Search Our Scientific Publications & Authors

J Mol Microbiol Biotechnol 2018 Dec 6;28(3):147-158. Epub 2018 Dec 6.

Max Planck Institute for Systems Physiology, Dortmund,

Background: The phosphoenolpyruvate (PEP):lactose phosphotransferase system of Staphylococcus aureus transports and phosphorylates lactose and various phenylgalactosides. Their phosphorylation is catalyzed by the Cys476-phosphorylated EIIB domain of the lactose-specific permease enzyme IICB (EIICBLac). Phosphorylation causes the release of galactosides bound to the EIIC domain into the cytoplasm by a mechanism not yet understood. Read More

Cell Physiol Biochem 2018 Dec 6;51(5):2160-2171. Epub 2018 Dec 6.

Background/aims: KRas is usually mutated in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). The mutated KRas gene is a negative prognostic indicator that promotes tumor proliferation, metastasis, and drug resistance in NSCLC, and thus has become a target for cancer therapy. This study is focused on the effects of the microRNA (miR)-202/KRas axis in regulating chemosensitivity in NSCLC. Read More

J Mol Graph Model 2018 Nov 29;87:89-97. Epub 2018 Nov 29.

Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ciências da Saúde: Infectologia e Medicina Tropical, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil; Departamento de Patologia Clínica, COLTEC, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil. Electronic address:

New therapeutic strategies against leishmaniasis are desirable, since the treatment against disease presents problems, such as the toxicity, high cost and/or parasite resistance. As consequence, new antileishmanial compounds are necessary to be identified, as presenting high activity against Leishmania, but low toxicity in mammalian hosts. In the present study, a Leishmania proteome mining strategy was developed, in order to select new drug targets with low homology to human proteins, but that are considered relevant for the parasite' survival. Read More

Curr Opin Cell Biol 2018 Dec 3;57:57-63. Epub 2018 Dec 3.

Institute of Pharmacology and Bio-Imaging Center, University of Würzburg, Germany.

G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) are among the best-studied membrane receptors, mainly due to their central role in human physiology, involvement in disease and relevance as drug targets. Although biochemical and pharmacological studies have characterized the main steps in GPCR signaling, how GPCRs produce highly specific responses in our cells remains insufficiently understood. New developments in single-molecule microscopy have made it possible to study the protein-protein interactions at the basis of GPCR signaling in previously inconceivable detail. Read More

Eur J Med Chem 2018 Nov 13;162:793-809. Epub 2018 Nov 13.

Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, Institute of Organic Chemistry, Centre of Phytochemistry, Acad. G. Bonchev Str., Bl. 9, Sofia, 1113, Bulgaria.

An extensive study was performed to develop a series of (pyrrolo-pyridin-5-yl)benzamides as reversible MAO-B inhibitors. Compounds 14 (NTZ-2020, hMAO-B IC = 1.11 nM, K = 0. Read More

Conscious Cogn 2018 Dec 3;67:44-55. Epub 2018 Dec 3.

ONERA, The French Aerospace Lab, Département Traitement de l'Information et Systèmes, Salon-de-Provence, France.

Recent studies have suggested that individuals are not able to develop a sense of joint agency during joint actions with artificial systems. We sought to examine whether this lack of joint agency is linked to individuals' inability to co-represent the machine-generated actions. Fifteen participants observed or performed a Simon response time task either individually, or jointly with another human or a computer. Read More

J Environ Manage 2018 Dec 3;232:666-678. Epub 2018 Dec 3.

Institute for Environmental Studies and Natural Resources (i-UNAT), University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Spain. Electronic address:

The aim of this work is to describe the performance of three full-scale natural treatment systems for wastewater, which operated in an integrated manner in livestock pig farms (1000-1500pigsintotal) over one year. Slurry management was performed with these natural treatment systems operating under the normal waste loading conditions of the livestock farms in which were integrated. The systems were comprised of elements such as first generation digesters, subsurface flow constructed wetlands and facultative ponds. Read More

J Environ Manage 2018 Dec 3;232:660-665. Epub 2018 Dec 3.

