Advancing protein structure prediction beyond AlphaFold2.

Accurate prediction of protein structures is essential for understanding their biological functions. The release of AlphaFold2 in 2021 marked a significant breakthrough, delivering unprecedented accuracy. However, challenges remain, particularly for proteins with limited evolutionary data or complex molecular interactions.

A Comparative Study Between Cold Static Storage and Normothermic Ex-Situ Donor Heart Preservation in a Rat Model of Heterotopic Heart Transplantation.

Introduction: Cold static storage (CSS) and normothermic ex-situ preservation are the most widely used donor heart preservation techniques worldwide. The current study compares both CSS and normothermic ex-situ preservation methods in terms of graft performance, morphologic changes, and acute immune response in an experimental model.

Method And Materials: Twenty rats underwent heterotopic abdominal heart transplantation after 2 h of CSS (group 1; n = 10) or normothermic ex-situ perfusion (group 2; n = 10).

Transcriptomic insights into the anti-inflammatory mechanisms of Protaetia brevitarsis seulensis larvae in IL-1β-driven chondrosarcoma cells.

Osteoarthritis (OA) is a complex, degenerative, multi-factorial joint disease. Because of the difficulty in treating OA, developing new targeting strategies that can be used to understand its molecular mechanisms is critical. Protaetia brevitarsis seulensis larvae offer much therapeutic value; however, the presence of various active compounds and the multi-factorial risk factors for OA render the precise mechanisms of action unclear.

Suppression of carbon footprint through the CO-assisted pyrolysis of livestock waste.

Concentrated animal feeding operation facility in modern livestock industry is pointed out as a point site causing environmental pollution due to massive generation of manure. While livestock manure is conventionally treated through biological processes, composting and anaerobic digestion, these practices pose difficulties in achieving efficient carbon utilization. To address this, this study suggests a pyrolytic valorization of livestock manure, with a focus on enhancing syngas production.

Population pharmacokinetics of erlotinib in patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC): A model-based meta-analysis.

Background: Erlotinib is a potent first-generation epidermal growth factor receptor tyrosine kinase inhibitor. Due to its proximity to the upper limit of tolerability, dose adjustments are often necessary to manage potential adverse reactions resulting from its pharmacokinetic (PK) variability.

Methods: Population PK studies of erlotinib were identified using PubMed databases.

SEPO-FI: Deep-learning based software to calculate fusion index of muscle cells.

The fusion index is a critical metric for quantitatively assessing the transformation of in vitro muscle cells into myotubes in the biological and medical fields. Traditional methods for calculating this index manually involve the labor-intensive counting of numerous muscle cell nuclei in images, which necessitates determining whether each nucleus is located inside or outside the myotubes, leading to significant inter-observer variation. To address these challenges, this study proposes a three-stage process that integrates the strengths of pattern recognition and deep-learning to automatically calculate the fusion index.

Mild behavioral impairment and its relation to amyloid load in isolated REM sleep behavior disorder.

Introduction: In isolated REM sleep behavior disorder (iRBD), the evidence of cognitive impairment and co-existing amyloid pathology suggests that mild behavioral impairment (MBI) may be associated with disease progression. In this study, we investigated MBI and its association with cognitive function, brain amyloid load and glucose metabolism in iRBD patients to evaluate the utility of MBI as a predictive marker of disease progression.

Methods: Patients with iRBD underwent a neuropsychological evaluation, F-florbetaben (FBB) PET, and F-fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) PET.

Improved Hematology Analysis Based on Microfluidic Impedance Spectroscopy: Erythrocyte Orientation and Anisotropic Dielectric Properties of Flowing Blood.

Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy has great potential for laboratory blood tests. The overall aim of this study is to develop a microfluidic sensor for determining the physical properties and hematological parameters of blood based on its dielectric spectra. Impedance was measured in flowing blood to prevent aggregation and sedimentation at frequencies between 40 Hz and 110 MHz.

Superior performance in classification of breast cancer molecular subtype and histological factors by radiomics based on ultrafast MRI over standard MRI: evidence from a prospective study.

Purpose: To compare the performance of ultrafast MRI with standard MRI in classifying histological factors and subtypes of invasive breast cancer among radiologists with varying experience.

Methods: From October 2021 to November 2022, this prospective study enrolled 225 participants with 233 breast cancers before treatment (NCT06104189 at clinicaltrials.gov).

rs762855 single nucleotide polymorphism modulates the risk for diffuse-type gastric cancer in females: a genome-wide association study in the Korean population.

