Synthesis and in vitro evaluation of small-molecule [18F] labeled gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) receptor antagonists as potential PET imaging agents for GnRH receptor expression

Two novel small molecule gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) receptor antagonists (12 and 13) of the furamide-class were synthesized and evaluated in vitro for their receptor binding affinities for the rat GnRH receptor. Radiolabeling with no carrier added fluorine-18 of the appropriate precursors was investigated in a one-step reaction. Log P (Octanol/PBS pH 7.4) and serum stability of the compounds were investigated. The antagonists showed low nM affinity for the rat GnRH receptor. ¹⁸F-radiolabled compounds were obtained in high radiochemical purity (>95%) and specific activity (>75 GBq/μmol). These findings suggest this class of compounds holds promise as potential probes for PET targeting of GnRH-receptor expression.     

The ethmoid and presphenoid of cetaceans

A cribriform plate, a perpendicular plate, and two lateral masses are major components of the ethmoid bone of mammals. Notwithstanding the noticeable bone, virtually sitting in the center of the skull, extensive modifications of the skull of modern cetaceans, especially odontocetes (toothed whales), and the lack of clarity as to what characteristics delimit each element of the ethmoid has made the problem of the nature of the cetacean ethmoid more complicated and elusive than in other, less modified mammals. Furthermore, contention as to whether a perpendicular plate of the ethmoid, or the mesethmoid, exists in all mammals including cetaceans has remained unsettled. In odontocetes, the mesethmoid has been variably identified not only as the osseous nasal septum but also as the mediodorsal region of the posterior wall of the nasal passage below the nasals, as a mass of bone encased by the vomer in front of the osseous nasal cavity at the base of the rostrum, and as a combination of some portions mentioned above. The presence or absence of the mesethmoid in various groups of mammals has attracted the attention of some biologists, and here, I demonstrate that cetaceans have no mesethmoid. The close inspection of the ontogenetic changes of the basicranial elements in cetaceans reveals that a mass of bone ensheathed by the vomer in front, or at the level of the osseous nasal cavity is actually the presphenoid. It is highly likely that in odontocetes the posterior wall of the nasal passages below the nasals consists of the combination of the frontal, the imperforated cribriform plate, the paired ectethmoids, and the vomer, the latter three of which partially concealing the presphenoid dorsally and laterally as the ontogeny proceeds. In contrast, mysticetes clearly display ethmoturbinates and a cribriform plate, which are morphologically similar to those in terrestrial mammals. J. Morphol. 277:1661–1674, 2016. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

Emerging targets and new small molecule therapies in Parkinson’s disease treatment

Parkinson’s disease (PD) is a common chronic degenerative disease of the central nervous system. Due to a rapidly aging society worldwide, PD morbidity is on the rise; however, the treatment of PD with conventional drugs carries serious adverse reactions and cannot fix the root cause of PD, the degeneration of dopaminergic neurons, which limits conventional drug usage in clinical practice. In recent years, research on the pathogenesis of PD and its clinical manifestations has led to the discovery of an increasing number of novel targets in PD, including several small molecule targeted compounds. In this paper, we analyze and summarize the most recently published PD literature and review several recently discovered novel targets in PD and their small molecule targeted pharmacologically active agents based on their mechanisms of action and pharmacodynamic profiles.     

Small cardioactive peptide-like immunoreactivity and its colocalization with FMRFamide-like immunoreactivity in the central nervous system of the leech Hirudo medicinalis

Summary The distributions of small cardioactive peptide (SCP)- and FMRFamide-like immunoreactivities in the central nervous system of the medicinal leech Hirudo medicinalis were studied. A subset of neurons in the segmental ganglia and brains was immunoreactive to an antibody directed against SCP_B. Immunoreactive cell bodies were regionally distributed throughout the nerve cord, and occurred both as bilaterally paired and unpaired neurons. The majority of the unpaired cells displayed a tendency to alternate from side to side in adjacent ganglia. A small number of neurons were immunoreactive only in a minority of nerve cords investigated. Intracellular injections of Lucifer yellow dye and subsequent processing for immunocytochemistry revealed SCP-like immunoreactivity in heart modulatory neurons but not in heart motor neurons. FMRFamide-like immunoreactivity was also detected in cell bodies throughout the central nervous system. A subset of neurons contained both SCP- and FMRFamide-like immunoreactivities; others stained for only one or the other antigen. These data suggest that an antigen distinct from FMRFamide is responsible for at least part of the SCP-like immunoreactivity. This antigen likely bears some homology to the carboxyl terminal of SCP_A and SCP_B.     

Population dynamics of two small pelagic fish in the central-south area off Chile: delayed density-dependence and biological interaction

It is widely believed that environmental variability is the main cause for fluctuations in commercially exploited small pelagic fish populations around the world. Nevertheless, density-dependent factors also can drive population dynamics. In this paper, we analyzed thirteen years of a relative abundance index of two clupeoids fish populations coexisting in the central-south area off Chile, namely the common sardine, Strangomera bentincki, and anchovy, Engraulis ringens. We applied the classical diagnostic tools of time series analysis to the observed time-series. Also, the realized per capita population growth rate was studied with the aim of detecting the feedback structure that is characterizing the population dynamics of the two species. The analysis suggests that population fluctuations of the two species have an important density-dependent component, displaying first-order (direct density-dependent) and second-order (delayed density-dependent) simultaneously. The density-dependent component explained 70.5 and 55.6 % of the realized per capita population growth rate of common sardine and anchovy, respectively. The deterministic skeleton model showed an asymptotic convergence to equilibrium density. In presence of a stochastic environment, fluctuations were reproduced for the species showing a component of fluctuation with a period of 4 year. The intrinsic dynamics of each species is typical of interacting species resulting from trophic interactions. It is postulated that the second-order dynamics of S. bentincki and E. ringens in central-south Chile, may be the result from interactions with a specialist predator (the fishing fleet), interacting with exogenous environmental factors.     

Mammalian RNA virus-derived small RNA: biogenesis and functional activity

The role of virus-derived small RNAs (vsRNAs) has been identified as an antiviral mechanism in plants, arthropods, and nematodes. Although mammalian DNA viruses have been observed to encode functional miRNAs, whether RNA virus infection generates functional vsRNAs remains under discussion. This article reviews the most recent reports regarding pathways for generating vsRNAs and the identified vsRNA activity in mammalian cells infected with RNA viruses. We also discuss several hypotheses regarding the roles of mammalian vsRNAs and comment on the potential directions for this research field.     

Prelude to oral microbes and chronic diseases: past,present and future

Associations between oral and systemic health are ancient. Oral opportunistic bacteria, particularly, Porphyromonas gingivalis and Fusobacterium nucleatum, have recently been deviated from their traditional roles as periodontal pathogens and arguably ascended to central players based on their participations in complex co-dependent mechanisms of diverse systemic chronic diseases risk and pathogenesis, including cancers, rheumatoid-arthritis, and diabetes.