Autism spectrum disorder: An omics perspective

Current directions in autism spectrum disorder (ASD) research may require moving beyond genetic analysis alone, based on the complexity of the disorder, heterogeneity and convergence of genetic alterations at the cellular/functional level. Mass spectrometry (MS) has been increasingly used to study CNS disorders, including ASDs. Proteomic research using MS is directed at understanding endogenous protein changes that occur in ASD. This review focuses on how MS has been used to study ASDs, with particular focus on proteomic analysis. Other neurodevelopmental disorders have been investigated using MS, including fragile X syndrome (FXS) and Smith-Lemli-Opitz Syndrome (SLOS), genetic syndromes highly associated with ASD comorbidity.     

Characterization of a Human Platelet Lysate-Loaded Keratin Hydrogel for Wound Healing Applications In Vitro

One of the promising approaches to facilitate healing and regenerative capacity includes the application of growth-factor-loaded biomaterials. Human platelet lysate (hPL) derived from platelet-rich plasma through a freeze-thaw process has been used as a growth factor rich therapeutic in many regenerative applications. To provide sustained local delivery of the hPL-derived growth factors such as epidermal growth factor (EGF), the hPL can be loaded into biomaterials that do not degrade rapidly in vivo. Keratin (KSO), a strong filamentous protein found in human hair, when formulated as a hydrogel, is shown to sustain the release of drugs and promote wound healing. In the current study, we created a KSO biomaterial that spontaneously forms a hydrogel when rehydrated with hPL that is capable of controlled and sustained release of pro-regenerative molecules. Our study demonstrates that the release of hPL is controlled by changing the KSO hydrogel and hPL-loading concentrations, with hPL loading concentrations having a greater effect in changing release profiles. In addition, the 15% KSO concentration proved to form a stable hydrogel, and supported cell proliferation over 3 days without cytotoxic effects in vitro. The hPL-loaded keratin hydrogels show promise in potential applications for wound healing with the sustained release of pro-regenerative growth factors with easy tailoring of hydrogel properties.     

The incorporation of fatty acids of different chain length into liver and biliary lipids in the perfused rat liver

In an attempt to correlate the incorporation of fatty acids (FA) of different chain length into liver and biliary lipids’ isolated rat livers were perfused for 2 h with Krebs-Ringer bicarbonate containing 1% albumin and 10 μmol of [1-¹⁴C]-labeled FA: C₂’ C₈’ C₁₀’ C₁₂’ C₁₆’ and C_18∶1. One to 1.36 μmol of medium-chain fatty acids (MCFA’ C₈’ C₁₀’ and C₁₂) and 6.6 μmol of long-chain FA (LCFA) were incorporated into liver lipids’ 40% of the latter into phosphatidylcholine (PC). ¹⁴C-acetate (13 nmol) was incorporated into biliary cholesterol; ¹⁴C-MCFA contributed only 3.2–5 nmol; LCFA did not lead to newly synthesized cholesterol. Newly synthesized liver PC (2.75 to 3.25%) and newly synthesized liver cholesterol (6.5 to 10%) were secreted into bile. The specific radioactivity of biliary PC after infusion of all-saturated FA was 3.8–6.8 times higher than that of liver PC; for C_18∶1 it was only 1.7-fold. The specific radioactivity of biliary cholesterol’ as compared to liver cholesterol’ was 12 times higher for C₂ and five times higher for MCFA. This indicates that a considerable proportion of the newly synthesized lipids was secreted into bile prior to significant mixing with preexisting liver PC and cholesterol pools. liver PC contained 8% of unchanged ¹⁴C−C₁₂; while ¹⁴C−C₁₀ was not detected. Biliary PC’ in contrast’ contained 18% of unchanged ¹⁴C−C₁₂ and 3% ¹⁴C−C₁₀. These results suggest that after prolonged infusion of medium-chain triacylglycerols/longchain triacylglycerols to patients’ biliary PC may become enriched with MCFA. In addition’ the oxidation of these FA may provide C-2 units which increase cholesterol synthesis.     

