Logo: to the web site of Uppsala University

Purpose: Positron emission tomography with the radioligand [¹¹C]D-deprenyl has shown an increased signal at the location of pain in patients with ankle sprains, rheumatoid arthritis and chronic whiplash injury, but the mechanism of this tracer uptake and its exact binding site in inflammation or tissue injury is still unclear. The aim of this study was to further evaluate [¹¹C]D-deprenyl´s usefulness as a marker of acute inflammation.

Methods: An animal PET/CT study was performed three days after the induction of a rat model of inflammatory or surgical pain. Fourteen adult male Sprague-Dawley rats and three tracers [¹¹C]D-deprenyl, [¹¹C]L-dideuterumdeprenyl and [¹⁸F]fluorodeoxyglucose were used.

Results: No [¹¹C]D-deprenyl accumulation was seen in a rat model of musculoskeletal pain. In the rat model of inflammatory pain all three ligands were shown to visualize the inflamed ankle joint with much lower uptake in the control ankle joint. The uptake was largest with [¹¹C]D-deprenyl and [¹¹C]L- dideuteriumdeprenyl, where approximately 1 % of the injected dose could be found in the affected ankle joint during the first minutes, whereas the uptake of [¹⁸F]FDG was approximately 0.5 % of the injected dose. However, the ratio of uptake of the injected ankle joint versus the control ankle joint was much higher for [¹⁸F]FDG (around 10 fold increase) than for the two deprenyl enantiomers (2 – 3 fold increase). The uptake pattern of [¹¹C]D-deprenyl and [¹¹C]L-dideuteriumdeprenyl did not show signs of specific binding or irreversible trapping.

Conclusions: Contrary to our expectations, of the three tracers only [¹⁸F]FDG may be used as markers of peripheral inflammation in a rat model of inflammatory pain. However, as a high site-specificity is required, [¹¹C]D-deprenyl and [¹¹C]L-dideyteriumdeprenyl deserve further exploration regarding sensitivity, specificity and uptake mechanisms in human pain syndromes.

December 2019 the new pandemic Covid-19 sweeps the world and impose unmatched challenges on modern humanity, the virus started from Wuhan China and in just a few months the virus had spread to other countries and WHO (World Health Organization) called the disease a pandemic, Covid-19 is caused by the virus SARS-CoV -2 (severe acute respiratory syndrome-Coronavirus2), the virus is largely spread through human-to-human transmission, today more than 263 million people have been infected with the virus while more than 5 million have died.

SARS-CoV-2 is closely related to other viruses of the genus Betacoronavirus such as bat coronavirus BatCoV RaTG13 (~ 96% sequence identity) and SARS-CoV (~ 80% sequence identity), Coronavirus such as SARS-CoV and SARS-CoV -2 need main protease MPro (3CLPro), MPro is interesting as there are no similar proteases in humans, and it is vital for virus survival as it has essential role in processing and replicating polyproteins of viral RNA.

ML188 is a SARS-CoV MPro inhibitor, SARS-CoV and SARS-CoV -2 have 80% sequence identity, ML188 can be used as a starting point to analyze and improve MPro inhibitors that can be used against SARS-CoV -2.

In this study with the use of UGI reaction to synthesized and modified analog to ML188 by exchanging 3-pyridialkarboxaldehyd which is one of the 4 starting material the compound with 4-pyridilkarboxaldehyd. By changing the nitrogen position in the aromatic ring, we want to see if this change can increase or decrease the compound effectiveness and if it has deferent effect on SARS-CoV2.  

TLC and LC-MS are analysis method that is used to monitor the reaction and determine the purity of the reaction, column chromatography is used to purify the reaction mixture, NMR analysis both proton and carbon NMR is used to confirm the structure of our synthesized product. Result from the LCMS-Analyze showed a clear high peak with the exact mass of our Sought product but it also showed that the purification of the mixture didn’t happen fully thus we still had some impurities in the mixture. both the proton and carbon NMR results data were consistent with our compound structure. Now we need to test if this new compound can result to better inhibition in SARS-CoV2.

