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A new series of symmetrical organic dyes containing an indigo central core decorated with different electron donor groups have been prepared, starting from Tyrian Purple and using the Pd-catalyzed Stille-Migita coupling process. The effect of substituents on the spectroscopic properties of the dyes has been investigated theoretically and experimentally. In general, all dyes presented intense light absorption bands, both in the blue and red regions of the visible spectrum, conferring them a bright green color in solution. Using the same approach, an asymmetrically substituted D–A-π–A green dye, bearing a triarylamine electron donor and the cyanoacrylate acceptor/anchoring group, has been synthesized for the first time and fully characterized, confirming that spectroscopic and electrochemical properties are consistent with a possible application in dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSC).

Organic fluorophores have found broad application as emitters in luminescent solar concentrators (LSCs) for silicon photovoltaics. In particular, the preparation of organic conjugated systems with intense light-harvesting ability, emissions in the deep-red and NIR regions, and large Stokes shift values represent a very challenging undertaking. Here, we report a simple and easy way to prepare three symmetrical donor–acceptor–donor (DAD) organic-emitting materials based on a thienopyrazine core. The central core in the three dyes was modified with the introduction of aromatic substituents, aiming to affect their optical properties. The fluorophores were characterized by spectroscopic studies. In all cases, visible-NIR emissions with large Stokes shifts were found, highlighting these molecules as promising materials for the application in LSCs.

D-π-A dyes have received a special attention in the field of dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs). In this kind of molecules, the acceptor group (A) generally acts as an anchor, enabling the adsorption of the dye onto the metal oxide substrate (TiO ) and providing a good electron injection. The search for new anchors represents a critical factor for the development of improved DSSCs and in recent years has been a very active research field. This mini-review focuses especially on our work on pyridine-derived anchoring groups for D-π-A dyes, with a special regard on the preparation and characterization of three different families of dyes and a critical evaluation of their stability and efficiency.

Two novel organic sensitizers for Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells (DSSC), called TP1 and TP2, based on the electron-poor thieno[3,4-b]pyrazine (TPz) π-bridge and the electron-rich N,N-bis(4-(hexylthio)phenyl)aniline (TPA) were designed following two different approaches: the classical D-A-π-A design and a symmetric structure with double anchoring functions. Both compounds were prepared exploiting short synthetic pathways based on direct arylation strategies and possibly one-pot desymmetrization. The two novel dyes displayed opposite optical properties: a broad and intense light absorption over the entire visible spectrum for TP1, and a localized absorption that peaked in the center of the visible region for TP2, resulting in a pitch-dark coloration and a green tone, respectively. When assembling the photovoltaic devices, different electrolyte compositions were explored to enhance the optical properties of the dyes. Power conversion efficiencies as high as 5.2% under full sun intensity were recorded for small test devices. The composition of the light transmitted through the TP2-containing transparent DSSC fits well with the human eye sensitivity spectrum, thus fulfilling the transparency requirements for building-integrated photovoltaics (BIPV).

A simple approach to a new family of enantiomerically enriched polyunsaturated t-Boc-protected-δ-amino esters is described, via microwave promoted Stille coupling of (Z)-methyl-2-bromobutenoate with stannylated allylamines. The reaction conditions are mild and selective and disclose a simple way to 1-substituted butenoates of defined geometry.

Gold nanorods (GNRs) were investigated to enhance light absorptionin co-sentitized dye solar cells (c-DSSC), thanks to their plasmonic characteristics. Pastes were obtained by directly mixing GNRs with titania. The resulting thin films differ for sintering conditions and GNRs concentration. The reported study is based on the absorbance spectra of the different samples, together with SEM and TEM to corroborate the results of the spectroscopic analysis on the transformation of GNRs morphology consequent to the different conditions utilized for TiO2 sintering. We tested these cells with organic dyes that could substitute the more expensive and toxic Ru complexes.

Despite the widespread use of rabbit anti-thymocyte globulin (ATG) to prevent acute and chronic graft-versus-host disease (aGVHD, cGVHD) after allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation (allo-HCT), convincing evidence about an optimal dose is lacking. We retrospectively evaluated the clinical impact of two different ATG doses (5 vs 6–7.5 mg/kg) in 395 adult patients undergoing HSCT from matched unrelated donors (MUD) at 3 Italian centers. Cumulative incidence of aGVHD and moderate-severe cGVHD did not differ in the 2 groups. We observed a trend toward prolonged overall survival (OS) and disease-free survival (DFS) with lower ATG dose (5-year OS and DFS 56.6% vs. 46.3%, p=0.052, and 46.8% vs. 38.6%, p=0.051, respectively) and no differences in relapse incidence and non-relapse mortality. However, a significantly increased infection-related mortality (IRM) was observed in patients who received a higher ATG dose (16.7% vs. 8.8% in the lower ATG group, p=0.019). Besides, graft and relapse-free survival (GRFS) was superior in the lower ATG group (5-year GRFS 43.1% vs. 32.4%, p=0.014). The negative impact of higher ATG dose on IRM and GRFS was confirmed by multivariate analysis. Our results suggest that ATG doses higher than 5 mg/kg are not required for MUD allo-HCT and seem associated with worse outcomes.

