Peptide Nucleic Acids Containing Cationic/Amino-Alkyl Modified Bases Promote Enhanced Hybridization Kinetics and Thermodynamics with Single-Strand DNA.

Peptide nucleic acids (PNAs) are antisense molecules with excellent polynucleotide hybridization properties; they are resistant to nuclease degradation but often have poor cell permeability leading to moderate cellular activity and limited clinical results. The addition of cationic substitutions (positive charges) to PNA molecules greatly increases cell permeability. In this report, we describe the synthesis and polynucleotide hybridization properties of a novel cationic/amino-alkyl nucleotide base-modified PNA (OPNA).

When Global Becomes Virtual: A Survey of Virtual Global Health Education Activities During the COVID-19 Pandemic Among Pediatric Educators.

Background: During the COVID-19 pandemic, global health education activities were disrupted. Transitioning to virtual options has allowed educators and trainees to continue global health education and partnerships, though the acceptability and implementation of this transition is unknown.

Objective: To evaluate current and planned virtual global health education activities (VGHEAs) of a group of US global health educators during the COVID-19 pandemic and to assess perceived benefits and challenges of VGHEAs.

Design and biological characterization of a series of dual mechanism ERK1/2 inhibitors with a Triazolopyridinone core.

Oncology clinical development programs have targeted the RAS/RAF/MEK/ERK signaling pathway with small molecule inhibitors for a variety of cancers during the past decades, and most therapies have shown limited or minimal success. Specific BRAF and MEK inhibitors have shown clinical efficacy in patients for the treatment of BRAF-mutant melanoma. However, most cancers have shown treatment resistance after several months of inhibitor usage, and reports indicate resistance is often associated with the reactivation of the MAPK signaling pathway.

Detection of SARS-CoV-2 in exhaled air using non-invasive embedded strips in masks.

Background: SARS-CoV-2 emerged in 2019 and resulted in a pandemic causing millions of infections worldwide. Gold-standard for SARS-CoV-2 detection uses quantitative RT-qPCR on respiratory secretions to detect viral RNA (vRNA). Acquiring these samples is invasive, can be painful for those with xerostomia and other health conditions, and sample quality can vary greatly.