In silico designing of multiepitope-based-peptide (MBP) vaccine against MAPK protein express for Alzheimer's disease in Zebrafish

Understanding the role of the mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs) signalling pathway is essential in advancing treatments for neurodegenerative disorders like Alzheimer's. In this study, we investigate in-silico techniques involving computer-based methods to extract the MAPK1 sequence. Our applied methods enable us to analyze the protein's structure, evaluate its properties, establish its evolutionary relationships, and assess its prevalence in populations. We also predict epitopes, assess their ability to trigger immune responses, and check for allergenicity using advanced computational tools to understand their immunological properties comprehensively. We apply virtual screening, docking, and structure modelling to identify promising drug candidates, analyze their interactions, and enhance drug design processes. We identified a total of 30 cell-targeting molecules against the MAPK1 protein, where we selected top 10 CTL epitopes (PAGGGPNPG, GGGPNPGSG, SAPAGGGPN, AVSAPAGGG, AGGGPNPGS, ATAAVSAPA, TAAVSAPAG, ENIIGINDI, INDIIRTPT, and NDIIRTPTI) for further evaluation to determine their potential efficacy, safety, and suitability for vaccine design based on strong binding potential. The potential to cover a large portion of the world's population with these vaccines is substantial-88.5 % for one type and 99.99 % for another. In exploring the molecular docking analyses, we examined a library of compounds from the ZINC database. Among them, we identified twelve compounds with the lowest binding energy. Critical residues in the MAPK1 protein, such as VAL48, LYS63, CYS175, ASP176, LYS160, ALA61, LEU165, TYR45, SER162, ARG33, PRO365, PHE363, ILE40, ASN163, and GLU42, are pivotal for interactions with these compounds. Our result suggests that these compounds could influence the protein's behaviour. Moreover, our docking analyses revealed that the predicted peptides have a strong affinity for the MAPK1 protein. These peptides form stable complexes, indicating their potential as potent inhibitors. This study contributes to the identification of new drug compounds and the screening of their desired properties. These compounds could potentially help reduce the excessive activity of MAPK1, which is linked to Alzheimer's disease.

A review of machine learning for cardiology

This paper reviews recent cardiology literature and reports how Artificial Intelligence Tools (specifically, Machine Learning techniques) are being used by physicians in the field. Each technique is introduced with enough details to allow the understanding of how it works and its intent, but without delving into details that do not add immediate benefits and require expertise in the field. We specifically focus on the principal Machine Learning based risk scores used in cardiovascular research. After introducing them and summarizing their assumptions and biases, we discuss their merits and shortcomings. We report on how frequently they are adopted in the field and suggest why this is the case based on our expertise in Machine Learning. We complete the analysis by reviewing how corresponding statistical approaches compare with them. Finally, we discuss the main open issues in applying Machine Learning tools to cardiology tasks, also drafting possible future directions. Despite the growing interest in these tools, we argue that there are many still underutilized techniques: while Neural Networks are slowly being incorporated in cardiovascular research, other important techniques such as Semi-Supervised Learning and Federated Learning are still underutilized. The former would allow practitioners to harness the information contained in large datasets that are only partially labeled, while the latter would foster collaboration between institutions allowing building larger and better models.

Corrigendum: Physical Organohydrogels With Extreme Strength and Temperature Tolerance

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.3389/fchem.2020.00102.].

Physical Organohydrogels With Extreme Strength and Temperature Tolerance

Tough gel with extreme temperature tolerance is a class of soft materials having potential applications in the specific fields that require excellent integrated properties under subzero temperature. Herein, physically crosslinked Europium (Eu)-alginate/polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) organohydrogels that do not freeze at far below 0°C, while retention of high stress and stretchability is demonstrated. These organohydrogels are synthesized through displacement of water swollen in polymer networks of hydrogel to cryoprotectants (e.g., ethylene glycol, glycerol, and d-sorbitol). The organohydrogels swollen water-cryoprotectant binary systems can be recovered to their original shapes when be bent, folded and even twisted after being cooled down to a temperature as low as -20 and -45°C, due to lower vapor pressure and ice-inhibition of cryoprotectants. The physical organohydrogels exhibit the maximum stress (5.62 ± 0.41 MPa) and strain (7.63 ± 0.02), which is about 10 and 2 times of their original hydrogel, due to the synergistic effect of multiple hydrogen bonds, coordination bonds and dense polymer networks. Based on these features, such physically crosslinked organohydrogels with extreme toughness and wide temperature tolerance is a promising soft material expanding the applications of gels in more specific and harsh conditions.

