Search Our Scientific Publications & Authors

Am J Perinatol 2018 Dec 15. Epub 2018 Dec 15.

Department of Pediatrics, Neonatal Division, McGill University Health Center, Montreal, Quebec, Canada.

Objective:  To determine the rate of therapeutic hypothermia (TH) use, current practices, and long-term follow-up.

Study Design:  Prospective cross-sectional national survey with 19 questions related to the assessment of hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy (HIE) and TH practices. An online questionnaire was made available to health care professionals working in neonatal care in Brazil. Read More

Int Immunopharmacol 2018 Dec 12;67:160-175. Epub 2018 Dec 12.

Wuya College of Innovation, Key Laboratory of Structure-Based Drug Design & Discovery, Ministry of Education, Shenyang Pharmaceutical University, Shenyang 110016, China; Hubei Key Laboratory of Natural Medicinal Chemistry and Resource Evaluation, School of Pharmacy, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430030, China. Electronic address:

Tumor immunotherapy, as a new treatment of cancer, has been developing on the basis of tumor immunology. Tumor immunotherapy stimulates and enhances the function of immune system in human bodies, in order to control and kill tumor cells. It is often used as an adjuvant therapy combined with surgery, chemotherapy, radiotherapy and other conventional methods. Read More

Biomed Pharmacother 2018 Dec 12;110:700-716. Epub 2018 Dec 12.

Pharamacological Modelling and Simulation Centre, M.S.Ramaiah University of Applied Sciences, Bangalore, Karnataka, India; Department of Pharmacy Practice, Faculty of Pharmacy, M.S.Ramaiah University of Applied Sciences, Bangalore, Karnataka, India.

Drug repurposing is an unconventional drug discovery approach to explore new therapeutic benefits of existing, shelved and the drugs in clinical trials. This approach is currently emerging to overcome the bottleneck constraints faced during traditional drug discovery in grounds of financial support, timeline and resources. In this direction, several efforts were made for the construction of stratagems based on bioinformatics and computational tools to intensify the repurposing process off-late. Read More

Biomed Pharmacother 2018 Dec 12;110:677-684. Epub 2018 Dec 12.

Department of Acupuncture, Qianfo Shan Hospital, Jinan, Shandong Province, 250014, China.

Cervical spondylosis (CS), which is resulted from degeneration of cervical intervertebral disc, is a common disease seriously threatening human health and quality of life. However, there is still no effective clinic strategies for the treatment of this disease. The acupoint stimulation with needle-scalpel is a widely used approach to treat orthopedic diseases. Read More

J Crit Care 2018 Dec 12;50:169-176. Epub 2018 Dec 12.

Dipartimento di Scienza dell'Emergenza, Anestesiologiche e della Rianimazione - UOC di Anestesia, Rianimazione, Terapia Intensiva e Tossicologia Clinica - Istituto di Anestesia e Rianimazione, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli IRCCS, Roma - Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Italy. Electronic address:

Purpose: To assess risk factors for 28-day mortality and cost implications in intensive care unit (ICU) patients with complicated intra-abdominal infections (cIAIs).

Methods: Single-center retrospective cohort study of prospectively collected data analysing ICU patients with a microbiologically confirmed complicated intra-abdominal infections.

Results: 137 complicated intra-abdominal infections were included and stratified according to the adequacy of antimicrobial therapy (initial inadequate antimicrobial therapy [IIAT], n = 44; initial adequate antimicrobial therapy [IAAT], n = 93). Read More

Eur J Cancer 2018 Dec 12;107:86-92. Epub 2018 Dec 12.

Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Odense University Hospital, Denmark.

Objective: The objective is to investigate the topographical distribution of sentinel nodes (SNs) and lymph node metastases in T1-2cN0 oral squamous cell carcinomas (OSCCs).

Methods: The study entailed a prospective enrolment of 220 patients with clinical T1-2N0 OSCCs who underwent preoperative lymphoscintigraphy (LSG) followed by gamma probe-guided sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB). Patients with positive SNs were treated with completion neck dissection. Read More

J Mol Graph Model 2018 Dec 7;87:185-191. Epub 2018 Dec 7.

