11/02/2024


In doing so, we provide detailed molecular insight into DNA binding and recognition by these proteins, which in turn is an important step toward the efficient design of antivirulence agents that target these proteins.In this study, we present an accurate protocol for the fast prediction of pKa's of carboxylic acids based on the linear relationship between computed atomic charges of the anionic form of the carboxylate fragment and their experimental pKa values. Five charge descriptors, three charge models, three solvent models, gas-phase calculations, several DFT methods (a combination of eight DFT functionals and fifteen basis sets), and four different semiempirical approaches were tested. Among those, the best combination to reproduce experimental pKa's is to compute the natural population analysis atomic charge using the solvation model based on density model at the M06L/6-311G(d,p) level of theory and selecting the maximum atomic charge on the carboxylic oxygen atoms (R2 = 0.955). The applicability of the suggested protocol and its stability along geometrical changes are verified by molecular dynamics simulations performed for a set of aspartate, glutamate, and alanine peptides. By reporting the calculated atomic charge of the carboxylate form into the linear relationship derived in this work, it should be possible to accurately estimate the amino acid's pKa's in a protein environment.The serious problem of pharmaceutical and personal care product pollution places great pressure on aquatic environments and human health. Herein, a novel coating photocatalyst was synthesized by adhering Ag-AgCl/WO3/g-C3N4 (AWC) nanoparticles on a polydopamine (PDA)-modified melamine sponge (MS) through a facile layer-by-layer assembly method to degrade trimethoprim (TMP). The formed PDA coating was used for the anchoring of nanoparticles, photothermal conversion, and hydrophilic modification. TMP (99.9%; 4 mg/L) was removed in 90 min by the photocatalyst coating (AWC/PDA/MS) under visible light via a synergistic photocatalytic-photothermal performance route. The stability and reusability of the AWC/PDA/MS have been proved by cyclic experiments, in which the removal efficiency of TMP was still more than 90% after five consecutive cycles with a very little mass loss. Quantitative structure-activity relationship analysis revealed that the ecotoxicities of the generated intermediates were lower than those of TMP. Furthermore, the solution matrix effects on the photocatalytic removal efficiency were investigated, and the results revealed that the AWC/PDA/MS still maintained excellent photocatalytic degradation efficiency in several actual water and simulated water matrices. This work develops recyclable photocatalysts for the potential application in the field of water remediation.ConspectusBecause ceria (CeO2) is a key ingredient in the formulation of many catalysts, its catalytic roles have received a great amount of attention from experiment and theory. Its primary function is to enhance the oxidation activity of catalysts, which is largely governed by the low activation barrier for creating lattice O vacancies. Such an important characteristic of ceria has been exploited in CO oxidation, methane partial oxidation, volatile organic compound oxidation, and the water-gas shift (WGS) reaction and in the context of automotive applications. A great challenge of such heterogeneously catalyzed processes remains the unambiguous identification of active sites.In oxidation reactions, closing the catalytic cycle requires ceria reoxidation by gas-phase oxygen, which includes oxygen adsorption and activation. While the general mechanistic framework of such processes is accepted, only very recently has an atomic-level understanding of oxygen activation on ceria powders been achieved by combined ee facet-dependent catalytic performance shows a correlation with the extent of gold agglomeration. Our findings are fully consistent with a redox mechanism, thus adding a new perspective to the ongoing discussion of the WGS reaction.As outlined above for ceria-based catalysts, closely combining state-of-the-art in situ/operando spectroscopy and theory constitutes a powerful approach to rational catalyst design by providing essential mechanistic information based on an atomic-level understanding of reactions.Heart failure (HF) is a complex clinical syndrome characterised by different etiologies and a broad spectrum of cardiac structural and functional abnormalities. Current guidelines suggest a classification based on left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF), distinguishing HF with reduced (HFrEF) from preserved (HFpEF) LVEF. HF should also be thought of as a continuous range of conditions, from asymptomatic stages to clinically manifest syndrome. https://www.selleckchem.com/products/decursin.html The transition from one stage to the next is associated with a worse prognosis. While the rate of HF-related hospitalisation is similar in HFrEF and HFpEF once clinical manifestations occur, accurate knowledge of the steps and risk factors leading to HF progression is still lacking, especially in HFpEF. Precise hemodynamic and metabolic characterisation of patients with or at risk of HF may help identify different disease trajectories and risk factors, with the potential to identify specific treatment targets that might offset the slippery slope towards overt clinical manifestations. Exercise can unravel early metabolic and haemodynamic alterations that might be silent at rest, potentially leading to improved risk stratification and more effective treatment strategies. Cardiopulmonary exercise testing (CPET) offers valuable aid to investigate functional alterations in subjects with or at risk of HF, while echocardiography can assess cardiac structure and function objectively, both at rest and during exercise (exercise stress echocardiography, ESE). The purpose of this narrative review is to summarise the potential advantages of using an integrated CPET-ESE evaluation in the characterisation of both subjects at risk of developing HF and patients with stable HF.
Percutaneous suture-mediated patent fossa ovalis (PFO) closure has been recently introduced in clinical practice showing a favorable efficacy and safety profile in most PFO cases. The aim of this study was to assess the long-term outcomes of PFO closure by direct suture in a large consecutive series of patients.

We extracted all consecutive patients who underwent percutaneous closure of the PFO by suture technique (HeartStitch, Fountain Valley, CA, USA) from June 2016 with a follow up of at least 2 years. After PFO closure, patients were followed-up clinically at 1, 6 and up to 12 months and microbubble transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) scheduled between 3 and 6 months, and at 12-month followup. After 12 months, patients were clinically checked every 6 months.

As of September 1, 2020, 187 patients had undergone PFO closure with suture for at least two years and, of these, 181 (121 women and 60 men, mean age 45±13 years, range 15-75 years) had complete clinical and instrumental follow-up (97%). There were no peri-procedural complications.