Cardioprotective Effect of Selective μ-Opioid Receptor Agonist Endomorphin-1 in Cardiac Reperfusion In Vivo and In Vitro.

The effect of the selective μ-opioid receptor agonist endomorphin-1 in reperfusion injury in male Wistar rats was studied in vivo and in vitro. The in vivo experiment included coronary artery occlusion (45 min) and reperfusion (120 min); in in vitro experiments, 45-min global ischemia of the isolated rat heart was followed by 30-min reperfusion. Endomorphin-1 was administered intravenously 5 min before in vivo reperfusion (at a dose 50 μg/kg) or added to the perfusion solution at the onset of reperfusion of the isolated heart (in a concentration of 152 nmol/liter).

The β-adrenergic receptor agonist formoterol attenuates necrosis and apoptosis in the rat myocardium under experimental stress-induced cardiac injury.

Background: Currently, there is no effective therapy for takotsubo syndrome (stress-induced cardiac injury in humans) in the clinics. It has previously been shown that β-adrenergic receptor (β-AR) agonist formoterol reduces cardiomyocyte injury in experimental takotsubo syndrome.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to investigate whether formoterol prevents apoptosis and necrosis of cardiomyocytes and endothelial cells in stress-induced cardiomyopathy.

Synthesis and crystal structures of 5,17-di-bromo-26,28-dihy-droxy-25,27-dipropynyloxycalix[4]arene, 5,17-di-bromo-26,28-dipropoxy-25,27-dipropynyloxycalix[4]arene and 25,27-bis-(2-azido-eth-oxy)-5,17-di-bromo-26,28-di-hydroxy-calix[4]arene.

The calixarenes, 5,17-di-bromo-26,28-dihy-droxy-25,27-dipropynyloxycalix[4]arene (CHBrO, ), 5,17-di-bromo-26,28-dipropoxy-25,27-dipropynyloxycalix[4]arene (CHBrO, ) and 25,27-bis-(2-azido-eth-oxy)-5,17-di-bromo-26,28-di-hydroxy-calix[4]arene (CHBrNO, ) possess a pinched cone mol-ecular shape for and , and a 1,3-alternate shape for compound . In calixarenes and , the cone conformations are additionally stabilized by intra-molecular O-H⋯O hydrogen bonds, while in calixarene intra-molecular Br⋯Br inter-actions consolidate the 1,3-alternate mol-ecular conformation. The dense crystal packing of the cone dialkyne is a consequence of π-π, C-H⋯π and C-H⋯O inter-actions.

Activation of Cardiac δ-Opioid Receptors Increases Heart Tolerance to Reperfusion.

Coronary occlusion (45 min) and reperfusion (120 min) in male Wistar rats in vivo, as well as total ischemia (45 min) of an isolated rat heart followed by reperfusion (30 min) were reproduced. The selective δ-opioid receptor agonist deltorphin II (0.12 mg/kg and 152 nmol/liter) was administered intravenously 5 min before reperfusion in vivo or added to the perfusion solution at the beginning of reperfusion of the isolated heart.

Chemical composition of the White Sea sponge .

The extract of the White Sea sponge (Pallas, 1766) exhibits cytotoxic and cytostatic effects. The main part of the extract consists of hydrophilic low molecular weight compounds: free amino acids (13.9%), glucose (19.

Effects of Different Therapeutic Approaches on Redox Balance in Psoriatic Patients.

Given that oxidative stress represents an important etiological factor in the pathogenesis of psoriasis, the aim of this study was to assess the effects of different therapeutic approaches, methotrexate, secukinumab, and ustekinumab on systemic oxidative stress biomarkers in psoriatic patients. This study involved 78 psoriatic patients, divided into the group treated with methotrexate (23 patients), secukinumab (28 patients), and ustekinumab (27 patients), and 15 healthy controls. Oxidative stress biomarkers (index of lipid peroxidation measured as TBARS, nitrites (NO), superoxide anion radical (O), and hydrogen peroxide (HO)) and antioxidative defense system (superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity, catalase (CAT) activity, and reduced glutathione (GSH)) were determined spectrophotometrically from the blood before the initiation of therapy in 16th, 28th, and 52nd week.

Comparative Analysis of Infarct-Limiting Activity of Peptide and Non-Peptide δ- and κ-Opioid Receptor Agonists during Heart Reperfusion In Vivo.