Molecular Biology Research Center, Systems Biology and Poisonings Institute, Baqiyatallah University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.

The emergence of antibiotic resistance has attracted the attention of scientists and scientific circles over the decades. β-Lactam antibiotics resistance is a worldwide therapeutic challenge in bacterial infections, mediated through several mechanisms of which mutations in Penicillin Binding Proteins (PBPs) are an important issue, making critical therapeutic problems in the human population. Accordingly, investigating the dynamic structures of mutant variants could result in a profound understanding of such a specific resistance. Read More

J Mol Graph Model 2018 Dec 4;87:172-184. Epub 2018 Dec 4.

Laboratory of Quantum and Computational Chemistry, Faculty of Chemistry and Pharmacy, University of Sofia, 1 James Bourchier Blvd, 1164, Sofia, Bulgaria. Electronic address:

The study is focused on description of folate and several antifolates at physiological conditions. Knowledge of the molecular structure and dynamics is important for understanding their biological activity and therapeutic application. They are modelled in saline by atomistic molecular dynamics simulations and characterized in detail. Read More

Neurobiol Aging 2018 Nov 16;75:62-70. Epub 2018 Nov 16.

Department of Neuropsychiatry, Seoul National University Hospital, Seoul, Republic of Korea; Institute of Human Behavioral Medicine, Medical Research Center, Seoul National University, Seoul, Republic of Korea; Department of Psychiatry, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea. Electronic address:

This study aimed to investigate the relationship of hypertension with beta-amyloid (Aβ) and neurodegeneration biomarkers of Alzheimer's disease (AD) and the modulating effect of apolipoprotein E-ε4 (APOE4). In total, 259 cognitively normal (CN) and 79 AD dementia older adults received clinical assessments including the evaluation for the presence of hypertension, [C]-Pittsburgh-compound-B-positron emission tomography, magnetic resonance imaging, and APOE genotyping. We used a clinical stage-specific approach, separately focusing on CN and AD dementia stages. Read More

Eur J Med Chem 2018 Dec 7;163:527-545. Epub 2018 Dec 7.

Phytochemistry Research Center, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, 11369, Iran; Department of Chemistry, Richardson College for the Environmental Science Complex, The University of Winnipeg, Winnipeg, MB, R3B 2G3, Canada. Electronic address:

Curcuma longa L., its derived extracts and even its major compound curcumin has a long history of use and doubtless effectiveness, reported through increasingly detailed in vitro, ex vivo, in vivo and even clinical trials. Regarding its biological effects, multiple health-promoting, disease-preventing and even treatment attributes has been remarkably highlighted. Read More

Eur J Med Chem 2018 Dec 7;163:512-526. Epub 2018 Dec 7.

School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, 510006, China. Electronic address:

Considering the importance of PDE4D inhibition and the modulation of biometals in Alzheimer's disease (AD) therapeutics, we have designed, synthesized and evaluated a series of new clioquinol-rolipram/roflumilast hybrids as multitarget-directed ligands for the treatment of AD. In vitro studies demonstrated that some of the molecules processed remarkable inhibitory activity against phosphodiesterase 4D (PDE4D), strong intracellular antioxidant capacity, potent inhibition of metal-induced aggregation of Aβ, and potential blood-brain barrier permeability. Compound 7a demonstrated significant improvement in cognitive and spatial memory in an Aβ-induce mouse model in Morris water-maze test (MWM). Read More

Hum Mov Sci 2018 Dec 12;63:148-155. Epub 2018 Dec 12.

Laboratory of Neuromuscular Biomechanics, School of International Liberal Studies, Chukyo University, Nagoya, Japan. Electronic address:

Introduction: The present study investigated the effect of stretchable characteristics of elastic therapeutic tape and its elongation on surface electromyography (EMG) of knee extensor muscles during knee extension movements.

Methods: Nine healthy men performed knee extension movement with the application of normal elastic tape or highly stretchable tape and without the tapes (control). Tapes were applied on the anterior thigh to cross the knee joint with no elongation and elongation of 50 and 75% of the maximum stretchability. Read More

Biomaterials 2018 Nov 30;192:590-600. Epub 2018 Nov 30.

