A laser-induced catalyst for the electrosynthesis of ammonia.

Electrocatalytic synthesis of ammonia is a sustainable, cost-effective alternative method for producing renewable electricity and can operate under milder conditions than the traditional Haber-Bosch method. We report direct laser-induced synthesis of copper nanocatalysts embedded in graphitic films for the synthesis of ammonia. Laser-induced metal-embedded graphene (m-LIG) offers many advantages, such as fast and simple synthesis, shape design of the electrodes, and direct printing on any substrate, including thermally sensitive plastics.

Synthesis and Characterization of Innovative Tetraazamacrocyclic Complexes of La(III) and their Antibacterial, Antifungal, Antioxidant and Antidiabetic Activity.

A new series of macrocyclic complexes of lanthanum (III) derived from the template condensation reaction of bis(benzyl)-4-nitro-1,2-phenylene diamine with different diamines such as 4-nitro-1,2-phenylene diamine, 4-bromo-1,2-phenylene diamine, ethylene diamine, 1,2-diamino propane and 4-chloro-1,2-phenylene diamine in the presence of lanthanum chloride salt. The ligand was synthesized by the condensation of benzyl and 4-nitro-1,2 phenylene diamine. The synthesized complexes have been analyzed by elemental analysis, conductance measurement and characterized by spectral analysis, i.

Molecular fingerprints of a convergent mechanism orchestrating diverse ligand recognition and species-specific pharmacology at the complement anaphylatoxin receptors.

Complement anaphylatoxin receptors (C3aR and C5aR1) are prototypical G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) playing crucial physiological roles in innate immunity by combating pathogenic infections and orchestrating inflammatory responses. They continue to be important therapeutic targets for multiple disorders including autoimmune diseases, acute and chronic inflammation, and allergy-related conditions. Recent structural coverage has provided important insights into their activation and signaling, however, confounding observations in the literature related to ligand efficacy and functional responses, especially in different model systems, present a major challenge for drug discovery efforts.

Molecular basis of promiscuous chemokine binding and structural mimicry at the C-X-C chemokine receptor, CXCR2.

Selectivity of natural agonists for their cognate receptors is a hallmark of G-protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs); however, this selectivity often breaks down at the chemokine receptors. Chemokines often display promiscuous binding to chemokine receptors, but the underlying molecular determinants remain mostly elusive. Here, we perform a comprehensive transducer-coupling analysis, testing all known C-X-C chemokines on every C-X-C type chemokine receptor to generate a global fingerprint of the selectivity and promiscuity encoded within this system.

Nickel-oxide embedded laser-induced graphene for high-performance supercapacitors.

This study explores the fabrication of nickel-oxide-embedded laser-induced graphene and its application in high-performance supercapacitors. Supercapacitors are critical for various applications due to their high power density and long cycle life. Nevertheless, they suffer from lower energy density compared to batteries.

Prostatic Artery Embolization for the Treatment of Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia: A Retrospective Single-Center Study.

Introduction The purpose of this study is to assess the effectiveness and short-term outcomes of prostatic artery embolization (PAE) in Indian patients suffering from benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). Methods This retrospective analysis was performed at a single center and included 25 patients with BPH who received PAE from January 2019 to June 2023. The symptoms of patients had been assessed utilizing the International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS) and the Quality of Life (QoL) questionnaire.

Structure-guided engineering of biased-agonism in the human niacin receptor via single amino acid substitution.

The Hydroxycarboxylic acid receptor 2 (HCA2), also known as the niacin receptor or GPR109A, is a prototypical GPCR that plays a central role in the inhibition of lipolytic and atherogenic activities. Its activation also results in vasodilation that is linked to the side-effect of flushing associated with dyslipidemia drugs such as niacin. GPR109A continues to be a target for developing potential therapeutics in dyslipidemia with minimized flushing response.

Molecular insights into atypical modes of β-arrestin interaction with seven transmembrane receptors.

