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Org Biomol Chem 2019 Feb 8. Epub 2019 Feb 8.

Department of Biosciences, Jamia Millia Islamia, New Delhi-110025, India.

Odorants constitute a small and chemically diverse group of molecules with ethanol functioning as a key odorant that induces reproductive toxicity and adverse chronic effects on the liver. Analytical tools designed so far for the detection of odorant molecules are relatively invasive. Therefore, a tool that can measure the corresponding rate changes of ethanol concentration in real-time is highly desirable. Read More

Chemosphere 2019 Jan 29;222:656-664. Epub 2019 Jan 29.

Division of Environmental Science and Ecological Engineering, Korea University, 145 Anam-ro, Seongbuk-gu, Seoul 02841, Republic of Korea. Electronic address:

Crude oil released into the environment contains many polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). Alkylated PAHs are more abundant than unsubstituted PAHs and their toxicity is also of serious concern. Among the various physical, chemical, and biological weathering processes of crude oils, photodegradation is one of the most important for determining the environmental fate of oil residues. Read More

Nat Commun 2019 Feb 4;10(1):587. Epub 2019 Feb 4.

Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, 02139, USA.

Culture contamination, end-product toxicity, and energy efficient product recovery are long-standing bioprocess challenges. To solve these problems, we propose a high-pressure fermentation strategy, coupled with in situ extraction using the abundant and renewable solvent supercritical carbon dioxide (scCO), which is also known for its broad microbial lethality. Towards this goal, we report the domestication and engineering of a scCO-tolerant strain of Bacillus megaterium, previously isolated from formation waters from the McElmo Dome CO field, to produce branched alcohols that have potential use as biofuels. Read More

Nanoscale 2019 Jan;11(4):2027-2036

Key Laboratory of Biomedical Polymers of Ministry of Education and Department of Chemistry, Wuhan University, Wuhan 430072, P. R. China.

An innovative tungsten-based multifunctional nanoplatform composed of polyethylene glycol (PEG)-modified tungsten nitride nanoparticles (WN NPs) is constructed for tumor treatment. The PEG-WN NPs not only possess strong near-infrared (NIR) absorbance, high photothermal conversion efficiency, and excellent photothermal stability, but also effectively inhibit tumor cells upon 808 nm laser irradiation. After coating with thiolated (2-hydroxypropyl)-β-cyclodextrin (MUA-CD) on the surface, such a nanoplatform can also be used for drug delivery (such as DOX) and presents a synergistic tumor inhibition effect both in vitro and in vivo. Read More

Nutrients 2019 Jan 5;11(1). Epub 2019 Jan 5.

Department of Inflammation and Immunity, Lerner Research Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH 44195, USA.

Gut dysbiosis and altered short-chain fatty acids are associated with ethanol-induced liver injury. SCFA are fermentation byproducts of the gut microbiota known to have many beneficial biological effects. We tested if a designer synbiotic could protect against ethanol-induced gut-liver injury. Read More

Int J Nanomedicine 2019 20;14:75-85. Epub 2018 Dec 20.

Department of Pharmaceutics, School of Pharmacy, Second Military Medical University, Shanghai 200433, People's Republic of China,

Background: Many novel drug delivery systems have been extensively studied to exploit the full therapeutic potential of SN38, which is one of the most potent antitumor analogs of camptothecins (CPTs), whose clinical application is seriously hindered by poor water solubility, low plasmatic stability, and severe toxicity, but results are always unsatisfactory.

Methods: In this study, combining the advantages of prodrug and nanotechnology, a lipophilic prodrug of SN38, SN38-PA, was developed by conjugating palmitic acid to SN38 via ester bond at C position, and then the lipophilic prodrug was encapsulated into a long-circulating liposomal carrier by film dispersion method.

Results: The SN38-PA liposomes were characterized as follows: an average particle size of 80. Read More

Aquat Toxicol 2019 Feb 21;207:197-207. Epub 2018 Dec 21.

