Chemical characterization and evaluation of antiviral activity of two fucoidans extracted from Mediterranean brown seaweeds, Padina pavonica and Dictyopteris membranacea.

Brown seaweeds are known for their bioactive compounds, particularly sulfated polysaccharides such as fucoidans, which have demonstrated antiviral properties. However, limited studies have focused on the antiviral potential of fucoidans extracted from Mediterranean brown seaweeds. In this study, two brown seaweeds Padina pavonica and Dictyopteris membranacea (Fuc-Pad and Fuc-Dic, respectively) were collected from monastir coasts, Tunisia, and a specific extraction protocol was employed to obtain fucoidans.

A Shotgun Proteomic-Based Approach with a Q-Exactive Hybrid Quadrupole-Orbitrap High-Resolution Mass Spectrometer for the Assessment of Pesticide Mixture-Induced Neurotoxicity on a 3D-Developed Neurospheroid Model from Human Brain Meningiomas: Identification of Trityl-Post-Translational Modification.

The widespread use of pesticides, particularly in combinations, has resulted in enhanced hazardous health effects. However, little is known about their molecular mechanism of interactions. The aim of this study was to assess the neurotoxicity effect of pesticides in mixtures by adopting a 3D in vitro developed neurospheroid model, followed by treatment by increased concentrations of pesticides for 24 h and analysis by a shotgun proteomic-based approach with high-resolution tandem mass spectrometry.

The challenging diagnosis and management of the prune belly syndrome: A case report.

Prune belly syndrome is a rare disorder that occurs mainly in men. It is characterized by the triad of deficient abdominal wall muscles, the dilated urinary collecting system, bilateral cryptorchidism, and infertility. It mainly affects the genitourinary system, which involves the prognosis.

Feasibility and acceptability of multidisciplinary team training in health coaching: Case study in adolescent rheumatology.

The central importance of the biopsychosocial model of chronic disease is increasingly recognised in the management of long-term conditions (LTC), which are often associated with chronic pain, fatigue and disability. Despite the physical and mental health impact, 'struggle' to maintain self-efficacy, gap in effective transition to adult pathways and long term consequences of poor disease control and lifestyle choices in young people with LTCs, innovation in this age range is rarely reported in generic journals. This paper explores the feasibility and acceptability of health coaching with young service users to increase engagement and self-management, achieved through multidisciplinary team (MDT) training in Adolescent Rheumatology.

Congenital Arhinia: A Neonatal Case Report.

Congenital arhinia or nasal absence is a rare condition, with only less than 100 cases published in the literature to date. It is a rare condition that causes respiratory distress during the neonatal period. Although stabilization of the airway is the priority, management is not clearly defined, given the rarity of the malformation.

Comment on Dinesen et al. Diphoterine for Chemical Burns of the Skin: A Systematic Review. 2023, , 55-68.

We read with interest the recent publication of Dinesen et al. [..

New insights in the molecular regulation of the NADPH oxidase 2 activity: Negative modulation by Poldip2.

Poldip2 was shown to be involved in oxidative signaling to ensure certain biological functions. It was proposed that, in VSMC, by interaction with the Nox4-associated membrane protein p22, Poldip2 stimulates the level of reactive oxygen species (ROS) production. In vitro, with fractionated membranes from HEK393 cells over-expressing Nox4, we confirmed the up-regulation of NADPH oxidase 4 activity by the recombinant and purified Poldip2.

Treacher Collins syndrome: A case report and review of literature.

Treacher Collins syndrome (TCS) is one of the rare genetic syndromes which is specified by symmetrical craniofacial dysmorphism without growth abnormalities or neurological disorders. The inheritance is usually autosomal dominant but sometimes it is a sporadic mutation. Prenatal diagnosis could be realized by genetic testing of a chorionic villus sample or amniocentesis if one of the parents is affected.

Relationship between ethnicity and multidisciplinary intervention for young people with rheumatic and musculoskeletal diseases.

Introduction: There is growing recognition of the impact of societal factors on health throughout a patient's lifespan. The COVID-19 pandemic has exposed the impact of racial disparity on health outcomes.

Aims: We aimed to investigate the association between ethnicity and the multidisciplinary team (MDT) interventions for young people (YP) with complex care needs.

Gene transfection using branched cationic amphiphilic compounds for an aerosol administration in cystic fibrosis context.

For cystic fibrosis gene therapy, the aerosolization of genetic materials is the most relevant delivery strategy to reach the airway epithelium. However, aerosolized formulations have to resist shear forces while maintaining the integrity of plasmid DNA (pDNA) during its journey from the nebulization to the epithelial cells. Herein, we compared the efficiency of gene delivery by aerosolization of two types of formulations: (i) BSV163, a branched cationic amphiphilic compound, co-formulated with different DOPE ratios (mol/mol) and DMPE-PEG5000 and (ii) 25 KDa branched polyethylenimine (b-PEI)-based formulation used as control.

Congenital lung malformations : analysis of 27 cases.

Introduction: Congenital lung malformations (CLM) include a complex range of developmental abnormalities. Currently, most are diagnosed prenatally or during early childhood.

Objective: to investigate clinical and imaging findings of congenital lung malformations in children.

Diversity and bioactivity of fungi associated with the marine sea cucumber Holothuria poli: disclosing the strains potential for biomedical applications.

