Silencing NlFAR7 destroyed the pore canals and related structures of the brown planthopper.

Fatty acyl-CoA reductase (FAR) is one of the key enzymes, which catalyses the conversion of fatty acyl-CoA to the corresponding alcohols. Among the FAR family members in the brown planthopper (Nilaparvata lugens), NlFAR7 plays a pivotal role in both the synthesis of cuticular hydrocarbons and the waterproofing of the cuticle. However, the precise mechanism by which NlFAR7 influences the formation of the cuticle structure in N. lugens remains unclear. Therefore, this paper aims to investigate the impact of NlFAR7 through RNA interference, transmission electron microscope, focused ion beam scanning electron microscopy (FIB-SEM) and lipidomics analysis. FIB-SEM is employed to reconstruct the three-dimensional (3D) architecture of the pore canals and related cuticle structures in N. lugens subjected to dsNlFAR7 and dsGFP treatments, enabling a comprehensive assessment of changes in the cuticle structures. The results reveal a reduction in the thickness of the cuticle and disruptions in the spiral structure of pore canals, accompanied by widened base and middle diameters. Furthermore, the lipidomics comparison analysis between dsNlFAR7- and dsGFP-treated N. lugens demonstrated that there were 25 metabolites involved in cuticular lipid layer synthesis, including 7 triacylglycerols (TGs), 5 phosphatidylcholines (PCs), 3 phosphatidylethanolamines (PEs) and 2 diacylglycerols (DGs) decreased, and 4 triacylglycerols (TGs) and 4 PEs increased. In conclusion, silencing NlFAR7 disrupts the synthesis of overall lipids and destroys the cuticular pore canals and related structures, thereby disrupting the secretion of cuticular lipids, thus affecting the cuticular waterproofing of N. lugens. These findings give significant attention with reference to further biochemical researches on the substrate specificity of FAR protein, and the molecular regulation mechanisms during N. lugens life cycle.

UK national chronic hypoparathyroidism audit.

OBJECTIVES: Individuals with chronic hypoparathyroidism may experience suboptimal medical care with high frequency of unplanned hospitalisation and iatrogenic harm. In 2015 the European Society for Endocrinology published consensus guidelines on the management of chronic hypoparathyroidism. We set out to audit compliance with these guidelines. METHODS: Using these recommendations as audit standards we worked with the Society for Endocrinology and Parathyroid UK to conduct a national audit of management of chronic hypoparathyroidism in the United Kingdom. Endocrine leads in 117 endocrine departments were invited to participate in the survey by completing a data collection tool on up to 5 sequential cases of chronic hypoparathyroidism seen in their outpatient clinics in the preceding 12 months. Data were collected on 4 treatment standards and 9 monitoring standards. Data on hospitalisations and Quality of Life monitoring were also collected. RESULTS: Responses were received from 22 departments giving a response rate of 19%, concerning 80 individual cases. The mean age of subjects was 48.4 years. The main findings were that the commonest cause of hypoparathyroidism was post surgical (66.3%). Treatments taken by the group included activated vitamin D analogues (96.3%), oral calcium salts (66.3%), vitamin D supplements (17.5%), thiazide diuretics (5%) and rhPTH1-34 (1.3%). Compliance with the audit standards varied between 98.8% and 60% for the treatment standards and between 91.3% and 20% for the monitoring standards. Some of the areas of weakness revealed include low rates of 24 h urinary calcium excretion monitoring, serum magnesium monitoring and low rates of renal imaging where indicated. In addition and importantly, 16.3% of subjects had experienced at least one hospital admission in the preceding 12 months. CONCLUSION: We conclude that further improvements in the UK national standard of management of chronic hypoparathyroidism should be made and that this will benefit both quality of life, morbidity and potentially mortality in this group of patients.

E4BP4 inhibits AngII-induced apoptosis in H9c2 cardiomyoblasts by activating the PI3K-Akt pathway and promoting calcium uptake.