Lignin and Xylan as Interface Engineering Additives for Improved Environmental Durability of Sustainable Cellulose Nanopapers

Cellulose materials and products are frequently affected by environmental factors such as light, temperature, and humidity. Simulated UV irradiation, heat, and moisture exposure were comprehensively used to characterize changes in cellulose nanopaper (NP) tensile properties. For the preparation of NP, high-purity cellulose from old, unused filter paper waste was used. Lignin and xylan were used as sustainable green interface engineering modifiers for NP due to their structural compatibility, low price, nontoxic nature, and abundance as a by-product of biomass processing, as well as their ability to protect cellulose fibers from UV irradiation. Nanofibrillated cellulose (NFC) suspension was obtained by microfluidizing cellulose suspension, and NP was produced by casting films from water suspensions. The use of filler from 1 to 30 wt% significantly altered NP properties. All nanopapers were tested for their sensitivity to water humidity, which reduced mechanical properties from 10 to 40% depending on the saturation level. Xylan addition showed a significant increase in the specific elastic modulus and specific strength by 1.4- and 2.8-fold, respectively. Xylan-containing NPs had remarkable resistance to UV irradiation, retaining 50 to 90% of their initial properties. Lignin-modified NPs resulted in a decreased mechanical performance due to the particle structure of the filler and the agglomeration process, but it was compensated by good property retention and enhanced elongation. The UV oxidation process of the NP interface was studied with UV-Vis and FTIR spectroscopy, which showed that the degradation of lignin and xylan preserves a cellulose fiber structure. Scanning electron microscopy images revealed the structural formation of the interface and supplemented understanding of UV aging impact on the surface and penetration depth in the cross-section. The ability to overcome premature aging in environmental factors can significantly benefit the wide adaption of NP in food packaging and functional applications.     

Dextran and Polymer Polyethylene Glycol (PEG) Coating Reduce Both 5 and 30 nm Iron Oxide Nanoparticle Cytotoxicity in 2D and 3D Cell Culture

Superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles are widely used in biomedical applications, yet questions remain regarding the effect of nanoparticle size and coating on nanoparticle cytotoxicity. In this study, porcine aortic endothelial cells were exposed to 5 and 30 nm diameter iron oxide nanoparticles coated with either the polysaccharide, dextran, or the polymer polyethylene glycol (PEG). Nanoparticle uptake, cytotoxicity, reactive oxygen species (ROS) formation, and cell morphology changes were measured. Endothelial cells took up nanoparticles of all sizes and coatings in a dose dependent manner, and intracellular nanoparticles remained clustered in cytoplasmic vacuoles. Bare nanoparticles in both sizes induced a more than 6 fold increase in cell death at the highest concentration (0.5 mg/mL) and led to significant cell elongation, whereas cell viability and morphology remained constant with coated nanoparticles. While bare 30 nm nanoparticles induced significant ROS formation, neither 5 nm nanoparticles (bare or coated) nor 30 nm coated nanoparticles changed ROS levels. Furthermore, nanoparticles were more toxic at lower concentrations when cells were cultured within 3D gels. These results indicate that both dextran and PEG coatings reduce nanoparticle cytotoxicity, however different mechanisms may be important for different size nanoparticles.     

Synthesis and Structural and Initial Cancer Cell Line Characterization of Organotin Polyesters from Dipicolinic Acid

The interfacial polymerization is employed to produce high polymer poly(ester ethers) from the reaction of the salt of dipicolinic acid and various organotin dihalides. They are rapidly synthesized with yield increasing as the length of the organotin alkyl chain increases. Infrared spectroscopy shows the formation of new bands derived from the Sn–O and Sn–O(CO) linkages. IR also shows that the products exist as a combination of molecular geometries about the tin atom. MALDI MS shows formation of ion fragment clusters to five and six units in length. The products show good inhibition of a variety of cancer cell lines including two pancreatic cancer cell lines.     

