NSC19723, a Thiacetazone-Like Benzaldehyde Thiosemicarbazone Improves the Efficacy of TB Drugs In Vitro and In Vivo

The complexity and duration of tuberculosis (TB) treatment contributes to the emergence of drug resistant tuberculosis (DR-TB) and drug-associated side effects. Alternate chemotherapeutic agents are needed to shorten the time and improve efficacy of current treatment. In this study, we have assessed the antitubercular activity of NSC19723, a benzaldehyde thiosemicarbazone molecule. NSC19723 is structurally similar to thiacetazone (TAC), a second-line anti-TB drug used to treat individuals with DR-TB. NSC19723 displayed better MIC values than TAC against Mycobacterium tuberculosis and Mycobacterium bovis BCG. In our checkerboard experiments, NSC19723 displayed better profiles than TAC in combination with known first-line and recently approved drugs. Mechanistic studies revealed that NSC19723 inhibits mycolic acid biosynthesis by targeting the HadABC complex. Computational studies revealed that the binding pocket of HadAB is similarly occupied by NSC19723 and TAC. NSC19723 also improved the efficacy of isoniazid in macrophages and mouse models of infection. Cumulatively, we have identified a benzaldehyde thiosemicarbazone scaffold that improved the activity of TB drugs in liquid cultures, macrophages, and mice. IMPORTANCE Mycobacterium tuberculosis, the causative agent of TB is among the leading causes of death among infectious diseases in humans. This situation has worsened due to the failure of BCG vaccines and the increased number of cases with HIV-TB coinfections and drug-resistant strains. Another challenge in the field is the lengthy duration of therapy for drug-sensitive and -resistant TB. Here, we have deciphered the mechanism of action of NSC19723, benzaldehyde thiosemicarbazone. We show that NSC19723 targets HadABC complex and inhibits mycolic acid biosynthesis. We also show that NSC19723 enhances the activity of known drugs in liquid cultures, macrophages, and mice. We have also performed molecular docking studies to identify the interacting residues of HadAB with NSC19723. Taken together, we demonstrate that NSC19723, a benzaldehyde thiosemicarbazone, has better antitubercular activity than thiacetazone.

Evolution of Octupole Deformation in Radium Nuclei from Coulomb Excitation of Radioactive ^{222}Ra and ^{228}Ra Beams

There is sparse direct experimental evidence that atomic nuclei can exhibit stable "pear" shapes arising from strong octupole correlations. In order to investigate the nature of octupole collectivity in radium isotopes, electric octupole (E3) matrix elements have been determined for transitions in ^{222,228}Ra nuclei using the method of sub-barrier, multistep Coulomb excitation. Beams of the radioactive radium isotopes were provided by the HIE-ISOLDE facility at CERN. The observed pattern of E3 matrix elements for different nuclear transitions is explained by describing ^{222}Ra as pear shaped with stable octupole deformation, while ^{228}Ra behaves like an octupole vibrator.

The observation of vibrating pear-shapes in radon nuclei

There is a large body of evidence that atomic nuclei can undergo octupole distortion and assume the shape of a pear. This phenomenon is important for measurements of electric-dipole moments of atoms, which would indicate CP violation and hence probe physics beyond the Standard Model of particle physics. Isotopes of both radon and radium have been identified as candidates for such measurements. Here, we observed the low-lying quantum states in ²²⁴Rn and ²²⁶Rn by accelerating beams of these radioactive nuclei. We show that radon isotopes undergo octupole vibrations but do not possess static pear-shapes in their ground states. We conclude that radon atoms provide less favourable conditions for the enhancement of a measurable atomic electric-dipole moment.

[Functional neurologic and neuropsychologic outcome after near-hanging]

Although hanging is a frequently used suicide method, little is known about the prognosis of patients that survived hanging (near-hanging).<br/> AIM: To describe a case report and present a literature-review on the functional neurologic outcome after near-hanging (with separate analyses for the presence of cardiac arrest and use of neuro-protection), and possible residual neuropsychological symptoms.<br/> RESULTS: Only 12,4% (bi 4,6-29,4) of patients after near-hanging with cardiac arrest had a good functional outcome, compared to 90,6% (bi 85,7-94,0) of those without cardiac arrest. Neuroprotection through targeted temperature management has no significant influence on the outcome, neither in the presence nor absence of cardiac arrest. Near-hanging victims with a good functional outcome have, at most, mild residual neuropsychological symptoms. These can manifest throughout all cognitive domains, although learning and memory are most frequently and severely affected. DISCUSSION A significant subgroup of patients after near-hanging without cardiac arrest recovers towards a good level of functioning. A range of residual neuropsychological symptoms remain apparent, which are challenges for diagnostics and suicide prevention.

[Takotsubo cardiomyopathy and catatonia in a patient with psychotic depression]

Takotsubo cardiomyopathy (tcmp) is an acute, reversible disruption of the left ventricular systolic function. In many respects the clinical presentation closely resembles acute coronary syndromes (myocardial infarction). tcmp is a syndrome with a pathophysiology that is not fully understood and which seems to be closely associated with psychiatric disorders or psychological problems. We present a case in which a patient with several risk factors developed a tcmp and a depression with psychotic features, followed by catatonia. We describe the syndrome, make some pathophysiological hypotheses and point to possible connections with psychiatric disorders and psychological factors.