Nano-chemical priming strategy to enhance TGF-β resistance and anti-tumor activity of natural killer cells.

Immunotherapy based on adoptive transfer of natural killer (NK) cells is a promising strategy for circumventing the limitations of cancer treatments. However, components of the immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment (TME), such as transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-β), compromise the therapeutic efficacy of NK cells significantly. To address these limitations, we developed a novel method of engineering NK cells for adaptive transfer.

Effects of a Combination of Polynucleotide and Hyaluronic Acid for Treating Osteoarthritis.

Knee osteoarthritis (OA), an age-related degenerative disease characterized by severe pain and disability, is treated using polynucleotides (PNs) and hyaluronic acid (HA). The intra-articular (IA) injection of HA has been studied extensively in both animal models and in humans; however, the efficacy and mechanisms of action remain unclear. In addition, there has been a paucity of research regarding the use of PN alone or in combination with HA in OA.

ELK3-ID4 axis governs the metastatic features of triple negative breast cancer.

Purpose: Cancer cell metastasis is a multistep process, and the mechanism underlying extravasation remains unclear. ELK3 is a transcription factor that plays a crucial role in regulating various cellular processes, including cancer metastasis. Based on the finding that ELK3 promotes the metastasis of triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC), we investigated whether ELK3 regulates the extravasation of TNBC by forming the ELK3-ID4 axis.

Relationship between mid-sleep time and depression, health-related quality of life, and sleep deprivation in the 2018 Korea Community Health Survey.

This cross-sectional study examined the relationship of mid-sleep time (MST) with depression, quality of life, and sleep deprivation. This study included 173 284 adults aged ≥ 19 years who participated in the 2018 Korea Community Health Survey. The Patient Health Questionnaire-9 for depression, EuroQol-5 dimension for health-related quality of life, and the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index for MST, daytime sleepiness, and sleep quality were used.

Abnormal accumulation of extracellular vesicles in hippocampal dystrophic axons and regulation by the primary cilia in Alzheimer's disease.

Dystrophic neurites (DNs) are abnormal axons and dendrites that are swollen or deformed in various neuropathological conditions. In Alzheimer's disease (AD), DNs play a crucial role in impairing neuronal communication and function, and they may also contribute to the accumulation and spread of amyloid beta (Aβ) in the brain of AD patients. However, it is still a challenge to understand the DNs of specific neurons that are vulnerable to Aβ in the pathogenesis of AD.

Development of an online discrete choice experiment to elicit preferences for tobacco treatment among college students.

Objective: To develop an online discrete choice experiment (DCE) to elicit preferences for the and of tobacco treatment and determine the feasibility of the survey in face-to-face online interviews among college students.

Participants: A convenience sample of 28 college students.

Methods: A pilot online DCE survey with sixteen choice sets was developed.

The ELK3-DRP1 axis determines the chemosensitivity of triple-negative breast cancer cells to CDDP by regulating mitochondrial dynamics.

Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is the most lethal form of breast cancer. TNBC patients have higher rates of metastasis and restricted therapy options. Although chemotherapy is the conventional treatment for TNBC, the frequent occurrence of chemoresistance significantly lowers the efficacy of treatment.

Specific Signal Transduction of Constitutively Activating (D576G) and Inactivating (R476H) Mutants of Agonist-Stimulated Luteinizing Hormone Receptor in Eel.

We investigated the mechanism of signal transduction using inactivating (R476H) and activating (D576G) mutants of luteinizing hormone receptor (LHR) of eel at the conserved regions of intracellular loops II and III, respectively, naturally occurring in mammalian LHR. The expression of D576G and R476H mutants was approximately 58% and 59%, respectively, on the cell surface compared to those of eel LHR-wild type (wt). In eel LHR-wt, cAMP production increased upon agonist stimulation.

25KDa branched polyethylenimine increases interferon-γ production in natural killer cells via improving translation efficiency.

Background: Ex vivo cultivation is a promising strategy for increasing the number of NK cells and enhancing their antitumor activity prior to clinical application. Recent studies show that stimulation with 25KDa branched polyethylenimine (25KbPEI) generates NK cells with enhanced antitumor activity. To better understand how 25KbPEI primes NK cells, we explored the mechanism underlying increase in production of IFN-γ.

Insulin signaling is critical for sinoatrial node maintenance and function.

Insulin and insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1) signaling regulate cellular growth and glucose metabolism in the myocardium. However, their physiological role in the cells of the cardiac conduction system has never been explored. Therefore, we sought to determine the spatiotemporal function of insulin/IGF-1 receptors in the sinoatrial node (SAN).

ELK3-CXCL16 axis determines natural killer cell cytotoxicity via the chemotactic activity of CXCL16 in triple negative breast cancer.

Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is the most challenging subtype of breast cancer because of its aggressive behavior and the limited therapeutic strategies available. In the last decade, immunotherapy has become a promising treatment to prolong survival in advanced solid cancers including TNBC. However, the efficacy of immunotherapy in solid cancers remains limited because solid tumors contain few tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes.

Fabrication of phosphor in glass using waste glass for automotive lighting application.

With advancement of technology, requirements for light-emitting devices are increasing. Various types of packaging technologies have been suggested to improve the performance of light-emitting diode (LED). Among them, phosphor in glass (PiG) is attracting attention due to its manufactural facility and easily tunable characteristics.

Effects of TSA, NaB, Aza in Lactuca sativa L. protoplasts and effect of TSA in Nicotiana benthamiana protoplasts on cell division and callus formation.

Whole-plant regeneration via plant tissue culture is a complex process regulated by several genetic and environmental conditions in plant cell cultures. Recently, epigenetic regulation has been reported to play an important role in plant cell differentiation and establishment of pluripotency. Herein, we tested the effects of chemicals, which interfere with epigenetic regulation, on the plant regeneration from mesophyll protoplasts of lettuce.

Smoking, Stress, and Health Risk Behaviors During the Early Phase of COVID-19 Lockdowns Among Residents of Flint, Michigan.

Food insecurity and smoking commonly co-occur in underserved populations, exacerbating health disparities. This study assesses smoking and its associations with mental health and health risk behaviors among residents of Flint, Michigan in the early phase of COVID lockdowns. The survey captured smoking status, mental health indicators, and health risk behaviors among 106 who had financial needs and limited mobility and received community nutritional services.

Preparation of high-quality YAG:Ce ceramic phosphor by high-frequency induction heated press sintering methods.

This study investigates the characteristics of a ceramic phosphor (CP) for the converter of a high-power laser diode-based automobile headlamp synthesized by high-frequency induction heated press (HFP) sintering. The CP prepared by an HFP method exhibits remarkable optical properties that are comparable to spark plasma sintering. The effects of post-treatment process for controlling residual pores, as well as sintering temperature, sintering pressure and heating rate for optimization of the HFP sintering method, were studied.

Chemical priming of natural killer cells with branched polyethylenimine for cancer immunotherapy.

Background: Due to their powerful immune surveillance activity and ability to kill and clear cancer cells, natural killer (NK) cells are an emerging anticancer immunotherapeutic agent. Therefore, there is much interest in developing efficient technologies that further enhance the therapeutic antitumor efficacy of NK cells.

Methods: To produce chemically primed NK cells, we screened polymers with various electric charges and examined their ability to enhance the cytotoxicity of NK cells.

ELK3 modulates the antitumor efficacy of natural killer cells against triple negative breast cancer by regulating mitochondrial dynamics.

Background: Triple negative breast cancer (TNBC) is the most lethal subtype of breast cancer due to its aggressive behavior and frequent development of resistance to chemotherapy. Although natural killer (NK) cell-based immunotherapy is a promising strategy for overcoming barriers to cancer treatment, the therapeutic efficacy of NK cells against TNBC is below expectations. E26 transformation-specific transcription factor ELK3 (ELK3) is highly expressed in TNBCs and functions as a master regulator of the epithelial-mesenchymal transition.

Development of late-bolting plants by CRISPR/Cas9-mediated genome editing from mesophyll protoplasts of lettuce.

CRISPR/Cas9-mediated introduction of a single base mutation in SOC1, a transcription factor that regulates flowering time, results in late-bolting phenotypes in lettuce. Lettuce is a widely consumed leafy vegetable crop. One of the molecular approaches that can increase leaf yield of lettuce is to delay the onset of flowering.

Age of Smoking Initiation in Relation to Multiple Health Risk Factors among US Adult Smokers: National Health Interview Survey (NHIS) Data (2006-2018).

The adverse effects of multiple health risk factors have been well-documented; however, still understudied are the effects of early smoking in the context of multiple health risk factors. This study aimed to examine the role of early smoking initiation in relation to several health risk factors, including heavy drinking, physical inactivity, and obesity in later life among ever smokers in the USA. The National Health Interview Survey (NHIS) data from 2006 through 2018 were analyzed.

Cell-Surface Loss of Constitutive Activating and Inactivating Mutants of Eel Luteinizing Hormone Receptors.

The present study aimed to investigate the mechanism of cell surface receptor loss by two constitutively activating mutants (designated L469R, and D590Y) and two inactivating mutants (D417N and Y558F) of the luteinizing hormone receptor (LHR) in the Japanese eel , known to naturally occur in human LHR transmembrane domains. We investigated cell surface receptor loss using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay in HEK 293 cells. The expression level of wild-type eel LHR was considered to be 100%, and the expression levels of L469R and D417N were 97% and 101%, respectively, whereas the expression levels of D590Y and Y558F slightly increased to approximately 110% and 106%, respectively.