The bZIP transcription factor E4BP4 is a survival factor that is known to be elevated in diseased heart and promote cell survival. In this study the role of E4BP4 on angiotensin-II (AngII)-induced apoptosis has been examined in in vitro cell model. H9c2 cardiomyoblast cells that overexpressed E4BP4 were exposed to AngII to observe the cardio-protective effects of E4BP4 on hypertension related apoptosis. The results from TUNEL assays revealed that E4BP4 significantly attenuated AngII-induced apoptosis. Further analysis by Western blot and RT-PCR showed that E4BP4 inhibited AngII-induced IGF-II mRNA expression and cleavage of caspase-3 through the PI3K-Akt pathway. In addition, E4BP4 enhanced calcium reuptake into the sacroplasmic reticulum by down-regulating PP2A and by up-regulating the phosphorylation of PKA and PLB proteins. Our findings indicate that E4BP4 functions as a survival factor in cardiomyoblasts by inhibiting IGF-II transcription and by regulating calcium cycling.

Formation Mechanism and Reversible Expansion and Shrinkage of Magnesium-Based Homochiral Metal-Organic Nanotubes.

Two pairs of homochiral magnesium phosphonates, namely (R)-, (S)-[Mg(pemp)(H2 O)2 ] (1) and (R)-, (S)-Mg10 (pemp)10 (H2 O)10 ]⋅3 H2 O (2) are reported (pemp2- =(R)- or (S)-(1-phenylethylamino) methylphosphonate). Compounds 1 show one-dimensional tubular structures. The tube wall is purely inorganic, containing six-membered rings made up of corner-sharing {MgO5 N} octahedra and {PO3 C} tetrahedra. The organic groups reside outside the tube. A bottom-up "direct growing" mechanism is proposed for the formation of the nanotubular structures of 1, based on the electrospray ionization mass spectrometry studies. Compounds 2 display two-dimensional layered structures containing cross-linked squashed nanotubes. Interestingly, the two structures can interconvert reversibly upon temperature and pH modulation. This is the first report of a metal-organic nanotube that can shrink and recover in a reversible manner.

Chirality- and pH-Controlled Supramolecular Isomerism in Cobalt Phosphonates and Its Impact on the Magnetic Behavior.

Two pairs of enantiomeric compounds with formulas (S)- or (R)-Co3 (ppap)2 (4,4'-bpy)2 (H2 O)2 ⋅4 H2 O [(S)-1 or (R)-1], (S)- or (R)-Co3 (ppap)2 (4,4'-bpy)2 (H2 O)2 ⋅3 H2 O [(S)- or (R)-2), and related racemic compound Co3 (ppap)2 (4,4'-bpy)2 (H2 O)2 ⋅4 H2 O (rac-3; 4,4'-bpy=4,4'-bipyridine, H3 ppap=3-phenyl-2-[(phosphonomethyl)amino]propanoic acid) are reported. Compounds 1 and rac-3 show identical three-dimensional framework structures, whereas compounds 2 have two-dimensional layer structures. Compounds 1 and 2 are catenation isomers, formation of which is controlled solely by the pH of the reaction mixtures, whereas the formation of isomeric compounds 1 and rac-3 is controlled purely by the chirality of the phosphonate ligand. The magnetic properties of fully dehydrated (S)-1, (S)-2, and rac-3 are highly dependent on both structure and chirality.

Evaluating the impact of artificial intelligence-assisted image analysis on the diagnostic accuracy of front-line clinicians in detecting fractures on plain X-rays (FRACT-AI): protocol for a prospective observational study.