The Environmental Research Institute, MOE Key Laboratory of Environmental Theoretical Chemistry, South China Normal University, Guangzhou 510006, China. Electronic address:

Antibiotics have been frequently detected in the aquatic environment, and they may affect aquatic organisms such as algae. Here we investigated toxicity of chloramphenicol (CAP) and roxithromycin (ROX) on four species of green algae (Pseudokirchneriella subcapitata, Scenedesmus quadricauda, Scenedesmus obliquus, and Scenedesmus acuminatus) at biochemical level by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). The results revealed that both CAP and ROX had negative effects on algal growth and caused alterations of biochemical components. Read More

Oxid Med Cell Longev 2018 21;2018:1805354. Epub 2018 Nov 21.

Department of Biology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Belgrade, Bulevar oslobodjenja 18, 11000 Belgrade, Serbia.

This study is aimed at analysing biochemical and genetic endpoints of toxic effects after administration of adrenaline. For this purpose, the study was carried out on Wistar rats and three doses of adrenaline were used: 0.75 mg/kg, 1. Read More

Int J Nanomedicine 2018 3;13:8231-8245. Epub 2018 Dec 3.

Department of Hematology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan Province 450052, China,

Purpose: As the deadliest gynecological malignancy, ovarian cancer ranks as a major cause of disease-related deaths to women worldwide and is treated with transurethral resection or systemic chemotherapy. However, traditional chemotherapeutic drug in antitumor therapy has shown unavoidable limitations, such as poor curative effects, systemic toxicity and development of drug resistance, leading to failure of tumor inhibition and recurrence. This study aims to explore an innovative method to enhance the clinical efficiency of ovarian cancer. Read More

Drug Dev Ind Pharm 2018 Dec 21. Epub 2018 Dec 21.

a Tianjin International Joint Academy of Biomedicine , No.220 Dongting Road, the Tianjin Economic-Technological Development Area (TEDA) , Tianjin , China (PRC) .

Background: Hand-Foot-Mouth Disease may cause severe central nervous system complications and even death, that induced mainly by enterovirus 71 (EV71), which is a non-enveloped virus. Inactivation of the EV71on hands could effectively inhibit the transmission. However, the inactivations of the EV71by conventional disinfectants including the alcohols are poor, due to the high stability of the EV71. Read More

Medicine (Baltimore) 2018 Dec;97(51):e13689

Department of Neurology, The Second Hospital of Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang, Hebei, China.

Objective: In this study, we aimed to review the literature on phenytoin intoxication induced by compound phenytoin sodium, ephedrine hydrochloride and theophylline tablets (CPEHTT).

Method: A literature search was performed in the following databases: WANFANG DATA, HowNet, National Library Reference and Consultation Alliance, Full-text Database of Foreign Medical Journals, PubMed and Ovid. The search terms were "Compound Phenytoin Sodium, ephedrine Hydrochloride and Theophylline Tablets," and "poisoning," or "toxicity," in Chinese and in English. Read More

Toxicol Lett 2019 Mar 17;303:9-15. Epub 2018 Dec 17.

University of Health Sciences, Dept. of Medical CBRN Defense, 06010, Etlik, Ankara, Turkey.

Sulfur mustard (SM) was responsible for more than 80% of all documented chemical casualties during the Great War. Recent literature on clinic picture of SM exposure remained so limited with the sporadic cases who were accidentally exposed to SM especially either in Western Europe or China. We reported a Syrian family of four who became victims of chemical terrorism due to SM exposure and we described the detailed clinical course of the family including the medical history, initial symptomatology, clinical examination, hematological data, and initial treatment in the first 48 hours after exposure at Kilis State Hospital, Turkey. Read More

World J Gastroenterol 2018 Dec;24(45):5063-5075

Department of Immunology, Ophthalmology and ORL, Complutense University School of Medicine, Madrid 28040, Spain.

