Comparative effects of viral-transport-medium heat inactivation upon downstream SARS-CoV-2 detection in patient samples.

The COVID-19 pandemic, which began in 2020 is testing economic resilience and surge capacity of healthcare providers worldwide. At the time of writing, positive detection of the SARS-CoV-2 virus remains the only method for diagnosing COVID-19 infection. Rapid upscaling of national SARS-CoV-2 genome testing presented challenges: (1) Unpredictable supply chains of reagents and kits for virus inactivation, RNA extraction and PCR-detection of viral genomes.

Excess androgen production in subcutaneous adipose tissue of women with polycystic ovarian syndrome is not related to insulin or LH.

The purpose of this study was to investigate androgen production and the role of insulin and LH in its regulation in subcutaneous adipose tissue (SAT) of women with polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS). Protein and mRNA expression of androgen synthesis enzymes (Cytochrome P450 17A1 [CYP17A1] and Aldo-keto reductase 1C3 [AKR1C3]) were measured in SAT biopsies from women with PCOS, diagnosed according to the Rotterdam criteria (n=15) and healthy controls (n=15). Cultured mature adipocytes (differentiated from SAT biopsies) were treated with insulin ± phosphoinositol-3-kinase inhibitor (LY294002) or LH ± insulin.

Anti-acetylcholinesterase activity and antioxidant properties of extracts and fractions of Carpolobia lutea.

Context: There is an unmet need to discover new treatments for Alzheimer's disease. This study determined the anti-acetylcholinesterase (AChE) activity, DPPH free radical scavenging and antioxidant properties of Carpolobia lutea G. Don (Polygalaceae).

Inflammation and MiR-21 pathways functionally interact to downregulate PDCD4 in colorectal cancer.

Inflammation plays a direct role in colorectal cancer (CRC) progression; however the molecular mechanisms responsible for this effect are unclear. The inflammation induced cyclooxygenase 2 (COX-2) enzyme required for the production of Prostaglandin E2 (PGE2), can promote colorectal cancer by decreasing expression of the tumour suppressor gene Programmed Cell Death 4 (PDCD4). As PDCD4 is also a direct target of the oncogene microRNA-21 (miR-21) we investigated the relationship between the COX-2 and miR-21 pathways in colorectal cancer progression.