Drug Development.

Background: The DL-3-n-butylphthalide (NBP), a multi-target neuroprotective drug, improving cognitive impairment in patient with vascular cognitive impairment has been confirmed. The efficacy of NBP in patients with cognitive impairment due to Alzheimer's disease (AD) remains unknown. This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of NBP in patients with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) due to AD though a clinical randomized controlled trail.

Drug Development.

Background: The ability to monitor cognitive trajectories over the course of trials can provide valuable insights into treatment efficacy. However, existing trial methods are limited in monitoring cognition in real-time and at high frequencies. Gameplay-based assessments hold promise as complementary cognitive tools.

Drug Development.

Background: Individuals with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) face an increased risk of dementia. Recent discoveries indicate that SGLT2 inhibitors, a newer class of anti-diabetic medication, exhibit beneficial metabolic effects beyond glucose control, offering a potential avenue for mitigating the risk of Alzheimer's disease (AD). However, limited evidence exists regarding whether the use of SGLT2 inhibitors effectively reduces the risk of AD.

Drug Development.

Background: Reducing fibrous aggregates of protein tau is a possible strategy for halting progression of Alzheimer's disease (AD). Previously we found that in vitro the D-peptide D-TLKIVWC fragments tau fibrils from AD brains (AD-tau) into benign segments, whereas its six-residue analog D-TLKIVW cannot. However, the underlying fragmentation mechanism remains unknown, preventing the further development of this type of drug candidate for AD.

Drug Development.

Background: Apolipoprotein E4 (apoE4) has been identified as the major genetic risk factor for late onset Alzheimer's disease (AD). Our lab has demonstrated that chronic administration of Aβ12-28P, a synthetic peptide that blocks apoE4/Aβ binding, in middle-aged transgenic AD mice significantly ameliorates pathology progression, resulting in reduced Aβ plaques deposition and cerebral amyloid angiopathy (CAA) along with improved memory and cognition. However, whether blocking apoE4/Aβ interaction by Aβ12-28P also has an ameliorating effect on the neuronal and cognitive function of old AD mice where Aβ pathology has been extensively developed remains unknown.

Dementia Care Research and Psychosocial Factors.

Background: Caring for family caregivers of dementia patients has grown to an important topic. Social media platforms, like Twitter, provide great resources for studying the needs of caregivers. It would be beneficial to understand the caregivers' interested or concerned topics from their tweets.

Dementia Care Research and Psychosocial Factors.

Background: Older adults with cognitive impairments will benefit from multicomponent interventions include cognitive training, exercise, and lifestyle modifications. Many digital therapeutic products predominantly focus on computerized cognitive training, lacking effective approaches to other crucial interventions. This study aimed to investigate the long term effects of multidimensional comprehensive cognitive intervention training program - Brain and Body Rehab Training (BBRT), which integrates multidomain cognitive training with physical-cognitive training and multidimensional lifestyle interventions on cognitive performance in participants with cognitive impairment after a 8-month follow-up.

Enhanced Near-Infrared Fluorescence Emission near a Graphene-Metal Hybrid Structure.

Plasmon resonance plays an important role in improving the detection of biomolecules, and it is one of the focuses of research to use metal plasmon resonance to achieve fluorescence enhancement and to improve detection sensitivity. However, the problems of nondynamic tuning and fluorescence quenching of metal plasmon resonance need to be solved. Graphene surface plasmon resonance can be dynamically controlled, and the graphene adsorption of fluorescent molecules can avoid fluorescence quenching and greatly improve the fluorescence emission intensity.

Role of TGF-β1/Smad3 signalling pathway in renal tubulointerstitial fibrosis and renal damage in elderly rats with isolated systolic hypertension induced by increased pulse pressure.

Objective: Elevated systolic blood pressure and increased pulse pressure are closely associated with renal damage; however, the exact mechanism remains unclear. Therefore, we investigated the effects of increased pulse pressure on tubulointerstitial fibrosis and renal damage in elderly rats with isolated systolic hypertension (ISH). Additionally, the role of renal tubular epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) and its upstream signalling pathways were elucidated.

Gut-derived lactic acid enhances tryptophan to 5-hydroxytryptamine in regulation of anxiety via .

