Search

A preprint abstract from biorxiv.org discusses the challenges of implementing enzyme-free nucleic acid amplification tests (NAATs) at the point of care (PoC) for communicable diseases. These tests are often resource-intensive and difficult to obtain in low-resource communities. The abstract presents a proof-of-concept NAAT that combines hybridization chain reaction (HCR) with paper-based nucleic acid filtration and enrichment to detect synthetic DNA at sub pM levels. The researchers demonstrate that by recreating the conditions of an in cellulo reaction in vitro, HCR can be enhanced to meet the needs of PoC NAATs. However, it is important to note that this preprint has not yet undergone peer review. [Extracted from the article]

The article reports on calls for papers to be presented at the 2009 ASEE Annual Conference and Exposition. It mentions that papers are now required to be submitted for peer review through the ASEE SmoothPaper system. The Biomedical Engineering Division is calling for papers on topics including globalization and experiential learning. The Computers in education Division is calling for papers on tools in education in engineering and technology. The Construction Engineering Division is calling for papers on cost engineering and related areas. An overview of the requirements papers is presented.

A preprint abstract discusses the challenges of inferring the underlying disease state in Alzheimer's Disease (AD) progression. The paper proposes a biophysically motivated Bayesian framework called B-BIND, which models the disease state and continuously infers it from observed quantifications of multiple AD pathological proteins. The framework assigns a latent score, called pseudotime, to each pathological state, creating a pseudotemporal order of donors based on their pathological burden. The paper provides estimation algorithms and applies the methodology to data from the Seattle Alzheimer's Disease Brain Cell Atlas. This research lays the groundwork for continuous pseudotime modeling in the analysis of neurodegenerative diseases. [Extracted from the article]

A preprint abstract from biorxiv.org discusses a new technology that aims to improve the sensitivity of lateral flow immunoassays (LFIAs), which are paper-based tests used for rapid detection of analytes. The technology involves using DNA origami as an adapter to connect detection antibodies to signal-generating labels, resulting in a significant improvement in assay sensitivity. The researchers demonstrated this by applying the technology to detect cardiac troponin I in human serum. The DNA origami signal amplification technology is compatible with various analytes, labels, and sample matrices, making it a promising approach for enhancing the sensitivity and reliability of lateral flow testing. However, it is important to note that this research has not yet undergone peer review. [Extracted from the article]

A preprint abstract from biorxiv.org discusses the development of a new microscope called the Freestanding-Bilayer Microscope (FBM) for studying integral membrane proteins (IMPs). IMPs play important roles in physiology and disease, but their dynamic features are not well understood due to the complexity of cell membrane environments. The FBM combines freestanding bilayers with single-particle tracking to enable the study of IMP dynamics with single-molecule resolution and unconstrained diffusion. The paper presents the benchmarking of the FBM against another imaging method and highlights its potential for examining membrane protein/lipid organization and dynamics. Please note that this preprint has not yet undergone peer review. [Extracted from the article]

Researchers at the University of Paris have developed new mathematical structures within thermostatted kinetic theory for modeling complex living systems in biophysics. These structures can be used to derive specific models for various biological systems at the cellular scale, including breast cancer, genetic mutations, immune system response, and skin fibrosis. The study discusses future research directions focusing on the well-posedness of initial boundary value problems, spatial-velocity dynamics, and macroscopic-scale dynamics. For more information, readers can access the full article titled "Thermostatted Kinetic Theory Structures in Biophysics: Generalizations and Perspectives" in AppliedMath, 2024,4(4). [Extracted from the article]

The article discusses the development of FLIMPA, an open-source software for phasor plot analysis in fluorescence lifetime imaging microscopy (FLIM). FLIM is an advanced microscopy technique that provides insights into the molecular environment of a fluorophore. Phasor plots are increasingly preferred for FLIM data analysis as they visualize the distribution of fluorescent lifetimes without relying on model assumptions. FLIMPA, developed in Python, offers advanced tools for data analysis and visualization, allowing for the integration of phasor points from multiple trials and the exploration of localized insights within individual samples. The software is applied to a cell-based assay for the quantification of microtubule depolymerization, which has implications for anti-cancer treatment. [Extracted from the article]