Chitin/chitosan derivatives and their interactions with microorganisms: a comprehensive review and future perspectives

Chitosan, obtained as a result of the deacetylation of chitin, one of the most important naturally occurring polymers, has antimicrobial properties against fungi, and bacteria. It is also useful in other fields, including: food, biomedicine, biotechnology, agriculture, and the pharmaceutical industries. A literature survey shows that its antimicrobial activity depends upon several factors such as: the pH, temperature, molecular weight, ability to chelate metals, degree of deacetylation, source of chitosan, and the type of microorganism involved. This review will focus on the in vitro and in vivo antimicrobial properties of chitosan and its derivatives, along with a discussion on its mechanism of action during the treatment of infectious animal diseases, as well as its importance in food safety. We conclude with a summary of the challenges associated with the uses of chitosan and its derivatives.

Muscle Atrophy Induced by Mechanical Unloading: Mechanisms and Potential Countermeasures

Prolonged periods of skeletal muscle inactivity or mechanical unloading (bed rest, hindlimb unloading, immobilization, spaceflight and reduced step) can result in a significant loss of musculoskeletal mass, size and strength which ultimately lead to muscle atrophy. With advancement in understanding of the molecular and cellular mechanisms involved in disuse skeletal muscle atrophy, several different signaling pathways have been studied to understand their regulatory role in this process. However, substantial gaps exist in our understanding of the regulatory mechanisms involved, as well as their functional significance. This review aims to update the current state of knowledge and the underlying cellular mechanisms related to skeletal muscle loss during a variety of unloading conditions, both in humans and animals. Recent advancements in understanding of cellular and molecular mechanisms, including IGF1-Akt-mTOR, MuRF1/MAFbx, FOXO, and potential triggers of disuse atrophy, such as calcium overload and ROS overproduction, as well as their role in skeletal muscle protein adaptation to disuse is emphasized. We have also elaborated potential therapeutic countermeasures that have shown promising results in preventing and restoring disuse-induced muscle loss. Finally, identified are the key challenges in this field as well as some future prospectives.

Stress-responsive microRNAs are involved in re-programming of metabolic functions in hibernators

Mammalian hibernation includes re-programing of metabolic capacities, partially, encouraged by microRNAs (miRNAs). Albeit much is known about the functions of miRNAs, we need learning on low temperature miRNAs target determination. As hibernators can withstand low body temperatures (TB) for a long time without anguish tissue damage, understanding the means and mechanisms that empower them to do as such are of restorative intrigue. Nonetheless, these mechanisms by which miRNAs and the hibernators react to stressful conditions are not much clear. It is evident from recent data that the gene expression and the translation of mRNA to protein are controlled by miRNAs. The miRNAs also influence regulation of major cellular processes. As the significance of miRNAs in stress conditions adaptation are getting clearer, this audit article abridges the key alterations in miRNA expression and the mechanism that facilitates stress survival.

Tetramethylpyrazine ameliorated disuse-induced gastrocnemius muscle atrophy in hindlimb unloading rats through suppression of Ca2+/ROS-mediated apoptosis

The purpose of this study was to examine the possible mechanism underlying the protective effect of tetramethylpyrazine (TMP) against disuse-induced muscle atrophy. Sprague−Dawley rats were randomly assigned to receive 14 days of hindlimb unloading (HLU, a model of disuse atrophy) or cage controls. The rats were given TMP (60 mg/kg body mass) or vehicle (water) by gavage. Compared with vehicle treatment, TMP significantly attenuated the loss of gastrocnemius muscle mass (−33.56%, P < 0.01), the decrease of cross-sectional area of slow fiber (−10.99%, P < 0.05) and fast fiber (−15.78%, P < 0.01) during HLU. Although TMP failed to further improve recovery of muscle function or fatigability compared with vehicle treatment, it can suppress the higher level of lactate (−22.71%, P < 0.01) induced by HLU. Besides, TMP could effectually reduce the increased protein expression of muscle RING-finger protein 1 induced by HLU (−14.52%, P < 0.01). Furthermore, TMP can ameliorate the calcium overload (−54.39%, P < 0.05), the increase of malondialdehyde content (−19.82%, P < 0.05), the decrease of superoxide dismutase activity (21.34%, P < 0.05), and myonuclear apoptosis (−78.22%, P < 0.01) induced by HLU. Moreover, TMP significantly reduced HLU-induced increase of Bax to B-cell lymphoma 2 (−36.36%, P < 0.01) and cytochrome c release (−36.16%, P < 0.05). In conclusion, TMP attenuated HLU-induced gastrocnemius muscle atrophy through suppression of Ca2+/reactive oxygen species increase and consequent proteolysis and apoptosis. Therefore, TMP might exhibit therapeutic effect against oxidative stress, cytosolic calcium overload, and mitochondrial damage in disuse-induced muscle atrophy.

