Identification of amphetamine as a stimulant drug by pristine and doped C70 fullerenes: a DFT/TDDFT investigation

The density functional theory (DFT) was used to examine the electronic reactivity and sensitivity of a pristine, Si, and Al-doped fullerene C₇₀ with AM drug. AM drug has been shown to be physically absorbed by its N-head on the pristine C₇₀ with an adsorption energy of about - 1.09 kcal/mol and to have no impact on the electric conductivity of that cluster. The atom substitution of Si and Al for C atoms at C₇₀ significantly increases C₇₀ fullerene reactivity, with adsorption energy predictions of approximately - 31.09 and - 45.59 kcal/mol, respectively. The energy difference of LUMO and HOMO, i.e., Eg from C₇₀ fullerene, significantly affects AM drug. Significant LUMO destabilization in Al-C₇₀ by adsorption of the drug AM boosts the electrical conductivity of Al-C₇₀ while generating electric signals that are related to the environmental presence of AM drug. Hence, Al-doped C₇₀ is demonstrated to be an effective electronic AM drug sensor. In contrast to Si-C₇₀ fullerene, significant AM-drug adsorption effects on Fermi and Si-C₇₀ work functions make Si-C₇₀ an Ф-type candidate for AM drug sensor applications. The time-dependent theory of the functional density shows that the AM/Al-C₇₀ complex is steadily situated at a maximum peak of 784.15 nm.

Utility of Dermoscopic Evaluation in Predicting Clinical Response to Diphencyprone in a Cohort of Patients with Alopecia Areata

Background:

Alopecia areata (AA) is a chronic and inflammatory disease of hair follicles, causing nonscarring alopecia. While the various types of treatment have been investigated, the definite cure for AA has not been established yet.

Objectives:

The objective of this study is to evaluate the clinical and dermoscopic features of patients with AA to identify the factors with prognostic values in diphenylcyclopropenone (DPCP) response rate.

Methods:

Eighty patients with AA were included, and baseline hair loss was calculated based on the severity alopecia tool (SALT) score. The characteristic dermoscopic features of AA were evaluated by two skilled dermatologists separately at baseline, 12 and 24 weeks afterward.

Results:

The mean SALT score in the 1^st, 12^th, and 24^th week was 77 ± 24.7, 80 ± 27, and 71 ± 35.6, respectively, which were not significantly different over this time period (P = 0.085). SALT score correlated negatively with the short vellus hair/field (ρ = −0.361, P = 0.02), broken hair/field (ρ = −0.317, P = 0.044), and tapering hair/field (ρ = −0.388, P = 0.012) in the 1^st week. Forty-one patients continued treatment courses over 24 weeks. Six patients had good response, 11 achieved partial response, and 24 had no hair regrowth. Statistically significant correlation was observed between treatment response and duration of disease (P = 0.04), frequency of relapses (P = 0.033), type of alopecia, and number of black dots (P = 0.028). The mean for all dermoscopic findings showed descending process during our three follow-up sessions which was statistically significant for black dot (P = 0.015) and broken hair (P = 0.006).

Conclusion:

The number of black dot per field initially was negatively correlated to DPCP therapy and the frequency of dermoscopic findings reduced during the treatment process.

Data on characterization of glass biochips and validation of the label-free biosensor for detection of autoantibodies in human serum

The data represent in-depth characterization of a novel method for highly sensitive simultaneous measuring in human serum of both critical parameters of autoantibodies: concentration and native kinetics. The latter refers to autoantibody interaction with free, not immobilized, antigen. The method and related biosensors are based on the spectral-correlation and spectral-phase interferometry. The data cover: multi-factor optimization and quantitative characterization of the developed affordable single-used biochips, including X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) control of chemical modifications of the surface during fabrication; antibody screening; optimization and verification of protocols for label-free biosensing in human serum; mathematical model for fitting experimental data and calculation of kinetic constants of interaction of autoantibodies with free antigen; comprehensive verification of the method specificity; correlation between the data obtained with the developed biosensor and with enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA); comparison of analytical characteristics of the developed biosensor with the most advanced label-based methods. The data importance is confirmed by a companion paper (DOI 10.1016/j.bios.2020.112187), which shows that the combination of mentioned autoantibody parameters is promising for more accurate criteria for early diagnostics and efficient therapy of autoimmune disorders. The obtained data can be used in development of a wide range of biosensors, both label-free and based on various labels.

