Targeting S100A9 Prevents ß-Adrenergic Activation-Induced Cardiac Injury.

Altered cardiac innate immunity is highly associated with the progression of cardiac disease states and heart failure. S100A8/A9 is an important component of damage-associated molecular patterns (DAMPs) that is critically involved in the pathogenesis of heart failure, thus considered a promising target for pharmacological intervention. In the current study, initially, we validated the role of S100A8/A9 in contributing to cardiac injury and heart failure via the overactivation of the ß-adrenergic pathway and tested the potential use of paquinimod as a pharmacological intervention of S100A8/A9 activation in preventing cardiac dysfunction, collagen deposition, inflammation, and immune cell infiltration in ß-adrenergic overactivation-mediated heart failure. This finding was further confirmed by the cardiomyocyte-specific silencing of S100A9 via the use of the adeno-associated virus (AAV) 9-mediated short hairpin RNA (shRNA) gene silencing system. Most importantly, in the assessment of the underlying cellular mechanism by which activated S100A8/A9 cause aggravated progression of cardiac fibrosis and heart failure, we discovered that the activated S100A8/A9 can promote fibroblast-macrophage interaction, independent of inflammation, which is likely a key mechanism leading to the enhanced collagen production. Our results revealed that targeting S100A9 provides dual beneficial effects, which is not only a strategy to counteract cardiac inflammation but also preclude cardiac fibroblast-macrophage interactions. The findings of this study also indicate that targeting S100A9 could be a promising strategy for addressing cardiac fibrosis, potentially leading to future drug development.

Supercapacitive performance of C-axis preferentially oriented TiO2 nanotube arrays decorated with MoO3 nanoparticles.

Highly ordered TiO2 nanotube arrays (TNTAs) have received great attention owing to their high surface area, stability and direct transport pathways. The TNTAs, modified with other materials exhibiting enhanced conductivity and capacitance have been considered to be promising anode materials for supercapacitors. In this work, MoO3/carbon@different crystallography-oriented TiO2 nanotube arrays (CTNTAs) were synthesized by an anodizing method and electrochemical deposition. The structure and morphology of the samples were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM), high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HR-TEM) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). The electrochemical performance was tested by cyclic voltammogram (CV) and galvanostatic charge-discharge (GDC) tests. The results indicated that MoO3/carbon@(004) preferentially oriented TiO2 nanotube array electrodes have the advantages of combining p-TNTAs and MoO3 nanoparticles and exhibit high electrochemical performance and cycling stability. The highest specific capacitance of the MoO3-p-CTNTA electrode achieved is 194 F g-1 at a current density of 1 A g-1.

An ANN-based advancing double-front method for automatic isotropic triangle generation.

The advancing front method (AFM) is one of the widely used unstructured grid generation techniques. However, the efficiency is relatively low because only one cell is generated in the advancing procedure. In this work, a novel automatic isotropic triangle generation technique is developed by introducing an artificial neural network (ANN) based advancing double-front method (ADFM) to improve the mesh generation efficiency. First, a variety of different patterns are extracted from the AFM mesh generation method and extended to the ADFM method. The mesh generation process in each pattern is discussed in detail. Second, an initial isotropic triangular mesh is generated by the traditional mesh generation method, and then an approach for automatic extraction of the training dataset is proposed. The preprocessed dataset is input into the ANN to train the network, then some typical patterns are obtained through learning. Third, after inputting the initial discrete boundary as initial fronts, the grid is generated from the shortest front and adjacent front. The coordinates of the points contained in the dual fronts and the adjacent points are sent into the neural network as the grid generation environment to obtain the most possible mesh generation pattern, the corresponding methods are used to update the advancing front until the whole computational domain is covered by initial grids, and finally, some smoothing techniques are carried out to improve the quality initial grids. Several typical cases are tested to validate the effectiveness. The experimental results show that the ANN can accurately identify mesh generation patterns, and the mesh generation efficiency is 50% higher than that of the traditional single-front AFM.

Association between physiological responses after exercise at low altitude and acute mountain sickness upon ascent is sex-dependent.