CEA, DEN, Univ Montpellier, DE2D, SEAD, Laboratoire des Procédés Supercritiqueset de Décontamination, Marcoule, F-30207Bagnols-sur-Cèze, France. Electronic address:

Vacuumable gels have been developed in the nuclear industry to decontaminate solid surfaces with little or no mechanical operations and without producing any liquid effluents. These gels can be spread on the contaminated surface and rapidly trap the radio-contaminants by sorption after corroding the substrate down to several tens of microns if necessary. The gel then dries and eventually fractures into a non-powdery solid that is easily removable by brushing or vacuum cleaning. Read More

J Environ Manage 2018 Dec 3;232:654-659. Epub 2018 Dec 3.

ECT-School of Science and Technology, University of Trás-os-Montes e Alto Douro UTAD, Quinta de Prados, 5000-801 Vila Real, Portugal; Centre for Transdisciplinary Development Studies, University of Trás-os-Montes e Alto Douro, Quinta de Prados, 5000-801 Vila Real, Portugal.

Impervious cover has important hydrologic impacts, namely the increased runoff volume and peak discharges in the rainwater network, which can lead to significant consequences like rapid urban floods with social, environmental and economic implications. LID (Low Impact Development) consist of distributed runoff management measures, like green roofs, pervious pavements, waterways covered with vegetation and filter trails, among others, that seek to control stormwater in the origin, reducing imperviousness. These solutions avoid increased runoff rate and volume, increase infiltration and groundwater recharge. Read More

J Environ Manage 2018 Dec 3;232:607-614. Epub 2018 Dec 3.

Departamento de Biociências, Universidade Federal Rural do Semiárido, Av. Francisco Mota, 572, Mossoró, Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil. Electronic address:

Protected areas are an important strategy to safeguard biodiversity. However, if social development is not considered, biological conservation targets may not be achieved. In this empirical study, we assess the relationship between poverty and conservation goals in dry forests within a 62,000-ha Brazilian National Park (Caatinga biome). Read More

J Environ Manage 2018 Dec 3;232:600-606. Epub 2018 Dec 3.

Darwin Centre for Bushfire Research, Charles Darwin University, Darwin, Australia. Electronic address:

Land occupation and management systems have defined fire regimes and landscapes for millennia. The savanna biome is responsible for 86% of all fire events, contributes to 10% of the total carbon emissions annually and is home to 10% of the human population. European colonization has been associated with the implementation of fire suppression policies in many tropical savanna regions, markedly disrupting traditional fire management practices and transforming ecosystems. Read More

Soc Sci Med 2018 Nov 23;220:379-386. Epub 2018 Nov 23.

Department of Social and Behavioral Sciences, Harvard T H Chan School of Public Health, 677 Huntington Ave, Boston, MA, 02115, USA; CUNY Graduate School of Public Health and Health Policy, 205 East 42nd Street, New York, NY, 10017, USA.

Less schooling is associated with increased biological risks for chronic disease, but whether increasing years of schooling through policy interventions reduces these risks remains unclear. We examine the effect of a major education reform introduced in 1959 that raised the minimum school leaving age from 14 to 16 years in France, offering a unique natural experiment. We assess the causal impact of increased schooling duration on 16 biomarkers of cardiovascular, metabolic, organ and immune function in a large cohort of men and women born around 1953. Read More

Eur J Med Chem 2018 Nov 28;163:207-214. Epub 2018 Nov 28.

Department of Neurosurgery, Kurume University, School of Medicine, Fukuoka, Japan. Electronic address:

Ischemia-reperfusion injuries produce reactive oxygen species that promote the peroxide lipid oxidation process resulting in the production of an endogenic lipid peroxide, 4-hydroxy-trans-2-nonenal (4-HNE), a highly cytotoxic aldehyde that induces cell death. We synthesized a novel 4-HNE scavenger - a carnosine-hydrazide derivative, l-carnosine hydrazide (CNN) - and examined its neuroprotective effect in a model of transient ischemia. PC-12 cells were pre-incubated with various doses (0-50 mmol/L) of CNN for 30 min, followed by incubation with 4-HNE (250 μM). Read More

Int J Nurs Stud 2018 Nov 19;90:13-20. Epub 2018 Nov 19.

