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Biomolecules Jun 2024New furan, thiophene, and triazole oximes were synthesized through several-step reaction paths to investigate their potential for the development of central nervous...
New furan, thiophene, and triazole oximes were synthesized through several-step reaction paths to investigate their potential for the development of central nervous systems (CNS)-active and cholinesterase-targeted therapeutics in organophosphorus compound (OP) poisonings. Treating patients with acute OP poisoning is still a challenge despite the development of a large number of oxime compounds that should have the capacity to reactivate acetylcholinesterase (AChE) and butyrylcholinesterase (BChE). The activity of these two enzymes, crucial for neurotransmission, is blocked by OP, which has the consequence of disturbing normal cholinergic nerve signal transduction in the peripheral and CNS, leading to a cholinergic crisis. The oximes in use have one or two pyridinium rings and cross the brain-blood barrier poorly due to the quaternary nitrogen. Following our recent study on 2-thienostilbene oximes, in this paper, we described the synthesis of 63 heterostilbene derivatives, of which 26 oximes were tested as inhibitors and reactivators of AChE and BChE inhibited by OP nerve agents-sarin and cyclosarin. While the majority of oximes were potent inhibitors of both enzymes in the micromolar range, we identified several oximes as BChE or AChE selective inhibitors with the potential for drug development. Furthermore, the oximes were poor reactivators of AChE; four heterocyclic derivatives reactivated cyclosarin-inhibited BChE up to 70%, and - [2-(()-2-(5-(()-(hydroxyimino)methyl)thiophen-2-yl)vinyl)benzonitrile] had a reactivation efficacy comparable to the standard oxime HI-6. analysis and molecular docking studies, including molecular dynamics simulation, connected kinetic data to the structural features of these oximes and confirmed their productive interactions with the active site of cyclosarin-inhibited BChE. Based on inhibition and reactivation and their ADMET properties regarding lipophilicity, CNS activity, and hepatotoxicity, these compounds could be considered for further development of CNS-active reactivators in OP poisoning as well as cholinesterase-targeted therapeutics in neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's and Parkinson's.
Topics: Oximes; Cholinesterase Inhibitors; Butyrylcholinesterase; Acetylcholinesterase; Humans; Triazoles; Molecular Docking Simulation; Stilbenes; Cholinesterase Reactivators; Organophosphorus Compounds; Central Nervous System
PubMed: 38927082
DOI: 10.3390/biom14060679 -
Biomolecules May 2024Insomnia, also known as sleeplessness, is a sleep disorder due to which people have trouble sleeping, followed by daytime sleepiness, low energy, irritability, and a...
Insomnia, also known as sleeplessness, is a sleep disorder due to which people have trouble sleeping, followed by daytime sleepiness, low energy, irritability, and a depressed mood. It may result in an increased risk of accidents of all kinds as well as problems focusing and learning. Dietary supplements have become popular products for alleviating insomnia, while the lenient requirements for pre-market research result in unintelligible mechanisms of different combinations of dietary supplements. In this study, we aim to systematically identify the molecular mechanisms of a sleep cocktail's pharmacological effects based on findings from network pharmacology and molecular docking. A total of 249 targets of the sleep cocktail for the treatment of insomnia were identified and enrichment analysis revealed multiple pathways involved in the nervous system and inflammation. Protein-protein interaction (PPI) network analysis and molecular complex detection (MCODE) analysis yielded 10 hub genes, including AKT1, ADORA1, BCL2, CREB1, IL6, JUN, RELA, STAT3, TNF, and TP53. Results from weighted correlation network analysis (WGCNA) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway enrichment analysis of insomnia-related transcriptome data from peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) showed that a sleep cocktail may also ease insomnia via regulating the inflammatory response. Molecular docking results reveal good affinity of Sleep Cocktail to 9 selected key targets. It is noteworthy that the crucial target HSP90AA1 binds to melatonin most stably, which was further validated by MD simulation.
Topics: Humans; Molecular Docking Simulation; Network Pharmacology; Protein Interaction Maps; Sleep Initiation and Maintenance Disorders; Dietary Supplements; Sleep
PubMed: 38927034
DOI: 10.3390/biom14060630 -
Nature Communications Jun 2024B cells and T cells collaborate in multiple sclerosis (MS) pathogenesis. IgH mice possess a B cell repertoire skewed to recognize myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein...
