DAG-MAG-ΒHB: A Novel Ketone Diester Modulates NLRP3 Inflammasome Activation in Microglial Cells in Response to Beta-Amyloid and Low Glucose AD-like Conditions.

Background: A neuroinflammatory disease such as Alzheimer's disease, presents a significant challenge in neurotherapeutics, particularly due to the complex etiology and allostatic factors, referred to as CNS stressors, that accelerate the development and progression of the disease. These CNS stressors include cerebral hypo-glucose metabolism, hyperinsulinemia, mitochondrial dysfunction, oxidative stress, impairment of neuronal autophagy, hypoxic insults and neuroinflammation. This study aims to explore the efficacy and safety of DAG-MAG-ΒHB, a novel ketone diester, in mitigating these risk factors by sustaining therapeutic ketosis, independent of conventional metabolic pathways.

Clove Essential Oil as a Source of Antitumoral Compounds Capable of Crossing the Blood-Brain Barrier: A Focus on the Effects of β-Caryophyllene and Eugenol in a Glioblastoma Cell Line.

This study aimed to investigate β-Caryophyllene (BCA) pharmacokinetics as well as the potential antitumor activity and mechanism of action of BCA and eugenol (EU), alone or in combination, in U87 glioblastoma (GB) cells. The BCA pharmacokinetic was studied by evaluating its concentration profiles in rat blood and cerebrospinal fluid after oral and intravenous administration. EU and BCA antitumor mechanisms were assessed by comparing their effects in U87 GB cells and non-tumoral HMC3 cells.

Natural and Synthetic Flavylium Derivatives: Isolation/Synthesis, Characterization and Application.

Given the natural origins of flavylium derivatives, their chemical modifications, and their large potential uses in food, medicine, or green chemistry, the present review is a comprehensive study of flavylium-derived compounds. Several topics such as the green extraction and isolation techniques of flavylium derivatives including their chemical modifications and various characterization tools such as NMR, HPLC, and mass spectrometry are discussed in the review. Furthermore, the use of these derivatives in medicine, food, and materials science is presented, highlighting their relevance and the need for further investigation.

Pre-operative antibiotics in patients with acute mild cholecystitis undergoing laparoscopic cholecystectomy: is it really useful? A systematic review.

Background: Empirical antibiotic therapy is often initiated during the hospital stay while awaiting laparoscopic cholecystectomy. This approach is generally justified in patients with moderate (Tokyo II) and severe (Tokyo III) acute cholecystitis, where organ dysfunction occurs as a result of the inflammatory or infectious process. However, there is no clear consensus regarding the use of antibiotics in patients with mild (Tokyo I) cholecystitis.

Structural snapshots of the aldol condensation reaction of the enzyme trans-o-hydroxybenzylidenepyruvate hydratase-aldolase from Pseudomonas fluorescens N3.

Aldolases are crucial enzymes that catalyze the formation of carbon-carbon bonds in the context of the anabolic and catabolic pathways of various metabolites. The bacterium Pseudomonas fluorescens N3 can use naphthalene as its sole carbon and energy source by using, among other enzymes, the trans-o-hydroxybenzylidenepyruvate (tHBP) hydratase-aldolase (HA), encoded by the nahE gene. In this study, we present the crystallographic structures of tHBP-HA in three different functional states: the apo enzyme with a phosphate ion in the active site, and the Schiff base adduct bound either to pyruvate or to the substitute with '(R)-4-hydroxy-4-(2-hydroxyphenyl)-2-oxobutanoate'(intermediate state).

Prognostic value of left atrioventricular coupling index in heart failure.

Aims: To investigate the distribution of left atrioventricular coupling index (LACI) among patients with heart failure and left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF)<50% and to explore its association with the combined endpoint of all-cause death or HF hospitalization at long term follow-up.

Methods And Results: Patients with HF and LVEF<50% undergoing cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) were evaluated. Patients with atrial fibrillation or flutter were excluded.

The Internet of Things in the Nutritional Management of Patients with Chronic Neurological Cognitive Impairment: A Scoping Review.