The gut microbiota plays a pivotal role in anxiety regulation through pathways involving neurotransmitter production, immune signaling, and metabolic interactions. Among these, gut-derived serotonin (5-hydroxytryptamine, 5-HT), synthesized from tryptophan metabolism, has been identified as a key mediator. However, it remains unclear whether specific microbial factors regulate tryptophan metabolism to influence 5-HT production and anxiety regulation.

Dementia Care Practice.

Hmong and Cambodian Americans, minoritized Asian American subgroups, are underrepresented in research, and prevalence of Alzheimer's disease (AD) in these communities is unknown. However, our community partners in the Madison, Wisconsin area, who have served Hmong and Cambodian elders in the community for over 20 years, informed us in the fall of 2021 that they have encountered cases of dementia among elders they serve. They expressed a need for educational materials on dementia that could aid their community work.

Dimethylacridine based emitters for non-doped organic light-emitting diodes with improved efficiency.

Organic light-emitting diodes (OLEDs) has been attracting much extensive interest owing to their advantages of high-definition and flexible displays. Many advances have been focused on boosting the efficiency and stability. Two innovative dimethylacridine-based emitters,1,1,2,2-tetrakis(4- (2,7-di-tert-butyl-9,9-dimethylacridin-10(9H)-yl)phenyl ethene (AcTPE), and bis(4-(2,7-di-tert-butyl-9,9-dimethylacridin-10(9H)-yl)phenyl)methanone (Ac2BP) were designed and synthesized, in which TPE-baesed AcTPE presents AIE properties, and with the phenyl as spacer between the DMAC and carbony, aryl-ketone-based Ac2BP doesn't show AIE properties due to the absence of restriction of intramolecular rotations.

Research on Controllable Synthesis and Growth Mechanism of Sodium Vanadium Fluorophosphate Nanosheets.

Background: Sodium vanadium fluorophosphate is a sodium ion superconductor material with high sodium ion mobility and excellent cyclic stability, making it a promising cathode material for sodium-ion batteries. However, most of the literature and patents report preparation through traditional methods, which involve complex processes, large particle sizes, and low electronic conductivity, thereby limiting development progress.

Objective: Aiming at the limitation of high cost and poor performance of vanadium sodium fluorophosphate cathode material, the low temperature and high-efficiency nano preparation technology was developed.

A novel fluorescent probe for rapid and selective detection of fluoride ions in living cells.

A novel fluorescent probe DTP, based on fluorine-silicon complexation, extends emission to 590 nm and achieves a 5 minutes response time. It shows high selectivity and a 0.98 μM detection limit for fluoride ions, with successful bioimaging application in living cells.

Small-angle neutron scattering differentiates molecular-level structural models of nanoparticle interfaces.

The highly anisotropic and nonadditive nature of nanoparticle surfaces restricts their characterization by limited types of techniques that can reach atomic or molecular resolution. While small-angle neutron scattering (SANS) is a unique tool for analyzing complex systems, it has been traditionally considered a low-resolution method due to its limited scattering vector range and wide wavelength spread. In this article, we present a novel perspective on SANS by showcasing its exceptional capability to provide molecular-level insights into nanoparticle interfaces.

The histone demethylase KDM6B links obstructive sleep apnea to idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis.

Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is increasingly recognized for its link to idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF), though the underlying mechanisms remain poorly understood. Histone lysine demethylase 6B (KDM6B) may either prevent or promote organ fibrosis, but its specific role in IPF is yet to be clarified. This study aimed to investigate the function and mechanisms of KDM6B in IPF and the exacerbating effects of OSA.

Trends and disparities in cardiovascular disease-related mortality among adults with myeloproliferative neoplasms in USA.

Aims: We aimed to perform a retrospective cohort study using the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's (CDC's) Wide-Ranging Online Data for Epidemiologic Research (WONDER) database to analyse the trends in cardiovascular disease (CVD)-related mortality in patients with myeloproliferative neoplasms (MPNs) from 1999 to 2020.

Methods And Results: We analysed the death certificate data from the CDC WONDER database from 1999 to 2020 for CVD with co-morbid myeloproliferative disorders in the US population. Age-adjusted mortality rates (AAMRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were computed per 1 million population by standardizing crude mortality rates to the 2000 US census population.

