Using the Cocrystal Approach as a Promising Drug Delivery System to Enhance the Dissolution and Bioavailability of Formononetin Using an Imidazole Coformer.

Natural isoflavones are recognized for their diverse pharmacological activities; however, their low aqueous solubility presents a significant challenge for further development. Here, we aimed to develop a cocrystal of formononetin (FMN) to improve its solubility. The formononetin-imidazole (FMN-IMD) cocrystal was prepared using liquid-assisted grinding method.

TAD-dependent sub-TAD is required for enhancer-promoter interaction enabling the β-globin transcription.

Topologically associating domains (TADs) are chromatin domains in the eukaryotic genome. TADs often comprise several sub-TADs. The boundaries of TADs and sub-TADs are enriched in CTCF, an architectural protein.

Risk factors for prediabetes in community-dwelling adults: A generalized estimating equation logistic regression approach with natural language processing insights.

The global prevalence of prediabetes is expected to reach 8.3% (587 million people) by 2045, with 70% of people with prediabetes developing diabetes during their lifetimes. We aimed to classify community-dwelling adults with a high risk for prediabetes based on prediabetes-related symptoms and to identify their characteristics, which might be factors associated with prediabetes.

PicoGreen assay for nucleic acid quantification - Applications, challenges, and solutions.

Various analytical methods and reagents have been employed for nucleic acid analysis in cells, biological fluids, and formulations. Standard techniques like gel electrophoresis and qRT-PCR are widely used for qualitative and quantitative nucleic acid analysis. However, these methods can be time-consuming and labor-intensive, with limitations such as inapplicability to small RNA at low concentrations and high costs associated with qRT-PCR reagents and instruments.

Histone H3K4ac, as a marker of active transcription start sites and enhancers, plays roles in histone eviction and RNA transcription.

The lysine 4 of histone H3 (H3K4) can be methylated or acetylated into four states: H3K4me1, H3K4me2, H3K4me3, or H3K4ac. Unlike H3K4 methylation, the genome-wide distribution and functional roles of H3K4ac remain unclear. To understand the relationship of acetylation with methylation at H3K4 and to explore the roles of H3K4ac in the context of chromatin, we analyzed H3K4ac across the human genome and compared it with H3K4 methylation in K562 cells.

Factors That Influence Attitudes toward Advance Directives among Female Cancer Patients.

Purpose: This study aimed to identify attitudes toward advance directives (ADs) among female cancer patients and factors related to ADs.

Methods: The study was conducted at a university hospital in Seoul from September 19, 2020, to January 20, 2021. The participants were 153 patients diagnosed with gynecological cancer or breast cancer.

Development and evaluation of a problem-based learning simulation module for home-visit nursing.

Objectives: Although home-visit healthcare programs in Korea are expected to expand, providing hands-on experience to nursing students may be limited. This study aimed to develop and evaluate a problem-based learning (PBL) simulation module that reflects home-visit healthcare services provided by public health centers for pre-frail older adults.

Design And Sample: The simulation module, including PBL as prebriefing, was developed by the researchers and revised based on expert reviews.

Developing a Classification Algorithm for Prediabetes Risk Detection From Home Care Nursing Notes: Using Natural Language Processing.

This study developed and validated a rule-based classification algorithm for prediabetes risk detection using natural language processing from home care nursing notes. First, we developed prediabetes-related symptomatic terms in English and Korean. Second, we used natural language processing to preprocess the notes.

Hematopoietic/erythroid enhancers activate nearby target genes by extending histone H3K27ac and transcribing intergenic RNA.

Enhancers activate gene transcription remotely, which requires tissue specific transcription factors binding to them. GATA1 and TAL1 are hematopoietic/erythroid-specific factors and often bind together to enhancers, activating target genes. Interestingly, we found that some hematopoietic/erythroid genes are transcribed in a GATA1-dependent but TAL1-independnet manner.

Stability Enhancement of Freeze-Dried Gelatin/Alginate Coacervates for bFGF Delivery.

Chronic wound sites have elevated levels of proteolytic enzymes that negate the activity of topically applied growth factors. bFGF encapsulated in gelatin/alginate coacervates was protected from protease and showed better activity than bFGF in solution; however, its activity decreased with particle size and PDI increase after freeze-drying and rehydration. In this study, we aim to improve the stability of bFGF coacervates during freeze-drying to enable a topically applied growth factor delivery system for diabetic foot ulcer.

Coexistent Actinomycosis and Fungus Ball in the Maxillary Sinus: A Case Report.

Actinomycosis is rarely accompanied by fungus balls. It is difficult to distinguish between actinomycosis and a fungus ball due to their similar clinical and computed tomography scan results. Thus, a meticulous histopathological examination is required for definite diagnosis.

Coacervates: Recent developments as nanostructure delivery platforms for therapeutic biomolecules.