A comparative analysis of the infarct-limiting activity of δ- and κ-opioid receptors (OR) agonists was carried out on a model of coronary occlusion (45 min) and reperfusion (120 min) in male Wistar rats. We used selective δ-OR agonist deltorphin II (0.12 mg/kg), δ-OR agonists BW373U86 and p-Cl-Phe DPDPE (0.

Angiotensin 1-7 increases cardiac tolerance to ischemia/reperfusion and mitigates adverse remodeling of the heart-The signaling mechanism.

Background: The high mortality rate of patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI) remains the most pressing issue of modern cardiology. Over the past 10 years, there has been no significant reduction in mortality among patients with AMI. It is quite obvious that there is an urgent need to develop fundamentally new drugs for the treatment of AMI.

The Role of Key Amino Acids of the Human Fe(II)/2OG-Dependent Dioxygenase ALKBH3 in Structural Dynamics and Repair Activity toward Methylated DNA.

Non-heme dioxygenases of the AlkB family hold a unique position among enzymes that repair alkyl lesions in nucleic acids. These enzymes activate the Fe(II) ion and molecular oxygen through the coupled decarboxylation of the 2-oxoglutarate co-substrate to subsequently oxidize the substrate. ALKBH3 is a human homolog of AlkB, which displays a specific activity toward N1-methyladenine and N3-methylcytosine bases in single-stranded DNA.

Synthesis of biologically active proteins as L6KD-SUMO fusions forming inclusion bodies in Escherichia coli.

A new platform has been developed to facilitate the production of biologically active proteins and peptides in Escherichia coli. The platform includes an N-terminal self-associating L KD peptide fused to the SUMO protein (small ubiquitin-like protein modifier) from the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae, which is known for its chaperone activity. The target proteins are fused at the C termini of the L KD-SUMO fusions, and the resulting three-component fusion proteins are synthesized and self-assembled in E.

δ-Opioid Receptor as a Molecular Target for Increasing Cardiac Resistance to Reperfusion in Drug Development.

An analysis of published data and the results of our own studies reveal that the activation of a peripheral δ-opioid receptor (δ-OR) increases the cardiac tolerance to reperfusion. It has been found that this δ-OR is localized in cardiomyocytes. Endogenous opioids are not involved in the regulation of cardiac resistance to reperfusion.

Ferro- and ferrielectricity and negative piezoelectricity in thioamide-based supramolecular organic discotics.

Amide-based discotic supramolecular organic materials are of interest for fundamental understanding of cooperative self-assembly and collective dipole switching mechanisms as well as for practically relevant ferroelectric and piezoelectric properties. Here, we show how replacing amides (dipole moment of ∼3.5 D) with thioamides (∼5.

Anaplastic large cell lymphoma ALK-positive variant of primary bone lymphoma associated with melanoma.

We describe in detail a case of the anaplastic large cell lymphoma (ALCL) type of primary bone lymphoma, which initially was diagnosed and treated as osteomyelitis. The diagnosis was delayed because of unspecific clinical symptoms and uncertain radiographs and histology. Only relapse of the lymphoma from the same area with involvement of the soft tissue and local lymph nodes allowed to establish a correct diagnosis and start treatment.

Apelin Is a Prototype of Novel Drugs for the Treatment of Acute Myocardial Infarction and Adverse Myocardial Remodeling.

In-hospital mortality in patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) is 5-6%. Consequently, it is necessary to develop fundamentally novel drugs capable of reducing mortality in patients with acute myocardial infarction. Apelins could be the prototype for such drugs.

Effects of Isoflavone-Rich NADES Extract of Roots and Astaxanthin-Rich Extract on Prostate Carcinogenesis in Rats.

Prostate cancer (PCa) is one of the most common male malignancies worldwide. In the current study, we evaluated the effects of a natural deep eutectic solvent (NADES) extract of roots rich in isoflavones (ISF) and extract rich in astaxanthin (ASX) on an -methyl--nitrosourea plus testosterone PCa model in rats. ISF consisted of puerarin, daidzein, genistein, formononetin and other polyphenols, while ASX contained lipids and unsaturated species in addition to astaxanthin.

Switchable silver-ion complexation by triazolated calix[4]semitubes.

