Ultrahigh Sensitivity for Thermographic Human-Machine Interface via Precious Metals Atomic Layer Deposition on V-MXene: Computational and Experimental Exploration.

Global healthcare based on the Internet of Things system is rapidly transforming to measure precise physiological body parameters without visiting hospitals at remote patients and associated symptoms monitoring. 2D materials and the prevailing mood of current ever-expanding MXene-based sensing devices motivate to introduce first the novel iridium (Ir) precious metal incorporated vanadium (V)-MXene via industrially favored emerging atomic layer deposition (ALD) techniques. The current work contributes a precise control and delicate balance of Ir single atomic forms or clusters on the V-MXene to constitute a unique precious metal-MXene embedded heterostructure (Ir-ALD@V-MXene) in practical real-time sensing healthcare applications to thermography with human-machine interface for the first time. Ir-ALD@V-MXene delivers an ultrahigh durability and sensing performance of 2.4% °C-1 than pristine V-MXene (0.42% °C-1), outperforming several conventionally used MXenes, graphene, underscoring the importance of the Ir-ALD innovative process. Aberration-corrected advanced ultra-high-resolution transmission/scanning transmission electron microscopy confirms the presence of Ir atomic clusters on well-aligned 2D-layered V-MXene structure and their advanced heterostructure formation (Ir-ALD@V-MXene), enhanced sensing mechanism is investigated using density functional theory (DFT) computations. A rational design empowering the Ir-ALD process on least explored V-MXene can potentially unfold further precious metals ALD-process developments for next-generation wearable personal healthcare devices.

Identification of schizophrenia by applying interpretable radiomics modeling with structural magnetic resonance imaging of the cerebellum.

AIMS: The cerebellum is involved in higher-order mental processing as well as sensorimotor functions. Although structural abnormalities in the cerebellum have been demonstrated in schizophrenia, neuroimaging techniques are not yet applicable to identify them given the lack of biomarkers. We aimed to develop a robust diagnostic model for schizophrenia using radiomic features from T1-weighted magnetic resonance imaging (T1-MRI) of the cerebellum. METHODS: A total of 336 participants (174 schizophrenia; 162 healthy controls [HCs]) were allocated to training (122 schizophrenia; 115 HCs) and test (52 schizophrenia; 47 HCs) cohorts. We obtained 2568 radiomic features from T1-MRI of the cerebellar subregions. After feature selection, a light gradient boosting machine classifier was trained. The discrimination and calibration of the model were evaluated. SHapley Additive exPlanations (SHAP) was applied to determine model interpretability. RESULTS: We identified 17 radiomic features to differentiate participants with schizophrenia from HCs. In the test cohort, the radiomics model had an area under the curve, accuracy, sensitivity, and specificity of 0.89 (95% confidence interval: 0.82-0.95), 78.8%, 88.5%, and 75.4%, respectively. The model explanation by SHAP suggested that the second-order size zone non-uniformity feature from the right lobule IX and first-order energy feature from the right lobules V and VI were highly associated with the risk of schizophrenia. CONCLUSION: The radiomics model focused on the cerebellum demonstrates robustness in diagnosing schizophrenia. Our results suggest that microcircuit disruption in the posterior cerebellum is a disease-defining feature of schizophrenia, and radiomics modeling has potential for supporting biomarker-based decision-making in clinical practice.

Combinatory Nanovesicle with siRNA-Loaded Extracellular Vesicle and IGF-1 for Osteoarthritis Treatments.

