IgE is associated with exacerbations and lung function decline in COPD.

BACKGROUND: Both allergen-specific IgE and total IgE in serum play a major role in asthma. However, the role of IgE in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is poorly understood. It was the aim of this study to systematically analyze the relationship between serum IgE levels and disease characteristics in large COPD cohorts. METHODS: COSYCONET is a comprehensively characterized cohort of patients with COPD: total IgE and IgE specific to common aeroallergens were measured in serum of 2280 patients, and related to clinical characteristics of the patients. WISDOM is another large COPD population (2477 patients): this database contains the information whether total IgE in serum was elevated (≥ 100 IU/l) or normal in patients with COPD. RESULTS: Both in COSYCONET and WISDOM, total IgE was elevated (≥ 100 IU/l) in > 30% of the patients, higher in men than in women, and higher in currently than in not currently smoking men. In COSYCONET, total IgE was elevated in patients with a history of asthma and/or allergies. Men with at least one exacerbation in the last 12 months (50.6% of all men in COSYCONET) had higher median total IgE (71.3 IU/l) than men without exacerbations (48.3 IU/l): this difference was also observed in the subgroups of not currently smoking men and of men without a history of asthma. Surprisingly, a history of exacerbations did not impact on total IgE in women with COPD. Patients in the highest tertiles of total IgE (> 91.5 IU/ml, adjusted OR: 1.62, 95% CI 1.12-2.34) or allergen-specific IgE (> 0.19 IU/ml, adjusted OR: 2.15, 95% CI 1.32-3.51) were at risk of lung function decline (adjusted by: age, gender, body mass index, initial lung function, smoking status, history of asthma, history of allergy). CONCLUSION: These data suggest that IgE may play a role in specific COPD subgroups. Clinical trials using antibodies targeting the IgE pathway (such as omalizumab), especially in men with recurrent exacerbations and elevated serum IgE, could elucidate potential therapeutic implications of our observations.

Alcohols as Latent Hydrophobes: Entropically Driven Uptake of 1,2-Diol Functionalized Ligands by a Porous Capsule in Water.

Alcohols, with hydroxyl groups compositionally identical to water itself, are consummate hydrophiles, whose high solubilities preclude spontaneous self-assembly in water. Nevertheless, the solute-solvent interactions associated with their highly favorable solvation enthalpies impose substantial entropic costs, similar in magnitude to those that drive the hydrophobic assembly of alkanes. We now show that under nanoconfined conditions this normally dormant "hydrophobicity" can emerge as the driving force for alcohol encapsulation. Using a porous molecular capsule, the displacement of endohedrally coordinated formate ligands (HCO2-) by 1,2-hydroxyl-functionalized l-glycerate (l-gly, l-HOCH2(HO)CHCO2-) was investigated by van't Hoff analysis of variable-temperature 1H NMR in D2O. At pD 5.8, l-gly uptake is enthalpically inhibited. Upon attenuation of this unfavorable change in enthalpy by cosequestration of protons within the alcoholic environment provided by encapsulated diol-functionalized ligands, - TΔ S° dominates over Δ H°, spontaneously filling the capsule to its host capacity of 24 l-gly ligands via an entropically driven hydrophobic response.

The Incidence of Catheter Tract Hemorrhage and Catheter Placement Accuracy in the CLEAR III Trial.

