Frailty, social deprivation, and mortality among Medicare fee-for-service beneficiaries.

Background: The geographic distribution of frailty and social deprivation, and their association with mortality in the United States, have not been well studied.

Methods: We estimated claims-based frailty index (CFI) (range: 0-1) and area-level social deprivation index (SDI) (range: 0-100) in a 5% random sample of 1,207,323 Medicare fee-for-service beneficiaries 65 years and older. We examined the prevalence of frailty (defined as CFI ≥ 0.

Assessing Frailty-Specific Treatment Effect in Cardiovascular Disease: A Systematic Review.

Background: Clinicians are increasingly considering using frailty assessments to individualize treatment for older patients. It remains uncertain whether interventions to reduce cardiovascular disease (CVD) events offer similar benefits between older adults with and without frailty.

Methods: A systematic literature search was undertaken in PubMed and Embase, adhering to PRISMA guidelines.

Exploring Piezo1, Piezo2, and TMEM150C in human brain tissues and their correlation with brain biomechanical characteristics.

Unraveling the intricate relationship between mechanical factors and brain activity is a pivotal endeavor, yet the underlying mechanistic model of signaling pathways in brain mechanotransduction remains enigmatic. To bridge this gap, we introduced an in situ multi-scale platform, through which we delineate comprehensive brain biomechanical traits in white matter (WM), grey-white matter junctions (GW junction), and the pons across human brain tissue from four distinct donors. We investigate the three-dimensional expression patterns of Piezo1, Piezo2, and TMEM150C, while also examining their associated histological features and mechanotransduction signaling networks, particularly focusing on the YAP/β-catenin axis.

Biophysical and Biochemical Regulation of Cell Dynamics in Magnetically Assembled Cellular Structures.

Soluble signaling molecules and extracellular matrix (ECM) regulate cell dynamics in various biological processes. Wound healing assays are widely used to study cell dynamics in response to physiological stimuli. However, traditional scratch-based assays can damage the underlying ECM-coated substrates.

Neurokinin B-Expressing Neurons of the Central Extended Amygdala Mediate Inhibitory Synaptic Input onto Melanin-Concentrating Hormone Neuron Subpopulations.

The lateral hypothalamic area (LHA) is a highly conserved brain region critical for maintaining physiological homeostasis and goal-directed behavior. LHA neurons that express melanin-concentrating hormone (MCH) are key regulators of arousal, energy balance, and motivated behavior. However, cellular and functional diversity among LHA neurons is not well understood.

MicroRNAs as biomarkers for human glioblastoma: progress and potential.

Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is the most common malignant glioma. Despite innovative research efforts in tumor therapy, the outcome for most diagnosed patients remains poor; therefore, early diagnosis of GBM is the most effective method for achieving better patient outcomes. In recent years, combined research efforts including cellular, molecular, genetic, and bioinformatics methods have been used to investigate GBM, and the results show that variations in miRNA expression occur in GBM tissues and biological fluids.

Anti-Inflammatory and Skin Barrier Repair Effects of Topical Application of Some Plant Oils.

Plant oils have been utilized for a variety of purposes throughout history, with their integration into foods, cosmetics, and pharmaceutical products. They are now being increasingly recognized for their effects on both skin diseases and the restoration of cutaneous homeostasis. This article briefly reviews the available data on biological influences of topical skin applications of some plant oils (olive oil, olive pomace oil, sunflower seed oil, coconut oil, safflower seed oil, argan oil, soybean oil, peanut oil, sesame oil, avocado oil, borage oil, jojoba oil, oat oil, pomegranate seed oil, almond oil, bitter apricot oil, rose hip oil, German chamomile oil, and shea butter).

Association between Stress and the HPA Axis in the Atopic Dermatitis.

The hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis is one of the body's neuroendocrine networks that responds to psychological stress (PS). In the skin, there exists a peripheral HPA axis similar to the central axis. Glucocorticoids (GCs) are key effector molecules of the HPA axis and are essential for cutaneous homeostasis.

Basis for enhanced barrier function of pigmented skin.

Humans with darkly pigmented skin display superior permeability barrier function in comparison with humans with lightly pigmented skin. The reduced pH of the stratum corneum (SC) of darkly pigmented skin could account for enhanced function, because acidifying lightly pigmented human SC resets barrier function to darkly pigmented levels. In SKH1 (nonpigmented) versus SKH2/J (pigmented) hairless mice, we evaluated how a pigment-dependent reduction in pH could influence epidermal barrier function.

Targeting protein-trafficking pathways alters melanoma treatment sensitivity.

Protein-trafficking pathways are targeted here in human melanoma cells using methods independent of oncogene mutational status, and the ability to up-regulate and down-regulate tumor treatment sensitivity is demonstrated. Sensitivity of melanoma cells to cis-diaminedichloroplatinum II (cDDP, cis-platin), carboplatin, dacarbazine, or temozolomide together with velaparib, an inhibitor of poly (ADP ribose) polymerase 1, is increased by up to 10-fold by targeting genes that regulate both protein trafficking and the formation of melanosomes, intracellular organelles unique to melanocytes and melanoma cells. Melanoma cells depleted of either of the protein-trafficking regulators vacuolar protein sorting 33A protein (VPS33A) or cappuccino protein (CNO) have increased nuclear localization of cDDP, increased nuclear DNA damage by platination, and increased apoptosis, resulting in increased treatment sensitivity.