This article discusses a study on the neurotoxicity of alpha-synuclein oligomers in Parkinson's disease. The study introduces a parameter called "accumulated neurotoxicity" to measure the cumulative damage these toxic species cause to neurons over time. The researchers estimate a threshold value for accumulated neurotoxicity, beyond which neuron death is likely. The study suggests that strategies such as reducing alpha-synuclein monomer production or enhancing degradation can decrease accumulated toxicity, while slower degradation increases toxicity. The article emphasizes the importance of protein degradation in Parkinson's disease progression. However, it should be noted that this preprint has not yet undergone peer review. [Extracted from the article]

This paper explores the impact of climate change on agriculture in Nicaragua using biophysical models and a bioeconomic model. It also examines differences in projections of key climate models. In Nicaragua's case, the climate models strongly disagree in the direction of change in precipitation, with one model projecting large increases in rainfall and two projecting large decreases. This will keep policy makers from being able to invest in adapting to one type of outcome, though the report still makes recommendations for policies which will help farmers adapt to climate change. Most climate models show that rainfall will decline in the primera season (June-August), which only has a moderate amount of rainfall now. A decline in that season could result in a higher percentage of years with poor yields for maize and other crops. The bioeconomic model used in this report show that averaging across all growing seasons, sugarcane, coffee, maize, sorghum, and beans are expected to suffer negative shocks from climate change. And if the low-rainfall climate model proves to be correct, the losses will be much larger those projected here which rely on the median prediction from the climate models. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We use both biophysical and bioeconomic models to assess the impact of climate change on Honduran agriculture out to 2050. We find that for some key crops, such as maize and sugarcane, yield reductions will likely be larger in Honduras than most of the rest of the world will experience. We argue that the highest-value crop for Honduras--coffee--may also be the hardest hit by climate change. Maize is projected to have a productivity loss of around 12 percent as a direct result of climate change, but because of increased prices from climate change, yields are projected to only decline by 9 percent, as farmers will invest more in productivity. Beans are projected to lose 10 percent in yield, even after adjusting for the increased investment in productivity by farmers. Livestock may also experience productivity shocks due to climate change, particularly in the southern part of the country. We make recommendations to policy makers to enact appropriate policies to help farmers adapt to the various productivity losses that would otherwise be experienced because of climate change. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Isocorynoxeine, one of the major alkaloids from Uncaria Hook, shows the effects of lowering blood pressure, vasodilatation, and protection against ischemia-induced neuronal damage. In this paper, the metabolism of isocorynoxeine was investigated in rats. Twelve metabolites and the parent drug were isolated by using solvent extraction and repeated chromatographic methods, and determined by spectroscopic methods including UV, MS, NMR, and CD experiments. Seven new compounds were identified as 11-hydroxyisocorynoxeine, 5-oxoisocorynoxeinic acid-22-O-β-Dglucuronide, 10-hydroxyisocorynoxeine, 17-Odemethyl-16,17-dihydro-5-oxoisocorynoxeine, 5-oxoisocorynoxeinic acid, 21-hydroxy-5-oxoisocorynoxeine, and oxireno[18, 19]-5-oxoisocorynoxeine, together with six known compounds identified as isocorynoxeine, 18,19-dehydrocorynoxinic acid, 18,19-dehydrocorynoxinic acid B, corynoxeine, isocorynoxeine-N-oxide, and corynoxeine-N-oxide. Possible metabolic pathways of isocorynoxeine are proposed. Furthermore, the activity assay for the parent drug and some of its metabolites showed that isocorynoxeine exhibited a significant neuroprotective effect against glutamate-induced HT22 cell death at the maximum concentration. However, little or weak neuroprotective activities were observed for M-3, M-6, M-7, and M-10. Our present study is important to further understand their metabolic fate and disposition in humans. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Artemisia species possess pharmacological properties that are used for medical purposes worldwide. In this paper, the essential oils from the aerial parts of Artemisia nilagirica and Artemisia maritima from the western Indian Himalaya region are described. The main compounds analyzed by simultaneous GC/MS and GC/FID were camphor and 1,8-cineole from A. maritima, and camphor and artemisia ketone from A. nilagirica. Additionally, the oilswere evaluated for their antibacterial, antifungal, mosquito biting deterrent, and larvicidal activities. A. nilagirica essential oil demonstrated nonselective antifungal activity against plant pathogens Colletotrichum acutatum, Colletotrichum fragariae, and Colletotrichum gloeosporioides, whereas A. maritima did not showantifungal activity. Both Artemisia spp. exhibited considerable mosquito biting deterrence, whereas only A. nilagirica showed larvicidal activity against Aedes aegypti. Antibacterial effects assessed by an agar dilution assay demonstrated greater activity of A. maritima essential oil against Staphylococcus aureus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa compared to A. nilagirica. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A recent study from Northwestern University has found a way to use the body's own delivery system to transport biological drugs to specific diseased parts of the body. By engineering proteins to associate with lipid rafts on cell membranes, researchers were able to load protein cargo into tiny virus-sized containers called extracellular vesicles (EVs). This method allowed for up to 240 times more protein to be loaded into the vesicles, which were then able to deliver the cargo to target cells and trigger changes in gene expression. The researchers believe that this technique could be applied to deliver a wide array of therapeutic cargos for various disease states, including immunotherapy and regenerative medicine. [Extracted from the article]

