The FTO gene is associated with a paradoxically favorable cardiometabolic risk profile in frail, obese older adults.

Objective: Fat mass and obesity-associated (FTO) gene polymorphisms have been reported to be associated with differences in BMI, obesity, and type 2 diabetes. However, previous studies have been predominantly conducted in younger individuals across a spectrum of body weights, whereas little information is available on the older population. We examined the association of FTO gene polymorphisms with cardiometabolic risks among adults who were both obese (BMI≥30 kg/m) and older (age≥65 years).

The Candida albicans Exocyst Subunit Sec6 Contributes to Cell Wall Integrity and Is a Determinant of Hyphal Branching.

The yeast exocyst is a multiprotein complex comprised of eight subunits (Sec3, Sec5, Sec6, Sec8, Sec10, Sec15, Exo70, and Exo84) which orchestrates trafficking of exocytic vesicles to specific docking sites on the plasma membrane during polarized secretion. To study SEC6 function in Candida albicans, we generated a conditional mutant strain in which SEC6 was placed under the control of a tetracycline-regulated promoter. In the repressed state, the tetR-SEC6 mutant strain (denoted tSEC6) was viable for up to 27 h; thus, all phenotypic analyses were performed at 24 h or earlier.

Quinacrine inhibits Candida albicans growth and filamentation at neutral pH.

Candida albicans is a common cause of catheter-related bloodstream infections (CR-BSI), in part due to its strong propensity to form biofilms. Drug repurposing is an approach that might identify agents that are able to overcome antifungal drug resistance within biofilms. Quinacrine (QNC) is clinically active against the eukaryotic protozoan parasites Plasmodium and Giardia.

In vitro analysis of flufenamic acid activity against Candida albicans biofilms.

In a recent high-throughput screen against specific Candida albicans drug targets, several compounds that exhibited non-specific antifungal activity were identified, including the non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug flufenamic acid (FFA). This study sought to determine the effect of different doses of FFA, alone or in combination with fixed concentrations of the standard antifungal agents amphotericin B (AmB), caspofungin (CAS) or fluconazole (FLU), for the prevention and treatment of C. albicans biofilms.

Genetic polymorphism at Val80 (rs700518) of the CYP19A1 gene is associated with aromatase inhibitor associated bone loss in women with ER + breast cancer.

Purpose: Polymorphisms in the CYP19A1 (aromatase) gene have been reported to influence disease-free survival and the incidence of musculoskeletal complaints in patients taking aromatase inhibitors (AIs) for estrogen receptor positive (ER+) breast cancer. Bone loss and fractures are well-recognized complications from AI therapy. The objective of this study is to determine the influence of polymorphisms in the CYP19A1 gene on bone loss among patients taking aromatase inhibitors for ER+ breast cancer.