Institute of Nursing Science, University of Basel, Bernoullistrasse 28, 4056 Basel, Switzerland; Inselspital Bern University Hospital, Nursing Research Unit, 3010 Bern, Switzerland.

Background: Nursing discharge preparation is vital to successful hospital-to-home transitions. However, despite a wealth of evidence on its effectiveness, little is known of the structure- and process-related factors that facilitate or impede its use in clinical practice. Specifically, the associations between unit size and type, leadership support, skill mix, staffing, nurse and patient characteristics, discharge teaching and patient readiness for discharge have rarely been studied. Read More

Transl Oncol 2018 Dec 3;12(2):375-380. Epub 2018 Dec 3.

Institute of Medical Epidemiology, Biostatistics, and Informatics, Martin-Luther-University Halle-Wittenberg, Magdeburger Str., 06097 Halle, Germany. Electronic address:

Objectives: Numerous studies investigated relationships between positron emission tomography and proliferation index Ki-67 in breast cancer (BC) with inconsistent results. The aim of the present analysis was to provide evident data about associations between standardized uptake value (SUV) and expression of Ki-67 in BC.

Methods: MEDLINE library, SCOPUS and EMBASE data bases were screened for relationships between SUV and Ki-67 in BC up to April 2018. Read More

Sci Total Environ 2018 Nov 26;656:468-474. Epub 2018 Nov 26.

Instituto de Ingeniería, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Av. Universidad 3000, 04510 México D.F., México. Electronic address:

Wastewater treatment is an important source of methane (CH) emissions. In most large-size aerobic treatment plants, the excess sludge is digested in anaerobic reactors (AD), with the concomitant CH emissions. The guidelines of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) have been adopted worldwide for quantifying the national emission inventories, which include wastewater treatment plants (WWTP) as a key category. Read More

Sci Total Environ 2018 Nov 22;656:433-446. Epub 2018 Nov 22.

Irstea, UR RiverLy, centre de Lyon-Villeurbanne, 5 rue de la Doua, CS 20244, F-69625, Villeurbanne Cedex, France.

Sediments accumulation in reservoirs induces water storage capacities reduction and flood risks increases rendering dam flushing or dredging events compulsory for security reasons. Short transient events like dam flushing monitoring is still a great challenge because the suspended sediments and contaminants concentrations increases could occur over only few hours/days and cover tens of kilometres. Since 1942, 21 dam flushing events have been performed on the Upper Rhône River (from Lake Geneva in Switzerland to Lyon in France) in order to evacuate accumulated sediments behind the Verbois dam (Switzerland). Read More

Colloids Surf B Biointerfaces 2018 Nov 30;175:91-97. Epub 2018 Nov 30.

CIRIMAT, Université de Toulouse 3 - Paul Sabatier, CNRS, Toulouse, France. Electronic address:

Alginate and chitosan are polysaccharides that are widely used in the biomedical field, especially as wound dressings. Controlled bioadhesion is an advanced functionality that offers the potential to reduce injuries due to the stripping-off of the biomaterial. Herein, we report the efficient grafting of poly-N(isopropylacryamide) (PNIPAM), a thermosensitive polymer that exhibits a lower critical solution temperature (LCST) at 32 °C on the alginate/chitosan polyelectrolyte complex (PEC) surface. Read More

Psychoneuroendocrinology 2018 Nov 30;102:63-67. Epub 2018 Nov 30.

Department of Neurobehavioral Genetics, Institute of Psychobiology, University of Trier, D-54290, Trier, Germany. Electronic address:

Secretion of the stress hormone cortisol follows a circadian rhythm and is stimulated following stress exposure. Cortisol regulates the transcription of several genes, primarily through activation of the glucocorticoid receptor (GR). Previously, we showed an upregulation of PERIOD genes PER1 and PER3 after pharmacological/glucocorticoid challenge in vivo and in vitro. Read More

Curr Opin Psychol 2018 Nov 22;28:76-80. Epub 2018 Nov 22.