B cells and T cells collaborate in multiple sclerosis (MS) pathogenesis. IgH mice possess a B cell repertoire skewed to recognize myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein (MOG). Here, we show that upon immunization with the T cell-obligate autoantigen, MOG, IgH mice develop rapid and exacerbated experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE) relative to wildtype (WT) counterparts, characterized by aggregation of T and B cells in the IgH meninges and by CD4 T helper 17 (Th17) cells in the CNS. Production of the Th17 maintenance factor IL-23 is observed from IgH CNS-infiltrating and meningeal B cells, and in vivo blockade of IL-23p19 attenuates disease severity in IgH mice. In the CNS parenchyma and dura mater of IgH mice, we observe an increased frequency of CD4PD-1CXCR5 T cells that share numerous characteristics with the recently described T peripheral helper (Tph) cell subset. Further, CNS-infiltrating B and Tph cells from IgH mice show increased reactive oxygen species (ROS) production. Meningeal inflammation, Tph-like cell accumulation in the CNS and B/Tph cell production of ROS were all reduced upon p19 blockade. Altogether, MOG-specific B cells promote autoimmune inflammation of the CNS parenchyma and meninges in an IL-23-dependent manner.
Topics: Animals; Encephalomyelitis, Autoimmune, Experimental; B-Lymphocytes; Myelin-Oligodendrocyte Glycoprotein; Mice; Autoimmunity; Interleukin-23; CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes; Th17 Cells; Central Nervous System; Mice, Inbred C57BL; Female; Myelin Sheath; Meninges; Multiple Sclerosis
PubMed: 38926356
DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-49259-0 -
BMJ Open Jun 2024Chronic stress can cause an imbalance within the autonomic nervous system, thereby affecting cardiovascular and mental health. Physical activity (PA) may have a positive... (Observational Study)
Observational Study
INTRODUCTION
Chronic stress can cause an imbalance within the autonomic nervous system, thereby affecting cardiovascular and mental health. Physical activity (PA) may have a positive effect on the autonomic nervous system and stress-related disorders, such as depression and burnout. Heart rate variability (HRV) is a non-invasive marker of the autonomic nervous system. However, limited and inconsistent data exist on the exact relationship between HRV, PA and depression and burnout symptoms. The HARMODI study aims to explore whether HRV is a feasible marker of depression and burnout symptoms and aims to evaluate the role of PA in the treatment of stress-related disorders.
METHODS AND ANALYSES
This is an observational study with a cross-sectional up to 8 week follow-up study design. A total of 153 patients, undergoing psychiatric inpatient treatment with burnout syndrome (Z73) and depressive episode (F32 or F33) or adjustment disorder (F43.2), will be recruited. Data on depression and burnout symptoms, HRV recordings (24-hour, supine, standing and exercise stress test), cognitive function, cardiorespiratory fitness, cardiovascular health, balance and strength will be collected at baseline (T1) and after up to 8 weeks (T2). Continuous data on PA and Ecological Momentary Assessments of exhaustion, mood and tension will be monitored daily throughout inpatient treatment. Multiple regression models, adjusted for potential confounders, will assess the association between HRV as the primary outcome, PA and depression and burnout severity score.
ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION
The protocol has been approved by Swiss Ethics Committee, Cantonal Ethics Committee Zürich. Results of HARMODI will be disseminated through peer-reviewed journals and conference presentations.
TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER
NCT05874856.
Topics: Humans; Heart Rate; Cross-Sectional Studies; Exercise; Depression; Follow-Up Studies; Male; Adult; Burnout, Psychological; Female; Inpatients; Autonomic Nervous System; Middle Aged
PubMed: 38925684
DOI: 10.1136/bmjopen-2023-081299 -
Neurology(R) Neuroimmunology &... Sep 2024Myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein antibody-associated disease (MOGAD) is a distinct CNS demyelinating disease. The rate of asymptomatic optic nerve enhancement on MRI...
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES
Myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein antibody-associated disease (MOGAD) is a distinct CNS demyelinating disease. The rate of asymptomatic optic nerve enhancement on MRI has not been explored in patients with MOGAD. An improved understanding of this would guide clinical practice and assessment of treatment efficacy. We aimed to determine the frequency of asymptomatic optic nerve enhancement in MOGAD.
METHODS
This was a retrospective review of patients evaluated at Mayo Clinic with MOGAD between January 1, 2000, and August 1, 2021 (median follow-up 1.6 [range 1-19] years). MRI studies were reviewed by masked neuroradiologists. Scans performed within 30 days of ON attack were classified as attack scans. Images obtained for routine surveillance, before ON attack, or at the time of non-ON attack were classified as interattack scans.
RESULTS
Five hundred sixty-six MRIs (203 unique patients, 53% female) were included. Interattack MRIs represented 341 (60%) of the scans (median 36 days post-ON [range -1,032 to 6,001]). Of the interattack scans, 43 of 341 (13%), 30 unique patients, showed optic nerve enhancement. The enhancement was located at prior sites of ON in 35 of 43 (81%). Among the 8 patients with enhancement in new optic nerve areas, 6 had acute disseminated encephalomyelitis without an eye examination at the time of the MRI and 2 had preceding ON without imaging. Long-term visual outcomes showed no significant difference between those with and without asymptomatic enhancement, with improved visual acuity in most patients.