Aims: Identification of the mycobiota associated to the marine echinoderm Holothuria poli and investigation of cytotoxic and pro-osteogenic potential of isolated strains.

Methods And Results: Fungal strains were isolated from the animal's body-wall, intestine and faeces. The species identification was based on DNA barcoding and morphophysiological observations.

Protective potential effects of fucoidan in hepatic cold ischemia-rerfusion injury in rats.

The necessity to increase the efficiency of organ preservation has pushed physicians to consider the use of pharmacological additives in preservation solutions to minimize ischemia reperfusion injury. Here, we evaluated the effect of fucoidan, sulfated polysaccharide from brown seaweed, as an additive to IGL-1 (Institut Georges Lopez) preservation solution. Livers from Wistar rats were preserved for 24 h at 4 °C in IGL-1 solution, enriched or not with fucoidan (100 mg/L).

Branched lipid chains to prepare cationic amphiphiles producing hexagonal aggregates: supramolecular behavior and application to gene delivery.

A ramified lipid alcohol, 2-hexyldecanol, was used as a hydrophobic moiety to prepare cationic amphiphiles on a gram scale in 3 to 4 steps, featuring either a trimethylammonium 5, dimethylhydroxyethylammonium 6 or N-methylimidazolium 7 polar head group. Compression isotherms at the air-water interface reveal that all these cationic amphiphiles collapse at a relatively low pressure indicating a weak stabilization of the monolayer via hydrophobic interactions. Ellipsometry measurements point out the presence of a thin monolayer at low lateral pressure whereas thickening of the monolayer occurs at higher pressure with a high percentage of variation of the thickness, thus demonstrating an adaptability to the constraints.

Retroperitoneal fibrosis; a single-centre case experience with literature review.

Objective: We present 13 patients with retroperitoneal fibrosis, focusing on clinical features, radiological characteristics, treatments and their outcomes.

Methods: Retrospective review of the medical records was performed of all retroperitoneal fibrosis patients diagnosed and treated in our department between 2012 and 2017.

Results: Twelve patients were male, with a median age of 64 years.

Bis-Thioether-Containing Lipid Chains in Cationic Amphiphiles: Physicochemical Properties and Applications in Gene Delivery.

Cationic amphiphiles featuring two thioether functions in each lipid chain of bicatenar cationic amphiphiles are reported here for the first time. The physicochemical properties and transfection abilities of these new amphiphiles were compared with those of already reported analogues featuring either (i) saturated, (ii) unsaturated or (iii) mono-thioether containing lipid chains. The homogeneity of the series of new compounds allowed to clearly underscore the effect of bis-thioether containing lipid chains.

Purification and biochemical characterization of a novel thermostable and halotolerant subtilisin SAPN, a serine protease from Melghiribacillus thermohalophilus Nari2A for chitin extraction from crab and shrimp shell by-products.

The present study investigates the purification and biochemical characterization of a novel extracellular serine alkaline protease, subtilisin (called SAPN) from Melghiribacillus thermohalophilus Nari2A. The highest yield of protease (395 IU/g) with white shrimp shell by-product (40 g/L) as a unique source of nutriments in the growth medium was achieved after 52 h at 55 °C. The monomeric enzyme of about 30 kDa was purified to homogeneity by ammonium sulfate fractionation, heat treatment, followed by sequential column chromatographies.

A Close-Up View of the Impact of Arachidonic Acid on the Phagocyte NADPH Oxidase.

The NADPH oxidase NOX2 complex consists of assembled cytosolic and redox membrane proteins. In mammalian cells, natural arachidonic acid (cis-AA), released by activated phospholipase-A2, plays an important role in the activation of the NADPH oxidase, but the mechanism of action of cis-AA is still a matter of debate. In cell-free systems, cis-AA is commonly used for activation although its structural effects are still unclear.

Transported neonates in Tunisia.

Aims: To describe the transport of sick neonates to a tertiary care hospital and evaluate their condition at arrival and outcome.

Methods: A multicenter, prospective cohort study was performed in 7 NICUs in Tunisia from 1st april to 31 July 2015.Demographic parameters, transport details and clinical features at arrival were recorded.

Substitution of unsaturated lipid chains by thioether-containing lipid chains in cationic amphiphiles: physicochemical consequences and application for gene delivery.

The hydrophobic moiety of cationic amphiphiles plays an important role in the transfection process because its structure has an impact on both the type of the supramolecular assembly and the dynamic properties of these assemblies. The latter have to exhibit a compromise between stability and instability to efficiently compact then deliver DNA into target cells. In the present work, we report the synthesis of new cationic amphiphiles featuring a thioether function at different positions of two 18-atom length lipid chains and we study their physicochemical properties (anisotropy of fluorescence and compression isotherms) with analogues possessing either oleyl (C18:1) or stearyl (C18:0) chains.

Characterization of sulfated polysaccharide from Laurencia obtusa and its apoptotic, gastroprotective and antioxidant activities.

This study was designed to characterize the physico-chemical properties of the sulfated polysaccharide (SP) isolated from the red alga Laurencia obtusa and to evaluate its apoptotic, gastroprotective and antioxidant activities. The different macromolecular characteristics of SP were determined by size exclusion chromatography combined with multi-angle laser light-scattering detection (SEC-MALLS), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) analysis and nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (H NMR and C NMR). The native molecular weight of the extracted polysaccharide is high (≥336,900 g·mol).