Background: Intestinal-type gastric cancer (IGC) and diffuse-type gastric cancer (DGC) exhibit different prevalence rates between sexes. While environmental factors like Helicobacter pylori infection and alcohol consumption contribute to these differences, they do not fully account for them, suggesting a role for host genetic factors.

Methods: We conducted a meta-analysis to explore associations between single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) and the risk of IGC or DGC.

Calcium-binding protein CALU-1 is essential for proper collagen formation in Caenorhabditis elegans.

Collagen, a major component of the extracellular matrix, is crucial for the structural integrity of the Caenorhabditis elegans cuticle. While several proteins involved in collagen biosynthesis have been identified, the complete regulatory network remains unclear. This study investigates the role of CALU-1, an ER-resident calcium-binding protein, in cuticle collagen formation and maintenance.

Greater Influence of Density on the Electrical Properties of an Organic Semiconductor Glass Compared to Molecular Orientation.

Physical vapor deposition is widely used in the fabrication of organic light-emitting diodes and has the potential to adjust the density and orientation through substrate temperature control, which may lead to enhanced electrical performance. However, it is unclear whether this enhanced property is because of the horizontal molecular orientation or the increased density. The effects of the density and orientation on the electrical properties of a potential electron transport material, (3-dibenzo[c,h]acridin-7-yl)phenyl)diphenylphosphine oxide (TPPO-dibenzacridine), were investigated.

A-kinase anchor protein 12 promotes oligodendrogenesis and cognitive recovery in carbon monoxide therapy for traumatic brain injury.

Therapeutic drug development for central nervous system injuries, such as traumatic brain injury (TBI), presents significant challenges. TBI results in primary mechanical damage followed by secondary injury, leading to cognitive dysfunction and memory loss. Our recent study demonstrated the potential of carbon monoxide-releasing molecules (CORMs) to improve TBI recovery by enhancing neurogenesis.

Vitamin Bs as Potent Anticancer Agents through MMP-2/9 Regulation.

In recent years, the role of coenzymes, particularly those from the vitamin B group in modulating the activity of metalloenzymes has garnered significant attention in cancer treatment strategies. Metalloenzymes play pivotal roles in various cellular processes, including DNA repair, cell signaling, and metabolism, making them promising targets for cancer therapy. This review explores the complex interplay between coenzymes, specifically vitamin Bs, and metalloenzymes in cancer pathogenesis and treatment.

Optimization of Conditions for Expression of Dengue Serotype 2 EDIII Protein in and Immune Responses of Adjuvant-Free EDIII Ferritin Nanoparticles Against Dengue Virus in BALB/c Mice.

Self-assembling ferritin nanoparticle technology is a widely used vaccine development platform for enhancing the efficacy of subunit vaccines by displaying multiple antigens on nanocages. The dengue virus (DENV) envelope domain III (EDIII) protein, the most promising antigen for DENV, has been applied in vaccine development, and it is essential to evaluate the relative immunogenicity of the EDIII protein and EDIII-conjugated ferritin to show the efficiency of the ferritin delivery system compared with EDIII. In this study, we optimized the conditions for the expression of the EDIII protein in , protein purification, and refolding, and these optimization techniques were applied for the purification of EDIII ferritin nanoparticles.

Use of ProMED as a Surveillance System for Emerging and Re-Emerging Infectious Diseases in Brazil from 2015 to 2020.

Emerging and re-emerging infectious diseases have been frequently reported in Brazil. The Program for Monitoring Emerging Diseases (ProMED) is a virtual system with expert curation for monitoring health events, including those occurring in Brazil. This study aimed to describe the ProMED as a complementary surveillance system for emerging infectious diseases in Brazil.

Atlas of Interactions Between Decoration Proteins and Major Capsid Proteins of Coliphage N4.

Coliphage N4 is a representative species of the family of bacteriophages. Originally structurally studied in 2008, the capsid structure was solved to 14 Å to reveal an interesting arrangement of Ig-like decoration proteins across the surface of the capsid. Herein, we present a high-resolution N4 structure, reporting a 2.

Synergistic Antifungal Activity of Terbinafine in Combination with Light-Activated Gelatin-Silver Nanoparticles Against Strains.

