In vitro and in silico assessment of antitumor properties and biomolecular binding studies for two new complexes based on NiII bearing k2N,S-donor ligands.

This work deals with two new molecule-based materials, namely NiII-complexes of general formulae [Ni(L1)2] (Ni1) and [Ni(L2)2] (Ni2), where L1 = trans-cinnamaldehyde-N(4)-methyl thiosemicarbazone and L2 = trans-cinnamaldehyde-N(4)-ethyl thiosemicarbazone, as potential antitumor agents. Both compounds were characterized by elemental analysis, molar conductivity and spectroscopic techniques (FTIR and NMR). Their molecular structures were obtained by single-crystal X-ray diffraction analysis. Each one crystallizes in a monoclinic space group P 21/c, also the asymmetric unit comprises of one NiII ion located on an inversion centre and one anionic ligand, which acts as a κ2N,S-donor affording a five-membered metallaring. The compounds were screened against two selected tumour cell lines (MCF-7 and A549) and non-tumour fibroblasts cell line (MRC-5) via MTT assays. In both tumour cells, all compounds exhibited higher cytotoxicity than the control drug (cisplatin). The IC50 values ranges of 3.70 - 41.37 µM and 1.06 - 14.91 µM were found for MCF-7 and A549, respectively. Importantly, all of them were less toxicity than cisplatin in MRC-5 with SI values ranged at 11.80 - 86.60. The red blood cell (RBC) assay revealed Ni2 as non-toxic due to its reduced haemolytic effect (0--9% at 1--10 µM). The DNA binding was investigated through a combination of spectrophotometric absorption and emission titrations, electrophoresis, and circular dichroism experiments. As a result, these metal complexes were not able to strongly binding to DNA (Kb values ~104 mol L--1) but suggesting groove-binding interactions. The scavenging ability of them towards 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) free-radical was also evaluated in this work, but no important antioxidant behaviour was detected. Further, the interaction of Ni1 and Ni2 to human serum albumin (HSA) was explored by quenching of tryptophan emission, warfarin competitive assay, and molecular docking protocols. The HSA binding analyses indicated good affinity of both complexes to Sudlow site I (Kb values ⁓103 mol L-1).

Primary care physicians and their HIV prevention practices.

A national random-sample survey of 4011 primary care physicians was conducted to determine the extent to which they are providing HIV prevention and clinical services, and to learn what characteristics and attitudes might impede the provision of such services. Physicians were asked about their history-taking practices for new adult and adolescent patients, including asking about the use of illicit drugs (injection and noninjection), the number of sexual partners, use of condoms and contraceptives, past episodes of sexually transmitted diseases (STDs), sexual orientation, and sexual contact with partner(s) at high risk for HIV. A preliminary analysis was conducted and reported earlier by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), focusing on the HIV-prevention services being provided by primary care physicians. This report provides additional analyses from this study, focusing on characteristics and attitudes that may prevent physicians from providing these services. Male physicians and the physicians' belief that patients would be offended if asked questions about their sex behaviors were strongly predictive of not asking new patients about their sex and drug behaviors. The physician's specialty was also a strong predictor-OB/GYNs were predictive of asking these questions and GP/FPs were predictive of not asking the questions. Physicians who indicated that a majority of their patients were white were less likely to report asking patients about their sex and drug behaviors. The authors conclude that a substantial number of primary care physicians are missing important opportunities to prevent HIV transmission by not adequately assessing patients' risks and not providing necessary risk-reduction counseling during their physician-patient encounters. Physician's attitudes and beliefs about their patients, as well as their level of experience with HIV, may help to explain these observations.

Body image and health counseling for women.

Body weight and physical fitness are important factors in overall risk for many medical conditions. Many other concerns, however, such as the Western cultural ideal for physical beauty, contribute to the way women think and feel about their bodies. Many American women have a distorted body image and intense levels of dissatisfaction with their bodies. These problems can lead to aberrant eating and dieting behavior, decreased self-esteem, and depressed mood. Physicians must consider these problems and their interrelationships when providing health counseling for female patients.