Coacervation is a liquid-liquid phase separation that can occur in solutions of macromolecules through self-assembly or electrostatic interactions. Recently, coacervates composed of biocompatible macromolecules have been actively investigated as nanostructure platforms to encapsulate and deliver biomolecules such as proteins, RNAs, and DNAs. One particular advantage of coacervates is that they are derived from aqueous solutions, unlike other nanoparticle delivery systems that often require organic solvents.

Gender differences in the relationship between informal caregiving and subjective health: the mediating role of health promoting behaviors.

Background: In most of developed societies, the prevalence of informal care is on the rise due to rapid population ageing. This study investigates longitudinal associations between informal caregiving and health among caregivers and potential gender differences in this relationship. Moreover, drawing on the Health Promotion Model, this study examines the mediating role of health promoting behaviors in the link between informal caregiving and caregiver's health.

Prognostic significance of MCM6 expression in gastrointestinal stromal tumor.

Minichromosome maintenance (MCM) proteins are essential for the initiation of DNA replication and they are prognostic markers in various human cancers. The aim of this study was to investigate the role of the MCM6 protein in gastrointestinal stromal tumor (GIST) and its clinical and prognostic significance. We evaluated MCM6 expression in 211 GIST samples using immunohistochemistry.

Gelatin-Alginate Coacervates Optimized by DOE to Improve Delivery of bFGF for Wound Healing.

Metabolic disorders in diabetic patients are associated with altered protein and lipid metabolism and defects in granulation tissue formation, resulting in non-healing wounds such as diabetic foot ulcers (DFU). Growth factors have essential roles in tissue re-epithelization and angiogenesis during wound healing. In this study, a complex coacervate was evaluated as an enhanced delivery system for fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) to control its release rate and protect it from proteases.

Antimicrobial Activities of Propolis in Poloxamer Based Topical Gels.

Propolis contains a group of compounds with various activities. However, their low solubility is a drawback for the development of pharmaceutical formulations. In this study, poloxamers as a solubilizer and gelling agent were evaluated to develop a topical antimicrobial formulation of propolis.

Histone H3K4me1 and H3K27ac play roles in nucleosome eviction and eRNA transcription, respectively, at enhancers.

Histone H3K4me1 and H3K27ac are enhancer-specific modifications and are required for enhancers to activate transcription of target genes. However, the reciprocal effects of these histone modifications on each other and their roles in enhancers are not clear. Here to comparatively analyze the role of these modifications, we inhibited H3K4me1 and H3K27ac by deleting the SET domains of histone methyltransferases MLL3 and MLL4 and the HAT domain of histone acetyltransferase p300, respectively, in erythroid K562 cells.

Multiple CTCF sites cooperate with each other to maintain a TAD for enhancer-promoter interaction in the β-globin locus.

Insulators are cis-regulatory elements that block enhancer activity and prevent heterochromatin spreading. The binding of CCCTC-binding factor (CTCF) protein is essential for insulators to play the roles in a chromatin context. The β-globin locus, consisting of multiple genes and enhancers, is flanked by two insulators 3'HS1 and HS5.

Cholesterol Granuloma of the Maxillary Sinus Misdiagnosed as Nasal Polyp or Mucocele: Four Cases.

Cholesterol granuloma is commonly found in the mastoid air cells but is rare in the paranasal sinuses. The most commonly affected sinuses are the frontal sinus, followed by the maxillary sinus. Cholesterol granuloma can be difficult to diagnose because clinical manifestations and radiologic findings are similar to those of other sinonasal disorders.

Histone H3K4me1 strongly activates the DNase I hypersensitive sites in super-enhancers than those in typical enhancers.

Super-enhancers (SEs), which consist of multiple enhancer elements, are occupied by master transcription factors and co-activators, such as Mediator, and are highly acetylated at histone H3K27. Here, we have characterized the SEs in terms of DNase I hypersensitive sites (DHSs) by analyzing publicly available chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP)-seq and DNase-seq data of K562 cells and compared with the DHSs in typical enhancers (TEs). DHSs in the SEs were highly marked by histone H3K4me1 than DHSs in TEs.

The human β-globin enhancer LCR HS2 plays a role in forming a TAD by activating chromatin structure at neighboring CTCF sites.

The human β-globin locus control region (LCR) hypersensitive site 2 (HS2) is one of enhancers for transcription of the β-like globin genes in erythroid cells. Our previous study showed that the LCR HS2 has active chromatin structure before transcriptional induction of the β-globin gene, while another enhancer LCR HS3 is activated by the induction. To compare functional difference between them, we deleted each HS (ΔHS2 and ΔHS3) from the human β-globin locus in hybrid MEL/ch11 cells.

Amitriptyline interferes with autophagy-mediated clearance of protein aggregates via inhibiting autophagosome maturation in neuronal cells.

Amitriptyline is a tricyclic antidepressant commonly prescribed for major depressive disorders, as well as depressive symptoms associated with various neurological disorders. A possible correlation between the use of tricyclic antidepressants and the occurrence of Parkinson's disease has been reported, but its underlying mechanism remains unknown. The accumulation of misfolded protein aggregates has been suggested to cause cellular toxicity and has been implicated in the common pathogenesis of neurodegenerative diseases.