Benchmarking of five NGS mapping tools for the reference alignment of bacterial outer membrane vesicles-associated small RNAs.

Advances in small RNAs (sRNAs)-related studies have posed a challenge for NGS-related bioinformatics, especially regarding the correct mapping of sRNAs. Depending on the algorithms and scoring matrices on which they are based, aligners are influenced by the characteristics of the dataset and the reference genome. These influences have been studied mainly in eukaryotes and to some extent in prokaryotes.

The Role of Macrophage Inhibitory Factor in TAA-Induced Liver Fibrosis in Mice: Modulatory Effects of Betaine.

Macrophage inhibitory factor (MIF) is a multipotent cytokine, involved in the inflammatory response to infections or injuries. This study investigates the role of MIF in liver fibrosis and the modulating effect of betaine on MIF in thioacetamide (TAA)-induced liver fibrosis. The wild-type and knockout MIF-/- C57BL/6 mice were divided into the following groups: control; Bet group, which received betaine; MIF-/-; MIF-/-+Bet; TAA group, which received TAA; TAA+Bet; MIF-/-+TAA; and MIF-/-+TAA+Bet group.

NMDA Receptor Antagonist Memantine Ameliorates Experimental Autoimmune Encephalomyelitis in Aged Rats.

Aging is closely related to the main aspects of multiple sclerosis (MS). The average age of the MS population is increasing and the number of elderly MS patients is expected to increase. In addition to neurons, -methyl-D-aspartate receptors (NMDARs) are also expressed on non-neuronal cells, such as immune cells.

Therapeutical Approach to Arterial Hypertension - Current State of the Art.

Arterial hypertension (AH) is recognized as the most common illness within the group of cardiovascular diseases and the most massive chronic non-infectious disease in the world. The number of hypertensive patients worldwide has reached 1.28 billion, contributing to an increase in cardiovascular diseases and premature death globally.

Anti-seizure Medications: Challenges and Opportunities.

Epilepsy is a chronic neurological condition characterized by unprovoked, recurrent seizures. There are several types of epilepsy, and the cause of the condition can vary. Some cases of epilepsy have a genetic component, while others may be caused by brain injuries, infections, or other underlying conditions.

Prolonged Zaleplon Treatment Increases the Expression of Proteins Involved in GABAergic and Glutamatergic Signaling in the Rat Hippocampus.

Zaleplon is a positive allosteric modulator of the γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) receptor approved for the short-term treatment of insomnia. Previous publications on zaleplon have not addressed the proteins involved in its mechanism of action but have mostly referred to behavioral or pharmacological studies. Since both GABAergic and glutamatergic signaling have been shown to regulate wakefulness and sleep, we examined the effects of prolonged zaleplon treatment (0.

The Role of Pharmacogenetics in Personalizing the Antidepressant and Anxiolytic Therapy.

Pharmacotherapy for neuropsychiatric disorders, such as anxiety and depression, has been characterized by significant inter-individual variability in drug response and the development of side effects. Pharmacogenetics, as a key part of personalized medicine, aims to optimize therapy according to a patient's individual genetic signature by targeting genetic variations involved in pharmacokinetic or pharmacodynamic processes. Pharmacokinetic variability refers to variations in a drug's absorption, distribution, metabolism, and elimination, whereas pharmacodynamic variability results from variable interactions of an active drug with its target molecules.

Contrasting Metabolisms in Green and White Leaf Sectors of Variegated -An Integrative Transcriptomic and Metabolomic Study.

The photosynthetically active green leaf (GL) and non-active white leaf (WL) tissues of variegated provide an excellent model system for studying processes associated with photosynthesis and sink-source interactions, enabling the same microenvironmental conditions. By combining differential transcriptomics and metabolomics, we identified the main differences between these two metabolically contrasting tissues. Genes related to photosynthesis and associated pigments, the Calvin-Benson cycle, fermentation, and glycolysis were strongly repressed in WL.