Human immunodeficiency virus blood test counseling for adolescents.

Primary care physicians are increasingly being called on to provide counseling about human immunodeficiency virus blood testing to their patients. When the patient is an adolescent, special considerations arise. Risk assessment and test counseling for adolescents should be embedded in comprehensive assessment of the adolescent's health needs. The adolescent's coping ability, capacity to give informed consent, and legal status also affect the blood test counseling process. Repetition, visual demonstrations, and an assessment of the adolescent's comprehension are also important. Use of an identified support person is also recommended. Physicians should be aware of the ways in which human immunodeficiency virus blood test counseling should vary for adolescent patients.

Hypertension and sodium transport in 390 healthy adults in Chicago.

A total of 390 people undergoing routine examinations at the Portes Center, a screening center in Chicago, and at the Northwestern Memorial Hospital employee health service, underwent an in-depth battery of tests designed to explore the relationships of both intracellular erythrocyte sodium and sodium-lithium countertransport with age, race, gender, body mass index, pattern of alcohol intake, exogenous hormone use and the presence of hypertension. Erythrocyte sodium was significantly higher in blacks than in whites and in men than in women aged 20-39 years. Relationships of erythrocyte sodium with race and gender, as well as inverse associations with alcohol intake in men, and positive associations with age and the presence of hypertension in women were significant on multivariate analysis after control for other variables. Sodium-lithium countertransport was significantly higher in whites than in blacks and in men than in women aged 20-59 years. Associations of sodium-lithium countertransport with race and gender as well as positive associations of sodium-lithium countertransport with body mass index in men and women were significant on multivariate analysis after control for other variables. Age-related gender differences in both sodium-lithium countertransport and erythrocyte sodium, as well as the association of erythrocyte sodium with the presence of hypertension in women but not in men, suggest a hormonal interaction with sodium transport in the development of hypertension.

Attitudes of US primary care physicians about HIV disease and AIDS.

Telephone interviews were conducted with 500 primary care physicians, drawn from a stratified random sample of internists, family practitioners, pediatricians, general practitioners, and OB/GYN physicians. Respondents were asked to report their experience treating AIDS patients and to estimate the percentage of their patients they felt were at high risk for HIV infection. Nineteen questions designed to assess practices and attitudes towards AIDS and HIV-related issues were asked. Results suggest that physicians underestimate their patients' level of risk for HIV infection and are not taking adequate drug use and sexual histories. The level of concern for personal risk of infection was high, although a strong ethical obligation to treat HIV patients was expressed. Physicians also expressed support for mandatory reporting and contact tracing, although this diminished as contact with HIV patients increased.

Effects of media violence on children. A review of the literature.

The effects of media violence on the behavior of children are controversial. We examined and reviewed studies addressing this issue and identified many mediating variables. A small but genuine association appears to exist between media violence and aggression. However, many unanswered questions persist, and no interventions are clearly indicated.

Validity of the Millon Clinical Multiaxial Inventory in the assessment of affective disorders.

The Millon Clinical Multiaxial Inventory (MCMI) was administered to 270 adult outpatients with major affective disorders at the same time that a semistructured, diagnostic interview was conducted by a clinician. The mood of the patient was then rated, and the clinician completed the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale and the Mania Rating Scale. A consensual diagnosis was arrived at by the team of investigators using DSM-III criteria. Significant correlations were found between four MCMI affective scales and the global mood state of the patient. Analysis of covariance indicated that the MCMI affective scales are significantly related to DSM-III affective disorders even after the effect of the current mood of the patient is partialled out. The clinical usefulness of each of the scales is discussed.

The effect of alcoholism on membrane lithium transport.

Red cell lithium efflux rates in major affective disorder and alcoholic patient groups were studied. Current alcoholism was associated with significant elevation of lithium transport in white but not black subjects. This effect of alcoholism on the characteristics of membrane ion transport was independent of the blood pressure elevating effects of alcoholism and the diagnosis of major affective disorder. A model to explain the mechanism of this race-specific membrane effect of alcoholism is proposed and discussed.