Human induced pluripotent stem cell-derived sensory neurons for fate commitment of bone marrow-derived Schwann cells: Implications for re-myelination therapy

published_or_final_versio

The in vitro effects of heat shock protein 65 kDa on proliferation of A7r5 smooth muscle cells

postprin

Directed differentiation of human bone marrow stromal cells to fate-committed Schwann cells

Transplantation of oligodendrocyte precursors represents a potential therapy for myelin disorders but requires a safe and accessible cell source. Here we report the directed differentiation of neural progenitors derived from adult bone marrow stromal cells (BMSCs) into oligodendrocyte precursors for cell therapy purpose. Neural progenitors among BMSCs could be culture expanded in non-adherent sphere-forming conditions and directed to differentiate along the oligodendrocyte lineage. BMSC-derived oligodendrocyte precursors (BM-OPs) differentiated into myelin basic protein (MBP)-positive oligodendrocyte when co-cultured with purified dorsal root ganglion (DRG) neurons. Injection of BM-OPs into the brain of myelin deficient Shiverer mice resulted in the generation of MBP-positive oligodendrocyte and compact myelin. Our results provided pointers to adult BMSCs as a readily accessible source of OPs towards cell therapy for myelin disorders.published_or_final_versio

Cytokine profiles in patients with lower limb ischaemia

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Effective Hamiltonian for Photonic Topological Insulator with Non-Hermitian Domain Walls

The gain and loss in photonic lattices provide possibilities for many functional phenomena. In this Letter, we consider photonic topological insulators with different types of gain-loss domain walls, which will break the translational symmetry of the lattices. A method is proposed to construct effective Hamiltonians, which accurately describe states and the corresponding energies at the domain walls for different types of photonic topological insulators and domain walls with arbitrary shapes. We also consider domain-induced higher-order topological states in two-dimensional non-Hermitian Aubry-André-Harper lattices and use our method to explain such phenomena successfully. Our results reveal the physics in photonic topological insulators with gain-loss domain walls, which provides advanced pathways for manipulation of non-Hermitian topological states in photonic systems

Normal 24-hour ambulatory proximal and distal gastroesophageal reflux parameters in Chinese.

OBJECTIVE: To quantify normal proximal and distal oesophageal acid parameters in healthy Chinese. DESIGN: Observational study. SETTING: University teaching hospital, Hong Kong. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: Twenty healthy adults who were not on medication and were free from gastrointestinal symptoms were recruited by advertisement. Ambulatory oesophageal acid (pH5 minutes, 4/0; and the longest single acid exposure episode, 11.2/3.0 minutes. CONCLUSION: Physiological gastroesophageal reflux occurs in healthy Chinese. These initial data provide a preliminary reference range that could be utilised by laboratories studying Chinese subjects.published_or_final_versio

Assessment of continuous fermentative hydrogen and methane co-production using macro- and micro-algae with increasing organic loading rate

A two-stage continuous fermentative hydrogen and methane co-production using macro-algae (Laminaria digitata) and micro-algae (Arthrospira platensis) at a C/N ratio of 20 was established. The hydraulic retention time (HRT) of first-stage H2 reactor was 4 days. The highest specific hydrogen yield of 55.3 mL/g volatile solids (VS) was obtained at an organic loading rate (OLR) of 6.0 gVS/L/d. In the second-stage CH4 reactor at a short HRT of 12 days, a specific methane yield of 245.0 mL/gVS was achieved at a corresponding OLR of 2.0 gVS/L/d. At these loading rates, the two-stage continuous system offered process stability and effected an energy yield of 9.4 kJ/gVS, equivalent to 77.7% of that in an idealised batch system. However, further increases in OLR led to reduced hydrogen and methane yields in both reactors. The process was compared to a one-stage anaerobic co-digestion of algal mixtures at an HRT of 16 days. A remarkably high salinity level of 13.3 g/kg was recorded and volatile fatty acid accumulations were encountered in the one-stage CH4 reactor. The two-stage system offered better performances in both energy return and process stability. The gross energy potential of the advanced gaseous biofuels from this algal mixture may reach 213 GJ/ha/yr