Department of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, the Second Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China. Electronic address:

Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is a destructive cancer with poor prognosis. Both novel therapeutic targets and approaches are needed to improve the overall survival of PDAC patients. MicroRNA-212 (miR-212) has been reported as a tumor suppressor in multiple cancers, but its definitive role and exact mechanism in the progression of pancreatic cancer is unclear. Read More

J Pharm Biomed Anal 2018 Nov 17;165:213-223. Epub 2018 Nov 17.

Jiangxi University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, No. 1688 Meiling Road, Nanchang, 330004, PR China. Electronic address:

TongFengTangSan (TFTS), a traditional Tibetan medicine comprising of Tinospora sinensis (TS), Terminalia chebula Retz (TC) and Trogopterori faeces (TF), is used to treat joint diseases like gout, gout arthritis, swelling, pain etc. Despite the significant therapeutic effects of TFTS, its pharmacological components have not been analyzed so far. Therefore, the chemical composition of the effective part of TFTS was analyzed by ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography coupled with quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry (UHPLC-Q-TOF-MS/MS). Read More

Biosens Bioelectron 2018 Nov 16;126:751-757. Epub 2018 Nov 16.

Biomedical Engineering, PO Box 10157, Ruston, LA 71272, USA; Center for Biomedical Engineering and Rehabilitation Sciences, Louisiana Tech University, PO Box 10157, Ruston, LA 71272, USA. Electronic address:

Glutamate, a major excitatory neurotransmitter in the central nervous system, is essential for regulation of thought, movement, memory, and other higher functions controlled by the brain. Dysregulation of glutamate signaling is associated with severe neuropathological conditions, such as epilepsy, and glioma, a form of brain cancer. Glutamate signals are currently detected by several types of neurochemical probes ranging from microdialysis-based to enzyme-based carbon fiber microsensors. Read More

Contemp Clin Trials 2018 Dec 12. Epub 2018 Dec 12.

Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Box 356490, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington 98195-6490, USA; VA Puget Sound Healthcare System, 1660 S. Columbian Way, RCS-117, Seattle, WA 98108, USA. Electronic address:

Background And Objectives: Chronic pain is a highly prevalent and potentially disabling condition in Veterans who have had a traumatic brain injury (TBI) and access to non-pharmacological pain treatments such as cognitive behavioral therapy is limited and variable. The purpose of this randomized controlled trial (RCT) is to evaluate the efficacy of a telephone-delivered cognitive behavioral therapy (T-CBT) for pain in Veterans with a history of TBI.

Methods: Veterans with a history of TBI and chronic pain of at least six months duration (N = 160) will be randomized to either T-CBT or a telephone-delivered pain psychoeducational active control condition (T-Ed). Read More

J Proteomics 2018 Dec 12. Epub 2018 Dec 12.

Proteomics Unit, Cancer Research Centre (IBMCC/CSIC/USAL/IBSAL), 37007 Salamanca, Spain; Department of Medicine and General Cytometry Service-Nucleus, Cancer Research Centre (IBMCC/CSIC/USAL/IBSAL), 37007 Salamanca, Spain. Electronic address:

Understanding the dynamic of the proteome is a critical challenge because it requires high sensitive methodologies in high-throughput formats in order to decipher its modifications and complexity. While molecular biology provides relevant information about cell physiology that may be reflected in post-translational changes, High-Throughput (HT) experimental proteomic techniques are essential to provide valuable functional information of the proteins, peptides and the interconnections between them. Hence, many methodological developments and innovations have been reported during the last decade. Read More

Infect Genet Evol 2018 Dec 12. Epub 2018 Dec 12.

Department of Microbiology, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China.

Several genome-wide association studies (GWAS) identified new single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) with susceptibility to Tuberculosis (TB). However, many of them were not replicated across ethnic groups. The cause of this phenomenon of genetic heterogeneity is uncertain. Read More

Eur J Pharm Sci 2018 Dec 12. Epub 2018 Dec 12.