BACKGROUND: Acute mountain sickness (AMS) is the mildest form of acute altitude illnesses, and consists of non-specific symptoms when unacclimatized persons ascend to elevation of ≥2500 m. Risk factors of AMS include: the altitude, individual susceptibility, ascending rate and degree of pre-acclimatization. In the current study, we examined whether physiological response at low altitude could predict the development of AMS. METHODS: A total of 111 healthy adult healthy volunteers participated in this trial; and 99 (67 men and 32 women) completed the entire study protocol. Subjects were asked to complete a 9-min exercise program using a mechanically braked bicycle ergometer at low altitude (500 m). Heart rate, blood pressure (BP) and pulse oxygen saturation (SpO2) were recorded prior to and during the last minute of exercise. The ascent from 500 m to 4100 m was completed in 2 days. AMS was defined as ≥3 points in a 4-item Lake Louise Score, with at least one point from headache wat 6-8 h after the ascent. RESULTS: Among the 99 assessable subjects, 47 (23 men and 24 women) developed AMS at 4100 m. In comparison to the subjects without AMS, those who developed AMS had lower proportion of men (48.9% vs. 84.6%, P < 0.001), height (168.4 ± 5.9 vs. 171.3 ± 6.1 cm, P = 0.019), weight (62.0 ± 10.0 vs. 66.7 ± 8.6 kg, P = 0.014) and proportion of smokers (23.4% vs. 51.9%, P = 0.004). Multivariate regression analysis revealed the following independent risks for AMS: female sex (odds ratio (OR) =6.32, P < 0.001), SpO2 change upon exercise at low altitude (OR = 0.63, P = 0.002) and systolic BP change after the ascent (OR = 0.96, P = 0.029). Women had larger reduction in SpO2 after the ascent, higher AMS percentage and absolute AMS score. Larger reduction of SpO2 after exercise was associated with both AMS incidence (P = 0.001) and AMS score (P < 0.001) in men but not in women. CONCLUSIONS: Larger SpO2 reduction after exercise at low altitude was an independent risk for AMS upon ascent. Such an association was more robust in men than in women. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Chinese Clinical Trial Registration, ChiCTR1900025728 . Registered 6 September 2019.

EPAS1 and VEGFA gene variants are related to the symptoms of acute mountain sickness in Chinese Han population: a cross-sectional study.

BACKGROUND: More people ascend to high altitude (HA) for various activities, and some individuals are susceptible to HA illness after rapidly ascending from plains. Acute mountain sickness (AMS) is a general complaint that affects activities of daily living at HA. Although genomic association analyses suggest that single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) are involved in the genesis of AMS, no major gene variants associated with AMS-related symptoms have been identified. METHODS: In this cross-sectional study, 604 young, healthy Chinese Han men were recruited in June and July of 2012 in Chengdu, and rapidly taken to above 3700 m by plane. Basic demographic parameters were collected at sea level, and heart rate, pulse oxygen saturation (SpO2), systolic and diastolic blood pressure and AMS-related symptoms were determined within 18-24 h after arriving in Lhasa. AMS patients were identified according to the latest Lake Louise scoring system (LLSS). Potential associations between variant genotypes and AMS/AMS-related symptoms were identified by logistic regression after adjusting for potential confounders (age, body mass index and smoking status). RESULTS: In total, 320 subjects (53.0%) were diagnosed with AMS, with no cases of high-altitude pulmonary edema or high-altitude cerebral edema. SpO2 was significantly lower in the AMS group than that in the non-AMS group (P = 0.003). Four SNPs in hypoxia-inducible factor-related genes were found to be associated with AMS before multiple hypothesis testing correction. The rs6756667 (EPAS1) was associated with mild gastrointestinal symptoms (P = 0.013), while rs3025039 (VEGFA) was related to mild headache (P = 0.0007). The combination of rs6756667 GG and rs3025039 CT/TT further increased the risk of developing AMS (OR = 2.70, P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Under the latest LLSS, we find that EPAS1 and VEGFA gene variants are related to AMS susceptibility through different AMS-related symptoms in the Chinese Han population; this tool might be useful for screening susceptible populations and predicting clinical symptoms leading to AMS before an individual reaches HA. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Chinese Clinical Trial Registration, ChiCTR-RCS-12002232 . Registered 31 May 2012.

The Prevalence and Independent Risk Factors of Significant Tricuspid Regurgitation Jets in Maintenance Hemodialysis Patients With ESRD.

