Synthesis of Acridines through Alkyne Addition to Diarylamines.

A new synthesis of substituted acridines is achieved by palladium-catalyzed addition of terminal acetylenes between the aryl rings of bis(2-bromophenyl)amine. By including a diamine base and elevating the temperature, the reaction pathway favors the formation of acridine over a double Sonogashira reaction to form bis(tolan)amine. This method is demonstrated with several aryl-alkynes and alkyl-alkynes.

Facile air-oxidation of large aromatic hydrocarbon bay regions to bay region quinones: predicted oxygen-sensitivity of hydrogen-terminated carbon nanotubes.

Dimesitylbisanthene (1) oxidizes to the corresponding bay region quinone (2) on standing in solutions exposed to air and ambient light. It is anticipated that hydrogen-terminated carbon nanotubes with bay regions on the rim are likely to exhibit even greater sensitivity toward air oxidation.

Diels-Alder reactivity of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon bay regions: implications for metal-free growth of single-chirality carbon nanotubes.

A soluble bisanthene derivative, 4,11-dimesitylbisanthene, has been synthesized in three steps from bianthrone. In hot toluene, this bisanthene undergoes a clean Diels-Alder reaction with diethyl acetylenedicarboxylate to give a rearomatized 1:1 cycloadduct and, more slowly, a rearomatized 2:1 cycloadduct. In a competition experiment with the shorter "periacene" perylene, only the bisanthene reacts, and the perylene remains unchanged. The experimental results stand in complete accord with density functional calculations (B3LYP/6-31G*), which predict that the activation energies for Diels-Alder cycloadditions in the bay regions of periacenes should diminish monotonically as the length of the molecule increases. This structure-activity relationship offers hope that single-chirality carbon nanotubes can be grown from suitable hydrocarbon templates, without metal catalysis, by a Diels-Alder cycloaddition/rearomatization strategy, using acetylene or a "masked acetylene" as the dienophile.

[EUS results of malignant rectal giant condyloma acuminatum (Buschke-Loewenstein tumor)]. / Aspect echoendoscopique d'un condylome acuminé géant rectal malin (tumeur de Buschke-Loewenstein).

Giant condyloma acuminatum is a large, exophytic, cauliflower-like lesion that usually affects the anogenital region. Localisation in the rectum is uncommon and has a high rate of malignant transformation but does not lead to develop distant metastases. For the time, we report the endosonographic appearance of a malignant intrarectal giant condyloma acuminatum.

Diels-Alder cycloaddition of acetylene gas to a polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon bay region.

The direct conversion of a polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon bay region to a new, unsubstituted benzene ring by Diels-Alder cycloaddition of acetylene gas is reported for the first time. At 140 °C in dimethylformamide, under 1.8 atm pressure of acetylene gas, 7,14-dimesitylbisanthene is slowly converted to 7,14-dimesitylbenzo[ghi]bisanthene (21% conversion in 48 h).

Instant diagnosis of spontaneous bacterial peritonitis using leukocyte esterase reagent strips: Nephur-Test vs. MultistixSG.

BACKGROUND/AIM: Spontaneous bacterial peritonitis (SBP), defined by an ascites neutrophil count >250/mul, is a severe complication of cirrhosis and demands prompt diagnosis. Leukocyte esterase reagent strips can rapidly detect leukocytes in physiological fluids. We compared the performance of two leukocyte esterase reagent strips in the diagnosis of SBP. METHODS: Non-selected patients with cirrhosis and ascites were prospectively included in a Community Hospital. Manual ascites cytology, culture and BIOCHEMISTRY were compared with the Nephur-Test (read at 60 s: negative + 1 to + 3) and MultistixSG (read at 120 s: negative, trace, +1 to +3). Multiple investigators performed the tests with repeat readings by one nurse. RESULTS: Two hundred and forty five ascites fluid samples were obtained in 51 patients: 44% in conditions of SBP antibiotic prophylaxis, 64% in an ambulatory setting. Seventeen samples had an ascites polymorphonuclear count of > or =250/microl, associated with a positive ascites culture in seven, obtained in 12 patients (24%), 53% in an ambulatory setting. Sensitivity, specificity, and positive and negative predictive values were: Nephur-Test (88.2%, 99.6%, 93.8%, 99.1%); MultistixSG (64.7%, 99.6%, 91.7%, 97.4%). There was excellent agreement between the investigators and the nurse. CONCLUSIONS: Leukocyte esterase reagent strips may provide a rapid bedside diagnosis of SBP and thereby shorten time to appropriate management. The Nephur-Test appeared to out-perform MultistixSG. These tests might be particularly useful in ambulatory settings or whenever ascites fluid analysis is not rapidly available.

Rapid diagnosis of spontaneous bacterial peritonitis with leukocyte esterase reagent strips in a European and in an American center.

BACKGROUND: Timely diagnosis and treatment of spontaneous bacterial peritonitis (SBP) are essential to survival. The purpose of the present paper was to evaluate leukocyte esterase reagent strips (Nephur-Test and MultistixSG10) in the bedside diagnosis of SBP. METHODS: Patients with cirrhotic ascites were prospectively included in France (center 1) and in the USA (center 2). Paracenteses were performed on admission and repeated as indicated. Bedside reagent strip testing was performed on the ascitic fluid and compared to manual cell count with differential and ascitic fluid culture. In center 1, the Nephur-Test was tested in all cases, with dual testing with MultistixSG10 in a subgroup. In center 2, all cases had dual testing. Spontaneous bacterial peritonitis was defined as a polymorphonuclear ascites count > or =250/microL. RESULTS: A total of 184 samples was obtained in 76 patients. Center 1 included 151 samples from 53 patients. Seven samples had SBP, obtained in six patients. Center 2 included 33 samples from 23 patients. Six samples had SBP, obtained in five patients. The sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive value of the reagent strips were as follows. Center 1/Nephur-Test: 86%, 100%, 100%, 99%; center 1/MultistixSG10: 100%, 100%, 100%, 100%; center 2/Nephur-Test: 100%, 92.5%, 75%, 100%; center 2/MultistixSG10: 83%, 96%, 83%, 96%. CONCLUSION: Leukocyte esterase reagent strips may provide a rapid bedside diagnosis of SBP.