This article discusses the role of the thalamus, a subcortical structure in the brain, in controlling the dynamics of the cerebral cortex. The thalamus supports different modes of neural dynamics through two types of cortical projections. The study uses fluid dynamics as an analogy to understand the moment-to-moment intricacies of brain dynamics. The researchers found that propofol-induced anesthesia disrupts certain aspects of cortical dynamics while preserving laminar flow, and direct stimulation of the diffusely-projecting thalamus restores non-laminar cortical fluctuations. The findings suggest that the thalamus plays a versatile role in controlling conscious states. [Extracted from the article]

This article discusses the use of quantitative Atomic Force Microscopy (Q-AFM) to study the biomechanical properties of human mesenchymal stem cells (hMSCs) and their cytoskeleton structure. The researchers used cytoskeleton disruptors to observe changes in cell stiffness, which is primarily governed by the cytoskeleton network. The study demonstrates the capability of Q-AFM to perform real-time biomechanical characterization of living cells, providing insights into intracellular structure and cytoskeletal remodeling. It is important to note that this research has not yet undergone peer review. [Extracted from the article]

This article discusses a study that aimed to comprehensively map the DNA binding of Escherichia coli Transcription Factors (TFs) and develop a neural network model to predict TF binding affinity. The researchers used ChIP-Seq to map the DNA binding for 139 E. coli TFs and trained a neural network called BoltzNet to predict TF binding energy from DNA sequence. The study generated models for 125 TFs, providing insights into global features of TF binding. The research introduces new paradigms for studying TF-DNA binding and the development of biophysically motivated neural networks. [Extracted from the article]

Copyright of Journal of Information Processing & Management / Joho Kanri is the property of Japan Science & Technology Agency and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Researchers from Peking University have developed a millimeter-scale, chip-less, and battery-less implant that can wirelessly monitor various parameters within the body and communicate with a wearable device. This miniaturized implantable sensor eliminates the need for transcutaneous wires, integrated circuit chips, or bulky readout equipment, reducing infection risks and improving portability. In experiments on rat models, the system demonstrated the ability to measure critical parameters such as cerebrospinal fluid viscosity, intracranial pressure, and glucose levels. While challenges remain, this technology has the potential to revolutionize healthcare by enabling individuals to proactively manage their well-being with greater ease and accuracy. [Extracted from the article]

A preprint abstract from biorxiv.org discusses the egress of malaria merozoites from infected red blood cells (iRBC) and the formation of a pore in the erythrocyte membrane. The study proposes a biophysical model that considers the energetics of the egress process, including viscous dissipation and energy consumption. The researchers suggest that lateral lipid diffusion, rather than viscosity, controls the eversion of iRBC. The model is supported by quantitative estimates and is consistent with known experimental data. It is important to note that this preprint has not yet undergone peer review. [Extracted from the article]

Keywords: Biophysics; Health and Medicine; Kidney; Life Sciences; Mathematical Biosciences and Engineering; Mathematics; Nephrology; Numerical Modeling; Physics EN Biophysics Health and Medicine Kidney Life Sciences Mathematical Biosciences and Engineering Mathematics Nephrology Numerical Modeling Physics 2023 FEB 17 (NewsRx) -- By a News Reporter-Staff News Editor at Health & Medicine Week -- Investigators publish new report on mathematical biosciences and engineering. Our news editors obtained a quote from the research from Inner Mongolia University: "Therefore, it proposes a predator-prey model with anti-predation sensitivity induced by fear and Holling-II functional response in the present paper. [Extracted from the article]

