Synthesis and Antimicrobial Activity of Newly Synthesized Nicotinamides

Antioxidants are promising compounds with antimicrobial activity against drug-resistant pathogens, especially when combined with conventional antimicrobials. Our study aimed to characterize the structure of nicotinamides synthesized from nicotinic acid and thiocarbohydrazones and to evaluate their antibacterial and antifungal activity. Seven nicotinic acid hydrazides (NC 1–7) were synthesized using mono-thiocarbohydrazones with hydroxyl group substituents, along with quinolone, phenolic, and pyridine rings known for their antimicrobial activity. The in vitro antimicrobial activity of NC 1–7, at concentrations ranging from 0.001 to 1 mM, was tested against Staphylococcus aureus (ATCC 6538), Enterococcus faecalis (ATCC 29212), Pseudomonas aeruginosa (ATCC 27853), Klebsiella pneumoniae (NCIMB 9111), and Candida albicans (ATCC 24433) using the broth microdilution method per EUCAST 2024 guidelines. Microorganism survival percentages were calculated based on optical density, and target fishing using the PharmMapper database identified potential molecular targets. The results showed that P. aeruginosa was most susceptible to the compounds, while C. albicans was the least susceptible. NC 3 significantly inhibited P. aeruginosa and K. pneumoniae growth at 0.016 mM, while higher concentrations were required for S. aureus, E. faecalis, and C. albicans. NC 5 was most effective against gram-positive bacteria at 0.03 mM. Only NC 4 completely inhibited C. albicans below 1 mM. NC 3, with the lowest concentration for 50% growth inhibition (0.016–0.064 mM), showed promising antibacterial potential against specific AMR-related proteins (bleomycin resistance protein, HTH-type transcriptional regulator QacR, and streptogramin A acetyltransferase), suggesting that this class of compounds could enhance or restore the activity of established antibiotics

Antifungal Activity of Lavandula angustifolia Essential Oil against Candida albicans: Time-Kill Study on Pediatric Sputum Isolates

The aim of our study was to determine the susceptibility of 15 Candida albicans sputum isolates on fluconazole and caspofungin, as well as the antifungal potential of Lavandula angustifolia essential oil (LAEO). The commercial LAEO was analyzed using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. The antifungal activity was evaluated using EUCAST protocol. A killing assay was performed to evaluate kinetics of 2% LAEO within 30 min treatment. LAEO with major constituents’ linalool (33.4%) and linalyl acetate (30.5%) effective inhibited grows of C. albicans in concentration range 0.5–2%. Fluconazole activity was noted in 67% of the isolates with MICs in range 0.06–1 µg/mL. Surprisingly, 40% of isolates were non-wild-type (non-WT), while MICs for WT ranged between 0.125–0.25 µg/mL. There were no significant differences in the LAEO MICs among fluconazole-resistant and fluconazole-susceptible sputum strains (p = 0.31) and neither among caspofungin non-WT and WT isolates (p = 0.79). The 2% LAEO rapidly achieved 50% growth reduction in all tested strains between 0.2 and 3.5 min. Within 30 min, the same LAEO concentration exhibited a 99.9% reduction in 27% isolates. This study demonstrated that 2% solution of LAEO showed a significant antifungal activity which is equally effective against fluconazole and caspofungin susceptible and less-susceptible strains

Developmental Stability Of Seven-factor Personality Structure

The vast majority of studies investigating personality structure is done using adult samples. If personality is assessed in children, parental ratings are preferably used method, while self reports are seldom used. Here we use self-report measures to study the developmental stability of the seven-factor personality structure defined by the HEXACO model and Disintegration trait. We focus on middle childhood children, young teens, and teenagers. Sample consisted of four groups: 1) age 10-11 (N=164, 49.4% female), 2) age 12-13 (N=195, 48.9% female), 3) age 14-16 (N=319, 59.2% female), 4) age 17-18 (N=201, 49.5% female). Data were collected in several elementary and high schools in Serbia and Montenegro. Personality traits were assessed using 60 items HEXACO, and 20 items DELTA questionnaires. The stability of the seven-factor personality structure was tested using orthogonal procrustes rotations, and the analysis was done on facets of all seven personality traits. Congruence coefficients and factor loadings were calculated for all facets for all six pairwise comparisons. Overall, the average congruence of factors ranged between .69 (Emotionality) and .96 (Disintegration). The average congruence of facets ranged between .41 (Sincerity) and .95 (Sentimentality), with the majority of facets having average congruence above .85. Average factor loadings for Disintegration range between .55 (Depression) and .85 (Perceptual Distortions), for Honesty between .20 (Sincerity) and .39 (Greed avoidance), for Emotionality between .19 (Anxiety) and .53 (Sentimentality), for Extraversion between .34 (Sociability), and .47 (Social self-esteem and Liveliness), for Agreeableness .34 (Patience), and .54 (Flexibility), for Conscientiousness .33 (Organization) and .53 (Diligence), and for Openness .53 (Creativity) and .67 (Inquisitiveness). As expected, personality structure is least stable in the first age group but stabilizes in groups 3 and 4. We discuss, in detail, stability and content of personality factors on different age groups, and practical implications on assessment these results have

Beyond Traditional Use of Alchemilla vulgaris: Genoprotective and Antitumor Activity In Vitro