Extracellular vesicles (EVs) have been found to have the characteristics of their parent cells. Based on the characteristics of these EVs, various studies on disease treatment using mesenchymal stem cell (MSC)-derived EVs with regenerative activity have been actively conducted. The therapeutic nature of MSC-derived EVs has been shown in several studies, but in recent years, there have been many efforts to functionalize EVs to give them more potent therapeutic effects. Strategies for functionalizing EVs include endogenous and exogenous methods. In this study, human umbilical cord MSC (UCMSC)-derived EVs were selected for optimum OA treatments with expectation via bioinformatics analysis based on antibody array. And we created a novel nanovesicle system called the IGF-si-EV, which has the properties of both cartilage regeneration and long-term retention in the lesion site, attaching positively charged insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) to the surface of the UCMSC-derived Evs carrying siRNA, which inhibits MMP13. The downregulation of inflammation-related cytokine (MMP13, NF-kB, and IL-6) and the upregulation of cartilage-regeneration-related factors (Col2, Acan) were achieved with IGF-si-EV. Moreover, the ability of IGF-si-EV to remain in the lesion site for a long time has been proven through an ex vivo system. Collectively, the final constructed IGF-si-EV can be proposed as an effective OA treatment through its successful MMP13 inhibition, chondroprotective effect, and cartilage adhesion ability. We also believe that this EV-based nanoparticle-manufacturing technology can be applied as a platform technology for various diseases.

Altered DNA Methylation of the Serotonin Transporter Gene Associated with Early Life Stress and White Matter Microalterations in Korean Patients with Panic Disorder.

INTRODUCTION: Changes in the DNA methylation of 5-HTTLPR are associated with the pathophysiology of panic disorder (PD). This study was conducted to investigate the association between stressful life events and the level of 5-HTTLPR methylation in patients with PD. We also examined whether these factors were associated with white matter alterations in psychological trauma-related regions. METHODS: The participants comprised 232 patients with PD and 93 healthy adults of Korean descent. DNA methylation levels of five cytosine-phosphate-guanine (CpG) sites in the 5-HTTLPR region were analyzed. Voxel-wise statistical analysis of diffusion tensor imaging data was performed within the trauma-related regions. RESULTS: PD patients showed significantly lower levels of the DNA methylation at 5-HTTLPR 5 CpG sites than healthy controls. In patients with PD, the DNA methylation levels at 5-HTTLPR 5 CpG sites showed significant negative association with the parental separation-related psychological distress, and positive correlations with the fractional anisotropy values of the superior longitudinal fasciculus (SLF) which might be related to trait anxiety. CONCLUSION: Early life stress was significantly associated with DNA methylation levels at 5-HTTLPR related to the decreased white matter integrity in the SLF region in PD. Decreased white matter connectivity in the SLF might be related to trait anxiety and is vital to the pathophysiology of PD.

iCSDB: an integrated database of CRISPR screens.

High-throughput screening based on CRISPR-Cas9 libraries has become an attractive and powerful technique to identify target genes for functional studies. However, accessibility of public data is limited due to the lack of user-friendly utilities and up-to-date resources covering experiments from third parties. Here, we describe iCSDB, an integrated database of CRISPR screening experiments using human cell lines. We compiled two major sources of CRISPR-Cas9 screening: the DepMap portal and BioGRID ORCS. DepMap portal itself is an integrated database that includes three large-scale projects of CRISPR screening. We additionally aggregated CRISPR screens from BioGRID ORCS that is a collection of screening results from PubMed articles. Currently, iCSDB contains 1375 genome-wide screens across 976 human cell lines, covering 28 tissues and 70 cancer types. Importantly, the batch effects from different CRISPR libraries were removed and the screening scores were converted into a single metric to estimate the knockout efficiency. Clinical and molecular information were also integrated to help users to select cell lines of interest readily. Furthermore, we have implemented various interactive tools and viewers to facilitate users to choose, examine and compare the screen results both at the gene and guide RNA levels. iCSDB is available at https://www.kobic.re.kr/icsdb/.

Long-term benefits of mindfulness on white matter tracts underlying the cortical midline structures in panic disorder: A 2-year longitudinal study.