Researchers at the University of North Carolina School of Medicine have discovered a pathway called cGAS-STING that is essential for activating the immune response to prevent cancer formation. The pathway detects DNA damage within cells and unleashes an inflammatory immune response. The researchers also found that an enzyme called cyclic GMP-AMP synthase (cGAS) is "locked up" and unable to recognize DNA damage unless it is released by a key. Additionally, the researchers discovered that the interaction between cGAS and another protein called MRE11 initiates a specialized form of cell death called necroptosis, which helps eliminate precancerous cells. This new information could potentially lead to the development of treatments and prevention strategies for breast cancer. [Extracted from the article]

The article discusses the commitment of Retro Biosciences Inc. to the extension of the human life span. Topics explored include the establishment of the longevity technology firm by scientists Joe Betts-LaCroix, Matt Buckley, and Sheng Ding, the funds raised by the company from investor Sam Altman of OpenAI Inc., and the research efforts of the firm involving autophagy, blood plasma rejuvenation, and partial cell reprogramming.

Molecular dynamics simulations have a prominent role in biophysics and drug discovery due to the atomistic information they provide on the structure, energetics and dynamics of biomolecules. Specialized software packages are required to analyze simulated trajectories, either interactively or via scripts, to derive quantities of interest and provide insight for further experiments. This paper presents the Density Profile Tool, a package that enhances the Visual Molecular Dynamics environment with the ability to interactively compute and visualize 1-D projections of various density functions of molecular models. We describe how the plugin is used to perform computations both via a graphical interface and programmatically. Results are presented for realistic examples, all-atom bilayer models, showing how mass and electron densities readily provide measurements such as membrane thickness, location of structural elements, and how they compare to X-ray diffraction experiments. Program summary: Program title: Density Profile Tool Catalogue identifier: AEQM_v1_0 Program summary URL: http://cpc.cs.qub.ac.uk/summaries/AEQM_v1_0.html Program obtainable from: CPC Program Library, Queen’s University, Belfast, N. Ireland Licensing provisions: yes No. of lines in distributed program, including test data, etc.: 1742 No. of bytes in distributed program, including test data, etc.: 12764 Distribution format: tar.gz Programming language: TCL/TK. Computer: Any, with or without graphical display. Operating system: Linux/Unix, OSX, Windows. RAM: VMD should be able to hold the trajectory in memory. Classification: 3, 23. External routines: VMD (version 1.9 or higher) (http://www.ks.uiuc.edu/Research/vmd/). Nature of problem: Compute and visualize one-dimensional density profiles of molecular dynamics trajectories in the VMD environment, either interactively or programmatically. Solution method: Density profiles are computed by binning the simulation space into slabs of finite thickness. A graphical user interface allows the choice of the atomic property (number, mass, charge, electrons) and the details of the binning. Restrictions: The current version only supports orthorhombic cells. Unusual features: The Density Profile Tool is not a standalone program but a plug-in that enhances VMD’s analysis features. Running time: A contemporary PC completes the analysis of 500 frames of the example system discussed in the paper (35,000 atoms) in under 1 min. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights • Fractional derivative of a function with respect to another function. • Fractional generalization of the Gompertz law. • Special functions: Mittag–Leffler functions. • Model validation: biological systems (Dark Fermentation, photo fermentation and microalgae biomass growth). Abstract The aim of this paper is to provide a fractional generalization of the Gompertz law via a Caputo-like definition of fractional derivative of a function with respect to another function. In particular, we observe that the model presented appears to be substantially different from the other attempt of fractional modifications of this model, since the fractional nature is carried along by the general solution even in its asymptotic behavior for long times. We then validate the presented model by employing it as a reference frame to model three biological systems of peculiar interest for biophysics and environmental engineering, namely: dark fermentation, photofermentation and microalgae biomass growth. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Irvine, State:California, United States, North and Central America, Science, Biophysics Keywords: Irvine; State:California; United States; North and Central America; Science; Biophysics EN Irvine State:California United States North and Central America Science Biophysics 2343 2343 1 08/28/23 20230901 NES 230901 2023 SEP 1 (NewsRx) -- By a News Reporter-Staff News Editor at Health & Medicine Week -- Current study results on Science have been published. [Extracted from the article]

