Diet Quality and Its Association with Lifestyle and Dietary Behaviors among Croatian Students during Two COVID-19 Lockdowns

The present study aims to assess the diet quality, the relationship between diet quality and lifestyle, and the association of diet quality with body mass index and students' field of study during COVID-19 lockdown periods (spring and winter) in 2020. Datasets were collected via an anonymous online self-reported questionnaire distributed during two time periods using social media. A total of 1939 Croatian students (82.4% women and 17.6% men) completed the questionnaire. Diet quality was assessed using the pro-healthy diet index (pHDI) and non-healthy diet index (nHDI). An increase in diet quality was noted during both lockdown periods but was lower during the winter lockdown. Cooking for oneself was associated with a high level of pHDI, while ordering or buying ready-to-eat food was linked to a low level of pHDI. Additionally, a decrease in screen time and increased physical activity was associated with high pHDI values. Furthermore, during both lockdown periods, students with a BMI above 30 kg/m² had the highest nHDI values compared to other students. Although positive changes were found during both lockdown periods, they were less pronounced throughout the winter lockdown. Further studies are needed to elucidate the real impact of these changes in the post-COVID period.

Synthesis, Characterization, and Antibacterial Activity of Ni-Substituted Krebs-type Sandwich-Tungstobismuthates Functionalized with Amino Acids

Four new Ni-substituted Krebs-type sandwich-tungstobismuthates, K₄Ni₂[{Ni(β-ala)(H₂O)₂}₂{Ni(H₂O)}₂{Ni(H₂O)(η²-β-ala)}₂(B-β-BiW₉O₃₃)₂]·49H₂O {(β-ala)₄(Ni₃)₂(BiW₉)₂}, K_3.5Na_6.5[{Ni(η³-L-asp)}₂(WO₂)₂(B-β-BiW₉O₃₃)₂]·36H₂O·L-asp {(L-asp)₂(NiW)₂(BiW₉)₂}, K₄Na₆[{Ni(gly)(H₂O)₂}₂(WO₂)₂(B-β-BiW₉O₃₃)₂]·86H₂O {(gly)₂(NiW)₂(BiW₉)₂}, and K₂Na₈[{Ni(η²-serinol) (H₂O)}₂{Ni(H₂O)₂}₂(B-β-BiW₉O₃₃)₂]·42H₂O {(serinol)₂Ni₄(BiW₉)₂} have been synthesized by one-pot solution methods. All compounds have been characterized in the solid state by single-crystal X-ray diffraction (SXRD), powder X-ray diffraction (PXRD), elemental and thermogravimetric analyses, and infrared spectroscopy (IR), as well as by UV-vis spectroscopy in solution. The antibacterial activity of all compounds was studied against four bacterial strains by the determination of the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC). The results showed that only {(β-ala)₄(Ni₃)₂(BiW₉)₂} demonstrates antibacterial activity (MIC is in the range from 8 to 256 μg/mL) compared to three other Ni-Krebs sandwiches.

The effect of multistrain probiotics on functional constipation in the elderly: a randomized controlled trial

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES

Constipation is one of the most common gastrointestinal conditions, particularly among older individuals. This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of selected multistrain probiotics on functional constipation and laboratory blood parameters in the elderly living in a nursing home.

SUBJECTS AND METHODS

Sixty participants (42 females and 18 males) aged 77.9 ± 8.84 years with functional constipation, who met the eligibility criteria, completed the study. In a double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel design, each participant was randomized to receive either the selected probiotic mixture (N = 28) or placebo (N = 32) for 12 weeks as an adjunct to their usual diet and medications. The liquid probiotic formulation containing Bifidobacterium animalis subsp. lactis BLC1, Lactobacillus acidophilus LA3 and Lactobacillus casei BGP93 was tested for the first time.

RESULTS

Supplementation of selected probiotics resulted in a slight but nonsignificant increase in cumulative stool frequency compared with placebo. However, after the 71st day of the treatment, the cumulative number of stools was significantly higher in the probiotic group (P < 0.05) when the influence of laxative was excluded. The trend towards an increase in the difference between the two groups, which began 1 week after the probiotic intervention, pointed out to their prolonged effect. There were no significant dependent or independent effects of treatment and time on most of the 27 laboratory blood parameters tested.

CONCLUSIONS

Multistrain probiotic supplementation was found to be efficacious, safe and well tolerated in the elderly with functional constipation.

Circulating Tumor Cells in Colorectal Cancer: Detection Systems and Clinical Utility

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the third most common cancer worldwide. The high mortality from CRC is mainly related to metastasis affecting distant organs and their function. Dissemination of tumor cells from the primary tumor and hematogeneous spread are considered crucial in the formation of tumor metastases. The analysis of circulating tumor cells (CTCs) and CTC clusters in the blood can be used for the early detection of invasive cancer. Moreover, CTCs have a prognostic significance in the monitoring of a malignant disease or the response to chemotherapy. This work presents an overview of the research conducted on CTCs with the aim of finding suitable detection systems and assessing the possibility of clinical applications in patients with CRC.