Faculty of Health Sciences, Universitat Oberta de Catalunya, Av. Tibidabo, 39-43, 08035, Barcelona, Spain; Honorary Fellow, Center for Healthy Minds, University of Wisconsin-Madison, United States. Electronic address:

In the last decade, epigenetics has taken center stage to explain the relationships between stress exposure, health and behavior. Acquired or inherited epigenetic changes modulate gene expression states without modifying the DNA sequence itself, they can be long-lasting, yet, they are potentially reversible. Several studies have explored whether meditation-based interventions can influence gene expression profiles towards healthier directions, identifying candidate genes and biological pathways that seem to be sensitive to contemplative practices. Read More

Asian J Psychiatr 2018 Nov 27;39:32-34. Epub 2018 Nov 27.

Department of Psychiatry, Hotel Dieu de France Hospital, Achrafieh, Lebanon.

Purpose: the study aims to assess the depressive symptoms, the disgust feeling and the impulsivity index in subjects showing a high risk of binge eating disorder (BED) and/or bulimia nervosa (BN) through a cross-sectional study of 150 participants.

Results: There was no significant difference regarding age, sex, employment and marital status between subjects at high risk for BED/BN (Group A) and controls (Group B). However, participants in group A presented higher scores of depressions (p = 0. Read More

J Psychiatr Res 2018 Nov 27;109:107-117. Epub 2018 Nov 27.

Laboratório de Síntese, Reatividade e Avaliação Farmacológica e Toxicológica de Organocalcogênios, Departamento de Bioquímica e Biologia Molecular, Centro de Ciências Naturais e Exatas, Universidade Federal de Santa Maria, CEP 97105-900, Santa Maria, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil. Electronic address:

Alzheimer 's disease (AD) is characterized by progressive cognitive decline including memory impairment, cortical dysfunction, and neuropsychiatric disturbances. The drug discovery to treat AD consists to develop compounds able to act in multiple molecular targets involved in the pathogenesis of the disease and the repositioning of old drugs for new application. This way, the intracerebroventricular (icv) injection of streptozotocin (STZ) has been used as a metabolic model of sporadic AD. Read More

Ultrasonics 2018 Nov 22;93:139-144. Epub 2018 Nov 22.

University of Freiburg, Walter and Ingeborg Herrmann Professorship for Engineering of Functional Materials (EFM), Department for Sustainable Systems Engineering (INATECH), Faculty of Engineering, 79110 Freiburg, Germany.

Ultrasonic metal welding is a promising process for joining light metals with fiber-reinforced thermoplastics. The technique is characterized by high reproducibility, short process times, low energy input, no additional filler materials and finally the possibility of extensive process data logging. With this process, dissimilar aerospace materials are ultrasonically welded and the applied process parameters are optimized by statistical methods. Read More

Breast 2018 Nov 29;43:91-96. Epub 2018 Nov 29.

Cancer Genetics Group, Institute of Genetics and Molecular Biology (UVa-CSIC), Sanz y Forés 3, 47003 Valladolid, Spain. Electronic address:

Explaining genetic predisposition in Hereditary Breast and Ovarian Cancer (HBOC) families without BRCA mutations is crucial. Germline PALB2 inactivating mutations were associated with an increased risk of HBOC due to its role in DNA repair through cooperation with BRCA proteins. The prevalence and penetrance of PALB2 mutations in Spanish HBOC patients remains unexplained. Read More

Adv Colloid Interface Sci 2018 Nov 24;263:68-94. Epub 2018 Nov 24.

