Publications by authors named "Vanja Panic"

We developed a focused series of original phenyl-glycinamide derivatives which showed potent activity across mouse seizure models, namely, maximal electroshock (MES) and 6 Hz (using both 32 and 44 mA current intensities) seizure models. Following intraperitoneal (.) administration, compound , which was identified as a lead molecule, demonstrated potent protection against all seizure models with ED values of 73.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

This manuscript systematically assesses three different glycerides (tripalmitin, glyceryl monostearate, and a blend of mono-, di- and triesters of palmitic and stearic acids (Geleol™)) as potential gelator structuring agents of medium-chain triglyceride oil to form an oleogel-based injectable long-acting local anesthetic formulation for postoperative pain management. Drug release testing, oil-binding capacity, injection forces, x-ray diffraction, differential scanning calorimetry, and rheological testing were serially performed to characterize the functional properties of each oleogel. After benchtop assessment, the superior bupivacaine-loaded oleogel formulation was compared to bupivacaine HCl, liposomal bupivacaine, and bupivacaine-loaded medium-chain triglyceride oil in a rat sciatic nerve block model to assess in vivo long-acting local anesthetic performance.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Thermogenesis by uncoupling protein 1 (UCP1) is one of the primary mechanisms by which brown adipose tissue (BAT) increases energy expenditure. UCP1 resides in the inner mitochondrial membrane (IMM), where it dissipates membrane potential independent of adenosine triphosphate (ATP) synthase. Here, we provide evidence that phosphatidylethanolamine (PE) modulates UCP1-dependent proton conductance across the IMM to modulate thermogenesis.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF
Article Synopsis
  • * Research identified changes in metabolic pathways related to amino acids, glucose, and the TCA cycle in BAT when exposed to cold, using transcriptome and metabolome analysis.
  • * The study found that glucose uptake and processing in mitochondria, specifically through the MPC1 protein, are critical for effective thermogenesis, with alternative fuel sources like ketogenesis compensating when glucose metabolism is impaired.
View Article and Find Full Text PDF
Article Synopsis
  • Metabolic changes are crucial for the growth of tumor cells, but the processes behind how tumors start, especially in colorectal cancer (CRC), are not well understood.
  • In early stages of CRC, there is a specific increase in glycolysis and a decrease in a protein called mitochondrial pyruvate carrier (MPC), which plays a key role in linking glycolysis to glucose metabolism in mitochondria.
  • Studies show that inhibiting MPC leads to more tumors in mouse models, indicating that the regulation of pyruvate metabolism is vital for starting cancer development.
View Article and Find Full Text PDF
Article Synopsis
  • The study focuses on the role of microRNA-146a (miR-146a) in regulating inflammation related to diet-induced obesity in mice, highlighting its potential for treating metabolic diseases.
  • Mice lacking miR-146a showed significant weight gain and metabolic issues when fed a high-fat diet, along with activation of pro-inflammatory genes.
  • The researchers found that miR-146a helps control inflammation and metabolism in macrophages, and using a drug that inhibits the mTOR pathway rescued the obesity effects in these mice.
View Article and Find Full Text PDF
Article Synopsis
  • Adipocyte differentiation is influenced by various signaling pathways, and researchers aimed to find new factors affecting this process by treating C3H10T1/2 adipocytes with known antiadipogenic phytochemicals for 24 hours.
  • They identified changes in the expression of five genes: three were upregulated (Cxcl1, Hmox1, Phf16) and two were downregulated (G0s2, Pnpla3) through transcriptional profiling.
  • The results suggest that the genes Phf16 and Pnpla3 play significant roles in regulating lipid accumulation and adipocyte differentiation, demonstrating the potential of phytochemicals for exploring adipocyte biology further.
View Article and Find Full Text PDF
Article Synopsis
  • The study investigates how a phytochemical called butein promotes the browning of white adipose tissue (WAT), which is linked to combating obesity and improving metabolic health.
  • Butein treatment in obese mice led to weight loss, increased energy expenditure, and enhanced thermogenic gene expression, suggesting its effectiveness as an anti-obesity agent.
  • The research highlights the importance of the PI3Kα-Akt1-Prdm4 pathway in adipose tissue as a key mechanism for butein's effects on metabolism and energy regulation.
View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Selective inhibition of α-helix-mediated protein-protein interactions (PPIs) with small organic molecules provides great potential for the discovery of chemical probes and therapeutic agents. Protein Data Bank data mining using the HippDB database indicated that (1) the side chains of hydrophobic projecting hot spots at positions i, i + 3, and i + 7 of an α-helix had few orientations when interacting with the second protein and (2) the hot spot pockets of PPI complexes had different sizes, shapes, and chemical groups when interacting with the same hydrophobic projecting hot spots of α-helix. On the basis of these observations, a small organic molecule, 4'-fluoro-N-phenyl-[1,1'-biphenyl]-3-carboxamide, was designed as a generic scaffold that itself directly mimics the binding mode of the side chains of hydrophobic projecting hot spots at positions i, i + 3, and i + 7 of an α-helix.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF