Substantial Impact of Later-Life Depression Among Community Older Adults on the Family Caregivers' Burden in the Home Care Setting of Chiang Mai, Northern Thailand.

: Depression is a common geriatric problem globally. It is particularly burdensome in low- and middle-income countries, where care for older people mainly relies on the family in the absence of long-term care facilities. This study aimed to assess the level of caregivers' burden among family caregivers who are taking care of older persons with depression in the home care setting within the communities of Chiang Mai, Northern Thailand.

A Case of Acquired Reactive Perforating Dermatosis with Complete Resolution of Eruptions on Upper and Lower Limbs During the Treatment of Diabetes Mellitus and Peripheral Artery Disease.

Acquired reactive perforating dermatosis (ARPD) is characterized by its onset after the age of 18 years, umbilicated papules or nodules with a central keratotic plug, and the presence of necrotic collagen tissue within an epithelial crater. ARPD is strongly associated with systemic diseases such as diabetes mellitus (DM) and chronic renal failure, which may contribute to ARPD through factors including microcirculatory disturbances and the deposition of metabolic byproducts, including advanced glycation end-products and calcium. Here, we report a case of ARPD that improved following DM treatment and catheter-based interventions for peripheral artery disease (PAD).

Clinical Evaluation of a Rapid Reciprocal-Flow PCR Assay and Real-Time PCR Assay with Quenching Probe for Detection of Complex.

This study investigated the diagnostic efficiencies of two assays for the detection of complex: (1) the reciprocal-flow real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-based GeneSoC assay and (2) the real-time PCR based GENECUBE MTB assay with quenching probe. These assays were performed for stored clinical samples and results were compared with the confirmed results based on culture and COBAS TaqMan MTB assay. A total of 53 samples (20 confirmed positives and 33 confirmed negatives) were included in the performance analysis.

Comparative Analysis of and Virulence Among Foodborne and Clinical Strains.

is one of the most important foodborne pathogens that can cause invasive listeriosis. In this study, the virulence levels of 26 strains of isolated from food and clinical samples in Shanghai, China, between 2020 and 2022 were analyzed. There were significant differences among isolates in terms of their mortality rate in , cytotoxicity to JEG-3 cells, hemolytic activity, and expression of important virulence genes.

Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Epidemiological Trends in Pediatric Cervical Abscess-Forming Infections.

Abscess-forming cervical bacterial infections are rare and serious infections. We retrospectively examined the trends in abscess-forming cervical bacterial infections in children who required inpatient treatment in three periods before (January 2016 to June 2020), during (July 2020 to December 2022) and after the COVID-19 pandemic (January 2023 to June 2024). The study included 96 patients with superficial cervical abscesses and 111 patients with deep cervical abscesses (34 with retropharyngeal abscesses, 51 with peritonsillar abscesses, and 26 with deep neck abscesses).

Key Taxa of the Gut Microbiome Associated with the Relationship Between Environmental Sensitivity and Inflammation-Related Biomarkers.

Individual differences in environmental sensitivity are linked to stress-related psychiatric symptoms. In previous research, we found that high environmental sensitivity can be a risk factor for increased inflammation and gut permeability, particularly when gut microbiome diversity is low. However, the specific gut bacterial taxa involved in this interaction remain unclear.

The Response Regulator OmpR Negatively Controls the Expression of Genes Implicated in Tilimycin and Tilivalline Cytotoxin Production in .

toxigenic strains represent a critical health threat, mainly due to their link to antibiotic-associated hemorrhagic colitis. This serious condition results from the bacteria's ability to produce tilimycin and tilivalline cytotoxins. Our research highlights the pivotal role of OmpR, a key regulator within the EnvZ/OmpR two-component system, in controlling the virulence factors associated with .

Successful Treatment of Fungal Dermatitis in a Bottlenose Dolphin ().

In recent decades, many fungi have emerged as major causes of disease in marine mammals. This study reports on the detection of filamentous fungi in the subcutaneous tissue and wound surface on the tail fin of a managed bottlenose dolphin () emaciated due to severe digestive problems. Immunosuppression by chronic diseases and starvation decreased resistance against opportunistic infections.

A Comparison of Rice Root Microbial Dynamics in Organic and Conventional Paddy Fields.