Accelerating the Development and Validation of Liquid Biopsy for Early Cancer Screening and Treatment Tailoring

Liquid biopsy (LB) is a minimally invasive method which aims to detect circulating tumor-derived components in body fluids. It provides an alternative to current cancer screening methods that use tissue biopsies for the confirmation of diagnosis. This paper attempts to determine how far the regulatory, policy, and governance framework provide support to LB implementation into healthcare systems and how the situation can be improved. For that reason, the European Alliance for Personalised Medicine (EAPM) organized series of expert panels including different key stakeholders to identify different steps, challenges, and opportunities that need to be taken to effectively implement LB technology at the country level across Europe. To accomplish a change of patient care with an LB approach, it is required to establish collaboration between multiple stakeholders, including payers, policymakers, the medical and scientific community, and patient organizations, both at the national and international level. Regulators, pharma companies, and payers could have a major impact in their own domain. Linking national efforts to EU efforts and vice versa could help in implementation of LB across Europe, while patients, scientists, physicians, and kit manufacturers can generate a pull by undertaking more research into biomarkers.

Accessing Lipophilicity and Biomimetic Chromatography Profile of Biologically Active Ingredients of Botanicals Used in the Treatment of Inflammatory Bowel Disease

In the present study, various procedures have been compared for the determination of lipophilicity, hydrophobicity, and plasma protein binding of curcuminoids, boswellic acids, andrographolides, and piperine as biologically active ingredients of botanicals used in IBD treatment. Our results have shown that IAM-HPLC assay is the most suitable one for lipophilicity determination of all analytes regardless of their class and botanical source. HSA-HPAC and AGP-HPAC assays revealed that all investigated compounds have a higher affinity for HSA which is the most abundant protein in human plasma. The high affinity of biologically active compounds to all biological structures (phospholipids and proteins) admonishes that their small portion is available for therapeutic effects in IBD patients. Our experimental research is complemented by various theoretical approaches based on different algorithms for pharmacokinetic properties prediction. The similarities between experimental and calculated values were evaluated using PCA and CA as a statistical tool. The statistical analysis implies that plasma protein binding is a complex process, and theoretical approaches still cannot fully replace experimental ones.

Gut microbiota in mucosa and feces of newly diagnosed, treatment-naïve adult inflammatory bowel disease and irritable bowel syndrome patients

The knowledge on how gut microbes contribute to the inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) at the onset of disease is still scarce. We compared gut microbiota in newly diagnosed, treatment-naïve adult IBD (Crohn's disease (CD) and ulcerative colitis (UC)) to irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) patients and healthy group. Mucosal and fecal microbiota of 49 patients (13 UC, 10 CD, and 26 IBS) before treatment initiation, and fecal microbiota of 12 healthy subjects was characterized by 16S rRNA gene sequencing. Mucosa was sampled at six positions, from terminal ileum to rectum. We demonstrate that mucosal microbiota is spatially homogeneous, cannot be differentiated based on the local inflammation status and yet provides bacterial footprints superior to fecal in discriminating disease phenotypes. IBD groups showed decreased bacterial diversity in mucosa at all taxonomic levels compared to IBS. In CD and UC, Dialister was significantly increased, and expansion of Haemophilus and Propionibacterium characterized UC. Compared to healthy individuals, fecal microbiota of IBD and IBS patients had increased abundance of Proteobacteria, Enterobacteriaceae, in particular. Shift toward reduction of Adlercreutzia and butyrate-producing taxa was found in feces of IBD patients. Microbiota alterations detected in newly diagnosed treatment-naïve adult patients indicate that the microbiota changes are set and detectable at the disease onset and likely have a discerning role in IBD pathophysiology. Our results justify further investigation of the taxa discriminating between disease groups, such as H. parainfluenzae, R. gnavus, Turicibacteriaceae, Dialister, and Adlercreutzia as potential biomarkers of the disease.

Low Dietary n6/n3 Ratio Attenuates Changes in the NRF 2 Gene Expression, Lipid Peroxidation, and Inflammatory Markers Induced by Fructose Overconsumption in the Rat Abdominal Adipose Tissue

The objective of this study was to examine the benefits of different n6/n3 polyunsaturated fatty acid ratios on the lipid metabolism, insulin resistance, and oxidative stress in the adipose tissue of rats fed a high-fructose diet. Male and female rats were divided into four groups: a control group (CON) (n6/n3 ratio ~7), a high-fructose group (HF) (n6/n3 ratio ~7), an N6-HF group (n6/n3 ratio ~50), and the DHA-HF group (n6/n3 ratio ~1, with the addition of docosahexaenoic (DHA) and eicosapentaenoic (EPA) acid). The CON group received plain water and the HF group received 15% fructose in their drinking water. Fructose induced an increase in the content of serum triglycerides, serum cholesterol, and HOMA-IR index. Among the fatty acids, elevated proportions of C18:1n9 and C16:1n7, as well as an increase in total monounsaturated fatty acid (MUFA), were found in the adipose tissue of the HF group. Fructose treatment also changed oxidative parameters, including a marked increase in the serum malondialdehyde (MDA) content. Meanwhile, DHA supplementation caused a significant decrease in the serum MDA concentration in comparison with the HF group. In addition, DHA/EPA supplementation attenuated oxidative stress by increasing NRF 2 gene expression. Fructose treatment also significantly decreased the adiponectin level, while DHA supplementation ameliorated it. The changes observed in this trial, including the decrease in the content of DHA and EPA, the decreased EPA/ARA ratio, and the increase in the expression of inflammatory genes, are characteristics of the low-grade inflammation caused by fructose treatment. These changes in the rat adipose tissue could be prevented by dietary intervention consisting of DHA supplementation and a low n6/n3 ratio.