Laboratoire d'Ingénierie de Surface, Centre de Recherche sur les Matériaux Avancés, Département de Génie des Mines, de la Métallurgie et des Matériaux, Université Laval, 1065 Avenue de la médecine, Québec G1V 0A6, Canada; Centre de Recherche du Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Québec, Hôpital St-François d'Assise, 10 rue de l'Espinay, Québec G1L 3L5, Canada. Electronic address:

Glass- and polymer-based materials have become essential in the fabrication of a multitude of elements, including eyeglasses, automobile windshields, bathroom mirrors, greenhouses, and food packages, which unfortunately mist up under typical operating conditions. Far from being an innocuous phenomenon, the formation of minute water drops on the surface is detrimental to their optical properties (e.g. Read More

Neoplasia 2018 Dec 3;21(1):74-81. Epub 2018 Dec 3.

Institute for Experimental Cancer Research in Pediatrics, Goethe-University, Frankfurt, Germany; German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), Partner Site, Frankfurt, Germany; German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany. Electronic address:

Interferons (IFNs) are key players in the tumor immune response and act by inducing the expression of IFN-stimulated genes (ISGs). Here, we identify the mixed-lineage kinase domain-like pseudokinase (MLKL) as an ISG in various cancer cell lines. Both type I and type II IFNs increase the expression of MLKL indicating that MLKL up-regulation is a general feature of IFN signaling. Read More

J Ethnopharmacol 2018 Dec 3. Epub 2018 Dec 3.

Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Food Science, University of Torino, Torino, Italy.

Ethnopharmacological Relevance: Characterized by one of the highest rates of endemism and biodiversity in the world, Madagascar provides a wide variety of medicinal plants, that could represent a potential source of new drugs. The main aim of this study was to investigate the potential medicinal properties of the plant species used by indigenous people in Maromizaha forest and to provide the first ethnobotanical inventory of the area.

Materials And Methods: Data were collected through open semi-structured interviews with local informants, the reported plants were collected and identified to create a specimen herbarium. Read More

J Proteomics 2018 Dec 3. Epub 2018 Dec 3.

Key Laboratory of Functional Protein Research of Guangdong Higher Education Institutes, Institute of Life and Health Engineering, College of Life Science and Technology, Jinan University, Guangzhou 510632, China. Electronic address:

Drug resistance in bacteria is becoming a significant threat to global public health, and the development of novel and efficient antibacterial compounds is urgently needed. Recently, rhodium complexes have attracted attention as antimicrobial agents, yet their antibacterial mechanism remains unknown. In this study, we observed that the dirhodium (II) complex RhAc inhibited Streptococcus. Read More

Biol Blood Marrow Transplant 2018 Dec 3. Epub 2018 Dec 3.

Department of Ophthalmology, Hospital Universitario Puerta de Hierro, Madrid, Spain.

Non-graft-versus-host disease (non-GVHD) ocular complications are generally uncommon after hematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT), but can cause prolonged morbidity affecting activities of daily living and quality of life. Here we provide an expert review of non-GVHD ocular complications in a collaboration between transplant physicians and ophthalmologists through the Late Effects and Quality of Life Working Committee of the Center for International Blood and Marrow Transplant Research and the Transplant Complications Working Party of the European Society of Blood and Marrow Transplantation. Complications discussed in this review include cataracts, glaucoma, ocular infections, ocular involvement with malignancy, ischemic microvascular retinopathy, central retinal vein occlusion, retinal hemorrhage, retinal detachment and ocular toxicities associated with medications. Read More

J Thorac Oncol 2018 Dec 3. Epub 2018 Dec 3.

Department of Radiation Oncology, Medical Center, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Germany; German Cancer Consortium (DKTK) Partner Site Freiburg, Germany; German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany.

Introduction: Quality of life (QoL) of comorbid patients with pulmonary malignancies is a key issue in considering stereotactic fractionated body radiotherapy (SBRT) indication. This study investigates the early impact of SBRT on QoL.

Methods: 100 patients with pulmonary lesions were treated with SBRT from 02/2011 to 11/2014 within the prospective, monocenter, phase II STRIPE trial. Read More

Int Immunopharmacol 2018 Dec 3;66:347-353. Epub 2018 Dec 3.

