Role of carotid duplex in the assessment of carotid artery restenosis after endarterectomy or stenting.

Introduction: Redo carotid endarterectomy (CEA) and carotid stenting (CAS) are often performed when there is evidence of post-procedural restenosis. The incidence of restenosis after carotid reconstruction is not negligible, ranging from 5 to 33%. The diagnosis of significant internal carotid artery (ICA) restenosis is usually based on duplex ultrasound (US) criteria, mostly on peak-systolic flow velocity (PSV).

Highly functionalized diaminocyclopentanes: A new route to potent and selective inhibitors of human O-GlcNAcase.

A new class of compounds inhibiting de-O-glycosylation of proteins has been identified. Highly substituted diaminocyclopentanes are impressively selective reversible non-transition state O-β-N-acetyl-d-glucosaminidase (O-GlcNAcase) inhibitors. The ease of preparative access and remarkable biological activities provide highly viable leads for the development of anti-tau-phosphorylation agents with a view to eventually ameliorating Alzheimer's disease.

Oligosaccharide Ligands of Galectin-4 and Its Subunits: Multivalency Scores Highly.

Galectins are carbohydrate-binding lectins that modulate the proliferation, apoptosis, adhesion, or migration of cells by cross-linking glycans on cell membranes or extracellular matrix components. Galectin-4 (Gal-4) is a tandem-repeat-type galectin expressed mainly in the epithelial cells of the gastrointestinal tract. It consists of an N- and a C-terminal carbohydrate-binding domain (CRD), each with distinct binding affinities, interconnected with a peptide linker.

The COVID-19 Pandemic and Adolescents' Psychological Distress: A Multinational Cross-Sectional Study.

Background: The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has continued for more than two years, and the impact of this pandemic on mental health has become one of the most important research topics in psychiatry and psychology. The aim of the present study was to assess psychological distress in adolescents across five countries (Sweden, Morocco, Serbia, Vietnam, and the United States of America) during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Methods: Using nonparametric analyses we examined the impact of COVID-19 on distress, measured by the Brief Symptom Inventory, in a sample of 4670 adolescents.

Diaminocyclopentane-derived -GlcNAcase inhibitors for combating tau hyperphosphorylation in Alzheimer's disease.

We developed potent and selective aminocyclopentane-derived inhibitors of human -acetyl-β-D-glucosaminidase (OGA) implicated in Alzheimer's disease. For example compound 13 was a nanomolar OGA inhibitor with 92 000-fold selectivity over human HexB. It was non-toxic and increased protein -GlcNAcylation in the culture of murine neural cells, showing new alternatives in the treatment of tauopathies.

Engineered Glycosidases for the Synthesis of Analogs of Human Milk Oligosaccharides.

Enzymatic synthesis is an elegant biocompatible approach to complex compounds such as human milk oligosaccharides (HMOs). These compounds are vital for healthy neonatal development with a positive impact on the immune system. Although HMOs may be prepared by glycosyltransferases, this pathway is often complicated by the high price of sugar nucleotides, stringent substrate specificity, and low enzyme stability.

Measurement properties of the life history of aggression in adolescents: Data from Morocco, Serbia, Sweden, Vietnam, and the USA.

The Life History of Aggression (LHA) is a frequently used scale for assessing trait aggression, but its psychometric properties have not been evaluated among adolescents. The aim of this study was to evaluate the psychometric properties of the LHA among high school students from Morocco, Serbia, Sweden, Vietnam, and the United States of America (USA). The total sample included 4867 adolescents, aged 15-19 years, from Morocco (n = 508), Serbia (n = 1067), Sweden (n = 1570), Vietnam (n = 1401), and the USA (n = 321).

2-Acetamido-2-deoxy-d-glucono-1,5-lactone Sulfonylhydrazones: Synthesis and Evaluation as Inhibitors of Human OGA and HexB Enzymes.

Inhibition of the human -linked β--acetylglucosaminidase (hOGA, GH84) enzyme is pharmacologically relevant in several diseases such as neurodegenerative and cardiovascular disorders, type 2 diabetes, and cancer. Human lysosomal hexosaminidases (hHexA and hHexB, GH20) are mechanistically related enzymes; therefore, selective inhibition of these enzymes is crucial in terms of potential applications. In order to extend the structure-activity relationships of OGA inhibitors, a series of 2-acetamido-2-deoxy-d-glucono-1,5-lactone sulfonylhydrazones was prepared from d-glucosamine.

Discovery of human hexosaminidase inhibitors by in situ screening of a library of mono- and divalent pyrrolidine iminosugars.

Two libraries of mono- and dimeric pyrrolidine iminosugars were synthesized by CuAAC and (thio)urea-bond-forming reactions from the respective azido/aminohexylpyrrolidine iminosugar precursors. The resulting monomeric and dimeric compounds were screened for inhibition of β-N-acetylglucosaminidase from Jack beans, the plant ortholog of human lysosomal hexosaminidases. A selection of the best inhibitors of these libraries was then evaluated against human lysosomal β-N-acetylhexosaminidase B (hHexB) and human nucleocytoplasmic β-N-acetylglucosaminidase (hOGA).

Reprint of: Advanced glycosidases as ingenious biosynthetic instruments.

