Myogenic Classical Endocannabinoids, Their Targets and Activity.

This review focuses on the recently discovered specific action of two classical endocannabinoids (ECs), 2-arachidonoylglycerol (2-AG) and arachidonoyl ethanolamide (AEA), in the case of their synthesis and degradation in skeletal muscles; in other words, this review is dedicated to properties and action of the myoendocannabinoid (myoEC) pool. Influence of this pool is considered at three different levels: at the level of skeletal muscles, motor synapses, and also at the level of the whole organism, including central nervous system. Special attention is paid to the still significantly underestimated and intriguing ability of ECs to have positive effect on energy exchange and contractile activity of muscle fibers, as well as on transmitter secretion in motor synapses.

Novel convenient 2-step synthesis of pyrido[1,2-]indoles from pyrylium salts and -bromoanilines.

A novel convenient 2-step synthesis of substituted pyrido[1,2-]indoles is developed starting from easily available pyrylium tetrafluoroborates and -bromoanilines. A conversion of the pyrylium tetrafluoroborates to pyridinium ones followed by their palladium catalyzed intramolecular cyclization allows the formation of 24 examples of N-fused heterocycles. A one-pot two-stage cyclization procedure was developed.

Dynamics and Conformations of a Full-Length CRESS-DNA Replicase.

Circular Rep-encoding single-stranded DNA (CRESS-DNA) viruses encode for a Replicase (Rep) that is essential for viral replication. Rep is a helicase with three domains: an endonuclease, an oligomeric, and an ATPase domain (ED, OD, and AD). Our recent cryo-EM structure of the porcine circovirus 2 (PCV2) Rep provided the first structure of a CRESS-DNA Rep.

Quantal size increase induced by the endocannabinoid 2-arachidonoylglycerol requires activation of CGRP receptors in mouse motor synapses.

In mouse motor synapses, the exogenous application of the endocannabinoid (EC) 2-arachidonoylglycerol (2-AG) increases acetylcholine (ACh) quantal size due to the activation of CB1 receptors and the stimulation of ACh vesicular uptake. In the present study, microelectrode recordings of miniature endplate potentials (MEPP) revealed that this effect of 2-AG is independent of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) signaling but involves the activation of calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) receptors along with CB1 receptors. Potentiation of MEPP amplitude in the presence of 2-AG was prevented by blockers of CGRP receptors and ryanodine receptors (RyR) and by inhibitors of phospholipase C (PLC) and Ca /calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II (CaMKII).

Opinion research among Russian Physicians on the application of technologies using artificial intelligence in the field of medicine and health care.

Background: To date, no opinion surveys has been conducted among Russian physicians to study their awareness about artificial intelligence. With a survey, we aimed to evaluate the attitudes of stakeholders to the usage of technologies employing AI in the field of medicine and healthcare and identify challenges and perspectives to introducing AI.

Methods: We conducted a 12-question online survey using Google Forms.

Tensile and Surface Wettability Properties of the Solvent Cast Cellulose Fatty Acid Ester Films.

Thermoplastic cellulose esters are promising materials for bioplastic packaging. For that usage, it is important to understand their mechanical and surface wettability properties. In this study, a series of cellulose esters are prepared, such as laurate, myristate, palmitate, and stearate.

Actinomycetes as Producers of Biologically Active Terpenoids: Current Trends and Patents.

Terpenes and their derivatives (terpenoids and meroterpenoids, in particular) constitute the largest class of natural compounds, which have valuable biological activities and are promising therapeutic agents. The present review assesses the biosynthetic capabilities of actinomycetes to produce various terpene derivatives; reports the main methodological approaches to searching for new terpenes and their derivatives; identifies the most active terpene producers among actinomycetes; and describes the chemical diversity and biological properties of the obtained compounds. Among terpene derivatives isolated from actinomycetes, compounds with pronounced antifungal, antiviral, antitumor, anti-inflammatory, and other effects were determined.

Towards potential antifungal agents: synthesis, supramolecular self-assembly and activity of azole mono-, sesqui- and diterpenoids.

Terpenes and their derivatives are natural antifungal and antimicrobial agents. In this paper, potential antifungal agents were developed on the basis of farnesol, geraniol, myrtenol, perillyl alcohol, cedrol and phytol. The synthesized compounds exist in aqueous solutions as stable associates ( = 142-216 nm, PDI 0.

A Case of Laying Hens Mycosis Caused by .

In this article, we present the first case report of a chicken mycosis caused by occurred on a private farm in the Russian Federation. Lesions on the skin of the legs and scallops were reported. The object of this study was samples of feed and pathological material from sick hens-layers.

IEGM 1360, an Effective Biocatalyst of C3 Oxidative Transformation of Oleanane Triterpenoids.

Unlabelled: The optimal conditions for C3 oxidative biotransformation of 1.0 g/L pentacyclic triterpenoids oleanolic (OA) and glycyrrhetinic (GA) acids were determined using the resting cells of IEGM 1360 from the Regional Specialised Collection of Alkanotrophic Microorganisms. Resting cell suspensions (OD 2.

Landmark native breed of the Orenburg goats: progress in its breeding and genetics and future prospects.