Triazolated calix[4]semitubes comprising several binding sites were studied for complexation of Ag to get insight into the ability of the multitopic semi-tubular environment to host cation(s) in a structure-specific/switchable manner. For this purpose, a series of triazolated calix[4]semitubes having two or three 1,3-alternate calix[4]arene cores and crown-5-ether loops in the structures were prepared using the recently developed stepwise synthesis approach. Crown-5-ether loops were used as model receptor units which could be filled with K to charge positively either a specific 'end' or both 'ends' of the semi-tubular assemblies and to affect the complexation abilities of the internal binding sites of triazolated calix[4]semitubes.

Production of Reactive Oxygen Species by Epicardial Adipocytes Is Associated with an Increase in Postprandial Glycemia, Postprandial Insulin, and a Decrease in Serum Adiponectin in Patients with Severe Coronary Atherosclerosis.

Purpose. This work investigates the relations between the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) by epicardial adipose tissue (EAT) adipocytes and parameters of glucose/insulin metabolism, circulating adipokines levels, and severity of coronary atherosclerosis in patients with coronary artery disease (CAD); establishing significant determinants describing changes in ROS EAT in this category of patients. Material and methods.

Increased Extracellular Sodium Concentration as a Factor Regulating Gene Expression in Endothelium.

Hyperosmotic stimulation of endothelial cells often leads to its dysfunction accompanied, among other things, by proinflammatory response. The mechanisms of this phenomenon are not fully understood. It may arise due to increase in the plasma Na+ concentration, due to increase in the extracellular osmolarity, increase in the intracellular Na+/K+ ratio, and/or change in the cell stiffness.

Sputnik V Effectiveness against Hospitalization with COVID-19 during Omicron Dominance.

Mass vaccination campaigns against COVID-19 affected more than 90% of the population in most developed countries. The new epidemiologic wave of COVID-19 has been ongoing since the end of 2021. It is caused by a virus variant B.

Vaccine building 'kit': combining peptide bricks to elicit a desired immune response without adding an adjuvant.

Protein nanoparticles (NPs) can be used as vaccine platforms for target antigen presentation. To conduct a proof-of-concept study to demonstrate that an effective NP platform can be built based on a short self-assembling peptide (SAP) rather than a large self-assembling protein. SUMO-based protein fusions (SFs) containing an N-terminal SAP and a C-terminal antigen were designed, expressed in  and purified.

Evaluation of Age-Dependent Changes in the Coloration of Male Killifish Nothobranchius Guentheri Using New Photoprocessing Methods.

Fish as model objects have found wide applications in biology and fundamental medicine and allow studies of behavioral and physiological responses to various environmental factors. Representatives of the genus are one of the most convenient objects for such studies. Male fish belonging to the family are characterized by extremely diverse coloration, which constantly changes, depending on the age of the fish, environmental factors, and social hierarchical status.

Diagnostic approach and treatment specificity in patients with focal lesions of the biliopancreatic area complicated by mechanical jaundice.

Pancreatoduodenal resection (PDR) represents one of the most demanding procedures which is required in patients with a tumoral lesion at this level. The aim of the present article was to report the results of 272 patients submitted to such surgical procedures. All patients were divided into two groups: the main group, for whom the optimized decompression algorithm was used (n=112) and the control group, for whom preparation for PDR was carried out according to generally accepted standards (n=160).

Mitigating effects of sublethal and lethal whole-body gamma irradiation in a mouse model with soluble melanin.

The field of radiation countermeasures is growing, however, currently there are no effective and non-toxic compounds which could be administered orally to the individuals post exposure to high doses of ionising radiation. The pigment melanin is ubiquitous through all kingdoms of life and provides selective advantage under radiation stress through its role as a chemical and physical shield, and its capacity to respond and react to exposures. Soluble allomelanin was administered to mice following whole-body exposure to lethal or sublethal doses of gamma radiation to determine its capacity to mitigate the effects of acute radiation syndrome, and its utility as a radiation countermeasure.

Inherently dinuclear iridium(III) architectures accessed by cyclometalation of calix[4]arene-based bis(aryltriazoles).

Conventional cyclometalation of calix[4]arene bis(aryltriazoles) with iridium(III) chloride hydrate leads to unique architectures in which the IrCl core is cross-bound by two (C^N) ligands, which allows further replacement of the chloride bridges with ancillary ligands while maintaining the dinuclear structures of the complexes having independent or coupled iridium pairs.