Aluminum-Substituted Keggin Germanotungstate [HAl(H2O)GeW11O39]4-: Synthesis, Characterization, and Antibacterial Activity

We report on the new monosubstituted aluminum Keggin-type germanotungstate (C₄H₁₂N)₄[HAlGeW₁₁O₃₉(H₂O)]·11H₂O ([Al(H₂O)GeW₁₁]^4–), which has been synthesized at room temperature via rearrangement of the dilacunary [γ-GeW₁₀O₃₆]^8– polyoxometalate precursor. [Al(H₂O)GeW₁₁]^4– has been characterized thoroughly both in the solid state by single-crystal and powder X-ray diffraction, IR spectroscopy, thermogravimetric analysis, and elemental analysis as well as in solution by cyclic voltammetry (CV) ¹⁸³W, ²⁷Al NMR and UV–vis spectroscopy. A study on the antibacterial properties of [Al(H₂O)GeW₁₁]^4– and the known aluminum(III)-centered Keggin polyoxotungstates (Al-POTs) α-Na₅[AlW₁₂O₄₀] (α-[AlW₁₂O₄₀]^5–) and Na₆[Al(AlOH₂)W₁₁O₃₉] ([Al(AlOH₂)W₁₁O₃₉]^6–) revealed enhanced activity for all three Al-POTs against the Gram-negative bacterium Moraxella catarrhalis (minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) up to 4 μg mL^–1) and the Gram-positive Enterococcus faecalis (MIC up to 128 μg mL^–1) compared to the inactive Al(NO₃)₃ salt (MIC > 256 μg mL^–1). CV indicates the redox activity of the Al-POTs as a dominating factor for the observed antibacterial activity with increased tendency to reduction, resulting in increased antibacterial activity of the POT.

We report on the synthesis and thorough characterization of the new monosubstituted aluminum germanotungstate (C₄H₁₂N)₄[HAlGeW₁₁O₃₉(H₂O)]·11H₂O ([Al(H₂O)GeW₁₁]⁴⁻), which has been subjected to an antibacterial study including the previously reported α-Na₅[AlW₁₂O₄₀] and Na₆[Al(AlOH₂)W₁₁O₃₉]. All three aluminum-substituted polyoxotungstates (Al-POTs) revealed enhanced activity against Moraxella catarrhalis and Enterococcus faecalis compared to the inactive Al(NO₃)₃ salt. On the basis of cyclic voltammetry studies, the redox activity of the POTs is suggested to have an impact on their overall antibacterial activity.

Synthesis, Characterization, and Phosphoesterase Activity of a Series of 4f- and 4d-Sandwich-Type Germanotungstates [(n-C4H9)4N]l/mH2[(M(H2O)3)(γ-GeW10O35)2] (M = CeIII, NdIII, GdIII, ErIII, l = 7; ZrIV, m = 6)

We report on a family of five new 4f- and 4d-doped sandwich-type germanotungstates with the general formula [(n-C₄H₉)₄N]_l/mH₂[(M(H₂O)₃)(γ-GeW₁₀O₃₅)₂]·3(CH₃)₂CO [M(H₂O)₃(GeW₁₀)₂] (M = Ce^III, Nd^III, Gd^III, Er^III, l = 7; Zr^IV, m = 6), which have been synthesized at room temperature in an acetone–water mixture. Among the compound series, [Zr(H₂O)₃(GeW₁₀)₂]^8–, which has been obtained in the presence of 30% H₂O₂, represents the first example of a 4d-substituted germanotungstate incorporating the intact dilacunary [γ-Ge^IVW₁₀O₃₆]^8– building block. All compounds were characterized thoroughly in the solid state by single-crystal and powder X-ray diffraction (XRD), IR spectroscopy, thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), and elemental analysis and in solution by NMR and UV–vis spectroscopy. The phosphoesterase activity of [Ce(H₂O)₃(GeW₁₀)₂]^9– and [Zr(H₂O)₃(GeW₁₀)₂]^8– toward the model substrates 4-nitrophenyl phosphate (NPP) and O,O-dimethyl O-(4-nitrophenyl) phosphate (DMNP) was monitored with ¹H- and ³¹P-NMR spectroscopy revealing an acceleration of the hydrolytic reaction by an order of magnitude (k_corr = 3.44 (±0.30) × 10^–4 min^–1 for [Ce(H₂O)₃(GeW₁₀)₂]^9– and k_corr = 5.36 (±0.05) × 10^–4 min^–1 for [Zr(H₂O)₃(GeW₁₀)₂]^8–) as compared to the uncatalyzed reaction (k_uncat = 2.60 (±0.10) × 10^–5 min^–1). [Ce(H₂O)₃(GeW₁₀)₂]^9– demonstrated improved antibacterial activity toward Moraxella catarrhalis (MIC 32 μg/mL), compared to the unsubstituted [GeW₁₀O₃₆]^8– POM (MIC 64 μg/mL).