The assembly of plant root microbiomes is a dynamic process. Understanding the roles of root-associated microbiomes in rice development requires dissecting their assembly throughout the rice life cycle under diverse environments and exploring correlations with soil properties and rice physiology. In this study, we performed amplicon sequencing targeting fungal ITS and the bacterial 16S rRNA gene to characterize and compare bacterial and fungal community dynamics of the rice root endosphere and soil in organic and conventional paddy fields.

A Microfluidic-Based Cell-Stretching Culture Device That Allows for Easy Preparation of Slides for Observation with High-Magnification Objective Lenses.

Microfluidic-based cell-stretching devices are vital for studying the molecular pathways involved in cellular responses to mechanobiological processes. Accurate evaluation of these responses requires detailed observation of cells cultured in this cell-stretching device. This study aimed to develop a method for preparing microscope slides to enable high-magnification imaging of cells in these devices.

In Vitro Model of Vascular Remodeling Under Microfluidic Perfusion.

We developed a portable microfluidic system that combines spontaneous lumen formation from human umbilical endothelial cells (HUVECs) in fibrin-collagen hydrogels with active perfusion controlled by a braille actuator. Adaptive interstitial flow and feedthrough perfusion switching enabled the successful culture of spontaneously formed naturally branched lumens for more than one month. We obtained many large-area (2 mm × 3 mm) long-term (more than 30 days per run) time-lapse image datasets of the in vitro luminal network using this microfluidic system.

The Prevalence and Clinical Characteristics of -Associated Hearing Loss in 15,684 Hearing Loss Patients.

belongs to the unconventional myosin superfamily, and the myosin IIIa protein localizes on the tip of the stereocilia of vestibular and cochlear hair cells. Deficiencies in have been reported to cause the deformation of hair cells into abnormally long stereocilia with an increase in spacing. is a rare causative gene of autosomal recessive sensorineural hearing loss (DFNB30), with only 13 cases reported to date.

Novel Variants and Clinical Features of Hearing Loss in a Large Japanese Cohort.

Background/objectives: The gene is responsible for autosomal recessive non-syndromic sensorineural hearing loss and is assigned as DFNB18B. To date, 44 causative variants have been reported to cause non-syndromic hearing loss. However, the detailed clinical features for -associated hearing loss remain unclear.

Recent Advances in Stroke Genetics-Unraveling the Complexity of Cerebral Infarction: A Brief Review.

Background/objectives: Recent advances in stroke genetics have substantially enhanced our understanding of the complex genetic architecture underlying cerebral infarction and other stroke subtypes. As knowledge in this field expands, healthcare providers must remain informed about these latest developments. This review aims to provide a comprehensive overview of recent advances in stroke genetics, with a focus on cerebral infarction, and discuss their potential impact on patient care and future research directions.

The Heterozygous p.A684V Variant in the Gene Is a Mutational Hotspot Causing a Severe Hearing Loss Phenotype.

Background/objectives: A heterozygous mutation in the gene is responsible for autosomal dominant non-syndromic hearing loss (DFNA6/14/38) and Wolfram-like syndrome, which is characterized by bilateral sensorineural hearing loss with optic atrophy and/or diabetes mellitus. However, detailed clinical features for the patients with the heterozygous p.A684V variant remain unknown.

Snowflake Data Warehouse for Large-Scale and Diverse Biological Data Management and Analysis.

With the increasing speed of genomic, transcriptomic, and metagenomic data generation driven by the advancement and widespread adoption of next-generation sequencing technologies, the management and analysis of large-scale, diverse data in the fields of life science and biotechnology have become critical challenges. In this paper, we thoroughly discuss the use of cloud data warehouses to address these challenges. Specifically, we propose a data management and analysis framework using Snowflake, a SaaS-based data platform.

Restoration of Genetic Code in Macular Mouse Fibroblasts via APOBEC1-Mediated RNA Editing.

RNA editing is a significant mechanism underlying genetic variation and protein molecule alteration; C-to-U RNA editing, specifically, is important in the regulation of mammalian genetic diversity. The ability to define and limit accesses of enzymatic machinery to avoid the modification of unintended targets is key to the success of RNA editing. Identification of the core component of the apoB RNA editing holoenzyme, APOBEC, and investigation into new candidate genes encoding other elements of the complex could reveal further details regarding APOBEC-mediated mRNA editing.