Optimization of LpxC Inhibitors for Antibacterial Activity and Cardiovascular Safety

UDP-3-O-(R-3-hydroxymyristoyl)-N-acetylglucosamine deacetylase (LpxC) is a Zn²⁺ deacetylase that is essential for the survival of most pathogenic Gram-negative bacteria. ACHN-975 (N-((S)-3-amino-1-(hydroxyamino)-3-methyl-1-oxobutan-2-yl)-4-(((1R,2R)-2-(hydroxymethyl)cyclopropyl)buta-1,3-diyn-1-yl)benzamide) was the first LpxC inhibitor to reach human clinical testing and was discovered to have a dose-limiting cardiovascular toxicity of transient hypotension without compensatory tachycardia. Herein we report the effort beyond ACHN-975 to discover LpxC inhibitors optimized for enzyme potency, antibacterial activity, pharmacokinetics, and cardiovascular safety. Based on its overall profile, compound 26 (LPXC-516, (S)-N-(2-(hydroxyamino)-1-(3-methoxy-1,1-dioxidothietan-3-yl)-2-oxoethyl)-4-(6-hydroxyhexa-1,3-diyn-1-yl)benzamide) was chosen for further development. A phosphate prodrug of 26 was developed that provided a solubility of >30 mg mL⁻¹ for parenteral administration and conversion into the active drug with a t_1/2 of approximately two minutes. Unexpectedly, and despite our optimization efforts, the prodrug of 26 still possesses a therapeutic window insufficient to support further clinical development.     

Joint Multi-Frequency Beam Shaping and Steering via Space–Time-Coding Digital Metasurfaces

Digital programmable metasurfaces provide a very powerful and versatile platform for implementing spatio-temporal modulation schemes that are of great interest within the emerging framework of space–time metastructures. In particular, space–time-coding digital metasurfaces have been successfully applied to advanced wavefront-manipulations in both the spatial and spectral domains. However, conventional space–time-coding schemes do not allow the joint syntheses of the transmission/scattering angular responses at multiple frequencies, which are potentially useful in a variety of applications of practical interest. Here, a strategy is put forward to lift this limitation, thereby enabling joint multi-frequency beam shaping and steering, that is, the independent and simultaneous syntheses of prescribed scattering patterns at given harmonic frequencies. The proposed approach relies on a more sophisticated space–time coding, with suitably designed, and temporally intertwined coding sub-sequences, which effectively disentangles the joint multi-frequency syntheses. The power and versatility of the approach are illustrated via a series of representative application examples, including multi-beam, diffuse-scattering, and orbital-angular-momentum patterns. Theoretical predictions are experimentally validated by means of microwave measurements. The outcomes of this study hold promising potentials for applications to future imaging, information, and mobile-communication systems.     

Predictive modeling of microorganisms: LAG and LIP in monotonic growth

The variety of models that are currently being used in "Predictive Microbiology" or "Microbial Ecology" aiming at reproducing the growth curve of microorganisms motivates this study. It is widely agreed that no model can reproduce generically and consistently the "LAG Phase" of microorganism growth. To promote the objective of "predictive modeling", we present here a model that was derived from first biological and physical principles, which is shown to reproduce qualitatively as well as quantitatively all typical features captured experimentally in microorganism growth. In particular, this paper focuses on capturing and controlling of the "LAG Phase" a typical phase in microorganisms growth, at the initial growth stages, as well as the inflection point on the "ln curve" of the cell concentration, i.e. a Logarithmic Inflection Point referred here as "LIP". The proposed model also captures the Logistic Growth curve as a special case. Comparison of the solutions obtained from the proposed model with experimental data confirms its quantitative validity, as well as its ability to recover a wide range of qualitative features captured in experiments.