DISCUSSION
Asymptomatic optic nerve enhancement occurred in 13% of interattack MRIs, the majority in patients with prior ON and occurring at prior sites of optic nerve enhancement. New asymptomatic optic nerve enhancement in areas without prior ON was rare. These findings are important for understanding the natural history of MOGAD, the interpretation of symptoms or response to treatment, and the adjudication of attacks in clinical trials.
Topics: Humans; Female; Male; Adult; Myelin-Oligodendrocyte Glycoprotein; Retrospective Studies; Magnetic Resonance Imaging; Middle Aged; Young Adult; Optic Nerve; Adolescent; Aged; Child; Autoantibodies; Demyelinating Autoimmune Diseases, CNS; Child, Preschool; Asymptomatic Diseases; Aged, 80 and over
PubMed: 38924706
DOI: 10.1212/NXI.0000000000200277 -
Neurology International Jun 2024The tau protein is a microtubule-associated protein that promotes microtubule stabilization. The phosphorylation of the tau protein has been linked to its dissociation...
The tau protein is a microtubule-associated protein that promotes microtubule stabilization. The phosphorylation of the tau protein has been linked to its dissociation from microtubules. Here, we examined the relationship between neuronal depolarization activity and tau protein phosphorylation by employing model systems in culture as well as in vivo. The KCl-evoked depolarization of cultured neurons has often been used to investigate the effects of neuronal activity. We found dephosphorylation at AT8 sites (S202, T205), T212, AT180 sites (T231, S235), and S396 in KCl-simulated cultured neurons. We also found that the KCl-induced tau protein dephosphorylation increases the level of the tau protein fractionated with stable microtubules. In an in vivo experiment, we demonstrated that the exposure of mice to a new environment activates protein phosphatase 1 in the mouse hippocampus and induces tau protein dephosphorylation. We also found an increased amount of the tau protein in a stable microtubule fraction, suggesting that the dephosphorylation of the tau protein may lead to its increased microtubule association in vivo. These results suggest that the association of microtubules with tau proteins may be regulated by the tau protein phosphorylation status affected by neuronal electrical activity.
PubMed: 38921953
DOI: 10.3390/neurolint16030049 -
Medicines (Basel, Switzerland) Jun 2024Idiopathic hypereosinophilic syndrome (IHES) is a disorder characterized by abnormal and persistent peripheral blood hypereosinophilia (eosinophil count ≥ 1.5 × 10/L...
An Unusual Case of Immune Complex-Mediated Membranoproliferative Glomerulonephritis as Renal Manifestation of Idiopathic Hypereosinophilic Syndrome: A Case Report and Literature Review.
BACKGROUND
Idiopathic hypereosinophilic syndrome (IHES) is a disorder characterized by abnormal and persistent peripheral blood hypereosinophilia (eosinophil count ≥ 1.5 × 10/L and ≥10% eosinophils) with duration ≥ 6 months, associated organ damage, and/or dysfunction attributable to tissue eosinophilic infiltrate of unknown cause. IHES affects different organs such as the heart, lungs, nervous system, and skin, with renal involvement being rare in this condition.
CASE PRESENTATION
We present a case of a young patient with IHES and immune complex-mediated membranoproliferative glomerulonephritis with nephrotic syndrome, as a rare renal manifestation. We discuss the clinical, analytical, and histopathologic renal and hematologic features, comparing them with other reported cases in the literature.
PubMed: 38921600
DOI: 10.3390/medicines11060013 -
Current Oncology (Toronto, Ont.) Jun 2024Involvement of the recurrent laryngeal nerve (RLN) in papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) is an important prognostic factor and is associated with a higher risk of...
The Effect of Hemithyroidectomy in Papillary Thyroid Carcinoma with an Exclusive Involvement of the Recurrent Laryngeal Nerve: A Retrospective Study with a Propensity Score-Matched Analysis.
BACKGROUND
Involvement of the recurrent laryngeal nerve (RLN) in papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) is an important prognostic factor and is associated with a higher risk of recurrence. This study aimed to retrospectively analyze the outcomes of patients treated with hemithyroidectomy (HT) in PTC patients with an exclusive RLN invasion who could not tolerate staged surgery, did not wish to undergo another operation, or had other reasons.
METHODS
A retrospective review was conducted on 163 patients with PTC and exclusive RLN involvement at our institution between 2013 and 2019. Patients were divided into a total thyroidectomy (TT) group and HT group. The clinicopathologic factors and prognostic outcomes were compared between the two groups. A propensity score-matched analysis was carried out to reduce selection bias, with the following covariates: gender, age, tumor size, multifocality, central lymph node metastasis (CLNM), and RLN resection. The Kaplan-Meier method was used for a comparison of recurrence outcomes.
