Effects of Monoamino-Oxidase-A (MAO-A) Inhibition on Skeletal Muscle Inflammation and Wasting through Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma in Triple Transgenic Mice.

Cancer cachexia describes a syndrome of muscle wasting and lipolysis that is still largely untreatable and negatively impacts prognosis, mobility, and healthcare costs. Since upregulation of skeletal muscle monoamine-oxidase-A (MAO-A), a source of reactive oxygen species, may contribute to cachexia, we investigated the effects of the MAO-inhibitor harmine-hydrochloride (HH, intraperitoneal, 8 weeks) on muscle wasting in a triple-transgenic mouse model of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) and wild type (WT) mice. Gastrocnemius and soleus muscle cryo-cross-sections were analyzed for fiber type-specific cross-sectional area (CSA), fraction and capillarization using ATPase- and lectin-stainings. Transcripts of pro-apoptotic, -atrophic, and -inflammatory signals were determined by RT-qPCR. Furthermore, we evaluated the integrity of neuromuscular junction (NMJ, pre-/post-synaptic co-staining) and mitochondrial ultrastructure (transmission electron microscopy). MAO-A expression in gastrocnemius muscle was increased with PDAC vs. WT (immunohistochemistry: p < 0.05; Western blot: by trend). PDAC expectedly reduced fiber CSA and upregulated IL-1ß in both calf muscles, while MuRF1 expression increased in soleus muscle only. Although IL-1ß decreased, HH caused an additional 38.65% (p < 0.001) decrease in gastrocnemius muscle (IIBX) fiber CSA. Moreover, soleus muscle CSA remained unchanged despite the downregulation of E3-ligases FBXO32 (p < 0.05) and MuRF1 (p < 0.01) through HH. Notably, HH significantly decreased the post-synaptic NMJ area (quadriceps muscle) and glutathione levels (gastrocnemius muscle), thereby increasing mitochondrial damage and centronucleation in soleus and gastrocnemius type IIBX fibers. Moreover, although pro-atrophic/-inflammatory signals are reversed, HH unfortunately fails to stop and rather promotes PDAC-related muscle wasting, possibly via denervation or mitochondrial damage. These differential adverse vs. therapeutic effects warrant studies regarding dose-dependent benefits and risks with consideration of other targets of HH, such as the dual-specificity tyrosine phosphorylation regulated kinases 1A and B (DYRK1A/B).

The Pandemic Response Box─Accelerating Drug Discovery Efforts after Disease Outbreaks.

The current Covid-19 pandemic has underlined the need for a more coordinated and forward-looking investment in the search for new medicines targeting emerging health care threats. Repositioning currently approved drugs is a popular approach to any new emerging disease, but it represents a first wave of response. Behind this would be a second wave of more specifically designed therapies based on activities against specific molecular targets or in phenotypic assays. Following the successful deployment and uptake of previous open access compound collections, we assembled the Pandemic Response Box, a collection of 400 compounds to facilitate drug discovery in emerging infectious disease. These are based on public domain information on chemotypes currently in discovery and early development which have been shown to have useful activities and were prioritized by medicinal chemistry experts. They are freely available to the community as a pharmacological test set with the understanding that data will be shared rapidly in the public domain.

A comparison of three-factor structure models using WISC-III in Greek children with learning disabilities.

BACKGROUND: Children with learning disabilities are a heterogeneous group of children with a common characteristic discrepancy on the progress and development of their individual learning abilities. A few statistical analyses have been published regarding the factor analysis of the Greek Edition of Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children-III. The aim of the research is the emergence of a new factorial model which describes the General Intelligence (g) of children and adolescents with learning disabilities, and that differs from the already existing intelligence models. This study aims to compare three-factor structure models of WISC-III in children with learning disabilities in the Greek population. METHODS: A sample of 50 children were selected on the basis of research criteria from a total of 122 children who evaluated in a child psychiatric service in a general hospital, in a residential area in Greece. The Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children-Third Edition was used to assess children's cognitive function. Using multi-factor analysis, three alternative factor models were compared. RESULTS: Analysis of factor structure models suggests a new bi-factorial model that more appropriately describes the areas of cognitive development of children with learning disabilities. The first factor includes Comprehension, Picture Arrangement, Coding, Block Design, and Object Assembly, whereas the second one combines Information, Similarities, Arithmetic, Vocabulary, and Picture Arrangement. CONCLUSIONS: The present study shows the existence of a factorial model with two factors: one aggregating the Comprehension verbal subtest with four performance subtests and the other the Picture Arrangement performance subtest with four verbal subtests. This two-factor model includes the loadings in two factors that relate to sequencing abilities and verbal reasoning abilities of children. These findings assert the clinical utility of the intelligence evaluation in the specific population.

Impact of Different Dry and Wet Granulation Techniques on Granule and Tablet Properties: A Comparative Study.

Four granulation techniques were compared evaluating their impact on granule properties and the tablet tensile strength. A common formulation was chosen to be processed with both wet and dry granulation techniques: roll compaction/dry granulation, high-shear granulation, twin-screw granulation, and fluidized-bed granulation. The produced granules were characterized in terms of granule size distribution, X-ray powder diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, porosity, and strength. Granules were tableted, and the tablets were evaluated in terms of tensile strength and mass variation. A particular focus was given to granule strength measurements. Granule strength showed to be strongly affected by the used granulation technique. Moreover, a nonlinear inverse correlation was identified between granule strength and tablet tensile strength. High-shear granulation produced the densest and strongest granules, which presented the lowest tablet tensile strength. Granules manufactured by roll compaction/dry granulation showed no loss in tabletability with the used formulation even for the more compacted and strong granules. Tablets produced by the fluidized-bed granulation showed the best properties in terms of tensile strength and mass variation. However, twin-screw granulation presented comparable results for the specific formulation evaluated in the study, thus revealing a great potential of this technique.

The synthesis of α-aryl-α-aminophosphonates and α-aryl-α-aminophosphine oxides by the microwave-assisted Pudovik reaction.

A family of α-aryl-α-aminophosphonates and α-aryl-α-aminophosphine oxides was synthesized by the microwave-assisted solvent-free addition of dialkyl phosphites and diphenylphosphine oxide, respectively, to imines formed from benzaldehyde derivatives and primary amines. After optimization, the reactivity was mapped, and the fine mechanism was evaluated by DFT calculations. Two α-aminophosphonates were subjected to an X-ray study revealing a racemic dimer formation made through a N-H···O=P intermolecular hydrogen bridges pair.

Alcoholic dilated cardiomyopathy.

This article provides an overview of alcoholic dilated cardiomyopathy. It aims to increase awareness of the condition among nurses, and help in early diagnosis and appropriate treatment referrals. The key message is that all patients with alcoholic dilated cardiomyopathy should be advised and assisted to stop drinking alcohol.