β-arrestins (βarrs) are multifunctional proteins involved in signaling and regulation of seven transmembrane receptors (7TMRs), and their interaction is driven primarily by agonist-induced receptor activation and phosphorylation. Here, we present seven cryo-electron microscopy structures of βarrs either in the basal state, activated by the muscarinic receptor subtype 2 (M2R) through its third intracellular loop, or activated by the βarr-biased decoy D6 receptor (D6R). Combined with biochemical, cellular, and biophysical experiments, these structural snapshots allow the visualization of atypical engagement of βarrs with 7TMRs and also reveal a structural transition in the carboxyl terminus of βarr2 from a β strand to an α helix upon activation by D6R.

Molecular basis of anaphylatoxin binding, activation, and signaling bias at complement receptors.

The complement system is a critical part of our innate immune response, and the terminal products of this cascade, anaphylatoxins C3a and C5a, exert their physiological and pathophysiological responses primarily via two GPCRs, C3aR and C5aR1. However, the molecular mechanism of ligand recognition, activation, and signaling bias of these receptors remains mostly elusive. Here, we present nine cryo-EM structures of C3aR and C5aR1 activated by their natural and synthetic agonists, which reveal distinct binding pocket topologies of complement anaphylatoxins and provide key insights into receptor activation and transducer coupling.

Peripherally Inserted Central Catheters-associated blood stream infections-occurrence, risk factors, and pathogens, a single center study.

Background: Peripherally inserted central catheters (PICCs) are central venous catheters inserted peripherally but terminate in great vessels. PICCs are widely used for patients requiring long-term intravenous therapy in both in-patient and out-patient settings.

Aim: This study was carried out to understand PICC-related complications, specifically infections and causal pathogens, in a tertiary care hospital in Kerala, South India.

Structural snapshots uncover a key phosphorylation motif in GPCRs driving β-arrestin activation.

Agonist-induced GPCR phosphorylation is a key determinant for the binding and activation of β-arrestins (βarrs). However, it is not entirely clear how different GPCRs harboring divergent phosphorylation patterns impart converging active conformation on βarrs leading to broadly conserved functional responses such as desensitization, endocytosis, and signaling. Here, we present multiple cryo-EM structures of activated βarrs in complex with distinct phosphorylation patterns derived from the carboxyl terminus of different GPCRs.

A streamlined protocol for expression and purification of wild-type β-arrestins.

The two isoforms of β-arrestins namely β-arrestin 1 and 2 interact with, and regulate a broad repertoire of G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs). While several protocols have been described in the literature for purification of β-arrestins for biochemical and biophysical studies, some of these protocols involve multiple complicated steps that prolong the process and yield relatively smaller amounts of purified proteins. Here, we describe a simplified and streamlined protocol for expression and purification of β-arrestins using E.

Lentiviral vector mediated gene therapy for type I Dent disease ameliorates Dent disease-like phenotypes for three months in ClC-5 null mice.

Type 1 Dent disease is caused by changes in chloride voltage-gated channel 5 () gene on chromosome X, which causes the lack or dysfunction of chloride channel ClC-5. Affected subjects show proteinuria and hypercalciuria, and eventually develop end-stage kidney disease. Currently there is no cure for this disease.

Allosteric modulation of GPCR-induced β-arrestin trafficking and signaling by a synthetic intrabody.

Agonist-induced phosphorylation of G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) is a primary determinant of β-arrestin (βarr) recruitment and trafficking. For several GPCRs such as the vasopressin receptor subtype 2 (VR), agonist-stimulation first drives the translocation of βarrs to the plasma membrane, followed by endosomal trafficking, which is generally considered to be orchestrated by multiple phosphorylation sites. We have previously shown that mutation of a single phosphorylation site in the VR (i.

Emerging structural insights into GPCR-β-arrestin interaction and functional outcomes.