Structure Prediction: New Insights into Decrypting Long Noncoding RNAs

Long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs), which form a diverse class of RNAs, remain the least understood type of noncoding RNAs in terms of their nature and identification. Emerging evidence has revealed that a small number of newly discovered lncRNAs perform important and complex biological functions such as dosage compensation, chromatin regulation, genomic imprinting, and nuclear organization. However, understanding the wide range of functions of lncRNAs related to various processes of cellular networks remains a great experimental challenge. Structural versatility is critical for RNAs to perform various functions and provides new insights into probing the functions of lncRNAs. In recent years, the computational method of RNA structure prediction has been developed to analyze the structure of lncRNAs. This novel methodology has provided basic but indispensable information for the rapid, large-scale and in-depth research of lncRNAs. This review focuses on mainstream RNA structure prediction methods at the secondary and tertiary levels to offer an additional approach to investigating the functions of lncRNAs.

Effect of imidacloprid on hepatotoxicity and nephrotoxicity in male albino mice

Imidacloprid (IC) is a systemic insecticide related to the tobacco toxin nicotine. IC is a toxic substance frequently used into combat insects, rodents and plants pests and other creatures that can pose problems for agriculture. We, therefore, planned this study to assess risk factors, biochemical and histological alterations associated with hepatotoxicity and nephrotoxicity. Forty-eight adult male albino mice were divided into four groups of 12 animals each. All the animals were given standard synthetic pellet diet. One group served as control, and the other three were served as experimental groups. Decrease in the body weight of the high dose group was observed at 15 mg/kg/day, and no mortality occurred during the treatment period. High dose of imidacloprid caused a significant elevation of serum clinical chemistry parameters, serum glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase (SGOT), serum glutamic pyruvate kinase (SGPT), alkaline phosphatase (ALP) and total bilirubin (TBIL). Histology of liver and kidney indicates hepatotoxicity and nephrotoxicity at a high dose of imidacloprid. Based on the morphological, biochemical and histopathological analysis, it is evident that imidacloprid induced toxicological effects at 15 mg/kg/day to mice. The results of the present study demonstrate that IC had significant effects on body weight, liver functions and kidney (p < 0.05) at a dose of 15 mg/kg body weight. IC treatment 5 and 10 mg/kg/day may be considered as no observed adverse effect level (NOAEL) for mice. It was concluded that IC can cause hepatotoxicity and nephrotoxicity at a dose much lower than the LD₅₀ (131 mg/kg body weight) in mice.

Physiological effects of microgravity on bone cells

Life on Earth developed under the influence of normal gravity (1g). With evidence from previous studies, scientists have suggested that normal physiological processes, such as the functional integrity of muscles and bone mass, can be affected by microgravity during spaceflight. During the life span, bone not only develops as a structure designed specifically for mechanical tasks but also adapts for efficiency. The lack of weight-bearing forces makes microgravity an ideal physical stimulus to evaluate bone cell responses. One of the most serious problems induced by long-term weightlessness is bone mineral loss. Results from in vitro studies that entailed the use of bone cells in spaceflights showed modification in cell attachment structures and cytoskeletal reorganization, which may be involved in bone loss. Humans exposed to microgravity conditions experience various physiological changes, including loss of bone mass, muscle deterioration, and immunodeficiency. In vitro models can be used to extract valuable information about changes in mechanical stress to ultimately identify the different pathways of mechanotransduction in bone cells. Despite many in vivo and in vitro studies under both real microgravity and simulated conditions, the mechanism of bone loss is still not well defined. The objective of this review is to summarize the recent research on bone cells under microgravity conditions based on advances in the field.

Intraumbilical veinous injection oxytocin in the active management of third stage of labour

OBJECTIVE

To determine the role of intraumbilical vein oxytocin reducing blood loss during and after one hour of delivery of placenta and its efficacy in reducing the frequency of retained placenta.

STUDY DESIGN

Randomized controlled trial.

PLACE AND DURATION OF STUDY

Combined Military Hospital, Multan, from June 2002 to October 2002.

METHODOLOGY

Five hundred parturient women with low risk singleton term pregnancy were enrolled in the study. Two hundred and fifty women each were included in the study and control group after randomization. The patients and health care providers both were blinded to the intervention. Primary outcome measures were kept as duration and amount of blood loss in third stage of labour. Secondary outcome measures included incidence of retained placenta, abdominal need for additional utero-tonics, frequency of postpartum pain, nausea and vomiting, fever, need for blood transfusion, establishment of breast feeding and total duration of hospital stay.

RESULTS

Women in study group who received intraumbilical vein syntocinon lost 234.03 ml of blood while the control group lost 276.51 ml (p=0.001). Mean duration of third stage was 2.59 minutes in the study group and 7.67 minutes in the control group (p<0.001). The frequency of retained placenta was 1.2%, which involved only the control group. Abdominal pain was experienced by study group but the difference was not found statistically significant. Nausea and vomiting was more in study group (p=0.001). No discernible difference was found in length of hospital stay, the need for blood transfusion, fever and establishment of breast-feeding in both groups.

CONCLUSION

The addition of intraumbilical vein syntocinon 10 units resulted in marked reduction in amount of blood loss, duration of third stage and incidence of retained placenta in comparison to intravenous 5 IU oxytocin+0.5 mg ergometrine alone.