Until recently, glycosidases, naturally hydrolyzing carbohydrate-active enzymes, have found few synthetic applications in industry, being primarily used for cleaving unwanted carbohydrates. With the establishment of glycosynthase and transglycosidase technology by genetic engineering, the view of glycosidases as industrial biotechnology tools has started to change. Their easy production, affordability, robustness, and substrate versatility, added to the possibility of controlling undesired side hydrolysis by enzyme engineering, have made glycosidases competitive synthetic tools.

Advanced glycosidases as ingenious biosynthetic instruments.

Until recently, glycosidases, naturally hydrolyzing carbohydrate-active enzymes, have found few synthetic applications in industry, being primarily used for cleaving unwanted carbohydrates. With the establishment of glycosynthase and transglycosidase technology by genetic engineering, the view of glycosidases as industrial biotechnology tools has started to change. Their easy production, affordability, robustness, and substrate versatility, added to the possibility of controlling undesired side hydrolysis by enzyme engineering, have made glycosidases competitive synthetic tools.

Growth Factors VEGF-A and FGF-2 as Multifunctional Biomolecules Governing Cell Adhesion and Proliferation.

Vascular endothelial growth factor-A (VEGF-A) and fibroblast growth factor-2 (FGF-2) are currently used for the functionalization of biomaterials designed for tissue engineering. We have developed a new simple method for heterologous expression and purification of VEGF-A and FGF-2 in the yeast expression system of . The biological activity of the growth factors was assessed in cultures of human and porcine adipose tissue-derived stem cells (ADSCs) and human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs).

[Cervical artery dissection - retrospective analysis of 19 cases].

Cervical artery dissection is a common cause of stroke in young adults. It might occur shortly after a forceful neck trauma or a minor injury. However, spontaneous dissection is also common, which is associated with genetic, anatomical or environmental risk factors.

The Relationship between Body Fat Percentage and Some Anthropometric and Physical Fitness Characteristics in Pre- and Peripubertal Boys.

The main aim of this study was to compare anthropometric and physical fitness indicators of boys of the same chronical age but with different fat percentages. Subjects were Hungarian boys aged 9⁻13 years ( = 6919). Anthropometry was measured according the guidelines of the International Biological Program.

Molecular Transition of an Adult Low-Grade Brain Tumor to an Atypical Teratoid/Rhabdoid Tumor Over a Time-Course of 14 Years.

Atypical teratoid/rhabdoid tumor (AT/RT) of the central nervous system is a highly malignant, pediatric brain tumor typically arising de novo. Inactivation of SMARCB1 is a defining molecular event. We present here a rare case of an adult (35 years) low-grade SMARCB1-deleted brain tumor with transition into prototypical AT/RT over 14 years.

Retinoid machinery in distinct neural stem cell populations with different retinoid responsiveness.

Retinoic acid (RA) is present at sites of neurogenesis in both the embryonic and adult brain. While it is widely accepted that RA signaling is involved in the regulation of neural stem cell differentiation, little is known about vitamin A utilization and biosynthesis of active retinoids in the neurogenic niches, or about the details of retinoid metabolism in neural stem cells and differentiating progenies. Here we provide data on retinoid responsiveness and RA production of distinct neural stem cell/neural progenitor populations.

Varenicline treatment of concurrent alcohol and nicotine dependence in schizophrenia: a randomized, placebo-controlled pilot trial.

Alcohol and nicotine dependence are common in schizophrenia. Varenicline is effective in smoking cessation and has also been shown to decrease alcohol consumption in smokers. The present pilot study assessed the safety and effectiveness of varenicline for treatment of concurrent nicotine and alcohol dependence in schizophrenia.

Evaluation of cell proliferation, apoptosis, and DNA-repair genes as potential biomarkers for ethanol-induced CNS alterations.

Background: Alcohol use disorders (AUDs) lead to alterations in central nervous system (CNS) architecture along with impaired learning and memory. Previous work from our group and that of others suggests that one mechanism underlying these changes is alteration of cell proliferation, apoptosis, and DNA-repair in neural stem cells (NSCs) produced as a consequence of ethanol-induced effects on the expression of genes related to p53-signaling. This study tests the hypothesis that changes in the expression of p53-signaling genes represent biomarkers of ethanol abuse which can be identified in the peripheral blood of rat drinking models and human AUD subjects and posits that specific changes may be correlated with differences in neuropsychological measures and CNS structure.

Psychiatric symptoms in systemic lupus erythematosus: a systematic review.

Objective: Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) presents with psychiatric symptoms in most patients that often remain undiagnosed and untreated. This study evaluates the prevalence of psychiatric symptoms in SLE on the basis of clinical trials that fulfilled diagnostic criteria specified by the American College of Rheumatology (ACR). Current hypotheses explaining the pathogenesis of psychiatric symptoms of lupus are reviewed to gain new insights into the neuroimmune pathogenesis of other psychiatric disorders.

Accuracy of self-reported medical problems in patients with alcohol dependence and co-occurring schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder.

Background: Schizophrenia and alcohol dependence (AD) are both major risk factors for a variety of medical problems, yet little is known about the medical status of patients in whom both conditions coexist.

Objective: The objectives of this study are to assess accuracy of self-reported medical problems and to compare the accuracy reports in patients with schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder and co-occurring AD compared to patients with AD only and to controls. Our hypothesis was that medical problems are under-reported in patients with co-occurring disorders, possibly due to the combination of alcohol use and symptoms of schizophrenia.