Membrane Partition and Structural Reorganization Induced by Antipsychotics with Distinct Clinical Profiles.

Antipsychotics (APs) are used in the treatment of severe mental disorders. Their mechanism of action involves interaction with multiple brain targets, notably the dopamine D2 receptor (D2R), where they compete with dopamine. Due to their lipophilic nature, APs also partition and accumulate in lipid membranes, particularly around the D2R and in synaptic vesicles.

Genetics of Growth Hormone Deficiency: Insights from a Cohort of 203 Patients.

Context: Growth Hormone (GH) deficiency is a rare disorder characterized by severe short stature, which can result from genetic mutations affecting hypothalamic-pituitary development and function.

Objective: To determine the genetic basis of GH deficiency in a Portuguese cohort.

Design, Setting, Patients: Multicentre cohort of 203 GH-deficient patients (78 with Isolated GH Deficiency (IGHD) and 125 with Combined Pituitary Hormone Deficiency (CPHD)) were analysed.

Exploring the Chemopreventive and Antioxidant Effects of Spearmint Leaf Hydroethanolic Extract in HPV16-transgenic Mice.

Background/aim: Human papillomavirus (HPV) is the most common sexually transmitted infectious agent and, in cases of persistent infection, may cause cancer. This study evaluated the toxicological and antitumor properties of extract (MSE) in KP14HPV16 mice, which carry HPV16 oncogenes.

Materials And Methods: Thirty-three female FVB/n mice (), including 17 HPV-transgenic and 16 wild-type (WT) mice, were divided into six groups.

Tailoring Morphology and Wetting Behavior of Films of Ionic Liquid Mixtures.

Extensive research has focused on films formed by pure ionic liquids (ILs). However, growing interest in IL mixtures and their synergistic properties presents new opportunities for targeted applications and fundamental scientific investigations. This study explores the morphology of films composed of mixtures of two ILs, [CCim][OTf] and [CCim][OTf], co-deposited via physical vapor deposition (PVD)/vacuum thermal evaporation.

Exploring the therapeutic potential of acorn extract in papillomavirus-induced lesions.

Background And Aim: Papillomaviruses (PVs) infections have been documented in numerous animal species across different regions worldwide. They often exert significant impacts on animal health and livestock production. Scientists have studied natural products for over half a century due to their diverse chemical composition, acknowledging their value in fighting cancer.

Effect of DMSO on Structural Properties of DMPC and DPPC Liposome Suspensions.

The study and characterization of the biophysical properties of membranes and drug-membrane interactions represent a critical step in drug development, as biological membranes act as a barrier that the drug must overcome to reach its active site. Liposomes are widely used in drug delivery to circumvent the poor aqueous solubility of most drugs, improving systemic bioavailability and pharmacokinetics. Further, they can be targeted to deliver to specific disease sites, thus decreasing drug load, and reducing side effects and poor adherence to treatment.

Carbon-Induced Changes in the Morphology and Wetting Behavior of Ionic Liquids on the Mesoscale.

Thin films of ionic liquids (ILs) have gained significant attention due to their unique properties and broad applications. Extensive research has focused on studying the influence of ILs' chemical composition and substrate characteristics on the structure and morphology of IL films at the nano- and mesoscopic scales. This study explores the impact of carbon-coated surfaces on the morphology and wetting behavior of a series of alkylimidazolium-based ILs.

Pharmacological NF-κB inhibition decreases cisplatin chemoresistance in muscle-invasive bladder cancer and reduces cisplatin-induced toxicities.

Most patients with muscle-invasive bladder cancer (MIBC) are not cured with platinum chemotherapy. Up-regulation of nuclear factor kappa light-chain enhancer of activated B cells (NF-κB) is a major mechanism underlying chemoresistance, suggesting that its pharmacological inhibition may increase platinum efficacy. NF-κB signaling was investigated in two patient cohorts.

Novel Approach for a Controlled Delivery of Essential Oils during Long-Term Maize Storage: Clove Bud and Pennyroyal Oils Efficacy to Control , Reducing Grain Damage and Post-Harvest Losses.

Maize grains represent a significant contribution for assuring food safety all over the globe. (Motschulsky) (Coleoptera: Curculionidae), also known as the maize weevil, is one of the most destructive pests in stored maize, causing qualitative and quantitative losses. To control populations in maize storage sites, synthetical chemical insecticides are applied.

Confined Silver Nanoparticles in Ionic Liquid Films.

This work reports the formation of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) by sputter deposition in thin films of three different ionic liquids (ILs) with the same anion (bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)imide) and cation (imidazolium), but with different alkyl chain lengths and symmetries in the cationic moiety ([CCim][NTf], [CCim][NTf], and [CCim][NTf]). Ionic liquid (IL) films in the form of microdroplets with different thicknesses (200 to 800 monolayers) were obtained through vacuum thermal evaporation onto glass substrates coated with indium tin oxide (ITO). The sputtering process of the Ag onto the ILs when conducted simultaneously with argon plasma promoted the coalescence of the ILs' droplets and the formation, incorporation, and stabilization of the metallic nanoparticles in the coalesced IL films.