Department of Pharmaceutics, National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research (NIPER), S.A.S. Nagar, Mohali, Punjab 160 062, India. Electronic address:

Breast cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer and the leading cause of cancer death in females as per the global cancer project (GLOBOCAN 2018) estimates of breast cancer incidence and mortality produced by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC). In 2018, there will be 2,088,849 new cases of breast cancer and 626,679 cases of deaths due to breast cancer in 5 regions (Americas, Africa, Europe, Asia and Oceania) at 20 sites of the world. Epidemiologic studies on diet and cancer have guided the search for some nutraceuticals acting as anti-cancer agents. Read More

Acta Biomater 2018 Dec 12. Epub 2018 Dec 12.

Department of Urology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University Affiliated Sixth People's Hospital, Shanghai Eastern Institute of Urologic Reconstruction, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, 200233 Shanghai, China. Electronic address:

Cell-seeded scaffolds are a common route of cell transplantation for bladder repair and reconstruction. However, when cell suspensions are harvested, proteolytic enzymes often cause extracellular matrix damage and loss of intercellular junctions. To overcome this problem, we developed a bioengineered three-dimensional bladder patch comprising porous scaffolds and multilayered adipose-derived stem cell (ASC) sheets, and evaluated its feasibility for bladder regeneration in a rat model. Read More

Int J Pharm 2018 Dec 12. Epub 2018 Dec 12.

Instituto de Química Rosario (IQUIR, CONICET-UNR), Suipacha 531, Rosario S2002LRK, Argentina; Área Técnica Farmacéutica, Facultad de Ciencias Bioquímicas y Farmacéuticas, Universidad Nacional de Rosario, Suipacha 531, Rosario S2002LRK, Argentina. Electronic address:

Vaginal candidiasis is considered a frequent opportunistic mucosal infection and the second most common cause of vaginitis after bacterial vaginosis. In this work, different vaginal films based on chitosan, hydroxypropyl methylcellulose and blends of these polymers containing tioconazole, were developed and thoroughly characterized to improve the conventional therapeutics of vaginal candidiasis. Mechanical properties, swelling, adhesiveness, morphology, antifungal activity, hemocompatibility and cytotoxicity were evaluated. Read More

Int J Pharm 2018 Dec 12. Epub 2018 Dec 12.

The First Affiliated Hospital, Collaborative Innovation Center for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases, Key Laboratory of Combined Multi-Organ Transplantation, Ministry of Public Health, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310003, PR China. Electronic address:

Maytansine and its related analogues are a class of highly potent anti-proliferation agents that have failed to be exploited as clinical drugs for human therapy due to unacceptable systemic toxicity. Here, we delineate a novel strategy that combines rational drug conjugation with subsequent nanoparticle assembly to systemically deliver this highly potent and toxic drug. To demonstrate this concept, we covalently coupled the thiolated maytansine derivative, the DM1 agent, to amphiphilic block co-polymers, polyethylene glycol (PEG)-block-polylactide (PLA), in varying molecular weights to generate two prodrug constructs (i. Read More

Cell Signal 2018 Dec 12. Epub 2018 Dec 12.

Department of Biology, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen, Guangdong, China. Electronic address:

Human Glioblastoma is one deadly disease; the median survival time is reported to be 13.9 months after treatment. In the present study, we discovered that DHX33 is highly expressed in 84% of all Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM). Read More

Ann Allergy Asthma Immunol 2018 Dec 12. Epub 2018 Dec 12.

The University of Chicago, Department of Pediatrics and Medicine, Chicago, Illinois, United States. Electronic address:

Gene 2018 Dec 12. Epub 2018 Dec 12.

Department of Virology, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran. Electronic address:

Given the multifactorial state of autoimmune complex diseases such as multiple sclerosis (MS), it is not clear if different risk factors act jointly or independently. Despite intensive studies investigating multi aspects of MS risk factors, findings with regards to potential biomarkers that may link these risk factors remained largely inconclusive. System biology or data integration utilizes different validated datasets to extract meaningful information and map the plausible biological pathways and networks. Read More

Pharmacol Res 2018 Dec 12. Epub 2018 Dec 12.

