RESUMO
Voltage-gated sodium channel (NaV) inhibitors are used to treat neurological disorders of hyperexcitability such as epilepsy. These drugs act by attenuating neuronal action potential firing to reduce excitability in the brain. However, all currently available NaV-targeting antiseizure medications nonselectively inhibit the brain channels NaV1.1, NaV1.2, and NaV1.6, which potentially limits the efficacy and therapeutic safety margins of these drugs. Here, we report on XPC-7724 and XPC-5462, which represent a new class of small molecule NaV-targeting compounds. These compounds specifically target inhibition of the NaV1.6 and NaV1.2 channels, which are abundantly expressed in excitatory pyramidal neurons. They have a > 100-fold molecular selectivity against NaV1.1 channels, which are predominantly expressed in inhibitory neurons. Sparing NaV1.1 preserves the inhibitory activity in the brain. These compounds bind to and stabilize the inactivated state of the channels thereby reducing the activity of excitatory neurons. They have higher potency, with longer residency times and slower off-rates, than the clinically used antiseizure medications carbamazepine and phenytoin. The neuronal selectivity of these compounds is demonstrated in brain slices by inhibition of firing in cortical excitatory pyramidal neurons, without impacting fast spiking inhibitory interneurons. XPC-5462 also suppresses epileptiform activity in an ex vivo brain slice seizure model, whereas XPC-7224 does not, suggesting a possible requirement of Nav1.2 inhibition in 0-Mg2+- or 4-AP-induced brain slice seizure models. The profiles of these compounds will facilitate pharmacological dissection of the physiological roles of NaV1.2 and NaV1.6 in neurons and help define the role of specific channels in disease states. This unique selectivity profile provides a new approach to potentially treat disorders of neuronal hyperexcitability by selectively downregulating excitatory circuits.
Assuntos
Epilepsia , Canais de Sódio Disparados por Voltagem , Humanos , Neurônios/metabolismo , Canais de Sódio Disparados por Voltagem/metabolismo , Epilepsia/metabolismo , Encéfalo/metabolismo , Convulsões/tratamento farmacológico , Convulsões/metabolismo , Potenciais de Ação/fisiologiaRESUMO
BACKGROUND: SCN8A-related disorders are a group of variable conditions caused by pathogenic variations in SCN8A. Online Mendelian Inheritance in Man (OMIM) terms them as developmental and epileptic encephalopathy 13, benign familial infantile seizures 5 or cognitive impairment with or without cerebellar ataxia. METHODS: In this study, we describe clinical and genetic results on eight individuals from six families with SCN8A pathogenic variants identified via exome sequencing. RESULTS: Clinical findings ranged from normal development with well-controlled epilepsy to significant developmental delay with treatment-resistant epilepsy. Three novel and three reported variants were observed in SCN8A. Electrophysiological analysis in transfected cells revealed a loss-of-function variant in Patient 4. CONCLUSIONS: This work expands the clinical and genotypic spectrum of SCN8A-related disorders and provides electrophysiological results on a novel loss-of-function SCN8A variant.
Assuntos
Disfunção Cognitiva , Epilepsia Generalizada , Epilepsia , Humanos , Epilepsia/genética , Genótipo , Fenótipo , Mutação/genética , Canal de Sódio Disparado por Voltagem NAV1.6/genéticaRESUMO
A two-year-old Arabian horse presented for abnormal external genitalia and dangerous stallion-like behavior was diagnosed with disorder of sexual development (DSD), also known as intersex/hermaphroditism. Standing 1-stage surgical procedure performed under sedation, and local anesthesia to concurrently eliminate stallion-like behavior, risk of neoplastic transformation of intraabdominal gonads, and to replace ambiguous external genital with a functional, and cosmetically more acceptable anatomy. Step-1) Laparoscopic abdominal exploration and gonadectomy; Step-2) Rudimentary penis resection and perineal urethrostomy. The horse tolerated surgery well (combined surgery time 185 min) with no complications. At macroscopic examination of the gonads, they resembled hypoplastic testis-like tissues. Microscopic examination confirmed presence of seminiferous tubules, Leydig and Sertoli/granulosa cells. Cytogenetic evaluation revealed a 64,XX karyotype, SRY-negative. The stallion-like behavior subsided within days post-operatively. Long-term follow-up revealed the genitoplasty site healed without urine scalding or urethral stricture. The owner satisfaction was excellent and the horse could be used post-surgery as an athlete.