Chicken meat is among the common and relatively inexpensive source of protein consumed worldwide from the poultry industry. Many communities show concern regarding the procedure of slaughtering animals for meat consumption due to ethical, religious, or cultural reasons. Liquid chromatography-electrospray ionization-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-ESI-MS/MS) based untargeted metabolomics of 40 chicken meat samples were evaluated to differentiate meat samples based on slaughtering methods. Samples were grouped into, Zabiha (cutting neck without detaching spinal cord) and Non-Zabiha (completely detaching neck). A volcano plot reveals at least 150 features found significantly different between the two groups having >= 2-fold changes in intensities with p-values <= 0.05. Among them 05 identified and 25 unidentified metabolites have clear differences in peak intensities. The identified features can be employed to differentiate meat obtained from different slaughtering methods. A characteristic pattern based on principal component analysis (PCA) and orthogonal partial least square-discriminant analysis (OPLS-DA) was observed among the groups. The results will benefit Halal certification, food safety, and security agencies to curb food fraud. (C) 2020 The Authors. Published by Elsevier B.V. on behalf of King Saud University.

This article stands to introduce microwave assisted extraction (MAE) as a more effective method for extraction of Anastatica hierochuntica (L) essential oils (EOs) compared to traditional hydrodistillation (HD) and steam distillation (SD) methods. Analysis of EOs by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC/MS) showed significant differences in the constituents and percentages of the obtained oils. Using MAE and HD obtained oxygenated monoterpenes 50.79 % whereas SD obtained sesquiterpene hydrocarbons 79.84 % as major contents of the extracted oils. This is the first report of EO composition of the aerials parts of A. heirochunatica. It offered several advantages of MAE technique as a green method with shorter extraction time (60 min) and better yield.

Bee venom (BV) is a typical toxin secreted by stingers of honeybee workers. BV and BV therapy have long been attractive to different cultures, with extensive studies during recent decades. Nowadays, BV is applied to combat several skin diseases, such as atopic dermatitis, acne vulgaris, alopecia, vitiligo, and psoriasis. BV is used extensively in topical preparations as cosmetics and used as dressing for wound healing, as well as in facemasks. Nevertheless, the safety of BV as a therapeutic choice has always been a concern due to the immune system reaction in some people due to BV use. The documented unfavorable impact is explained by the fact that the skin reactions to BV might expand to excessive immunological responses, including anaphylaxis, that typically resolve over numerous days. This review aims to address bee venom therapeutic uses in skin cosmetics.

Wasps, members of the order Hymenoptera, are distributed in different parts of the world, including Brazil, Thailand, Japan, Korea, and Argentina. The lifestyles of the wasps are solitary and social. Social wasps use venom as a defensive measure to protect their colonies, whereas solitary wasps use their venom to capture prey. Chemically, wasp venom possesses a wide variety of enzymes, proteins, peptides, volatile compounds, and bioactive constituents, which include phospholipase A2, antigen 5, mastoparan, and decoralin. The bioactive constituents have anticancer, antimicrobial, and anti-inflammatory effects. However, the limited quantities of wasp venom and the scarcity of advanced strategies for the synthesis of wasp venom's bioactive compounds remain a challenge facing the effective usage of wasp venom. Solid-phase peptide synthesis is currently used to prepare wasp venom peptides and their analogs such as mastoparan, anoplin, decoralin, polybia-CP, and polydim-I. The goal of the current review is to highlight the medicinal value of the wasp venom compounds, as well as limitations and possibilities. Wasp venom could be a potential and novel natural source to develop innovative pharmaceuticals and new agents for drug discovery.

