Medicinal Chemistry Insights in Neuronal Nitric Oxide Synthase Inhibitors Containing Nitrogen Heterocyclic Compounds: A Mini Review.

Many scientific reports over the last two decades have focused on the discovery and development of novel nNOS inhibitors. The structural identity of isoforms, bioavailability, pharmacokinetic, and safety profile issues remain major obstacles in the discovery of more potent and selective nNOS inhibitors. This review aims to provide an in-depth overview of the molecular interaction patterns between nNOS active site and inhibitors containing structurally diverse nitrogen heterocyclic compounds and highlight the structural properties needed to develop selective nNOS inhibitors.

Epitaxial Growth of Large-Area Monolayers and van der Waals Heterostructures of Transition-Metal Chalcogenides via Assisted Nucleation.

The transition-metal chalcogenides include some of the most important and ubiquitous families of 2D materials. They host an exceptional variety of electronic and collective states, which can in principle be readily tuned by combining different compounds in van der Waals heterostructures. Achieving this, however, presents a significant materials challenge.

Reduced light exposure mitigates streptozotocin-induced vascular changes and gliosis in diabetic retina by an anti-inflammatory effect and increased retinal cholesterol turnover.

Diabetic retinopathy is not cured efficiently and changes of lifestyle measures may delay early retinal injury in diabetes. The aim of our study was to investigate the effects of reduced daily light exposure on retinal vascular changes in streptozotocin (STZ)-induced model of DM with emphasis on inflammation, Aqp4 expression, visual cycle and cholesterol metabolism-related gene expression in rat retina and RPE. Male Wistar rats were divided into the following groups: 1.

Investigation of the interaction between S-isoalkyl derivatives of the thiosalicylic acid and human serum albumin.

S-isoalkyl derivatives of thiosalicylic acid (isopropyl-(L1), isobutyl-(L2) and isoamyl-(L3)) were selected in order to investigate the binding interaction with the human serum albumin (HSA) using different spectroscopic methods and molecular docking simulation. Association constants and number of binding sites were used to analyze the quenching mechanism. The experimental results showed that the fluorescence quenching of HSA by L1, L2 and L3 occurs because of static quenching and that binding processes were spontaneous, with the leading forces in bonding by hydrogen bonding, hydrophobic interactions, and electrostatic interactions.

Controlling the Charge Density Wave Transition in Single-Layer TiTeSe Alloys by Band Gap Engineering.

Closing the band gap of a semiconductor into a semimetallic state gives a powerful potential route to tune the electronic energy gains that drive collective phases like charge density waves (CDWs) and excitonic insulator states. We explore this approach for the controversial CDW material monolayer (ML) TiSe by engineering its narrow band gap to the semimetallic limit of ML-TiTe. Using molecular beam epitaxy, we demonstrate the growth of ML-TiTeSe alloys across the entire compositional range and unveil how the (2 × 2) CDW instability evolves through the normal state semiconductor-semimetal transition via angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy.

The Expression of Major Facilitator Superfamily Domain-Containing Protein2a (Mfsd2a) and Aquaporin 4 Is Altered in the Retinas of a 5xFAD Mouse Model of Alzheimer's Disease.

Cerebral amyloid angiopathy (CAA) is characterized by amyloid β (Aβ) accumulation in the blood vessels and is associated with cognitive impairment in Alzheimer's disease (AD). The increased accumulation of Aβ is also present in the retinal blood vessels and a significant correlation between retinal and brain amyloid deposition was demonstrated in living patients and animal AD models. The Aβ accumulation in the retinal blood vessels can be the result of impaired transcytosis and/or the dysfunctional ocular glymphatic system in AD and during aging.

Co-evolution of gene copy number and structural complexity in endocrine therapy resistant prostate cancer.

