Marine natural products as a source of novel anticancer drugs: an updated review (2019-2023).

Marine natural products have long been recognized as a vast and diverse source of bioactive compounds with potential therapeutic applications, particularly in oncology. This review provides an updated overview of the significant advances made in the discovery and development of marine-derived anticancer drugs between 2019 and 2023. With a focus on recent research findings, the review explores the rich biodiversity of marine organisms, including sponges, corals, algae, and microorganisms, which have yielded numerous compounds exhibiting promising anticancer properties.

The Usefulness of the Kidney-to-Aorta Ratio in Dogs with Chronic Kidney Disease .

The kidney length (KL) to aortic diameter (AoD) ratio (KL/AoD) has been proposed as an ultrasonographic objective method to assess renal dimensions. However, its wide range of normal values limits sensitivity. Of note, its clinical utility in detecting renal disease has not been investigated.

Relationship Between Sedentary Lifestyle, Physical Activity and Stress in University Students and Their Life Habits: A Scoping Review with PRISMA Checklist (PRISMA-ScR).

Unlabelled: The global prevalence of sedentary lifestyles and the associated health risks, such as cardiovascular, metabolic and mental issues, is an epidemic worldwide problem, particularly in the university population.

Background/objectives: University students are particularly vulnerable because of academic pressure and lifestyle changes. Despite the well-known benefits of physical activity in reducing mental stress and improving physical and mental well-being, the literature lacks effective interventions and standardized protocols for this population.

Sesterterpenoids: sources, structural diversity, biological activity, and data management.

Reviewing the literature published up to October 2024.Sesterterpenoids are one of the most chemically diverse and biologically promising subgroup of terpenoids, the largest family of secondary metabolites. The present review article summarizes more than seven decades of studies on isolation and characterization of more than 1600 structurally novel sesterterpenoids, supplemented by biological, pharmacological, ecological, and geographic distribution data.

Fish migration modeling and habitat assessment in a complex fluvial system.

Fish migration patterns are driven by hydrodynamic factors, which are essential in aquatic ecology. This study investigated the hydrodynamic drivers of Gymnocypris przewalskii fish migration in two distinct river reaches-a straight reach (SR) and a confluence reach (CR)- in the area of Qinghai Lake, China, using a 3D numerical model, fish density field data, and four predictive models. Thirteen hydrodynamic factors, with a focus on water depth and velocity, were analyzed to identify their influence on fish migration.

Gut microbial communities and transcriptional profiles of black soldier fly (Hermitia illucens) larvae fed on fermented sericulture waste.

Sericulture waste poses significant challenges to industrial and environmental safety. Black soldier fly larvae (BSFL) offer a promising solution for organic waste management by converting it into insect protein. This study aimed to develop a microbial fermented method for utilizing sericulture waste to feed BSFL and explore the underlying mechanisms.

A Cost-Effective Computational Strategy for the Electronic Layout Characterization of a Second Generation Light-Driven Molecular Rotary Motor in Solution.

Light-driven molecular rotary motors are nanometric machines able to convert light into unidirectional motions. Several types of molecular motors have been developed to better respond to light stimuli, opening new avenues for developing smart materials ranging from nanomedicine to robotics. They have great importance in the scientific research across various disciplines, but a detailed comprehension of the underlying ultrafast photophysics immediately after photo-excitation, that is, Franck-Condon region characterization, is not fully achieved yet.

Functional rescue of F508del-CFTR through revertant mutations introduced by CRISPR base editing.

Cystic Fibrosis (CF) is a life-shortening autosomal recessive disease caused by mutations in the CFTR gene, resulting in functional impairment of the encoded ion channel. F508del mutation, a trinucleotide deletion, is the most frequent cause of CF affecting approximately 80% of persons with cystic fibrosis (pwCFs). Even though current pharmacological treatments alleviate the F508del-CF disease symptoms there is no definitive cure.

Efficacy and Satisfaction of a Chemically Characterized L. Extract-Based Food Supplement for Functional Constipation in Healthy Consumers: Preliminary Results of a Questionnaire-Based Survey.

Background/objectives: L. is rich in mucilage and is traditionally used for the management of numerous ailments including gastrointestinal disorders. Functional constipation (FC) is a gastrointestinal condition characterized by defecation anomalies such as infrequent stools, difficulty in stool passage, or both in the absence of pathological abnormalities.

Oleanolic Acid Modulates DNA Damage Response to Camptothecin Increasing Cancer Cell Death.

Targeting DNA damage response (DDR) pathways represents one of the principal approaches in cancer therapy. However, defects in DDR mechanisms, exhibited by various tumors, can also promote tumor progression and resistance to therapy, negatively impacting patient survival. Therefore, identifying new molecules from natural extracts could provide a powerful source of novel compounds for cancer treatment strategies.

Noise power properties of a cone-beam CT scanner with unconventional scanning geometry.

Purpose: This work aims at investigating, via in-silico evaluations, the noise properties of an innovative scanning geometry in cone-beam CT (CBCT): eCT. This scanning geometry substitutes each of the projections in CBCT with a series of collimated projections acquired over an oscillating scanning trajectory. The analysis focused on the impact of the number of the projections per period (PP) on the noise characteristics.

Visual deprivation and axial myopia: Considerations on long-term ocular development.

Introduction: Severe visual deprivation during infancy can lead to long-term changes in ocular development, including significant differences in axial length (AL) between eyes. This case report presents three adult patients with monocular infantile visual deprivation who developed substantial AL interocular differences. The aim is to explore the impact of early visual deprivation on AL and its potential implications for myopia progression.