BACKGROUND: Incidence of catheter tract hemorrhage (CTH) after initial ventriculostomy placement ranges from 10 to 34%. We investigated CTH incidence in the Clot Lysis: Evaluation of Accelerated Resolution of Intraventricular Hemorrhage Phase III trial. METHODS: Prospective observational analysis of 1000 computer tomography (CT) scans from all 500 patients enrolled in the trial. All catheters were evaluated on first CT post-placement and on last CT prior to randomization for placement location and CTH size, location, and severity. Clinical variables were assessed for association with CTH with multivariable logistic regression. RESULTS: Of 563 catheters, CTH was detected in 14 and 21% of patients on first and last CT (median 3.7 and 43.4 h after catheter placement, respectively). All, but one were asymptomatic. Majority of CTH (86%) occurred within 24 h after placement, were located within 1 cm of the skull, and had at least one diameter > 5 mm. Most catheters (71%) terminated in the third or lateral ventricle ipsilateral to insertion site. Factors significantly associated with CTH were pre-admission use of antiplatelet drugs, accuracy of catheter placement, non-operating room catheter placement, Asian race, and intraventricular hemorrhage expansion. CONCLUSIONS: CTH incidence on initial catheter placement and during stabilization was relatively low, despite emergent placement in a high-risk population. Catheter placement accuracy was similar or better than convenience samples from the published literature. Decreasing risk of CTH may be achieved with attention to catheter placement accuracy and placement in the operating room. Antiplatelet agent use was an independent risk factor for CTH.

The Uptake and Assembly of Alkanes within a Porous Nanocapsule in Water: New Information about Hydrophobic Confinement.

In Nature, enzymes provide hydrophobic cavities and channels for sequestering small alkanes or long-chain alkyl groups from water. Similarly, the porous metal oxide capsule [{Mo(VI) 6 O21 (H2 O)6 }12 {(Mo(V) 2 O4 )30 (L)29 (H2 O)2 }](41-) (L=propionate ligand) features distinct domains for sequestering differently sized alkanes (as in Nature) as well as internal dimensions suitable for multi-alkane clustering. The ethyl tails of the 29 endohedrally coordinated ligands, L, form a spherical, hydrophobic "shell", while their methyl end groups generate a hydrophobic cavity with a diameter of 11 Šat the center of the capsule. As such, C7 to C3 straight-chain alkanes are tightly intercalated between the ethyl tails, giving assemblies containing 90 to 110 methyl and methylene units, whereas two or three ethane molecules reside in the central cavity of the capsule, where they are free to rotate rapidly, a phenomenon never before observed for the uptake of alkanes from water by molecular cages or containers.

Densely Packed Hydrophobic Clustering: Encapsulated Valerates Form a High-Temperature-Stable {Mo132 } Capsule System.

Porous molecular nanocontainers of {Mo132 }-type Keplerates offer unique opportunities to study a wide variety of relevant phenomena. An impressive example is provided by the highly reactive {Mo132 -CO3 } capsule, the reaction of which with valeric acid results in the very easy release of carbon dioxide and the uptake of 24 valerate ions/ligands that are integrated as a densely packed aggregate, thus indicating the unique possibility of hydrophobic clustering inside the cavity. Two-dimensional NMR techniques were used to demonstrate the presence of the 24 valerates and the stability of the capsule up to ca. 100 °C. Increasing the number of hydrophobic parts enhances the stability of the whole system. This situation also occurs in biological systems, such as globular proteins or protein pockets.

Amplified Rate Acceleration by Simultaneous Up-Regulation of Multiple Active Sites in an Endo-Functionalized Porous Capsule.

Using the hydrolysis of epoxides in water as a model reaction, the effect of multiple active sites on Michaelis-Menten compliant rate accelerations in a porous capsule is demonstrated. The capsule is a water-soluble Ih-symmetry Keplerate-type complex of the form, [{Mo(VI)6O21(H2O)6}12{Mo(V)2O4(L)}30](42-), in which 12 pentagonal "ligands," {(Mo(VI))Mo(VI)5O21(H2O)6}(6-), are coordinated to 30 dimolybdenum sites, {Mo(V)2O4L}(1+) (L = an endohedrally coordinated η(2)-bound carboxylate anion), resulting in 20 Mo9O9 pores. When "up-regulated" by removal of ca. one-third of the blocking ligands, L, an equal number of dimolybdenum sites are activated, and the newly freed-up space allows for encapsulation of nearly twice as many substrate guests, leading to a larger effective molarity (amplification), and an increase in the rate acceleration (k(cat)/k(uncat)) from 16,000 to an enzyme-like value of 182,800.