Androgen receptor (AR) inhibition is standard of care for advanced prostate cancer (PC). However, efficacy is limited by progression to castration-resistant PC (CRPC), usually due to AR re-activation via mechanisms that include amplification and structural rearrangement. These two classes of alterations often co-occur in CRPC tumors, but it is unclear whether this reflects intercellular or intracellular heterogeneity of .

Hierarchy of Lifshitz Transitions in the Surface Electronic Structure of Sr_{2}RuO_{4} under Uniaxial Compression.

We report the evolution of the electronic structure at the surface of the layered perovskite Sr_{2}RuO_{4} under large in-plane uniaxial compression, leading to anisotropic B_{1g} strains of ϵ_{xx}-ϵ_{yy}=-0.9±0.1%.

Giant valley-Zeeman coupling in the surface layer of an intercalated transition metal dichalcogenide.

Spin-valley locking is ubiquitous among transition metal dichalcogenides with local or global inversion asymmetry, in turn stabilizing properties such as Ising superconductivity, and opening routes towards 'valleytronics'. The underlying valley-spin splitting is set by spin-orbit coupling but can be tuned via the application of external magnetic fields or through proximity coupling. However, only modest changes have been realized to date.

Association of ATG16L1 rs2241880 and TP53 rs1042522 with characteristics and course of diffuse large B-cell lymphoma.

Background: Diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) represents the most frequent lymphoma in adults. Prognosis for DLBCL patients may be evaluated through the most prominent clinical/laboratory parameters or pattern of gene expression. In order to improve prognostic/prediction scores or provide new therapeutic targets, novel genetic markers are needed.

Complexes of copper(II) with tetradentate S,O-ligands: Synthesis, characterization, DNA/albumin interactions, molecular docking simulations and antitumor activity.

Four new complexes of copper(II) with S,O-tetradentate ligands, derivatives of thiosalicylic acid, encompassing an ethylene-, propylene-, butylene- and pentylene- bridge, were synthesized and characterized by microanalysis, molecular conductance and infrared (IR) spectra. The structures were assumed based on the previously mentioned analyses and confirmed with the results of electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectra. The reactivity of complexes towards L-methionine (L-Met), L-cysteine (L-Cys) and guanosine-5'-monophosphate (5'-GMP) was also examined.

Quantification of Gardnerella vaginalis, Atopobium vaginae and Lactobacillus spp. in bacterial vaginosis.

Introduction: The aim of the study was to investigate prevalence of bacteria most frequently associated with bacterial vaginosis using Amsel's criteria as well as to quantify these bacteria by real-time PCR and to explore the difference in their quantity between healthy and bacterial vaginosis samples.

Methodology: For classification of vaginal discharge samples Amsel's criteria have been used. To detect and quantify Gardnerella vaginalis Atopobium vaginae, Lactobacillus spp.

Sex-specific Effects of Lipopolysaccharide on Hippocampal Mitochondrial Processes in Neuroinflammatory Model of Depression.

Mitochondria play a significant role in pathogenesis of clinical depression and their function can be impaired by inflammation and alterations in hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis. Sexual context is also a relevant factor in the incidence of mood disorders, and could have a strong influence during an immune challenge. Therefore, in this study we investigated whether the effects of seven-day lipopolysaccharide (LPS) treatment on glucocorticoid receptor (GR) could be associated with apoptosis and alterations in energy metabolism in hippocampus of female and male Wistar rats with depressive-like behavior.

Effects of Focal Vibration and Robotic Assistive Therapy on Upper Limb Spasticity in incomplete Spinal Cord Injury.

Vibration stimulation seems to be an affordable easy-to-use rehabilitation tool. Focal muscle vibration (FV) has potential to reduce spasticity and enhance muscle strength and performance. Combined with robotic assisted movement therapy, the rehabilitation can benefit from improvement of more than one aspect.

VIBROfocus: Design of a focal vibro-tactile robotic-assistive system for spasticity rehabilitation.

