Anticancer Properties of Ru and Os Half-Sandwich Complexes of N,S Bidentate Schiff Base Ligands Derived from Phenylthiocarbamide.

The versatile coordinating nature of N,S bidentate ligands is of great importance in medicinal chemistry imparting stability and enhancing biological properties of the metal complexes. Phenylthiocarbamide-based N,S donor Schiff bases converted into RuII /OsII (cymene) complexes and characterized by spectroscopic techniques and elemental analysis. The hydrolytic stability of metal complexes to undergo metal-halide ligand exchange reaction was confirmed both by the DFT and NMR experimentation. The ONIOM (QM/MM) study confirmed the histone protein targeting nature of aqua/hydroxido complex 2 aH with an excellent binding energy of -103.19 kcal/mol. The antiproliferative activity against a panel of cancer cells A549, MCF-7, PC-3, and HepG2 revealed that ruthenium complexes 1 a-3 a were more cytotoxic than osmium complexes and their respective ligands 1-3 as well. Among these ruthenium cymene complex bearing sulfonamide moiety 2 a proved a strong cytotoxic agent and showed excellent correlation of cellular accumulation, lipophilicity, and drug-likeness to the anticancer activity. Moreover, the favorable physiochemical properties such as bioavailability and gastrointestinal absorption of ligand 2 also supported the development of Ru complex 2 a as an orally active anticancer metallodrug.

Diagnostic and treatment delays in breast cancer in association with multiple factors in Pakistan.

BACKGROUND: Breast cancer has the highest incidence rate among all types of cancer worldwide. There is strong evidence that delay in presentation to an oncologist may lead to a decrease in survival. AIMS: This study explores factors causing diagnostic and treatment delays among the breast cancer patients enrolled in Jinnah Hospital, Lahore, from 2016 to 2018. METHODS: Data from 372 patients were collected, including tumour characteristics, first symptoms, knowledge and experience of breast cancer, first visit to a doctor, etc. We calculated the patient, physician, treatment, system and total delay intervals. RESULTS: Breast cancer cases showed longer mean patient delay in older women (> 50 years) in comparison with younger women. Women with painless lump as the initial symptom showed the longest delay with median total delay 280 days (25th and 75th percentiles 140 and 410 days respectively). Initial symptoms were correlated with total delay (P = 0.036). Educated women showed shorter delay in treatment compared with illiterate women (P = 0.068). Rural residence showed significant delay (P = 0.007). Lump size showed correlation with delay (P = 0.039). Patients with low household income (< Rs 10 000) had greater delay in diagnosis (P = 0.027) and actively employed women showed shorter delay (P < 0.0001). Unmarried women were diagnosed earlier than married (P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Women showed delay in presentation due to lack of resources and lack of awareness about the disease. They presented late due to fear of surgery and chemotherapy. Using traditional treatment methods leads to diagnosis of the disease at more advanced stages.

La2O3 Promoted Pd/rGO Electro-catalysts for Formic Acid Oxidation.

High activity, a low rate of CO poisoning, and long-term stability of Pd electro-catalysts are necessary for practical use as an anode material in direct formic acid fuel cells. Achieving a high degree of Pd nanoparticle dispersion on a carbon support, without agglomeration, while maintaining a facile electron transfer through the catalyst surface are two challenging tasks to be overcome in fulfilling this aim. Herein, we report the effect of addition of La/La-oxides on the efficiency of Pd nanoparticles supported on reduced graphene oxide (rGO) for formic acid electro-oxidation reaction. A series of electro-catalysts with different Pd-La molar ratios were successfully synthesized and characterized using a range of techniques including PXRD, XPS, TEM, FTIR, and Raman spectroscopy and then tested as anode materials for direct formic acid fuel cells. We explore that the lanthanum species (La/La-oxide) significantly promote the activity and stability of Pd catalyst toward electrocatalytic oxidation of formic acid. The metallic ratio is found to be critical, and the activity order of various catalysts is observed as follows; Pd30La70/rGO > Pd80La20/rGO > Pd70La30 rGO. The obtained mass specific activity for Pd30La70/rGO (986.42 A/g) is 2.18 times higher than that for Pd/rGO (451 A/g) and 16 times higher than that for Pd/C (61.5 A/g) at given onset peak potentials. The high activity and stability of the electro-catalysts are attributed to the uniform dispersion of Pd nanoparticles over the rGO support, as evidenced from TEM images. It is believed that the role of La species in promoting the catalyst activity is to disperse the catalyst particles during synthesis and to facilitate the electron transfer via providing a suitable pathway during electrochemical testing.

Dexamethasone pulse therapy in patients of systemic sclerosis: is it a viable proposition? A study from kashmir.

BACKGROUND: Systemic sclerosis is a multisystemic autoimmune disorder. Intravenous dexamethasone pulse therapy has been used since 1998. AIM: The aim wasto report the beneficial effects of dexamethasone pulse in patients of systemic sclerosis vis-à-vis the side effects. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Forty-seven patients of systemic sclerosis were included. After looking at the history and physical examination, the patients were submitted to various relevant investigations. Clinical scoring of the patient was done at baseline and 6-month interval according to Furst's organ indices score. RESULTS: A total of47 patients of systemic sclerosis were included (45 females, 2 males). In majority, acrosclerosis was seen. Severe sclerosis and contractures were seen in two patients. Moderate proteinuria, restrictive lung disease, dysphagia, and valvular heart involvement were seen.A total of13 patients on dexamethasone pulse therapy developed tuberculosis. Improvement in skin scoring and decreased severity of Raynaud's phenomenon was seen. No improvement in dysphagia, severe vascular symptoms, or restrictive lung disease was seen. CONCLUSION: Thus, beneficial effects of dexamethasone pulse therapy seem to be merely cosmetic.

Cardiac arrhythmia as presentation of snakebite.

Snakebite cases may have myriad presentations. we are describing a previously healthy young man presenting within half an hour of snakebite who experienced abrupt fatal cardiac rhythm changes ranging from bradycardia to ventricular tachycardia/fibrillation over a short span of time.