Alcoholic liver disease (ALD) is a major cause of acute and chronic liver injury. Extensive evidence has been accumulated on the pathological process of ALD during the past decades. However, effective treatment options for ALD are very limited due to the lack of suitable models that recapitulate the full spectrum of ALD. Read More

Sensors (Basel) 2018 Dec 7;18(12). Epub 2018 Dec 7.

Functional Devices Laboratory, Institute of Advanced Technology, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Serdang 43400, Selangor, Malaysia.

Clenbuterol (CLB) is an antibiotic and illegal growth promoter drug that has a long half-life and easily remains as residue and contaminates the animal-based food product that leads to various health problems. In this work, electrochemical immunosensor based on poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene)/graphene oxide (PEDOT/GO) modified screen-printed carbon electrode (SPCE) for CLB detection was developed for antibiotic monitoring in a food product. The modification of SPCE with PEDOT/GO as a sensor platform was performed through electropolymerization, while the electrochemical assay was accomplished while using direct competitive format in which the free CLB and clenbuterol-horseradish peroxidase (CLB-HRP) in the solution will compete to form binding with the polyclonal anti-clenbuterol antibody (Ab) immobilized onto the modified electrode surface. Read More

Int J Nanomedicine 2018 19;13:7623-7631. Epub 2018 Nov 19.

Department of Urology, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing 100730, China,

Background: Chemotherapy after transurethral resection is commonly recommended for bladder cancer. However, studies have shown that chemotherapy solely can hardly decrease progression rates of bladder cancer. The combination of chemotherapeutic agents with photo-dynamic therapy (PDT), a new promising localized therapy, may become a workable strategy for combating bladder cancer. Read More

J Econ Entomol 2018 Dec 10. Epub 2018 Dec 10.

US Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service, National Biological Control Laboratory, Stoneville, MS.

Although insecticidal properties of certain benzoates have been investigated for pest insects and mites, toxicity of benzoates to the red imported fire ants, Solenopsis invicta Buren, has never been reported. In this study, 15 commercially available benzoates were assessed for their contact and fumigation toxicity to S. invicta workers and their chemical structure-activity relationships. Read More

Rev Soc Bras Med Trop 2018 Nov-Dec;51(6):769-780

Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Instituto Nacional de Infectologia Evandro Chagas, Laboratório de Pesquisa Clínica e Vigilância em Leishmanioses, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brasil.

Introduction: Favorable responses in American tegumentary leishmaniasis (ATL) patients to treatment with 5 mg Sbv/kg/day meglumine antimoniate (MA) has been reported in Rio de Janeiro, but little is known regarding the therapeutic response to low doses in patients from other locations.

Methods: A retrospective review of medical records was conducted to compare the therapeutic response to 5 mg Sbv/kg/day MA treatment among 36 patients who acquired ATL in Brazilian states other than Rio de Janeiro (OS group) and 72 patients from Rio de Janeiro (RJ group).

Results: One course of 5 mg Sbv/kg/day MA cured 72. Read More

Analyst 2018 Dec;144(1):324-330

Manchester Institute of Biotechnology, School of Chemistry, University of Manchester, M1 7DN, UK. and Department of Biochemistry, Institute of Integrative Biology, University of Liverpool, Biosciences Building, Crown Street, Liverpool L69 7ZB, UK.

The spirits drinks industry is of significant global economic importance and a major employer worldwide, and the ability to ensure product authenticity and maintain consumer confidence in these high-value products is absolutely essential. Spirit drinks counterfeiting is a worldwide problem, with counterfeiting and adulteration of spirit drinks taking many forms, such as substitution, stretching with lower-grade products, or creation of counterfeits with industrial, surrogate, or locally produced alcohols. Methanol for example, which has been used as a substitute alcohol for ethanol, has a high toxicity in humans. Read More

Int J Nanomedicine 2018 25;13:6855-6870. Epub 2018 Oct 25.

Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou 325027, China,

Purpose: Liver cancer is the third leading cause of cancer-related deaths worldwide. Liver cancer stem cells (LCSCs) are a subpopulation of cancer cells that are responsible for the initiation, progression, drug resistance, recurrence, and metastasis of liver cancer. Recent studies have suggested that the eradication of both LCSCs and liver cancer cells is necessary because the conversion of cancer stem cells (CSCs) to cancer cells occasionally occurs. Read More

Food Microbiol 2019 Apr 18;78:114-122. Epub 2018 Oct 18.

Environmental Futures Research Institute, Nathan Campus, Griffith University, Brisbane, Australia; School of Natural Sciences, Nathan Campus, Griffith University, Brisbane, Australia. Electronic address:

Shewanella spp. are major causes of fish spoilage. Terminalia ferdinandiana (Kakadu plum) extracts were investigated for their ability to inhibit Shewanella spp. Read More

mSphere 2018 11 28;3(6). Epub 2018 Nov 28.

Department of Biological Sciences, University of Arkansas-Fayetteville, Fayetteville, Arkansas, USA

All living organisms must recognize and respond to various environmental stresses throughout their lifetime. In natural environments, cells frequently encounter fluctuating concentrations of different stressors that can occur in combination or sequentially. Thus, the ability to anticipate an impending stress is likely ecologically relevant. Read More

Oncol Rep 2019 Feb 19;41(2):811-818. Epub 2018 Nov 19.

The Second Hospital of Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong 250033, P.R. China.

Reactive oxygen species (ROS) cause oncogenic mutations through direct interaction with DNA. Carvedilol (CAR) exhibits antioxidative activity, and pre‑clinical studies have identified that CAR may prevent malignant transformation in certain carcinogenic models. This suggests that CAR may be a potential agent in cancer prevention. Read More

Planta 2019 Jan 26;249(1):235-249. Epub 2018 Nov 26.

Department of Biological Science and Technology, Faculty of Industrial Science and Technology, Tokyo University of Science, 6-3-1 Niijuku, Katsushika-ku, Tokyo, 125-8585, Japan.

Main Conclusion: Transgenic tobacco plants overexpressing the monoterpene alcohol geraniol synthase exhibit hypersensitivity to thermal stress, possibly due to suppressed sugar metabolism and transcriptional regulation of genes involved in thermal stress tolerance. Monoterpene alcohols function in plant survival strategies, but they may cause self-toxicity to plants due to their hydrophobic and highly reactive properties. To explore the role of these compounds in plant stress responses, we assessed transgenic tobacco plants overexpressing the monoterpene alcohol geraniol synthase (GES plants). Read More

Regul Toxicol Pharmacol 2019 Feb 22;101:91-102. Epub 2018 Nov 22.

Department of Veterinary Integrative Biosciences, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, 77843, USA. Electronic address:

High-content screening data derived from physiologically-relevant in vitro models promise to improve confidence in data-integrative groupings for read-across in human health safety assessments. The biological data-based read-across concept is especially applicable to bioactive chemicals with defined mechanisms of toxicity; however, the challenge of data-derived groupings for chemicals that are associated with little or no bioactivity has not been explored. In this study, we apply a suite of organotypic and population-based in vitro models for comprehensive bioactivity profiling of twenty E-Series and P-Series glycol ethers, solvents with a broad variation in toxicity ranging from relatively non-toxic to reproductive and hematopoetic system toxicants. Read More

J Mol Neurosci 2019 Jan 23;67(1):1-15. Epub 2018 Nov 23.

College of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Department of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics, University of Toledo, Health Science Campus, 3000 Arlington Avenue, HEB 282G, Toledo, OH, 43614, USA.

