Biosynthesis of Palladium Nanoparticles by Using Aqueous Bark Extract of , and for Potential Antioxidant and Antimicrobial Applications.

This study aimed to synthesize palladium nanoparticles (PdNPs) using bioactive compounds from aqueous extracts of species (, , and ) with potential biomedical applications. To optimize PdNPs biosynthesis, various parameters were explored, including the concentration of PdCl, the extract-to-PdCl ratio, and the pH of the solution. The nanoparticles were characterized using ultraviolet/visible spectroscopy (UV/Vis), Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), and dynamic light scattering (DLS).

Quantification of serum daratumumab in multiple myeloma patients by LC-MS/MS, comparison with ELISA.

Daratumumab is a fully human immunoglobulin G1 monoclonal antibody employed for treating relapsed/refractory multiple myeloma and light-chain amyloidosis. Quantifying monoclonal antibodies in serum presents challenges due to interference from biological matrices. This research aimed to develop and verify an liquid chromatography tandem-mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) approach for quantifying serum daratumumab, employing immunoglobulin G purification without alkylation, and to assess its applicability in patients with multiple myeloma receiving intravenous daratumumab.

Metabolic characteristics of prostate cancer cells with high metastatic potential revealed by (S)-ethyl 1-(3-(4-chlorophenoxy)-2-hydroxypropyl)-3-(4-methoxyphenyl)-1H-pyrazole-5-carboxylate inhibition.

A small molecule, (S)-ethyl 1-(3-(4-chlorophenoxy)-2-hydroxypropyl)-3-(4-methoxyphenyl)-1H-pyrazole-5-carboxylate (SEC), has been reported to be capable of suppressing metastasis of prostate cancer (PCa) cells. In this study, SEC was used to study the metabolic responses of PCa cell lines (LNCaP, PC3, and DU145) with different metastatic potential and the alterations of mTOR, p-mTOR, AMPK, and p-AMPK levels, when the PCa cells were inhibited. The ultra-high performance liquid chromatography-high resolution mass spectrometry (UHPLC-HRMS)-based analysis showed that SEC induced the decreases of intracellular metabolites including glutamic acid, glutamine, and histidine (LNCaP); creatinine, citric acid/isocitric acid, and aspartic acid (PC3); and spermidine, S-hydroxymethylglutathione, LPE (20:3), and palmitic amide (DU145), and the increases of intracellular LPC (18:0) (LNCaP); tyrosine, pyroglutamic acid/pyrroline hydroxycarboxylic acid (PC3); and tyrosine, phenylalanine, phenylacetylglycine, spermine, histidine, and choline (DU145).

Association study of the JAK/STAT signaling pathway with susceptibility to COVID-19 in moroccan patient and in-silico analysis of rare variants.

The goal of our study was to explore the association of the polymorphisms in the JAK/STAT pathway among Moroccan COVID-19 patients, using a case-control approach. Next-generation sequencing was employed to investigate the IFNAR1, IFNAR2, JAK1, TYK2, STAT2, and IRF9 genes within the JAK/STAT pathway. We also performed an in silico study to examine the rare variants in this pathway.

Diversity-Oriented Synthesis of Spirooxindoles via Asymmetric Organocatalytic Regiodivergent Cascade Reactions.

A regiodivergent strategy for the asymmetric diversity-oriented synthesis of spirooxindoles via organocatalytic cascade reactions is developed. Two regioselective pathways can be precisely controlled with different aminocatalysts in the reaction of 2-hydroxycinnamaldehydes and β,β-disubstituted 3-alkylidene oxindoles. The cascade vinylogous Michael/oxa-Michael/aldol reactions gave spiro-bridged oxindoles bearing two adjacent quaternary stereocenters, while the cascade oxa-Michael/Michael reactions gave spirooxindoles.

Preliminary investigation of the anti- activity of Triphala.

Background: Triphala, is a composite of three individual botanical drugs: , , and . It exhibits properties such as heatclearing, anti-inflammatory, anti-fatigue, antioxidant, and antibacterial effects,making it extensively utilized in India and Tibet. It has been found to exhibitinhibitory effects on (); however, further comprehensive research is still needed to elucidate its specific antibacterial mechanism.