Background/objectives: The Internet of Things (IoT) technology connects objects to the internet, and its applications are increasingly used in healthcare to improve the quality of care. However, the use of IoT for the nutritional management of patients with chronic neurological cognitive impairment is still in development. This scoping review aims to describe the integration of IoT and its applications to support monitoring, interventions, and nutritional education for patients with chronic neurological cognitive impairment.

Probing non-peptide agonists binding at the human nociceptin/orphanin FQ receptor: a molecular modelling study.

The N/OFQ-NOP receptor is a fascinating peptidergic system with the potential to be exploited for the development of analgesic drugs devoid of side effects associated with classical opioid signalling modulation. To date, up to four X-ray and cryo-EM structures of the NOP receptor in complex with the endogenous peptide agonist N/OFQ and three small molecule antagonists have been solved and released. Despite the available structural information, the details of selective small molecule agonist binding to the NOP receptor in the active state remain elusive.

Children's executive functioning and health behaviors across pediatric life stages and ecological contexts.

Executive functioning (EF) has been linked to chronic disease risk in children. Health behaviors are thought to partially explain this association. The current cross-sectional study evaluated specific domains of EF and varied health behaviors in three pediatric life stages.

The Challenging Problems of Cancer and Serious Mental Illness.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: Patients with Serious Mental Illness (SMI) are reported to be at higher risk for somatic disorders (e.g. cardiovascular and metabolic diseases) and higher mortality, compared to the general population, because of the consequences of SMI including psychotropic medication side effects, sedentary and unhealthy lifestyle, difficult access to physical health care.

The influence of prolonged aerobic exercise on cardiac, muscular, and renal biomarkers in trained individuals with obesity.

Purpose: The aim of this study was to investigate the influence of prolonged aerobic exercise on cardiac, muscular and renal inflammatory markers in a group of trained obese men.

Methods: Seventeen men (aged 40 ± 6 years; body mass index [BMI] 31.3 ± 2.

BACE-1 and ADAM-10 as Potential Peripheral Biomarkers for Alzheimer's Disease.

Amyloid beta (Aβ) dyshomeostasis is considered the main biological aberration in Alzheimer's Disease (AD) pathology. The interplay between Aβ formation and clearance is predominantly modulated by a disintegrin and a metalloproteinase 10 (ADAM10, α-secretase) and β-site APP Cleaving Enzyme 1 (BACE1), the two pivotal enzymes in both non-amyloidogenic/amyloidogenic and amyloidolytic pathways. Emerging evidence suggests that aberrations in ADAM10 and BACE1 expression, activity, and function in the brain of AD patients also manifest in peripheral fluids, suggesting their potential as blood-based biomarkers for AD diagnosis.

Evolution of autoimmune diagnostics over the past 10 years: lessons learned from the UK NEQAS external quality assessment EQA programs.

Objectives: External quality assessment (EQA) programs play a pivotal role in harmonizing laboratory practices, offering users a benchmark system to evaluate their own performance and identify areas requiring improvement. The objective of this study was to go through and analyze the UK NEQAS "Immunology, Immunochemistry and Allergy" EQA reports between 2012 and 2021 to assess the overall level of harmonization in autoimmune diagnostics and identify areas requiring improvement for future actions.

Methods: The EQA programs reviewed included anti-nuclear (ANA), anti-dsDNA, anti-centromere, anti-extractable nuclear antigen (ENA), anti-phospholipids, anti-neutrophil cytoplasm (ANCA), anti-proteinase 3 (PR3), anti-myeloperoxidase (MPO), anti-glomerular basement membrane (GBM), rheumatoid factor (RF), anti-citrullinated protein antibodies (ACPA), mitochondrial (AMA), liver-kidney-microsomal (LKM), smooth muscle (ASMA), APCA, and celiac disease antibodies.

Statin therapy in ischemic stroke patients with atrial fibrillation: Efficacy and safety outcomes.

Introduction: The efficacy and safety of statins for secondary prevention in patients who have experienced a cardioembolic stroke are not well-defined. However, previous observational data reported hyperlipidemia as a risk factor for both ischemic and bleeding complications in patients with AF and previous stroke. Based on these premises, we conducted a sub-analysis of the RAF and RAF-NOAC studies to evaluate the efficacy and safety of statins in secondary prevention in patients with acute ischemic stroke and AF.

