Peroxiredoxin Ⅲ mitigates mitochondrial HO-mediated damage and supports quality control in cardiomyocytes under hypoxia-reoxygenation stress.

Peroxiredoxin Ⅲ (PrxⅢ) is a mitochondria-localized peroxidase that plays a key role in detoxifying hydrogen peroxide (HO) and preserving organelle homeostasis. While its antioxidant function is well established under physiological conditions, the role of PrxⅢ in the context of cardiac hypoxia/reoxygenation (H/R) injury remains incompletely understood. In this study, we investigated the protective function of PrxⅢ in cardiomyocytes exposed to H/R stress, a widely used in vitro model to mimic ischemia/reperfusion injury.

Effect of familiarity, brand loyalty and food neophobicity on food acceptance: A case study of instant noodles with consumers in Seoul, Beijing, and Shanghai.

This study investigated the factors influencing the liking and disliking of regular and spicy Jjajang instant noodles among consumers in Seoul (South Korea), Beijing (China), and Shanghai (China). The research examined the roles of cultural background, regional taste preferences, brand loyalty, and food neophobia. Four regular Jjajang instant noodles (two Korean and two Chinese brands) and two spicy Korean Jjajang noodles were tasted and evaluated by 312 consumers (Seoul = 106, Beijing = 105, Shanghai = 101) in blind condition using the 9-point hedonic scale and the Check-All-That-Apply method.

Impaired chaperone-mediated autophagy leads to abnormal SORT1 (sortilin 1) turnover and CES1-dependent triglyceride hydrolysis.

SORT1 (sortilin 1), a member of the the Vps10 (vacuolar protein sorting 10) family, is involved in hepatic lipid metabolism by regulating very low-density lipoprotein (VLDL) secretion and facilitating the lysosomal degradation of CES1 (carboxylesterase 1), crucial for triglyceride (TG) breakdown in the liver. This study explores whether SORT1 is targeted for degradation by chaperone-mediated autophagy (CMA), a selective protein degradation pathway that directs proteins containing KFERQ-like motifs to lysosomes via LAMP2A (lysosomal-associated membrane protein 2A). Silencing LAMP2A or HSPA8/Hsc70 with siRNA increased cytosolic SORT1 protein levels.

A Pilot Study of a Modified Swallowing Screening Tool for Critically Ill Patients in the Intensive Care Unit.

The lack of early assessment tools for swallowing function in patients in the intensive care unit (ICU) may lead to delays in oral intake. This study assessed the effectiveness of a new bedside swallowing screening tool in detecting dysphagia in patients in the ICU or isolation settings, where isolation settings refer to conditions such as COVID-19, where patient mobility is limited. We assessed swallowing function in 13 patients with severe acute respiratory distress syndrome.

Three-Dimensional Printed Customized Scaffolds Covered with Decellularized Bone Extracellular Matrix for Open-Wedge High-Tibial Osteotomy.

Void fillers are required for osseous gaps generated after orthopedic procedures as medial open-wedge high-tibial osteotomy (MOWHTO) to provide sufficient structural support and a rapid osteosynthesis. We developed a novel three-dimensional (3D) printing-based platform technology using the customized 3D scaffolds covered with polycaprolactone (PCL)/β-tri-calcium phosphates (β-TCP)/bone decellularized extracellular matrix (dECM) for use as bone substitute scaffold, which can be effectively exploited to estimate the calculated correction angle with preoperative simulations. PCL/β-TCP/bone dECM scaffolds demonstrated significantly higher cell contain levels in cell seeding efficiency, excellent proliferation capacity, and promotion of early osteogenic differentiation compared with PCL/β-TCP scaffolds.

Spontaneous Lateral Sphenoid Cephalocele in Association with Idiopathic Intracranial Hypertension: A Case Report.

Spontaneous lateral sphenoid cephalocele (SLSC) is the herniation of intracranial contents through a bony defect in the lateral sphenoid, without predisposing factors. SLSC pathogenesis is associated with idiopathic intracranial hypertension (IIH); however, the relationship between IIH and SLSC is not fully understood due to the limited number of published case reports. Here, we report a unique case of SLSC in a 39-year-old female who presented with a combination of a lateral sphenoid cephalocele and multiple radiologic findings indicative of IIH, some of which have never been described in previously published case reports.

