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Molecules (Basel, Switzerland) Aug 2020Asymmetric transition-metal catalysis represents a fascinating challenge in the field of organic chemistry research. Since seminal advances in the late 60s, which were... (Review)
Review
Asymmetric transition-metal catalysis represents a fascinating challenge in the field of organic chemistry research. Since seminal advances in the late 60s, which were finally recognized by the Nobel Prize to Noyori, Sharpless and Knowles in 2001, the scientific community explored several approaches to emulate nature in producing chiral organic molecules. In a scenario that has been for a long time dominated by the use of late-transition metals (TM) catalysts, the use of 3d-TMs and particularly iron has found, recently, a widespread application. Indeed, the low toxicity and the earth-abundancy of iron, along with its chemical versatility, allowed for the development of unprecedented and more sustainable catalytic transformations. While several competent reviews tried to provide a complete picture of the astounding advances achieved in this area, within this review we aimed to survey the latest achievements and new concepts brought in the field of enantioselective iron-catalyzed transformations.
Topics: Catalysis; Chemistry, Organic; Iron; Stereoisomerism
PubMed: 32858925
DOI: 10.3390/molecules25173889 -
Philosophical Transactions. Series A,... Nov 2021The ability of some solid materials to exhibit exceptionally high ionic conductivities has been known since the observations of Michael Faraday in the nineteenth century...
The ability of some solid materials to exhibit exceptionally high ionic conductivities has been known since the observations of Michael Faraday in the nineteenth century (Faraday M. 1838 ), yet a detailed understanding of the atomic-scale physics that gives rise to this behaviour remains an open scientific question. This theme issue collects articles from researchers working on this question of understanding fast-ion conduction in solid electrolytes. The issue opens with two perspectives, both of which discuss concepts that have been proposed as schema for understanding fast-ion conduction. The first perspective presents an overview of a series of experimental NMR studies, and uses this to frame discussion of the roles of ion-ion interactions, crystallographic disorder, low-dimensionality of crystal structures, and fast interfacial diffusion in nanocomposite materials. The second perspective reviews computational studies of halides, oxides, sulfides and hydroborates, focussing on the concept of and how this can manifest in different forms in various fast-ion conductors. The issue also includes five primary research articles, each of which presents a detailed analysis of the factors that affect microscopic ion-diffusion in specific fast-ion conducting solid electrolytes, including oxide-ion conductors [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text], lithium-ion conductors [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text], and the prototypical fluoride-ion conductor [Formula: see text]-[Formula: see text]. This article is part of the Theo Murphy meeting issue 'Understanding fast-ion conduction in solid electrolytes'.
PubMed: 34628942
DOI: 10.1098/rsta.2019.0451 -
Journal of Nuclear Medicine Technology Dec 2019The emergence of artificial intelligence (AI) in nuclear medicine and radiology has been accompanied by AI commentators and experts predicting that AI would make... (Review)
Review
The emergence of artificial intelligence (AI) in nuclear medicine and radiology has been accompanied by AI commentators and experts predicting that AI would make radiologists, in particular, extinct. More realistic perspectives suggest significant changes will occur in medical practice. There is no escaping the disruptive technology associated with AI, neural networks, and deep learning, the most significant perhaps since the early days of Roentgen, Becquerel, and Curie. AI is an omen, but it need not be foreshadowing a negative event; rather, it is heralding great opportunity. The key to sustainability lies not in resisting AI but in having a deep understanding and exploiting the capabilities of AI in nuclear medicine while mastering those capabilities unique to the human resources.
Topics: Deep Learning; Diagnostic Imaging; Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; Nuclear Medicine
PubMed: 31401617
DOI: 10.2967/jnmt.119.232470 -
The Quarterly Journal of Nuclear... Jun 2018Radiotherapy is a major treatment modality for many cancers. Tumor response after radiotherapy determines the subsequent steps of the patient's management (surveillance,... (Review)
Review
Radiotherapy is a major treatment modality for many cancers. Tumor response after radiotherapy determines the subsequent steps of the patient's management (surveillance, adjuvant or salvage treatment and palliative care). Tumor response assessed during radiotherapy offers a promising opportunity to adapt the treatment plan to reduced or increased target volume, to specifically target sub-volumes with relevant biological characteristics (metabolism, hypoxia, proliferation, etc.) and to further spare the organs at risk. In addition to its role in the diagnosis and the initial staging, Positron Emission Tomography combined with a Computed Tomography (PET/CT) provides functional information and is therefore attractive to evaluate tumor response. The aim of this paper is to review the published data addressing PET/CT as an evaluation tool in irradiated tumors. Reports on PET/CT acquired at various times (during radiotherapy, after initial (chemo-) radiotherapy, after definitive radiotherapy and during posttreatment follow-up) in solid tumors (lung, head-and-neck, cervix, esophagus, prostate and rectum) were collected and reviewed. Various tracers and technical aspects are also discussed. 18F-FDG PET/CT has a well-established role in clinical routine after definitive chemo-radiotherapy for locally advanced head-and-neck cancers. 18F-choline PET/CT is indicated in prostate cancer patients with biochemical failure. 18F-FDG PET/CT is optional in many other circumstances and the clinical benefits of assessing tumor response with PET/CT remain a field of very active research. The combination of PET with Magnetic Resonance Imaging (PET/MRI) may prove to be valuable in irradiated rectal and cervix cancers. Tumor response can be evaluated by PET/CT with clinical consequences in multiple situations, notably in head and neck and prostate cancers, after radiotherapy. Further clinical evaluation for most cancers is still needed, possibly in association to MRI.