BACKGROUND AND AIM: Tricuspid regurgitation (TR) is a frequent complication in various cardiovascular diseases. However, few studies have reported the prevalence of TR especially the moderate to severe or significant TR (ms-TR) maintenance dialysis patients. Thus, we aimed to identify the prevalence of ms-TR and its associated factors. METHODS: A total of 491 maintenance dialysis patients underwent echocardiographic examinations, while a subgroup (n = 283) also received routine blood tests, renal function examinations, and electrolyte analysis. We first compared the differences in abovementioned parameters among groups with various TR areas (TRAs). Finally, univariate and adjusted regression were also used to identify factors that were independently associated with ms-TR. RESULTS: The incidence of TR jets was 62.6%, which included a mildly increased TRA (47.8%), moderately increased TRA (10.4%), and severely increased TRA (3.5%). Most of the cardiac structures and functional parameters, such as the end-diastolic internal diameters of the left atrium (LA), left ventricle (LVDD), right atrium (RA), right ventricle (RV), left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF), and fractional shortening (FS), were significantly associated with ms-TR. Among serum ions, only total CO2 (TCO2; r = -0.141, p = 0.047) was negatively correlated with TRA. After adjusted, only Na+ [odds ratio (OR): 0.871 0.888, p = 0.048], RA (OR: 1.370, p < 0.001), and FS (OR: 0.887, p < 0.001) were independently associated with ms-TR. CONCLUSION: Tricuspid regurgitation occurs in maintenance hemodialysis patients with ESRD. Na+ FS and RA were independently associated with ms-TR, and these parameters may be potential risk factors/predictors for ms-TR.

The onset of sleep disturbances and their associations with anxiety after acute high-altitude exposure at 3700 m.

Sleep disturbances and psychiatric repercussions pose great challenges at high altitude; however, few studies have investigated sleep disturbance and anxiety profiles and their associations after acute exposure in consecutive patients. Thus, we aimed to study the profiles of sleep disturbances in consecutive patients after high-altitude exposure and the association of such disturbances with anxiety. A total of 668 participants were recruited at sea level and 3700 m. The trials were performed at sea level (1 week prior to a 2-h flight to a high-altitude destination) and at 3700 m (24, 72, and 168 h). Sleep disturbances were assessed by self-reported sleep patterns and scores on the Athens Insomnia Scale (AIS). State anxiety was assessed using the Self-Rating Anxiety Scale (SAS). In our study, the incidence of sleep disturbances increased significantly after acute high-altitude exposure (65.3%, 434/668) and then gradually decreased after 72 h (50%, 141/282) and 168 h (44%, 124/282). The sleep assessments AIS [2.0 (4.0) vs. 4.0 (5.0)] and ESS [4.0 (4.0) vs. 5.0 (5.0)] increased significantly (p < 0.05). Also, the SAS increased significantly from 26.25 (3.75) to 28.75 (7.5). The SAS was significantly high in sleep disturbance group [31.25 (7.5) vs. 27.5 (5), p < 0.001] than in the non-sleep- disturbance group. The baseline SAS and AIS scores were significantly higher in participants with sleep disturbances than in those without (p < 0.01). Age, baseline insomnia, sleepiness, fatigue, and higher SAS were predictors of sleep disturbances in univariate regression (all p values < 0.05). However, only an older age (p = 0.045) and a higher baseline SAS (p = 0.018) remained independent predictors of sleep disturbances. Our findings indicated that acute high-altitude exposure triggers the onset of sleep disturbances, which are closely associated with anxiety. Furthermore, baseline state anxiety and age are independent predictors of sleep disturbances at high altitude.

Trimetazidine attenuates high-altitude fatigue and cardiorespiratory fitness impairment: A randomized double-blinded placebo-controlled clinical trial.

Trimetazidine (TMZ) has been shown to optimize myocardial energy metabolism and is a common anti-ischemic agent. Our trial (ChiCTR-TRC-13003298) aimed to explore whether TMZ has any preventive effect on high-altitude fatigue (HAF), cardiac function and cardiorespiratory fitness upon acute high-altitude exposure and how it works on HAF. Thirty-nine healthy young subjects were enrolled in a randomized double-blinded placebo-controlled trial and were randomized to take oral TMZ (n = 20) or placebo (n = 19), 20 mg tid, 14 days prior to departure until the end of study. The 2018 Lake Louise Score questionnaire, echocardiography, assessments of physical working capacity, circulating markers of myocardial energy metabolism and fatigue were performed both before departure and arrival at highland. At follow-up, TMZ significantly reduced the incidence of HAF (p = 0.038), reversed cardiorespiratory fitness impairment, decreased left ventricular end-systolic volume (LVESV, p = 0.032) and enhanced left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF, p = 0.015) at highland. Relative to the placebo group, the TMZ group had significantly lower LDH (p = 0.025) and lactate levels before (p < 0.001) and after (p = 0.012) physical exercise after acute high-altitude exposure. Additionally, improved left ventricular systolic function might have contributed to ameliorating HAF during TMZ treatment (LVEF, OR = 0.859, 95% CI = 0.741-0.996, p = 0.044). In conclusion, our results demonstrated that TMZ could prevent HAF, cardiorespiratory fitness impairment and improves left ventricular systolic function during acute high-altitude exposure. This trial provides new insights into the effect of TMZ and novel evidence against HAF and cardiorespiratory fitness impairment at highland.