INTRODUCTION: Missed fractures are the most frequent diagnostic error attributed to clinicians in UK emergency departments and a significant cause of patient morbidity. Recently, advances in computer vision have led to artificial intelligence (AI)-enhanced model developments, which can support clinicians in the detection of fractures. Previous research has shown these models to have promising effects on diagnostic performance, but their impact on the diagnostic accuracy of clinicians in the National Health Service (NHS) setting has not yet been fully evaluated. METHODS AND ANALYSIS: A dataset of 500 plain radiographs derived from Oxford University Hospitals (OUH) NHS Foundation Trust will be collated to include all bones except the skull, facial bones and cervical spine. The dataset will be split evenly between radiographs showing one or more fractures and those without. The reference ground truth for each image will be established through independent review by two senior musculoskeletal radiologists. A third senior radiologist will resolve disagreements between two primary radiologists. The dataset will be analysed by a commercially available AI tool, BoneView (Gleamer, Paris, France), and its accuracy for detecting fractures will be determined with reference to the ground truth diagnosis. We will undertake a multiple case multiple reader study in which clinicians interpret all images without AI support, then repeat the process with access to AI algorithm output following a 4-week washout. 18 clinicians will be recruited as readers from four hospitals in England, from six distinct clinical groups, each with three levels of seniority (early-stage, mid-stage and later-stage career). Changes in the accuracy, confidence and speed of reporting will be compared with and without AI support. Readers will use a secure web-based DICOM (Digital Imaging and Communications in Medicine) viewer (www.raiqc.com), allowing radiograph viewing and abnormality identification. Pooled analyses will be reported for overall reader performance as well as for subgroups including clinical role, level of seniority, pathological finding and difficulty of image. ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION: The study has been approved by the UK Healthcare Research Authority (IRAS 310995, approved on 13 December 2022). The use of anonymised retrospective radiographs has been authorised by OUH NHS Foundation Trust. The results will be presented at relevant conferences and published in a peer-reviewed journal. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBERS: This study is registered with ISRCTN (ISRCTN19562541) and ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT06130397). The paper reports the results of a substudy of STEDI2 (Simulation Training for Emergency Department Imaging Phase 2).

Common CD36 SNPs reduce protein expression and may contribute to a protective atherogenic profile.

Membrane CD36 functions in the uptake of fatty acids (FAs), oxidized lipoproteins and in signal transduction after binding these ligands. In rodents, CD36 is implicated in abnormal lipid metabolism, inflammation and atherosclerosis. In humans, CD36 variants have been identified to influence free FA and high-density lipoprotein (HDL) levels and to associate with the risk of the metabolic syndrome, coronary artery disease and stroke. In this study, 15 common lipid-associated CD36 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) were evaluated for the impact on monocyte CD36 expression (protein and transcript) in 104 African Americans. In a subset of subjects, the SNPs were tested for association with monocyte surface CD36 (n=65) and platelet total CD36 (n=57). The relationship between CD36 expression and serum HDL and very low-density lipoproteins (VLDLs) levels was also examined. After a permutation-based correction for multiple tests, four SNPs (rs1761667, rs3211909, rs3211913, rs3211938) influenced monocyte CD36 protein and two (rs3211909, rs3211938) platelet CD36. The effect of the HDL-associated SNPs on CD36 expression inversely related to the impact on serum HDL and potential causality was supported by Mendelian randomization analysis. Consistent with this, monocyte CD36 protein negatively correlated with total HDL and HDL subfractions. In contrast, positive correlations were documented between monocyte CD36 and VLDL lipid, particle number and apolipoprotein B. In conclusion, CD36 variants that reduce protein expression appear to promote a protective metabolic profile. The SNPs in this study may have predictive potential on CD36 expression and disease susceptibility in African Americans. Further studies are warranted to validate and determine whether these findings are population specific.

A comparative risk assessment of burden of disease and injury attributable to 67 risk factors and risk factor clusters in 21 regions, 1990-2010: a systematic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2010.

