Plasma β-hydroxybutyrate concentration, genetic risk, and the incidence of Alzheimer's disease: A prospective study of 261,933 participants.

Background: We investigated whether plasma β-hydroxybutyrate levels, a genetic risk score for Alzheimer's disease, and their interaction are associated with incident Alzheimer's disease.

Methods: Using data from the UK Biobank-a population-based cohort study of adults aged 40-69 years, we assessed associations between baseline plasma β-hydroxybutyrate level, genetic risk score for Alzheimer's disease, and incident Alzheimer's disease. Incident Alzheimer's disease data were collected through linked data from hospital admissions and death registries.

Global siRNA Screen Reveals Critical Human Host Factors of SARS-CoV-2 Multicycle Replication.

Defining the subset of cellular factors governing SARS-CoV-2 replication can provide critical insights into viral pathogenesis and identify targets for host-directed antiviral therapies. While a number of genetic screens have previously reported SARS-CoV-2 host dependency factors, these approaches relied on utilizing pooled genome-scale CRISPR libraries, which are biased towards the discovery of host proteins impacting early stages of viral replication. To identify host factors involved throughout the SARS-CoV-2 infectious cycle, we conducted an arrayed genome-scale siRNA screen.

Cationic Polysaccharides Bind to the Endothelial Cell Surface Extracellular Matrix Involving Heparan Sulfate.

Cationic polysaccharides have been extensively studied for drug delivery via the bloodstream, yet few have progressed to clinical use. Endothelial cells lining the blood vessel wall are coated in an anionic extracellular matrix called the glycocalyx. However, we do not fully comprehend the charged polysaccharide interactions with the glycocalyx.

Sunflower seed extract supplementation reduces body fat in adults with obesity: A double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial.

Obesity is an important public health problem and socioeconomic burden. We hypothesized that an intake of sunflower seed extract (SUN-CA) would decrease body fat and then investigated the effects and safety of SUN-CA intake on body fat in adults with obesity as an option for obesity treatment. In this double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled study, 100 adults with body mass indices of 25 to 31.

Highly Potent and Low-Volume Concentration Additives for Durable Aqueous Zinc Batteries: Machine Learning-Enabled Performance Rationalization.

The essential virtues of aqueous zinc battery chemistry stem from the energy-dense zinc metal anode and mild aqueous electrolytes. Yet, their incompatibility - as exposed by zinc's corrosion and associated dendrite problem - poses a challenge to achieving improved cycle life under practically relevant parameters. While electrolyte additives are a scalable strategy, additives that can function at low volume concentrations remain elusive.

Evaluation of Dimercaptosuccinic Acid-Coated Iron Nanoparticles Immunotargeted to Amyloid Beta as MRI Contrast Agents for the Diagnosis of Alzheimer's Disease.

Nanoparticle-based magnetic contrast agents have opened the potential for magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to be used for early non-invasive diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease (AD). Accumulation of amyloid pathology in the brain has shown association with cognitive decline and tauopathy; hence, it is an effective biomarker for the early detection of AD. The aim of this study was to develop a biocompatible magnetic nanoparticle targeted to amyloid beta (A) plaques to increase the sensitivity of T2-weighted MRI for imaging of amyloid pathology in AD.

A selective ER-phagy exerts neuroprotective effects via modulation of α-synuclein clearance in parkinsonian models.

The endoplasmic reticulum (ER) is selectively degraded by ER-phagy to maintain cell homeostasis. α-synuclein accumulates in the ER, causing ER stress that contributes to neurodegeneration in Parkinson's disease (PD), but the role of ER-phagy in α-synuclein modulation is largely unknown. Here, we investigated the mechanisms by which ER-phagy selectively recognizes α-synuclein for degradation in the ER.

Engineered short forms of perlecan enhance angiogenesis by potentiating growth factor signalling.

Growth factors are key molecules involved in angiogenesis, a process critical for tissue repair and regeneration. Despite the potential of growth factor delivery to stimulate angiogenesis, limited clinical success has been achieved with this approach. Growth factors interact with the extracellular matrix (ECM), and particularly heparan sulphate (HS), to bind and potentiate their signalling.

Associations between Dietary Patterns and Metabolic Syndrome: Findings of the Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey.

Metabolic syndrome (MetS) is a multifactorial cluster of metabolic disorders related to cardiovascular disease and type 2 diabetes mellitus. Diet and dietary patterns are significant factors in the development and management of MetS. The associations between dietary patterns (i.

Longitudinal Characterization of Phagocytic and Neutralization Functions of Anti-Spike Antibodies in Plasma of Patients after Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 Infection.

Phagocytic responses by effector cells to opsonized viruses have been recognized to play a key role in antiviral immunity. Limited data on coronavirus disease 2019 suggest that the role of Ab-dependent and -independent phagocytosis may contribute to the observed immunological and inflammatory responses; however, their development, duration, and role remain to be fully elucidated. In this study of 62 acute and convalescent patients, we found that patients with acute coronavirus disease 2019 can mount a phagocytic response to autologous plasma-opsonized Spike protein-coated microbeads as early as 10 d after symptom onset, while heat inactivation of this plasma caused 77-95% abrogation of the phagocytic response and preblocking of Fc receptors showed variable 18-60% inhibition.

