Efficacy and safety of safinamide in Parkinson's disease patients with motor fluctuations without levodopa dosage escalation over 18 weeks: KEEP study.

This multicentre, prospective, single-arm study evaluated safinamide as add-on therapy to levodopa in Korean patients with Parkinson's disease (PD) with motor fluctuations with ≥ 1.5 h of "off" time daily, who took levodopa ≥ 3 times/day (n = 199). Baseline levodopa and dopamine agonist doses were maintained without escalation during the 18-week treatment period.

Changes in quality characteristics and biogenic amine contents in beef by cooking methods.

Unlabelled: This study aimed to evaluate the changes in imported beef loin before and after cooking, depending on cooking methods, through quality characteristics, biogenic amine (BA) content analysis, and electronic tongue system. Sous-vide (SV), characterized by the least cooking loss, exhibited the highest water content at 64.11%.

Enhancing Microstructural and Mechanical Properties of Ferrous Medium-Entropy Alloy through Cu Addition and Post-Weld Heat Treatment in Gas Tungsten Arc Welding.

This study investigates the impact of a high-entropy alloy filler metal coated with copper (Cu) and post-weld heat treatment (PWHT) on the weldability of a ferrous medium-entropy alloy (MEA) in gas tungsten arc welding. The addition of 1-at% Cu had an insignificant effect on the microstructural behaviour, despite a positive mixing enthalpy with other elements. It was observed that a small amount of Cu was insufficient to induce phase separation into the Cu-rich phase and refine the microstructure of the as-welded specimen.

Efficient reverse genetics approach involving infectious subgenomic amplicon for engineering dengue virus.

Dengue virus, which belongs to the Flaviviridae family, can induce a range of symptoms from mild to severe, including dengue fever, dengue hemorrhagic fever, and dengue shock syndrome. While infectious cloning technology is a useful tool for understanding viral pathogenesis and symptoms, it exhibits limitations when constructing the entire Flavivirus genome. The instability and toxicity of the genome to bacteria make its full-length construction in bacterial vectors a time-consuming and laborious process.

Room-temperature response of MOF-derived Pd@PdO core shell/γ-FeO microcubes decorated graphitic carbon based ultrasensitive and highly selective H gas sensor.

With the current upsurge in hydrogen economies all over the world, an increased demand for improved chemiresistive H sensors that are highly responsive and fast acting when exposed to gases is expected. Owing to safety concerns about explosive and highly flammable H gas, it is important to develop resistive sensors that can detect the leakage of H gas swiftly and selectively. Currently, interest in metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) for gas-sensor applications is increasing due to their open-metal sites, large surface area, and unique surface morphologies.

Safety and effectiveness of perampanel monotherapy after adjunctive therapy through retention rate in subjects with focal-onset seizures with or without focal to bilateral tonic-clonic seizures: A multicenter retrospective study in Korea.

Objective: To assess the effectiveness and tolerability of perampanel monotherapy following conversion from adjunctive therapy.

Methods: This was a multicenter, retrospective, non-interventional study of Korean patients aged ≥12 years with focal-onset seizures (FOS) with or without focal to bilateral tonic-clonic seizures. Data were extracted from electronic medical records of perampanel-treated patients from 1 February 2016 to 31 October 2020.

Characterization and genomic study of EJP2, a novel jumbo phage targeting antimicrobial resistant .

The emergence of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) has noticeably increased in recent years worldwide and causes serious public health concerns. As alternatives to antibiotics, bacteriophages are regarded as promising antimicrobial agents. In this study, we isolated and characterized a novel jumbo phage EJP2 that specifically targets AMR strains.

The 0-3 Lead Zirconate-Titanate (PZT)/Polyvinyl-Butyral (PVB) Composite for Tactile Sensing.

In this study, a 0-3 piezoelectric composite based on lead zirconate-titanate (PZT)/polyvinyl-butyral (PVB) was fabricated and characterized for its potential application in tactile sensing. The 0-3 composite was developed to incorporate the advantages of both ceramic and polymer. The paste of 0-3 PZT-PVB composite was printed using a conventional screen-printing technique on alumina and mylar substrates.

Emergent Admissions to the Epilepsy Monitoring Unit in the Setting of COVID-19 Pandemic-related, State-mandated Restrictions: Clinical Decision Making and Outcomes.

Due to the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, the state of Texas-limited elective procedures to conserve beds and personal protective equipment (PPE); therefore, between March 22 and May 18, 2020, admission to the epilepsy monitoring unit (EMU) was limited only to urgent and emergent cases. We evaluated clinical characteristics and outcomes of these patients who were admitted to the EMU. Nineteen patients were admitted (one patient twice) with average age of 36.

Characterization and Genomic Analysis of PALS2, a Novel Jumbo Bacteriophage.

is an important human pathogen that can be frequently encountered in clinical and food-processing surroundings. Among the various countermeasures, bacteriophages have been considered to be promising alternatives to antibiotics. In this study, the bacteriophage PALS2 was isolated from bird feces, and the genomic and biological characteristics of this phage were investigated.

Development of a Novel Chimeric Endolysin, Lys109 With Enhanced Lytic Activity Against .

As the incidence of antibiotic-resistant bacteria has become increased, phage endolysins are believed as one of the promising alternatives to antibiotics. However, the discovery of potent endolysin is still challenging because it is labor intensive and difficult to obtain a soluble form with high lytic activity. In this respect, the modular structures of Gram-positive endolysins can provide an opportunity to develop novel endolysins by domain rearrangement.

Establishment of a NanoBiT-Based Cytosolic Ca Sensor by Optimizing Calmodulin-Binding Motif and Protein Expression Levels.