Assuntos
Transtornos do Desenvolvimento Sexual , Doenças dos Cavalos , Feminino , Masculino , Cavalos , Animais , Administração de Caso , Transtornos do Desenvolvimento Sexual/genética , Transtornos do Desenvolvimento Sexual/cirurgia , Transtornos do Desenvolvimento Sexual/veterinária , Gônadas , Cariotipagem/veterinária , Cariótipo , Doenças dos Cavalos/cirurgiaRESUMO
Background: SCN8A-related disorders are a group of variable conditions caused by pathogenic variations in SCN8A. Online Mendelian Inheritance in Man (OMIM) terms them as developmental and epileptic encephalopathy 13, benign familial infantile seizures 5 or cognitive impairment with or without cerebellar ataxia. Methods: In this study, we describe clinical and genetic results on eight individuals from six families with SCN8A pathogenic variants identified via exome sequencing. Results: Clinical findings ranged from normal development with well-controlled epilepsy to significant developmental delay with treatment-resistant epilepsy. Three novel and three reported variants were observed in SCN8A. Electrophysiological analysis in transfected cells revealed a loss-of-function variant in Patient 4. Conclusions: This work expands the clinical and genotypic spectrum of SCN8A-related disorders and provides electrophysiological results on a novel loss-of-function SCN8A variant.
RESUMO
Nav1.1 is an important pharmacological target as this voltage-gated sodium channel is involved in neurological and cardiac syndromes. Channel activators are actively sought to try to compensate for haploinsufficiency in several of these pathologies. Herein we used a natural source of new peptide compounds active on ion channels and screened for drugs capable to inhibit channel inactivation as a way to compensate for decreased channel function. We discovered that JzTx-34 is highly active on Nav1.1 and subsequently performed a full structure-activity relationship investigation to identify its pharmacophore. These experiments will help interpret the mechanism of action of this and formerly identified peptides as well as the future identification of new peptides. We also reveal structural determinants that make natural ICK peptides active against Nav1.1 challenging to synthesize. Altogether, the knowledge gained by this study will help facilitate the discovery and development of new compounds active on this critical ion channel target.
Assuntos
Peptídeos , Canais de Sódio Disparados por Voltagem , Humanos , Peptídeos/farmacologia , Peptídeos/química , Relação Estrutura-AtividadeRESUMO
NBI-921352 (formerly XEN901) is a novel sodium channel inhibitor designed to specifically target NaV1.6 channels. Such a molecule provides a precision-medicine approach to target SCN8A-related epilepsy syndromes (SCN8A-RES), where gain-of-function (GoF) mutations lead to excess NaV1.6 sodium current, or other indications where NaV1.6 mediated hyper-excitability contributes to disease (Gardella and Møller, 2019; Johannesen et al., 2019; Veeramah et al., 2012). NBI-921352 is a potent inhibitor of NaV1.6 (IC500.051 µM), with exquisite selectivity over other sodium channel isoforms (selectivity ratios of 756 X for NaV1.1, 134 X for NaV1.2, 276 X for NaV1.7, and >583 Xfor NaV1.3, NaV1.4, and NaV1.5). NBI-921352is a state-dependent inhibitor, preferentially inhibiting inactivatedchannels. The state dependence leads to potent stabilization of inactivation, inhibiting NaV1.6 currents, including resurgent and persistent NaV1.6 currents, while sparing the closed/rested channels. The isoform-selective profile of NBI-921352 led to a robust inhibition of action-potential firing in glutamatergic excitatory pyramidal neurons, while sparing fast-spiking inhibitory interneurons, where NaV1.1 predominates. Oral administration of NBI-921352 prevented electrically induced seizures in a Scn8a GoF mouse,as well as in wild-type mouse and ratseizure models. NBI-921352 was effective in preventing seizures at lower brain and plasma concentrations than commonly prescribed sodium channel inhibitor anti-seizure medicines (ASMs) carbamazepine, phenytoin, and lacosamide. NBI-921352 waswell tolerated at higher multiples of the effective plasma and brain concentrations than those ASMs. NBI-921352 is entering phase II proof-of-concept trials for the treatment of SCN8A-developmental epileptic encephalopathy (SCN8A-DEE) and adult focal-onset seizures.