Evidence demonstrated that the glutamatergic system is implicated in mediating relapse to several drugs of abuse, including methamphetamine (METH). Glutamate homeostasis is maintained by a number of glutamate transporters, such as glutamate transporter type 1 (GLT-1), cystine/glutamate transporter (xCT), and glutamate aspartate transporter (GLAST). In addition, group II metabotropic glutamate receptors (mGluR2/3) were found to be implicated in relapse-seeking behavior. Read More

Toxicol Lett 2019 Feb 19;301:79-89. Epub 2018 Nov 19.

Department of Experimental and Clinical Toxicology, Institute of Experimental and Clinical Pharmacology and Toxicology, Center for Molecular Signaling (PZMS), Saarland University, Homburg, Germany. Electronic address:

New psychoactive substances (NPS) are still an emerging issue in clinical and forensic toxicology. Information about their cytotoxic potential is limited or even unavailable before distribution and thus their intake can be of high risk for consumers. The aim of the presented study was to develop a strategy to identify cytotoxic potential of NPS based on a high content screening assay (HCSA) using HepG2 cell line and four fluorescent dyes, namely Hoechst33342, TMRM, CAL-520, and TOTO-3. Read More

Nanoscale 2018 Dec 22;10(47):22252-22262. Epub 2018 Nov 22.

MOE Key Laboratory of Bioinorganic and Synthetic Chemistry, School of Chemistry, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou 510275, P. R. China.

Nano-drug delivery systems with multi-modality imaging capacities are worth pursuing because they integrate diagnostic and therapeutic functions. Herein, we report the design, synthesis and evaluation of modified iridium sulfide (IrS) nanoparticles (NPs) for cancer therapy in vitro and in vivo. This nanosystem was prepared by modifying IrS with polyethylene glycol (PEG) conjugated to the targeting ligand folate (FA) for multimodal imaging-guided combined chemo-photothermal therapy. Read More

Int J Nanomedicine 2018 31;13:6961-6986. Epub 2018 Oct 31.

Materials Science, Engineering, and Commercialization Program, Texas State University, San Marcos, TX,

Introduction: Despite significant progress in the field of oncology, cancer remains one of the leading causes of death. Chemotherapy is one of the most common treatment options for cancer patients but is well known to result in off-target toxicity. Theranostic nanomedicines that integrate diagnostic and therapeutic functions within an all-in-one platform can increase tumor selectivity for more effective chemotherapy and aid in diagnosis and monitoring of therapeutic responses. Read More

J Vet Med Sci 2019 Jan 21;81(1):127-133. Epub 2018 Nov 21.

Laboratory of Veterinary Pathology, Graduate School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Osaka Prefecture University, 1-58 Rinku-Ourai-Kita, Izumisano-shi, Osaka 598-8531, Japan.

Fibrotic lesion is formed by myofibroblasts capable of producing collagens. The myofibroblasts are characterized by immunoexpressions of vimentin, desmin and α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA) in varying degrees. The cellular characteristics remain investigated in myocardial fibrosis. Read More

Med Sci Monit 2018 Nov 20;24:8372-8382. Epub 2018 Nov 20.

Department of Clinical Laboratory, Jingmen No. 1 People's Hospital, Jingmen, Hubei, China (mainland).

BACKGROUND Excessive alcohol consumption can cause hepatocellular injury. ATPase II (ATP8A1) can display an ATP-dependent phospholipid translocase activity. However, the function of ATP8A1 in hepatocyte injury is still unclear. Read More

Carbohydr Polym 2019 Feb 29;205:571-580. Epub 2018 Oct 29.

School of Biological Science and Technology, University of Jinan, No. 336 West Road of Nanxinzhuang, Jinan 250022, Shandong Province, PR China. Electronic address:

Introduction of linolenic acid (LNA) and methoxy poly (ethylene glycol) (MPEG) to the backbone of oligochitosan (CS) afforded LNA-modified MPEG-CS conjugate (MPEG-CS-LNA). Amphotericin B-loaded MPEG-CS-LNA micelles (AmB-M) were prepared via dialysis method with 82.27 ± 1. Read More

Int J Mol Sci 2018 Nov 11;19(11). Epub 2018 Nov 11.