Department of orthopedics, Affiliated Zhongshan Hospital of Dalian University, Dalian 116001, China. Electronic address:

Ivabradine is most commonly used for the treatment of worsening cardiac failure in patients who cannot tolerate the maximum dose of β-blockers or in whom treatment with β-blockers is contraindicated. While ivabradine is regarded as a highly selective "funny current" (I) inhibitor, the molecular mechanism behind the effect of this drug remains poorly understood. In the present study, we applied ivabradine in the context of osteoarthritis by treating primary human chondrocytes with tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and measuring degradation of the articular cartilage matrix as well as the expression of various enzymes and pro-inflammatory cytokines. Read More

Neuroimage 2018 Dec 3. Epub 2018 Dec 3.

Cognitive Neuroscience, Institute of Neuroscience and Medicine (INM-3), Research Centre Jülich, 52425, Jülich, Germany; Department of Neurology, University Hospital Cologne, 50924, Cologne, Germany.

Neurophysiological accounts of human volition are dominated by debates on the origin of voluntary choices but the neural consequences that follow such choices remain poorly understood. For instance, could one predict whether or not an action was chosen voluntarily based only on how that action is motorically executed? We investigated this possibility by integrating scalp electroencephalograms and index-finger accelerometer recordings acquired while people chose between pressing a left or right button either freely or as instructed by a visual cue. Even though freely selected and instructed actions were executed with equal vigor, the timing of the movement to release the button was comparatively delayed for freely selected actions. Read More

Neurosci Lett 2018 Dec 3. Epub 2018 Dec 3.

Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ciências Biológicas: Bioquímica, Departamento de Bioquímica, Instituto de Ciências Básicas da Saúde, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, 90035-003 Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil. Electronic address:

Although the etiology of Bipolar Disorder (BD) remains unknown, a strong genetic component to the pathogenesis and risk for this disorder has been widely hypothesized. Several risk genes for BD have been identified; of these, the purinergic P2 × 7 receptor (P2 × 7R) constitutes a pro-inflammatory receptor and a potential risk gene candidate. The purpose of the present study was to assess the frequency of the 1513 A > C P2RX7 polymorphism (rs3751143; Glu496Ala), which leads to receptor loss-of-function, in 154 BD patients versus 184 control subjects. Read More

Behav Brain Res 2018 Dec 3. Epub 2018 Dec 3.

Biotrial Pharmacology, 7-9 rue Jean-Louis Bertrand, 35042, Rennes, France.

This study aims to investigate the contribution of nigral dopaminergic (DA) cell loss, repeated exposure to DA medication and the combination of both to the development of neuropsychiatric symptoms observed in Parkinson's disease (PD). A bilateral 6-OHDA lesion of the substantia nigra pars compacta (SNc) was performed in rats. A set of animals was repeatedly administered with L-dopa (20 mg/kg/day) and benserazide (5 mg/kg/day) over 10 days starting from day 11 post-lesion. Read More

Int J Biol Macromol 2018 Dec 3. Epub 2018 Dec 3.

Department of Pharmaceutics, School of Pharmacy, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang 212013, PR China. Electronic address:

Fisetin is a natural flavonoid with promising antitumor activity, whereas its clinical application is limited by its hydrophobic property. In this study, we aimed to load fisetin into poly(lactic acid) (PLA) nanoparticles to increase fisetin's solubility and therapeutic efficacy. Based on spontaneous emulsification solvent diffusion (SESD) method, the formulation of PLA nanoparticles was optimized by two successive experimental designs. Read More

Int J Biol Macromol 2018 Dec 3. Epub 2018 Dec 3.

Department of Industrial Engineering, University of Salerno, Via Ponte Don Melillo, 84084 Fisciano, SA, Italy.

In this study, physicochemical, interfacial and emulsifying properties of Retama reatam and guar galactomannans were comparatively investigated. The results showed that Retama reatam galactomannan is mainly composed of total carbohydrates (95.52%) and lower protein contents (0. Read More

Int J Biol Macromol 2018 Dec 3. Epub 2018 Dec 3.