Porous capsules with a large number of active sites: nucleation/growth under confined conditions.

This work deals with the generation of large numbers of active sites and with ensuing nucleation/ growth processes on the inside wall of the cavity of porous nanocapsules of the type (pentagon)12(linker)30≡{(Mo(VI))Mo(VI)5}12{Mo(V)2(ligand)}30. A first example refers to sulfur dioxide capture through displacement of acetate ligands, while the grafted sulfite ligands are able to trap {MoO3H}(+) units thereby forming unusual {(O2SO)3MoO3H}(5-) assemblies. A second example relates to the generation of open coordination sites through release of carbon dioxide upon mild acidification of a carbonate-type capsule. When the reaction is performed in the presence of heptamolybdate ions, MoO4(2-) ions enter the cavity where they bind to the inside wall while forming new types of polyoxomolybdate architectures, thereby extending the molybdenum oxide skeleton of the capsule. Parallels can be drawn with Mo-storage proteins and supported MoO3 catalysts, making the results relevant to molybdenum biochemistry and to catalysis.

Hedgehog-shaped {Mo368} cluster: unique electronic/structural properties, surfactant encapsulation and related self-assembly into vesicles and films.

The hedgehog-shaped {Mo368} cluster shows unique electronic (extremely high extinction coefficient) and structural features, especially regarding its size, the high number of delocalized electrons which allows to measure the surface enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) spectrum and the option for coordination chemistry inside the cavity. Its relative instability in aqueous solution can be overcome by embedment in a hydrophobic shell of dimethyldioctadecylammonium cations. The resulting hybrid self-assembles into spherical vesicles in acetone-water mixtures, according to a process directed by hydrophobic-hydrophilic interactions. It also forms rather stable Langmuir monolayers while a second layer evolves under higher surface pressure, in accordance with a rather low alkyl surface density.

A unique fluoride nanocontainer: porous molecular capsules can accommodate an unusually high number of "rather labile" fluoride anions.

The present work refers to the challenging issue of fluoride anion recognition/binding in water by taking advantage of the unique possibilities offered by the porous molecular nanocontainers of the {Mo132} Keplerate type allowing the study of a variety of new phenomena. Reaction of the highly reactive carbonate-type capsule with aqueous HF results in the release of carbon dioxide and integration of an unprecedentedly large number of fluoride anions--partly as coordinated ligands at both the pentagonal units and the linkers, partly as a disordered water/fluoride assembly inside the cavity. The internal assembly and some of the fluoride ligands are easily released, which provides interesting options for future studies regarding coordination chemistry and catalysis under confined conditions.

Capsules with highly active pores and interiors: versatile platforms at the nanoscale.

Spherical porous capsules offer new exciting approaches in chemistry, materials sciences, and in context of physical and biological phenomena. The underlying concepts are reported with particular emphasis on metal oxide based capsules of the {M132 } Keplerate type which display-due to their exceptional structural features and easy variation/derivatization as well as exchange of building units-an unmatched range of properties and offer unique opportunities for investigating a variety of basic aspects of nanoscience, including the discovery of some new phenomena, especially those related to hydrophobicity issues that are of significance for everyday life. This relies in particular on the existence of a large number of flexible crown ether type pores/channels and the possibility of changing the interior from completely hydrophilic to completely hydrophobic due to the presence of numerous easily exchangeable internal ligands/functionalities; the capsules can even be constructed so that they enclose a large number of highly active Lewis and Brønsted acid sites. The manifold of possible applications/uses are outlined as subtitles with reference to results as well as possible future studies. There are, among many others, options to control passing cations under different internal frames allowing also their separations, to conduct studies about hydrophobic recognitions and clustering of biological interest in water, controlled internal ion transport, nanoscale dewetting, and to carry out basic as well as new types of reactions under confined conditions.

Water repellency in hydrophobic nanocapsules--molecular view on dewetting.

