Weisshinrichsen3567

Zaire ebolavirus, commonly called Ebola virus (EBOV), is an RNA virus that causes severe hemorrhagic fever with high mortality. Viral protein 35 (VP35) is a virulence factor encoded in the EBOV genome. VP35 inhibits host innate immune responses and functions as a critical cofactor for viral RNA replication. EBOV VP35 contains a short conserved motif that interacts with dynein light chain 8 (LC8), which serves as a regulatory hub protein by associating with various LC8-binding proteins. Herein, we present the crystal structure of human LC8 bound to the peptide comprising residues 67-76 of EBOV VP35. Two VP35 peptides were found to interact with homodimeric LC8 by extending the central β-sheets, constituting a 22 complex. Structural analysis demonstrated that the intermolecular binding between LC8 and VP35 is mainly sustained by a network of hydrogen bonds and supported by hydrophobic interactions in which Thr73 and Thr75 of VP35 are involved. These findings were verified by binding measurements using isothermal titration calorimetry. Biochemical analyses also verified that residues 67-76 of EBOV VP35 constitute a core region for interaction with LC8. In addition, corresponding motifs from other members of the genus Ebolavirus commonly bound to LC8 but with different binding affinities. Particularly, VP35 peptides originating from pathogenic species interacted with LC8 with higher affinity than those from noninfectious species, suggesting that the binding of VP35 to LC8 is associated with the pathogenicity of the Ebolavirus species.Enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli (ETEC) infection is a major cause of death in children under the age of five in developing countries. ETEC (O78H11CFA/ILT+ST+) mechanism has been studied in detail with either heat labile (LT) or heat stable (ST) toxins using in vitro and in vivo models. However, there is no adequate information on ETEC pathogenesis producing both the toxins (LT, ST) in BALB/c mice model. In this study, female mice have been employed to understand ETEC H10407 infection induced changes in physiology, biochemical and immunological patterns up to seven days post-infection and the antidiarrhoeal effect of Simarouba amara (Aubl.) bark aqueous extract (SAAE) has also been looked into. The results indicate that BALB/c is sensitive to ETEC infection resulting in altered jejunum and ileum histomorphology. Withal, ETEC influenced cAMP, PGE2, and NO production resulting in fluid accumulation with varied Na+, K+, Cl-, and Ca2+ levels. Meanwhile, ETEC subverted expression of IL-1β, intestine alkaline phosphatase (IAP), and myeloperoxidase (MPO) in jejunum and ileum. Our data also indicate the severity of pathogenesis reduction which might be due to attainment of equilibrium after reaching optimum rate of infection. Nevertheless, degree of pathogenesis was highly significant (p less then 0.01) in all the studied parameters. Besides that, SAAE was successful in reducing the infectious diarrhoea by inhibiting ETEC H10407 in intestine (jejunum and ileum), and shedding in feces. SAAE decreased cAMP, PGE2, and fluid accumulation effectively and boosted the functional activity of immune system in jejunum and ileum IAP, MPO, IL-1β, and nitric oxide.Intestinal diseases caused by physiological stress have become a severe public health threat worldwide. Disturbances in the gut microbiota-host relationship have been associated with irritable bowel disease (IBD), while melatonin (MT) has anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects. The objective of this study was to investigate the mechanisms by which MT-mediated protection mitigated stress-induced intestinal microbiota dysbiosis and inflammation. We successfully established a murine restraint stress model with and without MT supplementation. Mice subjected to restraint stress had significantly elevated corticosterone (CORT) levels, decreased MT levels in their plasma, elevated colonic ROS levels and increased bacterial abundance, including Bacteroides and Tyzzerella, in their colon tract, which led to elevated expression of Toll-like receptor (TLR) 2/4, p-P65 and p-IKB. In contrast, supplementation with 20 mg/kg MT reversed the elevation of the plasma CORT levels, downregulated the colon ROS levels and inhibited the changes in the intestinal microbiota induced by restraint stress. These effects, in turn, inhibited the activities of TLR2 and TLR4, p-P65 and p-IκB, and decreased the inflammatory reaction induced by restraint stress. Our results suggested that MT may mitigate "restraint stress"-induced colonic microbiota dysbiosis and intestinal inflammation by inhibiting the activation of the NF-κB pathway.

It has been hypothesized that specific early-life stress (ES) procedures on CD-1 male mice produce diabetes-like alterations due to the failure of negative feedback of glucocorticoid hormone in the pituitary. The aim of this study is to investigate the possible mechanism that leads to this pathological model, framing it in a more specific clinical condition.

Metabolic and hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal-related hormones of stressed mice (SM) have been analyzed immediately after stress procedures (21 postnatal days, PND) and after 70 days of a peaceful (unstressed) period (90 PND). These data have been compared to parameters from age-matched controls (CTR), and mice treated during ES procedures with oligonucleotide antisense for pro-opiomelanocortin (AS-POMC).

