Cooking for disability: a pilot study on nutritional interventions for mental health support in adults with autism spectrum disorder.

Background: Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a complex neurodevelopmental condition often accompanied by chronic inflammation and metabolic dysfunction, which are increasingly recognized as key contributors to symptom severity and behavioral challenges. Despite these insights, targeted nutritional interventions in adults with severe ASD remain understudied.

Aim: This pilot study investigated whether a precision, biomarker-guided dietary intervention could improve both behavioral symptoms and underlying biological dysregulations in adults with Level 3 ASD.

Carnosine Biofunctionalized Hydroxyapatite Induces Copper-Driven Osteogenesis and Angiogenesis, Strengthening Its Bone Regenerative Capacities.

Hydroxyapatite (Hap) is a prominent biomaterial used as an effective implant material in bone tissue engineering, but its use presents some points of weakness in bone regeneration efficiency. Different biofunctionalization strategies have been utilized to increase the regenerative Hap capacities. Carnosine (Car) or β-alanyl-l-histidine dipeptide has received much attention due to its beneficial effects in osteoarticular diseases and bone tissue healing.

Carbon Dots for Nucleic Acid-Based Diagnostics and Therapeutics: Focus on Oxidative DNA Damage.

Carbon dots (CDs) are gaining significant attention as multifunctional nanomaterials due to their optical properties, aqueous dispersibility, redox activity, and overall biocompatibility. This review presents a critical overview of the recent advances concerning the application of CDs in nucleic acid-centered diagnostics, with a specific focus on oxidative DNA damage. The use of CDs for the detection of oxidative DNA damage biomarkers, such as 8-oxo-2'-deoxyguanosine (8-oxo-dG), and their potential roles as fluorescent probes in environments related to oxidative stress is discussed in detail.

Green synthesis of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) from G. stearothermophilus GF16: stable and versatile nanomaterials with antioxidant, antimicrobial, and catalytic properties.

Background: Silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) have attracted considerable interest for their distinctive physicochemical properties and wide-ranging applications in nanomedicine, environmental catalysis, and antimicrobial applications. However, sustainable and robust biosynthesis methods remain a challenge.

Results: In this study, we report the biosynthesis of thermostable AgNPs using the secretome of Geobacillus stearothermophilus GF16, a thermophilic and metal-resistant bacterium isolated from the hydrothermal volcanic area of Pisciarelli, Italy.

Self-Assembly of Heterochiral and Homochiral Peptides Conjugated to PNA Dimers and Their Integration in Peptide-Based Hydrogels.

Hybrid biomolecules composed of short peptides and nucleic acid analogues can self-assemble and are good candidates to produce new materials thanks to their biocompatibility and versatility. The assembly occurs by exploiting hydrogen bonds and stacking interactions between nucleobases and amino acids. The organization of the molecules at the supramolecular level is dictated by the structure of the assembling units.

Conformational Restriction of Designer Drugs Reveals Subtype-Selective and Biased CB Agonists with Neuroprotective Effects.

This study presents the design, synthesis, and characterization of a novel series of structurally simple, selective, and functionally biased CB receptor (CBR) agonists with potent anti-inflammatory and neuroprotective properties. These compounds were developed using a conformational restriction strategy to abolish CBR binding, thereby enhancing CBR selectivity. Pharmacological profiling identified ligands with distinct bias toward β-arrestin, MAPK, and G-protein signaling pathways.

Design, synthesis and evaluation of gluten peptide analogues as inhibitors of the HLA/DQ8-mediated celiac immune response.

The immune response induced by gluten is the result of molecular mechanisms involving gliadin peptides, DQ2 or DQ8 glycoproteins, and the interaction with T lymphocyte receptors. DQ8-glia-α1 is an immunodominant peptide present in gliadin from wheat that interacts with the DQ8 protein, as proven through transgenic mouse models. The research was carried out by performing a computational analysis aimed at finding antagonistic peptides of the DQ8-glia-α1 peptide, peptides obtained by varying its amino acids to maintain or even enhance the binding towards DQ8 and at the same time to prevent an immune response by a reduced interaction with the T lymphocyte receptors.

VEGF and the VEGF Fragment Prevent MPP Induced Mitochondrial Dysfunction in a Cell Model of Parkinson's Disease.

Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is best known for its role in angiogenesis, but emerging evidence suggests neurotrophic and neuroprotective functions most likely connected to energy homeostasis pathways. Using high-resolution respirometry, we investigated the role of VEGF in optimizing mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation efficiency in neuronal-like cells. Our findings indicate that VEGF enhances coupling efficiency for ATP synthesis by reducing the uncoupled respiration, a process involved in mitochondrial dysfunction and neurodegeneration, as observed in Parkinson's disease (PD).

Unveiling the Solvent Effect: DMSO Interaction with Human Nerve Growth Factor and Its Implications for Drug Discovery.