Sarcopenia in community-dwelling older adults is associated with the diversity and composition of the gut microbiota.

Sarcopenia is a prognostic indicator of negative consequences in older adults, including physical disability, frailty, and mortality. Few studies have investigated the associations between sarcopenia and the gut microbiota. We sought such associations in community-dwelling older adults aged ≥60 years.

Draft Genome Sequence of Clostridium butyricum Strain 16-3, Isolated from Neonatal Feces.

Here, we report the genome sequence of Clostridium butyricum strain 16-3, which was isolated from infant feces. The genome contains circular contigs of 3,861,515 bp and 769,300 bp, with G+C contents of 28.8% and 28.

Complete Genome Sequence of sp. Strain HMM57, Isolated from Sedimentary Layers of Crustose Coralline Algae.

Here, we report the genome sequence of sp. strain HMM57, which was isolated from sedimentary layers of crustose coralline algae in Jeju Island, South Korea. The genome is complete and consists of 4,159,450 bp, with a GC content of 38.

Surface Biofunctionalization of Silk Biomaterials Using Dityrosine Cross-Linking.

Biofunctionalization of silk biomaterial surfaces with extracellular matrix (ECM) molecules, cell binding peptides, or growth factors is important in a range of applications, including tissue engineering and development of implantable medical devices. Passive adsorption is the most common way to immobilize molecules of interest on preformed silk biomaterials but can lead to random molecular orientations and displacement from the surface, limiting their applications. Herein, we developed techniques for covalent immobilization of biomolecules using enzyme- or photoinitiated formation of dityrosine bonds between the molecule of interest and silk.

Uric Acid Enhances Neurogenesis in a Parkinsonian Model by Remodeling Mitochondria.

Background: Adult neurogenesis is the process of generating new neurons to enter neural circuits and differentiate into functional neurons. However, it is significantly reduced in Parkinson's disease (PD). Uric acid (UA), a natural antioxidant, has neuroprotective properties in patients with PD.

The role of the cell surface glycocalyx in drug delivery to and through the endothelium.

Cell membranes are key interfaces where materials engineering meets biology. Traditionally regarded as just the location of receptors regulating the uptake of molecules, we now know that all mammalian cell membranes are 'sugar coated'. These sugars, or glycans, form a matrix bound at the cell membrane via proteins and lipids, referred to as the glycocalyx, which modulate access to cell membrane receptors crucial for interactions with drug delivery systems (DDS).

Fat-to-muscle Ratio: A New Indicator for Coronary Artery Disease in Healthy Adults.

Coronary artery disease (CAD) is an important issue in public health. Previous studies have shown that the ratio of fat to muscle mass is a significant predictor of metabolic disease, and it is known to be associated with atherosclerosis. In this study, we evaluated the association between the fat-to-muscle ratio (FMR) and CAD in healthy adults.

Impaired neural differentiation of MPS IIIA patient induced pluripotent stem cell-derived neural progenitor cells.

Mucopolysaccharidosis type IIIA (MPS IIIA) is characterised by a progressive neurological decline leading to early death. It is caused by bi-allelic loss-of-function mutations in encoding sulphamidase, a lysosomal enzyme required for heparan sulphate glycosaminoglycan (HS GAG) degradation, that results in the progressive build-up of HS GAGs in multiple tissues most notably the central nervous system (CNS). Skin fibroblasts from two MPS IIIA patients who presented with an intermediate and a severe clinical phenotype, respectively, were reprogrammed into induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs).

Therapeutic Efficacy of Artificial Skin Produced by 3D Bioprinting.

The skin protects the body from external barriers. Certain limitations exist in the development of technologies to rapidly prepare skin substitutes that are therapeutically effective in surgeries involving extensive burns and skin transplantation. Herein, we fabricated a structure similar to the skin layer by using skin-derived decellularized extracellular matrix (dECM) with bioink, keratinocytes, and fibroblasts using 3D-printing technology.

A bibliometric analysis of research on the treatment of facial nerve palsy.

Background: There are various treatments for facial nerve palsy, and research into this topic is ongoing. In the present study, we carried out bibliometric and visualized analyses to identify the trends of research into facial nerve palsy treatment.

Methods: To identify articles, the SCOPUS database was searched for articles published from its inception to December 27, 2020.

Memantine exerts neuroprotective effects by modulating α-synuclein transmission in a parkinsonian model.

Ample evidence has demonstrated that α-Synuclein can propagate from one area of the brain to others via cell-to-cell transmission, which might be the underlying mechanism for pathological propagation and the disease progression of Parkinson's disease (PD). Recent reports have demonstrated cell surface receptor-mediated cell-to-cell transmission of α-synuclein. Memantine decreased the levels of internalized cytosolic α-synuclein and led to attenuation in α-synuclein-induced cell death.

Association between dietary protein intake and skeletal muscle mass in older Korean adults.

Purpose: We investigated the association of low and high daily protein intakes on skeletal muscle mass status in Korean adults aged 60 years and older.

Methods: This cross-sectional study used data from the Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey conducted between 2008 and 2011. The participants' dietary protein intake was assessed using the 24-h dietary recall method and was classified as low (< 0.