Serotonergic antidepressants for sleep disturbances in perimenopausal and postmenopausal women: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Importance: Although previous meta-analyses mainly focused on the effects of hormonal treatment against menopausal sleep disturbances, the therapeutic role of antidepressants has not been systematically addressed.

Objective: To study the therapeutic benefit and safety of antidepressants in menopausal sleep disturbances.

Evidence Review: Randomized controlled trials assessing the therapeutic effects of antidepressants against menopausal sleep problems were identified from the PubMed, Cochrane Library, and Science Direct databases from inception to March 1, 2020.

Cautionary Note on Contamination of Reagents Used for Molecular Detection of SARS-CoV-2.

Reverse transcription (RT)-PCR, the principal diagnostic method applied in the world-wide struggle against COVID-19, is capable of detecting a single molecule of a viral genome. Correctly designed and practiced RT-PCR assays for SARS-CoV-2 should not cross react with similar but distinct viral pathogens, such as the coronaviruses associated with the common cold, and should perform with very high analytical sensitivity. This analytical performance is predicated on the ability of the method to detect the presence of the selected nucleic acid target, without detection of a false positive signal.

Lysozyme crystals dyed with bromophenol blue: where has the dye gone?

Protein crystals can easily be coloured by adding dyes to their mother liquor, but most structures of these protein-dye complexes remain unsolved. Here, structures of lysozyme in complex with bromophenol blue obtained by soaking orthorhombic and tetragonal crystals in a saturated solution of the dye at different pH values from 5.0 to 7.

Antrodia cinnamomea is a potentially effective complementary medicine for adjuvant therapy against breast cancer with bone metastasis: A case report.

Rationale: Palbociclib (PAL) is a first-in-class selective inhibitor of the cyclin-dependent kinases 4 (CDK4) and CDK6 and is indicated for the treatment of hormone receptor (HR)-positive/human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2)-negative metastatic breast cancer (MBC) in combination with fulvestrant (FUL) in postmenopausal women. Antrodia cinnamomea (AC), a well-known Chinese folk medicine in Taiwan, possesses numerous biological capabilities, most notably an anti-tumor effect. However, the clinical use of AC as complementary medicine combined with adjuvant therapy is unexplored.

Antidepressants during and after Menopausal Transition: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

To assess the therapeutic benefits of antidepressants in depressive women during and after menopausal transition, PubMed, Cochrane Library, EMBASE and Science Direct were systematically searched from inception to February 1, 2020 for randomized controlled trials examining antidepressants compared to placebo. Primary outcome was change in depressive symptom severity, while secondary outcomes were rates of response/remission rates and dropout/discontinuation due to adverse events. Seven trials involving 1,676 participants (mean age = 52.

Small-Molecule Ligands that Bind the RET Receptor Activate Neuroprotective Signals Independent of but Modulated by Coreceptor GFR1.

Glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF) binds the GFR1 receptor, and the GDNF-GFR1 complex binds to and activates the transmembrane RET tyrosine kinase to signal through intracellular Akt/Erk pathways. To dissect the GDNF-GFR1-RET signaling complex, agents that bind and activate RET directly and independently of GFR1 expression are valuable tools. In a focused naphthalenesulfonic acid library from the National Cancer Institute database, we identified small molecules that are genuine ligands binding to the RET extracellular domain.

Exogenous application of 24-epibrassinosteroid mitigates NaCl toxicity in flax by modifying free amino acids profile and antioxidant defence system.

In the present study, we investigated the ameliorative effects of 24-epibrassinosteroid (24-epiBL) on antioxidant response and ion homeostasis in two NaCl-stressed Linum usitatissimum L. (flax) cultivars differing in salt tolerance. The content and profile of amino acids were also studied in the tolerant cultivar.

Optimization of Ultrasound-Assisted Extraction of Flavonoids from Leaves Using Response Surface Methodology and Evaluation of Their Antioxidant and Antitumor Activities.

is a potential source of flavonoids with biological activities. This study aimed to develop an ultrasound-assisted technique for extracting flavonoids from leaves of . Response surface methodology was employed to optimize the extraction conditions for maximizing the total flavonoid content (TFC).

