Neurotropic Manifestations as a Potential Risk Factor for Schizophrenia Following in utero Exposure to SARS-CoV-2

Background: COVID-19 infection is associated with neurologic and psychiatric morbidity that suggests a direct effect of the virus or secondary effect of an inflammatory process. These neuropsychiatric consequences may increase the likelihood of schizophrenia in the offspring of women who become infected with COVID-19 during their pregnancy. Methods: We performed a directed narrative review of the literature focusing on the proposed pathophysiological processes that lead to schizophrenia and known pathological consequences of COVID-19 infection. Results: Schizophrenia in adult offspring has been associated with maternal infections during pregnancy by a wide range of respiratory and neurotropic pathogens. Spikes in the incidence of schizophrenia approximately 20 years after several influenza pandemics have been documented. There are multiple lines of evidence suggesting that a similar pattern may be seen due to the recent COVID-19 pandemic. These include the nonspecific consequences of acute illness and hyperpyrexia, as well as more specific derangements of brain development related to direct effects of the virus or secondary effects of the inflammatory response on the developing brain. There is the potential to prospectively test this hypothesis by following the offspring of women who are known to have developed COVID-19 during their pregnancy. Conclusion: The COVID-19 pandemic is likely associated with a range of future neuropsychiatric consequences in people whose mothers suffered the infection during their fetal development. It is important to try to follow these offspring to determine the full range of consequences of COVID-19 infection

Femtosecond Laser Induced Structural Dynamics and Melting of Cu (111) Single Crystal. An Ultrafast Time-Resolved X-Ray Diffraction Study

Femtosecond, 8.04 keV x-ray pulses are used to probe the lattice dynamics of a 150 nm Cu (111) single crystal on a mica substrate irradiated with 400 nm, 100 fs laser pulses. For pump fluences below the damage and melting thresholds, we observed lattice contraction due to the formation of a blast force and coherent acoustic phonons with a period of ∼69 ps. At larger pump fluence, solid to liquid phase transition, annealing, and recrystallization were measured in real time by monitoring the intensity evolution of the probing fs x-ray rocking curves, which agreed well with theoretical simulation results. The experimental data suggest that the melting process is a purely thermal phase transition. This study provides, in real time, an ultrafast time-resolved detailed description of the significant processes that occur as a result of the interaction of a femtosecond light-pulse with the Cu (111) crystal surface. Published by AIP Publishing. [http://dx.doi.org/10.1063/1.4975198

Anti-VEGFR-2 Kinase Effects of Cyclo (Nα-dinicotinoyl)-bis-[(L-valinyl)- L-lysine] and its Anticancer Activities Against Different Cancer Cell Lines

The current work aimed at preparing a cyclo (Nα-dinicotinoyl)-bis-[(L-valinyl)-L-lysine] from previously established synthetic routs. The derivative was investigated for its potential anticancer activities as well as its possible mechanism of action. The prepared compound showed variable anticancer activities against all tested cell lines. Furthermore, it showed very promising activities in terms of obtained IC50 values compared to known used drugs. The mechanism of action studies showed that the prepared tripeptide may act on cancerous cells through its inhibitory action on tyrosine kinase pathway. Animal model experiments proved the potential of the synthesized tripeptide as an anticancer agent against PC3 cancer cells

Investigation of Growth Inhibitory Effects of cyclo (Nα-pyrido)-bis-[(L-valinyl)-L-ornthenyl acid hydrazide] on Various Cancer Cells as well as in vitro VEGFR-2 Kinase Inhibition

328–332During the current work, we synthesized a new peptide derivative; 4,13-diisopropyl-2,5,12,15-tetraoxo-3,6,11,14-tetraaza-1(3,5)-pyridinacyclopentadecaphane-7-carbohydrazide. The prepared hydrazide was investigated for its in vivo as well as in vitro anticancer effects. Results revealed that this derivative has a great potential against 6 cancerous cell lines. Furthermore, the highest effect was obtained against HT1080 and HeLa cells, where the compound showed 7.4- and 15.1-folds increased activity against them, respectively. Additionally, the compound seems to exert its potential anticancer effect by affecting the kinase enzyme VEGFR-2. Finally, the compound showed promising results when tested in in vivo against prostate cancer developed animal models

Femtosecond Laser Induced Structural Dynamics and Melting of Cu (111) Single Crystal. An Ultrafast Time-Resolved X-Ray Diffraction Study

Femtosecond, 8.04 keV x-ray pulses are used to probe the lattice dynamics of a 150 nm Cu (111) single crystal on a mica substrate irradiated with 400 nm, 100 fs laser pulses. For pump fluences below the damage and melting thresholds, we observed lattice contraction due to the formation of a blast force and coherent acoustic phonons with a period of ∼69 ps. At larger pump fluence, solid to liquid phase transition, annealing, and recrystallization were measured in real time by monitoring the intensity evolution of the probing fs x-ray rocking curves, which agreed well with theoretical simulation results. The experimental data suggest that the melting process is a purely thermal phase transition. This study provides, in real time, an ultrafast time-resolved detailed description of the significant processes that occur as a result of the interaction of a femtosecond light-pulse with the Cu (111) crystal surface. Published by AIP Publishing. [http://dx.doi.org/10.1063/1.4975198