We report on the synthesis and characterization of five new monosubstituted 4f- and 4d-germanotungstates [(n-C₄H₉)₄N]_l/mH₂[(M(H₂O)₃)(γ-GeW₁₀O₃₅)₂]·3(CH₃)₂CO [M(H₂O)₃(GeW₁₀)₂] (M = Ce^III, Nd^III, Gd^III, Er^III, l = 7; Zr^IV; m = 6). The phosphoesterase properties of [Ce(H₂O)₃(GeW₁₀)₂]⁹⁻ and [Zr(H₂O)₃(GeW₁₀)₂]⁸⁻ were investigated by probing the hydrolytic activity toward 4-nitrophenyl phosphate (NPP) and O,O-dimethyl O-(4-nitrophenyl) phosphate (DMNP). Antibacterial tests revealed inhibiting activity of [Ce(H₂O)₃(GeW₁₀)₂]⁹⁻ against Moraxella catarrhalis.

Drug therapy problems identified among older adults placed in a nursing home: the Croatian experience

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this study was to determine the frequency and type of drug therapy problems (DTPs) in older institutionalized adults.

METHOD

We conducted a cross-sectional observational study from February to June 2016 at a 150-bed public nursing home in Croatia, where comprehensive medication management (CMM) services were provided. A rational decision-making process, referred to as the Pharmacotherapy Workup method, was used to classify DTPs.

RESULTS

Data were prospectively collected from 73 residents, among which 71% were age 75 years or older. The median number of prescribed medications per patient was 7 (2-16) and polypharmacy (> 4) was recorded for 54 (74.0%) patients. A total 313 DTPs were identified, with an average of 4.3 ± 2 DTPs per patient. The most frequent DTP was needing additional drug therapy (n = 118; 37.7%), followed by adverse drug reaction (n = 55; 17.6%). Lactulose (14.4%), tramadol (6.7%), and potassium (6.4%) were the medications most frequently related to DTPs.

CONCLUSION

The high prevalence of DTPs identified among older institutionalized adults strongly suggests the need to incorporate new pharmacist-led CMM services within existing institutional care facilities, to improve the care provided to nursing home residents.

Gut Microbiota beyond Bacteria-Mycobiome, Virome, Archaeome, and Eukaryotic Parasites in IBD

The human microbiota is a diverse microbial ecosystem associated with many beneficial physiological functions as well as numerous disease etiologies. Dominated by bacteria, the microbiota also includes commensal populations of fungi, viruses, archaea, and protists. Unlike bacterial microbiota, which was extensively studied in the past two decades, these non-bacterial microorganisms, their functional roles, and their interaction with one another or with host immune system have not been as widely explored. This review covers the recent findings on the non-bacterial communities of the human gastrointestinal microbiota and their involvement in health and disease, with particular focus on the pathophysiology of inflammatory bowel disease.

Green synthesis and biological evaluation of 6-substituted-2-(2-hydroxy/methoxy phenyl)benzothiazole derivatives as potential antioxidant, antibacterial and antitumor agents

We present a new efficient green synthetic protocol for introduction of substituents to the C-6 position of 2-arylbenzothiazole nuclei. Newly synthesized compounds were designed to study the influence of the hydroxy and methoxy groups on the 2-arylbenzothiazole scaffold, as well as the influence of the type of substituents placed on the C-6 position of benzothiazole moiety on biological activity, including antibacterial, antitumor and antioxidant activity. Modest activity was observed against the tested Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacterial strains for only amidino derivatives 5d and 6d. The tested compounds exhibited moderate to strong antiproliferative activity towards the tumor cell lines tested. The SAR study revealed that the introduction of substituents into the benzene ring of the benzothiazole nuclei is essential for antiproliferative activity, while introduction of the hydroxy group into the 2-aryl moiety of the 2-arybenzothiazole scaffold significantly improved selectivity against tumor cell lines. The observed results revealed several novel 6-substituted-2-arylbenzothiazole compounds, 5b, 5c, 5f and 6f, with strong and selective antiproliferative activity towards HeLa cells in micro and submicromolar concentrations, with the most selective compounds being 6-ammonium-2-(2-hydroxy/methoxyphenyl)benzothiazoles 5f and 6f. The compound 5f bearing the hydroxy group on the 2-arylbenzothiazole core showed the most promising antioxidative activity evaluated by DPPH, ABTS and FRAP in vitro assays. The presence of the amino protonated group attached at the benzothiazole moiety was essential for the antiproliferative and antioxidant activity observed, exerted through a change in the levels of the reactive oxygen species-modulated HIF-1 protein.