Department of Medicine, Section of Pharmacology, University of Perugia, Italy.

Cannabinoids are known to possess anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory properties, but the mechanisms involved are not fully understood. CB2 is the cannabinoid receptor that is expressed primarily on hematopoietic cells and mediates the immunoregulatory functions of cannabinoids. In order to study the effect of JTE907, a selective/inverse agonist of CB2 with anti-inflammatory properties, on the differentiation of T cell subtypes, we used an in vitro system of Th lineage-specific differentiation of naïve CD4 T lymphocytes isolated from the mouse spleen. Read More

J Pharm Sci 2018 Dec 12. Epub 2018 Dec 12.

Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, National University of Singapore, 4 Engineering Drive 4, Singapore, 117585, Singapore. Electronic address:

Surface modified PLGA nanoparticles were fabricated via nanoprecipitation for obtaining therapeutic concentration of paclitaxel (PTX) in brain tumor. The cellular uptake and cytotoxicity of NPs were evaluated on C6 glioma cells in vitro and BALB/c mice were used to study the brain penetration and bio-distribution upon intravenous administration. Results showed that by finely tuning nanoprecipitation parameters, PLGA nanoparticles coated with surfactants with a size around 150nm could provide a sustained release of PTX for >2 weeks. Read More

Life Sci 2018 Dec 12. Epub 2018 Dec 12.

Department of Pharmacology, School of Pharmaceutical Education and Research, Jamia Hamdard, New Delhi 110062, India. Electronic address:

Cyclophosphamide (CP) is an important anticancer drug which belongs to the class of alkylating agent. Cyclophosphamide is mostly used in bone marrow transplantation, rheumatoid arthritis, lupus erythematosus, multiple sclerosis, neuroblastoma and other types of cancer. Dose-related cardiotoxicity is a limiting factor for its use. Read More

Prev Med 2018 Dec 12. Epub 2018 Dec 12.

University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada.

Cannabis is the most commonly used illicit drug among general and pregnant populations. Despite recommendations to abstain from cannabis use, its use is increasing during the perinatal period. In this integrative review, we aim to understand women's perspectives about the health aspects of perinatal cannabis use. Read More

J Dent 2018 Dec 12. Epub 2018 Dec 12.

Department of Advanced Oral Sciences and Therapeutics, University of Maryland School of Dentistry, Baltimore, MD 21201, USA; Center for Stem Cell Biology & Regenerative Medicine, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21201, USA; Marlene and Stewart Greenebaum Cancer Center, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21201, USA. Electronic address:

Objectives: The objectives of this study were to: (1) develop a novel multifunctional composite with nanoparticles of silver (NAg), 2-methacryloyloxyethyl phosphorylcholine (MPC), dimethylaminohexadecyl methacrylate (DMAHDM) and nanoparticles of amorphous calcium phosphate (NACP); and (2) investigate biofilm-inhibition via the multifunctional nanocomposite against three species of periodontal pathogens for the first time.

Methods: The multifunctional nanocomposite was fabricated by incorporating NAg, MPC, DMAHDM and NACP into the resin consisting of pyromellitic glycerol dimethacrylate (PMDGDM) and ethoxylated bisphenol A dimethacrylate (EBPADMA). Three species (Porphyromonas gingivalis, Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans and Fusobacterium nucleatum) were tested for metabolic activity (MTT), live/dead staining, polysaccharide production and colony-forming units (CFU) of biofilms grown on resins. Read More

Adv Drug Deliv Rev 2018 Dec 12. Epub 2018 Dec 12.

MedImmune, Gaithersburg, MD 20878, United States. Electronic address:

CD40 is a TNF receptor superfamily member expressed on both immune and non-immune cells. Interactions between B cell-expressed CD40 and its binding partner, CD40L, predominantly expressed on activated CD4+ T cells, play a critical role in promoting germinal center formation and the production of class-switched antibodies. Non-hematopoietic cells expressing CD40 can also engage CD40L and trigger a pro-inflammatory response. Read More

Food Chem Toxicol 2018 Dec 12. Epub 2018 Dec 12.

