Chemical synthesis of grafted cyclotides using a "plug and play" approach.

Cyclotides are a diverse class of plant-derived cyclic, disulfide-rich peptides with a unique cyclic cystine knot topology. Their remarkable structural stability and resistance to proteolytic degradation can lead to improved pharmacokinetics and oral activity as well as selectivity and high enzymatic stability. Thus, cyclotides have emerged as powerful scaffold molecules for designing peptide-based therapeutics.

The Prevalence and Predictors of Post-Stroke Depression and Anxiety During COVID-19 Pandemic.

Introduction: Stroke is associated with a rise in post-stroke depression (PSD) and anxiety (PSA). In this study, we evaluated the impact of COVID-19 pandemic on the rates of PSD and PSA.

Methods: All stroke admissions to two hospitals in Saudi Arabia during two months were prospectively evaluated for PSD and PSA.