The standard busulfan–cyclophosphamide myeloablative conditioning regimen is associated with substantial non-relapse mortality in patients older than 40 years with acute myeloid leukaemia who are undergoing allogeneic stem-cell transplantation. Because the combination of busulfan plus fludarabine has been proposed to reduce non-relapse mortality, we aimed to compare this treatment with busulfan plus cyclophosphamide as a preparative regimen in these patients. We did an open-label, multicentre, randomised, phase 3 trial for patients with acute myeloid leukaemia at 25 hospital transplant centres in Italy and one in Israel. Eligible patients were aged 40–65 years, had an Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status less than 3, and were in complete remission. Patients were randomly assigned 1:1 to receive intravenous busulfan plus cyclophosphamide or busulfan plus fludarabine. Treatment allocations were not masked to investigators or patients. Randomisation was done centrally via a dedicated web-based system using remote data entry, with patients stratified by donor type and complete remission status. Patients allocated to busulfan plus cyclophosphamide received intravenous busulfan 0·8 mg/kg four times per day during 2 h infusions for four consecutive days (16 doses from days −9 through −6; total dose 12·8 mg/kg) and cyclophosphamide at 60 mg/kg per day for two consecutive days (on days −4 and −3; total dose 120 mg/kg). Patients allocated to busulfan plus fludarabine received the same dose of intravenous busulfan (from days −6 through −3) and fludarabine at 40 mg/m2 per day for four consecutive days (from days −6 through −3; total dose 160 mg/m2). The primary endpoint was 1-year non-relapse mortality, which was assessed on an intention-to-treat basis; safety outcomes were assessed in the per-protocol population. This trial has been completed and is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov, number NCT01191957. Between Jan 3, 2008, and Dec 20, 2012, we enrolled and randomly assigned 252 patients to receive busulfan plus cyclophosphamide (n=125) or busulfan plus fludarabine (n=127). Median follow-up was 27·5 months (IQR 9·8–44·3). 1-year non-relapse mortality was 17·2% (95% CI 11·6–25·4) in the busulfan plus cyclophosphamide group and 7·9% (4·3–14·3) in the busulfan plus fludarabine group (Gray's test p=0·026). The most frequently reported grade 3 or higher adverse events were gastrointestinal events (28 [23%] of 121 patients in the busulfan plus cyclophosphamide group and 26 [21%] of 124 patients in the busulfan plus fludarabine group) and infections (21 [17%] patients in the busulfan plus cyclophosphamide group and 13 [10%] patients in the busulfan plus fludarabine group had at least one such event). In older patients with acute myeloid leukaemia, the myeloablative busulfan plus fludarabine conditioning regimen is associated with lower transplant-related mortality than busulfan plus cyclophosphamide, but retains potent antileukaemic activity. Accordingly, this regimen should be regarded as standard of care during the planning of allogeneic transplants for such patients. Agenzia Italiana del Farmaco.

We report the long-term results of a randomized trial (GITMO, AML-R2), comparing 1:1 the combination of busulfan and cyclophosphamide (BuCy2, n  = 125) and the combination of busulfan and fludarabine (BuFlu, n  = 127) as conditioning regimen in acute myeloid leukemia patients (median age 51 years, range 40–65) undergoing allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation. With a median follow-up of 6 years, significantly better non-relapse mortality (NRM) was confirmed in BuFlu recipients, which is sustained up to 4 years after transplant (10% vs. 20%, p  = 0.0388). This difference was higher in patients older than 51 years (11% in BuFlu vs. 27% in BuCy2, p  = 0.0262). The cumulative incidence of relapse, which was the first cause of death in the entire study population, did not differ between the two randomized arms. Similarly, the leukemia-free survival (LFS) and overall survival (OS) were not different in the two cohorts, even when stratifying patients per median age. Graft-and relapse-free survival (GRFS) in BuFlu arm vs. the BuCy2 arm was 25% vs. 20% at 4 years and 20% vs. 17% at 10 years. Hence, the benefit gained by NRM reduction is not offsets by an increased relapse. Leukemia relapse remains a major concern, urging the development of new therapeutic approaches.

Infections by carbapenem-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae (CRKp) represent a challenging problem after SCT. A retrospective survey (January 2010 to July 2013) involving 52 Italian centers was performed to assess the epidemiology and the prognostic factors of CRKp infections in auto- and allo-SCT. Cases of CRKp infection were reported in 53.4% of centers. CRKp infections were documented in 25 auto-SCTs and 87 allo-SCTs, with an incidence of 0.4% (from 0.1% in 2010 to 0.7% in 2013) and 2% (from 0.4% in 2010 to 2.9% in 2013), respectively. A CRKp colonization documented before or after transplant was followed by an infection in 25.8% of auto-SCT and 39.2% of allo-SCT patients. The infection-related mortality rates were 16% and 64.4%, respectively. A pre-transplant CRKp infection (hazard ratio (HR) 0.33, 95% confidence intervals (CIs) 0.15–0.74; P =0.007) and a not CRKp-targeted first-line treatment (HR 2.67, 95% CI 1.43–4.99; P =0.002) were independent factors associated with an increased mortality in allo-SCT patients who developed a CRKp infection. Our study shows challenging findings of CRKp infections in SCT patients in Italy particularly after allo-SCT. The detection of carriers and the definition of early therapeutic strategies represent critical aspects of the management of CRKp infections after SCT.