Containers are increasingly used as means to distribute and run Linux services and applications. In this paper we describe the architectural design and implementation of udocker , a tool which enables the user to execute Linux containers in user mode. We also present a few practical applications, using a range of scientific codes characterized by different requirements: from single core execution to MPI parallel execution and execution on GPGPUs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Keywords: Biophysics; Science EN Biophysics Science 6673 6673 1 06/05/23 20230609 NES 230609 2023 JUN 9 (NewsRx) -- By a News Reporter-Staff News Editor at Health & Medicine Week -- Current study results on science have been published. The varying structural, assembly, and biological characteristics of the two trimers provide a working model for how different Ab trimers can assemble and lead to different biological effects, which may help shed light on the differences among Ab oligomers.". [Extracted from the article]

But when mutations in the p53 gene lead to changes in the protein's surface, zinc ions are not properly placed, and p53 loses its grip on DNA. Keywords: Genetics; Penn State EN Genetics Penn State 2164 2164 1 03/23/23 20230317 NES 230317 2023 MAR 17 (NewsRx) -- By a News Reporter-Staff News Editor at Health & Medicine Week -- UNIVERISTY PARK, Pa. - The tumor suppressor protein p53, known as "the guardian of the genome", protects the body's DNA from daily stress or long-term damage by triggering the cells to make repairs or to self-destruct. [Extracted from the article]

An interview with Theodore Golfinopoulos, research scientist at MIT; Tim Hanrahan, team supervisor at Cryomech Inc.; and Swapnil Rajendrakumar Shrishrimal, controls engineer at SLAC is presented. They discusses their work with the development of the Active Magnetic Regenerative Refrigeration system (AMRR) and scalable sub-Kelvin cooling for space science detectors. They further talks about their undergraduate and graduate studies and their involvement in cryogenics research.

Replica Exchange with Solute Tempering (REST2) is a powerful sampling enhancement algorithm of molecular dynamics (MD) in that it needs significantly smaller number of replicas but achieves higher sampling efficiency relative to standard temperature exchange algorithm. In this paper, we extend the applicability of REST2 for quantitative biophysical simulations through a robust and generic implementation in greatly scalable MD software NAMD. The rescaling procedure of force field parameters controlling REST2 “hot region” is implemented into NAMD at the source code level. A user can conveniently select hot region through VMD and write the selection information into a PDB file. The rescaling keyword/parameter is written in NAMD Tcl script interface that enables an on-the-fly simulation parameter change. Our implementation of REST2 is within communication-enabled Tcl script built on top of Charm++, thus communication overhead of an exchange attempt is vanishingly small. Such a generic implementation facilitates seamless cooperation between REST2 and other modules of NAMD to provide enhanced sampling for complex biomolecular simulations. Three challenging applications including native REST2 simulation for peptide folding–unfolding transition, free energy perturbation/REST2 for absolute binding affinity of protein–ligand complex and umbrella sampling/REST2 Hamiltonian exchange for free energy landscape calculation were carried out on IBM Blue Gene/Q supercomputer to demonstrate efficacy of REST2 based on the present implementation. Program summary Program title: REST2-NAMD Catalogue identifier: AEXX_v1_0 Program summary URL: http://cpc.cs.qub.ac.uk/summaries/AEXX_v1_0.html Program obtainable from: CPC Program Library, Queen’s University, Belfast, N. Ireland Licensing provisions: Standard CPC licence, http://cpc.cs.qub.ac.uk/licence/licence.html No. of lines in distributed program, including test data, etc.: 240886 No. of bytes in distributed program, including test data, etc.: 8474342 Distribution format: tar.gz Programming language: C/C++, Tcl8.5. Computer: Not computer specific. Operating system: Any. Has the code been vectorized or parallelized?: Yes, MPI and/or PAMI parallelized depending on machine system software; ≥ 8192 cores used on IBM Blue Gene/Q Classification: 3. External routines: NAMD 2.10 ( http://www.ks.uiuc.edu/Research/namd/ ) Nature of problem: A generic implementation providing user-friendly API including input file preparation and performing replica exchange, and high frequency exchange attempt frequency with minimal communication overhead. Solution method: The rescaling procedure of force field parameters controlling REST2 is implemented into NAMD at the source code level. A user can conveniently select hot region through VMD and write the selection information into a PDB file. The rescaling keyword/parameter is written in NAMD Tcl script interface that enables an on-the-fly simulation parameter change. The implementation of REST2 is within communication-enabled Tcl script built on top of Charm++, thus communication overhead of an exchange attempt is vanishingly small. Running time: 30 min–60 min [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article discusses the potential impact of circadian rhythm on targeted drug delivery using nanoparticles. The authors present a computational model that simulates the formation of drug concentration gradients in the bloodstream and the buildup of concentration at the targeted site. The model is validated and tested on engineered arterial systems and a virtual geometric model of an in vivo arterial tree. The simulations demonstrate the potential of the model for drug transport, adhesion, and retention in virtual in vivo models, providing a platform for exploring circadian rhythm modulated blood flow for targeted drug delivery. [Extracted from the article]

