Peptide derived from plant defensins: A promising Ga radiolabelled agent for diagnostic of infection foci in PET.

The development of new radiopharmaceuticals for the detection of hidden infection foci has great relevance for early detection and the selection of the correct treatment, particularly in immunosuppressed patients. In that sense, the labelling of antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) that are capable of binding specifically to the pathogenic microorganism which causes the infection, should provide a sufficiently specific agent, able to distinguish an infection from a sterile inflammation. Defensins are particularly interesting molecules with antimicrobial activity, the EcgDf1 defensin was identified from the genome of a Uruguayan native plant, Erythrina crista-galli, the 'Ceibo' tree.

Design, Synthesis, and Evaluation of a Novel Conjugate Molecule with Dopaminergic and Neuroprotective Activities for Parkinson's Disease.

The escalating prevalence of Parkinson's disease (PD) underscores the need for innovative therapeutic interventions since current palliative measures, including the standard l-Dopa formulations, face challenges of tolerance and side effects while failing to address the underlying neurodegenerative processes. Here, we introduce , a novel conjugate molecule that aims to combine symptomatic relief with disease-modifying strategies for PD. Crafted through knowledge-guided chemistry, the molecule combines a nonantibiotic doxycycline derivative with dopamine, preserving neuroprotective attributes while maintaining dopaminergic agonism.

Skin tone ideologies, body shame, and sexual risk in Latinx young adults: The role of self-esteem.

Latinx young adults in the U.S. experience significant disparities related to body image and sexual health.

Clinician Trust in Artificial Intelligence: What is Known and How Trust Can Be Facilitated.

Predictive analytics based on artificial intelligence (AI) offer clinicians the opportunity to leverage big data available in electronic health records (EHR) to improve clinical decision-making, and thus patient outcomes. Despite this, many barriers exist to facilitating trust between clinicians and AI-based tools, limiting its current impact. Potential solutions are available at both the local and national level.

Intersectional microaggressions, mental health outcomes, and the role of social support among Black LGB adults.

The present study explored the relationship between intersectional microaggressions (racism and heterosexism) and psychological distress outcomes among a sample of 370 Black lesbian, gay, and bisexual (LGB) adults. Additionally, social support from family, friends, and significant others was examined as potential moderators. Results showed that intersectional microaggressions were associated with greater depression, anxiety, and stress.

Development and Evaluation of Tc Tricarbonyl Complexes Derived from Flutamide with Affinity for Androgen Receptor.

With the objective to develop a potential Tc radiopharmaceutical for imaging the androgen receptor (AR) in prostate cancer, four ligands bearing the same pharmacophore derived from the AR antagonist flutamide were prepared, labeled with Tc, and their structures corroborated via comparison with the corresponding stable rhenium analogs. All complexes were obtained with high radiochemical purity. Three of the complexes were highly stable, and, due to their favorable physicochemical properties, were further evaluated using AR-positive and AR-negative cells in culture.

[ Tc]Tc-HYNIC-EcgDf21: A defensin short analogue with potential application in infection foci imaging.

Opportunistic infections are a problem of great relevance in public health and the precise detection and localization of infection in the early stages of the disease is of great importance for patient management as well as cost containment. Our proposal seeks to contribute to developing a new agent that meets the needs of diagnosis and follow-up of fungal and bacterial infections, focused on the design of a radiotracer with the potential for recognition of hidden infection foci. Defensins are plant antimicrobial peptides that not only show activity against plant pathogens but also against human ones.

Lack of genetic differentiation in yellowfin tuna has conservation implications in the Eastern Pacific Ocean.

Yellowfin tuna, Thunnus albacares, is an important global fishery and of particular importance in the Eastern Pacific Ocean (EPO). According to the 2019 Inter-American Tropical Tuna Commission (IATTC) assessment, yellowfin tuna within the EPO is a single stock, and is being managed as one stock. However, previous studies indicate site fidelity, or limited home ranges, of yellowfin tuna which suggests the potential for multiple yellowfin tuna stocks within the EPO, which was supported by a population genetic study using microsatellites.

Parental Support, Depressive Symptoms, and LGBTQ Adolescents: Main and Moderation Effects in a Diverse Sample.

Objective: Research has documented the importance of parental support as a protective factor against depressive symptoms among lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ) youth. In this study, we assessed the relations between LGBTQ-specific parental support and depressive symptoms.

Method: Participants were 6,837 LGBTQ youth (ages 13-17) with diverse racial and ethnic, gender, and sexual identities.

Neuroprotective effect of thiamine-producing lactic acid bacteria in a murine Parkinsonian model.

Parkinson's disease (PD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder characterized by deterioration and loss of dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra pars compacta (SNpc), resulting in motor deficits. Many studies have revealed an inverse relationship between thiamine consumption and susceptibility to PD. Previously, (.

Multi-organ involvement and intratubular calcium phosphate deposition in the kidney biopsy: what should we investigate?

Background: Anorexia nervosa is frequently associated with alcohol use disorder. Both of them may adversely affect almost every body system, leading to worse clinical outcomes and high mortality risk. Nonetheless, there is little evidence interrelating anorexia nervosa, alcohol use disorder, and kidney failure.

