Genetic profiling of Plasmodium falciparum antigenic biomarkers among asymptomatic pregnant women on intermittent preventive treatment with sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine from southwest Nigeria.

Introduction: The genetic complexity of Plasmodium falciparum is contributory to the emergence of drug resistant-parasites. Intermittent preventive treatment of malaria in pregnancy with sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine (IPTp-SP) in malaria endemic settings is recommended by WHO. This study evaluated the prevalence of Plasmodium falciparum multidrug resistance-1 gene (Pfmdr-1), genetic diversity of merozoite surface proteins (msp-1, msp-2) and glutamate-rich protein (glurp) among pregnant women with sub-patent parasitaemia from southwest Nigeria.

Molecular dynamics as an efficient process to predict N chemical shift anisotropy at very high NMR magnetic fields.

The emergence of very high NMR magnetic fields will certainly encourage the study of larger biological systems with their dynamics and interactions. NMR spin relaxation allows probing the dynamical properties of proteins where the N longitudinal () and transverse () relaxation rates in addition to the H-N heteronuclear NOE describe the ps-ns time scale. Their analytical representation involves the chemical shift anisotropy (CSA) effect that represents the major contribution at a very high magnetic field above 18.

ALDH1A3 is the switch that determines the balance of ALDH and CD24CD44 cancer stem cells, EMT-MET, and glucose metabolism in breast cancer.

Plasticity is an inherent feature of cancer stem cells (CSCs) and regulates the balance of key processes required at different stages of breast cancer progression, including epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) versus mesenchymal-to-epithelial transition (MET), and glycolysis versus oxidative phosphorylation. Understanding the key factors that regulate the switch between these processes could lead to novel therapeutic strategies that limit tumor progression. We found that aldehyde dehydrogenase 1A3 (ALDH1A3) regulates these cancer-promoting processes and the abundance of the two distinct breast CSC populations defined by high ALDH activity and CD24CD44 cell surface expression.

Composite polymer/wax coatings as a corrosion barrier of bioresorbable magnesium coronary stents.

Magnesium and its alloys are suitable materials for biodegradable biomedical implants such as cardiovascular stents. Here we introduce an innovative composite polyelectrolyte multilayer/wax coating applied to commercial coronary Mg-based stents serving as a barrier layer effectively retarding corrosion. This hydrophobic coating, build by layer-by-layer technology, appeared very thin, smooth, homogeneous, strongly adherent and completely covering the surface of the Mg-stent.