Allergen fragrance molecules: a potential relief for COVID-19.

BACKGROUND: The latest coronavirus SARS-CoV-2, discovered in China and rapidly spread Worldwide. COVID-19 affected millions of people and killed hundreds of thousands worldwide. There are many ongoing studies investigating drug(s) suitable for preventing and/or treating this pandemic; however, there are no specific drugs or vaccines available to treat or prevent SARS-CoV-2 as of today. METHODS: Fifty-eight fragrance materials, which are classified as allergen fragrance molecules, were selected and used in this study. Docking simulations were carried out using four functional proteins; the Covid19 Main Protase (MPro), Receptor binding domain (RBD) of spike protein, Nucleocapsid, and host Bromodomain protein (BRD2), as target macromolecules. Three different software, AutoDock, AutoDock Vina (Vina), and Molegro Virtual Docker (MVD), running a total of four different docking protocol with optimized energy functions were used. Results were compared with the five molecules reported in the literature as potential drugs against COVID-19. Virtual screening was carried out using Vina, molecules satisfying our cut-off (- 6.5 kcal/mol) binding affinity was confirmed by MVD. Selected molecules were analyzed using the flexible docking protocol of Vina and AutoDock default settings. RESULTS: Ten out of 58 allergen fragrance molecules were selected for further docking studies. MPro and BRD2 are potential targets for the tested allergen fragrance molecules, while RBD and Nucleocapsid showed weak binding energies. According to AutoDock results, three molecules, Benzyl Cinnamate, Dihydroambrettolide, and Galaxolide, had good binding affinities to BRD2. While Dihydroambrettolide and Galaxolide showed the potential to bind to MPro, Sclareol and Vertofix had the best calculated binding affinities to this target. When the flexible docking results analyzed, all the molecules tested had better calculated binding affinities as expected. Benzyl Benzoate and Benzyl Salicylate showed good binding affinities to BRD2. In the case of MPro, Sclareol had the lowest binding affinity among all the tested allergen fragrance molecules. CONCLUSION: Allergen fragrance molecules are readily available, cost-efficient, and shown to be safe for human use. Results showed that several of these molecules had comparable binding affinities as the potential drug molecules reported in the literature to target proteins. Thus, these allergen molecules at correct doses could have significant health benefits.

Turkish Contribution to Journal of Neurosurgery and Acta Neurochirurgica.

AIM: To evaluate the contribution of Turkish scientists to four journals published by Journal of Neurosurgery (JNS) Publishing Group and to Acta Neurochirurgica (AN) and to its Supplement (ANS). MATERIAL AND METHODS: We reviewed every issue of those journals to December 2015 for the total number of articles, articles produced from studies performed entirely in Turkey, and for publications overseas co-authored by the Turkish scientists using the websites of these journals. Citations were searched using "Web of Science" and "Google Scholar" databases. RESULTS: The total number of articles published was 19822 for JNS, 3227 for JNS Spine, 2526 for JNS Pediatrics and 2997 for Neurosurgical Focus. Turkish contribution was 556 articles. 337 (60.61%) articles were the products of studies performed entirely in Turkey, while 219 (39.38%) articles came from overseas, co-authored by Turkish scientists. Overall contribution was 1.94%. A total of 6469 articles were published in AN. 340 papers were the products of studies performed entirely in Turkey. Turkish scientists working overseas co-authored 37 articles. Total contribution was 377 articles (5.82%). 4134 papers had been published in ANS. Contribution was 69 articles (1.66%). CONCLUSION: Turkish contribution to these journals has started late. The gap has been compensated with publications in the last two decades. Manuscripts of higher scientific level with greater number of citations are needed to increase Turkish contribution to such journals.

Cortical membranectomy in chronic subdural hematoma: Report of two cases.

Different surgical procedures have been used in the management of chronic subdural hematoma (CSDH). Nowadays treatment with burr hole is more preferable than craniotomy in most clinics. We present two cases of CSDH, which caused neurological deficits. In both cases cortical membranectomy was performed following craniotomy. After this procedure, significant improvement was observed in patients neurological deficits. We recommend that craniotomy and subtotal membranectomy may be a more adequate choice in such cases. This report underlined that craniotomy is still an acceptable, safe, efficient and even a better procedure in selected patients with CSDH.

Supratentorial hemangioblastoma: a case report and review of the literature.

Central nervous system hemangioblastoma is a histologically benign tumor that usually occurs in the cerebellum. Supratentorial hemangioblastomas are exceedingly rare tumors. We present a case of cerebral hemangioblastoma, review the literature on supratentorial hemangioblastoma, and discuss the histologic characteristics and diagnostic difficulties associated with such lesions.

Tc-99m MIBI uptake and its relation to the proliferative potential of brain tumors.

PURPOSE: Many studies have shown that the S-phase fraction is a reflection of the proliferation potential of tumors, and DNA aneuploidy is more common in malignant tumors. In this preliminary study, the authors assessed the Tc-99m MIBI uptake of brain tumors and its relation to tumor grade and DNA content of the tumor cells. METHODS: Ten patients (eight male, two female; mean age, 53.2 +/- 6.11 years) with untreated brain tumors were included in the study. SPECT imaging was performed 20 minutes after injection of 740 MBq (20 mCi) Tc-99m MIBI. A single detector camera with a low-energy high-resolution collimator was used for image acquisition. A region of interest was drawn in the tumor area under magnetic resonance guidance. A Tc-99m MIBI uptake index was computed as the mean tumor-to-background ratio. Flow cytometric analysis of fresh tumor tissue specimens was performed immediately. The percentages of cells in the G0/G1, S, and G2/M phases were determined for each patient. RESULTS: DNA aneuploidy was found in 4 (49%) patients, whereas diploidy was found in 6 (60%) patients. There was a significant positive correlation between the Tc-99m MIBI uptake and the percentage of the S-phase fraction of the cell cycle ( = 0.000, r = 0.95). The Tc-99m MIBI index was significantly greater in aneuploid tumors than in diploid tumors ( < 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: High-grade brain tumors have increased Tc-99m MIBI uptake compared with that of low-grade tumors. Tc-99m MIBI uptake is correlated with the percentage of the S-phase fraction of the cell and the aneuploidy level of the brain tumor. This preliminary report suggests that Tc-99m MIBI imaging may be useful in the evaluation of the biologic characteristics of brain tumors.