The hydrophobic effect plays a major role in a variety of important phenomena in chemistry, materials science and biology, for instance in protein folding and protein-ligand interactions. Studies--performed within cavities of the unique metal oxide based porous capsules of the type {(pentagon)12(linker)30}≡{(W)W5}12{Mo2(ligand)}30 with different acetate/water ligand ratios--have provided unprecedented results revealing segregation/repellency of the encapsulated "water" from the internal hydrophobic ligand walls of the capsules, while the disordered water molecules, interacting strongly with each other via hydrogen bonding, form in all investigated cases the same type of spherical shell. The present results can be (formally) compared--but only regarding the repellency effect--with the amazing "action" of the (super)hydrophobic Lotus (Nelumbo) leaves, which are self-cleaning based on water repellency resulting in the formation of water droplets picking up dirt. The present results were obtained by constructing deliberately suitable hydrophobic interiors within the mentioned capsules.

Tracking "apolar" NMe4+ ions within two polyoxothiomolybdates that have the same pores: smaller clathrate and larger highly porous clusters in action.

Two nanosized polyoxothiometalates were synthesized based on linking oxomolybdate building blocks with {Mo2O2S2}(2+) groups. Remarkably, both compounds are formed selectively primarily upon changing the related concentrations in a logical way; they exhibit common structural features based on the same {Mo9O6S3}-type pores, which result in connections between {Mo6O21} pentagons and {Mo2O2S2}(2+) linkers. Whereas the much larger spherical Mo132-type Keplerate contains twenty pores, the smaller Mo63 -type cluster remarkably contains only two. The two compounds and a similar Keplerate exhibit interesting supramolecular properties related to interactions with the unusual predominantly apolar NMe4(+) cations. Structural characterization of the Mo63 -type compound reveals in the solid state a clathrate-like species that contains four NMe4(+) cations embedded in two types of structurally well-adapted pockets. Related NMR spectroscopic investigations in solution using NMe4(+) as the NMR spectroscopic probe are in agreement with the solid-state description. (1)H NMR spectroscopic experiments (1D variable-temperature, 2D total correlation spectroscopy (TOCSY), exchange spectroscopy (EXSY), and diffusion-ordered spectroscopy (DOSY)) feature firmly immobilized and mobile NMe4(+) ions in relationship with the type of host-guest arrangements. The use of the (1)H NMR DOSY spectroscopic methodology has been successfully applied to track the interactions of the NMe4(+) cations with the {Mo9O6S3} pores of a sulfurated Keplerate, thereby allowing the first quantitative analysis of this type of plugging process. The stability constant K=(210±20) mol(-1) L is discussed related to the character of the process.

Risk of thromboembolic events with endovascular cooling catheters in patients with subarachnoid hemorrhage.

INTRODUCTION: Endovascular cooling is currently used for hypothermia treatment and fever reduction therapy. At the same time, little is known about the risks associated to endovascular cooling in patients treated with an endovascular cooling catheter (ECC). METHODS: A retrospective chart review of 122 patients with subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) treated with an ECC either for therapeutic hypothermia or for fever reduction was performed. ECC-associated thromboembolic events (TEE) such as pulmonary embolism and thrombosis were recorded and compared between patients treated with an ECC and patients treated only with a central venous line (CVL). Additionally, various laboratory parameters were recorded to determine if they might be related to the frequency of TEE's. RESULTS: 43 Patients were treated with an ECC and 79 with a CVL. Patients in the ECC group suffered more frequently from TEE (37 %) than those with a CVL (5 %). None of the laboratory parameters was associated with an increased TEE risk. The treatment with an ECC alone was a risk factor for a TEE, independent from age as well as from Hunt and Hess grade. CONCLUSION: Our data show that the treatment with ECC increases the risk of TEE in SAH patients. Therefore, especially when considered for fever reduction, non-invasive devices for surface cooling should be the first choice.