Gastropods comprise approximately 80% of molluscans, of which land snails are used variably as food and traditional medicines due to their high protein content. Moreover, different components from land snails exhibit antimicrobial activities. In this study, we evaluated the antifungal activity of soft tissue extracts from Helix aspersa against Candida albicans, Aspergillus flavus, and Aspergillus brasiliensis by identifying extract components using liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS-MS). Two concentrations of three extracts (methanol, acetone, and acetic acid) showed antifungal activity. Both acetone (1 g/3 mL) and acetic acid extracts (1 g/mL) significantly inhibited C. albicans growth (p = 0.0001, 5.2 +/- 0.2 mm and p = 0.02, 69.7 +/- 0.6 mm, respectively). A. flavus and A. brasiliensis growth were inhibited by all extracts at 1 g/mL, while inhibition was observed for acetic acid extracts against A. brasiliensis (p = 0.02, 50.3 +/- 3.5 mm). The highest growth inhibition was observed for A. flavus using acetic acid and acetone extracts (inhibition zones = 38 +/- 1.7 mm and 3.1 +/- 0.7 mm, respectively). LC-MS-MS studies on methanol and acetone extracts identified 11-alpha-acetoxyprogesterone with a parent mass of 372.50800 m/z and 287.43500 m/z for luteolin. Methanol extracts contained hesperidin with a parent mass of 611.25400 m/z, whereas linoleic acid and genistein (parent mass = 280.4 and 271.48900 m/z, respectively) were the main metabolites.

 Abstract:

This study investigates the complex interaction between melittin, a cationic amphiphilic peptide found in bee venom, and cardiolipin-based liposomes. By using steady-state fluorescence measurements, the research aims to delineate the binding dynamics of melittin within the framework of cardiolipin-based liposomes. In addition, the investigation includes DSPE-PEG2000 to evaluate its impact on liposomal stability, with particular focus on the role of PEG lipids in preventing structural perturbations. Methodologically, fluorescence studies that include binding experiments and induced leakage studies provide nuanced insights into the intricacies of melittin-liposome interactions. Melittin's ability to maintain a favorable peptide/lipid ratio ensures efficient encapsulation in the liposomal environment. The strategic introduction of PEG lipids successfully reduces H2 phase formation and thereby preserves the structural integrity of PEGylated liposomes after melittin encapsulation. These findings underscore the stability and efficacy of liposomal carriers for cationic amphiphilic peptides, exemplified by melittin. This study contributes valuable insights into the optimization of liposomal formulations, particularly in the area of controlled drug delivery systems and broader biomedical applications

Background: Although the chemistry of heteroaromatic monoamino azoles has been surveyed more than once in the last decade, the chemistry of the di- and triaminoazoles has not been reviewed. In this article we will survey the synthesis, chemistry and utility of the diaminoazoles. In this review, the chemistry of the diaminoazoles as well as their most important utilities will be surveyed. Objective: The review focuses on recent progress in diaminoazoles (i.e. diaminopyrazoles, diaminoimidazoles, diaminotriazoles and diaminothiazole) with especial references to diaminopyrazoles. The synthesis as well as pharmaceutical utilities are reported. There are several methods for synthesis of diaminopyrazoles. 3,5-Diaminopyrazole and its derivatives are prepared through the reaction of malononitrile or arylhydrazononitrile with hydrazine derivatives. 3,4-Diaminopyrazoles are prepared via nitration of 3-aminopyrazole with subsequent reduction of the produced compound. The diaminopyrazoles have several applications in cosmetic and pharmaceutical industries. They also have useful utilities as a constituent in oxidative hair dyes. Conclusion: We managed to report the common methods for the synthesis of diaminoazoles with especial reference to aminopyrazoles that are prepared through the reaction of malononitrile or hydrazononitriles with hydrazine derivatives. Some important applications that include pharmaceutical utilities such as hair dye constituents are reported.

