Red fluorescent protein from cyanobacteriochrome chromophorylated with phycocyanobilin and biliverdin.

Cyanobacteriochromes are the extended family of phytochrome photosensors characterized in cyanobacteria. Alr1966g2C56A is a cyanobacteriochrome mutant of Alr1966g2 in Nostoc sp. PCC 7120 from freshwater.

Novel GLP-1 analog supaglutide improves glucose homeostasis in diabetic monkeys.

Glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP-1) is an insulinotropic hormone and plays an important role in regulating glucose homeostasis. GLP-1 has a short half-life (t1/2 < 2 min) due to degrading enzyme dipeptidyl peptidase-IV and rapid kidney clearance, which limits its clinical application as a therapeutic reagent. We demonstrated recently that supaglutide, a novel GLP-1 mimetic generated by recombinant fusion protein techniques, exerted hypoglycemic and β-cell trophic effects in type 2 diabetes db/db mice.

Exploring the Perceived Impact of the Chronic Disease Self-Management Program on Self-Management Behaviors among African American Women with Lupus: A Qualitative Study.

Objective: To qualitatively explore the processes through which the Chronic Disease Self-Management Program (CDSMP)-a peer-led, group-based educational intervention for people with chronic conditions-affects self-management behaviors among African American women with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE).

Methods: Using a longitudinal pre- and postintervention design, we conducted two waves of one-on-one, semistructured interviews with 24 purposefully sampled participants. Wave 1 interviews explored self-management behaviors at baseline; wave 2 interviews focused on changes in these behaviors postintervention.

Health service utilization among African American women living with systemic lupus erythematosus: perceived impacts of a self-management intervention.

Background: Healthcare access, utilization, and quality play critical roles in shaping mortality and morbidity among patients diagnosed with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), and yet healthcare access, utilization, and quality can be suboptimal for many people living with SLE. The aim of this qualitative study was to explore the perceived impact of a peer-led, group-based educational intervention (the Chronic Disease Self-Management Program [CDSMP]) on healthcare engagement behaviors among African American women with SLE.

Methods: Participants were recruited from the WELL (Women Empowered to Live with Lupus) study, a behavioral trial of the effectiveness of the CDSMP on African American women diagnosed with SLE.

Slp-coated liposomes for drug delivery and biomedical applications: potential and challenges.

Slp forms a crystalline array of proteins on the outermost envelope of bacteria and archaea with a molecular weight of 40-200 kDa. Slp can self-assemble on the surface of liposomes in a proper environment via electrostatic interactions, which could be employed to functionalize liposomes by forming Slp-coated liposomes for various applications. Among the molecular characteristics, the stability, adhesion, and immobilization of biomacromolecules are regarded as the most meaningful.

Physicochemical characterization and gastrointestinal adhesion of S-layer proteins-coating liposomes.

S-layer proteins (Slps) are crystalline arrays of protein on bacterial cell surface layers. Owning to their capability to reassemble on the surface of lipid layers, Slps have been employed to modify liposomes for various profits. But the interaction information between Slps and positively charged liposomes are destitute, especially the gastrointestinal adhesion of Slps-coating liposomes is rarely reported.

Cationic Polymethacrylate-Modified Liposomes Significantly Enhanced Doxorubicin Delivery and Antitumor Activity.

Liposome (LP) encapsulation of doxorubicin (DOX) is a clinically validated method for cancer drug delivery, but its cellular uptake is actually lower than the free DOX. Therefore, we modified DOX-LP with a cationic polymer (Eudragit RL100; ER) to improve its cellular uptake and antitumor activity. The resulting DOX-ERLP was a 190 nm nanoparticle that was absorbed efficiently and caused cancer cell death in 5 hrs.

Preparation and Characterization of Minoxidil Loaded Nanostructured Lipid Carriers.

Nanostructured lipid carriers (NLCs) are interesting delivery systems for enhancing the penetration of an active substance through the skin after topical administration. The present paper described the development of a novel NLCs for minoxidil (MXD) topical delivery. Stearic acid and oleic acid that showed the highest solubility for MXD were selected as solid lipid and liquid lipid, respectively, and the NLCs were prepared by hot high pressure homogenization method.