Parkin-mediated mitophagy is negatively regulated by FOXO3A, which inhibits Plk3-mediated mitochondrial ROS generation in STZ diabetic stress-treated pancreatic β cells.

Diabetes mellitus (DM) is one of the most researched metabolic diseases worldwide. It leads to extensive complications such as cardiovascular disease, nephropathy, retinopathy, and peripheral and central nervous system through an inability to produce or respond to insulin. Although oxidative stress-mediated mitophagy has been reported to play an important role in the pathogenesis of DM, specific studies are still lacking as well as remain highly controversial.

ER-/PR+ breast cancer is controlled more effectively with an inflammatory inhibitor than hormonal inhibitor.

Background: The anti-estrogen tamoxifen is a highly effective hormonal therapy for hormonal-positive (HR+) breast cancer patients; however, the estrogen receptor-negative, progesterone receptor-positive (ER-/PR+) subtype does not give the benefits of tamoxifen. Therefore ER-/PR+ breast cancer has a poor clinical outcome, and novel drug therapy for ER-/PR+ breast cancer could benefit these patients.

Methods: 53,805 gene expressions were characterized into HR+ BC and triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) and analyzed through Breast Cancer Gene Expression Miner in 4319 breast cancer patient samples.

Probe-Free Identification of RNA Virus Variants with Point Mutations by Surface-Enhanced Raman Spectroscopy.

As observed in the COVID-19 pandemic, RNA viruses continue to rapidly evolve through mutations. In the absence of effective therapeutics, early detection of new severely pathogenic viruses and quarantine of infected people are critical for reducing the spread of the viral infections. However, conventional detection methods require a substantial amount of time to develop probes specific to new viruses, thereby impeding immediate response to the emergence of viral pathogens.

Graphene Oxide-Supported Microwell Grids for Preparing Cryo-EM Samples with Controlled Ice Thickness.

Cryogenic-electron microscopy (cryo-EM) is the preferred method to determine 3D structures of proteins and to study diverse material systems that intrinsically have radiation or air sensitivity. Current cryo-EM sample preparation methods provide limited control over the sample quality, which limits the efficiency and high throughput of 3D structure analysis. This is partly because it is difficult to control the thickness of the vitreous ice that embeds specimens, in the range of nanoscale, depending on the size and type of materials of interest.

Engineering Genetic Systems for Treating Mitochondrial Diseases.

Mitochondria are intracellular energy generators involved in various cellular processes. Therefore, mitochondrial dysfunction often leads to multiple serious diseases, including neurodegenerative and cardiovascular diseases. A better understanding of the underlying mitochondrial dysfunctions of the molecular mechanism will provide important hints on how to mitigate the symptoms of mitochondrial diseases and eventually cure them.

Alteration of gammaretroviral vector integration patterns by insertion of histone and leucine zipper into integrase.

Retroviral vectors show long-term gene expression in gene therapy through the integration of transgenes into the human cell genome. Murine leukemia virus (MLV), a well-studied gammaretrovirus, has been often used as a representative retroviral vector. However, frequent integrations of MLV-based vectors into transcriptional start sites (TSSs) could lead to the activation of oncogenes by enhancer effects of the genetic components within the vectors.

Diagnostic Decision Points of Specific IgE Concentrations in Korean Children With Egg and Cow's Milk Allergies.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the utility of specific IgE (sIgE) concentrations for the diagnosis of immediate-type egg and cow's milk (CM) allergies in Korean children and to determine the optimal cutoff levels.

Methods: In this prospective study, children ≥12 months of age with suspected egg or CM allergy were enrolled. Food allergy was diagnosed by an open oral food challenge (OFC) or through the presence of a convincing history after ingestion of egg or CM.

Formulation variation and in vitro-in vivo correlation for a rapidly swellable three-layered tablet of tamsulosin HCl.

In order to develop a preferable once-a-day oral tablet formulation, various formulations of three-layered tablets containing tamsulosin HCl as a hydrophilic model drug were evaluated and compared with a commercial reference, tamsulosin OCAS®. When the test tablet was exposed to a release medium, the medium quickly permeated to the mid-layer and the two barrier layers swelled surrounding the mid-layer rapidly. Volume expansion showed faster and enough swelling of the three-layered tablet up to 2 h.

A novel three-layered tablet for extended release with various layer formulations and in vitro release profiles.

A novel three-layered tablet consisting of a water-soluble mid-layer and two barrier layers with swellable polymers was investigated to develop a preferable once-a-day formulation containing terazosin HCl as a hydrophilic model drug. When the tablet was exposed to a release medium, the medium quickly permeated to the mid-layer and the two barrier layers swelled surrounding the mid-layer rapidly. It facilitated the tablet to absorb a lot of water compared with monolithic matrix.

A pharma-robust design method to investigate the effect of PEG and PEO on matrix tablets.

Even though polyethyleneoxide (PEO)-polyethyleneglycol (PEG) blends have been used widely for sustained release matrix tablets, evaluations of the effects of PEG or PEO on the matrix properties have been limited. In order to evaluate gelling behavior and drug release profiles of PEG, various contents of the polymers were investigated through a robust experimental design method. When exposed to an aqueous environment, the PEO-PEG matrix hydrated slowly and swelled, causing a thick gel layer to form on the surface, the thickness of which increased significantly depending on the PEG contents.