Departamento de Bioquímica-Instituto de Investigaciones Biomédicas "Alberto Sols", Universidad Autónoma de Madrid-Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas, Madrid, Spain. Electronic address:

Resveratrol is a polyphenol with chemopreventive properties against prostate cancer; however, the mechanisms underlying its actions are not completely understood. Previously, we demonstrated that DUSP1 induces apoptosis in prostate cancer cells; therefore in the present study we investigated the role of this phosphatase on resveratrol effects. Moreover, we analysed the efficiency of combined treatment of resveratrol and the chemotherapeutic drug cisplatin on cellular viability and apoptosis and its relation with DUSP1 in prostate cancer cells. Read More

Peptides 2018 Dec 12. Epub 2018 Dec 12.

Department and Graduate Institute of Aquaculture, National Kaohsiung University of Science and Technology, Kaohsiung 811, Taiwan. Electronic address:

Trichomoniasis is caused by infection with the protozoan parasite Trichomonas vaginalis, and prolonged persistence may lead to serious ill effects in patients. Thus, the development of new therapeutic strategies to combat drug-resistant T. vaginalis would be clinically beneficial. Read More

Front Neuroendocrinol 2018 Dec 12. Epub 2018 Dec 12.

MTA-ELTE Laboratory of Molecular and Systems Neurobiology, Department of Physiology and Neurobiology, Hungarian Academy of Sciences and Eötvös Loránd University, Budapest, Hungary; Laboratory of Neuromorphology, Department of Anatomy, Histology and Embryology, Semmelweis University, Budapest, Hungary; Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Semmelweis University, Budapest, Hungary. Electronic address:

Our knowledge on the bioavailability and actions of insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) has markedly expanded in recent years as novel mechanisms were discovered on IGF binding proteins (IGFBPs) and their ability to release IGF-1. The new discoveries allowed a better understanding of the endogenous physiological actions of IGF-1 and also its applicability in therapeutics. The focus of the present review is to summarize novel findings on the neuronal, neuroendocrine and neuroplastic actions of IGF-1 in the adult brain. Read More

Neuropharmacology 2018 Dec 12. Epub 2018 Dec 12.

Department of Psychiatry, Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics, Faculty of Medicine, RWTH Aachen University, 52074, Aachen, Germany; JARA Institute Brain Structure Function Relationship Institute for Neuroscience and Medicine (INM 10), Forschungszentrum Jülich, 52425 Jülich, Germany.

Current models of aggression suggest that in addition to personality traits and environmental factors, biological vulnerability associated with genetics substantially impacts aggressive behavior. In a functional imaging study, we investigated the influence of the single nucleotide polymorphism of the mu 1 subtype opioid receptor gene (OPRM1), implicated in sociability, on correlates of trait and state aggression to delineate the function of these influences in aggression. A key aim was further to differentiate different aspects of aggressive reactions - namely, the reaction to provocation and the decision to punish an opponent. Read More

Eur J Pharmacol 2018 Dec 12. Epub 2018 Dec 12.

Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Zhejiang Province Key Laboratory of Anti-Cancer Drug Research, College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China, 310058. Electronic address:

Osteosarcoma is the most common primary malignant bone tumour, but the survival rate of patients has plateaued since the mid-1980s. Adriamycin is an integral component of the current first-line chemotherapies used for osteosarcoma, but dose-dependent severe side effects often limit its clinical application. Here, we propose a potential combination regimen in which adriamycin plus 2-bromopalmitate, a palmitoylation inhibitor, exhibited powerful therapeutic effects on osteosarcoma. Read More

Eur J Pharmacol 2018 Dec 12. Epub 2018 Dec 12.

Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique and University of Strasbourg, Institut des Neurosciences Cellulaires et Intégratives, 67000 Strasbourg, France. Electronic address:

Inflammatory processes are critical promoting factors of chronic pain states, mostly by inducing peripheral and central sensitization of the nociceptive system. These processes are associated with a massive increase in glutamatergic transmission, sometimes facilitated by spinal disinhibition. In this study, we used etifoxine, a non-benzodiazepine anxiolytic known to amplify inhibition mediated by gamma-aminobutyric acid type A (GABA) receptors in pain processing regions, either directly (through allosteric modulation) or indirectly (through the synthesis of endogenous neurosteroids). Read More

Am J Ophthalmol 2018 Dec 12. Epub 2018 Dec 12.

Department of Ophthalmology, Pasteur 2 Teaching Hospital, Nice, France.

Purpose: Ocular Surface Squamous Neoplasia includes a spectrum of diseases from dysplasia to invasive squamous cell carcinoma of the conjunctiva. Whether the degree of invasion influences outcomes is debated. We evaluated the outcomes and management of conjunctival carcinomas defined as ≤0. Read More

Acta Trop 2018 Dec 12. Epub 2018 Dec 12.

Department of Molecular Biology/Bioinformatics Centre, Rajendra Memorial Research Institute of Medical Science, Indian Council for Medical Research, Agamkuan, Patna, Bihar 800007. India.

Despite the availability of drugs to treat Leishmaniasis, various other factors including drug resistance and adverse side effects encourage the researchers to search for new strategies and alternatives for treating Leishmaniasis. Repurposing and devising combination therapy with the existing small molecules would serve as an alternative strategy to address the issue, especially the drug resistance. Hence, here we report LeishInDB, a web-accessible resource of small molecule inhibitors having a varying degree of activity towards Leishmania sp. Read More

Exp Neurol 2018 Dec 12. Epub 2018 Dec 12.

Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Center, The Second Affiliated Hospital and Yuying Children's Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, No. 109, Xueyuanxi Road, Wenzhou 325027, Zhejiang, China. Electronic address:

Dendritic and synaptic plasticity in the penumbra are important processes and are considered to be therapeutic targets of ischemic stroke. Treadmill exercise is known to be a beneficial treatment following stroke. However, its effects and potential mechanism in promoting dendritic and synaptic plasticity remain unknown. Read More

Biochem Pharmacol 2018 Dec 12. Epub 2018 Dec 12.

Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, California State University, Los Angeles, CA, USA. Electronic address:

The PPP1R1B gene is located on chromosome 17q12 (39,626,208-39,636,626[GRCh38/hg38]), which codes for multiple transcripts and two experimentally-documented proteins Darpp-32 and t-Darpp. Darpp-32 (Dopamine and cAMP Regulated Phosphoprotein), discovered in the early 1980s, is a protein whose phosphorylation is upregulated in response to cAMP in dopamine-responsive tissues in the brain. It's phosphorylation profile modulates its ability to bind and inhibit Protein Phosphatase 1 activity, which, in turn, controls the activity of hundreds of phosphorylated proteins. Read More

J Immunol Methods 2018 Dec 12. Epub 2018 Dec 12.

Department of Chemical, Biological, Pharmaceutical and Environmental Sciences, University of Messina, Viale F. Stagno d'Alcontres 31, 98166 Messina, Italy. Electronic address:

Sepsis is a systemic inflammatory response ensuing from presence and persistence of microorganisms in the bloodstream. The possibility to identify them at low concentrations may improve the problem of human health and therapeutic outcomes. So, sensitive and rapid diagnostic systems are essential to evaluate bacterial infections during the time, also reducing the cost. Read More

J Clin Pharm Ther 2018 Dec 15. Epub 2018 Dec 15.

Laboratory of Applied Therapeutics, Center for Education & Research on Clinical Pharmacy, Showa Pharmaceutical University, Tokyo, Japan.

What Is Known And Objective: Pemetrexed/carboplatin combination chemotherapy has shown efficacy as a first-line treatment for advanced non-small-cell lung cancer. However, severe haematotoxicity is often observed during this combination chemotherapy. Some studies have suggested that concomitant drugs may be the risk factors for severe adverse events. Read More

Head Neck 2018 Dec 15. Epub 2018 Dec 15.

Department of Thoracic/Head and Neck Medical Oncology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas.