College of Pharmacy, Gachon University, Incheon 21936, Republic of Korea. Electronic address:

Polyethylene glycol (PEG)-decorated doxorubicin (Dox)/carboxymethyl chitosan (CMC)/gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) have been developed for cancer therapy. CMC was used as a reducing and stabilizing agent for the fabrication of AuNPs and Dox was loaded onto AuNPs as a chemotherapeutic agent. Dox-loaded CMC-stabilized AuNPs (Dox/CMC-AuNPs) with a mean diameter of 104. Read More

Int J Biol Macromol 2018 Dec 3. Epub 2018 Dec 3.

LAQV-REQUIMTE, Departamento de Ciências Químicas, Faculdade de Farmácia, Universidade do Porto, Portugal, Rua de Jorge Viterbo Ferreira, 228, 4050-313 Porto, Portugal.

In this study, fucoidan/chitosan nanoparticles were developed for the topical delivery of methotrexate towards the treatment of skin-related inflammatory diseases. Based on the fucoidan/chitosan (F/C) weight ratio, three different nanoparticles (1F/1C; 3F/1C; 5F/1C) were produced and characterized. Methotrexate was loaded in these polymeric nanoparticles achieving a drug loading of ca. Read More

Gene 2018 Dec 3. Epub 2018 Dec 3.

Unidad de Investigación Médica en Trombosis, Hemostasia y Aterogénesis, H.G.R. No 1. Dr. "Carlos Mac Gregor Sánchez Navarro" Instituto Mexicano del Seguro Social, Gabriel Mancera No. 222, Colonia Del Valle, CP 03100 Ciudad de México, Mexico.

Objective: The renin-angiotensin system (RAS) is a hormonal signaling mechanism implicated in the atherosclerosis and regulation of blood pressure. Angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) a key enzyme in the RAS, plays important roles in vascular remodeling atherosclerosis, and ischemic stroke. The aim of this study was to examine the possible contribution of the I/D in the ACE gene, M235T and T174M in the angiotensinogen (AGT) gene polymorphisms with ischemic stroke in young Mexican population. Read More

Pharmacol Ther 2018 Dec 3. Epub 2018 Dec 3.

Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Medicine, UC Davis School of Medicine, Sacramento, CA 95817, USA.

Small-molecule and protein/antibody drugs mainly act on genome-derived proteins to exert pharmacological effects. RNA based therapies hold the promise to expand the range of druggable targets from proteins to RNAs and the genome, as evidenced by several RNA drugs approved for clinical practice and many others under active trials. While chemo-engineered RNA mimics have found their success in marketed drugs and continue dominating basic research and drug development, these molecules are usually conjugated with extensive and various modifications. Read More

Food Chem Toxicol 2018 Dec 3. Epub 2018 Dec 3.

Research Institute for Fragrance Materials, Inc., 50 Tice Boulevard, Woodcliff Lake, NJ, 07677, USA.

Biochim Biophys Acta Mol Cell Res 2018 Dec 3. Epub 2018 Dec 3.

Institute of Medical Biochemistry, Center for Molecular Biology of Inflammation, University of Muenster, Von-Esmarch-Str. 56, D-48149 Muenster, Germany; Cluster of Excellence "Cells in Motion", University of Muenster, D-48149 Muenster, Germany. Electronic address:

The innate immune system is the first line of defense against pathogenic threats. For the early pathogen recognition and activation of cell protective mechanisms, germline-encoded pattern recognition receptors (PRRs) detect characteristic and evolutionary conserved pathogen-associated molecular patterns (PAMPs). PRRs are therefore key elements in the innate immune response; in addition, they sense danger-associated molecular patterns (DAMPs) that are released by host cell molecules under pathophysiological conditions. Read More

J Microbiol Methods 2018 Dec 3. Epub 2018 Dec 3.

Institute of Clinical Microbiology and Hygiene, University Hospital of Regensburg, Franz-Josef-Strauß-Allee 11, D-93053 Regensburg, Germany.