Pharmacological inhibition of USP14 delays proteostasis-associated aging in a proteasome-dependent but foxo-independent manner.

Aging is often accompanied by a decline in proteostasis, manifested as an increased propensity for misfolded protein aggregates, which are prevented by protein quality control systems, such as the ubiquitin-proteasome system (UPS) and macroautophagy/autophagy. Although the role of the UPS and autophagy in slowing age-induced proteostasis decline has been elucidated, limited information is available on how these pathways can be activated in a collaborative manner to delay proteostasis-associated aging. Here, we show that activation of the UPS via the pharmacological inhibition of USP14 (ubiquitin specific peptidase 14) using IU1 improves proteostasis and autophagy decline caused by aging or proteostatic stress in and human cells.

Structural Dynamics Analysis of USP14 Activation by AKT-Mediated Phosphorylation.

Ubiquitin-specific protease 14 (USP14), one of the three major proteasome-associated deubiquitinating enzymes (DUBs), is known to be activated by the AKT-mediated phosphorylation at Ser432. Thereby, AKT can regulate global protein degradation by controlling the ubiquitin-proteasome system (UPS). However, the exact molecular mechanism of USP14 activation by AKT phosphorylation at the atomic level remains unknown.

Biallelic USP14 variants cause a syndromic neurodevelopmental disorder.

Purpose: Imbalances in protein homeostasis affect human brain development, with the ubiquitin-proteasome system (UPS) and autophagy playing crucial roles in neurodevelopmental disorders (NDD). This study explores the impact of biallelic USP14 variants on neurodevelopment, focusing on its role as a key hub connecting UPS and autophagy.

Methods: Here, we identified biallelic USP14 variants in 4 individuals from 3 unrelated families: 1 fetus, a newborn with a syndromic NDD and 2 siblings affected by a progressive neurological disease.

Effects of Home-Based Computerized Cognitive Training in Community-Dwelling Adults With Mild Cognitive Impairment.

Objective: There is a growing importance for the home-based (HB) support services, and computerized cognitive training (CCT) has been reported as an effective intervention for cognitive impairment. However, there is still a need for further verification of the effect of HB-CCT. This study aimed to determine the effectiveness of HB-CCT on the cognitive function of community-dwelling adults with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) as well as safety in its use.

Mefenamic Acid-Upregulated Nrf2/SQSTM1 Protects Hepatocytes against Oxidative Stress-Induced Cell Damage.

Mefenamic acid (MFA) is a commonly prescribed non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) with anti-inflammatory and analgesic properties. MFA is known to have potent antioxidant properties and a neuroprotective effect against oxidative stress. However, its impact on the liver is unclear.

Chaperone-mediated autophagy dysregulation during aging impairs hepatic fatty acid oxidation via accumulation of NCoR1.

Objective: Alterations in lipid metabolism are associated with aging and age-related diseases. Chaperone-mediated autophagy (CMA) is a lysosome-dependent process involved in specific protein degradation. Heat shock cognate 71 kDa protein (Hsc70) recognizes cytosolic proteins with KFERQ motif and allows them to enter the lysosome via lysosome-associated membrane glycoprotein 2 isoform A (LAMP2A).

Peroxiredoxin V Protects against UVB-Induced Damage of Keratinocytes.

Ultraviolet B (UVB) irradiation generates reactive oxygen species (ROS), which can damage exposed skin cells. Mitochondria and NADPH oxidase are the two principal producers of ROS in UVB-irradiated keratinocytes. Peroxiredoxin V (PrxV) is a mitochondrial and cytosolic cysteine-dependent peroxidase enzyme that robustly removes HO.

Design and Prediction of Aptamers Assisted by In Silico Methods.