Salivary gland cancers represent a rare group of tumors composed by over 20 histological subtypes. Initially treated as one single disease, its diagnosis, prognosis, and treatment are currently being stratified based on morphology. More recently, insight has been provided on the molecular characterization of each subtype, further improving diagnostic accuracy and paving the way for personalized therapy. Read More

Head Neck 2018 Dec 15. Epub 2018 Dec 15.

Department of Radiation Oncology, Tata Memorial Hospital, Mumbai, India.

Background: High prevalence of comorbidity in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) often lead to suboptimal treatment. The presence study aims to evaluate the presence of comorbidity, its impact on therapeutic decision making, treatment compliance, and overall survival in HNSCC.

Methods: Five hundred eighteen patients with nonmetastatic HNSCC, elder than 18 years of age, without any prior history of cancer or anticancer treatment in the last 5 years were evaluated using Adult Comorbidity Evaluation 27 (ACE 27) index. Read More

FEBS J 2018 Dec 15. Epub 2018 Dec 15.

Department of Biochemistry and Groupe de Recherche Axé sur la Structure des Protéines, McGill University, Montreal, QC, H3G 0B1, Canada.

β-mannosidase is a lysosomal enzyme from the glycosyl hydrolase family 2 that cleaves the single β(1-4)-linked mannose at the non-reducing end of N-glycosylated proteins, and plays an important role in the polysaccharide degradation pathway. Mutations in the MANBA gene, which encodes the β-mannosidase, can lead to the lysosomal storage disease β-mannosidosis, as well as nystagmus, an eye condition characterized by involuntary eye movements. Here, we present the first structures of a mammalian β-mannosidase in both the apo and mannose-bound forms. Read More

Fam Process 2018 Dec 15. Epub 2018 Dec 15.

School of Psychology, Universidad Adolfo Ibáñez, Santiago, Chile.

Family therapy has often been conceptualized as a conversational process whereby therapists and clients generate new meanings. Based on a 3-year study of conversational practices observable in successful family therapy processes of Chilean families with a child/adolescent who is engaged in disruptive behaviors, we looked for clinical examples of Transforming Interpersonal Patterns (TIPs). TIPs are a key aspect of the IPscope, a framework we used to explore the meaning-making processes in family therapy. Read More

J Nurs Scholarsh 2018 Dec 15. Epub 2018 Dec 15.

Psychiatric Clinical Nurse Specialist, Landspitali University Hospital, Landspitali-The National University Hospital in Iceland, Child and Adolescent Psychiatric Division, Reykjavik, Iceland.

Purpose: Family nursing interventions, focusing on therapeutic conversations, have been found to benefit primary caregivers dealing with chronic and acute illnesses. Less is known, however, about the benefit of these interventions for partner caregivers. The aims of this study were to develop and test the Family Strengths-Oriented Therapeutic Conversation (FAM-SOTC) intervention for partner caregivers of young individuals with eating disorders (EDs). Read More

Chembiochem 2018 Dec 14. Epub 2018 Dec 14.

Osaka University, Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, 1-6 Yamadaoka, 565-0871, Suita, JAPAN.

Because oligonucleotides containing bridged nucleic acids (BNAs) show high duplex-forming ability toward target single-stranded RNA, many BNA analogs have been developed for antisense applications. Amide-bridged nucleic acid (AmNA), which is a BNA analog bearing an amide bond at the bridge, exhibits high duplex-forming ability, enzymatic stability, and antisense activity; thus, AmNA represents a promising BNA scaffold. The high enzymatic stability of AmNA is presumably attributable to the bulky amide structure because it inhibits the access of nucleases to the phosphodiester linkage. Read More

J Cardiovasc Electrophysiol 2018 Dec 14. Epub 2018 Dec 14.

Heart Rhythm Center, Division of Cardiology, Department of Medicine, Taipei Veterans General Hospital.

Catheter ablation is an effective therapeutic strategy for atrial tachycardia (AT). However, it is clinically difficult to map a difficult-to-induce or nonsustained AT for distinguishing between AT and sinus foci. We presented a case with nonsustained focal atrial tachycardia(FAT) (Fig. Read More