Nanoarchitectured Structure and Surface Biofunctionality of Mesoporous Silica Nanoparticles.

Mesoporous silica nanoparticles (MSNs), one of the important porous materials, have garnered interest owing to their highly attractive physicochemical features and advantageous morphological attributes. They are of particular importance for use in diverse fields including, but not limited to, adsorption, catalysis, and medicine. Despite their intrinsic stable siliceous frameworks, excellent mechanical strength, and optimal morphological attributes, pristine MSNs suffer from poor drug loading efficiency, as well as compatibility and degradability issues for therapeutic, diagnostic, and tissue engineering purposes.

The effect of an engineered ATCUN motif on the structure and biophysical properties of the SH3 domain of c-Src tyrosine kinase.

Metal binding to sites engineered in proteins can provide an increase in their stability and facilitate new functions. Besides the sites introduced in purpose, sometimes they are present accidentally as a consequence of the expression system used to produce the protein. This happens with the copper- and nickel-binding (ATCUN) motif generated by the amino-terminal residues Gly-Ser-His.

Asynchrony between the early embryo and the reproductive tract affects subsequent embryo development in cattle.

The aim of this study was to determine the effect of maternal-embryonic asynchrony in the reproductive tract (oviduct and uterus) on subsequent embryo development in cattle. Fifty Day 1invitro-produced zygotes were transferred endoscopically into the oviduct ipsilateral to the corpus luteum of heifers (n=40) that were either synchronous with the embryos (Day 1 after ovulation) or asynchronous and ahead of the embryo (Day 3 after ovulation). A subset of heifers was killed in a commercial abattoir 3, 6 or 14 days after embryo transfer.

Simultaneous downregulation of miR-21 and upregulation of miR-7 has anti-tumor efficacy.

Dysregulation of miRNA expression has been implicated in cancer. Numerous strategies have been explored to modulate miR but sub-optimal delivery and inability to concurrently target multiple pathways involved in tumor progression have limited their efficacy. In this study, we explored the potential co-modulation of upregulated miR-21 and downregulated miR-7 to enhance therapeutic outcomes in heterogenic tumor types.

Using Dali for Protein Structure Comparison.

The exponential growth in the number of newly solved protein structures makes correlating and classifying the data an important task. Distance matrix alignment (Dali) is used routinely by crystallographers worldwide to screen the database of known structures for similarity to newly determined structures. Dali is easily accessible through the web server ( http://ekhidna.

Novel anti-invasive properties of a Fascin1 inhibitor on colorectal cancer cells.

Tumor invasion and metastasis involve processes in which actin cytoskeleton rearrangement induced by Fascin1 plays a crucial role. Indeed, Fascin1 has been found overexpressed in tumors with worse prognosis. Migrastatin and its analogues target Fascin1 and inhibit its activity.

Functional Capacity and Life Satisfaction in Older Adult Residents Living in Long-Term Care Facilities: The Mediator of Autonomy.

Background: Although relationships among functional capacity, autonomy, and life satisfaction have been identified, little is known about how the mechanism of autonomy mediates functional capacity and life satisfaction in older adult residents of long-term care (LTC) facilities.

Purpose: The objectives of the study were to examine the relationship between functional capacity and life satisfaction in older adult residents living in LTC facilities and to test the extent to which autonomy mediated that relationship.

Methods: A cross-sectional and correlational study was conducted with a convenience sample.

Acarbose improved survival for Apc mice.

Acarbose blocks the digestion of complex carbohydrates, and the NIA Intervention Testing Program (ITP) found that it improved survival when fed to mice. Yet, we do not know if lifespan extension was caused by its effect on metabolism with regard to the soma or cancer suppression. Cancer caused death for ~80% of ITP mice.

Sex-dependent lifespan extension of FAP mice by chronic mTOR inhibition.

Background: mice model familial adenomatous polyposis (FAP), a disease that causes numerous colon polyps leading to colorectal cancer. We previously showed that chronic treatment of females with the anti-aging drug, rapamycin, restored a normal lifespan through reduced polyposis and anemia prevention. Lifespan extension by chronic rapamycin in wildtype UM-HET3 mice is sex-dependent with females gaining the most benefit.

