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The electronic ground state of the ferricytochromes c' is often the subject of debate and evidence for a quantum mechanically admixed S-3/2, 5/2 ground state in these molecules is challenged. Reviews are presented of work on model heme complexes in which the properties of the S=3/2, 5/2 spin-state admixture have been established and studies related to the ground-state properties of the heme iron centers in the ferricytochromes c'.

A study was conducted to compare the benefits and toxic effects of adjuvant chemotraphy among breast cancer patients in age groups of 50 years of younger, 51 to 64 years, and 65 years or older. It was revealed that age alone should not be a contraindication to the use of optimal chemotraphy regiments in older women who are in good general health.

Research has been conducted on the (BCA)Co (sub)2 and (BCB)Co (sub)2 where BCA and BCB are biscorroles linked by anthracenyl and biphenyl bridge. The synthesis, spectroscopic properties and electrochemistry of these compounds have been investigated, and the effect of the anthracenyl and biphenyl bridge on the ligand binding properties has been examined.

Research has been conducted on the alkyl- and aryl-substituted cobalt(III) corroles. The synthesis, spectroscopic properties and electrochemistry of these corroles have been investigated and the results of the ligand binding and electrochemical reactions are described.

This article investigates the psychological factors involved in persistent distress, nausea, and vomiting induced by reminders of previous cancer treatments in Hodgkin's disease survivors. The symptoms were associated with reports of side effects during actual treatments and time since recovery which suggest that the symptoms are related to classical conditioning.

Research has been conducted on the porphyrin-core expansion induced by a change in the nickel(II) coordination sphere. The isolation of tetraphenylporphyrin derivatives and their study by X-ray crystallography is examined.

The authors describe the transformation of water-insoluble porphyrin hydroxo(5, 10, 15, 20-tetramesitylporphinato)iron(III) (Fe (super)III (TMP)(OH) into a catalytically water-soluble catalyst. Experiments demonstrate that shielding of the heme moiety provide operational stability of the MCM-41 embedded heme-based catalysts.

A five step procedure has successfully generated symmetrical cylindrical macrotricyclic ligands. Aromatic chains link cyclam subunits and nitrogen atoms. Binuclear species are formed with the ligand coordination of either divalent copper or divalent nickel. X-ray diffraction studies were undertaken to determine the crystal structure of these ligands. The cell unit dimensions are presented.

The synthesis and spectroscopic characterization of a series of porphyrins with ether-linked straps are presented. The biphenyl straps used were linked via their 3,3'-positions by SCH2O groups to orthopositions of the phenyl rings of the 5,15-diphenylporphyrins. The conformational properties and the electronic spectral properties of the strapped porphyrins were examined using 1H NMR spectroscopy. Also, the synthesis, structures and properties of ferrous carbonyl adducts of these porphyrins are presented and discussed.

Chemical research has established the structure and spectral properties of bis(lutetium) derivatives of the anthracenyl-and biphenylenyl-bridged cofacial porphyrins [Lu(OH)]2.CH3OH and [Lu(OH)]2.CH3OH. X-ray analysis identifies dark blue crystals of 3' and 4' from the monoclinic system. The complexes have one or several metal-bonded bridging ligands.