The valorization of grape pomace from Montepulciano winemaking: A new source of functional ingredients for sustainable food industry.

The winemaking process generates huge amounts of waste every year. Fermented grape pomace, the major by-waste product, holds significant value due to its chemical composition and technological properties. In this study a multi-omics approach was employed for the detailed molecular characterization of fermented grape pomace from Montepulciano grape, a widely used Italian red grape variety.

Retention mechanism on phosphodiester stationary phases in HILIC and purely aqueous mobile phase, Part I: The problem of hold-up volume determination.

Non-destructive chromatographic methods were used to determine the hold-up volumes of four self-packed columns containing embedded phosphate groups. The stationary phases are named Diol-P-C10, Diol-P-C18, Diol-P-Benzyl and Diol-P-Chol. The hydrophobicity of organic ligands bound to the phosphate group increases in the benzyl< decyl < octadecyl View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Measuring Stigma in Pediatric Oncology: A Cross-Sectional Analysis of Three Global Sites.

Purpose: Stigma contributes to fear and shame, resulting in delays in care-seeking behavior among individuals with cancer. As a social construct, stigma is affected by language, religion, culture, and local norms. This study explored pediatric cancer stigma at the time of diagnosis across diverse settings through the adaptation of two stigma measures.

Demographic Correlates of Autism: How Do Associations Compare Between Diagnosis and a Quantitative Trait Measure?

Prevalence of autism diagnosis has historically differed by demographic factors. Using data from 8224 participants drawn from the Environmental influences on Child Health Outcomes (ECHO) Program, we examined relationships between demographic factors and parent-reported autism-related traits as captured by the Social Responsiveness Scale (SRS; T score > 65) and compared these to relations with parent-reported clinician diagnosis of ASD, in generalized linear mixed effects regression analyses. Results suggested lower odds of autism diagnosis, but not of SRS T > 65, for non-Hispanic Black children (adjusted odds ratio [OR] = 0.

Gut Neuropathies and Intestinal Motility Disorders.

Background: The enteric nervous system plays a key role in the coordination of gastrointestinal motility together with sympathetic, parasympathetic, and extrinsic sensory pathways. In some cases, abnormalities in neural activity in these pathways contribute to disorders of gut motility. Where this is associated with damage or death of enteric neurons, usually detected by microscopy, this is considered a gut neuropathy.

Sorbent-Based Sampling With Two-Stage Trapping/Desorption Coupled to Comprehensive Two-Dimensional Gas Chromatography and Mass Spectrometry for Terpenoids Profiling in Cannabis.

Cannabis inflorescences represent an important source of many high-value bioactive specialized metabolites, among which the family of terpenes or terpenoids that are the largest classes of natural products known. Besides their biological activities either alone or synergistic with other terpenoids and/or cannabinoids, they are responsible for their distinctive flavour. In this study, we exploited the separation power and identification capabilities of comprehensive two-dimensional gas chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry (GC×GC-MS) for the profiling of terpenes and terpenoids in cannabis inflorescences.

Adipose-Derived Stromal Cell Conditioned Medium on Bone Remodeling: Insights from a 3D Osteoblast-Osteoclast Co-Culture Model.

This study describes the potential of the conditioned medium (CM) from adipose-derived mesenchymal stromal cells (ASCs) to affect the response of bone cells and support bone remodeling. This was in particular assessed by an in vitro model represented by a 3D human osteoblast-osteoclast co-culture. It has been reported that the effects of ASCs are predominantly attributable to the paracrine effects of their secreted factors, that are present as soluble factors or loaded into extracellular vesicles.

Eutrophication triggered changes in network structure and fluxes of the Comacchio Lagoon (Italy).

Coastal lagoons, which cover about 13% of coastline, are among the most productive ecosystems worldwide. However, they are subject to significant stressors, both natural and anthropogenic, which can alter ecosystem services and functioning and food web structure. In the Comacchio Lagoon (Northern Italy), eutrophication, among other minor factors, transformed the ecosystem in the early 1980s.