Pharmacokinetic and Pharmacodynamic Interaction of Finerenone with Diltiazem, Fluconazole, and Ritonavir in Rats.

Background And Objectives: Finerenone, a novel selective non-steroidal mineralocorticoid receptor antagonist, has been indicated in chronic kidney disease associated with type 2 diabetes mellitus. Considering the potential complications of diabetes, finerenone can be co-administered with various drugs, including fluconazole, diltiazem, and ritonavir. Given that finerenone is a substrate of cytochrome P450 (CYP) 3A4, the concurrent administration of finerenone with CYP3A4 inhibitors (diltiazem or fluconazole or ritonavir) could potentially lead to drug interactions, which may cause adverse events such as hyperkalemia.

Tailoring Three-Dimensional Cross-Linked Networks Based on Water-Soluble Polymeric Materials for Stable Silicon Anode.

For stable battery operation of silicon (Si)-based anodes, utilizing cross-linked three-dimensional (3D) network binders has emerged as an effective strategy to mitigate significant volume fluctuations of Si particles. In the design of cross-linked network binders, careful selection of appropriate cross-linking agents is crucial to maintaining a balance between the robustness and functionality of the network. Herein, we strategically design and optimize a 3D cross-linked network binder through a comprehensive analysis of cross-linking agents.

Immunogenicity and Protective Efficacy of Recombinant Protective Antigen Anthrax Vaccine (GC1109) in A/J Mice Model.

A recombinant protective antigen anthrax vaccine (GC1109) is being developed as a new-generation vaccine by the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency. In accordance with the ongoing step 2 of phase II clinical trials, the immunogenicity and protective efficacy of the booster dose of GC1109 were evaluated in A/J mice after 3 serial vaccinations at 4-week intervals. The results indicated that the booster dose significantly increased the production of anti-protective antigen (PA) IgG and toxin-neutralizing antibody (TNA) compared with those of the group without booster.

Changes of Optical Coherence Tomography Parameters after Cataract Surgery in Primary Open-Angle Glaucoma Eyes.

Purpose: To investigate the impact of uncomplicated cataract surgery on the measurement of Bruch's membrane opening-minimum rim width (BMO-MRW) and retinal nerve fiber layer thickness (RNFLT) using spectral domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT) in primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG) patients.

Methods: This retrospective study included 63 eyes of 63 patients, including 32 POAG eyes and 31 normal eyes who underwent uneventful cataract surgery and follow-up for at least 6 months. Using SD-OCT, BMO-MRW and RNFLT were measured preoperatively and postoperatively at 6 months.

Dysfunctional Glucose Metabolism in Alzheimer's Disease Onset and Potential Pharmacological Interventions.

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the most common age-related dementia. The alteration in metabolic characteristics determines the prognosis. Patients at risk show reduced glucose uptake in the brain.

Blockchain-Based Distributed Information Hiding Framework for Data Privacy Preserving in Medical Supply Chain Systems.

Medical supply chain communication networks engender critical information and data. Notably in the COVID era, inner personal and private information is being shared between healthcare providers regarding the medical supply chain. In recent years, multiple cyber-attacks have targeted medical supply chain communication networks due to their lack of security measures.

Enhancement of Energy-Harvesting Performance of Magneto-Mechano-Electric Generators through Optimization of the Interfacial Layer.

Among various energy harvester paradigms, the simple cantilever-structured magneto-mechano-electric (MME) energy generator comprises a piezoelectric material laminated on a magnetostrictive metal plate and permanent magnets as proof mass, exhibiting excellent magnetic energy-harvesting performance. The current challenge in using MME energy harvesters is the mechano-electric coupling at the interface between the piezoelectric material and magnetostrictive metal layer, which depends significantly on the mechanical properties of the interfacial adhesive layer. In this study, the effects of four types of adhesive interfacial layers on the output power and environmental and fatigue resistances of MME harvesters are systematically investigated.

Antitumor effect of a WEE1 inhibitor and potentiation of olaparib sensitivity by DNA damage response modulation in triple-negative breast cancer.

Due to its regulation of CDK1/2 phosphorylation, WEE1 plays essentially roles in the regulations of G2/M checkpoint and DNA damage response (DDR). WEE1 inhibition can increase genomic instability by inducing replication stress and G2/M checkpoint inactivation, which result in increased cellular sensitivity to DNA damaging agents. We considered an increase in genomic instability induced by WEE1 inhibition might be used to augment the effects of drugs targeting DNA repair protein.

