Amorphous Carbon Monolayer: A van der Waals Interface for High-Performance Metal Oxide Semiconductor Devices.

Ultrasmall-scale semiconductor devices (≤5 nm) are advancing technologies, such as artificial intelligence and the Internet of Things. However, the further scaling of these devices poses critical challenges, such as interface properties and oxide quality, particularly at the high-/semiconductor interface in metal-oxide-semiconductor (MOS) devices. Existing interlayer (IL) methods, typically exceeding 1 nm thickness, are unsuitable for ultrasmall-scale devices.

Nucleic Acid Lateral Flow Assay Implemented with Isothermal Gene Amplification of SARS-CoV-2 RNA.

We developed a rapid and sensitive diagnostic platform that integrates isothermal viral gene amplification with a nucleic acid lateral flow assay (NALFA) to detect SARS-CoV-2 RNA. Isothermal gene amplification was performed by combining reverse transcription of viral RNA with recombinase polymerase amplification (RPA). In our diagnostic platform, DNA primers for the RPA reaction were modified by appending DNA tails, enabling the synthesis of tailed amplicon DNAs.

Metformin restores autophagic flux and mitochondrial function in late passage myoblast to impede age-related muscle loss.

Sarcopenia, which refers to age-related muscle loss, presents a significant challenge for the aging population. Age-related changes that contribute to sarcopenia include cellular senescence, decreased muscle stem cell number and regenerative capacity, impaired autophagy, and mitochondrial dysfunction. Metformin, an anti-diabetic agent, activates AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) and affects various cellular processes in addition to reducing hepatic gluconeogenesis, lowering blood glucose levels, and improving insulin resistance.

Highly sensitive multiplexed colorimetric lateral flow immunoassay by plasmon-controlled metal-silica isoform nanocomposites: PINs.

Lateral flow assay (LFA) systems use metal nanoparticles for rapid and convenient target detection and are extensively studied for the diagnostics of various diseases. Gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) are often used as probes in LFAs, displaying a single red color. However, there is a high demand for colorimetric LFAs to detect multiple biomarkers, requiring the use of multicolored NPs.

Discovery of new acetamide derivatives of 5-indole-1,3,4-oxadiazol-2-thiol as inhibitors of HIV-1 Tat-mediated viral transcription.

Human immunodeficiency virus-1 (HIV-1) encodes a transcriptional factor called Tat, which is critical for viral transcription. Tat-mediated transcription is highly ordered apart from the cellular manner; therefore, it is considered a target for developing anti-HIV-1 drugs. However, drugs targeting Tat-mediated viral transcription are not yet available.

DNA aptamer-conjugated lipid nanoparticle for targeted PTEN mRNA delivery to prostate cancer cells.

The use of messenger RNA (mRNA) as a cancer vaccine and gene therapy requires targeted vehicle delivery to the site of disease. Here, we designed a mRNA-encapsulating lipid nanoparticle (LNP) conjugated with anti-programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-L1) DNA aptamer that delivers mRNA encoding a tumor suppressor gene, namely phosphatase and tensin homolog (PTEN), to castration-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC) cells expressing PD-L1 on the cell surface. The DNA aptamer-conjugated LNP-based mRNA delivery system (Apt-LNP[PTEN mRNA]) mediated efficient mRNA delivery and transfection in CRPC cells than LNPs without targeting ligands.

Poly(ethylene glycol)-Engrafted Graphene Oxide for Gene Delivery and Nucleic Acid Amplification.

Graphene oxide (GO) is an oxidized form of graphene accommodating various oxygen-containing functional groups such as hydroxyl, epoxy, and carboxyl groups on its surface. GO has been extensively utilized in various biomedical applications including the delivery of biomolecules and the development of biosensors owing to its beneficial properties such as high surface area, nucleic acid adsorption, and fluorescence quenching through fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET). However, despite these favorable properties, the direct utilization of GO in these applications is often limited by low dispersibility in a physiological medium, cytotoxicity, low biocompatibility, and a strong binding affinity of nucleic acids to GO surface.

Comparative Evaluation of the Efficacy of Combined Intramedullary Pinning with K-Wires Pinning in the Treatment of Fifth Metacarpal Neck Fractures versus Conventional Techniques-K-Wires Pinning and Intramedullary Pinning.

: Since the neck is the weakest part of the metacarpals, the most common metacarpal fracture is a neck fracture, a type which accounts for 38% of all hand fractures. Such fractures can be fixed using a variety of conventional techniques, including intramedullary pinning and K-wire pinning. However, conventional techniques involve complications, such as angulation, stiffness, and rotational deformity.

Fluorometric Detection of SARS-CoV-2 Single-Nucleotide Variant L452R Using Ligation-Based Isothermal Gene Amplification.

Since the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) variant was first discovered, several variants showing different infectivity and immune responses have emerged globally. As the conventional method, whole-genome sequencing following polymerase chain reaction (PCR) is currently used for diagnosis of SARS-CoV-2 mutations. However, these conventional PCR-based direct DNA sequencing methods are time-consuming, complicated, and require expensive DNA sequencing modules.

Mesoporous Silica Particle as an RNA Adsorbent for Facile Purification of In Vitro-Transcribed RNA.