The path towards type V deep eutectic solvents: inductive effects and steric hindrance in the system -butanol + perfluoro -butanol.

The solid-liquid phase behaviour of two tertiary alcohols, perfluoro--butanol and -butanol, was studied here using experimental (ITC, DSC and density measurements) and theoretical (MD simulations) approaches. The phase diagram of the binary mixture reveals highly negative deviations from ideality at low concentrations, as well as the formation of co-crystals and is characterized by two eutectic points, a congruent melting point and a peritectic reaction corresponding to TBH : TBF stoichiometries of 2 : 1 and 1 : 1 respectively. Excess molar enthalpies and volumes were calculated, showing negative and positive deviations from ideality, respectively.

Study on the antineoplastic and toxicological effects of pomegranate (Punica granatum L.) leaf infusion using the K14-HPV16 transgenic mouse model.

Punica granatum L. (pomegranate) has been used in functional foods due to its various health benefits. However, the in vivo biological potential of its leaf remains little known.

Characterization of the Human Papillomavirus 16 Oncogenes in K14HPV16 Mice: Sublineage A1 Drives Multi-Organ Carcinogenesis.

The study of human papillomavirus (HPV)-induced carcinogenesis uses multiple in vivo mouse models, one of which relies on the cytokeratin 14 gene promoter to drive the expression of all HPV early oncogenes. This study aimed to determine the HPV16 variant and sublineage present in the K14HPV16 mouse model. This information can be considered of great importance to further enhance this K14HPV16 model as an essential research tool and optimize its use for basic and translational studies.

Disorder of Sex Development Due to 17-Beta-Hydroxysteroid Dehydrogenase Type 3 Deficiency: A Case Report and Review of 70 Different Mutations Reported in 239 Patients.

The 17-beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type 3 (17-β-HSD3) enzyme converts androstenedione to testosterone and is encoded by the HSD17B3 gene. Homozygous or compound heterozygous HSD17B3 mutations block the synthesis of testosterone in the fetal testis, resulting in a Disorder of Sex Development (DSD). We describe a child raised as a female in whom the discovery of testes in the inguinal canals led to a genetic study by whole exome sequencing (WES) and to the identification of a compound heterozygous mutation of the HSD17B3 gene (c.

Turner syndrome and neurofibromatosis type 1: the unusual combination of two common genetic disorders.

Summary: The coexistence of neurofibromatosis type 1 (NFT1) and Turner syndrome (TS) has only been reported in a few patients and may represent a diagnostic challenge. We describe the case of a 16-year-old girl, with a prior clinical diagnosis of NFT1, who was referred to Endocrinology appointments for the etiological study of primary amenorrhea. Evaluation of the anterior pituitary function was requested and hypergonadotropic hypogonadism was detected.

The impact of the cation alkyl chain length on the wettability of alkylimidazolium-based ionic liquids at the nanoscale.

Ionic liquids (ILs) have been widely used for energy storage and conversion devices due to their negligible vapor pressure, high thermal stability, and outstanding interfacial properties. Notably, the interfacial nanostructure and the wettability of thin ionic liquid films on solid surfaces are of utmost relevance in nanosurface science and technology. Herein, a reproducible physical vapor deposition methodology was used to fabricate thin films of four alkylimidazolium bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)imide ILs.

Expression of LncRNAs in HPV-induced Carcinogenesis and Cancer Cachexia: A Study in K14-HPV16 Mice.

Aim: To evaluate the expression of lincRNA-p21, H19, EMX2OS, SNHG12 and MALAT1 in a mouse model of human papillomavirus 16 (HPV16)-induced carcinogenesis and cachexia.

Materials And Methods: Chest skin, ear, tongue, penis and gastrocnemius muscle samples from wild-type mice (HPV-) and K14-HPV16 male mice (HPV+) were collected to evaluate the expression of the selected lncRNAs using real-time PCR (qPCR).

Results: In chest skin and ear, H19, SNHG12, EMX2OS and lincRNA-p21 were down-regulated in HPV+ versus HPV- mice.

SuPepMem: A database of innate immune system peptides and their cell membrane interactions.

Host defense peptides (HDPs) are short cationic peptides that play a key role in the innate immune response of all living organisms. Their action mechanism does not depend on the presence of protein receptors, but on their ability to target and disrupt the membranes of a wide range of pathogenic and pathologic cells which are recognized by their specific compositions, typically with a relatively high concentration of anionic lipids. Lipid profile singularities have been found in cancer, inflammation, bacteria, viral infections, and even in senescent cells, enabling the possibility to use them as therapeutic targets and/or diagnostic biomarkers.

The Red Seaweed Prevents Epidermal Dysplasia in HPV16-Transgenic Mice.

The role of dietary profiles in promoting or reducing the risk of multiple types of cancer is increasingly clear, driving the search for balanced foods and nutraceuticals. The red seaweed has been used as human food showing a balanced nutritional profile. This study aims to test in vivo chemopreventive effects of against cutaneous pre-malignant lesions in transgenic mice for the human papillomavirus type 16 (HPV16).