The main focus of spasticity treatment is to alleviate pain, improve function and reduce risk of additional complications. In this paper the design of a robotic system with enhanced focal vibro-tactile stimulation for the treatment of spasticity in the upper limbs is presented. Building on emerging evidence on the use of vibrations in the treatment of spasticity, we propose a new integrated approach.

Circulating tumour DNA reflects treatment response and clonal evolution in chronic lymphocytic leukaemia.

Several novel therapeutics are poised to change the natural history of chronic lymphocytic leukaemia (CLL) and the increasing use of these therapies has highlighted limitations of traditional disease monitoring methods. Here we demonstrate that circulating tumour DNA (ctDNA) is readily detectable in patients with CLL. Importantly, ctDNA does not simply mirror the genomic information contained within circulating malignant lymphocytes but instead parallels changes across different disease compartments following treatment with novel therapies.

Knowledge about cervical cancer, Pap test, and barriers to women's participation in screening in Belgrade, Serbia.

Introduction: Cervical cancer (CC) is a serious public health concern in Serbia, due to opportunistic screening still being in force, which led to twice higher than the average incidence rate of cervical cancer in Europe. Despite the fact that early detection and treatment services of CC are available at no additional cost, majority of women use inadequate screening services in Serbia.

Objective: This study aimed to examine the link between the knowledge about CC and Papanicolaou (Pap) test and perception of barriers to women's participation in CC screening.

Social and environmental factors drive variation in plant and bird communities across urban greenspace in Sydney, Australia.

We examined whether environmental or social factors alone, or a combination of social-ecological factors were more effective at explaining patterns in plant and bird assemblages across urban greenspaces. Thirty publicly accessible, passive recreation greenspaces provided by municipal councils (i.e.

Analysis of cervical resistance during continuous controllable balloon dilatation: controlled clinical and experimental study.

Background: Hydraulic dilatation is a novel method of cervical dilatation that is based on continuous controllable dilatation (CCBD) by the pumping of fluid into the balloon extension of the system. The main advantage of this procedure is that it allows control of and insight into the process of cervical dilatation.

Methods: For the purposes of our research, we created a new and upgraded system for CCBD which consists of a programmed hydrostatic pump connected to a balloon extension.

Targeting survivin with YM155 (Sepantronium Bromide): a novel therapeutic strategy for paediatric acute myeloid leukaemia.

Despite aggressive chemotherapy, approximately one-third of children with acute myeloid leukaemia (AML) relapse. More effective treatments are urgently needed. Survivin is an inhibitor-of-apoptosis protein with key roles in regulating cell division, proliferation and apoptosis.

Computer simulation of cervical tissue response to a hydraulic dilator device.

Background: Classical mechanical dilators for cervical dilation are associated with various complications, such as uterine perforation, cervical laceration, infections and intraperitoneal hemorrhage. A new medical device called continuous controllable balloon dilator (CCBD) was constructed to make a significant reduction in all of the side effects of traditional mechanical dilation.

Method: In this study we investigated numerically the cervical canal tissue response for Hegar and CCBD using our poroelastic finite element model and in-house software development.

A haptically enhanced painting as a tool for neurorehabilitation.

This paper examines a new form of interaction combining haptic and sonic exploration with static visual information from a real painting. Motivated by recent work in neurorehabilitation exploring group interactions with a robot, and by the educational and explorative value of artefacts, we investigate the feasibility of an interactive painting as a potential tool for the rehabilitation of brain injuries. The study consisted of a series of thirty-six single case studies with healthy individuals exploring a painting through haptic feedback with/without sonic interaction and assessed using a multidimensional measurement intended to evaluate the participants' subjective experience.

Bioassays for anticancer activities.

The MTT/MTS in vitro cell proliferation assay is one of the most widely used assays for evaluating preliminary anticancer activity of both synthetic derivatives and natural products and natural product extracts. The highly reliable, colorimetric based assay is readily performed on a wide range of cell lines. This assay gives an indication of whole cell cytotoxicity; however, to determine the exact molecular target further assays need to be performed.