Antioxidant Activities of Alkyl Substituted Pyrazine Derivatives of Chalcones-In Vitro and In Silico Study

Chalcones are polyphenolic secondary metabolites of plants, many of which have antioxidant activity. Herein, a set of 26 synthetic chalcone derivatives with alkyl substituted pyrazine heterocycle A and four types of the monophenolic ring B, were evaluated for the potential radical scavenging and antioxidant cellular capacity influencing the growth of cells exposed to H₂O₂. Before that, compounds were screened for cytotoxicity on THP-1 and HepG2 cell lines. Most of them were not cytotoxic in an overnight MTS assay. However, three of them, 4a, 4c and 4e showed 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH●) radical scavenging activity, through single electron transfer followed by a proton transfer (SET-PT) mechanism as revealed by density functional theory (DFT) modeling. DFT modeling of radical scavenging mechanisms was done at the SMD//(U)M052X/6-311++G** level. The in vitro effects of 4a, 4c and 4e on the growth of THP-1 cells during four days pre- or post-treatment with H₂O₂ were examined daily with the trypan blue exclusion assay. Their various cellular effects reflect differences in their radical scavenging capacity and molecular lipophilicity (clogP) and depend upon the cellular redox status. The applied simple in vitro-in silico screening cascade enables fast identification and initial characterization of potent radical scavengers.

The Role of Vitamin D in Inflammatory Bowel Disease - Assessing Therapeutic and Preventive Potential of Supplementation and Food Fortification

Inflammatory bowel diseases are a group of chronic inflammatory conditions that affect gastrointestinal tract due to inapt and continuous immune activation in response to a myriad of predisposing factors (most notably genetics, environmental impact and gut microbiota composition). It has been shown that vitamin D status can also play a role in the disease pathogenesis, as its deficiency is commonly observed in two major forms of inflammatory bowel diseases - Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis. Mounting evidence supports the concept of intricate relationship between gut dysbiosis and vitamin D metabolism, while suboptimal levels of this vitamin have been linked to increased clinical disease relapse rates, inadequate response to drugs, as well as decreased quality of life in patients with Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis. Consequently, the pertinent question is whether increased vitamin D supplementation and (on a population level) food fortification may bring significant benefit to the affected individuals. In this short review we discuss the synthesis, functions, status and food sources of vitamin D, appraise biotechnological facets of vitamin D status analysis and food fortification, and concentrate on novel developments in the field that describe its influence on intestinal microbiota and inflammatory bowel disease.

Antibacterial Activity of Polyoxometalates Against Moraxella catarrhalis

The antibacterial activity of 29 different polyoxometalates (POMs) against Moraxella catarrhalis was investigated by determination of the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC). The Preyssler type polyoxotungstate (POT) [NaP₅W₃₀O₁₁₀]¹⁴⁻ demonstrates the highest activity against M. catarrhalis (MIC = 1 μg/ml) among all tested POMs. Moreover, we show that the Dawson type based anions, [P₂W₁₈O₆₂]⁶⁻, [(P₂O₇)Mo₁₈O₅₄]⁴⁻, [As₂Mo₁₈O₆₂]⁶⁻, [H₃P₂W₁₅V₃O₆₂]⁶⁻, and [AsW₁₈O₆₀]⁷⁻ are selective on M. catarrhalis (MIC range of 2-8 μg/ml). Among the six tested Keggin type based POTs ([PW₁₂O₄₀]³⁻, [H₂PCoW₁₁O₄₀]⁵⁻, [H₂CoTiW₁₁O₄₀]⁶⁻, [SiW₁₀O₃₆]⁸⁻, [SbW₉O₃₃]⁹⁻, [AsW₉O₃₃]⁹⁻), only the mono-substituted [H₂CoTiW₁₁O₄₀]⁶⁻ showed MIC value comparable to those of the Dawson type group. Polyoxovanadates (POVs) and Anderson type POMs were inactive against M. catarrhalis within the tested concentration range (1-256 μg/ml). Four Dawson type POMs [P₂W₁₈O₆₂]⁶⁻, [(P₂O₇)Mo₁₈O₅₄]⁴⁻, [As₂Mo₁₈O₆₂]⁶⁻, [H₃P₂W₁₅V₃O₆₂]⁶⁻ and the Preyssler POT [NaP₅W₃₀O₁₁₀]¹⁴⁻ showed promising antibacterial activity against M. catarrhalis (MICs < 8 μg/ml) and were therefore tested against three additional bacteria, namely S. aureus, E. faecalis, and E. coli. The most potent antibacterial agent was [NaP₅W₃₀O₁₁₀]¹⁴⁻, exhibiting the lowest MIC values of 16 μg/ml against S. aureus and 8 μg/ml against E. faecalis. The three most active compounds ([NaP₅W₃₀O₁₁₀]¹⁴⁻, [P₂W₁₈O₆₂]⁶⁻, and [H₃P₂W₁₅V₃O₆₂]⁶⁻) show bacteriostatic effects in killing kinetics study against M. catarrhalis. We demonstrate, that POM activity is mainly depending on composition, shape, and size, but in the case of medium-size POTs (charge is more than −12 and number of addenda atoms is not being higher than 22) its activity correlates with the total net charge.