Institute of Crop Science, Department of Agronomy, College of Agriculture and Biotechnology, Zijingang Campus, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China.

Aluminum (Al) toxicity and drought are two major constraints on plant growth in acidic soils, negatively affecting crop performance and yield. Genotypic differences in the effects of Al/low pH and polyethyleneglycol (PEG) induced drought stress, applied either individually or in combination, were studied in Tibetan wild (XZ5, drought-tolerant; XZ29, Al-tolerant) and cultivated barley (Al-tolerant Dayton; drought-tolerant Tadmor). Tibetan wild barley XZ5 and XZ29 had significantly higher H⁺-ATPase, CaMg-ATPase, and Na⁺K⁺-ATPase activities at pH 4. Read More

Environ Sci Pollut Res Int 2019 Jan 12;26(1):905-912. Epub 2018 Nov 12.

Graduate School of Environment and Information Sciences, Yokohama National University, 79-7 Tokiwadai, Hodogaya-ku, Yokohama, 240-8501, Japan.

Lichen secondary metabolites are known to be associated with heavy metal uptake and tolerance in lichens. Understanding the relationship between their secondary metabolites and heavy metals in them is important for clarifying the mechanisms of their heavy metal accumulation and tolerance. To determine the relationships between the concentrations of secondary metabolites and Cu in the Cu-hyperaccumulator lichen Stereocaulon japonicum and to clarify its response to Cu, we collected Cu-contaminated and uncontaminated samples of the lichen and determined relative concentrations of secondary metabolites and concentrations of Cu, K, glucose, and sugar alcohols in them. Read More

Gynecol Oncol 2019 01 6;152(1):61-67. Epub 2018 Nov 6.

Medical Oncology Department, Universite Paris Descartes, AH-HP, Paris, France.

Purpose: To evaluate the effectiveness of bevacizumab with single-agent chemotherapy for platinum-resistant ovarian cancer in a real-world setting.

Patients And Methods: We enrolled recurrent platinum-resistant ovarian cancer patients from 27 institutions. All had received bevacizumab with single-agent chemotherapy (weekly paclitaxel, pegylated liposomal doxorubicin (PLD), topotecan) between 2015 and 2017 for second- or third-line chemotherapy in routine clinical practice. Read More

Food Chem Toxicol 2019 Jan 5;123:566-573. Epub 2018 Nov 5.

DSM Nutritional Products AG, Wurmisweg 576, 4303, Kaiseraugst, Switzerland.

3-NOP (3-nitroxy-propanol) is a new development compound which reduces methane emission from ruminating animals. For registration purposes with emphasis on EU and North America data requirements, mutagenic and genotoxic potential was assessed following OECD protocols and respective guidance documents. 3-NOP mutagenicity and genotoxicity testing raised no flags with regard to these endpoints. Read More

Int J Mol Sci 2018 Nov 7;19(11). Epub 2018 Nov 7.

Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Beijing Institute of Radiation Medicine, Beijing 100850, China.

To investigate the toxicity of water and ethanol "Fuzi" (FZ) extracts and to explore the toxicity mechanism in rats. Water and ethanol extracts were prepared. Three groups of rats received the water extract, ethanol extract, or water by oral gavage for seven days. Read More

Pan Afr Med J 2018 18;29:49. Epub 2018 Jan 18.

Department of Anatomy and Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, National University of Science and Technology, Bulawayo, Zimbabwe and Division of Histology and Embryology, School of Anatomical Sciences, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, Gauteng, South Africa.

Introduction: The use of antimalarial chloroquine in malaria-endemic regions of Africa is rampant and it is not uncommon to find individuals taken the drug concurrent with alcohol. Effects of anti-malarial drug chloroquine (Chq) and ethanol (Et) combination on kidney volume and function using rat model was investigated.