Messenger RNA vaccines against SARS-CoV-2 hold great promise for the treatment of a wide range of diseases by using mRNA as a tool for generating vaccination antigens as well as therapeutic proteins in vivo. Increasing interest in mRNA preparation warrants reliable methods for in vitro transcription (IVT) of mRNA, which must entail the elimination of surplus side products such as immunogenic double-stranded RNA (dsRNA). We developed a facile method for the removal of dsRNA from in vitro transcribed RNA with mesoporous silica particles as RNA adsorbents.

How we compare areas: The underlying mechanism of the elongation bias.

Across four experiments, we investigate the mechanism that underlies the elongation bias. We find individuals tasked with assessing the area of two objects do so by comparing the objects' dimensions, and thus subtle changes in the objects' dimensions can impact area assessments. Because a typical elongation bias experiment places two objects side-by-side horizontally and varies the elongation ratio while maintaining the same area, height is generally easier to compare than width.

A Novel Time-Resolved Fluorescence Resonance Energy Transfer Assay for the Discovery of Small-Molecule Inhibitors of HIV-1 Tat-Regulated Transcription.

Human immunodeficiency virus-1 (HIV-1) transactivator (Tat)-mediated transcription is essential for HIV-1 replication. It is determined by the interaction between Tat and transactivation response (TAR) RNA, a highly conserved process representing a prominent therapeutic target against HIV-1 replication. However, owing to the limitations of current high-throughput screening (HTS) assays, no drug that disrupts the Tat-TAR RNA interaction has been uncovered yet.

Facilitation of Dye-Based Quantitative Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction with Poly(ethylene glycol)-Engrafted Graphene Oxide.

Quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) is an important and extensively utilized technique in medical and biotechnological applications. qPCR enables the real-time detection of nucleic acid during amplification, thus surpassing the necessity of post-amplification gel electrophoresis for amplicon detection. Despite being widely employed in molecular diagnostics, qPCR exhibits limitations attributed to nonspecific DNA amplification that compromises the efficiency and fidelity of qPCR.

Reduced secretion of LCN2 (lipocalin 2) from reactive astrocytes through autophagic and proteasomal regulation alleviates inflammatory stress and neuronal damage.

LCN2/neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin/24p3 (lipocalin 2) is a secretory protein that acts as a mammalian bacteriostatic molecule. Under neuroinflammatory stress conditions, LCN2 is produced and secreted by activated microglia and reactive astrocytes, resulting in neuronal apoptosis. However, it remains largely unknown whether inflammatory stress and neuronal loss can be minimized by modulating LCN2 production and secretion.

AMPK-induced mitochondrial biogenesis decelerates retinal pigment epithelial cell degeneration under nutrient starvation.

The implications of nutrient starvation due to aging on the degeneration of the retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) is yet to be fully explored. We examined the involvement of AMPK activation in mitochondrial homeostasis and its relationship with the maintenance of a healthy mitochondrial population and epithelial characteristics of RPE cells under nutrient starvation. Nutrient starvation induced mitochondrial senescence, which led to the accumulation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in RPE cells.

Identification of 3-Oxindole Derivatives as Small Molecule HIV-1 Inhibitors Targeting Tat-Mediated Viral Transcription.

The heterocyclic indole structure has been shown to be one of the most promising scaffolds, offering various medicinal advantages from its wide range of biological activity. Nonetheless, the significance of 3-oxindole has been less known. In this study, a series of novel 3-oxindole-2-carboxylates were synthesized and their antiviral activity against human immunodeficiency virus-1 (HIV-1) infection was evaluated.

Inhibition of immunoproteasome attenuates NLRP3 inflammasome formation in tumor necrosis factor α-stimulated intestinal epithelial cell.

Excessive release of inflammatory cytokines has been considered as a major cause of chronic inflammation, resulting in intestinal barrier disruption that leads to inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Tumor necrosis factor α (TNFα) is one of the well-known inflammatory cytokines that activates formation of NLRP3 inflammasome, thus resulting in excessive secretion of inflammatory cytokines causing IBD. Although immunoproteasome inhibitors have been reported to inhibit inflammatory cytokine release, immunoproteasome inhibition has not yet been addressed for attenuation of NLRP3 inflammasome activity in intestinal epithelial cell.

Aptamer-conjugated nano-liposome for immunogenic chemotherapy with reversal of immunosuppression.

Cancer cells have various immune evasion mechanisms that resist the immune cells by reprogramming the tumor microenvironment (TME), such as programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-L1) and indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase-1 (IDO1) overexpression. One of the approaches to restore antitumor immune response by T-cells is through induction of immunogenic cell death (ICD). Thus, drug carrier containing IDO1 siRNA and ICD inducer would be effective anticancer regimen to modulate the immunosuppressive TME by reversing the IDO1-mediated immunosuppression in a synergistic combination with ICD induction.

Detection of SARS-CoV-2 RNA through tandem isothermal gene amplification without reverse transcription.

Diagnosis of SARS-CoV-2 infection through rapid, accurate, and sensitive testing is the most important and fundamental step in coping with the COVID-19 epidemic. We have developed a sensitive fluorometric assay to detect SARS-CoV-2 viral RNA without thermal cycling. This assay system, based on tandem isothermal gene amplification (TIGA), is composed of ternary rolling circle amplification (t-RCA) and subsequent strand displacement amplification (SDA) coupled with G-quadruplex-generating RCA (SDA/GQ-RCA).