Agonist-induced recruitment of β-arrestins (βarrs) to G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) plays a central role in regulating the spatio-temporal aspects of GPCR signaling. Several recent studies have provided novel structural and functional insights into our understanding of GPCR-βarr interaction, subsequent βarr activation and resulting functional outcomes. In this review, we discuss these recent advances with a particular emphasis on recognition of receptor-bound phosphates by βarrs, the emerging concept of spatial positioning of key phosphorylation sites, the conformational transition in βarrs during partial to full-engagement, and structural differences driving functional outcomes of βarr isoforms.

Targeting DNA polymerase to DNA double-strand breaks reduces DNA deletion size and increases templated insertions generated by CRISPR/Cas9.

Most insertions or deletions generated by CRISPR/Cas9 (clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats/CRISPR-associated protein 9) endonucleases are short (<25 bp), but unpredictable on-target long DNA deletions (>500 bp) can be observed. The possibility of generating long on-target DNA deletions poses safety risks to somatic genome editing and makes the outcomes of genome editing less predictable. Methods for generating refined mutations are desirable but currently unavailable.

Artificial Intelligence in hepatology, liver surgery and transplantation: Emerging applications and frontiers of research.

The integration of artificial intelligence (AI) and augmented realities into the medical field is being attempted by various researchers across the globe. As a matter of fact, most of the advanced technologies utilized by medical providers today have been borrowed and extrapolated from other industries. The introduction of AI into the field of hepatology and liver surgery is relatively a recent phenomenon.

Role of nonsurgical periodontal therapy on leptin levels and total antioxidant capacity in chronic generalised periodontitis patients - A clinical trial.

Introduction: Periodontitis causes oxidative stress and reduce total antioxidant levels. The aim of this study was to determine the effect of non-surgical periodontal treatment on leptin levels and total antioxidant capacity in chronic periodontitis.

Materials And Methods: A total of 35 chronic periodontitis (ChP) patients and 35 systemically and periodontal healthy subjects were enrolled in this study.

Engineered extracellular vesicles as versatile ribonucleoprotein delivery vehicles for efficient and safe CRISPR genome editing.

Transient delivery of CRISPR-based genome editing effectors is important to reduce off-target effects and immune responses. Recently extracellular vesicles (EVs) have been explored for Cas9 ribonucleoprotein (RNP) delivery. However, lack of mechanisms to enrich RNPs into EVs limited the efficiency of EVs as a RNP delivery vehicle.

Sensitive and reliable evaluation of single-cut sgRNAs to restore dystrophin by a GFP-reporter assay.

Most Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) cases are caused by deletions or duplications of one or more exons that disrupt the reading frame of DMD mRNA. Restoring the reading frame allows the production of partially functional dystrophin proteins, and result in less severe symptoms. Antisense oligonucleotide mediated exon skipping has been approved for DMD, but this strategy needs repeated treatment.

Transverse Aortic Arch Transection in a Polytrauma Patient-Challenges Faced and Lessons Learned.

Aortic injuries are notoriously lethal, particularly when associated with concomitant injuries. We describe the evaluation and management of a polytrauma patient with transverse arch transection that was complicated by dissection of both common carotid arteries. He was managed with aortic arch replacement and reimplanatation of the innominate and left common carotid arteries with an additional graft from the ascending aorta to the right common carotid artery.

Lower extremity arteries.

Lower extremity arteries play vital role of supplying blood to the extremity bone, muscles, tendons and nerves to maintain the mobility of the body. These arteries may get involved with a number of disease processes which restrict the optimal functioning of the limb. The knowledge of various diseases, clinical presentation, appearance on various imaging modalities and segments of involvement helps one to clinch the diagnosis.

Discovery of a diverse set of esterases from hot spring microbial mat and sea sediment metagenomes.

Esterases are an important group of biocatalysts for synthetic organic chemistry. Functional metagenomics allows discovery of novel biocatalysts by providing access to the gene pool of the microbial community of a habitat. Two metagenomic libraries representing the gene pool of sea sediment and hot spring microbial mat were constructed.