A CRISPR-Cas12a-mediated dual-mode luminescence and colorimetric nucleic acid biosensing platform based on upconversion nanozyme.

In this study, a CRISPR-Cas12a-mediated dual-mode upconversion luminescence/colorimetric nucleic acid biosensing platform is developed based on UCNP@SiO/CeO (UNSC) nanozyme. Here, UNSC is conjugated with single-stranded DNA (ssDNA) probes used as both peroxidase-like nanozyme and upconversion luminescence donors. When no target nucleic acid is present, ssDNA-conjugated UNSC attaches on magnetic graphene oxide (MGO) via pi-pi stacking force, resulting in upconversion luminescence quenching (OFF) and no color change after magnetic removal of nanozymes attached on the MGO.

Exploring the Inhibitory Potential of Phytosterols β-Sitosterol, Stigmasterol, and Campesterol on 5-Alpha Reductase Activity in the Human Prostate: An In Vitro and In Silico Approach.

Steroidal 5α-reductase type 2 (S5αR2) is a key enzyme involved in the conversion of testosterone (TST) to dihydrotestosterone (DHT), a crucial process in the development of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). Phytosterols (PSs), natural plant-derived compounds, have been proposed as potential inhibitors of S5αR2, but studies on their efficacy are limited. This study evaluates the inhibitory effects of three PSs (β-sitosterol, stigmasterol, and campesterol) on S5αR2 activity using a combined in vitro and in silico approach.

Short-Term Changes in TNF-Alpha, IL-6 and Adiponectin Following Bariatric Surgery in Caucasian Obese Adults: An Observational Case-Control Study.

Overweight and obesity are well-known conditions that negatively impact the health and lifestyle of an individual. Bariatric surgery is one of the most efficient weight loss techniques. Besides the main effect on the bodyweight, improvement in the levels of inflammatory biomarkers, such as interleukin 6 (IL-6), tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNFalfa), and others, has been observed.

Astrocyte Dysfunction Reflected in Ischemia-Induced Astrocyte-Derived Extracellular Vesicles: A Pilot Study on Acute Ischemic Stroke Patients.

Extracellular vesicles (EVs) secreted by astrocytes (ADEVs) mediate numerous biological processes, providing insights into damage, repair, and protection following ischemic stroke (IS). This pilot study aimed to broaden the current knowledge on the astrocyte response to ischemia by dynamically assessing the aquaporin-4 (AQP4) and glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF) as cargo proteins of these vesicles in eighteen acute IS patients and nine controls. EV proteins were detected by Western blotting and followed 24 h (D1), 7 days (D7), and one month (M1) after symptoms onset.

Loss of Brcc3 in Zebrafish Embryos Increases Their Susceptibility to DNA Damage Stress.

DNA double-strand breaks (DSBs) represent one of the most severe forms of genetic damage in organisms, yet vertebrate models capable of monitoring DSBs in real-time remain scarce. BRCA1/BRCA2-containing complex subunit 3 (BRCC3), also known as BRCC36, functions within various multiprotein complexes to mediate diverse biological processes. However, the physiological role of BRCC3 in vertebrates, as well as the underlying mechanisms that govern its activity, are not well understood.

African Schistosomiasis: A Framework of Indicators Assessing the Transmission Risk and Intervention Effectiveness.

Schistosomiasis, a parasitic disease with a complex transmission mechanism, requiring a snail intermediate host, is influenced by biology, the environment, human behavior and the prevailing socioeconomic situation. This study aimed to systematically investigate the importance and feasibility of indicators related to the factors influencing transmission and intervention measures for and . Based on a literature review and group discussions according to the Delphi method, a framework questionnaire was designed.

Heterocycles and a Sorbicillinoid from the Coral-Derived Fungus .

A detailed chemical study of the culture of a coral-derived fungus resulted in the isolation and identification of four new aromatic heterocycles chrysoquinazolinones A-B (-) and chrysobenzothiazoles A-B (-), along with a new sorbicillinoid 4-carboxylsorbicillin (). Chrysoquinazolinones A-B (-) combine a quinazolinone fragment with a bicyclo[2.2.