Assuntos
Epilepsia , Canal de Sódio Disparado por Voltagem NAV1.6 , Animais , Mutação com Ganho de Função , Camundongos , Mutação , Canal de Sódio Disparado por Voltagem NAV1.6/genética , Neurônios/fisiologia , Ratos , Sódio , Bloqueadores dos Canais de Sódio/farmacologiaRESUMO
We describe the synthesis and biological evaluation of a series of novel aryl sulfonamides that exhibit potent inhibition of NaV1.5. Unlike local anesthetics that are currently used for treatment of Long QT Syndrome 3 (LQT-3), the most potent compound (-)-6 in this series shows high selectivity over hERG and other cardiac ion channels and has a low brain to plasma ratio to minimize CNS side effects. Compound (-)-6 is also effective inshortening prolonged action potential durations (APDs) in a pharmacological model of LQT-3 syndrome in pluripotent stem cell-derived cardiomyocytes (iPSC-CMs). Unlike most aryl sulfonamide NaV inhibitors that bind to the channel voltage sensors, these NaV1.5 inhibitors bind to the local anesthetic binding site in the central pore of the channel.
Assuntos
Canal de Sódio Disparado por Voltagem NAV1.5/metabolismo , Sulfonamidas/farmacologia , Relação Dose-Resposta a Droga , Humanos , Estrutura Molecular , Relação Estrutura-Atividade , Sulfonamidas/síntese química , Sulfonamidas/químicaRESUMO
Nav1.7 is an extensively investigated target for pain with a strong genetic link in humans, yet in spite of this effort, it remains challenging to identify efficacious, selective, and safe inhibitors. Here, we disclose the discovery and preclinical profile of GDC-0276 (1) and GDC-0310 (2), selective Nav1.7 inhibitors that have completed Phase 1 trials. Our initial search focused on close-in analogues to early compound 3. This resulted in the discovery of GDC-0276 (1), which possessed improved metabolic stability and an acceptable overall pharmacokinetics profile. To further derisk the predicted human pharmacokinetics and enable QD dosing, additional optimization of the scaffold was conducted, resulting in the discovery of a novel series of N-benzyl piperidine Nav1.7 inhibitors. Improvement of the metabolic stability by blocking the labile benzylic position led to the discovery of GDC-0310 (2), which possesses improved Nav selectivity and pharmacokinetic profile over 1.
Assuntos
Azetidinas/farmacologia , Benzamidas/farmacologia , Descoberta de Drogas , Canal de Sódio Disparado por Voltagem NAV1.7/metabolismo , Sulfonamidas/farmacologia , Bloqueadores do Canal de Sódio Disparado por Voltagem/farmacologia , Animais , Azetidinas/química , Azetidinas/farmacocinética , Benzamidas/química , Benzamidas/farmacocinética , Células Cultivadas , Células HEK293 , Humanos , Piperidinas/química , Piperidinas/farmacocinética , Piperidinas/farmacologia , Ratos Sprague-Dawley , Sulfonamidas/química , Sulfonamidas/farmacocinética , Bloqueadores do Canal de Sódio Disparado por Voltagem/química , Bloqueadores do Canal de Sódio Disparado por Voltagem/farmacocinéticaRESUMO
Variants implicated in childhood epilepsy have been identified in all four voltage-gated sodium channels that initiate action potentials in the central nervous system. Previous research has focused on the functional effects of particular variants within the most studied of these channels (NaV1.1, NaV1.2 and NaV1.6); however, there have been few comparative studies across channels to infer the impact of mutations in patients with epilepsy. Here we compare patterns of variation in patient and public databases to test the hypothesis that regions of known functional significance within voltage-gated sodium (NaV) channels have an increased burden of deleterious variants. We assessed mutational burden in different regions of the Nav channels by (1) performing Fisher exact tests on odds ratios to infer excess variants in domains, segments, and loops of each channel in patient databases versus public "control" databases, and (2) comparing the cumulative distribution of variant sites along DNA sequences of each gene in patient and public databases (i.e., independent of protein structure). Patient variant density was concordant among channels in regions known to play a role in channel function, with statistically significant higher patient variant density in S4-S6 and DIII-DIV and an excess of public variants in SI-S3, DI-DII, DII-DIII. On the other hand, channel-specific patterns of patient burden were found in the NaV1.6 inactivation gate and NaV1.1 S5-S6 linkers, while NaV1.2 and NaV1.6 S4-S5 linkers and S5 segments shared patient variant patterns that contrasted with those in NaV1.1. These different patterns may reflect different roles played by the NaV1.6 inactivation gate in action potential propagation, and by NaV1.1 S5-S6 linkers in loss of function and haploinsufficiency. Interestingly, NaV1.2 and NaV1.6 both lack amino acid substitutions over significantly long stretches in both the patient and public databases suggesting that new mutations in these regions may cause embryonic lethality or a non-epileptic disease phenotype.