The development of resistance to traditional antifungal therapies has necessitated the exploration of alternative treatment strategies to effectively manage fungal infections, particularly those induced by (). This research investigates the possibility of integrating silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) with Terbinafine to improve antifungal effectiveness. Terbinafine, while potent, faces challenges with specific fungal strains, highlighting the need for strategies to enhance its treatment efficacy.

Revisiting the Metabolism of Donepezil in Rats Using Non-Targeted Metabolomics and Molecular Networking.

: Although donepezil, a reversible acetylcholinesterase inhibitor, has been in use since 1996, its metabolic characteristics remain poorly characterized. Therefore, this study aims to investigate the in vivo metabolism of donepezil using liquid chromatography-high-resolution mass spectrometry (LC-HRMS) based on a molecular networking (MN) approach integrated with a non-targeted metabolomics approach. : After the oral administration of donepezil (30 mg/kg) in rats, urine, feces, and liver samples were collected for LC-HRMS analysis.

Development of Novel Fluticasone/Salmeterol/Tiotropium-Loaded Dry Powder Inhaler and Bioequivalence Assessment to Commercial Products in Rats.

/: Inhaler devices have been developed for the effective delivery of inhaled medications used in the treatment of pulmonary diseases. However, differing operating procedures across the devices can lead to user errors and reduce treatment efficacy, especially when patients use multiple devices simultaneously. To address this, we developed a novel dry powder inhaler (DPI), combining fluticasone propionate (FP), salmeterol xinafoate (SX), and tiotropium bromide (TB) into a single device designed for bioequivalent delivery compared to existing commercial products in an animal model.

Emerging Nanoparticle-Based Diagnostics and Therapeutics for Cancer: Innovations and Challenges.

Malignant growth is expected to surpass other significant causes of death as one of the top reasons for dismalness and mortality worldwide. According to a World Health Organization (WHO) study, this illness causes approximately between 9 and 10 million instances of deaths annually. Chemotherapy, radiation, and surgery are the three main methods of treating cancer.

Preparation of pH-Responsive Tanshinone IIA-Loaded Calcium Alginate Nanoparticles and Their Anticancer Mechanisms.

Tanshinone IIA (Tan IIA) is a lipophilic active constituent derived from the rhizomes and roots of (Danshen), a common Chinese medicinal herb. However, clinical applications of Tan IIA are limited due to its poor solubility in water. : To overcome this limitation, we developed a calcium alginate hydrogel (CA) as a hydrophilic carrier for Tan IIA, which significantly improved its solubility.

HIFU-CCL19/21 Axis Enhances Dendritic Cell Vaccine Efficacy in the Tumor Microenvironment.

Background/objectives: Effectively targeting treatment-resistant tumor cells, particularly cancer stem cells (CSCs) involved in tumor recurrence, remains a major challenge in immunotherapy. This study examines the potential of combining mechanical high-intensity focused ultrasound (M-HIFU) with dendritic cell (DC) vaccines to enhance immune responses against OLFM4-expressing tumors, a CSC marker linked to immune evasion and tumor growth.

Methods: M-HIFU was applied to induce immunogenic cell death by mechanically disrupting tumor cells, releasing tumor-associated antigens and creating an immunostimulatory environment.

L-Threonine-Derived Biodegradable Polyurethane Nanoparticles for Sustained Carboplatin Release.

The use of polymeric nanoparticles (NPs) in drug delivery systems offers the advantages of enhancing drug efficacy and minimizing side effects; In this study, L-threonine polyurethane (LTPU) NPs have been fabricated by water-in-oil-in-water emulsion and solvent evaporation using biodegradable and biocompatible LTPU. This polymer was pre-synthesized through the use of an amino acid-based chain extender, desaminotyrosyl L-threonine hexyl ester (DLTHE), where urethane bonds are formed by poly(lactic acid)-poly(ethylene glycol)-poly(lactic acid) (PLA-PEG-PLA) triblock copolymer and 1,6-hexamethylene diisocyanate (HDI). LTPU is designed to be degraded by hydrolysis and enzymatic activity due to the presence of ester bonds and peptide bonds within the polymer backbone.

The Role of Pentacyclic Triterpenoids in Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer: The Mechanisms of Action and Therapeutic Potential.

Lung cancer remains a major global health problem because of its high cancer-related mortality rate despite advances in therapeutic approaches. Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), a major subtype of lung cancer, is more amenable to surgical intervention in its early stages. However, the prognosis for advanced NSCLC remains poor, owing to limited treatment options.