Heterologous Expression of Type II PKS Gene Cluster Leads to Diversified Angucyclines in J1074.

Heterologous expression has emerged as an effective strategy in activating cryptic gene clusters or improving yield. Eight compounds were successfully obtained by heterologous expression of the type II PKS gene cluster derived from marine sp. HDN155000 in the chassis host J1074.

Optimizing Arterial Tissue Thickness Measurement Protocols: Digital Vernier Caliper Versus Digital Thickness Gauge.

Background: The aim of this study is to analyze the reproducibility of sample thickness measurements taken by a non-experienced user by comparing a standard digital vernier caliper, with four different protocols, to a specialized thickness gauge.

Methods: The current study is a methodological study where we examined the thickness of the porcine arterial wall in the thoracic aorta of six pigs. Two adjacent samples of 10 × 10 mm from each aorta were excised longitudinally from the anterior wall, resulting in twelve specimens.

Evaluating practices toward dental health among primary school children in Rwanda.

Background: Dental diseases pose a global health problem that significantly affects overall well-being and quality of life. They are frequently neglected in many regions, despite the availability of preventive measures and it remains unclear whether these measures are effectively implemented in practice. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate dental health practices among primary school children in both rural and urban areas of Rwanda.

P-selectin-targeted Polyguluronate sulfate-copper peroxide Nanomicelles for Chemodynamic therapy of breast Cancer.

The exploration of efficient and safe chemodynamic therapy (CDT)-based cancer treatment is expected but still faces challenges. Herein, a kind of multifunctional nanomicelles was constructed for CDT, combined with biocompatible polysaccharides as nanocarriers, pH responsiveness and active targeting of P-selectin overexpressed tumors. The P-selectin-targeted ligand, polyguluronate sulfate (PGS), complexed with copper peroxide to form PGS-Cu nanomicelles by electrostatic interactions.

Enzymatically extracted ulvans restrict viruses via STING signaling and type I interferon after cellular entry.

Ulvans, abundant natural polysaccharides produced by Ulvales, have been recognized for antiviral activities, though the underlying mechanisms are not fully understood. In this study, we focused on two polysaccharides and one oligosaccharide, which were extracted enzymatically from Ulva prolifera and named as PR1 (13.5 kDa), PR2 (7.

Design, synthesis, and structure-activity relationship studies of triazolo-pyrimidine derivatives as WRN inhibitors for the treatment of MSI tumors.

Werner syndrome RecQ helicase (WRN), a member of the RecQ helicase family, has recently been identified as a synthetic lethal target in microsatellite instability (MSI) tumors. The triazolo-pyrimidine compound HRO761 is the first WRN inhibitor to enter clinical trials, but research on this scaffold remains limited. Here, we designed a series of derivatives to systematically study the structure-activity relationship (SAR) of triazolo-pyrimidine scaffolds, leading to the discovery of compound S35.

Amino-Based Probe for Natural Products with Covalent Binding Ability to Lysine and Mechanism of Action of Medermycin.

A chemoselective amino-based probe was designed for discovering natural products with covalent binding potential to lysine. Using this reactivity-based technique, a marine-derived strain was identified, which could produce medermycin as the major metabolite. A new compound, mederpyrrole A, derived from medermycin and anthranilic acid through nonenzymatic reaction was isolated.

PhysioCAFUN: A competency-based curriculum development guideline to strengthen physiology education in Africa.

Physiology education in Africa faces challenges due to gaps in curricula across many of its universities, such as divergent content, a lack of standardized competencies, and suitable benchmarking. Here, we describe the development of Physiology Curriculum for African Universities (PhysioCAFUN), a competency-based curriculum development guideline, as a first step to address such shortcomings. A committee of 15 physiologists from different African regions, Europe, and USA was constituted to draft the PhysioCAFUN, which was introduced and revised during the joint East African Society of Physiological Sciences (EASPS) and African Association of Physiological Sciences (AAPS) conference held in Tanzania late 2023.