Cannabidiol can affect morphology, morphometry, enzymatic and microbial activity of rabbit digestive system.

The present research aimed to evaluate the effects of the continuative dietary administration of a hemp oil extract containing cannabinoids (cannabidiol, CBD) on the macroscopic morphology, morphometry, and enzymatic activity of different intestinal tracts as well as on the production of short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) in the cecum of growing rabbits. The research was performed on 16 rabbits randomly selected from 2 experimental groups (8 per group). In detail, 42 sixty-day-old New Zealand White × California rabbits (sex ratio 1:1, average weight 1621.

Inclusion of Tenebrio molitor larvae meal in the diet of barbary partridge (Alectoris barbara) improves caecal bacterial diversity and composition.

In this study, we investigated the influence of the inclusion of Tenebrio molitor (TM) larvae meal in the diet on the diversity and structure of the bacterial community in the caecal content of Barbary partridges. A total of 36 partridges, selected randomly for slaughter from 54 animals, were divided equally into three treatment groups, including the control group (C) with a diet containing corn-soybean meal and two experimental groups, in which 25% (TM25) and 50% (TM50) of the soybean meal protein was replaced by the meal from TM larvae. After slaughtering, the bacterial community of the 30 caecal samples (10 samples per each experimental group) was analysed by high-throughput sequencing using the V4-V5 region of the 16 S rRNA gene.

A CD Study of a Structure-Based Selection of -Heterocyclic Bis-Carbene Gold(I) Complexes as Potential Ligands of the G-Quadruplex-Forming Human Telomeric hTel23 Sequence.

Herein, we report the structure-based selection via molecular docking of four -heterocyclic bis-carbene gold(I) complexes, whose potential as ligands for the hTel23 G-quadruplex structure has been investigated using circular dichroism (CD) spectroscopy, CD melting, and polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (PAGE). The complex containing a bis(1,2,3,4,6,7,8,9-octahydro-11-11-pyridazino[1,2-a]indazol-11-yl) scaffold induces a transition from the hybrid (3 + 1) topology to a prevalent parallel G-quadruplex conformation, whereas the complex featuring a bis(2-(2-acetamidoethyl)-3-imidazo[1,5-a]pyridin-3(2)-yl) moiety disrupted the original G-quadruplex structure. These results deserve particular attention in light of the recent findings on the pathological involvements of G-quadruplexes in neurodegenerative diseases.

In Vivo Efficacy of a Nanoconjugated Glycopeptide Antibiotic in Silkworm Larvae Infected by .

To contrast the rapid spread of antibiotic resistance in bacteria, new alternative therapeutic options are urgently needed. The use of nanoparticles as carriers for clinically relevant antibiotics represents a promising solution to potentiate their efficacy. In this study, we used larvae for the first time as an animal model for testing a nanoconjugated glycopeptide antibiotic (teicoplanin) against infection.

Assessment of trace organic chemicals in anaerobically digested sludge and their partitioning behaviour: Simultaneous Soxhlet chemical extraction and quantification via LC-MS/MS analysis.

The increasing number of trace organic contaminants (TrOCs) detected in anaerobically digested sludge (ADS) is triggering increasing concern on its circular-economy reuse practices. A large scientific effort has been performed to define their concentration limits, partition behaviour, and innovative technologies for their removal, which require the definition of versatile and economically sustainable analytical methodologies. In this study, a Soxhlet extraction method coupled with LC-MS/MS analysis was developed to simultaneously determine 32 TrOCs in ADS, 11 of them being quantified in this matrix for the first time.

Valorization of organic waste through black soldier fly: On the way of a real circular bioeconomy process.

The transition from a linear to a circular production system involves transforming waste into valuable resources. Insect-mediated bioconversion, particularly using black soldier fly (BSF) larvae, can offer a promising opportunity to convert the organic fraction of municipal solid waste (OFMSW) into protein-rich biomass. However, current regulatory restrictions do not allow the use of this substrate to obtain insect proteins for animal feed, prompting the exploration of other applications, such as the production of bioplastics.

Nutrition influences immunity: Diet and host-parasite interactions.

Nutrition plays a major role in host immune responses and in pathogen resistance. Understanding the network that modulates the relationship between nutrition and immunity remains a challenge. Several pathways govern the direct effects of nutrition on host immunity and the indirect effects mediated by pathogen populations.

When annealing is detrimental: The case of HMGB1-targeting G-quadruplex aptamers.

In this work, we present the case of the G-quadruplex(G4)-forming aptamers we recently identified for the recognition of HMGB1, protein involved in inflammation, autoimmune diseases and cancer. These aptamers were previously analyzed, without annealing them, after proper dilution of the stock solution in a pseudo-physiological buffer mimicking the extracellular environment where the protein exerts its pathological activity, and showed high thermal stability and nuclease resistance, good protein affinity and remarkable in vitro activity. These features were more marked for the aptamers forming dimeric, parallel G4 structures in solution.

An electrochemical biosensor for on-glove application: Organophosphorus pesticide detection directly on fruit peels.

One of the greatest challenges for the future is represented by the conservation of global agricultural production: it is necessary to implement early monitoring of the health conditions of crops through innovative technologies that allow a sustainable development. To reach this goal, the development of portable biosensors might represent a robust strategy for monitoring agricultural sites in agreement with the requirement of precision agriculture. In this work, an electrochemical inhibition biosensor has been engineered onto a glove to quantify organophosphorus pesticides directly on fruits peels.