Numerical modeling and simulation for microneedles drug delivery: A novel comprehensive swelling-obstruction-mechanics model.

Hydrogel microneedles have attracted significant attention in drug delivery due to their non-invasiveness and efficient administration. However, a thorough understanding of the drug transport mechanism is essential to achieve controlled drug delivery and geometry optimization of microneedles. In this study, a new swelling-obstruction-mechanics model is presented to describe the swelling and drug release behavior of hydrogel microneedles.

Global untargeted and individual targeted plasma metabolomics of breast cancer recurrence modified by hormone receptors.

Background: Breast cancer is a heterogeneous and complex etiological disease. Understanding perturbations of circulating metabolites could improve prognosis.

Methods: We recruited breast cancer patients from Kaohsiung Medical University (KMU) to perform untargeted (case-control design) and targeted (patient cohort) metabolomics analyses in the discovery and validation phases to evaluate interaction effects between clinical factors and plasma metabolites using multivariable Cox proportional hazards model.

Association of early-onset breast cancer with body mass index, menarche, and menopause in Taiwan.

Background: The trend of women suffering from early-onset breast cancer is increasing in Taiwan. The association of early-onset breast cancer with body mass index (BMI), menarche, and menopausal status has focused interest on the field of cancer epidemiology; however, few studies have explored the interaction of these factors on early-onset risk. This study aimed to estimate the interaction effects of BMI, menarche, and menopausal status on 40-year-old early-onset breast cancer.

Association between recurrent breast cancer and phthalate exposure modified by hormone receptors and body mass index.

The association between phthalate exposure and breast cancer remains controversial. We performed a prospective patient cohort design to explore the interaction between creatinine-corrected urinary phthalate metabolites and hormone receptors as well as body mass index (BMI) on recurrent breast cancer. In this follow-up study, 636 female breast cancer patients and 45 new recurrent cases diagnosed for a total of 1576.

DEHP mediates drug resistance by directly targeting AhR in human breast cancer.

Resistance to chemotherapy and hormonal therapy is a major clinical problem in breast cancer medicine, especially for cancer metastasis and recurrence. Di(2-ethylhexyl)phthalate (DEHP) affects drug resistance by an unknown mechanism of action. Here we analyzed breast cancer patients (N = 457) and found that ΣMEHP (the sum of MEHP, MEHHP, MECPP and MEOHP concentrations) in urine was significantly higher (P = 0.

Green light extends Drosophila longevity.

The role of visible light on longevity is incompletely understood. Here we show the effect of visible light in Drosophila melanogaster is wavelength specific. Life span was significantly extended by green light, whereas blue light reduced longevity dramatically, and minor impact was observed with red light.

Visceral obesity and cell cycle pathways serve as links in the association between bisphenol A exposure and breast cancer.

It has been identified that bisphenol A (BPA) exposure causes developmental toxicity in breast cells. However, the exact molecular mechanisms underlying the association between exposure to BPA and breast cancer remain unclear. The aim of the present study was to investigate the BPA-regulated signaling pathways associated with the aggressiveness and the development of breast cancer.

Sex specific effects of capsaicin on longevity regulation.

The consumption of spicy food in daily diets have been found to be inversely associated with human mortality. However, whether intake of spices is the reason for reduced mortality, and whether capsaicin, the main bioactive component of spices, plays a major role, remain elusive. Here, we report that low concentration of capsaicin can indeed extend life span.

CO anesthesia on Drosophila survival in aging research.

Carbon dioxide (CO ) exposure is a common method of anesthesia in studies of Drosophila melanogaster. A number of negative side effects of CO anesthesia have been reported. It is not clear whether the length of CO anesthesia time affects Drosophila survival in aging research.

Breast cancer is associated with methylation and expression of the a disintegrin and metalloproteinase domain 33 (ADAM33) gene affected by endocrine‑disrupting chemicals.

A disintegrin and metalloproteinase domain 33 (ADAM33) gene is a transmembrane glycoprotein that mediates changes in cell adhesion and plays an important role in cancer progression. Since bisphenol A (BPA) and phthalates are epigenetically toxic, the purpose of this study was to examine whether BPA and phthalate metabolites, including monoethyl phthalate (MEP), mono‑n‑butyl phthalate (MBP), mono‑isobutyl phthalate (MIBP), mono(2‑ethylhexyl) phthalate (MEHP), mono(2‑ethyl‑5‑hydroxyhexyl) phthalate (MEHHP), mono(2‑ethyl‑5‑carboxypentyl) phthalate (MECPP), and mono(2‑ethyl‑5‑oxohexyl) phthalate (MEOHP), have an epigenetic impact on ADAM33 and the incidence of breast cancer. CpG islands of breast cancer microarray datasets obtained from the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) were used to assess the ADAM33 methylation profile.

The methylation patterns of a disintegrin and metalloproteinase 33 gene (ADAM33) in adult asthma.

Background: Asthma is a common chronic inflammatory respiratory disease. Previous studies have suggested that the pathogenesis of asthma may be affected by epigenetic regulation. The purpose of this study is to characterize the effect of the methylation of each CpG site in the ADAM33 (a disintegrin and metalloproteinase 33) gene in adult asthma.