Actively Targeting Redox-Responsive Multifunctional Micelles for Synergistic Chemotherapy of Cancer.

Stimuli-responsive polymeric micelles decorated with cancer biomarkers represent an optimal choice for drug delivery applications due to their ability to enhance therapeutic efficacy while mitigating adverse side effects. Accordingly, we synthesized a digoxin-modified novel multifunctional redox-responsive disulfide-linked poly(ethylene glycol--poly(lactic--glycolic acid) copolymer (Bi(Dig-PEG-PLGA)-S) for the targeted and controlled release of doxorubicin (DOX) in cancer cells. Within the micellar aggregate, the disulfide bond confers redox responsiveness, while the presence of the digoxin moiety acts as a targeting agent and chemosensitizer for DOX.

Suppression of interferon α and γ response by Huwe1-mediated Miz1 degradation promotes SARS-CoV-2 replication.

Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) has been demonstrated to limit the host interferon response; however, the underlying mechanism remains unclear. Here, we found that SARS-CoV-2 infection upregulated the E3 ubiquitin ligase Huwe1, which in turn facilitated the degradation of the transcription factor Miz1. The degradation of Miz1 hampered interferon alpha and gamma responses, consequently fostering viral replication and impeding viral clearance.

Miz1 represses type I interferon production and limits viral clearance during influenza A virus infection.

Type I interferons (IFNs) are critical for the antiviral immune response, and fine-tuning type I IFN production is critical to effectively clearing viruses without causing harmful immunopathology. We showed that the transcription factor Miz1 epigenetically repressed the expression of genes encoding type I IFNs in mouse lung epithelial cells by recruiting histone deacetylase 1 (HDAC1) to the promoters of and . Loss of function of Miz1 resulted in augmented production of these type I IFNs during influenza A virus (IAV) infection, leading to improved viral clearance in vitro and in vivo.

"More Than Just a Manicure" Qualitative Experiences of Maternal Self-Care During COVID-19.

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic presented families with novel challenges. Mothers were at particular risk for parental burnout, however, there is limited research on self-care behaviors to ameliorate it explicitly for mothers of young children (aged 3 and younger). Moreover, there has been little in-depth analysis on barriers to self-care and how mothers realistically implement it in their lives.

Miz1 promotes KRAS-driven lung tumorigenesis by repressing the protocadherin Pcdh10.

Targeting KRAS-mutated non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) remains clinically challenging. Here we show that loss of function of Miz1 inhibits lung tumorigenesis in a mouse model of oncogenic KRAS-driven lung cancer. In vitro, knockout or silencing of Miz1 decreases cell proliferation, clonogenicity, migration, invasion, or anchorage-independent growth in mutant (MT) KRAS murine or human NSCLC cells but has unremarkable impact on non-tumorigenic cells or wild-type (WT) KRAS human NSCLC cells.

PAMAM Dendritic Nanoparticle-Incorporated Hydrogel to Enhance the Immunogenic Cell Death and Immune Response of Immunochemotherapy.

The efficiency of chemotherapy is frequently affected by its multidrug resistance, immune suppression, and severe side effects. Its combination with immunotherapy to reverse immune suppression and enhance immunogenic cell death (ICD) has emerged as a new strategy to overcome the aforementioned issues. Herein, we construct a pH-responsive PAMAM dendritic nanocarrier-incorporated hydrogel for the co-delivery of immunochemotherapeutic drugs.

Exploring changes in alexithymia throughout intensive dialectical behavior therapy for eating disorders.

Objective: Alexithymia is proposed as a prominent clinical feature of eating disorders (EDs). However, despite theoretical reason to believe that alexithymia could interfere with the success of treatments, few studies have tested whether alexithymia changes over the course of treatment. The goals of the current study were to evaluate (a) changes in alexithymia over the course of intensive Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT) for EDs, and (b) associations between alexithymia and ED symptoms over time.

Preparation of physically crosslinked polyelectrolyte Gelatin-Tannic acid-κ-Carrageenan (GTC) microparticles as hemostatic agents.

In humans, excessive bleeding during civilian accidents, and surgery account for 40% of the mortality worldwide. Hence, the development of biocompatible hemostatic materials useful for rapid hemorrhage control has become a fundamental research problem in the biomedicine community. In this study, we prepared biocompatible gelatin-tannic acid-κ-carrageenan (GTC) microparticles using a facile Tween 80 stabilized water-in-oil (W/O) emulsion method for rapid hemostasis.

