Exploring Intra- and Inter-Regional Interactions in the IDP α-Synuclein Using smFRET and MD Simulations.

Theoretical concepts from polymer physics are often used to describe intrinsically disordered proteins (IDPs). However, amino acid interactions within and between regions of the protein can lead to deviations from typical polymer scaling behavior and even to short-lived secondary structures. To investigate the key interactions in the dynamic IDP α-synuclein (αS) at the amino acid level, we conducted single-molecule fluorescence resonance energy transfer (smFRET) experiments and coarse-grained molecular dynamics (CG-MD) simulations.

Biomolecular condensates can both accelerate and suppress aggregation of α-synuclein.

Biomolecular condensates present in cells can fundamentally affect the aggregation of amyloidogenic proteins and play a role in the regulation of this process. While liquid-liquid phase separation of amyloidogenic proteins by themselves can act as an alternative nucleation pathway, interaction of partly disordered aggregation-prone proteins with preexisting condensates that act as localization centers could be a far more general mechanism of altering their aggregation behavior. Here, we show that so-called host biomolecular condensates can both accelerate and slow down amyloid formation.

Field-Dependent Rheological Properties of Magnetorheological Elastomer with Fountain-Like Particle Chain Alignment.

Magnetorheological elastomer (MRE) consists of magnetic particles known as carbonyl iron (CIPs), which have been locked in a silicone-based matrix, in various alignments. However, current MRE exhibits inadequate rheological properties due to several issues such as particle alignments. Therefore, in this study, a new approach of the particle alignment of CIPs in MRE, namely fountain-like structure, is introduced.

Interactions between SARS-CoV-2 N-Protein and α-Synuclein Accelerate Amyloid Formation.

First cases that point at a correlation between SARS-CoV-2 infections and the development of Parkinson's disease (PD) have been reported. Currently, it is unclear if there is also a direct causal link between these diseases. To obtain first insights into a possible molecular relation between viral infections and the aggregation of α-synuclein protein into amyloid fibrils characteristic for PD, we investigated the effect of the presence of SARS-CoV-2 proteins on α-synuclein aggregation.

The Localization of Alpha-synuclein in the Endocytic Pathway.

Alpha-synuclein (αS) is an intrinsically disordered protein (IDP) that is abundantly present in the brain and is associated with Parkinson's disease (PD). In spite of its abundance and its contribution to PD pathogenesis, the exact cellular function of αS remains largely unknown. The ability of αS to remodel phospholipid model membranes combined with biochemical and cellular studies suggests that αS is involved in endocytosis.

Shaping membranes with disordered proteins.

Membrane proteins control and shape membrane trafficking processes. The role of protein structure in shaping cellular membranes is well established. However, a significant fraction of membrane proteins is disordered or contains long disordered regions.

Cooperation of Helix Insertion and Lateral Pressure to Remodel Membranes.

Nature has developed different protein mediated mechanisms to remodel cellular membranes. One of the proteins that is implicated in these processes is α-synuclein (αS). Here we investigate if besides αS's membrane bound amphipathic helix the disordered, solvent exposed tail of the protein contributes to membrane reshaping.

Different Conformational Subensembles of the Intrinsically Disordered Protein α-Synuclein in Cells.

The intrinsically disordered protein α-synuclein (αS) is thought to play an important role in cellular membrane processes. Although in vitro experiments indicate that this initially disordered protein obtains structure upon membrane binding, NMR and EPR studies in cells could not single out any conformational subensemble. Here we microinjected small amounts of αS, labeled with a Förster resonance energy transfer (FRET) pair, into SH-SY5Y cells to investigate conformational changes upon membrane binding.

The number of α-synuclein proteins per vesicle gives insights into its physiological function.

Although it is well established that the protein α-synuclein (αS) plays an important role in Parkinson's disease, its physiological function remains largely unknown. It has been reported to bind membranes and to play a role in membrane remodeling processes. The mechanism by which αS remodels membranes is still debated; it may either affect its physical properties or act as a chaperone for other membrane associated proteins.

Late ventricular septal defect due to blunt trauma.

Introduction: This is very rare case report regarding late ventricular septal defect (VSD) following blunt trauma.

Case Report: A 23-year-old motorcycle rider lost control and crashed to another motorcycle. He was transferred to emergency department by emergency medical services.

Expression Analysis of Aurora-C and Survivin, Two Testis-Specific Genes, in Patients with Colorectal Cancer.

