Functional heterogeneity of mesenchymal stem cells and their therapeutic potential in the K18-hACE2 mouse model of SARS-CoV-2 infection.

Background: Despite many years of investigation into mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) and their potential for treating inflammatory conditions such as COVID-19, clinical outcomes remain variable due to factors like donor variability, different tissue sources, and diversity within MSC populations. Variations in MSCs' secretory and proliferation profiles, and their proteomic and transcriptional characteristics significantly influence their therapeutic potency, highlighting the need for enhanced characterization methods to better predict their efficacy. This study aimed to evaluate the biological characteristics of MSCs from different tissue origins, selecting the most promising line for further validation in a K18-hACE2 mouse model of SARS-CoV-2 infection.

Nonlinear Refraction and Absorption in Polymers Used for Femtosecond Direct Laser Writing.

Direct laser writing (DLW) has been recognized as a unique technique for three-dimensional (3D) prototyping with resolution beyond the diffraction limit. One trend in DLW technologies is the use of polymers, given their favorable mechanical properties and optical quality, rendering them promising for the next generation of nonlinear photonic devices. However, absorptive properties that facilitate DLW processes may also hinder the performance of polymers as all-optical devices.

Early and Long-Term Adverse Outcomes of In Utero Zika Exposure.

Background: Zika virus (ZIKV) infection during pregnancy can lead to congenital Zika syndrome (CZS) and may result in neurodevelopmental alterations in exposed children, with and without CZS. This study aimed to evaluate ZIKV infection during pregnancy as a risk factor for early and long-term adverse outcomes.

Methods: This retrospective-prospective, matched cohort study was conducted in Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil.

Extending the MST Model to Large Biomolecular Systems: Parametrization of the ddCOSMO-MST Continuum Solvation Model.

Continuum solvation models such as the polarizable continuum model and the conductor-like screening model are widely used in quantum chemistry, but their application to large biosystems is hampered by their computational cost. Here, we report the parametrization of the Miertus-Scrocco-Tomasi (MST) model for the prediction of hydration free energies of neutral and ionic molecules based on the domain decomposition formulation of COSMO (ddCOSMO), which allows a drastic reduction of the computational cost by several orders of magnitude. We also introduce several novelties in MST, like a new definition of atom types based on hybridization and an automatic setup of the cavity for charged regions.

Comparing adenosine A receptor modulation of cannabinoid CB receptor-mediated inhibition of GABA and glutamate release in rodent striatal nerve terminals.

In corticostriatal nerve terminals, glutamate release is stimulated by adenosine via A receptors (ARs) and simultaneously inhibited by endocannabinoids via CB receptors (CBRs). We previously identified presynaptic AR-CBR heterotetrameric complexes in corticostriatal nerve terminals. We now explored the possible functional interaction between ARs and CBRs in purified striatal GABAergic nerve terminals (synaptosomes) and compared these findings with those on the release of glutamate.