon alfa-2a plus RBV or peginterferon alfa-2b plus RBV between the years 2000 and 2007.

Efficacy and tolerability of peginterferon alfa-2a or alfa-2b plus ribavirin in the daily routine treatment of patients with chronic hepatitis C in Germany: the PRACTICE study.

In randomized clinical trials, treatment with peginterferon plus ribavirin (RBV) results in a sustained virological response (SVR) in around half of hepatitis C virus genotype 1-infected and 80% of genotype 2/3-infected individuals. This study aimed to evaluate efficacy and tolerability of peginterferon alfa-2a plus RBV compared with peginterferon alfa-2b plus RBV for the treatment of chronic hepatitis C in routine clinical practice. The intent-to-treat cohort consisted of 3414 patients treated with either peginterferon alfa-2a plus RBV (Group A) or peginterferon alfa-2b plus RBV (Group B) in 23 centres participating in the large, multicentre, observational PRACTICE study.