BACKGROUND: Quantification of the disease burden caused by different risks informs prevention by providing an account of health loss different to that provided by a disease-by-disease analysis. No complete revision of global disease burden caused by risk factors has been done since a comparative risk assessment in 2000, and no previous analysis has assessed changes in burden attributable to risk factors over time. METHODS: We estimated deaths and disability-adjusted life years (DALYs; sum of years lived with disability [YLD] and years of life lost [YLL]) attributable to the independent effects of 67 risk factors and clusters of risk factors for 21 regions in 1990 and 2010. We estimated exposure distributions for each year, region, sex, and age group, and relative risks per unit of exposure by systematically reviewing and synthesising published and unpublished data. We used these estimates, together with estimates of cause-specific deaths and DALYs from the Global Burden of Disease Study 2010, to calculate the burden attributable to each risk factor exposure compared with the theoretical-minimum-risk exposure. We incorporated uncertainty in disease burden, relative risks, and exposures into our estimates of attributable burden. FINDINGS: In 2010, the three leading risk factors for global disease burden were high blood pressure (7·0% [95% uncertainty interval 6·2-7·7] of global DALYs), tobacco smoking including second-hand smoke (6·3% [5·5-7·0]), and alcohol use (5·5% [5·0-5·9]). In 1990, the leading risks were childhood underweight (7·9% [6·8-9·4]), household air pollution from solid fuels (HAP; 7·0% [5·6-8·3]), and tobacco smoking including second-hand smoke (6·1% [5·4-6·8]). Dietary risk factors and physical inactivity collectively accounted for 10·0% (95% UI 9·2-10·8) of global DALYs in 2010, with the most prominent dietary risks being diets low in fruits and those high in sodium. Several risks that primarily affect childhood communicable diseases, including unimproved water and sanitation and childhood micronutrient deficiencies, fell in rank between 1990 and 2010, with unimproved water and sanitation accounting for 0·9% (0·4-1·6) of global DALYs in 2010. However, in most of sub-Saharan Africa childhood underweight, HAP, and non-exclusive and discontinued breastfeeding were the leading risks in 2010, while HAP was the leading risk in south Asia. The leading risk factor in Eastern Europe, most of Latin America, and southern sub-Saharan Africa in 2010 was alcohol use; in most of Asia, North Africa and Middle East, and central Europe it was high blood pressure. Despite declines, tobacco smoking including second-hand smoke remained the leading risk in high-income north America and western Europe. High body-mass index has increased globally and it is the leading risk in Australasia and southern Latin America, and also ranks high in other high-income regions, North Africa and Middle East, and Oceania. INTERPRETATION: Worldwide, the contribution of different risk factors to disease burden has changed substantially, with a shift away from risks for communicable diseases in children towards those for non-communicable diseases in adults. These changes are related to the ageing population, decreased mortality among children younger than 5 years, changes in cause-of-death composition, and changes in risk factor exposures. New evidence has led to changes in the magnitude of key risks including unimproved water and sanitation, vitamin A and zinc deficiencies, and ambient particulate matter pollution. The extent to which the epidemiological shift has occurred and what the leading risks currently are varies greatly across regions. In much of sub-Saharan Africa, the leading risks are still those associated with poverty and those that affect children. FUNDING: Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.

[Total trans-oral endoscopic thyroidectomy and cervical lymphadenectomy: a human cadavers surgery study].

OBJECTIVE: To find an approach for trans-oral endoscopic thyroidectomy (TOET) and cervical lymphadenectomy using conventional endoscopic surgical instruments on frozen fresh cadavers. METHODS: Six frozen fresh cadavers were used in three groups of trans-oral trocar installation experiments: oral vestibule installation, sublingual region installation, and combined bi-vestibular and sublingual installation. TOET (with pretrachealis method to thyroid fixation removal) and cervical lymphadenectomy were performed experiments on another 6 frozen fresh cadavers using the best access approach found in the aforementioned experiments. RESULTS: In oral vestibule trocar installations, the trocars caused large lacerated wound and damaged air tightness. In sublingual installations, only one trocar could be installed in the sublingual area because the space in sublingual area was limited. In combined bi-vestibular and sublingual installations, no gland, vessel or nerve was damaged. Combined bi-vestibular and sublingual access were selected as the surgical approach on the basic of analysis the merits of each approach. TOET and cervical lymphadenectomy in area III, IV, VI, VII were performed without making any accessory damage through combined bi-vestibular and sublingual access approach. CONCLUSIONS: TOET is feasible. Combined bi-vestibular and sublingual approach is available for TOET. Part of the cervical lymph nodes could be resected. Pretrachealis approach to thyroid fixation removal can still be used.