Catheter Tract Hemorrhages and Intracerebral Hemorrhage Outcomes in the Clot Lysis: Evaluating Accelerated Resolution of Intraventricular Hemorrhage Trial.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Factors associated with external ventricular catheter tract hemorrhage (CTH) are well studied; whether CTH adversely influence outcomes after intracerebral hemorrhage (sICH), however, is poorly understood. We therefore sought to evaluate the association between CTH and sICH outcomes. METHODS: We performed a post hoc analysis of the Clot Lysis: Evaluating Accelerated Resolution of Intraventricular Hemorrhage trial. The exposure was CTH and evaluated on serial computed tomography scans between admission and randomization (approximately 72 hours). The primary outcomes were a composite of death or major disability (modified Rankin Score >3) and mortality alone, both assessed at 6 months. Secondary outcomes were functional outcomes at 30 days, permanent cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) shunt placement, any infection, and ventriculitis. We performed logistic regression adjusted for demographics, comorbidities, sICH characteristics, and treatment assignment, for all analyses. RESULTS: Of the 500 patients included, the mean age was 59 (SD, ±11) years and 222 (44%) were female. CTH occurred in 112 (22.4%) patients and was more common in minority patients, those on prior antiplatelet therapy, and patients who had more than 1 external ventricular drain placed. The end of treatment intraventricular hemorrhage volume was higher among patients with CTH (11.7 vs 7.9 mL, P = .01), but there were no differences in other sICH characteristics or the total duration of external ventricular drain. In multivariable regression models, CTH was not associated with death or major disability (odds ratio, 0.7; 95% CI: 0.4-1.2) or death alone (odds ratio, 0.8; 95% CI, 0.5-1.4). There were no relationships between CTH and secondary outcomes including 30-day functional outcomes, permanent CSF shunt placement, any infection, or ventriculitis. CONCLUSION: Among patients with sICH and large intraventricular hemorrhage, CTH was not associated with poor sICH outcomes, permanent CSF shunt placement, or infections. A more detailed cognitive evaluation is needed to inform about the role of CTH in sICH prognosis.

From linking of metal-oxide building blocks in a dynamic library to giant clusters with unique properties and towards adaptive chemistry.

Following Nature's lessons, today chemists can cross the boundary of the small molecule world to construct multifunctional and highly complex molecular nano-objects up to protein size and even cell-like nanosystems showing responsive sensing. Impressive examples emerge from studies of the solutions of some oxoanions of the early transition metals especially under reducing conditions which enable the controlled linking of metal-oxide building blocks. The latter are available from constitutional dynamic libraries, thus providing the option to generate multifunctional unique nanoscale molecular systems with exquisite architectures, which even opens the way towards adaptive and evolutive (Darwinian) chemistry. The present review presents the first comprehensive report of current knowledge (including synthesis aspects not discussed before) regarding the related giant metal-oxide clusters mainly of the type {Mo(57)M'(6)} (M' = Fe(III), V(IV)) (torus structure), {M(72)M'(30)} (M = Mo, M' = V(IV), Cr(III), Fe(III), Mo(V)), {M(72)Mo(60)} (M = Mo, W) (Keplerates), {Mo(154)}, {Mo(176)}, {Mo(248)} ("big wheels"), and {Mo(368)} ("blue lemon") - all having the important transferable pentagonal {(M)M(5)} groups in common. These discoveries expanded the frontiers of inorganic chemistry to the mesoscopic world, while there is probably no collection of discrete inorganic compounds which offers such a versatile chemistry and the option to study new phenomena of interdisciplinary interest. The variety of different properties of the sphere- and wheel-type metal-oxide-based clusters can directly be related to their unique architectures: The spherical Keplerate-type capsules having 20 crown-ether-type pores and tunable internal functionalities allow the investigation of confined matter as well as that of sphere-surface-supramolecular and encapsulation chemistry - including related new aspects of the biologically important hydrophobic effects - but also of nanoscale ion transport and separation. The wheel-type molybdenum-oxide clusters exhibiting complex landscapes do not only have well-defined reaction sites but also show unprecedented adaptability regarding the integration of various kinds of matter. Applications in different fields, e.g. in materials science and catalysis including those in small spaces, investigated by several groups, are discussed while possible directions for future work are outlined.