Systemic inhibition of BMP1-3 decreases progression of CCl4-induced liver fibrosis in rats

Liver fibrosis is a progressive pathological process resulting in an accumulation of excess extracellular matrix proteins. We discovered that bone morphogenetic protein 1-3 (BMP1-3), an isoform of the metalloproteinase Bmp1 gene, circulates in the plasma of healthy volunteers and its neutralization decreases the progression of chronic kidney disease in 5/6 nephrectomized rats. Here, we investigated the potential role of BMP1-3 in a chronic liver disease. Rats with carbon tetrachloride (CCl₄)-induced liver fibrosis were treated with monoclonal anti-BMP1-3 antibodies. Treatment with anti-BMP1-3 antibodies dose-dependently lowered the amount of collagen type I, downregulated the expression of Tgfb1, Itgb6, Col1a1, and Acta2 and upregulated the expression of Ctgf, Itgb1, and Dcn. Mehanistically, BMP1-3 inhibition decreased the plasma levels of transforming growth factor beta 1(TGFβ1) by prevention of its activation and lowered the prodecorin production further suppressing the TGFβ1 profibrotic effect. Our results suggest that BMP1-3 inhibitors have significant potential for decreasing the progression of fibrosis in liver cirrhosis.

Macrolide Hybrid Compounds: Drug Discovery Opportunities in Anti- Infective and Anti-inflammatory Area

Macrolides, polyketide natural products, and their 15-membered semi-synthetic derivatives are composed of substituted macrocyclic lactone ring and used primarily as potent antibiotics. Recently their usefulness was extended to antimalarial and anti-inflammatory area. Hybrid macrolides presented in this article are the next generation semi-synthetic compounds that combine pharmacophores from antibacterial, antimalarial and anti-inflammatory area with 14- and 15-membered azalide scaffolds. Antibacterial azalide hybrids with sulphonamides showed improved activity against resistant streptococci while quinolone conjugates demonstrated full coverage of respiratory pathogens including macrolide resistant strains and their efficacy was confirmed in mouse pneumonia model. Antimalarial macrolide hybrids, mainly involving (chloro)quinoline pharmacophores, showed outstanding activity against chloroquine resistant strains, favourable pharmacokinetics, promising in vivo efficacy as well as encouraging developmental potential. Anti-inflammatory hybrids were obtained by combining macrolides with corticosteroid and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. They were found active in in vivo animal models of locally induced inflammation, asthma, inflammatory bowel disease and rheumatoid arthritis and demonstrated improved safety over parent steroid drugs. Overall, macrolide hybrids possess significant potential to be developed as potent novel medicines in therapeutic areas of utmost pharmaceutical interest.

Synthesis and evaluation of antibacterial and antioxidant activity of novel 2-phenyl-quinoline analogs derivatized at position 4 with aromatically substituted 4H-1,2,4-triazoles

A set of novel quinolone-triazole conjugates (12-31) were synthesized in three steps in good yields starting from 2-phenylquinoline-4-carboxylic acid. All the intermediates, as well as the final 1,2,4-triazolyl quinolines were fully characterized by their detailed spectral analysis utilizing different techniques such as IR, ¹H NMR, ¹³C NMR, and finally mass spectrometry. All the synthesized compounds were evaluated in vitro for their potential antibacterial activity and their preliminary safety profile was assessed through cytotoxicity assay. Additionally, six selected conjugates were evaluated for their antioxidative properties on the basis of density functional theory calculations, using radical scavenging assay (DPPH) and cellular antioxidant assay. The reported results encourage further investigation of selected compounds and are shading light on their potential pharmacological use.

Modulating Composition and Metabolic Activity of the Gut Microbiota in IBD Patients

The healthy intestine represents a remarkable interface where sterile host tissues come in contact with gut microbiota, in a balanced state of homeostasis. The imbalance of gut homeostasis is associated with the onset of many severe pathological conditions, such as inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), a chronic gastrointestinal disorder increasing in incidence and severely influencing affected individuals. Despite the recent development of next generation sequencing and bioinformatics, the current scientific knowledge of specific triggers and diagnostic markers to improve interventional approaches in IBD is still scarce. In this review we present and discuss currently available and emerging therapeutic options in modulating composition and metabolic activity of gut microbiota in patients affected by IBD. Therapeutic approaches at the microbiota level, such as dietary interventions alone or with probiotics, prebiotics and synbiotics, administration of antibiotics, performing fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) and the use of nematodes, all represent a promising opportunities towards establishing and maintaining of well-being as well as improving underlying IBD symptoms.