Methods: 32 adult male rats were randomly distributed into four groups of 8 rats each. Read More

J Biosci Bioeng 2018 Dec 28;126(6):682-689. Epub 2018 Jun 28.

Department of Agro-food Resources, National Institute of Agricultural Science, RDA, 166 Nongsaengmyeong-ro, Wanju-Gun, Jeollabuk-do 55365, Republic of Korea.

The yeast Pichia kudriavzevii N77-4 was isolated from the Korean traditional fermentation starter nuruk. In this study, fermentation performance and stress resistance ability of N77-4 was analyzed. N77-4 displayed superior thermotolerance (up to 44°C) in addition to enhanced acetic acid resistance compared to Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Read More

J Food Sci 2018 Dec 6;83(12):3059-3068. Epub 2018 Nov 6.

College of Food Science and Technology, Hainan Univ. Hainan, Haikou 570228, China.

Mango slurries were fermented with 6 different probiotic microorganisms (Lactobacillus plantarum, Streptococcus thermophilus, Lactobacillus casei, Saccharomyces cerevisiae D254, S. cerevisiae DV10, and S. cerevisiae R2) to develop products with higher bioactivity. Read More

Psychopharmacology (Berl) 2018 Dec 3;235(12):3363-3379. Epub 2018 Nov 3.

Bowles Center for Alcohol Studies, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, CB #7178, Thurston Bowles Building, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599-7178, USA.

Background: Arginine vasopressin (VP) has been implicated in a number of neuropsychiatric disorders with an emphasis on situations where stress increased the severity of the disorder. Based on this hypothesized role for VP in neuropsychiatric disorders, much research is currently being undertaken in humans and animals to test VP as a target for treatment of a number of these disorders including alcohol abuse.

Objectives: To provide a summary of the literature regarding the role of VP in alcohol- and stress-related behaviors including the use of drugs that target VP in clinical trials. Read More

Chemosphere 2019 Feb 25;216:576-586. Epub 2018 Oct 25.

LAQV, REQUIMTE, Departamento de Química, Faculdade de Ciências e Tecnologia, Universidade Nova de Lisboa, 2829-516 Caparica, Portugal. Electronic address:

The use of fluorinated ionic liquids (FILs) as novel materials in biological and pharmaceutical applications is an emerging research field. The knowledge of their cytotoxicity and that of 1-octanol/water partition coefficients are essential to assess their environmental risks, to estimate their toxicity and activity, or the hydrophilic/lipophilic balance, as well as to explore their properties as solvents in extraction processes or for successful drug design. The study of the cytotoxicity in four different human cell lines and the experimental measurement of the partition coefficient between 1-octanol and water (P), using the slow-stirring method, were carried out for several FILs. Read More

Lancet Haematol 2018 Nov;5(11):e532-e542

Department of Stem Cell Transplantation and Cellular Therapy, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA.

Background: Haemopoietic stem-cell transplantation (HCT) conditioning regimens that can reduce risk of relapse without increasing non-relapse mortality are needed. We aimed to test the safety of timed-sequential delivery of low-dose versus high-dose myeloablative busulfan in older patients and patients with comorbidities.

Methods: This non-stratified, open-label, randomised phase 2 trial was done at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center (Houston, TX, USA). Read More

J Mol Graph Model 2019 Jan 23;86:199-208. Epub 2018 Oct 23.

Department of Chemistry, Mashhad Branch, Islamic Azad University, Mashhad, Iran.

The beta-amyloid peptide Aβ1-42 is the most effective peptide in the process of forming plaque and creating Alzheimer's. After the separation of Aβ1-42 from APP membrane protein, the membrane surface is transmitted to the extracellular environment, which is a crowded environment. On the other hand, stability of salt bridges Asp23-Lys28 and Lys28-Ala42 is important for monomer toxicity and fibrillation formation. Read More

Environ Int 2018 Dec 28;121(Pt 2):1193-1203. Epub 2018 Oct 28.