At 21 PND, SM presented an increased secretion of hypothalamic CRH and pituitary POMC-derived peptides, as well as higher plasmatic levels of ACTH and corticosterone vs. CTR. At 90 PND, SM showed hyperglycemia, with suppression of hypothalamic CRH, while pituitary and plasmatic ACTH levels, as well as plasma corticosterone, were constantly higher than in CTR. These values are accompanied by a progressive acceleration in gaining total body weight, which became significant vs. CTR at 90 PND together with a higher pituitary weight. Treatment with AS-POMC prevented all hormonal and metabolic alterations observed in SM, both at 21 and 90 PND.

These findings show that these specific ES procedures affect the negative glucocorticoid feedback in the pituitary, but not in the hypothalamus, suggesting a novel model of ACTH-dependent hypercortisolism that can be prevented by silencing the POMC gene.

These findings show that these specific ES procedures affect the negative glucocorticoid feedback in the pituitary, but not in the hypothalamus, suggesting a novel model of ACTH-dependent hypercortisolism that can be prevented by silencing the POMC gene.Hepatitis E virus (HEV) is the causative agent of hepatitis E, an emerging public health infection which has an increasing incidence across Europe. Because of the apparent lack of species barriers, HEV was characterized as a zoonotic agent. Swine are recognized as the main reservoir, but HEV is also found in wild animals such as ungulates, lagomorphs, and bats. Our work aimed at detecting the HEV presence in wild fauna in two hunting areas of Northern Italy (Parma and Sondrio areas) with different environmental and anthropic characteristics to investigate its possible role as reservoir. Liver samples were collected from wild boars, red deer, roe deer and chamois, and viral identification was carried out by One-Step RT Real-time PCR. Positive samples were genotyped, and phylogenetic analysis was performed. The virus was found only in the wild boar population, with different prevalence and subtypes in the two areas (14% HEV3a and 1.2% close to HEV3f in Parma and Sondrio, respectively). Wild ruminants seem otherwise to pose a marginal risk. Given the high pig farm density in the Parma area, and expansion of the wild boar population, continuous monitoring of the strains circulating in wildlife is crucial.

F-NaF-PET/CT can detect mineral metabolism within atherosclerotic plaques. To ascertain whether their

F-NaF uptake purports progression, this index was compared with subsequent morphologic evolution.

71 patients underwent two consecutive

F-NaF-PET/CTs (PET1/PET2). In PET1, non-calcified

F-NaF hot spots were identified in the abdominal aorta. Their mean/max HU was compared with those of a non-calcified control region (CR) and with corresponding areas in PET2. A target-to-background ratio (TBR), mean density (HU), and calcium score (CS) were calculated on calcified atherosclerotic plaques in PET1 and compared with those in PET2. A VOI including the entire abdominal aorta was drawn; mean TBR and total CS were calculated on PET1 and compared with those PET2.

Hot spots in PET1 (N = 179) had a greater HU than CR (48 ± 8 vs 37 ± 9, P < .01). Mean hot spots HU increased to 59 ± 12 in PET2 (P < .001). New calcifications appeared at the hot spots site in 73 cases (41%). Baseline atherosclerotic plaque's (N = 375) TBR was proportional to percent HU and CS increase (P < .01 for both). Aortic CS increased (P < .001); the whole-aorta TBR in PET1 correlated with the CS increase between the baseline and the second PET/CT (R = .63, P < .01).

F-NaF-PET/CT depicts the early stages of plaques development and tracks their evolution over time.

18F-NaF-PET/CT depicts the early stages of plaques development and tracks their evolution over time.Colorectal cancer is the second leading cause of cancer-related death worldwide. For metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC) patients, it is recommended, as first-line treatment, chemotherapy (CT) based on doublet cytotoxic combinations of fluorouracil, leucovorin, and irinotecan (FOLFIRI) and fluorouracil, leucovorin, and oxaliplatin (FOLFOX). In addition to CT, biological (targeted agents) are indicated in the first-line treatment, unless contraindicated. In this context, most of mCRC patients are likely to progress and to change from first line to second line treatment when they develop resistance to first-line treatment options. It is in this second line setting where Aflibercept offers an alternative and effective therapeutic option, thought its specific mechanism of action for different patient's profile RAS mutant, RAS wild-type (wt), BRAF mutant, potentially resectable and elderly patients. In this paper, a panel of experienced oncologists specialized in the management of mCRC experts have reviewed and selected scientific evidence focused on Aflibercept as an alternative treatment.N6-methyladenosine (m6A) is the most abundant and prevalent epigenetic modification of mRNA in mammals. This dynamic modification is regulated by m6A methyltransferases and demethylases, which control the fate of target mRNAs through influencing splicing, translation and decay. Recent studies suggest that m6A modification plays an important role in the progress of cardiac remodeling and cardiomyocyte contractile function. However, the exact roles of m6A in cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) have not been fully explained. In this review, we summarize the current roles of the m6A methylation in the progress of CVDs, such as cardiac remodeling, heart failure, atherosclerosis (AS), and congenital heart disease. Furthermore, we seek to explore the potential risk mechanisms of m6A in CVDs, including obesity, inflammation, adipogenesis, insulin resistance (IR), hypertension, and type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), which may provide novel therapeutic targets for the treatment of CVDs.