AIMS: We aimed to examine the long-term benefits of mindfulness-based cognitive therapy (MBCT) on white matter plasticity in the cortical midline structures (CMS) for a period of 2 years in patients with panic disorder and the relationships between white matter changes in the CMS and severity of state and trait symptoms. METHODS: Seventy-one participants were enrolled and underwent diffusion tensor imaging at baseline and after 2 years (26 who received MBCT as an adjunct to pharmacotherapy [MBCT+PT], 20 treated with pharmacotherapy alone [PT-alone], and 25 healthy controls [HCs]). The severity of symptoms and fractional anisotropy (FA) in white matter regions underlying the CMS were assessed at baseline and 2-year follow-up. RESULTS: The MBCT+PT group showed better outcomes after 2 years than the PT-alone group. The groups showed different FA changes: the MBCT+PT group showed decreased FA in the left anterior cingulate cortex (ACC); the PT-alone group showed increased FA in the bilateral dorsomedial prefrontal cortex, posterior cingulate cortex (PCC), and precuneus. Decreased white matter FA in the ACC, PCC, and precuneus was associated with improvements in the severity of state and trait symptoms in patients with panic disorder. CONCLUSION: Alleviation of excessive white matter connectivity in the CMS after MBCT leads to improvements in clinical symptoms and trait vulnerability in patients with panic disorder. Our study provides new evidence for the long-term benefits of MBCT on white matter plasticity and its clinical applicability as a robust treatment for panic disorder.

Enhanced Intervertebral Disc Repair via Genetically Engineered Mesenchymal Stem Cells with Tetracycline Regulatory System.

The therapeutic potential of Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) for the treatment of Intervertebral disc (IVD) degeneration can be enhanced by amplifying specific cytokines and proteins. This study aimed to investigate the therapeutic potential of tetracycline-off system-engineered tonsil-derived mesenchymal stem cells (ToMSC-Tetoff-TGFß1-IGF1-BMP7) for treating intervertebral disc (IVD) degeneration. ToMSCs were isolated from a tonsillectomy patient and genetically modified with four distinct plasmids via CRISPR/Cas9-mediated knock-in gene editing. Transgene expression was confirmed through immunofluorescence, western blots, and an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay for transforming growth factor beta 1 (TGFß1) protein secretion, and the effect of MSC-TetOff-TGFß1-IGF1-BMP7 on disc injury was assessed in a rat model. The ToMSC-Tetoff-TGFß1-IGF1-BMP7 treatment exhibited superior therapeutic effects compared to ToMSC-TGFß1, and ToMSC-SDF1α implantation groups, stimulating the regeneration of nucleus pulposus (NP) cells crucial for IVD. The treatment showed potential to restore the structural integrity of the extracellular matrix (ECM) by upregulating key molecules such as aggrecan and type II collagen. It also exhibited anti-inflammatory properties and reduced pain-inducing neuropeptides. ToMSC-Tetoff-TGFß1-IGF1-BMP7 holds promise as a novel treatment for IVD degeneration. It appears to promote NP cell regeneration, restore ECM structure, suppress inflammation, and reduce pain. However, more research and clinical trials are required to confirm its therapeutic potential.

Molecular origins of reduced activity and binding commitment of processive cellulases and associated carbohydrate-binding proteins to cellulose III.

Efficient enzymatic saccharification of cellulosic biomass into fermentable sugars can enable production of bioproducts like ethanol. Native crystalline cellulose, or cellulose I, is inefficiently processed via enzymatic hydrolysis but can be converted into the structurally distinct cellulose III allomorph that is processed via cellulase cocktails derived from Trichoderma reesei up to 20-fold faster. However, characterization of individual cellulases from T. reesei, like the processive exocellulase Cel7A, shows reduced binding and activity at low enzyme loadings toward cellulose III. To clarify this discrepancy, we monitored the single-molecule initial binding commitment and subsequent processive motility of Cel7A enzymes and associated carbohydrate-binding modules (CBMs) on cellulose using optical tweezers force spectroscopy. We confirmed a 48% lower initial binding commitment and 32% slower processive motility of Cel7A on cellulose III, which we hypothesized derives from reduced binding affinity of the Cel7A binding domain CBM1. Classical CBM-cellulose pull-down assays, depending on the adsorption model fitted, predicted between 1.2- and 7-fold reduction in CBM1 binding affinity for cellulose III. Force spectroscopy measurements of CBM1-cellulose interactions, along with molecular dynamics simulations, indicated that previous interpretations of classical binding assay results using multisite adsorption models may have complicated analysis, and instead suggest simpler single-site models should be used. These findings were corroborated by binding analysis of other type-A CBMs (CBM2a, CBM3a, CBM5, CBM10, and CBM64) on both cellulose allomorphs. Finally, we discuss how complementary analytical tools are critical to gain insight into the complex mechanisms of insoluble polysaccharides hydrolysis by cellulolytic enzymes and associated carbohydrate-binding proteins.

