Circumscription of Fulbrightiella gen. nov. and Sherwoodiella gen. nov., Two Novel Genera in the Calotrichaceae (Nostocales,Cyanobacteria)

Three novel strains in Calotrichaceae from tropical habitats were isolated and characterized with regard to their morphology, phylogenetic placement, and secondary structures of conserved domains in the 16S-23S internal transcribed spacer (ITS). The strains fell into two clades formerly identified as Calothrix from freshwater and brackish habitats. Based on both morphology and ecology, they differed from the type species of Calothrix, C. confervicola, which is marine, has wide trichomes with short cells, and narrows abruptly to a hyaline hair. The first clade grouped species with heteropolar filaments widened at the base and narrowed gradually toward the apex but not ending in a hair, with basal heterocytes that are formed in series as the apically placed heterocytes senesce; this clade is being named Fulbrightiella gen. nov., with two named species, F. bharadwajae sp. nov. and F. oahuensis sp. nov. The second clade was comprised of a single species with isopolar trichomes that are untapering as hormogonia, but which widen midfilament and taper toward both ends following growth. These trichomes develop pairs of heterocyte mid-filament, causing fragmentation into heteropolar trichomes with basal heterocytes and ends that taper, but not to a hair. This clade consists of a single species at present, Sherwoodiella mauiensis. With this action, four clades in the Calotrichaceae have been named: Macrochaete, Dulcicalothrix, Fulbrightiella, and Sherwoodiella. Calothrix sensu stricto is truly marine, morphologically distinct, and unsequenced; finding and sequencing the generitype for Calothrix remains as the most important and unfinished task in the revision of the Calotrichaceae.     

Oral Delivery of Peptide Formulations and Their Cellular Evaluation

International Journal of Peptide Research and Therapeutics - The development of peptide-based formulations presents numerous challenges to the formulator due to their complexity, delicate structure...     

Bacosides Encapsulated in Lactoferrin Conjugated PEG-PLA-PCL-OH Based Polymersomes Act as Epigenetic Modulator in Chemically Induced Amnesia

Neurochemical Research - The present study demonstrates the epigenetic mechanisms underlying the effect of Bacoside rich extract of Bacopa monniera—a nootropic herb, on scopolamine treated...     

In vitro and in silico molecular interaction of multiphase nanoparticles containing inositol hexaphosphate and jacalin: Therapeutic potential against colon cancer cells (HCT-15)

Inositol hexaphosphate (IP6) is a natural constituent found in almost all cereals and legumes. It is known to cause numerous antiangiogenic manifestations. Notwithstanding its great potential, it is underutilized due to the chelation and rapid excretion from the body. Jacalin is another natural constituent obtained from seeds of jackfruit and can target disaccharides overexpressed in tumor cells. The current study was in-quested to develop and evaluate a surface-modified gold nanoparticulate system containing IP6 and jacalin which may maximize the apoptotic effect of IP6 against HCT-15 cell lines. IP6 loaded jacalin-pectin-gold nanoparticles (IJP-GNPs) were developed through reduction followed by incubation method. The developed formulation was tested for various in vitro and in silico studies to investigate its potential. HCT-15 cells when exposed to IJP-GNP resulted in significant apoptotic effects in dose as well as time-dependent manner, as measured using 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide, micronucleus, and reactive oxygen species assay. IJP-GNP displayed cell cycle arrest at the G0/G1 phase. To further explore the mechanism of chemoprevention, in silico studies were performed. The docking results revealed that the interactive behavior of IP6, P-GNP, and jacalin could target and inhibit the tumor formation activity, supported by in vitro studies. Taken together, all the findings suggested that IP6 loaded nanoparticles may increase the hope of future drug delivery strategy for targeting colon cancer.     

68Ga-PSMA-HBED-CC PET/MRI is superior to multiparametric magnetic resonance imaging in men with biochemical recurrent prostate cancer: A prospective single-institutional study

BackgroundThe primary objective was to compare the overall diagnostic performance, presented as detection rate of ⁶⁸Ga-PSMA-HBED-CC positron emission tomography/magnetic resonance imaging (PSMA PET/MRI) versus conventional, multiparametric MRI (mpMRI) in a population of patients with biochemically recurrent prostate cancer. In conjunction with this analysis, secondary objectives included the evaluation of the detection rate stratified by PSA levels and primary treatment modality.MethodsA total of 165 PSMA PET MRI were performed from April 2018 to May 2021, of whom 108 were presenting for biochemical recurrent disease. The PSMA PET vertex to thigh were read by two different board-certified nuclear medicine physicians while the MRI head and neck, chest, abdomen, and pelvis (with dedicated, PI-RADS compliant multiparametric prostate MRI) were read by two board certified diagnostic radiologists.AnalysisPSMA PET/MRI had a higher detection rate than mpMRI when evaluating patients with biochemical recurrence (BCR) with similar results demonstrated when sub-analysis was performed using PSA levels, primary treatment modality, and time since androgen deprivation therapy. Our study also showed PSMA PET/MRI had a higher sensitivity than mpMRI.DiscussionOur findings demonstrate that PSMA PET/MRI is a better imaging modality in the detection of disease in the setting of BCR when compared to MRI alone. Combined utility with PSMA PET/MRI is a powerful tool which can aid in not only the detection of disease, but also guide in treatment planning for prostate cancer patients.