Estimation of bioactive peptide content of milk from different species using an in silico method.

This study assessed the bioactive peptides content of milk from different species, including humans, camel, bovine, buffalo, donkey, sheep, goat, and horse. The highest and lowest concentrations of total digestion-resistant peptides were estimated in sheep and human milk. Donkey milk casein contains a higher angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitory, dipeptidyl peptidase III (DPP-III) inhibitory, DPP-IV inhibitory, and antioxidant peptides. On the other hand, camel whey protein contains the highest ACE-inhibitory peptides. To discover BPs with immunomodulatory and cholesterol-lowering functions, goat milk casein and sheep milk whey protein can be considered, respectively.

Photobiomodulation and Stem Cell on Repair of Osteoporotic Bones.

Objective: This study examined the use of photobiomodulation (PBM) plus adipose-derived stem cells (ASCs) to enhance the osteogenic properties of demineralized bone matrix (DBM) scaffold in a critical size femoral defect (CSFD) of ovariectomy-induced osteoporotic (OVX) rats. Background: PBM could be used as a unique strategy to enhance the osteogenic potential of DBMs seeded with ASCs. Materials and methods: The OVX rats with a CSFD were divided into six groups: (1) Control (C); (2) DBM scaffold alone (S); (3) S+PBM; (4) S+alendronate; (5) S+ASC; (6) S+PBM+ASC. Stereological analysis, real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), and cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) were performed after euthanization at 4 and 8 weeks postimplantation surgery. Results: In the 8th week, Groups 4 and 6 showed a greatly high new trabecular bone volume than the scaffold group (all, p = 0.009). The CBCT data demonstrated that the CSFD was significantly smaller in the two, three, and six groups relative to the control group (p = 0.01, p = 0.000, and p = 0.000, respectively). RT-PCR revealed that Groups 3 and 6 had higher messenger RNA levels of osteocalcin (OC) and osteoprotegerin (OPG) compared with the control group (p = 0.05). Group 6 had significantly lower expression of receptor activator of nuclear factor-κB ligand (RANKL) compared with the control group (p = 0.02). Conclusions: The combination of DBM plus PBM plus ASC, as well as DBM plus PBM significantly improved the healing of CSFD in OVX rats, and affected the expression of OPG, OC, and RANKL genes.

Roles of Non-coding RNAs and Angiogenesis in Glioblastoma.

One of the significant hallmarks of cancer is angiogenesis. It has a crucial function in tumor development and metastasis. Thus, angiogenesis has become one of the most exciting targets for drug development in cancer treatment. Here we discuss the regulatory effects on angiogenesis in glioblastoma (GBM) of non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs), including long ncRNA (lncRNA), microRNA (miRNA), and circular RNA (circRNA). These ncRNAs may function in trans or cis forms and modify gene transcription by various mechanisms, including epigenetics. NcRNAs may also serve as crucial regulators of angiogenesis-inducing molecules. These molecules include, metalloproteinases, cytokines, several growth factors (platelet-derived growth factor, vascular endothelial growth factor, fibroblast growth factor, hypoxia-inducible factor-1, and epidermal growth factor), phosphoinositide 3-kinase, mitogen-activated protein kinase, and transforming growth factor signaling pathways.

New potent antifungal triazole alcohols containing N-benzylpiperazine carbodithioate moiety: Synthesis, in vitro evaluation and in silico study.

A number of 1H-1,2,4-triazole alcohols containing N-(halobenzyl)piperazine carbodithioate moiety have been designed and synthesized as potent antifungal agents. In vitro bioassays against different Candida species including C. albicans, C. glabrata, C. parapsilosis, C. krusei, and C. tropicalis revealed that the N-(4-chlorobenzyl) derivative (6b) with MIC values of 0.063-0.5 µg/mL had the best profile of activity, being 4-32 times more potent than fluconazole. Docking simulation studies confirmed the better fitting of compound 6b in the active site of lanosterol 14α-demethylase (CYP51) enzyme, the main target of azole antifungals. Particularly, the potential of compound 6b against fluconazole-resistant isolates along with its minimal toxicity against human erythrocytes and HepG2 cells make this prototype compound as a good lead for discovery of potent and safe antifungal agents.