Dietary intake of nutrients and its correlation with fatigue in multiple sclerosis patients

BACKGROUND

The role of nutrition in the progression of multiple sclerosis (MS) and related complications such as fatigue has been reported by several studies. The aim of this study is the assessment of nutritional status and its relationship with fatigue in multiple sclerosis patients.

METHODS

This is a cross-sectional study, in which 101 relapsing-remitting MS patients were enrolled. The fatigue status was determined using the validated Persian version of of the Modified Fatigue Impact Scale (MFIS). Dietary intake was assessed using a 3-day food record questionnaire and compared to dietary reference intake (DRI) values. Association between variables was determined using Pearson Correlation Coefficient.

RESULTS

In the preset study, 25 men and 76 women (total = 101) were enrolled. Analysis of dietary intake showed that daily intake of vitamin D, folate, calcium, and magnesium were significantly lower than DRI in all of patients. In men, zinc intake was significantly lower than DRI; while, in women, iron was significantly below the DRI level. After adjusting for energy, MFIS and its physical subscale were highly correlated with intake of folate and magnesium.

CONCLUSION

Our findings support that lower magnesium and folate diets are correlated with higher fatigue scores in MS patients.

Determination and Validation of Zonisamide and its Four Related Substances by HPLC and UV-Spectrophotometry

A selective and sensitive liquid chromatographic method has been developed for simultaneous determination of zonisamide and its four related substances in pharmaceutical dosage forms. The assay involved an isocratic elution in perfectsil Target C18 column using a mobile phase composition of disodium hydrogen phosphate buffer, acetonitrile and methanol (650:150:200 v/v, pH adjusted to 3±0.05) with flow rate 1.2 ml/min and analyte monitored at 240 nm. Also a simple and precise spectrophotometric method was developed for dissolution studies. These proposed methods are sensitive, accurate, reproducible and useful for the routine determination of zonisamide in pharmacy.

Developing an electrochemical deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) biosensor on the basis of human interleukine-2 gene using an electroactive label

Development of an electrochemical DNA biosensor based on a human interleukine-2 (IL-2) gene probe, using a pencil graphite electrode (PGE) as transducer and methylene blue (MB) as electroactive label is described. The sensor relies on the immobilization of a 20-mer single stranded oligonucleotide probe (hIL-2) related to the IL-2 gene on the electrode. The hybridization between the probe and its complementary sequence (chIL-2) as the target was studied by square wave voltammetry (SWV) of MB accumulated on the PGE. In this approach the extent of hybridization is evaluated on the basis of the difference between SWV signals of MB accumulated on the probe-PGE and MB accumulated on the probe-target-PGE. Some hybridization experiments with non-complementary oligonucleotides were carried out to assess whether the suggested DNA sensor responds selectively to the target. Some experimental variables affecting the performance of the biosensor including: polishing of PGE, its electrochemical activation conditions (i.e., activation potential and activation time) and probe immobilization conditions on the electrodes (i.e., immobilization potential and time) were investigated and the optimum values of 1.80 V and 300 s for PGE activation, and -0.5 V and 400s for the probe immobilization on the electrode were suggested.

Synthesis and calcium channel antagonist activity of nifedipine analogues containing 4(5)-chloro-2-methyl-5(4)-imidazolyl substituent

Dihydropyridine having substituted imidazole at 4-position in conjunction with various C3, C5 diesters have calcium channel antagonist activity. In this paper a group of dialkyl, dicycloalkyl and diaryl ester analogues of nifedipine, in which the ortho-nitro phenyl group at position 4 replaced by 2-methyl-4(5)-chloro-5(4)-imidazolyl substituent, were synthesized and evaluated as calcium channel antagonists using the high K+ contraction of guinea-pig ileal longitudinal smooth muscle (GPILSM). The results for the symmetrical ester series showed that increasing the length chain in C3 and C5 ester substituents increased activity. When increasing of the length or lipophilicity accompany with increasing the hindrance, the activity decreased. In asymmetrical diester series, the results showed when R1 is methyl or ethyl, increasing of the lipophilic property in R substituent increases the activity if this high lipophilicity don't accompany with steric hindrance. Our results demonstrate that in symmetrical and asymmetrical series aromatic compounds were more active than aliphatic compounds. In symmetrical diesters compounds, the most active compound was diphenylethyl ester derivative, that it was more active than the reference drug nifedipine. These structure activity data indicate that the 2-methyl-4(5)chloro-5(4)-imidazolyl moiety is bioisoester of 2-nitrophenyl and 2-chlorophenyl moieties.