Combined Phacoemulsification, Goniosynechialysis and Ab Interno Trabeculectomy in Primary Angle-closure Glaucoma: Long-term Results.

This research was designed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of ab-interno trabeculectomy (Trabectome and Kahook Dual Blade) combined with phacoemulsification, intraocular lens implantation, and goniosynechialysis in eyes with primary angle-closure glaucoma. A total of 47 patients were included in the study and all the patients received the combined surgery. Intraocular pressure, anti-glaucoma medications, best-corrected visual acuity, and the number of peripheral anterior synechiae quadrants were recorded at baseline and at various time points after surgery.

Enhancement of Interferon-γ Secretion by Extract Supplementation After Exhaustive Endurance Exercise in Healthy Men: A Double-blind, Placebo-controlled Trial.

To investigate the effects of 12-week extract supplementation on immune responses and inflammatory cytokines after exhaustive endurance exercise (EEE), emphasizing its novel focus on peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) cytokine secretion and the implications of interferon-γ (IFN-γ) as a marker for immune modulation. Twenty healthy men were recruited and assigned into maca and placebo groups using a matched-pair design based on their maximal oxygen consumption (V̇O). All participants consumed 2.

The Red Cell Distribution Width to Albumin Ratio: A Novel Prognostic Indicator in Hepatitis B Virus-Related Hepatocellular Carcinoma.

The prognostic significance of the red blood cell distribution width to albumin ratio (RAR) spans various diseases, yet its utility as a biomarker for hepatitis B virus-related hepatocellular carcinoma (HBV-HCC) remains unclear. We retrospectively studied 1,413 patients with HBV-HCC. Receiver operating characteristic curves identified optimal RAR cut-offs, stratifying patients into H-RAR and L-RAR groups.

The association between grade of coronary heart disease and risk of developing keratopathy: a nationwide cohort study.

To evaluate the association between coronary heart disease (CHD) severity and the risk of developing keratopathy. A retrospective cohort study was conducted with data from the Taiwan National Health Insurance Research Database (NHIRD). A total of 593100, 593100 and 296500 patients were included in the control, mild CHD and severe CHD groups, respectively.

PUF60 Promotes Chemoresistance Through Drug Efflux and Reducing Apoptosis in Gastric Cancer.

Chemotherapy resistance is a great challenge in the treatment of gastric cancer (GC), so it is urgent to explore the prognostic markers of chemoresistance. PUF60 (Poly (U)-binding splicing factor 60) is a nucleic acid-binding protein that has been shown to regulate transcription and link to tumorigenesis in various cancers. However, its biological role and function in chemotherapy resistance of GC is unclear.

Change in adiposity indices after 1 year of peritoneal dialysis: a single-center cohort study.

Background: Weight gain is common after starting peritoneal dialysis (PD). Several adiposity indices have been developed recently as potential indicators of visceral adiposity and lipid accumulation. We aim to investigate the prevalence and prognostic implications of the change in adiposity indices after 1 year of PD.

The positive feedback loop between SP1 and MAP2K2 significantly drives resistance to VEGFR inhibitors in clear cell renal cell carcinoma.

Clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC) is one of the most common and aggressive malignancies of the urinary system. Despite being the first-line treatment for advanced ccRCC, vascular endothelial growth factor receptor inhibitors (VEGFRis) face significant limitations due to both initial and acquired resistance, which impede complete tumor eradication. Using a CRISPR/Cas9 library screening approach, was identified as a resistance-associated gene for three prevalent VEGFRis (Sunitinib, Axitinib, and Sorafenib).

Regulation of INPP5E in Ciliogenesis, Development, and Disease.

Inositol polyphosphate-5-phosphatase E (INPP5E) is a 5-phosphatase critically involved in diverse physiological processes, including embryonic development, neurological function, immune regulation, hemopoietic cell dynamics, and macrophage proliferation, differentiation, and phagocytosis. Mutations in cause Joubert and Meckel-Gruber syndromes in humans; these are characterized by brain malformations, microphthalmia, situs inversus, skeletal abnormalities, and polydactyly. Recent studies have demonstrated the key role of INPP5E in governing intracellular processes like endocytosis, exocytosis, vesicular trafficking, and membrane dynamics.