1,2,3-Triazole pharmacophore-based benzofused nitrogen/sulfur heterocycles with potential anti-Moraxella catarrhalis activity

Versatile 1,2,3-triazole pharmacophore-based benzofused heterocycles containing halogen-substituted aromatic (9-17 and 25-28), 7-substituted coumarin (18-23 and 29-30) or penciclovir-like subunit (31a,b-38a) were designed and synthesized to evaluate their antibacterial activities against selected Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria. Hybridization approach using environmentally friendly Cu(I)-catalyzed click reaction under microwave irradiation was adopted in the synthesis of regioselective 1,4-disubstituted 1,2,3-triazole tethered heterocycles (9-23 and 25-30), while post-N-alkylation of NH-1,2,3-triazoles afforded both 2,4- (31a-38a) and 1,4-disubstituted (31b-33b, 35b-37b) 1,2,3-triazole regioisomers. The compounds 18-23 and 25-30 revealed fluorescence in the violet region of the visible spectrum with a strong influence of phenyl spacer in 25-30 on both wavelength and emission intensity. Fusion of selected subunits led to new hybrid architecture, benzothiazole-1,2,3-triazole-coumarin 29 that demonstrated extremely narrow spectrum activity towards fastidious Gram-negative bacteria Moraxella catarrhalis. Selected hybrid showed the potency against Moraxella catarrhalis (MIC⩽0.25μg/mL) comparable to that of reference antibiotic azithromycin, which suggested that further investigations are necessary to optimize this potential hit compound as a new anti-Moraxella catarrhalis agent.

The rational use of animal models in the evaluation of novel bone regenerative therapies

Bone has a high potential for endogenous self-repair. However, due to population aging, human diseases with impaired bone regeneration are on the rise. Current strategies to facilitate bone healing include various biomolecules, cellular therapies, biomaterials and different combinations of these. Animal models for testing novel regenerative therapies remain the gold standard in pre-clinical phases of drug discovery and development. Despite improvements in animal experimentation, excessive poorly designed animal studies with inappropriate endpoints and inaccurate conclusions are being conducted. In this review, we discuss animal models, procedures, methods and technologies used in bone repair studies with the aim to assist investigators in planning and performing scientifically sound experiments that respect the wellbeing of animals. In the process of designing an animal study for bone repair investigators should consider: skeletal characteristics of the selected animal species; a suitable animal model that mimics the intended clinical indication; an appropriate assessment plan with validated methods, markers, timing, endpoints and scoring systems; relevant dosing and statistically pre-justified sample sizes and evaluation methods; synchronization of the study with regulatory requirements and additional evaluations specific to cell-based approaches. This article is part of a Special Issue entitled "Stem Cells and Bone".

Porphyrins as new endogenous anti-inflammatory agents

A series of porphyrins, tetrapyrrole natural organic compounds, are evaluated here as endogenous anti-inflammatory agents. They directly inhibit the activity of Fyn, a non-receptor Src-family tyrosine kinase, triggering anti-inflammatory events associated with down-regulation of T-cell receptor signal transduction, leading to inhibition of tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) production. This is one of the major pro-inflammatory cytokines, associated with diseases such as diabetes, tumorigenesis, rheumatoid arthritis, and inflammatory bowel disease. Porphyrins, as a chemical class, inhibited Fyn kinase activity in a non-competitive, linear-mixed fashion. In cell-based in vitro experiments on polymorphonuclear cells, porphyrins inhibited TNF-α cytokine production, T-cell proliferation, and the generation of free radicals in the oxidative burst, in a concentration-related manner. In vivo, lipopolysaccharide-induced TNF-α production in mice was inhibited by several of the porphyrins. These findings may be very important for the overall understanding of the role(s) of porphyrins in inflammation and their possible application as new anti-inflammatory agents.

Olive oil biophenols and women's health

Olea europea, the olive tree, is an ancient tree that originates from the Mediterranean environment of Asia Minor. The edible olive fruit is also used for its oil, gained by the process of pressing, a nutrient with proven beneficial effects. Virgin olive oil is the natural juice of the olive fruit, which plays a major role in the healthy Mediterranean diet. The source of its health effects are the biophenols and squalenes (oleocanthal, tyrosol, hydroxytyrosol, oleuropein) it contains. They provide an exceptional antioxidative activity, removing harmful compounds from the body. Oxidants are essential in the genesis of many diseases and conditions, such as cardiovascular disorders, cancer, osteoporosis, Alzheimer disease, and premenstrual syndrome. Oleic acid, an unsaturated fatty acid, has demonstrated a significant effect in the prevention of malignant diseases such as colon cancer and breast cancer. Biophenols from olive oil successfully suppress the synthesis of LDL, a protein that is crucial in the development of cardiovascular disease, by reducing blood pressure and the development of atherosclerotic plaques. In addition, there is strong evidence of the antimicrobic effect of the biphenols from olive oil that successfully destroy colonies of microorganisms which may cause respiratory tract, intestinal, and genital tract infections.