PACS2 is required for ox-LDL-induced endothelial cell apoptosis by regulating mitochondria-associated ER membrane formation and mitochondrial Ca2+ elevation.

Oxidized low-density lipoprotein (ox-LDL)-induced endothelial cell (EC) apoptosis is the initial step of atherogenesis and associated with Ca2+ overload. Mitochondria-associated endoplasmic reticulum (ER) membrane (MAM), regulated by tethering proteins such as phosphofurin acidic cluster sorting protein 2 (PACS2), is essential for mitochondrial Ca2+ overload by mediating ER-mitochondria Ca2+ transfer. In our study, we aimed to investigate the role of PACS2 in ox-LDL-induced apoptosis in human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) and the underlying mechanisms. Ox-LDL dose- and time-dependently increased cell apoptosis concomitant with mitochondrial Ca2+ elevation, mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP) loss, reactive oxygen species (ROS) production, and cytochrome c release. Silencing PACS2 significantly inhibited ox-LDL-induced cell apoptosis at 24 h in addition to the effects of ox-LDL on mitochondrial Ca2+, MMP, and ROS at 2 h. Besides, ox-LDL promoted PACS2 localization at mitochondria as well as ER-mitochondria contacts at 2 h. Not only that, ox-LDL upregulated PACS2 expression at 24 h. Furthermore, silencing PACS2 inhibited ox-LDL-induced mitochondrial localization of PACS2 and MAM formation at 24 h. Altogether, our findings suggest that PACS2 plays an important role in ox-LDL-induced EC apoptosis by regulating MAM formation and mitochondrial Ca2+ elevation, implicating that PACS2 may be a promising therapeutic target for atherosclerosis.

Colorimetric detection of Hg(II) by measurement the color alterations from the "before" and "after" RGB images of etched triangular silver nanoplates.

It is shown that triangular silver nanoplates (TAgNPs) are viable colorimetric probes for the fast, sensitive and selective detection of Hg(II). Detection is accomplished by reducing Hg(II) ions to elemental Hg so that an Ag/Hg amalgam is formed on the surface of the TAgNPs. This leads to the inhibition of the etching TAgNPs by chloride ions. Correspondingly, a distinct color transition can be observed that goes from yellow to brown, purple, and blue. The color alterations extracted from the red, green, and blue part of digital (RGB) images can be applied to the determination of Hg(II). The relationship between the Euclidean distances (EDs), i.e. the square roots of the sums of the squares of the ΔRGB values, vary in the 5 nM to 100 nM Hg(II) concentration range, and the limit of detection is as low as 0.35 nM. The color changes also allow for a visual estimation of the concentrations of Hg(II). The method is simple in that it only requires a digital camera for data acquisition and a Photoshop software for extracting RGB variations and data processing. Graphical abstract Hg2+ detection was achieved by anti-etching of TAgNPs caused by the formation of silver amalgam, along with vivid multicolor variations from yellow to brown, purple, and eventually to be blue.

Could yoga practice improve treatment-related side effects and quality of life for women with breast cancer? A systematic review and meta-analysis.