Alchemilla vulgaris L. (lady’s mantle) was used for centuries in Europe and Balkan countries for treatments of numerous conditions and diseases of the reproductive system, yet some of the biological activities of lady’s mantle have been poorly studied and neglected. The present study aimed to estimate the potential of A. vulgaris ethanolic extract from Southeast Serbia to prevent and suppress tumor development in vitro, validated by antioxidant, genoprotective, and cytotoxic properties. A total of 45 compounds were detected by UHPLC–HRMS analysis in A. vulgaris ethanolic extract. Measurement of antioxidant activity revealed the significant potential of the tested extract to scavenge free radicals. In addition, the analysis of micronuclei showed an in vitro protective effect on chromosome aberrations in peripheral human lymphocytes. A. vulgaris extract strongly suppressed the growth of human cell lines derived from different types of tumors (MCF-7, A375, A549, and HCT116). The observed antitumor effect is realized through the blockade of cell division, caspase-dependent apoptosis, and autophagic cell death. Our study has shown that Alchemilla vulgaris L. is a valuable source of bioactive compounds able to protect the subcellular structure from damage, thus preventing tumorigenesis as well as suppressing tumor cell growth. © 2022 by the authors

Report on SHAFE policies, strategies and funding

The objective of Working Group (WG) 4 of the COST Action NET4Age-Friendly is to examine existing policies, advocacy, and funding opportunities and to build up relations with policy makers and funding organisations. Also, to synthesize and improve existing knowledge and models to develop from effective business and evaluation models, as well as to guarantee quality and education, proper dissemination and ensure the future of the Action. The Working Group further aims to enable capacity building to improve interdisciplinary participation, to promote knowledge exchange and to foster a cross-European interdisciplinary research capacity, to improve cooperation and co-creation with cross-sectors stakeholders and to introduce and educate students SHAFE implementation and sustainability (CB01, CB03, CB04, CB05). To enable the achievement of the objectives of Working Group 4, the Leader of the Working Group, the Chair and Vice-Chair, in close cooperation with the Science Communication Coordinator, developed a template (see annex 1) to map the current state of SHAFE policies, funding opportunities and networking in the COST member countries of the Action. On invitation, the Working Group lead received contributions from 37 countries, in a total of 85 Action members. The contributions provide an overview of the diversity of SHAFE policies and opportunities in Europe and beyond. These were not edited or revised and are a result of the main areas of expertise and knowledge of the contributors; thus, gaps in areas or content are possible and these shall be further explored in the following works and reports of this WG. But this preliminary mapping is of huge importance to proceed with the WG activities. In the following chapters, an introduction on the need of SHAFE policies is presented, followed by a summary of the main approaches to be pursued for the next period of work. The deliverable finishes with the opportunities of capacity building, networking and funding that will be relevant to undertake within the frame of Working Group 4 and the total COST Action. The total of country contributions is presented in the annex of this deliverable

T4-P-14 Mistletoe (Viscum Album L.) as a source of valuable antioxidants

Viscum album L. (Loranthaceae Juss.) is semi-parasitic evergreen shrub distributed in Europe, northwestern part of Africa and Anatolia. The species is hosted by different woody gymnosperm and angiosperm species and it is known that host preference usually reflects in differences in morphological traits and possibly in phytochemical composition. Therefore, there are different subspecies, out of three subspecies (V. album subsp. abietis (Wiesb.) Janchen, subsp. creticum N. Böhling & al. and subsp. austriacum (Wiesb.) Vollm.) occur most frequently on conifers while subsp. album is confined to deciduous host trees and shrubs. In addition to religious and mystical uses, the mistletoe is used in the folk medicine for circulatory and respiratory disorders and as an anticancer remedy

Antiproliferative activity of ruthenium(ii) arene complexes with mono- and bidentate pyridine-based ligands

A series of Ru(II) arene complexes of mono- and bidentate N-donor ligands with carboxyl or ester groups and chlorido ancillary ligands were synthesised and structurally characterised. The complexes have a distorted tetrahedral piano-stool geometry. The binding interaction was studied with calf thymus DNA (CT-DNA) by absorption titration, viscosity measurement, thermal melting, circular dichroism, ethidium bromide displacement assay and DNA cleavage of plasmid DNA (pBR322), investigated by gel electrophoresis. The dichlorido complexes bind covalently to DNA in the dark, similar to cisplatin, while the monochlorido complexes bind covalently on irradiation, similar to cisplatin analogues. The compounds are selectively cytotoxic against several tumour cell lines and show specific nonlinear correlation between dose and activity. This phenomenon is closely related to their potential to act preferentially as inhibitors of cell division

Unexpected TBEV Seropositivity in Serbian Patients Who Recovered from Viral Meningitis and Encephalitis

The tick-borne encephalitis virus (TBEV) causes a life-threatening disease named Tick-borne encephalitis (TBE). The clinical symptoms associated with TBE range from non-specific to severe inflammation of the central nervous system and are very similar to the clinical presentation of other viral meningitis/encephalitis. In consequence, TBE is often misclassified by clinical physicians, mainly in the non-identified high-risk areas where none or only a few TBE cases have been reported. Considering this situation, we hypothesized that among persons from northern Serbia who recovered from viral meningitis or encephalitis, there would be evidence of TBEV infection. To test this hypothesis, in this observational study, we evaluated the seroreactivity against TBEV antigens in patients from northern Serbia who were hospitalized due to viral meningitis and/or viral encephalitis of unknown etiology. Three cases of seroreactivity to TBEV antigens were discovered among convalescent patients who recovered from viral meningitis and/or encephalitis and accepted to participate in the study (n = 15). The clinical and laboratory findings of these patients overlap with that of seronegative convalescent patients. Although TBE has been a notifiable disease in Serbia since 2004, there is no active TBE surveillance program for the serologic or molecular screening of TBEV infection in humans in the country. This study highlights the necessity to increase the awareness of TBE among physicians and perform active and systematic screening of TBEV antibodies among patients with viral meningitis and/or encephalitis