Risk Factors for Rivaroxaban-Related Bleeding Events-Possible Role of Pharmacogenetics: Case Series.

Non-vitamin K antagonist oral anticoagulants' interindividual trough concentration variability affects efficacy and safety, especially in bleeding events. Rivaroxaban is metabolised via CYP3A4/5-, CYP2J2-, and CYP-independent mechanisms and is a substrate of two transporter proteins: ABCB1 (MDR1, P-glycoprotein) and ABCG2 (BCRP; breast-cancer-resistance protein). The polymorphisms of these genes may possibly affect the pharmacokinetics of rivaroxaban and, consequently, its safety profile.

Silicon in action: Between iron scarcity and excess copper.

Essential micronutrients belonging to the transition metals, such as Fe and Cu, are indispensable for plant growth and stress tolerance; however, when present in excess, they can become potentially dangerous producers of reactive oxygen species. Therefore, their homeostases must be strictly regulated. Both microelement deficiencies and elevated concentrations of heavy metals in the soil are global problems that reduce the nutritional value of crops and seriously affect human health.

CRISPR/Cas9-Targeted Disruption of Two Highly Homologous Genes with Roles in Development and the Oxidative Stress Response.

Global climate change has a detrimental effect on plant growth and health, causing serious losses in agriculture. Investigation of the molecular mechanisms of plant responses to various environmental pressures and the generation of plants tolerant to abiotic stress are imperative to modern plant science. In this paper, we focus on the application of the well-established technology CRISPR/Cas9 genome editing to better understand the functioning of the intrinsically disordered protein DSS1 in plant response to oxidative stress.

Carbon and Nitrogen Allocation between the Sink and Source Leaf Tissue in Response to the Excess Excitation Energy Conditions.

Plants are inevitably exposed to extreme climatic conditions that lead to a disturbed balance between the amount of absorbed energy and their ability to process it. Variegated leaves with photosynthetically active green leaf tissue (GL) and photosynthetically inactive white leaf tissue (WL) are an excellent model system to study source-sink interactions within the same leaf under the same microenvironmental conditions. We demonstrated that under excess excitation energy (EEE) conditions (high irradiance and lower temperature), regulated metabolic reprogramming in both leaf tissues allowed an increased consumption of reducing equivalents, as evidenced by preserved maximum efficiency of photosystem II () at the end of the experiment.

Developing COVID-19 vaccine recommendations during the pandemic: The experience of Serbia's Expert Committee on Immunization.

A National Immunization Technical Advisory Group (NITAG) is a multi-disciplinary body of national experts that provide evidence-based recommendations to policy-makers to assist them in making informed immunization policy and programme decisions. During the COVID-19 pandemic, NITAGs faced many challenges in making evidence-based recommendations for COVID-19 vaccines due to the rapidly evolving situation with new vaccine products available in a short time period and limited data on vaccine effectiveness. The authors reviewed the process used by Serbia's NITAG, which is called the Serbian Expert Committee on Immunization, to develop COVID-19 vaccine recommendations during the pandemic.

Dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA): Pharmacological Effects and Potential Therapeutic Application.

Dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) is the most abundant steroid hormone in primates, which is predominantly synthesized in the adrenal cortex. A characteristic curve of growth and decline of its synthesis during life was observed, together with the corresponding formation of its sulphate ester (DHEAS). High levels of plasma circulating DHEA are suggested as a marker of human longevity, and various pathophysiological conditions lead to a decreased DHEA level, including adrenal insufficiency, severe systemic diseases, acute stress, and anorexia.

Acute Peripheral Facial Nerve Palsy in Children and Adolescents: Clinical Aspects and Treatment Modalities.

Background: Peripheral facial nerve palsy is a relatively frequent, rather idiopathic, and isolated nonprogressive disorder with a tendency toward spontaneous recovery in children. It is primarily characterized by unilateral paresis or paralysis of the mimic musculature affecting verbal communication, social interactions, and quality of life.

Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the clinical aspects and efficacy of different therapeutic modalities in the population of children and adolescents with acute peripheral facial nerve palsy, the quality and recovery rate in comparison to different therapy modalities and etiological factors as well as to determine parameters of recovery according to the age of patients.

Quantification of Zonisamide in Dried Blood Spots and Dried Plasma Spots by UPLC-MS/MS: Application to Clinical Practice.

In this research, a UHPLC-MS/MS method was developed and validated for the determination of zonisamide in dried plasma spots (DPS) and dried blood spots (DBS). Detection of zonisamide and internal standard, 1-(2,3-dichlorphenyl)piperazine, was carried out in ESI+ mode by monitoring two MRM transitions per analyte. Total run time, less than 2.

Betaine Modulating MIF-Mediated Oxidative Stress, Inflammation and Fibrogenesis in Thioacetamide-Induced Nephrotoxicity.

Background: Macrophage migration inhibitory factor (MIF) is a proinflammatory cytokine with chemokine properties released by various immune and non-immune cells. It contributes to the pathogenesis of many inflammatory, autoimmune diseases and malignant tumors.

Objective: Our study aimed to investigate the role of betaine in the modulation of MIF-mediated oxidative stress, inflammation, and fibrogenesis during toxic kidney damage induced by thioacetamide (TAA).

Child Neurology: Neuroretinitis in 2 Patients.

Neuroretinitis due to infection is a rare cause of vision loss in children. Two pediatric cases of acute unilateral vision loss accompanied by edema of the optic nerve on fundoscopic examination are presented. Severe causes of vision loss were excluded.

The usefulness of visual evoked potentials in the assessment of the pediatric multiple sclerosis.

Background: To evaluate the significance of visual evoked potentials (VEP) in the early diagnosis of optic neuritis (ON) and detecting clinically silent lesions in pediatric multiple sclerosis (PedMS). This study represents one of the largest series of PedMS which evaluated characteristics of VEP in PedMS patients.

Methods: This was a retrospective study on 52 PedMS patients, aged 7-17 years.

Mutational Analysis and mtDNA Haplogroup Characterization in Three Serbian Cases of Mitochondrial Encephalomyopathies and Literature Review.

Mitochondrial encephalomyopathies (MEMP) are heterogeneous multisystem disorders frequently associated with mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) mutations. Clinical presentation varies considerably in age of onset, course, and severity up to death in early childhood. In this study, we performed molecular genetic analysis for mtDNA pathogenic mutation detection in Serbian children, preliminary diagnosed clinically, biochemically and by brain imaging for mitochondrial encephalomyopathies disorders.

Transcatheter Aortic Valve Implantation Induces Transient Drop in Platelet Reactivity.

Although recent studies described platelet reactivity (PR) changes in days after transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI), precise time course and duration of these changes have not been fully investigated. The aim of this study was to investigate PR pattern during and after TAVI in multiple time points. Study included 40 consecutive patients undergoing TAVI.

Introduction to the EQIPD quality system.

While high risk of failure is an inherent part of developing innovative therapies, it can be reduced by adherence to evidence-based rigorous research practices. Supported through the European Union's Innovative Medicines Initiative, the EQIPD consortium has developed a novel preclinical research quality system that can be applied in both public and private sectors and is free for anyone to use. The EQIPD Quality System was designed to be suited to boost innovation by ensuring the generation of robust and reliable preclinical data while being lean, effective and not becoming a burden that could negatively impact the freedom to explore scientific questions.

Use of seed priming to improve Cd accumulation and tolerance in Silene sendtneri, novel Cd hyper-accumulator.

Changes in the environment as a result of industrialisation and urbanisation impact negatively on plant growth and crop production. Cadmium (Cd) is one of the most dangerous metals that enters the food chain, with toxic effects on plants and human health. This study evaluated the potential of Silene sendtneri as a novel hyperaccumulator and the role of seed priming in tolerance and accumulation rate of Cd.