Pseudomonas aeruginosa Endocarditis With a Large Mitral Valve Vegetation Causing Severe Mitral Valve Regurgitation and Cardiogenic Shock.

Infective endocarditis (IE) is characterized by the inflammation of the inner layer of the heart that can be caused by different pathogens. Pseudomonas aeruginosa is an uncommon source of IE. The clinical presentation is highly dependent on the patient's medical history, societal factors, and valve involvement.

Computational modelling of supramolecular metallopeptide assemblies.

Among the important questions in supramolecular peptide self-assemblies are their interactions with metallic compounds and ions. In the last decade, intensive efforts have been devoted to understanding the structural properties of these interactions including their dynamical and catalytic impact in natural and de novo systems. Since structural insights from experimental approaches could be particularly challenging, computational chemistry methods are interesting complementary tools.

Light-Chain (AL) Cardiac Amyloidosis Presenting as Heart Failure With Reduced Ejection Fraction.

Systemic amyloidosis is caused by the extracellular deposition of misfolded proteins in various organs and usually leads to organ dysfunction. The two common subtypes include light-chain amyloidosis and transthyretin amyloidosis. Deposition of these proteins in the heart can lead to infiltrative and restrictive cardiomyopathy, commonly manifesting as heart failure with preserved ejection fraction.

A Rare Case of a 54-year-old Male with Vocal Cord Paralysis Secondary to Left Atrial Enlargement.

Ortner's syndrome, a rare condition characterized by hoarseness due to left recurrent laryngeal nerve palsy caused by cardiovascular structural compression, is typically associated with an enlarged left atrium secondary to conditions like mitral stenosis. However, recent studies propose additional causes, including compression between the dilated pulmonary artery and the aorta. We present a case of a 54-year-old male with Ortner's syndrome secondary to severe mitral regurgitation and pulmonary hypertension.

Benign Pneumoperitoneum Following Mitral Valve Replacement.

The pneumoperitoneum refers to the presence of free air inside the abdominal cavity. This finding is usually a sequela of a gastrointestinal tract perforation. Still, in rare instances, it can present after cardiac surgery due to the proximity of the peritoneal cavity and pericardium, allowing air to enter the peritoneal cavity.

Proceed with Caution: Social Acceptability of Forestry Practices in Puerto Rico among Members of Local Environmental Organizations, Academia and Professional Associations.

Social acceptability of forestry practices plays a key role in defining sustainable forestry policies and strategies. In this study an online survey was distributed among members of environmental, non-governmental, professional, and academic organizations to assess the acceptability of forestry practices in Puerto Rico among members of civic society interested in environmental management issues. Participants were asked about their perception of forest uses, their preference of tree harvesting technologies, methods that may apply in small scale wood production settings, and trust in organizations providing forest information.

Astrocytes: Role in pathogenesis and effect of commonly misused drugs in the HIV infected brain.

The roles of astrocytes as reservoirs and producers of a subset of viral proteins in the HIV infected brain have been studied extensively as a key to understanding HIV-associated neurocognitive disorders (HAND). However, their comprehensive role in the context of intersecting substance use and neurocircuitry of the reward pathway and HAND has yet to be fully explained. Use of methamphetamines, cocaine, or opioids in the context of HIV infection have been shown to lead to a faster progression of HAND.

Acute Pancreatitis-Induced Thrombosis of Celiac Artery: An Unusual Complication of Acute Pancreatitis.

Acute pancreatitis can lead to both local and systemic complications, including pseudocysts, biliary obstruction, duodenal obstruction, sepsis, necrosis, vascular complications, and multiorgan failure. Vascular complications following acute pancreatitis are associated with a high risk of morbidity and mortality due to their thrombotic and hemorrhagic effects. When thrombosis is present, it usually involves the splanchnic venous system, but it is rarely seen in the arterial system.

Intracellular Zn(II) induced fluorescence of an L-phenylalanine-derived pseudopeptide.

A symmetric L-phenylalanine-derived pseudopeptide has been synthesized for selective and sensitive recognition of Zn(II) ions in aqueous-organic media. The pseudopeptidic probes exhibit intracellular Zn(II) ion-sensing capabilities as demonstrated live-cell fluorescence studies on RAW264.7 cells.

Ileocecal Mesentery Arteriovenous Malformation as a Rare Cause of Ectopic Variceal Bleeding in a 58-Year-Old Male With Cirrhosis.

Ectopic varices can be defined as dilated portosystemic venous collaterals that are located at a site other than the esophagus or stomach. These varices can be seen in patients with underlying portal hypertension, but bleeding from them is quite rare. The bleeding usually occurs in patients with a history of intra-abdominal surgery and adhesions.

Acute Fulminant Cerebral Edema Caused by Influenza Type B in an 18-Year-Old Female: A Rare Case.

Most influenza B infections are self-limited, but in some instances, they can cause substantial morbidity and mortality due to complications. Acute fulminant cerebral edema (AFCE) is one of the rare complications. AFCE, a consequence of acute encephalitis, presents as acute onset of alteration in mental status, seizure, and/or headache followed by rapidly progressive encephalopathy, often leading to death.

Bixa orellana ethyl acetate fraction and its isolated compound ellagic acid attenuate the progression of MIA-induced osteoarthritis in rat knees.

Osteoarthritis (OA) is a pathology that is characterized by progressive erosion of articular cartilage. In this context, medicinal plants have become relevant tools regarding their potential role in the prevention and treatment of OA, being safe and effective. The aim of this work was investigate the therapeutic efficacy of the ethyl acetate fraction of Bixa orellana leaves (BoEA) and ellagic acid (ElAc) for the therapeutic treatment of OA induced by monosodium iodoacetate (MIA) in rats.