Topics: Choline; Fluorodeoxyglucose F18; Humans; Magnetic Resonance Imaging; Multimodal Imaging; Neoplasms; Positron Emission Tomography Computed Tomography; Radiopharmaceuticals; Treatment Outcome
PubMed: 29186937
DOI: 10.23736/S1824-4785.17.03033-3 -
Pharmaceuticals (Basel, Switzerland) Jun 2021In the era of precision medicine, it is crucial to identify molecular alterations that will guide the therapeutic management of patients. In this context, circulating... (Review)
Review
In the era of precision medicine, it is crucial to identify molecular alterations that will guide the therapeutic management of patients. In this context, circulating tumoral DNA (ctDNA) released by the tumor in body fluids, like blood, and carrying its molecular characteristics is becoming a powerful biomarker for non-invasive detection and monitoring of cancer. Major recent technological advances, especially in terms of sequencing, have made possible its analysis, the challenge still being its reliable early detection. Different parameters, from the pre-analytical phase to the choice of sequencing technology and bioinformatic tools can influence the sensitivity of ctDNA detection.
PubMed: 34205827
DOI: 10.3390/ph14060596 -
Journal of Personalized Medicine Apr 2021Glioblastoma is the most common malignant brain tumor in adults. The current management relies on surgical resection and adjuvant radiotherapy and chemotherapy. Despite... (Review)
Review
Glioblastoma is the most common malignant brain tumor in adults. The current management relies on surgical resection and adjuvant radiotherapy and chemotherapy. Despite advances in our understanding of glioblastoma onset, we are still faced with an increased incidence, an altered quality of life and a poor prognosis, its relapse and a median overall survival of 15 months. For the past few years, the understanding of glioblastoma physiopathology has experienced an exponential acceleration and yielded significant insights and new treatments perspectives. In this review, through an original R-based literature analysis, we summarize the clinical presentation, current standards of care and outcomes in patients diagnosed with glioblastoma. We also present the recent advances and perspectives regarding pathophysiological bases as well as new therapeutic approaches such as cancer vaccination and personalized treatments.
PubMed: 33915852
DOI: 10.3390/jpm11040258 -
Pharmaceuticals (Basel, Switzerland) Mar 2021Cell-free DNA (cfDNA) testing, is an emerging "liquid biopsy" tool for noninvasive lymphoma detection, and an increased amount of data are now available to use this... (Review)
Review
Cell-free DNA (cfDNA) testing, is an emerging "liquid biopsy" tool for noninvasive lymphoma detection, and an increased amount of data are now available to use this technique with accuracy, especially in classical Hodgkin lymphoma (cHL). The advantages of cfDNA include simplicity of repeated blood sample acquisition over time; dynamic, noninvasive, and quantitative analysis; fast turnover time; reasonable cost; and established consistency with results from tumor genomic DNA. cfDNA analysis offers an easy method for genotyping the overall molecular landscape of pediatric and adult cHL and may help in cases of diagnostic difficulties between cHL and other lymphomas. cfDNA levels are correlated with clinical, prognostic, and metabolic features, and may serve as a therapeutic response evaluation tool and as a minimal residual disease (MRD) biomarker in complement to positron emission tomography (PET). Indeed, cfDNA real-time monitoring by fast high-throughput techniques enables the prompt detection of refractory disease or may help to address PET residual hypermetabolic situations during or at the end of treatment. The major recent works presented and described here demonstrated the clinically meaningful applicability of cfDNA testing in diagnostic and theranostic settings, but also in disease risk assessment, therapeutic molecular response, and monitoring of cHL treatments.