The Nerve Growth Factor (NGF) is essential for neuronal survival and function and represents a key therapeutic target for pain and inflammation-related disorders, as well as for neurodegenerative diseases. Small-molecule antagonists of human NGF (hNGF) offer advantages over monoclonal antibodies, including oral availability and reduced immunogenicity. However, their development is often hindered by solubility challenges, necessitating the use of solvents like dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO).

Modulation excitation pair distribution function experiments in catalysis to increase phase sensitivity.

Heterogeneous catalysts are often undergoing subtle structural changes in both the nanoparticles and the support phase under operating conditions. Catalytic cycling in experiments between catalysis and dropout conditions allows for exploiting the power of modulation excitation (ME) experiments. While phase-sensitive detection (PSD) of ME experiments has been showcased for infrared and X-ray absorption spectroscopy in the past, here we present its first application to pair distribution function (PDF) analysis.

Solvent-Free procedure of an A9 Peptide Dimer Exhibiting Specific HER2 Receptor Binding: Fluorescence Spectroscopy Evaluation of the Enhanced Binding Affinity.

HER2-expressing cancers currently benefit from targeted therapies, including monoclonal antibodies and antibody-drug conjugates that specifically bind to the extracellular domain of the receptor. Peptides targeting HER2 represent promising candidates for the development of alternative molecular drugs. In this study, we report a dimeric version of the previously validated A9 peptide as a ligand specifically targeting HER2.

Shedding light on the HSAB-guided sulfur-selenium antagonism in mercury coordination and reactivity toward biologically relevant systems: a DFT and MD study.

The hard and soft acids and bases (HSAB) principle provides a foundational framework for predicting metal-ligand affinity. In biological systems, sulfur and selenium often display antagonistic behavior in binding metal ions such as Hg(II), owing to their similar chemical roles. This competition is critical both for understanding the toxic effects of Hg and also in the development of effective detoxification strategies.

Thermoplasmonic-Controlled Optical Filters Based on the Combination of Chiral Liquid Crystals and Metasurfaces.

A novel class of photonic filters is obtained by integrating a large-area optical plasmonic metasurface with a broadband cholesteric liquid crystal (CLC) Bragg reflector. By utilizing the photo-thermal characteristics of the optical plasmonic metasurface, the reflection properties of the CLC layer can be manipulated. The thermally induced variation of the CLC's pitch and the refractive index produces a reversible blue-redshift of the reflection band of about 80 nm.

Hunting for lubeluzole analogues as antimyotonic agents with reduced cardiac liability.

Lubeluzole is a neuroprotective agent displaying antimyotonic activity. Lubeluzole clinical development as an antiischemic drug was discontinued due to a lack of efficacy in human trials and possible cardiac toxicity. Since lubeluzole is a potent inhibitor of the hERG channel, involved in long QT syndromes and the potentially fatal cardiac arrhythmia Torsade de Pointes, a series of lubeluzole analogues were prepared to investigate the structural requirements to reduce the affinity for hERG channels to possibly obtain safe antimyotonic drugs.

Chemical Traits and Microbial Population Characterization of 'Asprinio' Grape Must, a Local Vine Cultivated in Campania Region (Italy).

'Asprinio' grape is used to produce a white wine from the Campania region, known as 'Asprinio' (DOC since 1993). A plethora of approaches was adopted to characterize the organic compounds (e.g.

The Role of Canine Models of Human Cancer: Overcoming Drug Resistance Through a Transdisciplinary "One Health, One Medicine" Approach.

Introduction: Chemotherapy is a primary treatment option in human and veterinary oncology. Like humans, canine patients often develop drug resistance. Comparative oncology is gaining increasing interest, and spontaneous tumors of companion dogs have emerged as a powerful resource for better understanding human cancer.

From Nutrient to Nanocarrier: The Multifaceted Role of Vitamin B12 in Drug Delivery.

Vitamin B12 (B12), a crucial water-soluble vitamin, plays an essential role in various cellular functions, including DNA synthesis and cellular metabolism. This review explores recent advancements in B12 delivery systems and their potential applications in drug delivery. The unique absorption pathways of B12, which involve specific binding proteins and receptors, are highlighted, emphasizing the vitamin's protective mechanisms that enhance its bioavailability.

Semax, a Copper Chelator Peptide, Decreases the Cu(II)-Catalyzed ROS Production and Cytotoxicity of aβ by Metal Ion Stripping and Redox Silencing.

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the most common neurodegenerative disorder associated with cognitive decline and loss of memory. It is postulated that the generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in Fenton-like reaction connected with Cu(II)/Cu(I) redox cycling of the Cu(II)-aβ complex can play a key role in the molecular mechanism of neurotoxicity in AD. Semax (Met-Glu-His-Phe-Pro-Gly-Pro) is a synthetic regulatory peptide that possesses a high affinity for Cu(II) ions.

