Transferrin-Conjugated Melittin-Loaded L-Arginine-Coated Iron Oxide Nanoparticles for Mitigating Beta-Amyloid Pathology of the 5XFAD Mouse Brain.

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is one of the most prevalent neurodegenerative diseases and a major contributor to dementia. Although the cause of this condition has been identified long ago as aberrant aggregations of amyloid and tau proteins, effective therapies for it remain elusive. The complexities of drug development for AD treatment are often compounded by the impermeable blood-brain barrier and low-yield brain delivery.

Characteristics and Prognosis of Estrogen Receptor Low-Positive Breast Cancer.

Purpose: The updated American Society of Clinical Oncology/College of American Pathologists guideline for estrogen receptor (ER) testing recommends that breast cancer with ER expression in 1-10% of tumor cells should be reported as ER-low positive (ER), although limited data are available on the overall benefits of endocrine therapy. We investigated the clinicopathological characteristics and clinical outcomes of ER breast cancer and to compare them with those of ER-negative (ER) and ER-high (> 10% of tumor cells, ER) breast cancers.

Methods: Consecutive patients with invasive breast cancer who underwent curative surgery between November 2007 and December 2014 were included.

Immunohistochemical Expressions of Senescence-Associated Secretory Phenotype and Its Association With Immune Microenvironments and Clinicopathological Factors in Invasive Breast Cancer.

This study was undertaken to investigate immunohistochemical expression of the senescence-associated secretory phenotype (SASP) in invasive breast cancer (IBC) tissues and to determine relationships between SASP positivity and tumor microenvironments and the clinicopathological characteristics of IBC. Immunohistochemistry for senescence markers, that is, high mobility group box-1 (HMGB1), p16, p15, and decoy receptor 2 (DCR2), was performed in tissue microarrays of 1140 IBC samples. Cases positive for at least one of these four markers were considered SASP-positive.

Particulate-Based Single-Dose Local Immunosuppressive Regimen for Inducing Tolerogenic Dendritic Cells in Xenogeneic Islet Transplantation.

Recent studies emphasize on developing immune tolerance by an interim administration of various immunosuppressive drugs. In this study, a robust protocol is reported for local immunomodulation using a single-dose of FK506 microspheres and clodronate liposomes (mFK+CLO) in a xenogeneic model of islet transplantation. Surprisingly, the single-dose treatment with mFK+CLO induce tolerance to the islet xenograft.

NDRG3 protein expression is associated with aggressive biologic phenotype and unfavorable outcome in patients with invasive breast cancer.

The N-myc downstream regulated gene (NDRG) protein family consists of 4 members (NDRG1, NDRG2, NDRG3, and NDRG4), that have been reported to be aberrantly expressed in human cancers. Furthermore, NDRG3 protein expression is known to promote tumor angiogenesis and cell growth. The aim of this study was to investigate the clinical significance of NDRG3 expression in invasive breast cancer (IBC).

Polymeric microsphere-facilitated site-specific delivery of quercetin prevents senescence of pancreatic islets in vivo and improves transplantation outcomes in mouse model of diabetes.

Unlabelled: Attenuation of senescence progression may be attractive way to preserve the functionality of pancreatic islets (PI) after transplantation. In this study, we developed a model for in vitro induction of premature senescence in rat PI and showed the effectiveness of quercetin (QU) to prevent the senescence. To provide targeted-delivery of QU to the PI after transplantation, we prepared the hybrid clusters (HC) of islet single cells (ISC) and QU-loaded polymeric microspheres (QU; ∼7.

Prognostic Value of Tumor-Infiltrating Lymphocyte Density Assessed Using a Standardized Method Based on Molecular Subtypes and Adjuvant Chemotherapy in Invasive Breast Cancer.

Background: This study investigated the prognostic value of tumor-infiltrating lymphocyte (TIL) density as determined by molecular subtype and receipt of adjuvant chemotherapy in invasive breast cancer (IBC).

Methods: Stromal TIL densities were evaluated in 1489 IBC samples using recommendations proposed by the International TILs Working Group. Cases were allocated to high- and low-TIL density groups using a cutoff of 10%.

Tissue adhesive FK506-loaded polymeric nanoparticles for multi-layered nano-shielding of pancreatic islets to enhance xenograft survival in a diabetic mouse model.

This study aims to develop a novel surface modification technology to prolong the survival time of pancreatic islets in a xenogenic transplantation model, using 3,4-dihydroxyphenethylamine (DOPA) conjugated poly(lactide-co-glycolide)-poly(ethylene glycol) (PLGA-PEG) nanoparticles (DOPA-NPs) carrying immunosuppressant FK506 (FK506/DOPA-NPs). The functionalized DOPA-NPs formed a versatile coating layer for antigen camouflage without interfering the viability and functionality of islets. The coating layer effectively preserved the morphology and viability of islets in a co-culture condition with xenogenic lymphocytes for 7 days.

Single synchronous delivery of FK506-loaded polymeric microspheres with pancreatic islets for the successful treatment of streptozocin-induced diabetes in mice.

Immune rejection after transplantation is common, which leads to prompt failure of the graft. Therefore, to prolong the survival time of the graft, immunosuppressive therapy is the norm. Here, we report a robust immune protection protocol using FK506-loaded microspheres (FK506) in injectable hydrogel.

Engineered islet cell clusters transplanted into subcutaneous space are superior to pancreatic islets in diabetes.

An alternative route for pancreatic islet transplantation is the subcutaneous space; however, inadequate vascularization in the subcutaneous space limits the availability of oxygen and nutrients to the subcutaneously transplanted islets, which leads to the development of a necrotic core in the islets, thereby causing islet dysfunction. Thus, we aimed to prevent the early apoptosis of pancreatic islets after transplantation into subcutaneous space by preparing islet clusters of appropriate size. We prepared fully functional islet cell clusters (ICCs) by using the hanging-drop technique.

Elevated Interleukin-13 Receptor Alpha 1 Expression in Tumor Cells Is Associated with Poor Prognosis in Patients with Invasive Breast Cancer.

Background: Interleukin (IL)-13 is an immunoregulatory, anti-inflammatory cytokine that is produced by numerous immune cells, and plasma membrane receptor for IL-13 (IL-13R) is known to be expressed in various human malignancies and in immune cells.

Methods: The authors evaluated the expression of IL-13R alpha 1 (IL-13Rα1, an IL-13R subtype) by immunohistochemistry in tissue microarrays of 1213 invasive breast cancer (IBC) samples to determine the prognostic value of IL-13Rα1 expression.

Results: High IL-13Rα1 expression was observed in 619 (51%) cases and was found to be associated with an older (≥50 years) age (p = 0.

Liqustri lucidi Fructus inhibits hepatic injury and functions as an antioxidant by activation of AMP-activated protein kinase in vivo and in vitro.

Medicinal herbs are used to treat or prevent various diseases, and function to regulate protective mechanisms as nutraceuticals. Fructus Ligustri lucidi is the fruit of Ligustrum lucidum and has been used for its tonic effects on the liver. This study was designed to examine the effects of Fructus Ligustri lucidi water extract (FLL) against severe oxidative stress and mitochondrial impairment in vivo and in vitro and to elucidate its cellular mechanisms of action.