Assuntos
Epilepsia/patologia , Ativação do Canal Iônico/genética , Canal de Sódio Disparado por Voltagem NAV1.1/genética , Canal de Sódio Disparado por Voltagem NAV1.2/genética , Canal de Sódio Disparado por Voltagem NAV1.6/genética , Substituição de Aminoácidos/genética , Sequência de Bases , Encéfalo/fisiologia , Epilepsia/genética , Variação Genética/genética , Humanos , Potenciais da Membrana/genética , Mutação/genética , Técnicas de Patch-Clamp , Análise de Sequência de DNARESUMO
Nonselective antagonists of voltage-gated sodium (NaV) channels have been long used for the treatment of epilepsies. The efficacy of these drugs is thought to be due to the block of sodium channels on excitatory neurons, primarily NaV1.6 and NaV1.2. However, these currently marketed drugs require high drug exposure and suffer from narrow therapeutic indices. Selective inhibition of NaV1.6, while sparing NaV1.1, is anticipated to provide a more effective and better tolerated treatment for epilepsies. In addition, block of NaV1.2 may complement the anticonvulsant activity of NaV1.6 inhibition. We discovered a novel series of aryl sulfonamides as CNS-penetrant, isoform-selective NaV1.6 inhibitors, which also displayed potent block of NaV1.2. Optimization focused on increasing selectivity over NaV1.1, improving metabolic stability, reducing active efflux, and addressing a pregnane X-receptor liability. We obtained compounds 30-32, which produced potent anticonvulsant activity in mouse seizure models, including a direct current maximal electroshock seizure assay.
Assuntos
Amidas/química , Sistema Nervoso Central/metabolismo , Epilepsia/tratamento farmacológico , Canal de Sódio Disparado por Voltagem NAV1.6/metabolismo , Bloqueadores dos Canais de Sódio/metabolismo , Bloqueadores dos Canais de Sódio/farmacologia , Animais , Cães , Células Hep G2 , Humanos , Células Madin Darby de Rim Canino , Camundongos , Modelos Moleculares , Canal de Sódio Disparado por Voltagem NAV1.6/química , Domínios Proteicos , Isoformas de Proteínas/antagonistas & inibidores , Isoformas de Proteínas/química , Isoformas de Proteínas/metabolismo , Bloqueadores dos Canais de Sódio/química , Bloqueadores dos Canais de Sódio/uso terapêutico , Relação Estrutura-AtividadeRESUMO
Using structure- and ligand-based design principles, a novel series of piperidyl chromane arylsulfonamide Nav1.7 inhibitors was discovered. Early optimization focused on improvement of potency through refinement of the low energy ligand conformation and mitigation of high in vivo clearance. An in vitro hepatotoxicity hazard was identified and resolved through optimization of lipophilicity and lipophilic ligand efficiency to arrive at GNE-616 (24), a highly potent, metabolically stable, subtype selective inhibitor of Nav1.7. Compound 24 showed a robust PK/PD response in a Nav1.7-dependent mouse model, and site-directed mutagenesis was used to identify residues critical for the isoform selectivity profile of 24.