A Scoping Review of Knowledge, Awareness, Perceptions, Attitudes, and Risky Behaviors of Sexually Transmitted Infections in Southeast Asia.

This scoping review synthesizes literature to examine the extent of research focusing on knowledge, awareness, perceptions, attitudes, and risky behaviors related to sexually transmitted infections (STIs) in Southeast Asia (SEA). The PRISMA-Scoping approach was adopted targeting articles published from 2018 to 2022, sought from CINALH, PubMed, Web of Science and Scopus. A process of screening and elimination resulted in a total of 70 articles reviewed. Most of the studies were conducted in Indonesia, Thailand, Vietnam, and Malaysia, with the majority focusing on HIV/AIDS. In general, studies examining knowledge, awareness, and risky behaviors related to STIs in SEA reported low levels across various cohorts. However, evidence suggests that these issues are more prominent among individuals with low levels of education or low socioeconomic status, those living in rural areas or those working in the sex/industrial sectors. Engaging in unsafe sex and having multiple partners are the key examples for risky sexual behavior, while fear of being rejected/discriminated/stigmatized and lacking STI awareness were identified as social risky behaviors in SEA. Overall, cultural, societal, economic and gender inequality (male dominance) greatly impact people's knowledge, awareness, perceptions, attitudes, and risky behaviors in SEA. Education is an important factor influencing healthy behavior; therefore, this scoping review calls for increased investment in educating vulnerable populations to prevent STIs, particularly in less-developed countries/regions of SEA.

Long-term outcomes of percutaneous retrogasserian glycerol rhizotomy in 3370 patients with trigeminal neuralgia.

AIM: To assess the long-term outcomes of percutaneous retrogasserian glycerol rhizotomy (PRGR) in patients with medically unresponsive idiopathic trigeminal neuralgia. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A total of 3370 patients undergoing PRGR between 1983 and 2003 in our hospital were followed up for 13.1 years (range 3-23 years), and the outcomes were investigated. RESULTS: Of the 3370 patients, 99.58% had complete initial pain relief. A total of 2750 patients were followed up when 112 died of unrelated causes and 508 were lost to follow up. Of the 2750 patients, 962 (35%) had pain recurrence at various intervals: 0.3% in 1 year; 21% in 1 to 5 years; 7% in 5 to 10 years; 4% in 10 to 15 years and 3% in 15 to 23 years. The major complication was facial numbness, among which hypesthesia outweighed hypalgesia. Most patients recovered within half a year, although 109 patients (3.96%) developed permanent mild hypesthesia. There was no anesthesia dolorosa or surgery related mortality in this series. CONCLUSION: PRGR is a minimally invasive and simple procedure yielding a favorable outcome for trigeminal neuralgia. The major complications of this procedure are reversible within various time intervals. It may serve as a first-line surgical modality for patients unresponsive to pharmacotherapy.

Associations of Lipoprotein(a) With Coronary Atherosclerotic Burden and All-Cause Mortality in Patients With ST-Segment Elevation Myocardial Infarction Treated With Primary Percutaneous Coronary Intervention.

