Expert opinion Despite significant advances in protein delivery technologies, reports of highly efficient transport vehicles are still sparse when systemically applied in vivo. Consequently, more detailed mechanistic studies are needed to clearly identify and optimize the molecular “Achilles heel” of individual methodologies. MSAB inhibitor Ultimately, to target intracellular proteins that have been undruggable in the past, a combination of strategies may be required.Objective The incidence of skin cancer can be reduced by increasing sun protective behaviours. Based on the Common-Sense Model and the Intervention Mapping approach, a brief intervention targeting illness representations about skin cancer to increase the intention to conduct sun protective behaviours was developed and evaluated regarding its effectiveness.Design A randomized pre-post control group design with 509 healthy participants (69% women, mean age 39 years).Main outcome measures Changes in illness representations about skin cancer (emotional representations, illness coherence, and prevention control) and the intention to conduct sun protective behaviours, i.e. UV protection and sun avoidance.Results ANCOVAs showed that the intervention increased illness coherence and perceived prevention control as well as the intention to conduct sun protective behaviours. Mediation analyses revealed that the increase in illness coherence and/or perceived prevention control partially mediated the effect of the intervention on the increase of the intention to use UV protection (indirect effects .02*, .06*) and to avoid sun exposure (indirect effects .01 ns, .04*).Conclusion The intervention was successful in changing illness representations and thereby increasing the intention to conduct sun protective behaviours. The findings provide evidence for the usefulness of the Common-Sense Model in the context of illness prevention.The phytochemical investigation of the methanol extract of the stem bark of Gilbertiodendron dewevrei led to the isolation of two new secondary metabolites, 5,7-dihydroxy-4′-methoxyisoflavan-2,4-dione (1) and 23-hydroxy-2-tricosanone (2) along with 19 known compounds (3-21). The structure of these compounds were established by interpretation of their spectral data, mainly HR-TOFESIMS, 1 D NMR (1H, 13C and DEPT) and 2 D NMR (1H-1H COSY, HSQC, HMBC, and NOESY), and by comparison with those reported in the literature. The methanol extract and some isolates were screened for their antiradical, antibacterial, and inhibitory properties against acetylcholinesterase.Purpose This study aimed to investigate whether topical pilocarpine affects ocular growth and refractive development as well as the underlying biochemical processes in early eye development in rabbits. Methods Twenty three-week-old New Zealand white rabbits were treated with 0.5% pilocarpine in the right eye for 6 weeks. The left eyes served as contralateral controls. The effects of pilocarpine on refractive error, corneal curvature and ocular biometrics were assessed using streak retinoscopy, keratometry, and A-scan ultrasonography, respectively. Eyeballs were enucleated for histological analysis. The ciliary body and sclera were homogenized to determine the mRNA and protein expression levels of five subtypes of muscarinic receptors. Results Compared to control eyes, pilocarpine-treated eyes exhibited approximately -1.63 ± 0.54 D myopia accompanied by a 0.11 ± 0.04 mm increase in axial length (AL) (p less then 0.001, respectively). The anterior chamber depth (ACD) was reduced, whereas the lens thickness (LT) and vitreous chamber depth (VCD) increased (p less then 0.001, respectively). Corneal curvature decreased over time but was not significantly different between treated and control eyes. The mRNA and protein expression levels of five subtypes of muscarinic receptors were upregulated in the ciliary body and downregulated in the sclera. Conclusions Based on these results, pilocarpine can induce myopic shift, increase LT, elongate VCD and AL, and reduce muscarinic receptor expression in the sclera early in development. These changes raise the possibility that pilocarpine may promote axial elongation in ocular development and facilitate the emmetropization of hyperopic eyes.A 56-year-old lady was referred for complete binasal hemianopia noticed during routine glaucoma screening. On examination the patient was asymptomatic, there were no ophthalmic causes explaining her visual field defect and further neurologic investigation was normal. Binasal hemianopia is an uncommon finding that is usually associated to intraocular conditions, but may rarely be caused by neurologic diseases. The Authors also review the current ophthalmic literature about binasal hemianopia in patients with otherwise complete neurologic and ophthalmic investigation (idiopathic binasal hemianopia).Objectives The nocturnal blood pressure (BP) is a strong predictor of hypertensive target organ damage including that in cardiovascular diseases. The use of ambulatory BP (ABP) monitoring has enabled the evaluation of nocturnal BP and detection of non-dippers. This study compared nocturnal BP values, nocturnal decline in BP, and the prevalence of non-dippers based on ABP and home BP (HBP) measurements in a general population. Methods Data on HBP measured with HEM 747-IC-N (Omron Healthcare Co., Ltd.) and 24-hour ABP measured with ABPM-630 (Nippon Colin) were obtained from fifty-five participants aged ≥ 20 years (mean age 65.1 years, 78.2% women). To exclude a systematic difference between the two methods, we conducted a validation study for HBP and ABP in another population that consisted of hypertensive outpatients (mean age 65.4 years, 53.4% women). Results After adjusting for the systematic difference in BP between the two methods calculated in the validation study (3.9 mmHg for systolic and 3.0 mmHg for diastolic), morning and daytime (average of morning and