Effects of high-dose vitamin D supplementation on bone mineral density in very low birth weight preterm infants.

Background: Vitamin D deficiency is common among very low birth weight (VLBW) preterm infants due to challenges in achieving adequate enteral nutrition and reduced transplacental transfer. Supplementation with 800 IU/day of vitamin D has been shown to safely and effectively increase serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D] levels above 30 ng/mL when initiated at two weeks of age and continued until hospital discharge.

Objective: This study aimed to evaluate whether daily supplementation with 800 IU of vitamin D significantly improves bone mineral density, as measured by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DEXA), in VLBW infants at discharge, compared to supplementation with 400 IU/day.

Digital Therapeutics for Alzheimer's and Parkinson's Diseases: Current Trends and Future Perspectives.

Alzheimer's disease (AD) and Parkinson's disease (PD), which are characterized by the accumulation of misfolded protein aggregates and cognitive/motor dysfunction, are the most prevalent neurodegenerative diseases (NDDs). Despite strategic investigations aimed at augmenting the pharmaceutical pipeline, available drugs for AD and PD merely slow disease progression without curing or treating the underlying pathology. Recent technological advances have given rise to digital therapeutics (DTx): software systems that aim to prevent, cure, and manage specific diseases, including NDDs.

Chronic oral administration of ibrutinib prevents long-term memory deficits and reduces AD pathology and neuroinflammatory responses in a mouse model of AD.

We previously demonstrated that ibrutinib has therapeutic efficacy against AD pathologies when injected intraperitoneally at a lower dosage (10 mg/kg, daily for 2 weeks) or orally at a higher dosage (30 mg/kg, daily for 1 month) in AD mice models. However, the effect of chronic lower dose of ibrutinib by oral administration on AD pathologies has not been investigated yet. Therefore, we investigated whether long-term oral administration of ibrutinib at a lower dose (1 or 10 mg/kg, daily for 5 months) on AD pathology and in vivo toxicity in 5xFAD mice.

Erdafitinib diminishes LPS-mediated neuroinflammatory responses through NLRP3 in wild-type mice.

Introduction: Erdafitinib is an FDA-approved inhibitor of fibroblast growth factor receptor (FGFR) that is used clinically to treat metastatic urothelial cancer. FGFR activation is involved in proinflammatory responses, but the potential effects of FGFR inhibitors like erdafitinib on neuroinflammatory responses in the brain have not been fully established.

Methods: The effects of pretreatment with 1 μM or 5 μM erdafitinib on proinflammatory responses induced by 1 μg/mL or 200 ng/mL LPS were evaluated in BV2 microglial cells.

Toll-like receptor 2 deficiency exacerbates corneal angiogenesis in injury by impairing regulatory T cells.

Toll-like receptor (TLR) 2 is a primary sensor of injury, and regulatory T cells (Tregs) are crucial mediators of tissue homeostasis. In this study, we aimed to investigate whether TLR2 is necessary for Treg-mediated restoration of corneal homeostasis following injury. We evaluated inflammatory corneal neovascularization and the proportions of Tregs, along with pro-angiogenic, pro-inflammatory monocytes, using a suture-induced corneal angiogenesis model in mice that either lacked TLR2 or were subjected to temporary TLR2 inhibition.

Ultrasound-assisted Maillard reaction of Corynebacterium glutamicum protein: Impact on structure, taste, and plant-based meat applications.

The Maillard reaction enhances sensory properties of foods by generating Maillard reaction products (MRPs). A major challenge for consumer acceptance of plant-based meat analogues is their lack of taste. Corynebacterium glutamicum produces various amino acids and proteins; however, its taste attributes were insufficient to substantially enhance the sensory characteristics of plant-based meat analogues.

Endosymbiont control through non-canonical immune signaling and gut metabolic remodeling.

Animals coexist with bacteria and need to keep these microorganisms under tight control. To achieve such control, pattern recognition receptors (PRRs) sense bacterial cues and induce the production of antimicrobials. Here, we uncover a metabolic arm in the control of symbionts by PRRs.

Effect of medication on the rostrolateral prefrontal oxygenation and thalamic volume asymmetry in youths with ADHD.

Introduction: Symptoms of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) are closely associated with impaired executive function. Medication is the first-line treatment for ADHD, yet its effects on brain function and structure remain unclear. To investigate medication-related brain alterations in children with ADHD, we used functional near-infrared spectroscopy, which captures cortical hemodynamic activity, and structural magnetic resonance imaging, which measures subcortical volume.

Quercetin-loaded candelilla wax/sunflower oil oleogels: Structural, sensory, and storage properties, and application as fat replacer in emulsion-type sausage.

Replacing animal fat with vegetable oil can lower saturated fat levels in meat products; however, it may compromise their texture and flavor. In addition, vegetable oil is susceptible to oxidation. Quercetin is a lipophilic substance with antioxidant properties.

Current Status and Future Directions in the Development of Digital Therapeutic Interventions for Neurodevelopmental Disorders.

Innovations in digital technologies have emerged digital therapeutics (DTx) as a novel therapeutic intervention. DTx hold potential as novel theragnostics for disorders with broad diagnostic spectra, including neurodevelopmental diseases (NDDs). In this review, we highlight challenging factors in the successful development and deployment of DTx for NDDs with respect to patients, medical professionals, and manufacturers.

Enhancing the texture of fat-free yogurt with leaf-stem extract and casein: Focusing on their softening effect.

Fat-free yogurt often undergoes syneresis because it lacks fat. Although casein prevents syneresis, it induces protein aggregation and lumpy texture. Surfactants are commonly employed to mitigate these quality challenges.

Deep Learning-based Brain Age Prediction Using MRI to Identify Fetuses with Cerebral Ventriculomegaly.

Fetal ventriculomegaly (VM) and its severity and associated central nervous system (CNS) abnormalities are important indicators of high risk for impaired neurodevelopmental outcomes. Recently, a novel fetal brain age prediction method using a two-dimensional (2D) single-channel convolutional neural network (CNN) with multiplanar MRI sections showed the potential to detect fetuses with VM. This study examines the diagnostic performance of a deep learning-based fetal brain age prediction model to distinguish fetuses with VM ( = 317) from typically developing fetuses ( = 183), the severity of VM, and the presence of associated CNS abnormalities.