Background: The coronary atherosclerotic burden in patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) has been identified as the main predictor of prognosis. However, the association of lipoprotein(a) [Lp(a)], a well-established proatherogenic factor, with atherosclerotic burden in patients with STEMI is unclear. Methods: In total, 1,359 patients who underwent percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) for STEMI were included in analyses. Three prespecified models with adjustment for demographic parameters and risk factors were evaluated. Generalized additive models and restricted cubic spline analyses were used to assess the relationships of Lp(a) with Gensini scores and the no-reflow phenomenon. Kaplan-Meier curves were generated to explore the predictive value of Lp(a) for long-term all-cause mortality. Furthermore, mRNA expression levels of LPA in different groups were compared using the GEO database. Results: Patients in the highest tertile according to Lp(a) levels had an increased incidence of heart failure during hospitalization. Furthermore, patients with high levels of Lp(a) (>19.1 mg/dL) had sharply increased risks for a higher Gensini score (P for trend = 0.03) and no-reflow (P for trend = 0.002) after adjustment for demographic parameters and risk factors. During a median follow-up of 930 days, 132 deaths (9.95%) were registered. Patients with high levels of Lp(a) (>19.1 mg/dL) had the worst long-term prognosis (P for trend < 0.0001). In a subgroup analysis, patients with higher Lp(a) still had the highest all-cause mortality. Additionally, the mRNA expression levels of LPA in patients with STEMI with lower cardiac function were higher than those in other groups (P = 0.003). A higher coronary atherosclerotic burden was correlated with higher LPA expression (P = 0.01). Conclusion: This study provides the first evidence that Lp(a) (at both the protein and mRNA levels) is independently associated with coronary atherosclerotic lesions and prognosis in patients with STEMI treated with PCI. Clinical Trial Registration: http://www.chictr.org.cn/index.aspx, identifier: ChiCTR1900028516.

Sphenoid sinusitis: a rare cause of ischaemic stroke.

We present the case of a 61-year-old woman who presented to the accident and emergency department with an ischaemic stroke, on a background of receiving intravenous and oral antibiotics to treat chronic left sphenoid sinusitis. Initially presenting with right-sided weakness and aphasia, a diagnosis of acute ischaemic stroke was made. Antibiotics had been commenced 1 month prior to the ischaemic stroke. Imaging at that time showed changes in keeping with chronic sphenoid sinusitis along with a small dehiscence in the lateral wall of the left sphenoid sinus and thrombosis of the left superior ophthalmic vein. During that admission blood cultures grew Streptococcus constellatus, a member of the Streptococcus milleri group. We discuss the unusual aetiology of this stroke, the emerging evidence associating chronic rhinosinusitis with stroke and the complex multidisciplinary approach required for management in this case.

Minimizing the hidden dangers of cholecystectomy in vascular Ehlers-Danlos syndrome through a multidisciplinary approach.

Ehlers-Danlos syndrome, specifically EDS4, can be a dangerous condition. Clinicians should be aware of this when referring such patients for any interventional procedure. An MDT approach should be adopted to help plan perioperative treatment and care.

Lumbar hernia diagnosed after laparoscopic hiatal hernia surgery.

The presence of a new lumbar swelling or pain in the postoperative period following laparoscopic surgery should raise the suspicion of a lumbar hernia. Cross-sectional imaging can be used to establish an early diagnosis to enable successful management.

(C-meso-N-meso-5,12-Dimethyl-7,14-diphenyl-1,4,8,11-tetra-aza-cyclo-tetra-deca-4,11-diene)copper(II) bis-[O,O'-bis-(4-methyl-phen-yl)dithio-phosphate].

In the title compound, [Cu(C(24)H(32)N(4))](C(14)H(14)O(2)PS(2))(2), the Cu(II) atom lies on an inversion center and is chelated by the macrocyclic ligand in a distorted CuN(4) square-planar geometry. Two O,O'-bis-(4-methyl-phen-yl)dithio-phosphate anions occupy the axial positions with long Cu⋯S distances of 3.0090 (8) Å. Inter-molecular N-H⋯S and C-H⋯S hydrogen bonding is present between the anions and the cation.

(C-meso-N-meso-5,12-Dimethyl-7,14-diphenyl-1,4,8,11-tetra-aza-cyclo-tetra-deca-4,11-diene)nickel(II) bis-[O,O'-bis-(4-methyl-phen-yl) dithio-phosphate].