Investigation of Growth Inhibitory Effects of cyclo (Nα-pyrido)-bis-[(L-valinyl)-L-ornthenyl acid hydrazide] on Various Cancer Cells as well as in vitro VEGFR-2 Kinase Inhibition

During the current work, we synthesized a new peptide derivative; 4,13-diisopropyl-2,5,12,15-tetraoxo-3,6,11,14-tetraaza-1(3,5)-pyridinacyclopentadecaphane-7-carbohydrazide. The prepared hydrazide was investigated for its in vivo as well as in vitro anticancer effects. Results revealed that this derivative has a great potential against 6 cancerous cell lines. Furthermore, the highest effect was obtained against HT1080 and HeLa cells, where the compound showed 7.4- and 15.1-folds increased activity against them, respectively. Additionally, the compound seems to exert its potential anticancer effect by affecting the kinase enzyme VEGFR-2. Finally, the compound showed promising results when tested in in vivo against prostate cancer developed animal models

Anti-VEGFR-2 Kinase Effects of Cyclo (Nα-dinicotinoyl)-bis-[(L-valinyl)- L-lysine] and its Anticancer Activities Against Different Cancer Cell Lines

413-417The current work aimed at preparing a cyclo (Nα-dinicotinoyl)-bis-[(L-valinyl)-L-lysine] from previously established synthetic routs. The derivative was investigated for its potential anticancer activities as well as its possible mechanism of action. The prepared compound showed variable anticancer activities against all tested cell lines. Furthermore, it showed very promising activities in terms of obtained IC50 values compared to known used drugs. The mechanism of action studies showed that the prepared tripeptide may act on cancerous cells through its inhibitory action on tyrosine kinase pathway. Animal model experiments proved the potential of the synthesized tripeptide as an anticancer agent against PC3 cancer cells

Antimicrobial resistance among migrants in Europe: a systematic review and meta-analysis

BACKGROUND: Rates of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) are rising globally and there is concern that increased migration is contributing to the burden of antibiotic resistance in Europe. However, the effect of migration on the burden of AMR in Europe has not yet been comprehensively examined. Therefore, we did a systematic review and meta-analysis to identify and synthesise data for AMR carriage or infection in migrants to Europe to examine differences in patterns of AMR across migrant groups and in different settings. METHODS: For this systematic review and meta-analysis, we searched MEDLINE, Embase, PubMed, and Scopus with no language restrictions from Jan 1, 2000, to Jan 18, 2017, for primary data from observational studies reporting antibacterial resistance in common bacterial pathogens among migrants to 21 European Union-15 and European Economic Area countries. To be eligible for inclusion, studies had to report data on carriage or infection with laboratory-confirmed antibiotic-resistant organisms in migrant populations. We extracted data from eligible studies and assessed quality using piloted, standardised forms. We did not examine drug resistance in tuberculosis and excluded articles solely reporting on this parameter. We also excluded articles in which migrant status was determined by ethnicity, country of birth of participants' parents, or was not defined, and articles in which data were not disaggregated by migrant status. Outcomes were carriage of or infection with antibiotic-resistant organisms. We used random-effects models to calculate the pooled prevalence of each outcome. The study protocol is registered with PROSPERO, number CRD42016043681. FINDINGS: We identified 2274 articles, of which 23 observational studies reporting on antibiotic resistance in 2319 migrants were included. The pooled prevalence of any AMR carriage or AMR infection in migrants was 25·4% (95% CI 19·1-31·8; I2 =98%), including meticillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (7·8%, 4·8-10·7; I2 =92%) and antibiotic-resistant Gram-negative bacteria (27·2%, 17·6-36·8; I2 =94%). The pooled prevalence of any AMR carriage or infection was higher in refugees and asylum seekers (33·0%, 18·3-47·6; I2 =98%) than in other migrant groups (6·6%, 1·8-11·3; I2 =92%). The pooled prevalence of antibiotic-resistant organisms was slightly higher in high-migrant community settings (33·1%, 11·1-55·1; I2 =96%) than in migrants in hospitals (24·3%, 16·1-32·6; I2 =98%). We did not find evidence of high rates of transmission of AMR from migrant to host populations. INTERPRETATION: Migrants are exposed to conditions favouring the emergence of drug resistance during transit and in host countries in Europe. Increased antibiotic resistance among refugees and asylum seekers and in high-migrant community settings (such as refugee camps and detention facilities) highlights the need for improved living conditions, access to health care, and initiatives to facilitate detection of and appropriate high-quality treatment for antibiotic-resistant infections during transit and in host countries. Protocols for the prevention and control of infection and for antibiotic surveillance need to be integrated in all aspects of health care, which should be accessible for all migrant groups, and should target determinants of AMR before, during, and after migration. FUNDING: UK National Institute for Health Research Imperial Biomedical Research Centre, Imperial College Healthcare Charity, the Wellcome Trust, and UK National Institute for Health Research Health Protection Research Unit in Healthcare-associated Infections and Antimictobial Resistance at Imperial College London