Patient's thoughts and expectations about centres of expertise for PKU.

BACKGROUND: In the Netherlands (NL) the government assigned 2 hospitals as centres of expertise (CE) for Phenylketonuria (PKU), while in the United Kingdom (UK) and Germany no centres are assigned specifically as PKU CE's. METHODS: To identify expectations of patients/caregivers with PKU of CEs, a web-based survey was distributed through the national Phenylketonuria societies of Germany, NL and UK. RESULTS: In total, 105 responded (43 patients, 56 parents, 4 grandparents, 2 other) of whom 59 were from NL, 33 from UK and 13 from Germany. All participants (n = 105) agreed that patients and/or practitioners would benefit from CEs. The frequency patients would want to visit a CE, when not treated in a CE (n = 83) varied: every hospital visit (24%, n = 20), annual or bi-annual (45%, n = 37), at defined patient ages (6%, n = 5), one visit only (22%, n = 18), or never (4%, n = 3). Distance was reported as a major barrier (42%, n = 35). 78% (n = 65) expected CE physicians and dieticians to have a higher level of knowledge than in non-CE centres. For participants already treated in a CE (n = 68), 66% requested a more extensive annual or bi-annual review. In general, psychology review and neuropsychologist assessment were identified as necessary by approximately half of the 105 participants. In addition, 66% (n = 68) expected a strong collaboration with patient associations. CONCLUSION: In this small study, most participants expected that assigning CEs will change the structure of and delivery of Phenylketonuria care.

Crystal structure analysis and chiral recognition study of Delta-[Ru(bpy)2(py)2][(+)-O,O'-dibenzoylD-tartrate].12H2O and Lambda-[Ru(bpy)2(py)2][(-)-O,O'-dibenzoyl-L-tartrate].12H2O.

The molecular structure and crystal-packing mode of the enantiopure chiral building blocks Delta-[Ru(bpy)(2)(py)(2)][(+)-O,O'-dibenzoyl-D-tartrate].12H(2)O (I) and Lambda-[Ru(bpy)(2)(py)(2)][(-)-O,O'-dibenzoyl-L-tartrate].12H(2)O (II) have been determined by single-crystal X-ray diffraction data. This study proposes a model of how the L- and D-dibenzoyltartrate anions recognize the chirality of the hydrophobic [Ru(bpy)(2)(py)(2)](2+) complex. The monoclinic unit cell contains four complex cations, four tartrate anions, and 48 water molecules. Since there are no possibilities to form hydrogen bonds between the cations and anions, chiral recognition is due to crystal packing. Two benzoyl rings of two different tartrate anions are gripping the two bpy-planes of the Ru-complex. Further a third benzoyl ring from a tartrate anion is packed between the two pyridine rings, favoring one enantiomeric form to crystallize from aqueous solution. Crystal structure data for I at 153 K: a = 15.342(3) A, b = 19.200(4) A, c = 18.872(4) A, beta = 104.841(3) degrees, monoclinic space group C(2), R(1)= 0.0239 (I > 2sigma(I)), R(2) = 0.0606, Flack parameter = 0.0115 (with esd 0.0166). For II at 293 K: a = 15.376(4) A, b = 19.388(11) A, c = 19.085(7) A, beta = 105.11(2) degrees, monoclinic space group C121, R(1)= 0.0686 (I > 2sigma(I)), R(2) = 0.1819, Flack parameter = -0.0100 (with esd 0.0521).