Organocatalytic Enantioselective Vinylcyclopropane-Cyclopentene (VCP-CP) Rearrangement

We have demonstrated that the catalytic and enantioselective vinylcyclopropane-cyclopentene rearrangement can be carried out on (vinylcyclopropyl)acetaldehydes through activation via enamine intermediates. The reaction makes use of racemic starting materials that, upon ring opening facilitated by the catalytic generation of a donor-acceptor cyclopropane, deliver an acyclic iminium ion/dienolate intermediate in which all stereochemical information has been deleted. The final cyclization step forms the rearrangement product, showing that chirality transfer from the catalyst to the final compound is highly effective and leads to the stereocontrolled formation of a variety of structurally different cyclopentenes.

Absence of Intermediates in the BINOL-Derived Mg(II)/Phosphate-Catalyzed Desymmetrizative Ring Expansion of 1-Vinylcyclobutanols

The catalyzed desymmetrizative ring expansion of alkenylcyclobutanols promoted by halofunctionalization of the alkene moiety with N-bromosuccinimide has been experimentally and computationally studied. The reaction yields highly enantioenriched cyclopentanones bearing two all-carbon quaternary stereocenters, one of them being generated in the rearrangement of the cyclobutane ring and the other by enantioselective desymmetrization. The reaction is competitive with the formation of a spiroepoxide, but it turns completely selective toward the cyclopentanone when a chiral bisphosphonium magnesium salt is employed as a catalyst. Mechanistic studies support the formation of an ion pair leading to a complex with only a unit of phosphoric acid, which is the resting state of the catalytic cycle. Calculations reproduce in an excellent way the observed reactivity and predict the effect exerted by the substituents of the aromatic ring linked to the double bond. The computational studies also revealed the reaction as a highly asynchronous concerted process taking place as one kinetic step but in two stages: (i) halogenation of the double bond and (ii) rearrangement of the cyclobutane. No intermediates are present in the reaction as energy minima. The experimental scope of the reaction further confirms the predictions for the observed reactivity and selectivity.

Post-abortion check-ups at Trento Family Planning Centre. Characteristics of those users who attended the check-up appointments and trends between 2003 and 2017

BACKGROUND

The purpose of the study was to analyse the trend for post-abortion check-ups among users requesting the abortion certification from Trento Family Planning Center between 2003 and 2017.

STUDY DESIGN

Retrospective case-control study.

METHODS

During the study period, the Trento Family Planning Center issued a total of 3,870 abortion certificates (46% regarding foreign nationals). The social and demographic characteristics of those users who attended the post-abortion check-up appointments, and of those who did not, were compared.

RESULTS

The proportion of resident users who returned for a post-abortion check-up increases significantly during the study period. The multiple logistic regression analysis model indicates that the factors associated with the likelihood of a return for a post-abortion check-up are: possession of medium to high academic qualifications (> 8 years) versus low qualifications, being a non-EU or Asian citizen, being a minor and being nulliparous or multiparous versus primiparous.

CONCLUSIONS

According to Family Planning Centers' philosophy, post-abortion check-ups are a good opportunity for promoting responsible procreation. The strategy for the management of the Trento Family Planning Center's users requesting an abortion led to an increase of the proportion of users who returned for the post-abortion check-up greater than is the case for other territorial Family Planning Centers.

[Sociodemographic factors in smoking habit]

This article reports data on epidemiological survey carried out in a population of Sardinia. The aim of the research was to evaluate lifestyles and sociodemographic factors related and their changes in time by health promotion interventions. The authors analyzed smoking habit by gender, age and educational level with Multivariate analysis by Logistic Regression. The results show in males aged 20-64 years the prevalence of current smokers decreases in value with the increasing of educational level, while in males >64 years educational level has not an influence. In females 20-39 years the prevalence of smokers decreases with the increasing of educational level, while >40 years this prevalence increased with high educational level. Younger male smokers are decreasing in higher social categories, while younger female smokers are now increasing in lower social class. These results emphasize on necessities of reassessment in health promotion priorities.

[Adherence to the screening program for HBV infection in pregnant women and application of the immunoprophylaxis protocol in babies born to HBV carrier women]

The aim of the study was to evaluate the frequency of the screening for HBV infection in pregnant women and the application of immunoprophylaxis in newborns to HBV carrier women. The study, carried out in 2001 for 2 months, involved 1596 pregnant women consecutively recruited in public and private hospitals of the Sardinia. Information has been collected by a questionnaire: 90.5% of the women underwent HBV screening during pregnancy and 2.6% of them were found positive to HBsAg test. Among the newborns to HBsAg carrier mothers, 89.2% received the immunoprophylaxis protocol (specific immunoglobulin and the first dose of vaccine within 24 hours from birth). Two variables resulted statistically associated with the lack of adherence to HBV screening: the original family size of women (more than 4 members in the household) and the delivery in a private hospital. These findings point out a satisfactory adherence to HBV screening during pregnancy and the application of immunisation protocol in most of the newborns to HBsAg carrier mothers. However, the increase of information programs turned to the population is required to reach the total application of the prevention tools available in Italian public health.