Various plant polyphenols have been suggested to be useful in alleviating lead toxicity in animals and humans and are believed to have good application prospects.SARS CoV-2 is a novel coronavirus which has caused many deaths in the recent pandemic. This study aimed to determine zinc, copper and magnesium status on pregnant women with COVID-19. 100 healthy (33/32/35) and 100 SARS-CoV-2 positive (34/33/33) pregnant women were included in the study according to their trimesters. Blood samples were obtained from the patients along with the initial laboratory tests for clinical outcomes upon their first admission to hospital. In the first and third trimesters serum zinc level was lower (p0,004 and p0,02), serum copper level was higher (p0,006 and p0,008), the Zn / Cu ratio decreased(p  less then  0.0001 and p  less then  0.0001) and the serum magnesium level was higher(p  less then  0.0001 and p  less then  0.0001) in the COVID-19 group.In the second trimester COVID-19 patients had lower serum zinc (p0,05) and copper levels (p0,0003) compared to controls. Disease severity correlated with zinc/copper ratio in COVID19 patients (p0.018, r-0.243). Serum zinc and Zn/Cu ratio levels had a negative relationship with acute phase markers such as IL-6, Erythrocyte Sedimentation Rate, procalcitonin and C-reactive Protein. Also, increased serum magnesium level may play a role in decreased white blood cell, neutrophil, lymphocyte cell count and increased CRP levels in the third trimester. This study indicated that trace element status changed in pregnant women with COVID-19. The effect of trace elements on pregnant women diagnosed with COVID-19 infection was investigated in comparison with healthy pregnant women for the first time. This effect will be revealed better in more comprehensive studies to be planned in the future.Green synthesized silver nanoparticles (Ag-NPs) have demonstrated promising effects, including cytotoxicity and anticancer potential, in different cell lines. Therefore, in our previous study, Ag-NPs were synthesized from the reduction of AgNO3 using Brassica rapa var. japonica (Bj) leaf extract as a reducing and stabilizing agent. The synthesized Ag-NPs were spherical in shape, with a size range of 15-30 nm. They had phase-centered cubic structure with strong growth inhibition potential against some bacteria. In continuation with our previous study, in the present study, we aimed to investigate the autophagy-regulated cytotoxic effect of Ag-NPs against human epithelial colorectal adenocarcinoma cells (Caco-2 cells). We found that the Bj leaf aqueous extract facilitated Brassica silver nanoparticles (Brassica Ag-NPs)-induced NF-κB mediated autophagy in Caco-2 cells. Results showed that Ag-NPs reduced cell viability of Caco-2 cells by inducing oxidative stress and DNA damage. Therefore, to understand the mechanism underlying the death-promoting activity of Ag-NPs in Caco-2 cells, western blotting was performed. Western blot analysis showed decreased expression of NFκB and increased expression of IκB, which is a sign of autophagy initiation. In addition, autophagosome formation was accelerated by the activity of p53 and light chain 3 (LC3) II. In addition, inhibition of Akt and mTOR also played a pivotal role in autophagy formation. Finally, excessive expansion of autophagy promoted apoptosis, which subsequently resulted in necrosis. These findings support a novel cell death-promoting function of autophagy by Ag-NPs in Caco-2 cells.Plasmodium falciparum is a unicellular protozoan parasite and causative agent of a severe form of malaria in humans, accounting for very high worldwide fatality rates. At the molecular level, survival of the parasite within the human host is mediated by P. falciparum heat shock proteins (PfHsps) that provide protection during febrile episodes. The ATP-dependent chaperone activity of Hsp70 relies on the co-chaperone J domain protein (JDP), with which it forms a chaperone-co-chaperone complex. The exported P. falciparum JDP (PfJDP), PFA0660w, has been shown to stimulate the ATPase activity of the exported chaperone, PfHsp70-x. Furthermore, PFA0660w has been shown to associate with another exported PfJDP, PFE0055c, and PfHsp70-x in J-dots, highly mobile structures found in the infected erythrocyte cytosol. Therefore, the present study aims to conduct a structural and functional characterization of the full-length exported PfJDP, PFE0055c. Recombinant PFE0055c was successfully expressed and purified and found to stimulate the basal ATPase activity of PfHsp70-x to a greater extent than PFA0660w but, like PFA0660w, did not significantly stimulate the basal ATPase activity of human Hsp70. Small-molecule inhibition assays were conducted to determine the effect of known inhibitors of JDPs (chalcone, C86) and Hsp70 (benzothiazole rhodacyanines, JG231 and JG98) on the basal and PFE0055c-stimulated ATPase activity of PfHsp70-x.  https://www.selleckchem.com/products/ly3023414.html  In this study, JG231 and JG98 were found to inhibit both the basal and PFE0055c-stimulated ATPase activity of PfHsp70-x. C86 only inhibited the PFE0055c-stimulated ATPase activity of PfHsp70-x, consistent with PFE0055c binding to PfHsp70-x through its J domain. This research has provided further insight into the molecular basis of the interaction between these exported plasmodial chaperones, which could inform future antimalarial drug discovery studies.
  Diagnosis of intensive care unit acquired weakness (ICUAW) is challenging. Pathogenesis of underlying critical illness polyneuromyopathy (CIPNM) remains incompletely understood. This exploratory study investigated whether longitudinal neuromuscular ultrasound examinations and cytokine analyses in correlation to classical clinical and electrophysiological assessment contribute to the understanding of CIPNM.
 
  Intensive care unit patients were examined every 7 days until discharge from hospital. Clinical status, nerve conduction studies, electromyography as well as ultrasound of peripheral nerves and tibial anterior muscle were performed. Cytokine levels were analyzed by a bead-based multiplex assay system.
 
  Of 248 screened patients, 35 patients were included at median of 6days (IQR 8) after admission to intensive care unit. Axonal damage was the main feature of CIPNM. At the peak of CIPNM (7days after inclusion), nerve ultrasound showed cross-sectional area increase of tibial nerve as a sign of inflammatory edema as well as hypoechoic nerves as a possible sign of inflammation.