Background: Colorectal cancer (CRC) is one of the leading causes of cancer-related death worldwide. The high frequency of positive families shows the importance of public awareness and screening strategies in those families. Cancer/testis (CT) antigens such as Aurora-C and Survivin are a group of antigens expressed in various tumor types of human cancers.

Herbal diuretics in medieval Persian and Arabic medicine.

Objective: In accord with the notions of humoralism that prevailed in medieval medicine, therapeutic interventions, including diuretics, were used to restore the disturbed balance among the four humors of the human body: blood, phlegm, yellow bile, and black bile. Most diuretics were derived from plants. The primary textual reference on herbal diuretics was Dioscorides's De Materia Medica, which was written during the first century CE.

Single-incision laparoscopic cholecystectomy using glove port in comparison with standard laparoscopic cholecystectomy SILC using glove port.

Purpose: Surgery with minimal scar has become a widely used surgical method during the last decade. Single-incision laparoscopic cholecystectomy (SILC) promises better cosmetic results and probably less pain compared with conventional laparoscopy.

Methods: In a period of 5 months, data were collected and analyzed from patients, who underwent SILC using the Glove port.

Relaparoscopy in minor bile leakage after laparoscopic cholecystectomy: an alternative approach?

Purpose: Bile leakage is one of the most important complications of laparoscopic cholecystectomy, and it has been recognized as a major clinical challenge during the last 2 decades. Although endoscopic and percutaneous interventions are widely accepted in the management of bile leakage, relaparoscopy permits the bile drainage adequately and gives direct control of bile leakage site in selected patients.

Methods: Data for patients with minor bile leakage after laparoscopic cholecystectomy were collected from January 2001 to January 2010.

Nonoperative management of anterior thoracoabdominal stab wounds in selected patients.

Objectives: Nowadays, use of selective nonoperative management has decreased the incidence of nontherapeutic laparotomies in patients with anterior thoracoabdominal stab wounds. The safety of selective nonoperative management was investigated in these patients, not requiring emergency laparotomy.

Patients And Methods: Patients referred to the Tabriz Imam Reza Hospital with anterior thoracoabdominal stab wounds were studied from August 2008 to 2010.

Hormone receptor status in breast cancer and its relation to age and other prognostic factors.

Background: Increasing evidence shows the importance of young age, estrogen receptor (ER), progesterone receptor (PR) status, and HER-2 expression in patients with breast cancers.

Patients And Methods: We organized an analytic cross-sectional study of 105 women diagnosed with breast cancer who have been operated on between 2008 to 2010. We evaluated age, size, hormone receptor status, HER-2 and P53 expression as possible indicator of lymph node involvement.

Review of pharmaceutical applications of N-methyl-2-pyrrolidone.

N-Methyl-2-pyrrolidone (NMP) or Pharmasolve is very strong solubilizing agent and it has important applications in different fields of industry. This review presents NMP physicochemical characteristics, application especially in pharmaceutical sciences, pharmacokinetic and toxicity. Characteristics of NMP such as physicochemical properties, solubilization efficacy, toxicity and adverse effects were compared with other common solvents used in the pharmaceutical industries.

Prediction of conversion of laparoscopic cholecystectomy to open surgery with artificial neural networks.

Background: The intent of this study was to predict conversion of laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC) to open surgery employing artificial neural networks (ANN).

Methods: The retrospective data of 793 patients who underwent LC in a teaching university hospital from 1997 to 2004 was collected. We employed linear discrimination analysis and ANN models to examine the predictability of the conversion.

Cellular toxicity of nanogenomedicine in MCF-7 cell line: MTT assay.

Cytotoxicity of the futuristic nanogenomedicine (e.g., short interfering RNA and antisense) may hamper its clinical development.

Mucormycotic pseudoaneurysm of the common carotid artery with tracheal involvement.

Mucormycosis is an emerging and fatal fungal infection. A high index of suspicion and the knowledge of its potential manifestations are essential for early diagnosis. We describe a patient with acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (L2 subtype) who developed a neck mass following a course of induction chemotherapy.

A new definition of solubilization power of a cosolvent.

The solubilization power of a cosolvent is defined based on the maximum solubility of a solute in the water-cosolvent mixtures (X(m,max)) and the corresponding solvent composition (f(c,max)) predicted by trained versions of the Jouyban-Acree model. The applicability of the proposed definition was checked using solubility data of three cosolvent systems where the solubilization power was ordered as: dioxane > ethanol > polyethylene glycol 400. Using this definition, one could select the most appropriate cosolvent for solubilization of a poorly water soluble drug.