This mechanism would ensure receptor-regulated cargo transport, providing an additional layer of regulation of secretory cargo selectivity during ER export.Sepsis-associated brain dysfunction (SABD) with increased intracranial pressure (ICP) is a complex pathology that can lead to unfavorable outcome. Ultrasonographic measurement of optic nerve sheath diameter (ONSD) is used for non-invasive assessment of ICP. We aimed to assess the role of ONSD as a SABD screening tool. This prospective preliminary study covered 10 septic shock patients (5 men; aged 65, IQR 50-78 years). ONSD was measured bilaterally from day 1 to 10 (n = 1), until discharge (n = 3) or death (n = 6). check details The upper limit for ONSD was set at 5.7 mm. Sequential organ failure assessment score was calculated on a daily basis as a surrogate formulti-organ failure due to sepsis in the study population. On day 1, the medians of right and left ONSD were 5.56 (IQR 5.35-6.30) mm and 5.68 (IQR 5.50-6.10) mm, respectively, and four subjects had bilaterally elevated ONSD. Forty-nine out of 80 total measurements performed (61%) exceeded 5.7 mm during the study period. We found no correlations between ONSD and sequential organ failure assessment (SOFA) during the study period (right R = -0.13-0.63; left R = -0.24-0.63). ONSD measurement should be applied for screening of SABD cautiously. Further research is needed to investigate the exact role of this non-invasive method in the assessment of brain dysfunction in these patients.Marine microalgae are photosynthetic microorganisms at the base of the marine food webs. They are characterized by huge taxonomic and metabolic diversity and several species have been shown to have bioactivities useful for the treatment of human pathologies. However, the compounds and the metabolic pathways responsible for bioactive compound synthesis are often still unknown. In this study, we aimed at analysing the microalgal transcriptomes available in the Marine Microbial Eukaryotic Transcriptome Sequencing Project (MMETSP) database for an in silico search of polyketide synthase type III homologs and, in particular, chalcone synthase (CHS) and stilbene synthase (STS), which are often referred to as the CHS/STS family. These enzymes were selected because they are known to produce compounds with biological properties useful for human health, such as cancer chemopreventive, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, anti-angiogenic, anti-viral and anti-diabetic. In addition, we also searched for 4-Coumarate CoA ligase, an upstream enzyme in the synthesis of chalcones and stilbenes. This study reports for the first time the occurrence of these enzymes in specific microalgal taxa, confirming the importance for microalgae of these pathways and giving new insights into microalgal physiology and possible biotechnological applications for the production of bioactive compounds.Biomarkers of environmental toxicants are measures of exposures and effects, some of which can serve to assess disease risk and interindividual susceptibilities.[...].Hepatitis E virus (HEV) infection is one of the most common causes of acute hepatitis in the world. HEV is an enterically transmitted positive-strand RNA virus found as a non-enveloped particle in bile as well as stool and as a quasi-enveloped particle in blood. Current understanding of the molecular mechanisms and host factors involved in productive HEV infection is incomplete, but recently developed model systems have facilitated rapid progress in this area. Here, we provide an overview of the HEV life cycle with a focus on the host factors required for viral entry, RNA replication, assembly and release. Further developments of HEV model systems and novel technologies should yield a broader picture in the future.Approximately 250 million people are living with chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infections, which claim nearly a million lives annually. The target of all current HBV drug therapies (except interferon) is the viral polymerase; specifically, the reverse transcriptase domain. Although no high-resolution structure exists for the HBV polymerase, several recent advances have helped to map its functions to specific domains. The terminal protein (TP) domain, unique to hepadnaviruses such as HBV, has been implicated in the binding and packaging of the viral RNA, as well as the initial priming of and downstream synthesis of viral DNA-all of which make the TP domain an attractive novel drug target. This review encompasses three types of analysis sequence conservation analysis, secondary structure prediction, and the results from mutational studies. It is concluded that the TP domain of HBV polymerase is comprised of seven subdomains (three unstructured loops and four helical regions) and that all three loop subdomains and Helix 5 are the major determinants of HBV function within the TP domain. Further studies, such as modeling inhibitors of these critical TP subdomains, will advance the TP domain of HBV polymerase as a therapeutic drug target in the progression towards a cure.Ultraviolet radiation is one of the most pervasive environmental interactions with humans. Chronic ultraviolet irradiation increases the danger of skin carcinogenesis. Probably, oxidative stress is the most important mechanism by which ultraviolet radiation implements its damaging effects on normal cells. However, notwithstanding the data referring to the negative effects exerted by light radiation and oxidative stress on carcinogenesis, both factors are used in the treatment of skin cancer. Photodynamic therapy (PDT) consists of the administration of a photosensitiser, which undergoes excitation after suitable irradiation emitted from a light source and generates reactive oxygen species. Oxidative stress causes a condition in which cellular components, including DNA, proteins, and lipids, are oxidised and injured. Antitumor effects result from the combination of direct tumour cell photodamage, the destruction of tumour vasculature and the activation of an immune response. In this review, we report the data present in literature dealing with the main signalling molecular pathways modified by oxidative stress after photodynamic therapy to target skin cancer cells. Moreover, we describe the progress made in the design of anti-skin cancer photosensitisers, and the new possibilities of increasing the efficacy of PDT via the use of molecules capable of developing a synergistic antineoplastic action.