α-Trifluoromethylated Quinolines as Safe and Storable PET-Donor for Radical Polymerizations.

In the quest for powerful, safe, and storable photoinduced-electron transfer (PET) donors, the attention is turned to the α-trihalomethylated amine moiety that is not studied in the context of PET-reductants. The thermal and photophysical properties of α-trifluoromethylated quinolines are thus studied and their reducing abilities evaluated as initiators of polymerization reactions. Polymers of high molecular weights are obtained through a radical polymerization process and the PET-donor can be stored within the monomer for several months without losing its efficiency.

Loneliness in Europe before and during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Objective: The purpose of the study is to examine the prevalence of loneliness in Europe in 2016 and during the first months - April-July 2020 - of the COVID-19 pandemic, and to assess whether the risk factors associated with loneliness have changed after the outbreak of the pandemic.

Method: The analysis is based on two cross-country surveys, namely the 2016 European Quality of Life Survey and the 2020 Living, Working and COVID-19 Online Survey.

Results: The COVID-19 pandemic has magnified already worrying levels of loneliness in Europe.

Fragile X-Associated Tremor/Ataxia Syndrome (FXTAS): A Gender Perspective.

Although larger trinucleotide expansions give rise to a neurodevelopmental disorder called fragile X syndrome, fragile X-associated tremor/ataxia syndrome (FXTAS) is a late-onset neurodegenerative disorder caused by a "premutation" (55-200 CGG repeats) in the gene. FXTAS is one of the more common single-gene forms of late-onset ataxia and tremor that may have a more complex development in women, with atypical presentations. After a brief presentation of the atypical case of an Italian woman with FXTAS, who had several paroxysmal episodes suggestive of acute cerebellar and/or brainstem dysfunction, this article will revise the phenotype of FXTAS in women.

Beyond-Use Dates Assignment for Pharmaceutical Preparations: Example of Low-Dose Amiodarone Capsules.

Beyond-use dates (BUDs) in compounding practice are assigned from stability studies. The United States Pharmacopoeia (USP 42 NF 37) suggested to assign a 6 months BUD for dry oral forms. A new pediatric formula of amiodarone capsules was implemented in our hospital, with 3 dosages (5 mg, 20 mg, and 50 mg).

Metal-Free Addition of Benzyl Halides to Aldehydes Using Super Electron Donors: Access to 3,4-Dihydroisocoumarins and 1,2-Diarylethanols.

We report here the intermolecular metal-free addition reaction of functionalized benzyl halides to aldehydes using a super electron donor (SED). The metal-free and mild conditions allowed the formation of 3,4-dihydroisocoumarins and 1,2-diarylethanols with unprecedented functional group tolerance.

A prediction rule for early recognition of patients with candidemia in Internal Medicine: results from an Italian, multicentric, case-control study.

Purpose: Increasing prevalence of candidemia in Internal Medicine wards (IMWs) has been reported in recent years, but risk factors for candida bloodstream infection in patients admitted to IMW may differ from those known in other settings. The aim of this study was to identify risk factors and define a prediction rule for the early recognition of the risk of candidemia in IMW inpatients.

Methods: This was a multicentric, retrospective, observational case-control study on non-neutropenic patients with candidemia admitted to IMWs of four large Italian Hospitals.

Base-Free Generation of Organic Electron Donors from Air-Stable Precursors.

Organic electron donors (OEDs) are powerful reducing agents recognized for their potential in the reduction of challenging substrates and in original applications. Nonetheless, their low stability in atmospheric oxygen or over time complicates their manipulation and storage. To overcome these constraints and enhance OED practicality, new air- and moisture-stable aminopyridinium carboxylate and carbonate precursors were synthesized and thermally activated to generate the potent electron donor in situ.

Fungicidal activity and PK/PD of caspofungin as tools to guide antifungal therapy in a fluconazole-resistant C. parapsilosis candidemia.

Candida parapsilosis may be responsible for bloodstream infections (BSI) and it is characterised by an increased incidence of fluconazole resistance. A 75-year old woman with severe comorbidities received the insertion of a peripherally inserted central venous catheter. Fluconazole did not prevent a C.

Simplified PESI score and sex difference in prognosis of acute pulmonary embolism: a brief report from a real life study.

Prognostic stratification of acute pulmonary embolism (PE) remains a challenge in clinical practice. Simplified PESI (sPESI) score is a practical validated score aimed to stratify 30-day mortality risk in acute PE. Whether prognostic value of sPESI score differs according to sex has not been previously investigated.

Stress echo in chest pain unit: the SPEED trial.

Background: Emergency room (ER) evaluation of patients with acute chest pain and non-diagnostic electrocardiography (ECG) remains a frequent and difficult problem.

Aim: To assess safety and prognostic implications of pharmacological stress echocardiography in the ER chest pain unit (CPU).

Methods: A total of 552 patients (321 males, age 58+/-12.

[QT dispersion in insulin-dependent diabetics].

Background: The measurement of the dispersion of the QT interval reflects regional repolarization differences in the heart which in turn can elicit the onset of arrhythmias by means of re-entry mechanism. Therefore, inter-lead QT dispersion has been proposed as novel indicator of arrhythmogenic risk that can predict severe ventricular arrhythmias or sudden death. The present study was conducted to evaluate QT dispersion in diabetic insulin-dependent patients with autonomic neuropathy.

Potassium removal increases the QTc interval dispersion during hemodialysis.

This study was planned to clarify the mechanism(s) by which hemodialysis increases the QTc dispersion, a marker of risk of ventricular arrhythmias. To this aim, 10 uremic patients, without any relevant heart diseases, underwent two different types of hemodialysis schedules. In the first, 1 h of isolated high rate ultrafiltration preceded the standard diffusive procedure.

Effect of hemodialysis on the dispersion of the QTc interval.

The QTc dispersion reflects the underlying regional heterogeneity of the recovery of the ventricular excitability, thereby it is considered as a novel marker of risk of ventricular arrhythmias. Because a higher incidence of ventricular arrhythmias is described during and after hemodialysis, the aim of this study has been to evaluate the QTc dispersion before and after uncomplicated hemodialysis session. Twenty chronic uremics without heart failure, ischemic heart disease or dialysis hypotension were selected.

Cutaneous vasodilation to acetylcholine in patients with essential hypertension.

Endothelium-dependent vasodilation is reduced in the forearm of patients with essential hypertension. To evaluate whether endothelium-dependent vasodilation is also reduced in the skin microcirculation of patients with essential hypertension, we evaluated the effect of acetylcholine, an endothelium-dependent vasodilator, and sodium nitroprusside, an endothelium-independent vasodilator, on cutaneous and total forearm blood flow in normotensive subjects (n = 8) and matched patients with essential hypertension (n = 9). We infused acetylcholine (0.

Laser Doppler flowmeter assessment of skin microcirculation in uremic patients on hemodialysis treatment.

Vascular disease is frequent in uremics and may contribute to tissue malnutrition and damage. The aim of this study was to detect whether uremic patients show also changes of microcirculation and to evaluate the effects induced by hemodialysis (HD) session. Eleven uremics on HD (7 males, 4 females, aged 25-65 years) were studied; 11 healthy subjects, age- and sex-matched, served as controls.