evening) HBP were significantly lower than morning (average of 2 h after waking) and daytime (average of being awake) ABP, respectively. No significant difference was found in nocturnal BP between HBP and ABP monitoring regardless of the quality of sleep during nocturnal HBP measurement. Agreement between HBP and ABP in the detection of non-dippers was low mainly due to the difference in daytime BP values. Conclusion HBP monitoring may be a reliable alternative to ABP for the assessment of nocturnal BP.Four previously undescribed hydroxypropionylated d-glucose derivatives, astrabhotins A-D (1-4), along with ten known compounds α-d-glucose (5), β-d-glucose (6), quebrachitol (7), 3-hydroxypropionic acid (8), oleic acid (9), isoliquiritigenin (10), liquiritigenin (11), odoratin (12), 7β-hydroxysitosterol (13) and daucosterol (14), were isolated from the roots of Astragalus bhotanensis. Their structures were elucidated based on the analyses of extensive spectroscopic data and physicochemical properties. Astrabhotin A (1) reduced the writhing response remarkably with 52.5% inhibition by acetic acid induced writhing test. The analgesic effect of 1 was stronger than the standard drug aspirin. In addition, compounds 1 and 3 showed significant antioxidant activities with IC50 values of 9.9 ± 0.2 and 7.9 ± 0.4 μg/mL, and exhibited weak or moderate cytotoxicity against HepG2 cells with IC50 values of 106.6 ± 2.7 and 42.0 ± 0.9 μg/mL, respectively.A new coronavirus, severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2, was first discovered in Wuhan, China, in December 2019. As of April 7, 2020, the new coronavirus has spread quickly to 184 countries and aroused the attention of the entire world. No targeted drugs have yet been available for intervention and treatment of this virus. The sharing of academic information is crucial to risk assessment and control activities in outbreak countries. In this review, we summarize the epidemiological, genetic and clinical characteristics of the virus as well as laboratory testing and treatments to understand the nature of the virus. We hope this review will be helpful to prevent viral infections in outbreak countries and regions.Aim Identify factors patients consider regarding CYP2C19 genotyping test to guide choice of antiplatelet therapy. Patients & methods Patient’s perception and attitude toward use of CYP2C19 genotyping test was gathered according to an interview guide. Thematic analysis was conducted. Results A total of 14 patients were interviewed. The main factors found to influence uptake of CYP2C19 genotyping test are, convenience of genotyping test (n = 4), physician’s recommendation (n = 11), prior explanation of genetic testing by medical personnel (n = 5) and inclination toward clopidogrel, with three sub-factors; less frequent dosing (n = 3), lower cost (n = 7) and lower risk of bleeding (n = 9). Conclusion This study provided the information needed to develop a discrete choice experiment to empirically quantify patients’ preference and willingness to pay for genetic testing and to simulate uptake.Long non-coding RNAs and microRNAs are functional regulators in tumour progression. Herein, we revealed the level LINC02163 was up-regulated in CRC tissues and cell lines, and the expression of LINC02163 negatively correlated with prognosis of CRC patients. Functional experiments demonstrated knockdown of LINC02163 significantly attenuated CRC cells proliferation and metastasis. Mechanism analysis showed miR-511-3p could bind LINC02163 and AKT3, and the expressional level of miR-511-3p negatively correlated with the abundance of LINC02163 and AKT3. Inhibition of LINC02163 suppressed cell proliferation, while transfection of miR-511-3p inhibitor or AKT3 in LINC02163-depletion cells restored cell growth and abolished the cell cycle arrest in G0/G1 phase. Therefore, it was indicated that LINC02163 exerted pro-tumour effect through miR-511-3p/AKT3 axis and was prognostic marker for colorectal cancer.Two triterpenes (14S,17S,20S,24R)-25-hydroxy-14,17-cyclo-20,24-epoxy-malabarican-3-one (CEM, 1a) and (14S,17S,20S,24R)-20,24,25-trihydroxy-14,17-cyclomalabarican-3-one (CM, 2a) with a cyclobutane ring were reported, which have the same NMR data as ocotillone (1b) and gardaubryone C (2b), respectively. An incorrect structure might be reported. Therefore, the structure reanalysis of these triterpenes was achieved by CASE algorithm and DFT chemical shift predictions, and the results showed that the structures of CEM and CM might be incorrect. To further verify the structure of compound 1, the HMBC, 1H-1H COSY and HSQC-TOCSY spectra were employed. Herein, we revised the structure of CEM and CM, and our study also showed that CASE algorithm and DFT chemical shift predictions can hold the post of effective structure reassignment method.The world is currently suffering through one the greatest crises of the last century. The coronavirus disease-19 (COVID-19) pandemic is taking an enormous toll on public health and stretching medical resources in an unprecedented fashion. Our priorities are rightly focusing on meeting this existential threat. Nonetheless, we wish to call to attention that during major catastrophes the health consequences of chronic diseases, in particular cardiometabolic risk factors (CMRFs), continue unabated. In fact, new and serious problems arise part-and-parcel with the catastrophe and conspire to hamper our already imperfect ability to control CMRFs1,2. Our objective is to raise awareness that we need to anticipate (and not just be reactive to) the possible coming of a second crisis we term “disastrous CMRFs”. This refers to the worsening of CMRFs and their control rates during and following a major disaster. Health care providers, in particular cardiologists, need to recognize the potential for this serious problem as it could promote a burgeoning of cardiovascular morbidity and mortality if not addressed.