Factors influencing mobility in community-dwelling older adults during the early COVID-19 pandemic: a cross-sectional study

Background In older adults, mobility is important for maintaining their independence and quality of life, and it influences their physical, cognitive, and social health. This study aimed to identify the physical and psychosocial factors that affected the mobility of community-dwelling older adults, aged 65 years or older, who were socially isolated during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic due to stay-at-home policies. Methods The participants in this study were 214 community-dwelling older adults in Korea, and a cross-sectional survey was conducted from December 2020 to January 2021. Variables included participants general characteristics, mobility, sitting time, depression, social support, and cognitive function. Results Multiple linear regression analysis showed that the factors influencing older adults mobility during the COVID-19 pandemic were depression (β=-0.29, p < .001), age (65–74 years old) (β = 0.19, p = .002), a lower level of education (β=-0.17, p = .006), two or more comorbidities (β=-0.18, p = .001), sitting time (β=-0.17, p = .004), and the ability to drive a vehicle (β = 0.14, p = .017). Conclusions Home healthcare interventions are needed to limit psychosocial issues and improve mobility for older adults who had limited mobility during the COVID-19 pandemic.This research was supported by a grant from the Korea Health Technology R&D Project through the Korea Health Industry Development Institute (KHIDI), funded by the Ministry of Health & Welfare, Republic of Korea (No. HI20C0482) and was also supported by the National Research Foundation of Korea (NRF) grant funded by the Korea government (MSIT) (No. RS-2023-00214295)

CemOrange2 fusions facilitate multifluorophore subcellular imaging in C. elegans

Due to its ease of genetic manipulation and transparency, Caenorhabditis elegans (C. elegans) has become a preferred model system to study gene function by microscopy. The use of Aequorea victoria green fluorescent protein (GFP) fused to proteins or targeting sequences of interest, further expanded upon the utility of C. elegans by labeling subcellular structures, which enables following their disposition during development or in the presence of genetic mutations. Fluorescent proteins with excitation and emission spectra different from that of GFP accelerated the use of multifluorophore imaging in real time. We have expanded the repertoire of fluorescent proteins for use in C. elegans by developing a codon-optimized version of Orange2 (CemOrange2). Proteins or targeting motifs fused to CemOrange2 were distinguishable from the more common fluorophores used in the nematode; such as GFP, YFP, and mKate2. We generated a panel of CemOrange2 fusion constructs, and confirmed they were targeted to their correct subcellular addresses by colocalization with independent markers. To demonstrate the potential usefulness of this new panel of fluorescent protein markers, we showed that CemOrange2 fusion proteins could be used to: 1) monitor biological pathways, 2) multiplex with other fluorescent proteins to determine colocalization and 3) gain phenotypic knowledge of a human ABCA3 orthologue, ABT-4, trafficking variant in the C. elegans model organism

Distinct features of B cell receptors in neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder among CNS inflammatory demyelinating diseases

Background Neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD) stands out among CNS inflammatory demyelinating diseases (CIDDs) due to its unique disease characteristics, including severe clinical attacks with extensive lesions and its association with systemic autoimmune diseases. We aimed to investigate whether characteristics of B cell receptors (BCRs) differ between NMOSD and other CIDDs using high-throughput sequencing. Methods From a prospective cohort, we recruited patients with CIDDs and categorized them based on the presence and type of autoantibodies: NMOSD with anti-aquaporin-4 antibodies, myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein antibody-associated disease (MOGAD) with anti-myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein antibodies, double-seronegative demyelinating disease (DSN), and healthy controls (HCs). The BCR features, including isotype class, clonality, somatic hypermutation (SHM), and the third complementarity-determining region (CDR3) length, were analyzed and compared among the different disease groups. Results Blood samples from 33 patients with CIDDs (13 NMOSD, 12 MOGAD, and 8 DSN) and 34 HCs were investigated for BCR sequencing. Patients with NMOSD tended to have more activated BCR features compare to the other disease groups. They showed a lower proportion of unswitched isotypes (IgM and IgD) and a higher proportion of switched isotypes (IgG), increased clonality of BCRs, higher rates of SHM, and shorter lengths of CDR3. Notably, advanced age was identified as a clinical factor associated with these activated BCR features, including increased levels of clonality and SHM rates in the NMOSD group. Conversely, no such clinical factors were found to be associated with activated BCR features in the other CIDD groups. Conclusions NMOSD patients, among those with CIDDs, displayed the most pronounced B cell activation, characterized by higher levels of isotype class switching, clonality, SHM rates, and shorter CDR3 lengths. These findings suggest that B cell-mediated humoral immune responses and characteristics in NMOSD patients are distinct from those observed in the other CIDDs, including MOGAD. Age was identified as a clinical factor associated with BCR activation specifically in NMOSD, implying the significance of persistent B cell activation attributed to anti-aquaporin-4 antibodies, even in the absence of clinical relapses throughout an individuals lifetime.This study was supported by grants from the National Research Foundation of Korea (NRF) (2023R1A2C2007798); Korea Health Technology R&D Project through the Korea Health Industry Development Institute (KHIDI), funded by the Ministry of Health & Welfare, Republic of Korea (HR18C0016, HR21C0198); and Asan Institute for Life Science (2022IF0019, 2019IP0853-1), Asan Medical Center, Seoul, South Korea. This research was supported by a grant of the Korea Health Technology R&D Project through the Korea Health Industry Development Institute (KHIDI), funded by the Ministry of Health & Welfare, Republic of Korea (grant number: HI22C0553). This study was supported by a Medical Scientist Training Program from the Ministry of Science & ICT of Korea

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242 hlm. ; 19 cm

In vivo self-degradable graphene nanomedicine operated by DNAzyme and photo-switch for controlled anti-cancer therapy

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Dual Stimuli-responsive Nanoconstruct Consisting of Andrographolide-loaded Polymerized Phenylboronic Acid

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Andrographolide-loaded Polymerized Phenylboronic Acid Nanoconstruct for Dual Stimuli-Responsive Chemotherapy

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In Vivo Self-degradable Graphene Nanomedicine Operated by DNAzyme and Photo-switch for Controlled Anticancer Therapy

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Catalytic pgraphene nanomedicine opereated by phto-switch for controlled anticancer therapy and DNAzyme-mediated self-degradation

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