This article discusses a criterion that has been developed to quantify the accumulated toxicity of Aβ oligomers in Alzheimer's disease (AD). The criterion integrates the concentration of Aβ oligomers within a control volume over time to determine the accumulated toxicity. The article suggests that the toxicity initially increases slowly but accelerates as time progresses, which may help explain the delayed onset of AD symptoms. It also indicates that if the protein degradation system is compromised, the onset of AD becomes unavoidable, and neuronal death is inevitable. The article concludes by suggesting a threshold value for accumulated toxicity, beyond which nearby neurons die, and analyzes the progression of accumulated toxicity over time. [Extracted from the article]

This article discusses a criterion that characterizes the accumulated toxicity of Aβ oligomers in Alzheimer's disease (AD). The criterion quantifies the toxicity by integrating the concentration of Aβ oligomers over time. The study suggests that the toxicity initially increases slowly but accelerates as time progresses, which may explain the delayed onset of AD symptoms. The research also indicates that if the protein degradation system is compromised, the onset of AD becomes unavoidable, leading to neuronal death. The article emphasizes the importance of maintaining functional degradation machinery to prevent this outcome. [Extracted from the article]

The aqueous infusions of the aerial parts of Artemisia herba-alba Asso and Ajuga iva Schreber, prepared in accordance with the traditional procedure used in the local folk medicine, have been analysed for their composition and content of phytochemical constituents and examined for their antidiabetic effectiveness in alloxan-in-duced diabetic rats. Oral administration of A. herba-alba and A. iva infusions was studied in normal and alloxan-induced diabetic rats, which were randomly divided into nine groups, each group consisting of six animals. The drug preparations (100,200, and 300 mg/kg b. w.) of each plant were given orally to the rats of each group twice daily for 15 days. Compositional analysis of the aqueous infusions revealed the presence of several polyphenols as main components. A. herba-alba infusion was characterised by mono- and di-cinnamoylquinic acids, with 5-caffeoylquinic (chlorogenic) acid being the main compound, followed by 3,5-dicaffeoylquinic acid. Vicenin-2 (apigenin 6,8-di-C-glucoside) appeared to be the most abundant among flavonoids. On the other hand, A. iva showed the exclusive presence of flavonoids, with the flavanone naringin present in relatively high levels together with several apigenin (flavone) derivatives. Oral administration of 300mg/kg b.w. of the aqueous infusions of A. herba-alba and A. iva exhibited a significant reduction in blood glucose content, showing a much more efficient antidiabetic activity compared to glibenclamide, the oral hypoglycaemic agent used as a positive control in this study. These results suggest that A. herba-alba and A. iva possess significant antidiabetic activity, as they were able to improve the biochemical damage in alloxan-induced diabetes in rats. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In silico techniques in drug discovery may rationalise and speed up the identification of lead molecules from nature. Drug discovery from medicinal plants has mostly been confined to indications in accordance with their ethnical use only. However, the availability of multiple phytoconstituents in medicinal plants suggests that these may be much more useful beyond their traditional uses and in the management of chronic diseases, along with their comorbidities. In this study, the computer programmes PASS and PharmaExpert were used to reveal the medicinal plants useful in the comprehensive management of epilepsy and associated psychiatric disorders based on the pleiotropic effects predicted for their phytoconstituents. In silico analysis revealed that seven of 50 medicinal plants from traditional Indian medicine possessed the desired pleiotropic effect, i.e., anti-convulsanto antidepressanto and nootropic activities. The majority of phytoconstituents from Passiflora incarnata were concurrently predicted to have the desired pleiotropic effects. Therefore, P. incarnata was pharmacologically validated using the pentylenetetrazole kindling mouse model. Behavioural and neurochemical evaluations confirmed the ameliorative role of P. incarnata in epilepsy and the associated depression and memory deficit. The pharmacological findings from this study propose that PASS and PharmaExpert may serve as good tools for the optimisation of the selection of plants based on their phytoconstituents for the treatment of different ailments, even beyond their traditional use. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The adverse effects of anticancer drugs can prompt patients to end their treatment despite the efficacy. Cisplatin is a platinum-based molecule widely used to treat various forms of cancer, but frequent and long-term use of cisplatin is limited due to severe nephrotoxicity. In the present study, we investigated the protective effect and mechanism of tetrahydrocurcumin on cisplatin-induced kidney damage, oxidative stress, and inflammation to evaluate its possible use in renal damage. Cisplatin-induced LLC-PK1 renal cell damage was significantly reduced by tetrahydrocurcumin treatment. Additionally, the protective effect of tetrahydrocurcumin on cisplatin-induced oxidative renal damage was investigated in rats. Tetrahydrocurcumin was orally administered every day at a dose of 80 mg/kg bodyweight for ten days, and a single dose of cisplatin was administered intraperitoneally (7.5 mg/kg body weight) in 0.9% saline on day four. The creatinine clearance levels, which were markers of renal dysfunction, in cisplatin-treated rats were recovered nearly back to normal levels after administration of tetrahydrocurcumin. Moreover, tetrahydrocurcumin exhibited protective effects against cisplatin-induced oxidative renal damage in rats by inhibiting cyclooxygenase-2 and caspase-3 activation. These results collectively provide therapeutic evidence that tetrahydrocurcumin ameliorates renal damage by regulating inflammation and apoptosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, stability and chaos of a simple system consisting of two identical Rulkov map-based neurons with the bidirectional electrical synapse are investigated in detail. On the one hand, as a function of control parameters and electrical coupling strengthes, the conditions for stability of fixed points of this system are obtained by using the qualitative analysis. On the other hand, chaos in the sense of Marotto is proved by a strict mathematical way. These results could be useful for building-up large-scale neurons networks with specific dynamics and rich biophysical phenomena. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The leaves of Myrcia ovata, popularly known as "laranjinha do mato", are frequently used as an infusion in folk medicine. The essential oil obtained from these leaves is rich in citral, a mixture of neral and geranial isomers, known for its analgesic effect. Male Swiss mice (20-22 g) were tested in models of acute pain (acetic acid-induced abdominal writhing, tail flick, and formalin tests) and acute inflammation (paw oedema and air pouch tests) as well as in a model for evaluation of spontaneous motor performance (openfield test). The essential oil from M. ovata was administered orally at doses of 50-300 mg/kg. In addition, water, vehicle, morphine (5.01 mg/kg for evaluation of pain and motor performance), acetyl salicylic acid (200 mg/kg in the formalin test), and dexamethasone (2.25 mg/kg for evaluation of oedema formation, leukocyte extravasation, and quantification of cytokines) were administered. The essential oil showed a significant effect at doses of 200 and 300 mg/kg in the acute pain and acute inflammation tests. The effect of the essential oil was reduced by pretreatment with naloxone. The essential oil did not induce motor impairment. The extract was not toxic after oral administration (LD50 > 3000 mg/kg). These data provide initial evidence that the traditional use of M. ovata can be effective in reducing pain and inflammation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Physalis peruviana is a native plant from the South American Andes and is widely used in traditional Colombian medicine of as an antiinflammatory medicinal plant, specifically the leaves, calyces, and small stems in poultice form. Previous studies performed by our group on P. peruviana calyces showed potent anti-inflammatory activity in an enriched fraction obtained from an ether total extract. The objective of the present study was to obtain and elucidate the active compounds from this fraction and evaluate their anti-inflammatory activity in vivo and in vitro. The enriched fraction of P peruviana was purified by several chromatographic methods to obtain an inseparable mixture of two new sucrose esters named peruviose A (1) and peruviose B (2). Structures of the new compounds were elucidated using spectroscopic methods and chemical transformations. The anti-inflammatory activity of the peruvioses mixture was evaluated using A-carrageenan-induced paw edema in rats and lipopolysaccharide-activated peritoneal macrophages. Results showed that the peruvioses did not produce side effects on the liver and kidneys and significantly attenuated the inflammation induced by A-carrageenan in a dosage-dependent manner, probably due to an inhibition of nitric oxide and prostaglandin E2, which was demonstrated in vitro. To our knowledge, this is the first report of the presence of sucrose esters in P. peruviana that showed a potent anti-inflammatory effect. These results suggest the potential of sucrose esters from the Physalis genus as a novel natural alternative to treat inflammatory diseases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aims of this study were to