Several rare neurodegenerative diseases, including chorea acanthocytosis, are caused by mutations in the VPS13A-D genes. Only symptomatic treatments for these diseases are available. Saccharomyces cerevisiae contains a unique VPS13 gene and the yeast vps13Δ mutant has been proven as a suitable model for drug tests. A library of drugs and an in-house library of natural compounds and their derivatives were screened for molecules preventing the growth defect of vps13Δ cells on medium with sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS). Seven polyphenols, including the iron-binding flavone luteolin, were identified. The structure-activity relationship and molecular mechanisms underlying the action of luteolin were characterized. The FET4 gene, which encodes an iron transporter, was found to be a multicopy suppressor of vps13Δ, pointing out the importance of iron in response to SDS stress. The growth defect of vps13Δ in SDS-supplemented medium was also alleviated by the addition of iron salts. Suppression did not involve cell antioxidant responses, as chemical antioxidants were not active. Our findings support that luteolin and iron may target the same cellular process, possibly the synthesis of sphingolipids. Unveiling the mechanisms of action of chemical and genetic suppressors of vps13Δ may help to better understand VPS13A-D-dependent pathogenesis and to develop novel therapeutic strategies.Halal is an Arabic term used to describe any components allowed to be used in any products by Muslim communities. Halal food and halal pharmaceuticals are any food and pharmaceuticals which are safe and allowed to be consumed according to Islamic law (Shariah).  https://www.selleckchem.com/  Currently, in line with halal awareness, some Muslim countries such as Indonesia, Malaysia, and Middle East regions have developed some standards and regulations on halal products and halal certification. Among non-halal components, the presence of pig derivatives (lard, pork, and porcine gelatin) along with other non-halal meats (rat meat, wild boar meat, and dog meat) is typically found in food and pharmaceutical products. This review updates the recent application of molecular spectroscopy, including ultraviolet-visible, infrared, Raman, and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopies, in combination with chemometrics of multivariate analysis, for analysis of non-halal components in food and pharmaceutical products. The combination of molecular spectroscopic-based techniques and chemometrics offers fast and reliable methods for screening the presence of non-halal components of pig derivatives and non-halal meats in food and pharmaceutical products.Introduction Parenteral nutrition (PN) education in pharmacy schools and postgraduate programs may not sufficiently prepare future pharmacists for clinical practice. Limited data exist regarding innovative teaching strategies in the area of PN. The purpose of this study was to identify students' perceptions of a simulated PN activity in a pharmacotherapeutics course. Methods Second-year Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD) students from two cohorts (N = 84 for both cohorts) completed a PN assignment using simulated PN materials, which resembled those seen in clinical practice. Before and after the activity, students completed identical surveys about their perceived competence and interest in PN, which were analyzed using Wilcoxon signed-rank tests. Results Following the simulation, the percentage of students affirming their perceived competence (selecting strongly agree or agree in the survey) in their ability to describe the process of combining ingredients to make a PN admixture (45.2% vs. 83.3%, p less then 0.001) and calculate PN-related problems (58.3% vs. 83.3%, p less then 0.001) improved. The proportion of students expressing interest in PN increased after the simulation (78.6% vs. 86.9%, p less then 0.001). Conclusion A simulated practicum experience in PN was viewed positively by PharmD students at this university, and may be a valuable active learning experience to incorporate in a PharmD curriculum.Blueberry (BB) and cherry pomace were investigated as new biosorbents for aflatoxins (AFs) sequestration from buffered solutions, gastrointestinal fluids and model wine. Among the tested biosorbents, BB exhibited the maximum adsorption performance for AFs and hence was further selected for the optimization of experimental parameters like pH, dosage, time and initial concentration of AFs. Material characterizations via scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, N2 adsorption-desorption isothermal studies, thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) and X-ray photon spectroscopy (XPS) techniques revealed useful information about the texture and chemical composition of the biosorbents. The fitting of isothermal data with different models showed the model suitability trend as Sips model > Langmuir model > Freundlich model, where the theoretical maximum adsorption capacity calculated from the Sips model was 4.6, 2.9, 2.7 and 2.4 mg/g for AFB1, AFB2, AFG1 and AFG2, respectively. Kinetics study revealed the fast AFs uptake by BB (50-90 min) while thermodynamics studies suggested the exothermic nature of the AFs adsorption from both, single as well as multi-toxin buffer systems, gastrointestinal fluids and model wine. Accrediting to the fast and efficient adsorption performance, green and facile fabrication approach and cost-effectiveness, the newly designed BB pomace can be counted as a promising contender for the sequestration of AFs and other organic pollutants.Breast Cancer 1 (BRCA1) gene is a well-characterized tumor suppressor gene, mutations of which are primarily found in women with breast and ovarian cancers. BRCA1-associated RING domain 1 (BARD1) gene has also been identified as an important tumor suppressor gene in breast, ovarian, and uterine cancers. Underscoring the functional significance of the BRCA1 and BARD1 interactions, prevalent mutations in the BRCA1 gene are found in its RING domain, through which it binds the RING domain of BARD1. BARD1-BRCA1 heterodimer plays a crucial role in a variety of DNA damage response (DDR) pathways, including DNA damage checkpoint and homologous recombination (HR). However, many mutations in both BARD1 and BRCA1 also exist in other domains that significantly affect their biological functions. Intriguingly, recent genome-wide studies have identified various single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), genetic alterations, and epigenetic modifications in or near the BARD1 gene that manifested profound effects on tumorigenesis in a variety of non-breast and non-gynecological cancers.