This paper reviews information about a unique and iconic breed of the Orenburg Oblast, the homeland and the only place where the best herds of Orenburg down-hair goats in Russia are concentrated. Three types of these small ruminant animals are widespread on the territory of the region: Orenburg purebred gray goats, Orenburg purebred white goats, as well as crossbred white goats of F White Don × White Orenburg. Currently, at the farms of the Orenburg region, animals are selected according to their phenotype, with selected traits being color, weight and length of down hair.

A Structural Perspective of Reps from CRESS-DNA Viruses and Their Bacterial Plasmid Homologues.

Rolling circle replication (RCR) is ubiquitously used by cellular and viral systems for genome and plasmid replication. While the molecular mechanism of RCR has been described, the structural mechanism is desperately lacking. Circular-rep encoded single stranded DNA (CRESS-DNA) viruses employ a viral encoded replicase (Rep) to initiate RCR.

Constant pH molecular dynamics of porcine circovirus 2 capsid protein reveals a mechanism for capsid assembly.

Spatiotemporal regulation of viral capsid assembly ensures the selection of the viral genome for encapsidation. The porcine circovirus 2 is the smallest autonomously replicating pathogenic virus, yet how PCV2 capsid assembly is regulated to occur within the nucleus remains unknown. We report that pure PCV2 capsid proteins, in the absence of nucleic acids, require acidic conditions to assemble into empty capsids .

European Biomedical Research Infrastructures and the Fight against COVID-19 Pandemic.

Unlabelled: to assess the role of EU biomedical research infrastructures in the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic and to analyze their response to the challenges associated with the spread of the new pathogen.

Materials And Methods: We analyzed the materials of the Seventh Framework Program for Research and Technological Development (FP7, 2007-2013) of the EU and the Eighth Framework Program "Horizon 2020" (FP8, 2014-2020), official reports of the European Strategic Forum on Research Infrastructures, expert reports, as well as documents of the European Commission, the COVID-19 Data Portal, and other relevant sources of information.

Results: The analysis revealed that the mechanisms created within the united European research community provided for a flexible response to the emerging threat of COVID-19 as soon as January-May 2020.

Mechanism of DNA Interaction and Translocation by the Replicase of a Circular Rep-Encoding Single-Stranded DNA Virus.

Circular Rep-encoding single-stranded DNA (CRESS-DNA) viruses infect members from all three domains of life (, , and ). The replicase (Rep) from these viruses is responsible for initiating rolling circle replication (RCR) of their genomes. Rep is a multifunctional enzyme responsible for nicking and ligating ssDNA and unwinding double-stranded DNA (dsDNA).

Noncanonical Activity of Endocannabinoids and Their Receptors in Central and Peripheral Synapses.

This review focuses on new aspects of endocannabinoid functions and mechanisms of activity in central and peripheral synapses, different from the general viewpoint that endocannabinoids are retrograde signaling molecules, which inhibit neurotransmitter release by activating specific presynaptic endocannabinoid receptors CB1 and CB2. Biased agonism of the endogenous and synthetic cannabinoids as well as ability of the CB-receptors to couple not only with classical G-proteins, but also with G- and G-proteins and, moreover, with β-arrestins (thereby triggering additional signaling pathways in synapses) are described here in detail. Examples of noncanonical tonic activity of endocannabinoids and their receptors and their role in synaptic function are also presented.

Freshwater seal as a source of direct and indirect increased human exposure to persistent organic pollutants in a background area.

The aim of the study is to investigate POP levels in environmental media (air, snow, soil and sediment), certain food items in the Olkhon district (Irkutsk Region, Russia) and Lake Baikal seal (nerpa) fat and meat in order to define the main pathways of elevated human exposure to POPs in the area. POP levels in soil and air samples and in almost all of the food items from the Olkhon district were comparable to levels in background areas of the Lake Baikal region. Only certain chicken eggs, large fish and blubber of nerpa pups exceeded maximum permissible levels of ΣDDTs and ΣHCHs.

Microbial Conversion of Toxic Resin Acids.

Organic wood extractives-resin acids-significantly contribute to an increase in the toxicity level of pulp and paper industry effluents. Entering open ecosystems, resin acids accumulate and have toxic effects on living organisms, which can lead to the ecological imbalance. Among the most effective methods applied to neutralize these ecotoxicants is enzymatic detoxification using microorganisms.

Regulation of Acetylcholine Quantal Release by Coupled Thrombin/BDNF Signaling in Mouse Motor Synapses.

The aim of this study was to compare the acute effects of thrombin and brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) on spontaneous miniature endplate potentials (MEPPs) and multiquantal evoked endplate potentials (EPPs) in mouse neuromuscular junctions (NMJs) of m. diaphragma and m. EDL.

All-Atom Molecular Dynamics Simulations of Whole Viruses.

Classical molecular dynamics modeling of whole viruses or their capsids in explicit water is discussed, and known examples from the literature are analyzed. Only works on all-atom modeling in explicit water are included. Physical chemistry of the whole system is the focus, which includes the structure and dynamics of the biomolecules as well as water and ion behavior in and around the virus particle.

Calcineurin and Its Role in Synaptic Transmission.

Calcineurin (CaN) is a serine/threonine phosphatase widely expressed in different cell types and structures including neurons and synapses. The most studied role of CaN is its involvement in the functioning of postsynaptic structures of central synapses. The role of CaN in the presynaptic structures of central and peripheral synapses is less understood, although it has generated a considerable interest and is a subject of a growing number of studies.