An aptamer is a single-stranded DNA or RNA that binds to a specific target with high binding affinity. Aptamers are developed through the process of systematic evolution of ligands by exponential enrichment (SELEX), which is repeated to increase the binding power and specificity. However, the SELEX process is time-consuming, and the characterization of aptamer candidates selected through it requires additional effort.

Combined Anatomical Anomalies of Direct Aortic Arch Origins of the Left Internal Carotid, Left External Carotid, and Left Vertebral Arteries: A Case Report.

Various branch anomalies of the aortic arch have been reported, but cases with separate origins of the internal and external carotid arteries with combined direct aortic arch origin of the left vertebral artery are extremely rare. Herein, we present a rare case of aplasia of the left common carotid artery with separate origins of the ipsilateral internal and external carotid arteries and vertebral artery from the aortic arch in a 10-year-old girl. In addition, we review the embryological development and clinical implications of these anatomical variations.

Regulation of BRCA1 stability through the tandem UBX domains of isoleucyl-tRNA synthetase 1.

Aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases (ARSs) have evolved to acquire various additional domains. These domains allow ARSs to communicate with other cellular proteins in order to promote non-translational functions. Vertebrate cytoplasmic isoleucyl-tRNA synthetases (IARS1s) have an uncharacterized unique domain, UNE-I.

Intratracheal exposure to polyhexamethylene guanidine phosphate disrupts coordinate regulation of FXR-SHP-mediated cholesterol and bile acid homeostasis in mouse liver.

A public health crisis in the form of a significant incidence of fatal pulmonary disease caused by repeated use of humidifier disinfectants containing polyhexamethylene guanidine phosphate (PHMG) recently arose in Korea. Although the mechanisms of pulmonary fibrosis following respiratory exposure to PHMG are well described, distant-organ effect has not been reported. In this study, we investigated whether intratracheal administration of PHMG affects liver pathophysiology and metabolism.

Orally bioavailable BTK PROTAC active against wild-type and C481 mutant BTKs in human lymphoma CDX mouse models.

Bruton tyrosine kinase (BTK) is an important signaling hub that activates the B-cell receptor (BCR) signaling cascade. BCR activation can contribute to the growth and survival of B-cell lymphoma or leukemia. The inhibition of the BCR signaling pathway is critical for blocking downstream events and treating B-cell lymphomas.

Functional implication of ubiquitinating and deubiquitinating mechanisms in TDP-43 proteinopathies.

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a fatal neurodegenerative disease in which motor neurons in spinal cord and motor cortex are progressively lost. About 15% cases of ALS also develop the frontotemporal dementia (FTD), in which the frontotemporal lobar degeneration (FTLD) occurs in the frontal and temporal lobes of the brain. Among the pathologic commonalities in ALS and FTD is ubiquitin-positive cytoplasmic aggregation of TDP-43 that may reflect both its loss-of-function and gain-of-toxicity from proteostasis impairment.

SNX10-mediated degradation of LAMP2A by NSAIDs inhibits chaperone-mediated autophagy and induces hepatic lipid accumulation.

While some non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are reported to induce hepatic steatosis, the molecular mechanisms are poorly understood. This study presented the mechanism by which NSAIDs induce hepatic lipid accumulation. Mouse primary hepatocytes and HepG2 cells were used to examine the underlying mechanism of NSAID-induced hepatic steatosis.

The role of SHMT2 in modulating lipid metabolism in hepatocytes via glycine-mediated mTOR activation.

Serine hydroxymethyltransferase 2 (SHMT2) converts serine into glycine in the mitochondrial matrix, transferring a methyl group to tetrahydrofolate. SHMT2 plays an important role in the maintenance of one-carbon metabolism. Previously, we found a negative correlation between the serine concentration and the progression of fatty liver disease (FLD).

Allosteric control of Ubp6 and the proteasome via a bidirectional switch.

The proteasome recognizes ubiquitinated proteins and can also edit ubiquitin marks, allowing substrates to be rejected based on ubiquitin chain topology. In yeast, editing is mediated by deubiquitinating enzyme Ubp6. The proteasome activates Ubp6, whereas Ubp6 inhibits the proteasome through deubiquitination and a noncatalytic effect.