RESULTS
In the baseline data of the 163 PTC patients, tumor size ( < 0.001), multifocality ( = 0.011), CLNM ( < 0.001), and RLN resection ( < 0.008) in the TT and HT groups differed significantly, whereas age and gender did not differ between the two groups. The TT group reported significantly higher temporary and permanent hypoparathyroidism than the HT group ( < 0.001 and = 0.042, respectively). With 72-month median follow-up, 11 (6.7%) patients developed recurrence. After propensity score matching, 24 patients with HT and 43 patients with TT were included. Recurrence-free survival (RFS) in the matched samples showed no difference between the TT and HT groups ( = 0.092).
CONCLUSION
Our results indicate that HT may be a feasible treatment for PTC patients with exclusive RLN involvement in specific circumstances without significantly increasing the risk of recurrence. Performing a thorough preoperative examination is crucial to exclude multifocal tumors and lymph node metastasis before undergoing HT.
Topics: Humans; Male; Retrospective Studies; Female; Thyroid Cancer, Papillary; Propensity Score; Thyroidectomy; Middle Aged; Adult; Thyroid Neoplasms; Recurrent Laryngeal Nerve; Neoplasm Recurrence, Local; Aged
PubMed: 38920748
DOI: 10.3390/curroncol31060265 -
Cells Jun 2024Recent studies have highlighted neurons and their associated Schwann cells (SCs) as key regulators of cancer development. However, the mode of their interaction with...
Recent studies have highlighted neurons and their associated Schwann cells (SCs) as key regulators of cancer development. However, the mode of their interaction with tumor cells or other components of the tumor microenvironment (TME) remains elusive. We established an SC-related 43-gene set as a surrogate for peripheral nerves in the TME. Head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) were classified into low, intermediate and high SC score groups based on the expression of this gene set. Perineural invasion (PNI) and TGF-β signaling were hallmarks of SC tumors, whereas SC tumors were enriched for HPV16-positive OPSCC and higher PI3K-MTOR activity. The latter activity was partially explained by a higher frequency of mutation and copy number gain. The inverse association between PI3K-MTOR activity and peripheral nerve abundance was context-dependent and influenced by the mutation status. An in silico drug screening approach highlighted the potential vulnerabilities of HNSCC with variable SC scores and predicted a higher sensitivity of SC tumors to DNA topoisomerase inhibitors. In conclusion, we have established a tool for assessing peripheral nerve abundance in the TME and provided new clinical and biological insights into their regulation. This knowledge may pave the way for new therapeutic strategies and impart proof of concept in appropriate preclinical models.
Topics: Humans; Tumor Microenvironment; Squamous Cell Carcinoma of Head and Neck; Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinases; Signal Transduction; Peripheral Nerves; Head and Neck Neoplasms; Mutation; TOR Serine-Threonine Kinases; Class I Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinases; Schwann Cells; PTEN Phosphohydrolase; Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic; Tumor Suppressor Protein p53
PubMed: 38920662
DOI: 10.3390/cells13121033 -
Cells Jun 2024The development of cell-type-specific dendritic arbors is integral to the proper functioning of neurons within their circuit networks. In this study, we examine the...
The development of cell-type-specific dendritic arbors is integral to the proper functioning of neurons within their circuit networks. In this study, we examine the regulatory relationship between the cytosolic chaperonin CCT, key insulin pathway genes, and an E3 ubiquitin ligase (Cullin1) in dendritic development. CCT loss of function (LOF) results in dendritic hypotrophy in Class IV (CIV) multi-dendritic larval sensory neurons, and CCT has recently been shown to fold components of the TOR (Target of Rapamycin) complex 1 (TORC1) in vitro. Through targeted genetic manipulations, we confirm that an LOF of CCT and the TORC1 pathway reduces dendritic complexity, while overexpression of key TORC1 pathway genes increases the dendritic complexity in CIV neurons. Furthermore, both CCT and TORC1 LOF significantly reduce microtubule (MT) stability. CCT has been previously implicated in regulating proteinopathic aggregation, thus, we examine CIV dendritic development in disease conditions as well. The expression of mutant Huntingtin leads to dendritic hypotrophy in a repeat-length-dependent manner, which can be rescued by Cullin1 LOF. Together, our data suggest that Cullin1 and CCT influence dendritic arborization through the regulation of TORC1 in both health and disease.
Topics: Animals; Cullin Proteins; Dendrites; Drosophila melanogaster; Drosophila Proteins; Huntingtin Protein; Larva; Mechanistic Target of Rapamycin Complex 1; Microtubules; Sensory Receptor Cells; Signal Transduction; Transcription Factors; Chaperonin Containing TCP-1
PubMed: 38920658
DOI: 10.3390/cells13121029