Collagen VI is a ubiquitous extracellular matrix component that forms extensive microfibrillar networks in most connective tissues. In this study, we describe for the first time, to our knowledge, that the collagen VI von Willebrand factor type A like domains exhibit a broad-spectrum antimicrobial activity against Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria in human skin infections in vivo. In silico sequence and structural analysis of VWA domains revealed that they contain cationic and amphipathic peptide sequence motifs, which might explain the antimicrobial nature of collagen VI. In vitro and in vivo studies show that these peptides exhibited significant antibacterial activity against Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa through membrane disruption. Our findings shed new light on the role of collagen VI derived peptides in innate host defense and provide templates for development of peptide-based antibacterial therapies.

Melanoma is a huge worldwide health problem that must be handled more effectively with better therapeutic options. As a result, new treatment drugs are required to treat this condition. The goal of this study was to investigate the cytotoxic activity of the anthraquinone-rich fractions obtained from Asphodelus microcarpus against human melanoma cell A375. On these melanoma cell lines; the cytotoxicity of these fractions had never been studied before. Liquid chromatography linked to mass spectrometry (LC-MS-MS) and Nuclear Magnetic Resonance was used to determine the chemical profiles of these fractions. The cytotoxicity of the fractions studied was determined by measuring cell viability and calculating IC50 values. Both ethyl acetate (EtOAC) and the precipitate fractions (PPT) exhibited selective cytotoxicity on human melanoma A 375 cell line with IC50 values of 83 and 65 mu g/mL, respectively. The antiproliferative properties of EtOAc fraction and PPT were supported by a noticeable decrease in cell numbers during the G2/M cell cycle arrest. Our findings suggest that the anthraquinone content of A. microcarpus tubers is responsible for its anti-proliferative and apoptotic properties and that further in vivo investigations should be conducted to establish the viability of using them to treat human melanomas.

This thesis is based on five original articles that investigated the theranostics of prostate cancer by gastrin-releasing peptide receptor (GRPR) and prostate-specific membrane antigen (PSMA) targeting. GRPR and PSMA are two extensively evaluated prostate cancer cell markers due to their overexpression in the majority of prostate cancer samples. Theranostic targeting of GRPR and PSMA is an attractive strategy to improve the management of prostate cancer patients.

Papers I and II focused on the dual targeting of GRPR and PSMA. The effect of linker modification on the affinity for GRPR and PSMA and the pharmacokinetic profile was evaluated. In Paper III, the effect of the GRPR antagonist RM26 conjugation to an albumin-binding domain on the pharmacokinetic profile and its potential use in therapy was investigated. Paper IV focused on developing a GRPR antagonist that was suitable for single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) using technetium-99m. In Paper V, the GRPR antagonist developed in Paper IV was translated into a phase I clinical trial to assess safety and dosimetry.

Modifying the linkers in GRPR and PSMA heterodimers can largely impact the affinity for both targets. This modification influenced the in vivo targeting specificity and biodistribution, with [¹²⁵I]I-BO530 in Paper I and [¹¹¹In]In-BQ7812 in Paper II outperforming other analogues. Our findings in Paper III indicated that the conjugation of an albumin-binding domain to RM26 increased the blood concentration of the radiotracer. This increase led to elevated and stable tumour uptake of [¹¹¹In]In-DOTA-ABD-RM26 after several days of injection. However, [¹¹¹In]In-DOTA-ABD-RM26 was also increasingly taken up by various healthy organs. The GRPR antagonist [^99mTc]Tc-maSSS-PEG₂-RM26, studied in Paper IV, showed high specificity and affinity for GRPR. This resulted in elevated GRPR-mediated uptake. Additionally, maSSS-PEG₂-RM26 could be radiolabelled via a straightforward radiolabelling protocol. Clinical evaluation of [^99mTc]Tc-maSSS-PEG₂-RM26 in prostate and breast cancer patients (Paper V) demonstrated the safety and tolerability of the radiotracer, with favourable dosimetry and no side effects.

In conclusion, this thesis evaluated different tools for the theranostic targeting of GRPR and PSMA. The findings warrant further investigation to optimise the reported radiotracers.