Assuntos
Canal de Sódio Disparado por Voltagem NAV1.7/química , Sulfonamidas/química , Bloqueadores do Canal de Sódio Disparado por Voltagem/química , Analgésicos/química , Analgésicos/metabolismo , Analgésicos/farmacologia , Analgésicos/uso terapêutico , Animais , Sítios de Ligação , Linhagem Celular , Sobrevivência Celular/efeitos dos fármacos , Dor Crônica/tratamento farmacológico , Dor Crônica/patologia , Cães , Meia-Vida , Humanos , Ligantes , Masculino , Camundongos , Simulação de Acoplamento Molecular , Mutagênese Sítio-Dirigida , Canal de Sódio Disparado por Voltagem NAV1.7/genética , Canal de Sódio Disparado por Voltagem NAV1.7/metabolismo , Isoformas de Proteínas/antagonistas & inibidores , Isoformas de Proteínas/metabolismo , Ratos , Relação Estrutura-Atividade , Sulfonamidas/metabolismo , Sulfonamidas/farmacologia , Sulfonamidas/uso terapêutico , Bloqueadores do Canal de Sódio Disparado por Voltagem/metabolismo , Bloqueadores do Canal de Sódio Disparado por Voltagem/farmacologia , Bloqueadores do Canal de Sódio Disparado por Voltagem/uso terapêuticoRESUMO
The sodium channel NaV1.7 has emerged as a promising target for the treatment of pain based on strong genetic validation of its role in nociception. In recent years, a number of aryl and acyl sulfonamides have been reported as potent inhibitors of NaV1.7, with high selectivity over the cardiac isoform NaV1.5. Herein, we report on the discovery of a novel series of N-([1,2,4]triazolo[4,3- a]pyridin-3-yl)methanesulfonamides as selective NaV1.7 inhibitors. Starting with the crystal structure of an acyl sulfonamide, we rationalized that cyclization to form a fused heterocycle would improve physicochemical properties, in particular lipophilicity. Our design strategy focused on optimization of potency for block of NaV1.7 and human metabolic stability. Lead compounds 10, 13 (GNE-131), and 25 showed excellent potency, good in vitro metabolic stability, and low in vivo clearance in mouse, rat, and dog. Compound 13 also displayed excellent efficacy in a transgenic mouse model of induced pain.
Assuntos
Desenho de Fármacos , Canal de Sódio Disparado por Voltagem NAV1.7/metabolismo , Dor/tratamento farmacológico , Sulfonamidas/química , Sulfonamidas/farmacologia , Bloqueadores do Canal de Sódio Disparado por Voltagem/química , Bloqueadores do Canal de Sódio Disparado por Voltagem/farmacologia , Sequência de Aminoácidos , Animais , Cães , Estabilidade de Medicamentos , Humanos , Cinética , Camundongos , Conformação Molecular , Dor/metabolismo , Ratos , Sulfonamidas/farmacocinética , Sulfonamidas/uso terapêutico , Bloqueadores do Canal de Sódio Disparado por Voltagem/farmacocinética , Bloqueadores do Canal de Sódio Disparado por Voltagem/uso terapêuticoRESUMO
We report on a novel series of aryl sulfonamides that act as nanomolar potent, isoform-selective inhibitors of the human sodium channel hNaV1.7. The optimization of these inhibitors is described. We aimed to improve potency against hNaV1.7 while minimizing off-target safety concerns and generated compound 3. This agent displayed significant analgesic effects in rodent models of acute and inflammatory pain and demonstrated that binding to the voltage sensor domain 4 site of NaV1.7 leads to an analgesic effect in vivo. Our findings corroborate the importance of hNaV1.7 as a drug target for the treatment of pain.
RESUMO
Voltage-gated sodium (Nav) channels propagate action potentials in excitable cells. Accordingly, Nav channels are therapeutic targets for many cardiovascular and neurological disorders. Selective inhibitors have been challenging to design because the nine mammalian Nav channel isoforms share high sequence identity and remain recalcitrant to high-resolution structural studies. Targeting the human Nav1.7 channel involved in pain perception, we present a protein-engineering strategy that has allowed us to determine crystal structures of a novel receptor site in complex with isoform-selective antagonists. GX-936 and related inhibitors bind to the activated state of voltage-sensor domain IV (VSD4), where their anionic aryl sulfonamide warhead engages the fourth arginine gating charge on the S4 helix. By opposing VSD4 deactivation, these compounds inhibit Nav1.7 through a voltage-sensor trapping mechanism, likely by stabilizing inactivated states of the channel. Residues from the S2 and S3 helices are key determinants of isoform selectivity, and bound phospholipids implicate the membrane as a modulator of channel function and pharmacology. Our results help to elucidate the molecular basis of voltage sensing and establish structural blueprints to design selective Nav channel antagonists.