Cerebral angiography using transauricular access in a rabbit model: a new technique.

Background: Cerebral angiography in a rabbit model is widely used in the field of interventional radiology. Conventionally, the femoral artery is used for cerebral angiography in radiology departments. However, angiographic studies require surgical cutdown of the femoral artery, which is technically difficult.

Phosphatidylcholine Extends Lifespan via DAF-16 and Reduces Amyloid-Beta-Induced Toxicity in .

Phosphatidylcholine is one of the major phospholipids comprising cellular membrane and is known to have several health-promoting activities, including the improvement of brain function and liver repair. In this paper, we examine the effect of dietary supplementation with phosphatidylcholine on the response to environmental stressors and aging in . Treatment with phosphatidylcholine significantly increased the survival of worms under oxidative stress conditions.

Improvement in neurogenesis and memory function by administration of Passiflora incarnata L. extract applied to sleep disorder in rodent models.

Recently, there have been reports that chronic insomnia acts as an insult in the brain, causing memory loss through the production of ROS, inflammation, and, Alzheimer's disease if persistent. Insomnia remains the leading cause of sleep disturbance and as such has serious implications for public health. Patients with Alzheimer's disease are also known to suffer from severe sleep disturbance.

β-Adrenergic receptor (β-AR) agonist formoterol suppresses differentiation of L6 myogenic cells by blocking PI3K-AKT pathway.

β-Adrenergic receptor (β-AR) is implicated in muscle metabolic activities such as glycogen metabolism, glucose uptake, lipolysis and muscle growth. However, the functional role of β-AR in the differentiation of skeletal muscle is largely unknown. Here, we examined the functional role of β-AR in L6 myoblast differentiation using the long-term-acting β-AR-specific agonist formoterol.

Selenocysteine mimics the effect of dietary restriction on lifespan via SKN‑1 and retards age‑associated pathophysiological changes in Caenorhabditis elegans.

Selenocysteine, a sulfur‑containing amino acid, can modulate cellular oxidative stress defense systems by incorporating into anti‑oxidant enzymes such as glutathione peroxidase and thioredoxin reductase. Selenocysteine can also prevent cancer, neurodegenerative diseases and cardiovascular diseases. A recent study revealed that dietary supplementation with selenocysteine can increase the resistance of Caenorhabditis elegans to environmental stressors and its lifespan.

Pan-Pim Kinase Inhibitor AZD1208 Suppresses Tumor Growth and Synergistically Interacts with Akt Inhibition in Gastric Cancer Cells.

Purpose: Pim kinases are highly conserved serine/threonine kinases, and different expression patterns of each isoform (Pim-1, Pim-2, and Pim-3) have been observed in various types of human cancers, including gastric cancer. AZD1208 is a potent and selective inhibitor that affects all three isoforms of Pim. We investigated the effects of AZD1208 as a single agent and in combination with an Akt inhibitor in gastric cancer cells.

Selenocysteine modulates resistance to environmental stress and confers anti-aging effects in C. elegans.

Objective:: The free radical theory of aging suggests that cellular oxidative damage caused by free radicals is a leading cause of aging. In the present study, we examined the effects of a well-known anti-oxidant amino acid derivative, selenocysteine, in response to environmental stress and aging using Caenorhabditis elegans as a model system.

Method:: The response to oxidative stress induced by H2O2 or ultraviolet irradiation was compared between the untreated control and selenocysteine-treated groups.

Multilocus Sequence Analysis of Housekeeping Genes and Antigenic Determinant Genes in Bordetella pertussis Strains Isolated in Korea.

Objectives: To confirm genotype diversities of clinical isolates of Bordetella pertussis and to evaluate the risk of pertussis outbreak in Korea.

Methods: Seven housekeeping genes and 10 antigenic determinant genes from clinical B. pertussis isolates were analyzed by Multilocus sequence typing (MLST).

Soft material-based microculture system having air permeable cover sheet for the protoplast culture of Nicotiana tabacum.

In plant cell culture, the delivery of nutrition and gas (mainly oxygen) to the cells is the most important factor for viability. In this paper, we propose a polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS)-based microculture system that is designed to have good aeration. PDMS is known to have excellent air permeability, and through the experimental method, we investigated the relation between the degree of air delivery and the thickness of the PDMS sheet covering the culture chamber.