An Unusual Case of Nonbacterial Thrombotic Endocarditis Attributable to Malignancy.

Nonbacterial thrombotic endocarditis (NBTE), also known as marantic endocarditis, is a condition characterized by the deposition of thrombi and fibrin on normal or degenerated cardiac valves in the absence of microorganisms. We report a case of a 60-year-old male with nonbacterial thrombotic endocarditis found on transesophageal echocardiogram (TEE) after a normal TEE just one month prior. Our patient presented with abdominal pain associated with poor appetite and unintentional 20-pound weight loss for one month.

Fulminant Hepatic Failure With Minimal Alcohol Consumption in a 25-Year-Old Female With Hereditary Hemochromatosis: A Rare Case.

Hereditary hemochromatosis (HH) is an inherited disorder in which organ damage and other clinical manifestations are commonly seen in patients with a homozygous mutation involving of the gene, causing increased iron absorption in the intestine. The liver is the primary site of iron deposition, and excessive iron overload can eventually lead to hepatic cirrhosis. Patients who drink significant amounts of alcohol are more likely to develop cirrhosis, and in females, it is commonly seen after menopause.

Bilateral Acute Iris Transillumination Associated with Moxifloxacin Antibiotic Use.

Purpose: To describe the clinical and demographic characteristics and associated factors leading to bilateral acute iris transillumination (BAIT) syndrome.

Methods: A retrospective review of patients with BAIT syndrome was performed.

Results: Thirty-five patients with a diagnosis of BAIT were identified.

The key role of pretreatment for the one-step and multi-step conversions of European lignocellulosic materials into furan compounds.

Nowadays, an increased interest from the chemical industry towards the furanic compounds production, renewable molecules alternatives to fossil molecules, which can be transformed into a wide range of chemicals and biopolymers. These molecules are produced following hexose and pentose dehydration. In this context, lignocellulosic biomass, owing to its richness in carbohydrates, notably cellulose and hemicellulose, can be the starting material for monosaccharide supply to be converted into bio-based products.

The Debye length and anionic transport properties of composite membranes based on supported ionic liquid-like phases (SILLPS).

An analysis of the ionic transport properties of BMIM [NTf] in supported ionic-liquid-like phase (SILLP)-based membranes has been carried out based on experimental impedance spectroscopy measurements. The direct current (dc)-conductivity was analyzed to determine the temperature and frequency dependence. The fit of the loss tangent curve data with the Cole-Cole approximation of the electrode polarization model provides the conductivity, diffusivity, and density of charge carriers.

Pseudopeptidic host adaptation in peptide recognition unveiled by ion mobility mass spectrometry.

Complexation of the glutamic-tyrosine-glutamic tripeptide (EYE) with a series of pseudopeptidic cages has been thoroughly investigated using different analytical techniques. The stoichiometry and affinities of the supramolecular host : guest complexes both in aqueous solution and in the gas-phase were obtained from a suitable combination of fluorescence spectroscopy, NMR, and mass spectrometry (MS) methods. The cages bearing basic groups (lysine, ornitine and histidine) display the tightest EYE binding in aqueous media following the order CyHis > CyLys > CyOrn, thus suggesting that Tyr side chain encapsulation is additionally modulated by the identity of the cage side chains and their ability to be engaged in polar interactions with the EYE peptide.

Basically, nucleophilicity matters little: towards unravelling the supramolecular driving forces in enzyme-like CO conversion.

The reaction mechanism for the cycloaddition of CO to styrene oxide in the presence of macrocyclic pseudopeptides has been studied using DFT methods. Computational calculations indicate that the unprecedented catalytic behaviour previously observed experimentally, in which the most reactive species was not the most nucleophilic but the most basic one, can be associated to the tight cooperativity between several supramolecular interactions promoted by simple peptidomimetics able to display a synzymatic behaviour. This bizarre catalytic performance afforded remarkable conversions of a sluggish substrate like styrene oxide into the desired cyclic carbonate, even under relatively mild reaction conditions, opening the way for the practical use of CO as a raw material in the preparation of valuable chemicals.

Unravelling the Supramolecular Driving Forces in the Formation of CO-Responsive Pseudopeptidic Low-Molecular-Weight Hydrogelators.

A new family of C-symmetric pseudopeptides with a high functional density for supramolecular interactions has been synthetized through the attachment of four amino acid subunits to a diamino aliphatic spacer. The resulting open-chain compounds present remarkable properties as low-molecular-weight hydrogelators. The self-assembled 3D networks were characterized by SEM analyses, observing regular nanofibres with 80-100 nm diameters.

Continuous Flow Processes as an Enabling Tool for the Synthesis of Constrained Pseudopeptidic Macrocycles.

Herein we report our efforts to develop a continuous flow methodology for the efficient preparation of pseudopeptidic macrocyclic compounds containing the hexahydropyrrolo-[3,4-]-isoindolocyclophane scaffold and involving four coupled substitution reactions in the macrocyclization process. Appropriate design of a supported base permitted the continuous production of the macrocycles even at large scales, taking advantage of the positive template effect promoted by the bromide anions. In addition, the use of flow protocols allowed a ca.

Development of enhanced conformational sampling methods to probe the activation landscape of GPCRs.

G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) make up the largest superfamily of integral membrane proteins and play critical signal transduction roles in many physiological processes. Developments in molecular biology, biophysical, biochemical, pharmacological, and computational techniques aimed at these important therapeutic targets are beginning to provide unprecedented details on the structural as well as functional basis of their pleiotropic signaling mediated by G proteins, β arrestins, and other transducers. This pleiotropy presents a pharmacological challenge as the same ligand-receptor interaction can cause a therapeutic effect as well as an undesirable on-target side-effect through different downstream pathways.