Assuntos
Canal de Sódio Disparado por Voltagem NAV1.7/química , Bloqueadores dos Canais de Sódio/química , Bloqueadores dos Canais de Sódio/farmacologia , Sulfonamidas/química , Sulfonamidas/farmacologia , Tiadiazóis/química , Tiadiazóis/farmacologia , Sequência de Aminoácidos , Membrana Celular/química , Cristalização/métodos , Cristalografia por Raios X , Análise Mutacional de DNA , Humanos , Modelos Moleculares , Dados de Sequência Molecular , Canal de Sódio Disparado por Voltagem NAV1.7/genética , Percepção da Dor/efeitos dos fármacos , Engenharia de Proteínas , Isoformas de Proteínas/antagonistas & inibidores , Isoformas de Proteínas/química , Estrutura Secundária de Proteína , Estrutura Terciária de ProteínaRESUMO
Individuals with mosaic paternal uniparental disomy (UPD) of apparently all chromosomes have recently been described. They show a 46,XX karyotype, but with a mixture of normal biparental cells and cells entirely of paternal isodisomic origin. We describe an infant who primarily showed signs of Beckwith-Wiedemann syndrome (BWS), but also had other severe and eventually lethal medical problems, notably refractory hypoglycemia. We performed methylation studies for BWS, but incidentally for Angelman syndrome (AS) on leukocytes and in a skin FFPE sample. We also performed chromosome microarray [CNV and single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) array] on leukocytes. We found that the patient had hypomethylation consistent with both BWS and AS. Remarkably, this was due to mosaic paternal UPD for chromosomes 11 and 15, respectively. The SNP microarray showed mosaic paternal UPD for all chromosomes. Patients with unusual phenotypes for a typical imprinting disorder should be studied further with assays for imprinted loci on other chromosomes. Chromosomal SNP microarrays are useful in identifying patients with multiple UPDs, sometimes of the whole genome.
Assuntos
Estudo de Associação Genômica Ampla , Mosaicismo , Síndrome de Angelman/genética , Síndrome de Beckwith-Wiedemann/genética , Variações do Número de Cópias de DNA , Metilação de DNA , Feminino , Estudos de Associação Genética , Loci Gênicos , Humanos , Lactente , Polimorfismo de Nucleotídeo Único , Dissomia Uniparental/genéticaRESUMO
We describe a family with recurrent 11q23-qter deletion Jacobsen syndrome in two affected brothers, with unique mosaic deletion 'rescue' through development of uniparental disomy (UPD) in the mother and one of the brothers. Inheritance studies show that the deleted chromosome is of maternal origin in both boys, and microarray shows a break near the ASAM gene. Parental lymphocyte chromosomes were normal. However, the mother is homozygous in lymphocytes for all loci within the deleted region in her sons, and presumably has UPD for this region. In addition, she is mosaic for the 11q deletion seen in her sons at a level of 20-30% in skin fibroblasts. We hypothesize that one of her #11 chromosomes shows fragility, that breakage at 11q23 occurred with telomeric loss in some cells, but 'rescue' from the deletion occurred in most cells by the development of mitotic UPD. She apparently carries the 11q deletion in her germ line resulting in recurrence of the syndrome. The older son is mosaic for the 11q cell line (70-88%, remainder 46,XY), and segmental UPD11 'rescue' apparently also occurred in his cytogenetically normal cells. This is a novel phenomenon restoring disomy to an individual with a chromosomal deletion.
