screening of potential agonists of a glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor among female sex hormone derivatives.

Glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) is an intestinal hormone that exerts its pleiotropic effects through a specific GLP-1 receptor (GLP-1R). The hormone-receptor complex might regulate glucose-dependent insulin secretion, and energy homeostasis; moreover, it could decrease inflammation and provide cardio- and neuroprotection. Additionally, the beneficial influence of GLP-1 on obesity in women might lead to improvement of their ovarian function.

A Comparative Analysis of Molecular Biological Methods for the Detection of SARS-CoV-2 and Testing the In Vitro Infectivity of the Virus.

The virus discovered in 2019 in the city of Wuhan, China, which was later identified as SARS-CoV-2 and which spread to the level of a pandemic, put diagnostic methods to the test. Early in the pandemic, we developed a nested PCR assay for the detection of SARS-CoV-2, which we validated and applied to detect the virus in feline samples. The present study describes the application of the nested PCR test in parallel with LAMP for the detection of the virus in 427 nasopharyngeal and oropharyngeal human samples taken between October 2020 and January 2022.

Effect of a Total Extract and Saponins from L. on Human Coronavirus Replication In Vitro.

Members of the family Coronaviridae cause diseases in mammals, birds, and wildlife (bats), some of which may be transmissible to humans or specific to humans. In the human population, they can cause a wide range of diseases, mainly affecting the respiratory and digestive systems. In the scientific databases, there are huge numbers of research articles about the antiviral, antifungal, antibacterial, antiviral, and anthelmintic activities of medicinal herbs and crops with different ethnobotanical backgrounds.

Collection of Partition Coefficients in Hexadecyltrimethylammonium Bromide, Sodium Cholate, and Lithium Perfluorooctanesulfonate Micellar Solutions: Experimental Determination and Computational Predictions.

This study focuses on determining the partition coefficients (logP) of a diverse set of 63 molecules in three distinct micellar systems: hexadecyltrimethylammonium bromide (HTAB), sodium cholate (SC), and lithium perfluorooctanesulfonate (LPFOS). The experimental log values were obtained through micellar electrokinetic chromatography (MEKC) experiments, conducted under controlled pH conditions. Then, Quantum Mechanics (QM) and machine learning approaches are proposed for the prediction of the partition coefficients in these three micellar systems.

Molecular Screening for High-Risk Human Papillomaviruses in Patients with Periodontitis.

Members of the family account for 27.9-30% of all infectious agents associated with human cancer. The aim of our study was to investigate the presence of high-risk HPV (human papilloma virus) genotypes in patients with periodontitis and a pronounced clinical picture.

Developing an Intelligent Data Analysis Approach for Marine Sediments.

(1) Background: As the chemical and physicochemical properties of marine sediments are closely related to natural and anthropogenic events, it is a real challenge to use their specific assessment as an indicator of environmental pollution discharges. (2) Methods: It is addressed in this study that collection with intelligent data analysis methods, such as cluster analysis, principal component analysis, and source apportionment modeling, are applied for the assessment of the quality of marine sediment and for the identification of the contribution of pollution sources to the formation of the total concentration of polluting species. A study of sediment samples was carried out on 174 samples from three different areas along the coast of the Varna Gulf, Bulgaria.

Multivariate Statistical Approach for Nephrines in Women with Obesity.

Catecholamines are physiological regulators of carbohydrate and lipid metabolism during stress, but their chronic influence on metabolic changes in obese patients is still not clarified. The present study aimed to establish the associations between the catecholamine metabolites and metabolic syndrome (MS) components in obese women as well as to reveal the possible hidden subgroups of patients through hierarchical cluster analysis and principal component analysis. The 24-h urine excretion of metanephrine and normetanephrine was investigated in 150 obese women (54 non diabetic without MS, 70 non-diabetic with MS and 26 with type 2 diabetes).

Cyclodextrin-Based Solid-Gas Clathrates.

"Cyclodextrin-gas" clathrates were obtained by crystallization from water solution of α-, β-, and γ-cyclodextrins (CDs) under pressure of the gas to be entrapped into the CD molecules. When the pressure is released, these clathrates are stable at ambient conditions and dissociate at elevated temperature, which makes them interesting for various applications as foam boosters in food and other industries. It was found that under these conditions α-CD forms clathrates with all of the gases used in this study (N2, N2O, CO2, Ar), whereas β- and γ-CDs can form clathrates only with N2.

One-pot synthesis and radical scavenging activity of novel polyhydroxylated 3-arylcoumarins.

An unexpected domino rearrangement brought about the development of a novel one-pot procedure for synthesis of coumarins. This protocol allowed the gram-scale synthesis of a variety of polyhydroxylated derivatives 3a-p, from readily available starting materials at a low cost. Based on two proven intermediates, a probable mechanism consisting of boron tribromide induced demethylation/lactone ring opening/elimination/isomerization/lactone ring closure reaction sequence of in situ formed 3-aryl-3,4-dihydroisocoumarin-4-carboxylic acids was deduced.

A novel one-pot synthesis and preliminary biological activity evaluation of cis-restricted polyhydroxy stilbenes incorporating protocatechuic acid and cinnamic acid fragments.

A series of new stilbenes 4a-e, 5 were synthesized through a novel one-pot Perkin-like reaction between 6,7-dimethoxyhomophthalic anhydride and aromatic aldehydes, followed by treatment with BBr3. This synthesis is straightforward and allows polyhydroxylated cis-stilbenes gathering two well-known pharmacophoric fragments to be obtained in good yields and for short reaction times. The structure of the newly synthesized compounds was established by spectroscopic methods ((1)H NMR, (13)C NMR, IR and HRMS) and the double bond configuration was unequivocally elucidated by means of gated decoupling (13)C NMR spectra and 2D NOESY experiments.

Improvement of analytical performances for mercury speciation by on-line derivatization, cryofocussing and atomic fluorescence spectrometry.

A modified automated on-line hyphenated system for simultaneous inorganic ionic mercury (Hg(2+)) and monomethylmercury (MeHg(+)) analysis by hydride generation (HG) or ethylation (Eth), cryofocussing, gas chromatography (GC) separation and atomic fluorescence spectrometry (AFS) detection has been improved. Both derivatization methods are investigated with respect to the chromatographic and analytical performances. They can be both affected by interferences when the AFS detection system is used.

Linear-dichroic infrared spectroscopy - validation and experimental design of the new orientation technique of solid samples as suspension in nematic liquid crystal.

A validation of the developed new orientation method of solid samples as suspension in nematic liquid crystal (NLC), applied in linear-dichroic infrared (IR-LD) spectroscopy has been carried out using a model system DL-isoleucine (DL-isoleu). Accuracy, precision and the influence of the liquid crystal medium on peak positions and integral absorbances of guest molecules have been presented. Optimization of experimental conditions has been performed as well.