The 4-NP concentration at which gsdf expression was suppressed was equal to that at which testis-ova and sex reversal were induced. These results indicate that expression of the gsdf gene at the embryonic stage in medaka is a useful biomarker for predicting the impact of EDCs on sexual differentiation.Schistosomiasis is a disease of poverty affecting millions of people. Praziquantel (PZQ), with its strengths and weaknesses, is the only treatment available. We previously reported findings on three lead compounds derived from oxamniquine (OXA), an old antischistosomal drug ferrocene-containing (Fc-CH2 -OXA), ruthenocene-containing (Rc-CH2 -OXA) and benzene-containing (Ph-CH2 -OXA) OXA derivatives. These derivatives showed excellent in vitro activity against both Schistosoma mansoni larvae and adult worms and S. haematobium adult worms, and were also active in vivo against adult S. mansoni. Encouraged by these promising results, we conducted additional in-depth preclinical studies and report in this investigation on metabolic stability studies, in vivo studies on S. haematobium and juvenile S. mansoni, computational simulations, and formulation development. Molecular dynamics simulations supported the in vitro results on the target protein. Though all three compounds were poorly stable within an acidic environment, they were only slightly cleared in the in vitro liver model. This is likely the reason why the promising in vitro activity did not translate into in vivo activity on S. haematobium. This limitation could not be overcome by the formulation of lipid nanocapsules as a way to improve the in vivo activity. Further studies should focus on increasing the compound's bioavailability, to reach an active concentration in the microenvironment of the parasite.Steroidogenic acute regulatory protein (STARD1) is regulated by phosphorylation and 14-3-3 protein binding. STARD1 is a key player in cholesterol transport in mitochondria, and its regulation is not fully understood. Tugaeva et al. provide novel insights on the site-specific phosphorylation and subsequent 14-3-3-dependent regulation of STARD1 function. These results may help us understand the mechanism behind the regulation of steroidogenesis. Comment on https//doi.org/10.1111/febs.15474.Sulfur mustard (SM) is a toxic chemical warfare agent deployed in several conflicts within the last 100 years and still represents a threat in terroristic attacks and warfare. SM research focuses on understanding the pathophysiology of SM and identifying novel biomarkers of exposure. SM is known to alkylate nucleophilic moieties of endogenous proteins, for example, free thiol groups of cysteine residues. The two-dimensional-thiol-differences in gel electrophoresis (2D-thiol-DIGE) technique is an initial proteomics approach to detect proteins with free cysteine residues. These amino acids are selectively labeled with infrared-maleimide dyes visualized after GE. Cysteine residues derivatized by alkylating agents are no longer accessible for the maleimide-thiol coupling resulting in the loss of the fluorescent signal of the corresponding protein. To prove the applicability of 2D-thiol-DIGE, this technology was exemplarily applied to neat human serum albumin treated with SM, to lysates from human cell culture exposed to SM as well as to human plasma exposed to CEES (chloroethyl ethyl sulfide, an SM analogue). Exemplarily, the most prominent proteins modified by SM were identified by matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight (tandem) mass spectrometry, MALDI-TOF MS(/MS), as creatine kinase (CK) from human cells and as alpha-1 antitrypsin (A1AT) from plasma samples.  https://www.selleckchem.com/products/mira-1.html  Peptides containing the residue Cys282 of CK and Cys232 of A1AT were unambiguously identified by micro liquid chromatography-electrospray ionization high-resolution tandem-mass spectrometry (μLC-ESI MS/HR MS) as being alkylated by SM bearing the specific hydroxyethylthioethyl-(HETE)-moiety. Both peptides might represent potential biomarkers of SM exposure. This is the first report introducing these endogenous proteins as targets of SM alkylation.
  In patients with suspected coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) consulting primary care (PC) centers, clinical criteria may not be sensitive enough to detect many cases in which complications first occur. We intended to assess whether lung ultrasound (LUS) examinations performed by PC physicians are a useful tool to detect lung injury and may help in decisions about hospital referral.
 
  This study included 61 patients with moderate symptoms suggesting COVID-19 who were evaluated with LUS by PC physicians and then referred to a hospital during the current pandemic peak in Madrid. We analyzed association of a simple self-designed LUS severity scale (grade 0, normal; grade 1, multiple separated B-lines, pleural irregularity, or both; and grade 2, coalescent B-lines, consolidations, pleural effusion, or a combination thereof) with the main outcome indicating adequacy of hospital referral, and also with chest x-ray (CXR) findings.
 
  The proposed LUS severity scale was significantly associated with the main outcome of appropriate referral (P = 0.001) the higher the scale, the higher the percentage of adequate referrals. The LUS scale was also associated with a CXR severity scale (P = 0.034). The presence of coalescent B-lines was the only independent LUS finding significantly associated with the appropriate-referral outcome (P =0 .008) and also with a higher probability of hospital admission (P = 0.02) and with several CXR findings.
 
  This study supports the use of LUS in PC as a tool to assess patients with suspected COVID-19. Its use can reduce uncertainty during clinical evaluations of moderate patients, facilitate early detection of lung involvement, allow early appropriate referral, and avoid unnecessary referral.
 This study supports the use of LUS in PC as a tool to assess patients with suspected COVID-19. Its use can reduce uncertainty during clinical evaluations of moderate patients, facilitate early detection of lung involvement, allow early appropriate referral, and avoid unnecessary referral.