Probing the Dual Role of Ca in the LH1-RC Complex by Constructing and Analyzing Ca-Bound and Ca-Free LH1 Complexes.

The genome of the mildly thermophilic hot spring purple sulfur bacterium, (.) , contains a multigene family that encodes a series of α- and β-polypeptides, collectively forming a heterogeneous light-harvesting 1 (LH1) complex. The LH1, therefore, offers a unique model for studying an intermediate phenotype between phototrophic thermophilic and mesophilic bacteria, particularly regarding their LH1 transition and moderately enhanced thermal stability.

Evaluating the Diagnostic Value of Lymphocyte Subsets in Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid and Peripheral Blood Across Various Diffuse Interstitial Lung Disease Subtypes.

Diffuse interstitial lung diseases (ILD) include conditions with identifiable causes such as chronic eosinophilic pneumonia (CEP), sarcoidosis (SAR), chronic hypersensitivity pneumonitis (CHP), and connective tissue disease-associated interstitial pneumonia (CTD), as well as idiopathic interstitial pneumonia (IIP) of unknown origin. In non-IIP diffuse lung diseases, bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) fluid appearance is diagnostic. This study examines lymphocyte subsets in BAL fluid and peripheral blood of 56 patients with diffuse ILD, excluding idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF), who underwent BAL for diagnostic purposes.

A Cell-Based Evaluation of the Tyrosinase-Mediated Metabolic Activation of Leukoderma-Inducing Phenols, II: The Depletion of Augments the Cytotoxic Effect Evoked by Tyrosinase in Melanogenic Cells.

Chemical leukoderma is a disorder induced by chemicals such as rhododendrol and monobenzone. These compounds possess a -substituted phenol moiety and undergo oxidation into highly reactive and toxic -quinone metabolites by tyrosinase. This metabolic activation plays a critical role in the development of leukoderma through the production of damage to melanocytes and immunological responses.

Immunostimulatory Effects of Guanine-Quadruplex Topologies as Scaffolds for CpG Oligodeoxynucleotides.

Synthetic cytosine-phosphate-guanine oligodeoxynucleotides (CpG ODNs) are promising candidates for vaccine adjuvants, because they activate immune responses through the Toll-like receptor 9 (TLR9) pathway. However, unmodified CpG ODNs are quickly degraded by serum nucleases, and their negative charge hinders cellular uptake, limiting their clinical application. Our group previously reported that guanine-quadruplex (G4)-forming CpG ODNs exhibit enhanced stability and cellular uptake.

Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition Suppression by ML210 Enhances Gemcitabine Anti-Tumor Effects on PDAC Cells.

Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is one of the deadliest cancers in the world. Neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC) has become a standard treatment for patients scheduled for surgical resection, but the high rate of postoperative recurrence is a critical problem. Optimization of NAC is desirable to reduce postoperative recurrence and achieve long-term survival.

NADH Reductive Stress and Its Correlation with Disease Severity in Leigh Syndrome: A Pilot Study Using Patient Fibroblasts and a Mouse Model.

Nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD) is a critical cofactor in mitochondrial energy production. The NADH/NAD ratio, reflecting the balance between NADH (reduced) and NADoxidized, is a key marker for the severity of mitochondrial diseases. We recently developed a streamlined LC-MS/MS method for the precise measurement of NADH and NAD.

The Liver X Receptor Promotes Immune Homeostasis via Controlled Activation of the Innate Immune System in the Liver.

The liver is an indispensable metabolic organ, responsible for accumulating and transporting various nutritional compounds in hepatocytes. However, the transport of these materials from the liver is an energetically intensive task because they contain a considerable number of hydrophobic components, including free cholesterol, and require specialized transfer proteins to shuttle these substances through an aqueous phase. Liver X receptors (LXRs) induce the expression of cholesterol transporters in macrophages to transport free cholesterol derived from apoptotic cells into extracellular space via high-density lipoproteins.

IL-18 Blockage Reduces Neuroinflammation and Promotes Functional Recovery in a Mouse Model of Spinal Cord Injury.

The prognosis of spinal cord injury (SCI) is closely linked to secondary injury processes, predominantly driven by neuroinflammation. Interleukin-18 (IL-18) plays a pivotal role in this inflammatory response. In previous work, we developed an anti-IL-18 antibody capable of neutralizing the active form of IL-18.