Hot carrier extraction from plasmonic-photonic superimposed heterostructures.

Plasmonic nanostructures have been exploited in photochemical and photocatalytic processes owing to their surface plasmon resonance characteristics. This unique property generates photoinduced potentials and currents capable of driving chemical reactions. However, these processes are hampered by low photon conversion and utilization efficiencies, which are issues that need to be addressed. In this study, we integrate plasmonic photochemistry and simple tunable heterostructure characteristics of a dielectric photonic crystal for the effective control of electromagnetic energy below the diffraction limit of light. The nanostructure comprises high-density Ag nanoparticles on nanocavity arrays of SrTiO3 and TiO2, where two oxides constitute a chemical heterojunction. Such a nanostructure is designed to form intense electric fields and a vectorial electron flow channel of Ag → SrTiO3 → TiO2. When the plasmonic absorption of Ag nanoparticles matched the photonic stopband, we observed an apparent quantum yield of 3.1 × 10-4 e- per absorbed photon. The contributions of light confinement and charge separation to the enhanced photocurrent were evaluated.

ChimerDB 4.0: an updated and expanded database of fusion genes.

Fusion genes represent an important class of biomarkers and therapeutic targets in cancer. ChimerDB is a comprehensive database of fusion genes encompassing analysis of deep sequencing data (ChimerSeq) and text mining of publications (ChimerPub) with extensive manual annotations (ChimerKB). In this update, we present all three modules substantially enhanced by incorporating the recent flood of deep sequencing data and related publications. ChimerSeq now covers all 10 565 patients in the TCGA project, with compilation of computational results from two reliable programs of STAR-Fusion and FusionScan with several public resources. In sum, ChimerSeq includes 65 945 fusion candidates, 21 106 of which were predicted by multiple programs (ChimerSeq-Plus). ChimerPub has been upgraded by applying a deep learning method for text mining followed by extensive manual curation, which yielded 1257 fusion genes including 777 cases with experimental supports (ChimerPub-Plus). ChimerKB includes 1597 fusion genes with publication support, experimental evidences and breakpoint information. Importantly, we implemented several new features to aid estimation of functional significance, including the fusion structure viewer with domain information, gene expression plot of fusion positive versus negative patients and a STRING network viewer. The user interface also was greatly enhanced by applying responsive web design. ChimerDB 4.0 is available at http://www.kobic.re.kr/chimerdb/.

NuA3 HAT antagonizes the Rpd3S and Rpd3L HDACs to optimize mRNA and lncRNA expression dynamics.

In yeast, NuA3 histone acetyltransferase (NuA3 HAT) promotes acetylation of histone H3 lysine 14 (H3K14) and transcription of a subset of genes through interaction between the Yng1 plant homeodomain (PHD) finger and H3K4me3. Although NuA3 HAT has multiple chromatin binding modules with distinct specificities, their interdependence and combinatorial actions in chromatin binding and transcription remain unknown. Modified peptide pulldown assays reveal that the Yng1 N-terminal region is important for the integrity of NuA3 HAT by mediating the interaction between core subunits and two methyl-binding proteins, Yng1 and Pdp3. We further uncover that NuA3 HAT contributes to the regulation of mRNA and lncRNA expression dynamics by antagonizing the histone deacetylases (HDACs) Rpd3S and Rpd3L. The Yng1 N-terminal region, the Nto1 PHD finger and Pdp3 are important for optimal induction of mRNA and lncRNA transcription repressed by the Set2-Rpd3S HDAC pathway, whereas the Yng1 PHD finger-H3K4me3 interaction affects transcriptional repression memory regulated by Rpd3L HDAC. These findings suggest that NuA3 HAT uses distinct chromatin readers to compete with two Rpd3-containing HDACs to optimize mRNA and lncRNA expression dynamics.