evaluate the antihypertensive effects of the standardised methanolic extract of Carica papaya, its angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitory effects in vivo, its effect on the baroreflex and serum angiotensin converting enzyme activity, and its chemical composition. The chemical composition of the methanolic extract of C. papaya was evaluated by liquid chromatography-mass/mass and mass/ mass spectrometry. The angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitory effect was evaluated in vivo by Ang I administration. The antihypertensive assay was performed in spontaneously hypertensive rats and Wistar rats that were treated with enalapril (10 mg/kg), the methanolic extract of C. papaya (100 mg/kg; twice a day), or vehicle for 30 days. The baroreflex was evaluated through the use of sodium nitroprusside and phenylephrine. Angiotensin converting enzyme activity was measured by ELISA, and cardiac hypertrophy was evaluated by morphometric analysis. The methanolic extract of C. papaya was standardised in ferulic acid (203.41 ± 0.02 µg/g), caffeic acid (172.60 ±0.02 µg/g), gallic acid (145.70 ± 0.02 µg/g), and quercetin (47.11 ±0.03 µg/g). The flavonoids quercetin, rutin, nicotiflorin, clitorin, and manghaslin were identified in a fraction of the extract. The methanolic extract of C. papaya elicited angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitory activity. The antihypertensive effects elicited by the methanolic extract of C. papaya were similar to those of enalapril, and the baroreflex sensitivity was normalised in treated spontaneously hypertensive rats. Plasma angiotensin converting enzyme activity and cardiac hypertrophy were also reduced to levels comparable to the enalapriltreated group. These results may be associated with the chemical composition of the methanolic extract of C. papaya, and are the first step into the development of a new phytotherapic product which could be used in the treatment of hypertension. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This work describes an immunochemical approach for the quality control of Panax ginseng and a pharmacological study of ginsenoside Re, a major bioactive constituent in P. ginseng, using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. A hybridoma secreting monoclonal antibody against ginsenoside Re was produced by fusing splenocytes immunized with a ginsenoside Re-bovine serum albumin conjugate with the hypoxanthine-aminopterinthymidine-sensitive mouse myeloma SP2/0 cell line. The method, at an effective measuring range of 7.8-500 ng ⋅ mL-1 of ginsenoside Re, successfully detected ginsenoside Re in Chinese traditional herb prescriptions. The results demonstrate that we generated a novel and reliable assay system for measuring ginsenoside Re in Chinese medicines more efficiently. Futhermore, we determined the ginsenoside Re concentrations in the saliva of six healthy adults after the oral administration of a ginseng capsule to study the pharmacokinetics of ginsenoside Re in human saliva. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Four new hydroxycinnamic acid amides, scotanamines A-D (1-4), and seven known alkaloids, including N¹, N10-di-dihydrocaffeoylspermidine (5), scopolamine (6), anisodamine (7), hyoscyamine (8), anisodine (9), caffeoylputrescine (10), and N¹-caffeoyl-N³-dihydrocaffeoylspermidine (11), were obtained from the roots of Scopolia tangutica. The present study represents the first recognition of hydroxycinnamic acid amides containing putrescine or spermidine in S. tangutica. Compound 1, in particular, contains a moiety resulting from the condensation of nortropinone and putrescine. Compound 2 exhibited moderate agonist activity at the µ-opioid receptor (EC50 = 7.3 µM). Compound 2 was tested in vivo and induced analgesia analgesia in mice. The analgesic effect was recorded using the tail-flick assay and was reversed by naloxone. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rhapontin was purified from a methanol extract from the roots of Rheum undulatum, and rhapontigenin was produced by an enzymatic transformation of rhapontin. Rats were fed a high-cholesterol diet to induce hyperlipidemia, followed by oral treatment with rhapontin or rhapontigenin (1-5mg/kg/day). Rhapontin and rhapontigenin treatment resulted in a significant (p < 0.05) dose-dependent decrease in the serum lipid level, while the high-density lipoprotein cholesterol level increased slightly compared with the experimental control. Furthermore, rhapontin and rhapontigenin treatment improved the pathological characteristics of the degenerating fatty liver in high-cholesterol diet-induced hyperlipidemic rats dose-dependently. Aspartate aminotransferase and alanine aminotransferase levels in rhapontinand rhapontigenin-treated hyperlipidemic rats were not significantly different from those in the control. These results indicate that rhapontin and rhapontigenin can be used as potent antihyperlipidemic agents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]