Notes

Multiparametric nanoparticle-induced toxic body readouts together with one cell decision in HepG2 multicellular tumor spheroids.
The genus Echium L. from the Boraginaceae family consists of 67 recognised species. The genus is widely distributed in the Mediterranean, having been documented in the traditional medicine of the area since 300 B.C. Current pharmacological studies have validated early ethnomedicinal properties showing that Echium spp. possesses antioxidant, analgesic, anxiolytic, anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, and antiviral effects. Nevertheless, only limited papers report specifically on the phytochemistry of this genus. Furthermore, the potential of utilising extracts from Echium species as natural antioxidant preparations has been significantly neglected. For the first time, this review comprehensively describes and discusses the presence of recorded Echium species with ethnomedicinal uses, their antioxidative properties in vitro and in vivo when available, and major phytochemical components recognised as potent antioxidants, as well as the possibilities and opportunities for future research.In 2017, the Pennsylvania Pharmacists Care Network (PPCN), an enhanced pharmacy services network, and STRAND Clinical Technologies partnered to launch a payor contract with a Pennsylvania Medicaid Managed Care Organization for the provision of comprehensive medication management (CMM) at PPCN pharmacies. PPCN and the Community Leadership and Innovation in Practice Center at the University of Pittsburgh School of Pharmacy partnered to create the Quality Engagement Team (QET), a group of student pharmacists formed with the intent to support the initial implementation of this contract. The QET supported the pharmacies through biweekly phone calls, which led to increased pharmacist engagement and produced impactful patient encounter stories that were then reported back to the payor. We utilized Active Implementation Frameworks and select implementation strategies from the Expert Recommendations for Implementing Change project throughout the implementation period. The QET supported the successful implementation of this payor contract, which saw an increase in CMM encounters completed by the pharmacists during each month of the four-month contract period. Students, pharmacists and the payor each derived meaningful benefits from this initiative. Student pharmacists can be a powerful asset in the implementation of payor programs within an enhanced pharmacy services network, resulting in the mutually beneficial and sustainable support of the network.Curcumin diglutaric acid (CurDG), an ester prodrug of curcumin, has the potential to be developed as an anti-inflammatory agent due to its improved solubility and stability. NRD167 In this study, the anti-inflammatory effects of CurDG were evaluated. The effects of CurDG on inflammatory mediators were evaluated in LPS-stimulated RAW 264.7 macrophage cells. CurDG reduced the increased levels of NO, IL-6, and TNF- α, as well as iNOS and COX-2 expression in cells to a greater extent than those of curcumin, along with the potent inhibition of MAPK (ERK1/2, JNK, and p38) activity. The anti-inflammatory effects were assessed in vivo by employing a carrageenan-induced mouse paw edema model. Oral administration of CurDG demonstrated significant anti-inflammatory effects in a dose-dependent manner in mice. The effects were significantly higher compared to those of curcumin at the corresponding doses (p less then 0.05). Moreover, 25 mg/kg curcumin did not exert a significant anti-inflammatory effect for the overall time course as indicated by the area under the curve data, while the equimolar dose of CurDG produced significant anti-inflammatory effects comparable with 50, 100, and 200 mg/kg curcumin (p less then 0.05). Similarly, CurDG significantly reduced the proinflammatory cytokine expression in paw edema tissues compared to curcumin (p less then 0.05). These results provide the first experimental evidence for CurDG as a promising anti-inflammatory agent.The past two decades have seen extensive research done to pinpoint the role of microRNAs (miRNAs) that have led to discovering thousands of miRNAs in humans. It is not, therefore, surprising to see many of them implicated in a number of common as well as rare human diseases. In this review article, we summarize the progress in our understanding of miRNA-related research in conjunction with different types of cancers and neurodegenerative diseases, as well as their potential in generating more reliable diagnostic and therapeutic approaches.Background Visual impairments and age-related eye diseases need to be detected and treated in a timely manner. However, this is often hampered by lack of appropriate medical equipment. We have invented a portable, recordable, and smartphone-attachable slit-lamp device, called the Smart Eye Camera (SEC). The aim of this study was to compare evaluating nuclear cataract (NUC) between the SEC and the conventional, non-portable slit-lamp microscope. Methods A total of 128 eyes of 64 Japanese patients (mean age 73.95 ± 9.28 years; range 51‒92 years; female 34) were enrolled. The NUC was classified into four grades (grade 0 to 3) based on three standard photographs of nuclear opacities according to the WHO classification by ophthalmologists. An ophthalmic healthcare assistant (non-ophthalmologist) filmed the eyes in video mode by the SEC and an ophthalmologist graded the NUC. Grade correlation and inter-rater reproducibility were determined. Results NUC grading by the two approaches correlated significantly (both eyes r = 0.871 [95%CI 0.821 to 0.907; p less then 0.001]). Inter-rater agreement was high (weighted κ = 0.807 [95%CI 0.798 to 0.816; p less then 0.001]). Conclusions This study suggests that the SEC is as reliable as the conventional non-portable slit-lamp microscope for evaluating NUC.Theoretical results for the magnetic shielding of protonated and unprotonated nitrogens of eumelanin building blocks including monomers, dimers, and tetramers in gas phase and water are presented. The magnetic property in water was determined by carrying out Monte Carlo statistical mechanics sampling combined with quantum mechanics calculations based on the gauge-including atomic orbitals approach. The results show that the environment polarization can have a marked effect on nitrogen magnetic shieldings, especially for the unprotonated nitrogens. Large contrasts of the oligomerization effect on magnetic shielding show a clear distinction between eumelanin building blocks in solution, which could be detected in nuclear magnetic resonance experiments. Calculations for a π-stacked structure defined by the dimer of a tetrameric building block indicate that unprotonated N atoms are significantly deshielded upon π stacking, whereas protonated N atoms are slightly shielded. The results stress the interest of NMR experiments for a better understanding of the eumelanin complex structure.
Read More: https://www.selleckchem.com/products/nrd167.html