Human cytomegalovirus induces and exploits Roquin to counteract the IRF1-mediated antiviral state.

RNA represents a pivotal component of host-pathogen interactions. Human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) infection causes extensive alteration in host RNA metabolism, but the functional relationship between the virus and cellular RNA processing remains largely unknown. Through loss-of-function screening, we show that HCMV requires multiple RNA-processing machineries for efficient viral lytic production. In particular, the cellular RNA-binding protein Roquin, whose expression is actively stimulated by HCMV, plays an essential role in inhibiting the innate immune response. Transcriptome profiling revealed Roquin-dependent global down-regulation of proinflammatory cytokines and antiviral genes in HCMV-infected cells. Furthermore, using cross-linking immunoprecipitation (CLIP)-sequencing (seq), we identified IFN regulatory factor 1 (IRF1), a master transcriptional activator of immune responses, as a Roquin target gene. Roquin reduces IRF1 expression by directly binding to its mRNA, thereby enabling suppression of a variety of antiviral genes. This study demonstrates how HCMV exploits host RNA-binding protein to prevent a cellular antiviral response and offers mechanistic insight into the potential development of CMV therapeutics.

Fluid Shear Stress Regulates the Landscape of microRNAs in Endothelial Cell-Derived Small Extracellular Vesicles and Modulates the Function of Endothelial Cells.

Blood fluid shear stress (FSS) modulates endothelial function and vascular pathophysiology. The small extracellular vesicles (sEVs) such as exosomes are potent mediators of intercellular communication, and their contents reflect cellular stress. Here, we explored the miRNA profiles in endothelial cells (EC)-derived sEVs (EC-sEVs) under atheroprotective laminar shear stress (LSS) and atheroprone low-oscillatory shear stress (OSS) and conducted a network analysis to identify the main biological processes modulated by sEVs' miRNAs. The EC-sEVs were collected from culture media of human umbilical vein endothelial cells exposed to atheroprotective LSS (20 dyne/cm2) and atheroprone OSS (±5 dyne/cm2). We explored the miRNA profiles in FSS-induced EC-sEVs (LSS-sEVs and OSS-sEVs) and conducted a network analysis to identify the main biological processes modulated by sEVs' miRNAs. In vivo studies were performed in a mouse model of partial carotid ligation. The sEVs' miRNAs-targeted genes were enriched for endothelial activation such as angiogenesis, cell migration, and vascular inflammation. OSS-sEVs promoted tube formation, cell migration, monocyte adhesion, and apoptosis, and upregulated the expression of proteins that stimulate these biological processes. FSS-induced EC-sEVs had the same effects on endothelial mechanotransduction signaling as direct stimulation by FSS. In vivo studies showed that LSS-sEVs reduced the expression of pro-inflammatory genes, whereas OSS-sEVs had the opposite effect. Understanding the landscape of EC-exosomal miRNAs regulated by differential FSS patterns, this research establishes their biological functions on a system level and provides a platform for modulating the overall phenotypic effects of sEVs.

Impact of FtsZ Inhibition on the Localization of the Penicillin Binding Proteins in Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus.

Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is a multidrug-resistant pathogen of acute clinical importance. Combination treatment with an FtsZ inhibitor potentiates the activity of penicillin binding protein (PBP)-targeting ß-lactam antibiotics against MRSA. To explore the mechanism underlying this synergistic behavior, we examined the impact of treatment with the FtsZ inhibitor TXA707 on the spatial localization of the five PBP proteins expressed in MRSA. In the absence of drug treatment, PBP1, PBP2, PBP3, and PBP4 colocalize with FtsZ at the septum, contributing to new cell wall formation. In contrast, PBP2a localizes to distinct foci along the cell periphery. Upon treatment with TXA707, septum formation becomes disrupted, and FtsZ relocalizes away from midcell. PBP1 and PBP3 remain significantly colocalized with FtsZ, while PBP2, PBP4, and PBP2a localize away from FtsZ to specific sites along the periphery of the enlarged cells. We also examined the impact on PBP2a and PBP2 localization of treatment with ß-lactam antibiotic oxacillin alone and in synergistic combination with TXA707. Significantly, PBP2a localizes to the septum in approximately 15% of the oxacillin-treated cells, a behavior that likely contributes to the ß-lactam resistance of MRSA. Combination treatment with TXA707 causes both PBP2a and PBP2 to localize in malformed septum-like structures. Our collective results suggest that PBP2, PBP4, and PBP2a may function collaboratively in peripheral cell wall repair and maintenance in response to FtsZ inhibition by TXA707. Cotreatment with oxacillin appears to reduce the availability of PBP2a to assist in this repair, thereby rendering the MRSA cells more susceptible to the ß-lactam. IMPORTANCE MRSA is a multidrug-resistant bacterial pathogen of acute clinical importance, infecting many thousands of individuals globally each year. The essential cell division protein FtsZ has been identified as an appealing target for the development of new drugs to combat MRSA infections. Through synergistic actions, FtsZ-targeting agents can sensitize MRSA to antibiotics like the ß-lactams that would otherwise be ineffective. This study provides key insights into the mechanism underlying this synergistic behavior as well as MRSA resistance to ß-lactam drugs. The results of this work will help guide the identification and optimization of combination drug regimens that can effectively treat MRSA infections and reduce the potential for future resistance.

Quantitative Proteomic Approach for Discriminating Major Depressive Disorder and Bipolar Disorder by Multiple Reaction Monitoring-Mass Spectrometry.

Because major depressive disorder (MDD) and bipolar disorder (BD) manifest with similar symptoms, misdiagnosis is a persistent issue, necessitating their differentiation through objective methods. This study was aimed to differentiate between these disorders using a targeted proteomic approach. Multiple reaction monitoring-mass spectrometry (MRM-MS) analysis was performed to quantify protein targets regarding the two disorders in plasma samples of 270 individuals (90 MDD, 90 BD, and 90 healthy controls (HCs)). In the training set (72 MDD and 72 BD), a generalizable model comprising nine proteins was developed. The model was evaluated in the test set (18 MDD and 18 BD). The model demonstrated a good performance (area under the curve (AUC) >0.8) in discriminating MDD from BD in the training (AUC = 0.84) and test sets (AUC = 0.81) and in distinguishing MDD from BD without current hypomanic/manic/mixed symptoms (90 MDD and 75 BD) (AUC = 0.83). Subsequently, the model demonstrated excellent performance for drug-free MDD versus BD (11 MDD and 10 BD) (AUC = 0.96) and good performance for MDD versus HC (AUC = 0.87) and BD versus HC (AUC = 0.86). Furthermore, the nine proteins were associated with neuro, oxidative/nitrosative stress, and immunity/inflammation-related biological functions. This proof-of-concept study introduces a potential model for distinguishing between the two disorders.

Three-Dimensional Single-Molecule Localization Microscopy in Whole-Cell and Tissue Specimens.

Super-resolution microscopy techniques are versatile and powerful tools for visualizing organelle structures, interactions, and protein functions in biomedical research. However, whole-cell and tissue specimens challenge the achievable resolution and depth of nanoscopy methods. We focus on three-dimensional single-molecule localization microscopy and review some of the major roadblocks and developing solutions to resolving thick volumes of cells and tissues at the nanoscale in three dimensions. These challenges include background fluorescence, system- and sample-induced aberrations, and information carried by photons, as well as drift correction, volume reconstruction, and photobleaching mitigation. We also highlight examples of innovations that have demonstrated significant breakthroughs in addressing the abovementioned challenges together with their core concepts as well as their trade-offs.

Investigation of the Post-Synthetic Confinement of Fluorous Liquids Inside Mesoporous Silica Nanoparticles.