PubMed: 33801462
DOI: 10.3390/ph14030207 -
Molecules (Basel, Switzerland) Jul 2021In this review, we describe the synthesis and use in hydrogen transfer reactions of ruthenacycles and iridacycles. The review limits itself to metallacycles where a... (Review)
Review
In this review, we describe the synthesis and use in hydrogen transfer reactions of ruthenacycles and iridacycles. The review limits itself to metallacycles where a ligand is bound in bidentate fashion to either ruthenium or iridium via a carbon-metal sigma bond, as well as a dative bond from a heteroatom or an -heterocyclic carbene. Pincer complexes fall outside the scope. Described are applications in (asymmetric) transfer hydrogenation of aldehydes, ketones, and imines, as well as reductive aminations. Oxidation reactions, i.e., classical Oppenauer oxidation, which is the reverse of transfer hydrogenation, as well as dehydrogenations and oxidations with oxygen, are described. Racemizations of alcohols and secondary amines are also catalyzed by ruthenacycles and iridacycles.
PubMed: 34279416
DOI: 10.3390/molecules26134076 -
Journal of the National Cancer Institute Mar 2023Using the large nationwide French, national, multicenter, prospective cancer and toxicities (CANTO) cohort, we assessed cognitive functioning change after cancer...
BACKGROUND
Using the large nationwide French, national, multicenter, prospective cancer and toxicities (CANTO) cohort, we assessed cognitive functioning change after cancer treatments in a subgroup of breast cancer (BC) patients.
METHODS
We included patients with newly diagnosed invasive stage I-III BC enrolled in the CANTO substudy focused on cognitive evaluation and healthy control women matched for age and education. Episodic and working memory, executive functions, processing speed, attention, self-report cognitive difficulties (SRCD), fatigue, anxiety and depression were assessed with neuropsychological tests and self-report questionnaires before treatment (baseline) and approximately 1 (year 1) and 2 years (year 2) after diagnosis. We used linear mixed models to study changes in cognition and tested the effect of adjuvant chemotherapy.
RESULTS
We studied 276 localized BC patients (62% chemotherapy) compared with 135 healthy controls (HC). After adjustment, patients had lower baseline working memory, processing speed, and attention scores than HC (P ≤ .001), and the difference remained statistically significant over follow-up for working memory and processing speed. Executive function scores were similar between groups at baseline but decreased at year 1 among patients compared with HC (Pchange = .006). This decrease in chemotherapy patients was statistically significant compared with HC scores (Pchange < .001). After adjustment, SRCD were similar between BC patients and HC at baseline but increased in patients after treatment at year 1 (Pchange = .002).
CONCLUSIONS
Cognitive difficulties are an important concern in BC patients, starting at diagnosis. Cancer treatments induce executive function decline and SRCD, which decrease over follow-up.
Topics: Humans; Female; Breast Neoplasms; Cognition; Executive Function; Cognition Disorders; Chemotherapy, Adjuvant; Neuropsychological Tests
PubMed: 36571503
DOI: 10.1093/jnci/djac240 -
Journal of Applied Clinical Medical... Jan 2021March 2021 will mark the eightieth anniversary of targeted radionuclide therapy, recognizing the first use of radioactive iodine to treat thyroid disease by Dr. Saul...
March 2021 will mark the eightieth anniversary of targeted radionuclide therapy, recognizing the first use of radioactive iodine to treat thyroid disease by Dr. Saul Hertz on March 31, 1941. The breakthrough of Dr. Hertz and collaborator physicist Arthur Roberts was made possible by rapid developments in the fields of physics and medicine in the early twentieth century. Although diseases of the thyroid gland had been described for centuries, the role of iodine in thyroid physiology had been elucidated only in the prior few decades. After the discovery of radioactivity by Henri Becquerel in 1897, rapid advancements in the field, including artificial production of radioactive isotopes, were made in the subsequent decades. Finally, the diagnostic and therapeutic use of radioactive iodine was based on the tracer principal that was developed by George de Hevesy. In the context of these advancements, Hertz was able to conceive the potential of using of radioactive iodine to treat thyroid diseases. Working with Dr. Roberts, he obtained the experimental data and implemented it in the clinical setting. Radioiodine therapy continues to be a mainstay of therapy for hyperthyroidism and thyroid cancer. However, Hertz struggled to gain recognition for his accomplishments and to continue his work and, with his early death in 1950, his contributions have often been overlooked until recently. The work of Hertz and others provided a foundation for the introduction of other radionuclide therapies and for the development of the concept of theranostics.
Topics: Humans; Iodine; Iodine Radioisotopes; Precision Medicine; Thyroid Neoplasms
PubMed: 33533204
DOI: 10.1002/acm2.13175