Catalysis in a porous molecular capsule: activation by regulated access to sixty metal centers spanning a truncated icosahedron.

The 30 cationic {Mo(V)2O4(acetate)}(+) units linking 12 negatively charged pentagonal "ligands," {(Mo(VI))Mo(VI)5O21(H2O)6}(6-) of the porous metal-oxide capsule, [{Mo(VI)6O21(H2O)6}12{Mo(V)2O4(acetate)}30](42-) provide active sites for catalytic transformations of organic "guests". This is demonstrated using a well-behaved model reaction, the fully reversible cleavage and formation of methyl tert-butyl ether (MTBE) under mild conditions in water. Five independent lines of evidence demonstrate that reactions of the MTBE guests occur in the ca. 6 × 10(3) Å(3) interior of the spherical capsule. The Mo atoms of the {Mo(V)2O4(acetate)}(+) linkers--spanning an ca. 3-nm truncated icosahedron--are sterically accessible to substrate, and controlled removal of their internally bound acetate ligands generates catalytically active {Mo(V)2O4(H2O)2}(2+) units with labile water ligands, and Lewis- and Brønsted-acid properties. The activity of these units is demonstrating by kinetic data that reveal a first-order dependence of MTBE cleavage rates on the number of acetate-free {Mo(V)2O4(H2O)2}(2+) linkers. DFT calculations point to a pathway involving both Mo(V) centers, and the intermediacy of isobutene in both forward and reverse reactions. A plausible catalytic cycle--satisfying microscopic reversibility--is supported by activation parameters for MTBE cleavage, deuterium and oxygen-18 labeling studies, and by reactions of deliberately added isobutene and of a water-soluble isobutene analog. More generally, pore-restricted encapsulation, ligand-regulated access to multiple structurally integral metal-centers, and options for modifying the microenvironment within this new type of nanoreactor, suggest numerous additional transformations of organic substrates by this and related molybdenum-oxide based capsules.

Chemical adaptability: the integration of different kinds of matter into giant molecular metal oxides.

Unique properties of the two giant wheel-shaped molybdenum-oxides of the type {Mo(154)}≡[{Mo(2)}{Mo(8)}{Mo(1)}](14) (1) and {Mo(176)}≡[{Mo(2)}{Mo(8)}{Mo(1)}](16) (2) that have the same building blocks either 14 or 16 times, respectively, are considered and show a "chemical adaptability" as a new phenomenon regarding the integration of a large number of appropriate cations and anions, for example, in form of the large "salt-like" {M(SO(4))}(16) rings (M = K(+), NH(4)(+)), while the two resulting {Mo(146)(K(SO(4)))(16)} (3) and {Mo(146)(NH(4)(SO(4)))(16)} (4) type hybrid compounds have the same shape as the parent ring structures. The chemical adaptability, which also allows the integration of anions and cations even at the same positions in the {Mo(4)O(6)}-type units of 1 and 2, is caused by easy changes in constitution by reorganisation and simultaneous release of (some) building blocks (one example: two opposite orientations of the same functional groups, that is, of H(2)O{Mo=O} (I) and O={Mo(H(2)O)} (II) are possible). Whereas Cu(2+) in [(H(4)Cu(II)(5))Mo(V)(28)Mo(VI)(114)O(432)(H(2)O)(58)](26-) (5 a) is simply coordinated to two parent O(2-) ions of {Mo(4)O(6)} and to two fragments of type II, the SO(4)(2-) integration in 3 and 4 occurs through the substitution of two oxo ligands of {Mo(4)O(6)} as well as two H(2)O ligands of fragment I. Complexes 3 and now 4 were characterised by different physical methods, for example, solutions of 4 in DMSO with sophisticated NMR spectroscopy (EXSY, DOSY and HSQC). The NH(4)(+) ions integrated in the cluster anion of 4 "communicate" with those in solution in the sense that the related H(+) ion exchange is in equilibrium. The important message: the reported "chemical adaptability" has its formal counterpart in solutions of "molybdates", which can form unique dynamic libraries containing constituents/building blocks that may form and break reversibly and can lead to the isolation of a variety of giant clusters with unusual properties.