Homology modeling of human Fyn kinase structure: discovery of rosmarinic acid as a new Fyn kinase inhibitor and in silico study of its possible binding modes

Tyrosine phosphorylation represents a unique signaling process that controls metabolic pathways, cell activation, growth and differentiation, membrane transport, apoptosis, neural, and other functions. We present here the three-dimensional structure of Fyn tyrosine kinase, a Src-family enzyme involved in T-cell receptor signal transduction. The structure of Fyn was modeled for homology using the Sybyl-Composer suite of programs for modeling. Procheck and Prosa II programs showed the high quality of the obtained three-dimensional model. Rosmarinic acid, a secondary metabolite of herbal plants, was discovered as a new Fyn kinase inhibitor using immunochemical and in silico methods. Two possible binding modes of rosmarinic acid were evaluated here, i.e., near to or in the ATP-binding site of kinase domain of Fyn. Enzyme kinetic experiments revealed that Fyn is inhibited by a linear-mixed noncompetitive mechanism of inhibition by rosmarinic acid. This indicates that rosmarinic acid binds to the second "non-ATP" binding site of the Fyn tyrosine kinase.

Tissue zinc dynamics during the immune reaction in mice

Owing to the importance of zinc for the functioning of the immune system, the role of endogenous Zn, located both in lymphoid and nonlymphoid organs, was investigated during the standard humoral and cellular types of immune response. For this purpose, the dynamics of hepatic, thymic, splenic, and renal Zn content was determined in mice sensitized with (a) sheep red blood cells and (b) semiallogeneic lymphocytes during the local host vs graft reaction (HVGR). The data obtained by ion-coupled plasma spectrometry revealed that the humoral type of immunity is characterized by a significant increase of Zn concentration in the liver and in the thymus. Simultaneously, linear regression analysis showed that the generation of plaque-forming cells in the individual mouse was highly positively correlated with Zn concentration in the liver (r=0.897), and spleen (r=0.833), and negatively with Zn concentration in the thymus (r=-0.624). Similar relationships between the intensity of local immune reaction and tissue Zn levels were found in local HVGR at the fifth day in the liver and spleen (r=0.861 and r=0.695, respectively), at the seventh day in the thymus (r=-0.797), and at the tenth day in the liver (r=-0.859). The data emphasize the necessity of Zn for the development of normal immune response and point to the existence of a Zn-dependent hepato-thymic axis during the humoral and cellular types of immune reactivity.

Zinc and metallothioneins on cellular immune effectiveness during liver regeneration in young and old mice

Partial hepatectomy in young mice (pHx) induces thymic atrophy, disregulation of thymocytes subsets and a strong accumulation of zinc in thymic tissue after 1-2 days of liver regeneration. Zinc is relevant for good immune functioning. Restoration of zinc into both the thymus and thymocytes subsets in the late period of liver regeneration is observed in young pHx mice. These findings have suggested a link between the thymus and the liver influencing T-cell functions and involving zinc. This kind of link could be relevant in aging because thymic involution, negative crude zinc balance and crippled immune functions are constant events. The preminence of a liver extrathymic T-cell pathway after pHx or during aging has been suggested. Thus the study of pHx in young and old mice may offer a good model to better understand the role played both by thymic involution and by liver extrathymic T-cell pathway and the role of zinc in these physiological processes during aging. Young pHx mice after 1-2 days of liver regeneration show: reduced thymic endocrine activity, increment of double negative (DN) thymocytes subsets, impairment of peripheral immune efficiency (PHA, NK activity and IL-2) and negative crude zinc balance, which are all restored in the late period of liver regeneration. By contrast the thymic and peripheral immune defects and the negative crude zinc balance, already present in old sham mice, are not modified during liver regeneration in old pHx mice. Circulating leukocytes and lymphocytes are not significantly modified both in young and old pHx mice as compared to respective sham controls. Zinc may also be crucial for extrathymic T-cells pathway, being preminent in aging, rather than in young age, due to its metallothioneins (MT) binding capacity. MT are significantly increased in young pHx and in aging inducing a low zinc-free quota for thymic and peripheral immune efficiency in young pHx mice, and for extrathymic T-cell pathway, in old age. Thus low zinc bioavailability, due to MT, may play a pivotal role, not only for thymocytes but also for liver extrathymic T-cell pathway.

Determination of standard zinc values in the intact tissues of mice by ICP spectrometry

The most commonly encountered difficulties for the quantitative measurement of zinc in biological samples are the limited sample amount, total and effective digestion of connective and fatty residues, and low zinc concentrations. These problems often lead to the determination of lower zinc values than actually present, so that the sample preparation, digestion, and analytical procedure deserve careful attention. In this short communication, a new method for microwave tissue disintegration is described. The authors have obtained consistent and reproducible results with tissue samples of 0.5 g or less.

Chemotactic and protease-inhibiting activities of antibiotic peptide precursors

We have recently shown that two antimicrobial peptides (Bac5 and Bac7) and/or their immature forms (proBac5 and proBac7) can be released extracellularly from activated neutrophils. In the present study we have investigated the biological activities of the immature forms, which do not exhibit antimicrobial effects. We show that proBac7 is a monocyte-selective chemoattractant, potentially contributing to the recruitment of these cells to infection sites, whereas proBac5 efficiently inhibits the in vitro activity of cathepsin L, a cysteine proteinase thought to contribute to tissue injury in inflammation.