The incidence of scientific fraud may be low in clinical trials carried out by the Cancer and Leukemia Group B (CALGB). Clinical trials are research studies that evaluate new medical procedures and drugs in human volunteers. The CALGB is a cooperative group that conducts clinical trials funded by the National Cancer Institute. A study examined the results of 691 audits of CALGB-associated research institutions between 1982 and 1992. The main CALGB institutions were compared to affiliates. Both improved their compliance with federal regulations. Adequate completion of patient consent forms also increased. Deviation from planned drug treatment regimens did not change from an incidence of 11%. Only two episodes of scientific misconduct were found and both took place before 1984. Unfavorable audits are sufficiently important to the institutions that 99 have withdrawn from CALGB because of them., Objective. - To report on data collected during on-site audits of source documents in the Cancer and Leukemia Group B (CALGB). Design. - A retrospective review of audit reports in four audit cycles. Setting. - A cooperative group of institutions conducting clinical trials in cancer treatment. Participants. - Patients taking part in clinical trials at collaborating CALGB institutions, members of the CALGB Data Audit Committee, and group chairmen of CALGB. Main Outcome Measure. - The results of 691 institutional audits conducted by the CALGB in 1982 through 1992 with comparisons of main CALGB institutions vs affiliates. Results. - In four full reviews of all participating institutions in the CALGB, 3787 patients have had their on-site medical records compared with data submitted to the CALGB Data Management Center. Compliance with federal regulations for oversight by an institutional review board improved from a deficiency rate of 28.0% among the main institutions and 49.6% of the affiliate institutions in the first audit cycle to respective figures of 13.3% and 28.2% in the fourth cycle. Consent form deficiencies also dropped overall from 18.5% in the first cycle to 3.9% in the fourth. Patient eligibility was verified by auditors in 94.5%, and assessment of tumor changes in response to treatment was verified in 96.4% in the fourth cycle; both figures were only slightly lower in the first cycle. Two instances of scientific impropriety were discovered for a rate of only 0.28% of all audits. Both occurred prior to 1984, and none have occurred since. Major protocol deviations in drug dosing have held steady at about 11% over four audit cycles. Over the 11-year period of audits, three main institutions and 96 affiliate institutions have discontinued CALGB membership due solely, or at least partly, to unfavorable audit results. Conclusion. - Scientific improprieties have occurred very rarely in clinical trials conducted by the CALGB. Protocol compliance in assessing patient eligibility and tumor responses has been high. Attention to administrative matters of consent forms, institutional review board approval, and ancillary data submission has measurably improved in the CALGB, which is at least partly due to the pressure from this on-site peer review of investigator performance.

The syntheses of the ferric and ferrous forms of the (acetato)iron 'pivalimide-picket-fence' porphyrin are subjected to structural, Mossbauer and EPR analyses. Specifically, the ferrous form is subjected to x-ray diffraction. Results indicate that there is a large positive quadropole splitting in the ferrous form of the acetato-porphyrinato complex. The crystal-field model is also used to explain the effect of distortions in one of the synthesis.

Maimonides' Empire of Light: Popular Enlightenment in an Age of Belief, by Ralph Lerner. University of Chicago Press, 2000. 221 PP. $35.00. Ralph Lerner's new book, Maimonides 'Empire of Light, [...]

Objective: Obstructive eustachian tube dysfunction (OETD) affects up to 5% of adults; however, available treatment strategies have limitations. It was previously reported that balloon dilation of the eustachian tube (BDET) with the eustachian tube balloon catheter + medical management (MM) results in a significantly higher proportion of subjects with normalized tympanograms versus MM alone at 6- and 24-week follow-up. The current analysis extends these initial findings by investigating the durability of BDET + MM treatment outcomes through 52 weeks.Study Design: Prospective cohort follow-up study from the treatment group in a previously reported multicenter randomized controlled trial.Setting: Twenty-one investigational sites across the United States.Subjects and Methods: Here we report on secondary and exploratory endpoints for patients with OETD who previously failed MM and were randomized to the BDET + MM cohort. Analyses of tympanogram outcomes are reported by ear, unless specified otherwise, as a more accurate measure of durability of the procedure over time.Results: Among subjects randomized to BDET + MM, the overall number with normalized tympanograms and ETDQ-7 scores (Eustachian Tube Dysfunction Questionnaire-7) remained comparable to those reported at 6- versus 52-week follow-up: tympanograms, 73 of 143 (51.0%) versus 71 of 128 (55.5%); ETDQ-7, 79 of 142 (55.6%) versus 71 of 124 (57.3%). The overall number of ears with normalized tympanograms also remained comparable, with 117 of 204 (57%) versus 119 of 187 (63.6%).Conclusions: The present study suggests that the beneficial effects of BDET + MM on tympanogram normalization and symptoms of subjects with refractory OETD demonstrate significant durability that is clinically relevant through 52 weeks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]