Catechol-O-methyltransferase: potential relationship to idiopathic hypertension

Catecholamine signaling pathways in the peripheral and central nervous systems (PNS, CNS, respectively) utilize catechol-O-methyltransferase (COMT) as a major regulatory enzyme responsible for deactivation of dopamine (DA), norepinephrine (NE) and epinephrine (E). Accordingly, homeostasis of COMT gene expression is hypothesized to be functionally linked to regulation of autonomic control of normotensive vascular events. Recently, we demonstrated that morphine administration in vitro resulted in decreased cellular concentrations of COMT-encoding mRNA levels, as compared to control values. In contrast, cells treated with E up regulated their COMT gene expression. In sum, these observations indicate a potential reciprocal linkage between end product inhibition of COMT gene expression by E and morphine. Interestingly, the observed effects of administered E on COMT gene expression suggest an enhancement of its own catabolism or, reciprocally, a stimulation morphine biosynthesis

New electroactive macromonomers and multi-responsive PEDOT graft copolymers

Poly(3,4-ethylenedioxithiophene) (PEDOT) is the conducting polymer with the biggest prospects in the field of organic electronics due to its high electrical conductivity and transparency as thin films.Marie Curie IF BIKE Project No. 74286

Longterm central cholinergic hypofunction induced in mice by ethylcholine aziridinium ion (AF64A) in vivo

ABSTRACT ABBREVIATIONS: ACh, acetylcholine; Ch, choline; HAChT, high-affinity Ch transport system; SIMS, secondary ion mass spectrometry; ChAT, choline acetyltransferase; QNB, quinuclidinyl benzilate. 14

Natural Deep Eutectic Solvents Based on Choline Chloride and Phenolic Compounds as Efficient Bioadhesives and Corrosion Protectors

This work was supported by Marie Sklodowska-Curie Research and Innovation Staff Exchanges (RISE) under Grant Agreement No. 823989 “IONBIKE”. The financial supports received from CONICET and ANPCyT (Argentina) are also gratefully acknowledged. ). Publisher Copyright: © 2022 American Chemical Society. All rights reserved.Natural deep eutectics solvents (NADES), owing to their high solvation capacity and nontoxicity, are actively being sought for many technological applications. Herein, we report a series of novel NADES based on choline chloride and plant-derived polyphenols. Most of the obtained phenolic NADES have a wide liquid range and high thermal stability above 150 °C. Among them, small-sized polyphenols, like pyrogallol, vanillyl alcohol, or gentisic acid, lead to low-viscosity liquids with ionic conductivities in the order of 10-3S cm-1at room temperature. Interestingly, polyphenols possess valuable properties as therapeutic agents, antioxidants, adhesives, or redox-active compounds, among others. Thus, we evaluated the potential of these novel NADES for two applications: bioadhesives and corrosion protection. The mixture of choline chloride-vanillyl alcohol (2:3 mol ratio) and gelatin resulted in a highly adhesive viscoelastic liquid (adhesive stress ≈ 135 kPa), affording shear thinning behavior. Furthermore, choline chloride-tannic acid (20:1) showed an extraordinary ability to coordinate iron ions, reaching excellent corrosion inhibitive efficiencies in mild steel protection.publishersversionpublishe

Inhibition of Dihydrotestosterone Synthesis in Prostate Cancer by Combined Frontdoor and Backdoor Pathway Blockade

Androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) is palliative and prostate cancer (CaP) recurs as lethal castration-recurrent/resistant CaP (CRPC). One mechanism that provides CaP resistance to ADT is primary backdoor androgen metabolism, which uses up to four 3α-oxidoreductases to convert 5α-androstane-3α,17β-diol (DIOL) to dihydrotestosterone (DHT). The goal was to determine whether inhibition of 3α-oxidoreductase activity decreased conversion of DIOL to DHT. Protein sequence analysis showed that the four 3α-oxidoreductases have identical catalytic amino acid residues. Mass spectrometry data showed combined treatment using catalytically inactive 3α-oxidoreductase mutants and the 5α-reductase inhibitor, dutasteride, decreased DHT levels in CaP cells better than dutasteride alone. Combined blockade of frontdoor and backdoor pathways of DHT synthesis provides a therapeutic strategy to inhibit CRPC development and growth

A timeline of cognitive functioning in glioma patients who undergo awake brain tumor surgery

BACKGROUND: The purpose of awake brain tumor surgery is to maximize the resection of the tumor and to minimize the risk of neurological and cognitive impairments. The aim of this study is to gain understanding of the development of possible postoperative cognitive deficits after awake brain tumor surgery in patients with suspected gliomas, by comparing preoperative, early postoperative, and late postoperative functioning. A more detailed timeline will be helpful in informing candidates for surgery about what to expect regarding their cognitive functioning. METHODS: Thirty-seven patients were included in this study. Cognitive functioning was measured by means of a broad cognitive screener preoperatively, days after surgery and months after surgery in patients who underwent awake brain tumor surgery with cognitive monitoring. The cognitive screener included tests for object naming, reading, attention span, working memory, inhibition, inhibition/switching, and visuoperception. We performed a Friedman ANOVA to analyze on group level. RESULTS: Overall, no significant differences were found between preoperative cognitive functioning, early postoperative cognitive functioning, and late postoperative cognitive functioning, except for performances on the inhibition task. Directly after surgery, patients were significantly slower on this task. However, in the following months after surgery, they returned to their preoperative level. CONCLUSION: The timeline of cognitive functioning after awake tumor surgery appeared overall stable in the early and late postoperative phase, except for inhibition, which is more difficult in the first days after awake brain tumor surgery. This more detailed timeline of cognitive functioning, in combination with future research, can possibly be contributing in informing patients and caregivers what to expect after awake brain tumor surgery

A timeline of cognitive functioning in glioma patients who undergo awake brain tumor surgery

BACKGROUND: The purpose of awake brain tumor surgery is to maximize the resection of the tumor and to minimize the risk of neurological and cognitive impairments. The aim of this study is to gain understanding of the development of possible postoperative cognitive deficits after awake brain tumor surgery in patients with suspected gliomas, by comparing preoperative, early postoperative, and late postoperative functioning. A more detailed timeline will be helpful in informing candidates for surgery about what to expect regarding their cognitive functioning. METHODS: Thirty-seven patients were included in this study. Cognitive functioning was measured by means of a broad cognitive screener preoperatively, days after surgery and months after surgery in patients who underwent awake brain tumor surgery with cognitive monitoring. The cognitive screener included tests for object naming, reading, attention span, working memory, inhibition, inhibition/switching, and visuoperception. We performed a Friedman ANOVA to analyze on group level. RESULTS: Overall, no significant differences were found between preoperative cognitive functioning, early postoperative cognitive functioning, and late postoperative cognitive functioning, except for performances on the inhibition task. Directly after surgery, patients were significantly slower on this task. However, in the following months after surgery, they returned to their preoperative level. CONCLUSION: The timeline of cognitive functioning after awake tumor surgery appeared overall stable in the early and late postoperative phase, except for inhibition, which is more difficult in the first days after awake brain tumor surgery. This more detailed timeline of cognitive functioning, in combination with future research, can possibly be contributing in informing patients and caregivers what to expect after awake brain tumor surgery