Crystal structure of 2-(di-phenyl-phos-phanyl)phenyl 4-(hy-droxy-meth-yl)benzoate.

The title compound, C26H21O3P, was obtained as by-product due to the hydrolysis of the desired tosyl-ated compound. The dihedral angles between the three aromatic rings attached to the P atom lie in the range 78.1 (1)-87.6 (1)°. The hy-droxy-methyl group is disordered between two conformations in a 0.719 (9):0.281 (9) ratio. The hy-droxy H atom is not involved in inter-molecular inter-actions, while the hy-droxy O atom serves as a donor for weak C-H⋯O hydrogen bonds, which link the mol-ecules into chains propagating in [0-11].

(3R*,5'S*)-6,7-Dimeth-oxy-3-(4'-meth-oxy-6'-methyl-5',6',7',8'-tetra-hydro-1,3-dioxolo[4,5-g]isoquinolin-5'-yl)isobenzofuran-1(3H)-one (racemic α-noscapine).

In the racemic title compound, C(22)H(23)NO(7), the dihedral angle between the fused ring systems is 51.87 (6)°. Two of the meth-oxy groups are disordered over two orientations in 0.688 (5):0.312 (5) and 0.672 (15):0.328 (15) ratios. In the crystal, weak C-H⋯O inter-actions link the mol-ecules.

Niobium alcoholate clusters with an octahedral arrangement of metal atoms: [K(CH3OH)4]2 [Nb6(OCH3)18] and [Na([18]crown-6)(C2H5OH)2]2 [Nb6(OC2H5)12(NCS)6].

Complete exchange: [M(6)X(12)] type cluster compounds with an octahedral M(6) metal atom arrangement, which is completely surrounded by alcoholato ligands, were unknown until now. The first representatives are prepared containing a [Nb(6)(OR)(12)](4+) unit (R = CH(3) or C(2)H(5)). They are accessible at elevated temperatures from strongly basic alcoholate solutions of [Nb(6)Cl(12)](2+)-containing precursors. C gray, H white, K turquoise, Nb blue, O red.

Synthesis of indirubin-N'-glycosides and their anti-proliferative activity against human cancer cell lines.

The first indirubin-N'-glycosides were prepared based on reactions of isatin-N'-glycosides with indoxyls. The products show a significant anti-proliferative activity against various human cancer cell lines. Good results were observed for an indirubin-N'-mannoside which was shown to have medium to high anti-proliferative activity against all investigated cell lines. The highest activities and selectivities against the MCF-7 breast cancer cell line were observed for indirubin-N'-rhamnosides.

Twisted oxygen-containing oligosilanes--unprecedented examples of sigma-n mixed conjugated systems.

Twisting the silicon backbone conformation in oxygen containing oligosilanes towards dihedral angles of 120-130 degrees either by intramolecular hydrogen bonding or incorporation into a covalently bonded ring system effectively extends the delocalization of electrons in these sigma-n mixed conjugated systems.

[Prevention of decubitus ulcer: theory and practice]. / Dekubitusprävention: Theorie und Praxis.

In Spring 2001, the Department of Nursing Science, Humboldt-University in Berlin, conducted a pressure ulcer prevalence study on 3012 patients of eleven hospitals. The investigation revealed the use of pressure ulcer prevention on patients with different stages, or without a pressure ulcer. The study also focused on the use of interventions and bed-aids on patients both at risk and not at risk. Interventions without the use of bed-aids were used more often than interventions using bed-aids. The main type of intervention used was the mobilisation of the patient. This was found in all groups (at risk or not at risk; with or without a pressure ulcer). The bed-aids which were most frequently used were pressure-relieving cushions and heel-protectors. Because of the differences in pressure ulcer management among the hospitals, this article also shows evidence on bed-aids and the interventions as known from literature. In four of the interventions as used in practice, the highest degree of evidence could be found. However, in five cases no evidence could be found at all. The comparison of the use in practice and the literature revealed that interventions which are often used as pressure reduction are well tested and can be recommended. However, the (sheep-) skins, which are frequently used, are not reducing the pressure significantly.

[How reliable is the Functional Independence Measure (FMI)?]. / Wie zuverlässig ist das Functional Independence Measure (FIM)?

The Functional Independence Measure (FIM) is an internationally well-known instrument to assess patient autonomy in Activities of Daily Life. In this article the reliability of the instrument will be discussed by the analysis of data gathered on a rehabilitation ward in a Berlin hospital. The sample consists of 154 patients. Each patient was observed by two nurses. In the first phase of the project only one of these two nurses knew the patient well. In the second phase both nurses knew the patient. As expected, the interrater reliability during the second phase was higher than during the first phase of the research. Furthermore high correlations between the items could be computed. The internal consistence of the scale showed values similar to those known from literature. The data proved a high reliability of the instrument.