The title complex, [Ni(C(24)H(32)N(4))](C(14)H(14)O(2)PS(2))(2), comprises a centrosymmetric [Ni(meso-diphen-yl[14]dien)](2+) dication (meso-diphen-yl[14]dien is C-meso-N-meso-5,12-dimethyl-7,14-diphenyl-1,4,8,11-tetra-aza-cyclo-tetra-deca-4,11-diene) and two O,O'-bis-(4-methyl-phen-yl) dithio-phosphate anions. The Ni(II) ion lies on an inversion center and is chelated by a tetra-amine macrocycle ligand in a slightly distorted NiN(4) square-planar geometry. Two S atoms from symmetry-related anions are located in pseudo-axial positions with respect to the Ni(II) ion, with Ni⋯S distances of 3.1869 (8) Å. In the crystal, bifurcated inter-molecular N-H⋯S(S) hydrogen bonds connect cations and pairs of anions into three-component clusters. Weak inter-molecular C-H⋯S hydrogen bonds link these clusters into chains along [100].

(5,7,7,12,14,14-Hexamethyl-1,4,8,11-tetra-aza-cyclo-tetra-deca-4,11-diene)nickel(II) bis-[O,O'-bis-(4-tert-butyl-phen-yl) dithio-phosphate].

The title salt, [Ni(C(16)H(32)N(4))](C(20)H(26)O(2)PS(2))(2), comprises a centrosymmetric [Ni(Me(6)[14]dieneN(4))](2+) dication (Me(6)[14]dieneN(4) is 5,7,7,12,14,14-hexa-methyl-1,4,8,11-tetra-aza-cyclo-tetra-deca-4,11-diene) and two O,O'-bis-(4-tert-butyl-phen-yl) dithio-phosphate anions. The Ni(II) ion lies on an inversion centre and displays a slightly distorted NiN(4) square-planar chelation arrangement with four N atoms from the Me(6)[14]dieneN(4) macrocycle. Two S atoms from symmetry-related anions are located in pseudo-axial positions with respect to the Ni(II) ion, with Ni⋯S distances of 3.2991 (7) Å. Inter-molecular N-H⋯S and C-H⋯S hydrogen bonds link the complex cation and pair of anions into a 1:2 type salt.

(meso-5,5,7,12,12,14-Hexamethyl-1,4,8,11-tetra-aza-cyclo-tetra-deca-ne)copper(II) bis-[O,O'-(o-phenyl-ene)dithio-phosphate].

In the title compound, [Cu(C(16)H(36)N(4))](C(6)H(4)O(2)PS(2))(2), the Cu(II) cation lies on an inversion center and is chelated by the macrocyclic tetra-amine ligand in a slightly distorted CuN(4) square-planar geometry. The axial positions are occupied by two O,O'-(o-phenyl-ene)dithio-phosphate anions with long Cu⋯S distances of 3.0940 (7) Å. Inter-molecular N-H⋯S and C-H⋯O hydrogen bonding is present between the anions and the cation and helps to stabilize the crystal structure.

(meso-5,7,7,12,14,14-Hexamethyl-1,4,8,11-tetra-azacyclo-tetra-deca-4,11-diene)copper(II) bis-[O,O'-bis-(4-methyl-phen-yl) dithio-phosphate].

The title compound, [Cu(C(16)H(32)N(4))](C(14)H(14)O(2)PS(2))(2) or [Cu(trans[14]dien)][S(2)P(OC(6)H(4)Me-4)(2)](2), where trans[14]dien is meso-5,7,7,12,14,14-hexa-methyl-1,4,8,11-tetra-azacyclo-tetra-deca-4,11-diene, was obtained by the reaction of [Cu(trans[14]dien)](ClO(4))(2) and [(C(2)H(5))(2)NH](2) [S(2)P(OC(6)H(4)Me-4)(2)](2). The Cu(II) atom lies on a centre of inversion and possesses a relatively undistorted square-planar coordination arrangement with four N atoms of the macrocyclic tetra-mine trans[14]dien [Cu-N = 1.9716 (19) and 2.0075 (19) Å]. The two uncoordinated [(4-MeC(6)H(4)O)(2)PS(2)](-) groups act as counter-ions to balance the charge and inter-act with the [Cu(trans[14]dien)](2+ )complex cation through N-H⋯S hydrogen bonds.