Neuroprotective Effect of Riboflavin Producing Lactic Acid Bacteria in Parkinsonian Models.

Oxidative stress and inflammatory processes might contribute to the cascade of events leading Parkinson disease (PD); and vitamins such as riboflavin can exert protection on vulnerable neurons in neurodegenerative conditions. Previously, it was demonstrated that a mixture of lactic acid bacteria (including a riboflavin-producing strain) improved motor skills in a parkinsonian model. The aim of the present work was to investigate the neuroprotective potential of Lactiplantibacillus (L.

Venomics of the poorly studied hognosed pitvipers Porthidium arcosae and Porthidium volcanicum.

We report the first proteomics analyses of the venoms of two poorly studied snakes, the Manabi hognosed pitviper Porthidium arcosae endemic to the western coastal province of Manabí (Ecuador), and the Costa Rican hognosed pitviper P. volcanicum with distribution restricted to South Pacific Costa Rica and western Panamá. These venom proteomes share a conserved compositional pattern reported in four other congeneric species within the clade of South American Porthidium species, P.

Development and characterization of two novel Ga-labelled neuropeptide Y short analogues with potential application in breast cancer imaging.

In vivo receptor targeting with radiolabelled peptide-based probes is an attractive approach for the development of novel radiotracers for molecular imaging. This work presents the development and characterization of two novel neuropeptide Y analogues labelled with a positron emitter Ga, for potential use in breast cancer imaging. Both analogues share the same amino acid sequence and were derivatized with NOTA through either a lysine linker (L1) or an acetylated lysine (L2).

Behavioral Responses of the Common Bed Bug to Essential Oil Constituents.

Botanical-derived pesticides have arisen as an attractive alternative to synthetic insecticides to effectively manage infestations of bed bugs ( L.). While information on contact, residual, and fumigant toxicity of plant-essential oils against bed bugs have been recently published, there is a gap of information regarding the repellent activity of these products and their constituents.

Thiamine-producing lactic acid bacteria and their potential use in the prevention of neurodegenerative diseases.

Thiamine or vitamin B1, an essential micronutrient mainly involved in energy production, has a beneficial impact on the nervous system, and its deficiency can be associated with the development and progression of neurodegenerative diseases. The aim of this work was to select thiamine-producing lactic acid bacteria (LAB) and study their physiological effects using neuron cell cultures. In this study, 23 LAB able to produce thiamine were identified by growth in thiamine-free synthetic medium.

Genetic Regulation of Redox Balance in β-Thalassemia Trait.

β-Thalassemia (β-thal) trait is a heterogeneous group of genetic defects leading to decreased β-globin production, ineffective erythropoiesis, and oxidative stress. The aim is to evaluate the cytoprotective response, at transcriptional and systemic levels, of the variations of global redox balance in β-thal trait patients. Sixty-six subjects (40 healthy and 26 with β-thal trait) were analyzed at the Universidad Nacional de Tucumán, Tucumán, Argentina, between 2016 and 2017.

Assessing the stability of historical and desiccated snake venoms from a medically important Ecuadorian collection.

Bothrops asper and Bothrops atrox are important venomous snakes from Ecuador responsible for the most of ophidic accidents, which in the past were treated with a national polyvant antivenom. For years, the venom pools were collected and stored at room temperature in a laboratory. Taking into account the controversial ability of desiccated samples to retain their biological effects and enzymatic activities, we investigated the biochemical and toxicological properties of venoms after years of storage.

Development and characterization of a Tc-labeled Neuropeptide Y short analog with potential application in breast cancer imaging.

The aim of this work was to develop and evaluate a Tc-labeled neuropeptide Y derivative with affinity toward Y1-receptor. The selected amino acid sequence included nine amino acids derived from the C-terminal portion of the NPY complemented with the addition of one cysteine-mercaptoacetic acid moiety to bind the radiometal. Labeling was achieved through the preparation of a 3 + 1 nitrido complex.

Characterization of receptor binding kinetics for vascular endothelial growth factor-A using SPR.

Angiogenesis is a highly regulated process orchestrated, in large part, by the vascular endothelial growth factor-A (VEGF-A) system of ligands and receptors. Considerable effort has been invested in finding optimal ways to modulate VEGF-A activity to treat disease, however, the mechanisms by which the various components interact remain poorly understood. This is in part because of the difficulty of analyzing the various interactions in an intercomparable manner.

Foxo3 gene expression and oxidative status in beta-thalassemia minor subjects.

Background: Oxidative stress may aggravate symptoms of hemolytic anemias such as beta-thalassemia. FoxO3 activation results in resistance to oxidative stress in fibroblasts and neuronal cell cultures.

Objective: The purpose of this research was to study FoxO3 gene expression and oxidative status in beta-thalassemia minor individuals.

Evaluation of a Labelled Bacteriophage with 99mTc as a Potential Agent for Infection Diagnosis.

Background And Objective: The design of target-specific molecular imaging probes to determine infection sites are mainly based on the biochemistry of the inflammatory response that may lead to an ideal agent for infection imaging. Infectious diseases timely and specifically diagnosed can be clinically challenging but essential for the patient's recovery. Laboratory tests can detect the responsible microorganism but cannot discriminate between sterile inflammatory disease and truly infectious disease.