Assuntos
Cromossomos Humanos Par 11 , Síndrome da Deleção Distal 11q de Jacobsen/genética , Dissomia Uniparental , Deleção Cromossômica , Feminino , Humanos , Masculino , Mosaicismo , LinhagemRESUMO
PURPOSE: Hemangiopericytoma (HPC) is a rare tumor of the central nervous system. Primary spinal occurrence of this tumor is extremely uncommon and cases involving the intramedullary spinal cord are even more rare. The purpose of this study was to explore the clinical features, surgical strategies, outcome and pathology in a consecutive series of patients treated at a single institution. METHODS: The authors performed a retrospective review of the clinicopathological characteristics of four patients with a pathological diagnosis of spinal HPC. RESULTS: Four cases with intradural as well as intra/extra-medullary components were identified. Gross total resection with no recurrence at the operative site was achieved in the majority of patients with a spinal HPC. One patient had significant recurrence and eventually, succumbed to the disease. CONCLUSION: Increased awareness of these tumors' capability to occur intradurally and intramedullarly can help surgeons accurately diagnose and choose an effective plan of care. Gross total resection of hemangiopericytomas is the mainstay of treatment and should be pursued if feasible. Histopathology is essential to the diagnosis.
Assuntos
Hemangiopericitoma/cirurgia , Neoplasias da Medula Espinal/cirurgia , Adulto , Feminino , Hemangiopericitoma/patologia , Humanos , Masculino , Pessoa de Meia-Idade , Procedimentos Neurocirúrgicos , Estudos Retrospectivos , Neoplasias da Medula Espinal/patologiaRESUMO
Gold monolayer protected clusters (MPCs) exhibit strong quantum confinement effects and size dependent electronic, optical and chemical properties. Chemical tuning of these properties can be achieved by established synthesis methods, providing an excellent system for the study of the relationship between chemical and electronic structure. In this paper, the first electronic spectra of individual Au MPCs (Au(25)) acquired by single electron tunneling force spectroscopy on non-conducting silicon dioxide surfaces are reported. A HOMO-LUMO (highest occupied molecular orbital-lowest unoccupied molecular orbital) energy gap is observed in the Au(25) spectra. Hysteretic charging of the particles is also observed while obtaining the energy spectra. The new single electron tunneling measurement methodology is described. A model explaining the measurements supports the existence of mid-HOMO-LUMO gap defect states.
RESUMO
We report the first atomic scale imaging and spectroscopic measurements of electron trap states in completely non-conducting surfaces by dynamic tunnelling force microscopy/spectroscopy. Single electrons are dynamically shuttled to/from individual states in thick films of hafnium silicate and silicon dioxide. The new method opens up surfaces that are inaccessible to the scanning tunnelling microscope for imaging and spectroscopy on an atomic scale.
Assuntos
Háfnio/química , Microscopia de Força Atômica/métodos , Nanoestruturas/química , Nanoestruturas/ultraestrutura , Silicatos/química , Espectrofotometria Atômica/métodos , Transporte de Elétrons , Elétrons , Teste de Materiais , Semicondutores , Estresse MecânicoRESUMO
It has been previously noted that mixed communities typically produce more power in microbial fuel cells than pure cultures. If true, this has important implications for the design of microbial fuel cells and for studying the process of electron transfer on anode biofilms. To further evaluate this, Geobacter sulfurreducens was grown with acetate as fuel in a continuous flow 'ministack' system in which the carbon cloth anode and cathode were positioned in close proximity, and the cation-selective membrane surface area was maximized in order to overcome some of the electrochemical limitations that were inherent in fuel cells previously employed for the study of pure cultures. Reducing the size of the anode in order to eliminate cathode limitation resulted in maximum current and power densities per m(2) of anode surface of 4.56 A m(-2) and 1.88 W m(-2) respectively. Electron recovery as current from acetate oxidation was c. 100% when oxygen diffusion into the system was minimized. This performance is comparable to the highest levels previously reported for mixed communities in similar microbial fuel cells and slightly higher than the power output of an anaerobic sludge inoculum in the same ministack system. Minimizing the volume of the anode chamber yielded a volumetric power density of 2.15 kW m(-3), which is the highest power density per volume yet reported for a microbial fuel cell. Geobacter sulfurreducens formed relatively uniform biofilms 3-18 mum thick on the carbon cloth anodes. When graphite sticks served as the anode, the current density (3.10 A m(-2)) was somewhat less than with the carbon cloth anodes, but the biofilms were thicker (c. 50 mum) with a more complex pillar and channel structure. These results suggest that the previously observed disparity in power production in pure and mixed culture microbial fuel cell systems can be attributed more to differences in the fuel cell designs than to any inherent superior capability of mixed cultures to produce more power than pure cultures.