Recently, the CPO Detect panel for the detection of carbapenemase-producing, Gram-negative bacteria was introduced for the Phoenix semi-automated antimicrobial susceptibility testing system. The CPO Detect assay aims to detect carbapenemase activity (P/N test) and to type carbapenemase producers according to the Ambler classification (Ambler test). The P/N test-based detection of carbapenemase producers was 100% sensitive and 55. Read More

J Steroid Biochem Mol Biol 2018 Dec 3. Epub 2018 Dec 3.

Department of Internal Medicine I, Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism, Goethe University Hospital, Frankfurt am Main, Germany.

The arachidonate 5-lipoxygenase (ALOX5) pathway has been implicated in chronic inflammatory disease which may be influenced by vitamin D due to vitamin D response elements (VDRE). We investigated an ALOX5 polymorphism (rs4987105) in patients with type 2 diabetes (T2D) and the in vitro effects of calcitriol (1,25(OH)D) on ALOX5 metabolism in monocytes of T2D patients and healthy controls (HC). 533 T2D and 473 HC were genotyped for the rs4987105 polymorphism. Read More

J Hepatol 2018 Dec 3. Epub 2018 Dec 3.

AP-HP Hôpital Paul-Brousse, Centre Hépato-Biliaire, Liver Intensive Care Unit, Villejuif, F-94800, France; INSERM, Unité 1193, Université Paris-Saclay, Villejuif, F-94800, France; DHU Hepatinov, Villejuif, F-94800, France.

Severe acute liver injury (sALI) is a grave complication of exertional heatstroke (EH). Liver transplantation (LT) may be a therapeutic option, but the criteria for, and timing of transplantation have not been clearly established. The aim of this study was to define the profile of patients who require transplantation in this context. Read More

J Mol Cell Cardiol 2018 Dec 3. Epub 2018 Dec 3.

Department of Clinical Pharmacology and Toxicology, Cardiovascular Research Center, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Martinistr. 52, 20246 Hamburg, Germany; DZHK (German Center for Cardiovascular Research), Partner Site Hamburg, Kiel, Lübeck, Germany; Institute of Pharmacy, University of Hamburg, Bundesstr. 45, 20146 Hamburg, Germany. Electronic address:

The sympathetic nervous system is the main stimulator of cardiac function. While acute activation of the β-adrenoceptors exerts positive inotropic and lusitropic effects by increasing cAMP and Ca, chronically enhanced sympathetic tone with changed β-adrenergic signaling leads to alterations of gene expression and remodeling. The CREB-regulated transcription coactivator 1 (CRTC1) is activated by cAMP and Ca. Read More

J Invest Dermatol 2018 Dec 3. Epub 2018 Dec 3.

Department of Paediatrics, Prince of Wales Hospital, Hong Kong, SAR China.

Some previously described environmental associations for atopic eczema (AE) may be due to reverse causation. We explored the role of reverse causation by comparing individual- and school-level results for multiple AE risk factors. ISAAC Phase Three surveyed children within schools (the sampling unit) on AE symptoms and potential risk factors. Read More

J Control Release 2018 Dec 3. Epub 2018 Dec 3.

Department of Nanomedicine and Theranostics, Institute for Experimental Molecular Imaging, RWTH Aachen University Clinic, Aachen, Germany; Department of Pharmaceutics, Utrecht Institute for Pharmaceutical Sciences, Utrecht University, the Netherlands; Department of Targeted Therapeutics, Biomaterial Science and Technology, University of Twente, Enschede, the Netherlands. Electronic address:

Prog Lipid Res 2018 Dec 3. Epub 2018 Dec 3.

Programa de Pós-Graduação em Genética e Biologia Molecular, Departmento de Genética, Instituto de Biociências, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS), Brazil.. Electronic address:

Triacylglycerols (TAG) are the major form of energy storage in plants. TAG are primarily stored in seeds and fruits, but vegetative tissues also possess a high capacity for their synthesis and storage. These storage lipids are essential to plant development, being used in seedling growth during germination, pollen development, and sexual reproduction, for example. Read More