Picking up 30 CO2 molecules by a porous metal oxide capsule based on the same number of receptors.

30 receptors in waiting position: In the porous (pentagon)(12)(linker)(30)-type molybdenum oxide capsule (see picture), the 30 positively charged linkers (five unsaturated shown for illustration in green, the others contain CO(3)(2-) ligands) can act as receptors for neutral and negatively charged ligands. Bubbling CO(2) into the solution containing the acetate-type capsules leads to the upload of CO(2) based on 30 coordinated CO(3)(2-) ligands.

Plasma Inflammatory Markers and Ventriculostomy-Related Infection in Patients With Hemorrhagic Stroke: A Retrospective and Descriptive Study.

Background: Diagnosis of ventriculostomy-related infection (VRI) remains difficult due to the various existing definitions. In patients with hemorrhagic stroke, its diagnosis might be further complicated by the presence of intraventricular blood. Furthermore, hemorrhagic stroke per se may cause symptoms compatible with VRI. This study aimed to evaluate the benefit of plasma inflammatory markers for the diagnosis of VRI and its differentiation from patients with non-cerebral infection and patients without infection in a cohort of patients with hemorrhagic stroke. Methods: A total of 329 patients with hemorrhagic stroke and an external ventricular drain (EVD) in situ were admitted to the Neurocritical Care Unit, University Hospital Zurich over a period of 6 years. Of those patients, 187 with subarachnoid hemorrhage and 76 with spontaneous intracerebral hemorrhage were included. Patients with VRI were compared to patients without any infection and to patients with non-cerebral infection, with regards to their clinical characteristics, as well as their inflammatory plasma and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) markers. For the analysis, peak values were considered. Results: The VRI was diagnosed in 36% of patients with subarachnoid and in 17% of patients with intracerebral hemorrhage. The VRI was diagnosed on an average day 9±6.2 after EVD insertion, one day after the white blood cell count (WBC) peaked in CSF (8 ± 6.3). Plasma inflammatory markers (WBC, C-reactive protein "CRP" and procalcitonin "PCT") did not differ among patients with VRI compared to patients without infection. The CRP and PCT, however, were higher in patients with non-cerebral infection than in patients with VRI. The WBC in CSF was generally higher in patients with VRI compared to both patients without any infection and patients with non-cerebral infection. Conclusions: No differences in plasma inflammatory markers could be found between patients with VRI and patients without any infection. Conversely, CRP/PCT were higher in patients with non-cerebral infection than in patients with VRI. Altogether, CRP, PCT, and WBC are not suitable parameters for VRI diagnosis in neurocritical care unit patients.

Hydrophobic interactions and clustering in a porous capsule: option to remove hydrophobic materials from water.

The investigation of hydrophobic interactions under confined conditions is of tremendous interdisciplinary interest. It is shown that based on porous capsules of the type {(pentagon)}(12){(linker)}(30) ≡ {(Mo)Mo(5)(12){Mo(2)(ligand)}(30), which exhibit different hydrophobic interiors-achieved by coordinating related ligands to the internal sites of the 30 {Mo(2)} type linkers-there is the option to study systematically interactions with different uptaken/encapsulated hydrophobic molecules like long-chain alcohols as well as to prove the important correlation between the sizes of the related hydrophobic cavities and the option of water encapsulations. The measurements of 1D- and 2D-NMR spectra (e.g. ROESY, NOESY and HSQC) allowed the study of the interactions especially between encapsulated n-hexanol molecules and the hydrophobic interior formed by propionate ligands present in a new synthesized capsule. Future detailed studies will focus on interactions of a variety of hydrophobic species with different deliberately constructed hydrophobic capsule interiors.