AIM: To determine if yoga as a complementary and alternative therapy was associated with enhanced health and treatment-related side effects in patients with breast cancer. This systematic review examines whether yoga practice provides any measurable benefit, both physically and psychologically, for women with breast cancer. METHODS: PubMed, EMBASE and the Cochrane Library for randomized controlled trials (RCTs) throughout June 2013. We evaluated the quality of the included studies by the Cochrane Handbook 5.2 standards and analyzed the data using the Stata software, version 10.0. Meta-regression and subgroup analysis were also performed to identify additional predictors of outcome and to assess heterogeneity. RESULTS: Sixteen RCTs with a total of 930 participants were included. Comparing yoga groups to control groups, there was a statistically significant difference in overall health-related quality of life, depression, anxiety and gastrointestinal symptoms. Meta-regression analyses revealed that the duration of yoga practice and type of control group partly explained the heterogeneity. Subgroup analyses revealed that yoga had a positive effect on anxiety only when it had been practiced for longer than 3 months. Only the wait-list control group showed an effect of yoga on physical well-being. CONCLUSION: The current evidence demonstrates that yoga practice could be effective in enhancing health and managing some treatment-related side effects for patients recovering from breast cancer. In future clinical studies, clinicians should consider the patient's wishes along with the current best evidence of the effects of yoga practice in their clinical decision-making.

Emergence of plasmid-mediated quinolone resistance genes in clinical isolates of Acinetobacter baumannii and Pseudomonas aeruginosa in Henan, China.

A total of 216 clinical isolates of Acinetobacter baumannii and Pseudomonas aeruginosa were collected from a general hospital in Henan, China, and screened for the plasmid-mediated quinolone resistance (PMQR) determinants. The presence of ß-lactamase genes and mutations in quinolone resistance-determining regions were investigated among the PMQR-positive isolates.

catena-Poly[[[diaqua-copper(II)]-bis-[µ-1,5-bis-(1H-imidazol-1-yl)pentane-κ(2) N (3):N (3')]] naphthalene-1,5-disulfonate].

In the title complex, {[Cu(C11H16N4)2(H2O)2](C10H6O6S2)} n , the Cu(II) atom, lying on an inversion center, is six-coordinated by two water mol-ecules and four N atoms from four 1,5-bis-(1H-imidazol-1-yl)pentane (biim-5) ligands in a distorted octa-hedral geometry. Adjacent Cu(II) atoms are linked by two biim-5 ligands, forming a chain along [111]. Two atoms of the pentane group are disordered over two sets of sites, with an occupancy ratio of 0.554 (18):0.446 (18). Inter-molecular O-H⋯O hydrogen bonds link the chains and the centrosymmetric naphthalene-1,5-disulfonate anions into a layer structure parallel to (0-11).

Series of 2D and 3D coordination polymers based on 1,2,3,4-benzenetetracarboxylate and N-donor ligands: synthesis, topological structures, and photoluminescent properties.

Nine new coordination polymers, namely, [Mn(2)(L)(H(2)O)(4)].H(2)O (1), [Cd(L)(0.5)(H(2)O)] (2), [Zn(5)(L)(2)(mu(3)-O)(2)(H(2)O)(4)].2H(2)O (3), [Zn(4)(L)(2)(mu(3)-O)(2)][Zn(H(2)O)(5)].2H(2)O (4), [Zn(2)(L)(biim-4)(0.5)(H(2)O)(3)].H(2)O (5), [Cd(2)(L)(bpy)(H(2)O)].2H(2)O.0.5(CH(3)CH(2)OH) (6), [Cu(2)(H(2)L)(2)(bpy)(2)] (7), [Cu(2)(L)(bpy)(H(2)O)] (8), and [Cu(2)(L)(bpy)(1.5)(H(2)O)(2.5)] (9), where H(4)L = 1,2,3,4-benzenetetracarboxylic acid, biim-4 = 1,1'-(1,4-butanediyl)bis(imidazole), and bpy = 4,4'-bipyridine, have been synthesized under hydrothermal conditions. Compound 1 displays a rare trinodal (3,4,7)-connected (4(2).6)(4(5).6)(4(7).6(8).8(6)) topology. 2 possesses an alpha-Po net. 3 is a novel 3D framework based on pentanuclear Zn(II) clusters. By adjustment of the pH values of the reaction mixture of 3 with a Na(2)CO(3) solution, a structurally different compound, 4, was obtained, which exhibits a 3D porous framework with the [Zn(H(2)O)(6)](2+) cations located in the channels. 5 is an unusual example of a trinodal (3,5)-connected network with a Schlafli symbol of (4(2).6)(6(2).8)(4(2).6(2).8(5).10), whereas 6, containing tetranuclear Cd(II) clusters, shows a rare (4,6)-connected (4(4).6(2))(2)(4(4).6(10).8) topology. 7 exhibits a unique polythreading network, while 8 displays a scarce trinodal (3,4,5)-connected self-penetrating network. In comparison with 8, the chiral compound 9 possesses an unprecedented tetranodal (2,4)-connected (7)(7(5).11)(6(2).7(3).8)(2)(6.7(4).10)(2) topology. The effects of the carboxylate ligands, the pH values, the reaction temperatures, the central metals, and the neutral ligands were elucidated. The IR spectra, thermogravimetric analysis, and luminescent properties for the compounds were also investigated.