Interdisciplinary Center for Nanotoxicity, Department of Chemistry, Physics and Atmospheric Sciences, Jackson State University, Jackson, MS 39217, USA. Electronic address:

Physiologically-based toxicokinetic (PBTK) model has immense role to play in the risk assessment process due to specified mathematical representation of the absorption, Distribution, Metabolism, Excretion and Toxicity (ADMET) of chemicals in diverse environmental compartment. Determination of adipose/blood partition coefficient [logP] is regarded as one of the crucial constraints of PBTK models. In respect to the challenge for identifying the chemical-definite parameters for these models, especially within short time frame and with limited resources, quantitative structure-activity relationship (QSAR) models are beneficial for providing the chemical-specific parameters of PBTK models. Read More

Int J Mol Sci 2018 Oct 28;19(11). Epub 2018 Oct 28.

Dipartimento di Scienze della Vita, Università di Siena, Via Aldo Moro 2, 53100 Siena, Italy.

Cytochrome P450 (CYP) isozymes vary their expression depending on the brain area, the cell type, and the presence of drugs. Some isoforms are involved in detoxification and/or toxic activation of xenobiotics in central nervous system. However, their role in brain metabolism and neurodegeneration is still a subject of debate. Read More

Neuroreport 2018 12;29(18):1564-1570

Physiology Laboratory of College of Life Sciences.

The current research probed into the effects of green tea polyphenols (GTPs) on ethanol-induced spatial learning and memory impairments and inquired the potential molecular mechanism in rats. Thirty 8-week-old male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into three groups. The control group (control, n=10), ethanol group (ethanol, n=10), and GTPs intervention group (GTP, n=10) received gavage administration of saline, ethanol, and ethanol-GTP solution, respectively, for 8 weeks. Read More

J Neuroinflammation 2018 Oct 27;15(1):298. Epub 2018 Oct 27.

Department of Medicine, University of Massachusetts Medical School, 364 Plantation Street, Worcester, MA, 01605, USA.

Background: The end-organ effects of alcohol span throughout the entire body, from the gastrointestinal tract to the central nervous system (CNS). In the intestine, alcohol use changes the microbiome composition and increases gut permeability allowing translocation of microbial components into the circulation. Gut-derived pathogen-associated signals initiate inflammatory responses in the liver and possibly elsewhere in the body. Read More

J Nanobiotechnology 2018 Oct 27;16(1):83. Epub 2018 Oct 27.

Department of Medical Oncology, The Fifth Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, 510700, China.

Background: In order to explore the possibility of treating breast cancer by local photo-therapy, a photothermal agents loaded in situ hydrogel was established. In detail, The CuMnS nanoplates were prepared by one-pot synthesis and, the thermosensitive Pluronic F127 was used as the hydrogel matrix. The CuMnS nanoplates and the hydrogel were characterized by morphous, particle size, serum stability, photothermal performance upon repeated 808 nm laser irradiation as well as the rheology features. Read More

Food Chem Toxicol 2019 Jan 25;123:195-204. Epub 2018 Oct 25.

Department of Pharmacology, Toxicology and Therapeutic Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy and Food Sciences, University of Barcelona, 08028, Barcelona, Spain; Institut de Recerca en Nutrició i Seguretat Alimentària de la UB (INSA·UB), 08921, Santa Coloma de Gramenet, Spain. Electronic address:

Epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG), the main catechin of green tea, is described to have potential health benefits in several fields like oncology, neurology or cardiology. Currently, it is also under pre-clinical investigation as a potential therapeutic or preventive treatment during pregnancy against developmental adverse effects induced by toxic substances. However, the safety of EGCG during pregnancy is unclear due to its proven adverse effects on neural progenitor cells' (NPCs) migration. Read More