β-Cyclodextrin Inclusion Complexes with Model Pentapeptides: Role of the Tyrosine Position within the Peptide Chain.

Peptide's applications frequently present problems of solubility, stability, activity, or membrane permeability. To overcome these issues, cyclodextrins (CDs) can be used to form inclusion complexes with peptide hydrophobic parts; alkyl-chains or aromatic-rings inclusion strongly influences the interacting peptide properties. The study of model tripeptides has revealed that, among the three aromatic amino acids, tyrosine is the best suited to be included within CDs.

Balancing Antigen Loading on Gold Nanoparticles: Implications for Future Cancer Vaccine Strategies.

Mucin 1 (MUC1) is a promising antigen for cancer vaccine development, but its low immunogenicity poses a major challenge. In this study, we have investigated the effect of varying the surface density of an artificial MUC1 glycopeptide on gold nanoparticles by co-loading them with an ovalbumin-derived peptide. Our results show that reducing the density of the MUC1 antigen on the nanoparticles does not affect the elicited immune response, as high IgG antibody levels were observed in the immunized mice, which were comparable to those obtained with higher antigen loading.

Ionic transport and luminescence properties in sodium- and fluorine-co-doped rare-earth molybdates NaMoOF ( = Sm-Tb).

Halogenated rare-earth molybdates of the NaMoOF ( = Sm-Tb) nominal composition were synthesized a solid-state route and investigated for their structural, thermal, IR spectroscopic, luminescent, and ionic transport properties. The study demonstrated that lanthanide cation size critically governs structural symmetry. Guided by symmetry analysis, Sm and Eu were prioritized for investigation as they stabilize the cubic fluorite-like framework, which exhibits superior ionic conductivity, whereas smaller cations (Gd, Tb) form low-conductivity monoclinic oxymolybdates.

Acute targeting of N-terminal tau protein has long-lasting beneficial effects in Tg2576 APP/Aβ mouse model by reducing cognitive impairment, cerebral Aβ-amyloidosis, synaptic remodeling and microgliosis later in life.

Even though the number of patients suffering from Alzheimer's Disease (AD) is rapidly growing worldwide, only a few symptomatic treatments have been approved for clinical use, pointing out the urgent need for more effective disease-modifying therapies that actually alter the progression of this neurodegenerative disorder which is characterized by co-occurence of both Amyloid beta (Aβ) and tau neuropathologies. Preclinical and clinical evidence suggests that a link between Aβ and tau drives the entire continuum of AD pathobiology. 12A12 is a monoclonal antibody (mAb) which offers neuroprotection into two transgenic lines of AD, including Tg2576 that overexpresses Swedish mutation (KM670/671NL) of Amyloid Precursor Protein (APP, isoform 695) and 3xTg (APP Swedish, MAPT P301L, and PSEN1 M146V), by targeting the 20-22kDa N-terminal tau fragments (NHhtau).

Intrinsic Electronic Structure and Inhomogeneity of High-Entropy Layered REOBiS Superconductors.

Two decades after the discovery of high-entropy alloys (HEAs), the field has witnessed these systems rise as prominent examples of high-performance functional materials, overcoming established knowledge of multicomponent systems. HEA superconductors are currently under thorough investigation due to their robust superconducting state and the possibility of enhancing their figure of merit through the high-entropy approach, in addition to the well-known mechanical and thermal properties of these materials. Here, we have investigated the electronic structure of HEA-type REOBiS layered superconductors (RE = rare earth) using spectromicroscopy and angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy (ARPES) with a submicron beam size.

Acetazolamide-Loaded Nanoparticle Based on Modified Hyaluronic Acid as Delivery System to Target Carbonic Anhydrases in .

Acetazolamide (AZA) is a validated carbonic anhydrase inhibitor (CAI) that has the potential for use in various therapeutic applications. Herein, we report a novel AZA-loaded biodegradable nanodelivery system that was proven to enhance the antibacterial efficacy of the drug against Gram-negative bacteria, such as Carbonic anhydrases (CA, EC 4.2.

Transition metal(IV) complexes of nitro-substituted 2,4,9-triazaadamantane-based tris-hydroxylamines: evidence for nitrogen α-effect on stabilization of higher oxidation states.

7-Nitro-2,4,9-triazaadamantane-2,4,9-triols (NO-TRIADs), new chelating tris-hydroxylamine ligands, were synthesized by a novel one-pot, four-component condensation involving nitromethane and nitrosoalkene precursors. Upon deprotonation, NO-TRIADs form stable diamantane-like complexes with manganese, iron and nickel in atypical +4 oxidation state. These complexes were characterized by XRD analysis, NMR, Mössbauer spectroscopy, UV-Vis, FT-IR, HRMS, and elemental analysis.