Syntheses, structures and luminescent properties of zinc(II) and cadmium(II) coordination complexes based on new bis(imidazolyl)ether and different carboxylate ligands.

A series of mixed-ligand coordination complexes, namely [Zn(CA)(2)(BIE)] (1), [Zn(OX)(BIE)].H(2)O (2), [Zn(2)(m-BDC)(2)(BIE)(2)] (3), [Cd(m-BDC)(BIE)] (4), [Cd(5-OH-m-BDC)(BIE)] (5), [Zn(5-OH-m-BDC)(BIE)] (6), [Zn(2)(p-BDC)(2)(BIE)(2)].2.5H(2)O (7), [Cd(3)(p-BDC)(3)(BIE)] (8), [Cd(3)(BTC)(2)(BIE)(2)].0.5H(2)O (9) and [Zn(BTCA)(0.5)(BIE)] (10), where CA = cinnamate anion, OX = oxalate anion, m-BDC = 1,3-benzenedicarboxylate anion, 5-OH-m-BDC = 5-OH-1,3-benzenedicarboxylate anion, p-BDC = 1,4-benzenedicarboxylate anion, BTC = 1,3,5-benzenetricarboxylate anion, BTCA = 1,2,3,4-butanetetracarboxylate anion, and BIE = 2,2'-bis(1H-imidazolyl)ether, were synthesized under hydrothermal conditions. In 1, a pair of BIE ligands bridge adjacent Zn(II) atoms to give a centrosymmetric dimer. In 2 and 3, BIE ligands connect Zn(II)-carboxylate chains to form hexagonal honeycomb 6(3)-hcb and square 4(4)-sql layers, respectively. In 4 and 5, m-BDC and 5-OH-m-BDC bridge Cd(II) atoms to give dimeric units, respectively, which are further linked by BIE ligands to form sql nets. In 6, the BIE ligands extend the Zn(II)-carboxylate chains into 2D sinusoidal-like sql nets. The undulated sql nets polycatenate each other in the parallel manner with DOC (degree of catenation) = 2, yielding a rare 2D --> 3D parallel polycatenation net. In 7, the BIE and p-BDC ligands link the Zn(ii) atoms to give a rare 3-fold interpenetrated 3-connected 10(3)-ths net. 8 contains unusual edge-sharing polyhedral rods formed by [Cd(3)(CO(2))(6)] clusters. Each rod is connected by the benzene rings of p-BDC in four directions into a simple alpha-Po topology. In 9, two kinds of different 2D Cd-BTC layers are alternately linked to each other by sharing Cd(ii) centers to form a 3D framework, which is further linked by two kinds of BIE ligand to produce a complicated 3D polymeric structure. 10 possesses a unique (3,4)-connected 3D framework with (8(3))(2)(8(5).10) topology. The structural differences described indicate the importance of carboxylate ligands and metals in the framework formation of coordination complexes. The infrared spectra, thermogravimetric and luminescent properties were also investigated in detail for the compounds.

Tin-oxo clusters based on aryl arsonate anions.

Reactions of Ph(3)SnOH or Ph3SnCl with aryl arsonic acids RAsO3H2, where R=C6H5 (1), 2-NH2C6H4 (2), 4-NH2C6H4 (3), 2-NO2C6H4 (4), 3-NO2C6H4 (5), 4-NO2C6H4 (6), 3-NO2-4-OHC6H3 (7), 2-ClC6H4 (8) and 2,4-Cl2C6H3 (9), gave 18 Sn-O cluster compounds. These compounds can be classified into four types: type A: [{(PhSn)3(RAsO3)3(mu3-O)(OH)(R'O)2}2Sn] (R=C6H5, 2-NH2C6H4, 4-NH2C6H4, 2-NO2C6H4, 3-NO2C6H4, 2-ClC6H4, 2,4-Cl2C6H3, and 3-NO2-4-OHC6H3; R'=Me or Et); type B: [{(PhSn)3(RAsO3)(2)(RAsO3H)(mu3-O)(R'O)2}2] (R=4-NO2C6H4, R'=Me); type C: [{(PhSn)3(RAsO3)3(mu3-O)(R'O)3}2Sn] (R=2,4-Cl2C6H3, R'=Me); type D: [{Sn3Cl3(mu3-O)(R'O)3}(2)(RAsO3)4] (R=2-NO2C6H4 and 4-NO2-C6H4; R'=Me or Et). Structures of types A and B contain [Sn3(mu3-O)(mu2-OR')2] building blocks, while in types C and D the stannoxane cores are built from two [Sn3(mu3-O)(mu2-OR')3] building blocks. The reactions proceeded with partial or complete dearylation of the triphenyltin precursor. These various structural forms are realized by subtle changes in the nature of the organotin precursors and aryl arsonic acids. The syntheses, structures, and structural interrelationship of these organostannoxanes are discussed.

(5,6:19,20-Dibenzo-1,4,11,14-tetra-oxa-8,17-diaza-cyclo-eicosane-κN,O,O,N)dinitrato-κO,O'-cadmium(II).

In the title compound, [Cd(NO(3))(2)(C(22)H(30)N(2)O(4))], the Cd(II) atom is eight-coordinated by two amine N atoms and two O atoms from the 5,6:19,20-dibenzo-1,4,11,14-tetra-oxa-8,17-diaza-cyclo-eicosane ligand and four O atoms from two nitrate groups. The coordination geometry about Cd is antiprismatic. One nitro O atom is disordered equally over two positions.

(Benzene-1,3-dicarboxyl-ato-κO,O)(1,12,15,26-tetra-aza-5,8,19,22-tetra-oxa-3,4:9,10:17,18:23,24-tetra-benzocyclo-octa-cosane-κN,N,N,N)cadmium(II) benzene-1,3-dicarboxylic acid solvate.

In the title compound, [Cd(C(8)H(4)O(4))(C(36)H(44)N(4)O(4))]·C(8)H(6)O(4), the Cd(II) atom is six-coordinated by four N atoms from the macrocyclic ligand and two O atoms from a benzene-1,3-dicarboxyl-ate ligand. The complex mol-ecules are linked by N-H⋯O hydrogen bonds, forming a one-dimensional chain structure along the b axis. The chains are further connected through N-H⋯O and O-H⋯O hydrogen bonds between the complex mol-ecule and an uncoordinated benzene-1,3-dicarboxylic acid mol-ecule, resulting in a two-dimensional supra-molecular network.

catena-Poly[[[bis-(4-amino-benzoato-κO)copper(II)]-µ-1,1'-(pentane-1,5-di-yl)diimidazole] trihydrate].

In the title compound, {[Cu(C(7)H(6)NO(2))(2)(C(11)H(16)N(4))]·3H(2)O}(n), each Cu(II) atom is coordinated by two O atoms from two 4-amino-benzoate anions, and two N atoms from two different 1,1'-(pentane-1,5-di-yl)diimidazole (biim-5) ligands, to furnish a distorted square-planar geometry. The biim-5 ligand coordinates to two copper(II) cations, acting as a bridging ligand; as a result the copper(II) cations are connected to form an infinite chain structure. The polymeric chains are linked through a variety of hydrogen bonds to form a three-dimensional structure.

1,1'-(4-Oxoheptane-1,7-di-yl)bis-(2-methyl-1H-benzimidazole) penta-hydrate.

The title compound, C(23)H(26)N(4)O·5H(2)O, has noncrystallographic twofold rotation symmetry in the solid state. It crystallizes with five solvent water mol-ecules in the asymmetric unit. Four of these water mol-ecules are connected with each other via hydrogen-bonding inter-actions to form two types of centrosymmetric hexa-meric (H(2)O)(6) rings. Via edge sharing of the hexa-mers, the water clusters thus build infinite chains that stretch parallel to the a axis. The fifth water mol-ecule provides an additional connection between the two hexa-meric (H(2)O)(6) units via hydrogen bonds to both rings. The water mol-ecules in the channels along the a axis are also bonded via O-H⋯N hydrogen bonds to the organic units, and face-to-face π-π inter-actions [with centroid-to-centroid distances of 3.656 (1) Šand average face-to-face distances of 3.431 (5) Å] between the aromatic rings of adjacent mol-ecules complete the inter-molecular inter-actions in this structure.