Perfluorocarbon (PFC) filled nanoparticles are increasingly being investigated for various biomedical applications. Common approaches for PFC liquid entrapment involve surfactant-based emulsification and Pickering emulsions. Alternatively, PFC liquids are capable of being entrapped inside hollow nanoparticles via a postsynthetic loading method (PSLM). While the methodology for the PSLM is straightforward, the effect each loading parameter has on the PFC entrapment has yet to be investigated. Previous work revealed incomplete filling of the hollow nanoparticles. Changing the loading parameters was expected to influence the ability of the PFC to fill the core of the nanoparticles. Hence, it would be possible to model the loading mechanism and determine the influence each factor has on PFC entrapment by tracking the change in loading yield and efficiency of PFC-filled nanoparticles. Herein, neat PFC liquid was loaded into silica nanoparticles and extracted into aqueous phases while varying the sonication time, concentration of nanoparticles, volume ratio between aqueous and fluorous phases, and pH of the extraction water. Loading yields and efficiency were determined via 19F nuclear magnetic resonance and N2 physisorption isotherms. Sonication time was indicated to have the strongest correlation to loading yield and efficiency; however, method validation revealed that the current model does not fully explain the loading capabilities of the PSLM. Confounding variables and more finely controlled parameters need to be considered to better predict the behavior and loading capacity by the PSLM and warrants further study.

Early Trauma Is Associated With Suicidal Ideation in Patients With Panic Disorder.

ABSTRACT: There are several predictors of suicidality in patients with panic disorder (PD). Being a woman, younger age, low education level, unmarried status, and symptom severity have been suggested. This study aimed to examine whether early trauma is associated with suicidal ideation in patients with PD. Our study included 267 patients with PD and 105 controls. Data on sociodemographic variables and data from the Early Trauma Inventory Self Report-Short Form, Beck Depression Inventory, Panic Disorder Severity Scale, Anxiety Sensitivity Inventory-Revised, Coping Scales, and Scale for Suicide Ideation were collected, and correlation and regression analyses were performed. This study suggests that clinicians should consider early trauma when assessing suicidal ideation in patients with PD. Clinicians could consider alternative treatments, such as trauma-focused cognitive-behavioral therapy, eye movement desensitization, reprocessing approaches, and classical pharmacological and psychological treatments for patients with PD who have a history of early trauma and are expected to be at high risk for suicide.

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy for Depressive Disorders.

Recently, the importance of cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) in the treatment of depression is gradually emerging. Particularly, mindfulness meditation has various approaches related to dialectical behavioral therapy (DBT), acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT), mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR), and mindfulness-based cognitive therapy (MBCT), and evidence has been provided that they alleviate depressive symptoms. In particular, as MBCT increases the level of evidence in the treatment of repetitive depressive disorders, guidelines are being recommended to prevent recurrence. Mindfulness may also contribute to improving the patient's symptoms as well as improving the therapeutic relationship with the therapist. For both mindful patients and therapists, positive awareness of internal experiences can be a good way to enrich the mind and overcome depressive disorders.

CaPSSA: visual evaluation of cancer biomarker genes for patient stratification and survival analysis using mutation and expression data.

SUMMARY: Predictive biomarkers for patient stratification play critical roles in realizing the paradigm of precision medicine. Molecular characteristics such as somatic mutations and expression signatures represent the primary source of putative biomarker genes for patient stratification. However, evaluation of such candidate biomarkers is still cumbersome and requires multistep procedures especially when using massive public omics data. Here, we present an interactive web application that divides patients from large cohorts (e.g. The Cancer Genome Atlas, TCGA) dynamically into two groups according to the mutation, copy number variation or gene expression of query genes. It further supports users to examine the prognostic value of resulting patient groups based on survival analysis and their association with the clinical features as well as the previously annotated molecular subtypes, facilitated with a rich and interactive visualization. Importantly, we also support custom omics data with clinical information. AVAILABILITY AND IMPLEMENTATION: CaPSSA (Cancer Patient Stratification and Survival Analysis) runs on a web-browser and is freely available without restrictions at http://www.kobic.re.kr/capssa/. The source code is available on https://github.com/yjjang/capssa. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Supplementary data are available at Bioinformatics online.