Cytosolic Ca levels ([Ca]) change dynamically in response to inducers, repressors, and physiological conditions, and aberrant [Ca] concentration regulation is associated with cancer, heart failure, and diabetes. Therefore, [Ca] is considered as a good indicator of physiological and pathological cellular responses, and is a crucial biomarker for drug discovery. A genetically encoded calcium indicator (GECI) was recently developed to measure [Ca] in single cells and animal models.

Complete Genome Sequence of Staphylococcus aureus Phage SA75, Isolated from Goat Feces.

Antibiotic-resistant is an opportunistic pathogen causing serious human infections worldwide. Here, we report the complete annotated genome of bacteriophage SA75, a member of the family which could be an alternative to traditional antibiotics for treating infections. We used a hybrid approach combining MinION and Illumina MiSeq sequencing, which yielded a 43,134-bp genome and 65 open reading frames.

Exploring the molecular structures that confer ligand selectivity for galanin type II and III receptors.

Galanin receptors (GALRs) belong to the superfamily of G-protein coupled receptors. The three GALR subtypes (GALR1, GALR2, and GALR3) are activated by their endogenous ligands: spexin (SPX) and galanin (GAL). The synthetic SPX-based GALR2-specific agonist, SG2A, plays a dual role in the regulation of appetite and depression-like behaviors.

Investigation on the Intrinsic Potential of Using Potassium Chloride for Partially Replacing NaCl in Kimchi and the Effect of Information on Consumer Acceptance of Sodium-Reduced Kimchi According to Age.

The high sodium content of kimchi is a contradicting factor from its fame as a healthy food. With the aim of reducing the sodium content of kimchi, the objective of this study was to understand the effect of providing "sodium-reduced" information on the acceptance of kimchi according to the age of consumption. Six sodium-reduced kimchi samples, prepared with different percentages of sodium reduction (25% and 50%) and potassium chloride concentration (none, 0.

Monitoring GPCR-β-arrestin1/2 Interactions in Real Time Living Systems to Accelerate Drug Discovery.

Interactions between G-protein coupled receptors (GPCRs) and β-arrestins are vital processes with physiological implications of great importance. Currently, the characterization of novel drugs towards their interactions with β-arrestins and other cytosolic proteins is extremely valuable in the field of GPCR drug discovery particularly during the study of GPCR biased agonism. Here, we show the application of a novel structural complementation assay to accurately monitor receptor-β-arrestin interactions in real time living systems.

Spexin-Based Galanin Receptor Type 2 Agonist for Comorbid Mood Disorders and Abnormal Body Weight.

Despite the established comorbidity between mood disorders and abnormal eating behaviors, the underlying molecular mechanism and therapeutics remain to be resolved. Here, we show that a spexin-based galanin receptor type 2 agonist (SG2A) simultaneously normalized mood behaviors and body weight in corticosterone pellet-implanted (CORTI) mice, which are underweight and exhibit signs of anhedonia, increased anxiety, and depression. Administration of SG2A into the lateral ventricle produced antidepressive and anxiolytic effects in CORTI mice.

Conformational signatures in β-arrestin2 reveal natural biased agonism at a G-protein-coupled receptor.

Discovery of biased ligands and receptor mutants allows characterization of G-protein- and β-arrestin-mediated signaling mechanisms of G-protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs). However, the structural mechanisms underlying biased agonism remain unclear for many GPCRs. We show that while Galanin induces the activation of the galanin receptor 2 (Galr2) that leads to a robust stimulation toward Gαq-protein and β-arrestin1/2, an alternative ligand Spexin and its analog have biased agonism toward G-protein signaling relative to Galanin.

Corporal Punishment and Child Aggression: Ethnic-Level Family Cohesion as a Moderator.

Ethnicity has been examined as a putative moderator between parents' use of corporal punishment and children's externalizing behaviors. Yet, the reasons for this potential ethnic-level moderator have not been fully examined. The primary objective of this study was to examine whether the effect of corporal punishment on aggression is ethnic-specific using major racial groups inside and outside the U.

GABBR2 mutations determine phenotype in rett syndrome and epileptic encephalopathy.

Objective: Rett syndrome (RTT) and epileptic encephalopathy (EE) are devastating neurodevelopmental disorders with distinct diagnostic criteria. However, highly heterogeneous and overlapping clinical features often allocate patients into the boundary of the two conditions, complicating accurate diagnosis and appropriate medical interventions. Therefore, we investigated the specific molecular mechanism that allows an understanding of the pathogenesis and relationship of these two conditions.

Development of Spexin-based Human Galanin Receptor Type II-Specific Agonists with Increased Stability in Serum and Anxiolytic Effect in Mice.

The novel neuropeptide spexin (SPX) was discovered to activate galanin receptor 2 (GALR2) and 3 (GALR3) but not galanin receptor 1 (GALR1). Although GALR2 is known to display a function, particularly in anxiety, depression, and appetite regulation, the further determination of its function would benefit from a more stable and selective agonist that acts only at GALR2. In the present study, we developed a GALR2-specific agonist with increased stability in serum.

[Identifying Usability Level and Factors Affecting Electronic Nursing Record Systems: A Multi-institutional Time-motion Approach].

Purpose: The usability, user satisfaction, and impact of electronic nursing record (ENR) systems were investigated.

Methods: This mixed-method research was performed as a time-motion (TM) study and a survey which were carried out at six hospitals between August and November 2013. The TM study involved 108 nurses from medical, surgical, and intensive care units at each hospital, plus an additional 48 nurses who served as nonparticipating observers.

The Timing Effect of Bullying in Childhood and Adolescence on Developmental Trajectories of Externalizing Behaviors.

This longitudinal study investigated the timing effect of bullying on developmental trajectories of externalizing behaviors from middle childhood to adolescence. We focused on the relation of (a) only an early experience of bullying (i.e.