Enhanced Cellular Uptake in an Electrostatically Interacting Fucoidan-L-Arginine Fiber Complex.

Fucoidan is an abundant marine sulfated polysaccharide extracted from the cell wall of brown macroalgae (seaweed). Recently, fucoidan has been highly involved in various industrial applications, such as pharmaceuticals, biomedicals, cosmetics, and food. However, the presence of a sulfate group (negative surface charge) in the fucoidan structure limits its potential and biological activity for use in biomedical applications during cellular uptake.

Investigation of dual plasmonic core-shell Ag@CuS nanoparticles for potential surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy-guided photothermal therapy.

To prepare efficient metal-semiconductor nanoparticles as noninvasive, real-time imaging probes for photothermal therapy (PTT) applications. A bottom-up approach was used to fabricate core-shell Ag@CuS nanoparticles (NPs). PTT and Raman mapping were done using HeLa cells.

Revisiting alexithymia as an important construct in the treatment of anorexia nervosa: a proposal for future research.

Consistent research supports altered emotional processing in adult patients with anorexia nervosa (AN), including elevations in alexithymia, or deficits in identifying and describing emotions and other internal experiences. Despite increasing interest in emotion-focused therapies for AN, alexithymia is often not directly addressed within many existing treatments, and little empirical work has moved beyond descriptive, cross-sectional research. In this paper, we propose that refining the field's understanding of alexithymia may provide insights into poor outcomes in existing psychological treatments for AN.

The Nature and Treatment of Pandemic-Related Psychological Distress.

The COVID-19 crisis has created a "mental health pandemic" throughout the world. Scientific data are not available to fully understand the nature of the resulting mental health impact given the very recent onset of the pandemic, nevertheless, there is a need to act immediately to develop psychotherapeutic strategies that may alleviate pandemic-related distress. The psychological distress, in particular fear and sadness, is a function of the pandemic's negative impact upon people's ability to meet their most basic needs (e.

Radioprotective effect of self-assembled low molecular weight Fucoidan-Chitosan nanoparticles.

Fucoidan, a sulphated polysaccharide, plays a vital role in reducing cellular oxidative damage by exerting potential antioxidant activity. However, because of the negative surface charges of oligofucoidan, it shows poor oral intestinal absorption. To overcome this drawback, the oligofucoidan polysaccharides self-assembled with opposite charge based polysaccharides (chitosan) to form the chitosan-fucoidan polysaccharides (C-FP) nanoparticles (NPs) of 190-230 nm in size.

Pluronic F127 self-assembled MoS nanocomposites as an effective glutathione responsive anticancer drug delivery system.

In this study, bio-responsive polymeric MoS nanocomposites were prepared for use as a drug carrier for cancer therapy. Herein, we report the synthesis and demonstrate the self-assembly of pluronic F127 (PF127) on a cystamine-glutathione-MoS (CYS-GSH-MoS) system, which can be used for GSH-triggered drug release under biological reducing conditions. The reduction-sensitive disulfide bond containing CYS was incorporated between the amphiphilic copolymer PF127 and GSH-MoS to achieve feasible drug release.

Desvenlafaxine vs. placebo in the treatment of persistent depressive disorder.

Introduction: Pharmacotherapy of non-major persistent depressive disorder (PDD) is little studied. We report a study of the serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor (SNRI) desvenlafaxine (DVLX) for PDD.

Method: Non-psychotic, non-bipolar outpatients aged 20-65 having PDD without concurrent major depression (MDD) were randomized double-blind to desvenlafaxine or placebo for 12 weeks.

A short term analysis of surgical management of umbilical and paraumbilical hernia.

Objective: Umbilical hernia and paraumbilical hernia are ventral herniae that occur in infants and adults. According to current evidence, mesh repair is the treatment of choice to avoid recurrence. The aim of this study is to analyze the surgical methods, the types of meshes used, and their benefits.

Medical Professionals and Smartphone Applications.

Ever since the advent of Smartphones, Smartphone applications (SAs) are revolutionizing the contemporary medicine. Smartphone application which was created in view of swift communications among the general public has now intruded the medical fraternity. But the ethics for using these applications to transfer patients' medical records through SA is bewildering among the medical professionals (MPs).