Naturally Occurring Level of Aflatoxin B Injures Human, Canine and Bovine Leukocytes Through ATP Depletion and Caspase Activation.

Aflatoxin (AF) B is a potent hepatotoxic, mutagenic, teratogenic mycotoxin and may cause immune suppression/dysregulation in humans and animals. Toxic effects of AFB on key mammalian immune cells (ie, leukocytes) needs to be mechanistically elucidated. In this study, along with the determination of AFB's LC for certain leukocytes, we analyzed the effect of naturally occurring levels of AFB on apoptosis/necrosis of neutrophils, lymphocytes, and monocytes from healthy young humans (20- to 25-year-old male), dogs (1- to 2-year-old Persian/herd breed), and cattle (1- to 2-year-old cattle).

TRITEX: chromosome-scale sequence assembly of Triticeae genomes with open-source tools.

Chromosome-scale genome sequence assemblies underpin pan-genomic studies. Recent genome assembly efforts in the large-genome Triticeae crops wheat and barley have relied on the commercial closed-source assembly algorithm DeNovoMagic. We present TRITEX, an open-source computational workflow that combines paired-end, mate-pair, 10X Genomics linked-read with chromosome conformation capture sequencing data to construct sequence scaffolds with megabase-scale contiguity ordered into chromosomal pseudomolecules.

Phospholipase A from krait venom induces human cancer cell death in vitro.

Background: Snake venoms are the complex mixtures of different compounds manifesting a wide array of biological activities. The venoms of kraits (genus Bungarus, family Elapidae) induce mainly neurological symptoms; however, these venoms show a cytotoxicity against cancer cells as well. This study was conducted to identify in venom an active compound(s) exerting cytotoxic effects toward MCF7 human breast cancer cells and A549 human lung cancer cells.

Clerodane Diterpene Ameliorates Inflammatory Bowel Disease and Potentiates Cell Apoptosis of Colorectal Cancer.

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is general term for ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease, which is chronic intestinal and colorectal inflammation caused by microbial infiltration or immunocyte attack. IBD is not curable, and is highly susceptible to develop into colorectal cancer. Finding agents to alleviate these symptoms, as well as any progression of IBD, is a critical effort.

Alternative NADH dehydrogenase extends lifespan and increases resistance to xenobiotics in Drosophila.

Mitochondrial alternative NADH dehydrogenase (aNDH) was found to extend lifespan when expressed in the fruit fly. We have found that fruit flies expressing aNDH from Ciona intestinalis (NDX) had 17-71% lifespan prolongation on media with different protein-tocarbohydrate ratios except NDX-expressing males that had 19% shorter lifespan than controls on a high protein diet. NDX-expressing flies were more resistant to organic xenobiotics, 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid and alloxan, and inorganic toxicant potassium iodate, and partially to sodium molybdate treatments.

Exploring a New Natural Treating Agent for Primary Hypertension: Recent Findings and Forthcoming Perspectives.

Primary hypertension describes abnormally-high systolic/diastolic blood pressure in a resting condition caused by various genetic or environmental risk factors. Remarkably, severe complications, such as ischemic cardiovascular disease, stroke, and chronic renal disease have led to primary hypertension becoming a huge burden for almost one-third of the total population. Medication is the major regimen for treating primary hypertension; however, recent medications may have adverse effects that attenuate energy levels.

PDZ/PDZ interaction between PSD-95 and nNOS neuronal proteins: A thermodynamic analysis of the PSD95-PDZ2/nNOS-PDZ interaction.

N-Methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptors are key components in synaptic communication and are highly relevant in central nervous disorders, where they trigger excessive calcium entry into the neuronal cells causing harmful overproduction of nitric oxide by the neuronal nitric oxide synthase (nNOS) protein. Remarkably, NMDA receptor activation is aided by a second protein, postsynaptic density of 95 kDa (PSD95), forming the ternary protein complex NMDA/PSD95/nNOS. To minimize the potential side effects derived from blocking this ternary complex or either of its protein components, a promising approach points to the disruption of the PSD-95/nNOS interaction which is mediated by a PDZ/PDZ domain complex.