Synthesis, anti-acetylcholinesterase evaluation, molecular docking and molecular dynamics simulation of novel Psoralen derivatives

INTRODUCTION

Seven new psoralen derivatives were synthesised by carbodiimide coupling to active carboxylic acid to amide formation in mild reaction conditions.

METHODS

The psoralen derivatives were produced through the condensation of seven different types of amine groups consisting of electron withdrawing groups and electron donating groups.

RESULTS

All the synthesised compounds were obtained with moderate to high yields. Structural characterization using ATR-FTIR, 1H NMR, 13C NMR, and HRMS has confirmed their structure. Moreover, in silico evaluation of the psoralen derivatives against the AChE enzyme was performed, and acetylcholinesterase inhibitory activity of psoralen derivatives was also conducted.

CONCLUSION

Results from molecular docking show the potential of compound 12e as AChE inhibitors due to its highest binding energy value. It was further supported by the anti-acetylcholinesterase activity of compound 12e, which has 91.69% inhibition, comparable to galantamine (94.12%). Furthermore, 100 ns run molecular dynamics (MD) simulation was used to refine docking results.

Stromal expression of CD10 in invasive breast carcinoma and its association with tumour stage, grade, ER, PR and HER2 status

INTRODUCTION

Tumour microenvironment (TME) has been postulated to be involved in cancer development and disease progression. Studies have shown CD10 expressed in cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAF) within TME is associated with aggressive biological behaviour and poor prognosis. The aim of this study was to evaluate stromal CD10 expression in invasive breast cancer and its correlation with tumour stage, grade, Estrogen receptor (ER), Progesterone receptor (PR) and HER2 status.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A total of 226 invasive breast carcinoma cases were selected and assembled into tissue microarrays (TMAs). The stromal expression of CD10 was immunohistochemically analysed.

RESULTS

Stromal CD10 was positive in 67 (29.6%) cases of invasive breast carcinoma. The frequency of positive stromal staining was significantly higher in the cases with ER-negative (P=0.000). CD10 stromal negativity was significantly higher in luminaltype cases (P=0.001). However, there was no correlation between stromal CD10 expression with tumour grade, stage, PR and HER2 status.

CONCLUSION

Positive CD10 stromal expression correlates with ER-negative invasive breast carcinomas, while negative CD10 stromal expression correlates with luminal type invasive breast carcinomas. This demonstrates that stromal CD10 expression within the TME constitutes a potential prognostic marker and therapeutic target. Future studies are necessary to evaluate other stromal markers within the TME immunohistochemically as well as its molecular basis in order to confirm the definite role of stromal CD10.

Thyroid autoantibodies and associated complications during pregnancy

This study was undertaken to determine the presence of thyroid autoantibodies and associated pregnancy complications from 49 pregnant women with thyroid disease. There were 31 (63%) women with Graves' disease (GD) and 18 (37%) with primary hypothyroidism (PHT). A total of 26 (53.1%) women, 19 (61%) with GD and seven (39%) with PHT, had positive antibodies. Six had thyroid peroxidase antibodies (TPO), one with thyroglobulin antibody (TG) and eight had TSH receptor antibodies (TR). Two had a mixture of antibodies involving TG/TPO (one GD vs one PHT), four with TG/TPO/TR (all had GD) and five with TPO/TR (four with GD vs one with PHT). There were associations in women with positive thyroid antibodies and pre-eclampsia (15.4%), abruptio placenta (4%), caesarean deliveries (31%), postpartum thyroiditis (19.2%) and abnormal neonatal thyroid function (15.4%). Women with positive thyroid antibodies in pregnancy need close care during and after pregnancy, as they can develop complications affecting both mother and fetus.

Improvement in C-reactive protein and advanced glycosylation end-products in poorly controlled diabetics is independent of glucose control

We studied the efficacy of four different treatment regimens (sulphonylurea and metformin+/-acarbose versus glimepiride and rosiglitazone versus glimepiride and bedtime NPH insulin versus multiple actrapid and NPH insulin injections) in poorly controlled type 2 diabetes subjects on hs-CRP, VCAM-1 and AGE at 4, 8 and 12 weeks of treatment. Multiple insulin injections rapidly improved HbA(1c) by 0.6+/-0.9% (p<0.005), 1.2+/-1.3% (p<0.0005) and 1.3+/-1.4% (p<0.0005) at week 4, at week 8 and week 12, respectively. Subjects who continued their existing combination treatment of sulphonylurea, metformin+/-acarbose also showed a significant reduction in HbA(1c) (p<0.05). Although effective in reducing glycemic parameters, there was no reduction in CRP levels in either treatment group. The treatment regimen consisting of rosiglitazone and glimepiride significantly lowered hs-CRP by -2.6 (3.9) mg/L (p<0.05) at week 12 in spite of no improvement in blood glucose. AGE improved in all groups irrespective of type of treatment, glycaemic control and CRP levels. Our data indicate rapid glycaemic control alone does not necessarily result in improvement in markers of inflammation in type 2 diabetes patients.