Clones of Ectopic Stem Cells in the Regeneration of Muscle Defects In Vivo

Little is known about whether clones of ectopic, non-muscle stem cells contribute to muscle regeneration. Stem/progenitor cells that are isolated for experimental research or therapeutics are typically heterogeneous. Non-myogenic lineages in a heterogeneous population conceptually may compromise tissue repair. In this study, we discovered that clones of mononucleated stem cells of human tooth pulp fused into multinucleated myotubes that robustly expressed myosin heavy chain in vitro with or without co-culture with mouse skeletal myoblasts (C2C12 cells). Cloned cells were sustainably Oct4+, Nanog+ and Stro1+. The fusion indices of myogenic clones were approximately 16–17 folds greater than their parent, heterogeneous stem cells. Upon infusion into cardio-toxin induced tibialis anterior muscle defects, undifferentiated clonal progenies not only engrafted and colonized host muscle, but also expressed human dystrophin and myosin heavy chain more efficaciously than their parent heterogeneous stem cell populations. Strikingly, clonal progenies yielded ∼9 times more human myosin heavy chain mRNA in regenerating muscles than those infused with their parent, heterogeneous stem cells. The number of human dystrophin positive cells in regenerating muscles infused with clonal progenies was more than ∼3 times greater than muscles infused with heterogeneous stem cells from which clonal progenies were derived. These findings suggest the therapeutic potential of ectopic myogenic clones in muscle regeneration

Investigating Endocrine Disrupting Impacts of Nine Disinfection Byproducts on Human and Zebrafish Estrogen Receptor Alpha

Background: Disinfection byproducts (DBPs) cause endocrine disruption via estrogenic or anti-estrogenic effects on estrogen receptors. However, most studies have focused on human systems, with little experimental data being presented on aquatic biota. This study aimed to compare the effects of nine DBPs on zebrafish and human estrogen receptor alpha (zERα and hERα). Methods: In vitro enzyme response-based tests, including cytotoxicity and reporter gene assays, were performed. Additionally, statistical analysis and molecular docking studies were employed to compare ERα responses. Results: Iodoacetic acid (IAA), chloroacetonitrile (CAN), and bromoacetonitrile (BAN) showed robust estrogenic activity on hERα (maximal induction ratios of 108.7%, 50.3%, and 54.7%, respectively), while IAA strongly inhibited the estrogenic activity induced by 17β-estradiol (E2) in zERα (59.8% induction at the maximum concentration). Chloroacetamide (CAM) and bromoacetamide (BAM) also showed robust anti-estrogen effects in zERα (48.1% and 50.8% induction at the maximum concentration, respectively). These dissimilar endocrine disruption patterns were thoroughly assessed using Pearson correlation and distance-based analyses. Clear differences between the estrogenic responses of the two ERαs were observed, whereas no pattern of anti-estrogenic activities could be established. Some DBPs strongly induced estrogenic endocrine disruption as agonists of hERα, while others inhibited estrogenic activity as antagonists of zERα. Principal coordinate analysis (PCoA) showed similar correlation coefficients for estrogenic and anti-estrogenic responses. Reproducible results were obtained from computational analysis and the reporter gene assay. Conclusions: Overall, the effects of DBPs on both human and zebrafish highlight the importance of controlling their differences in responsiveness for estrogenic activities including the water quality monitoring and endocrine disruption, as DBPs have species-specific ligand-receptor interactions.Peer reviewe

Correlation effects in a quantum dot at high magnetic fields

We investigate the effects of electron correlations on the ground state energy and the chemical potential of a droplet confined by a parabolic potential at high magnetic fields. We demonstrate the importance of correlations in estimating the transition field at which the first edge reconstruction of the maximum density droplet occurs in the spin polarized regime.Comment: 11 pages (revtex) 3 postscript figures are included at the end of the tex file. To appear in Phys. Rev.

Selective Uterine Artery Embolization for Management of Interstitial Ectopic Pregnancy

Interstitial ectopic pregnancy is a rare condition of pregnancy and may be very dangerous if not identified and treated urgently. We report a case of successful treatment of an interstitial pregnancy using selective uterine artery embolization. A 27-year-old woman with interstitial pregnancy was treated by uterine artery embolization after failure of systemic methotrexate treatment. Her serum beta-human chorionic gonadotropin (β-hCG) was undetectable one month after the therapeutic embolization and transvaginal sonography 31 days after embolization showed normal endometrium and cornu. The patient achieved a normal pregnancy eight months after embolization

Chemical composition and anti-inflammatory effects of essential oil from Hallabong flower

A number of essential oils derived from plants are claimed to have several medicinal functions, including anti-cancer and anti-inflammation effects. However, the chemical composition and biological activities of flower-derived components have not been sufficiently characterized. Therefore, we investigated the composition of essential oils from Hallabong flower [(Citrus unshiu Marcov × Citrus sinensis Osbeck) × Citrus reticulata Blanco] and their anti-inflammatory effects. Hydro-dist illed essential oils (HEOs) were analyzed using gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC–MS). In total, 21 components were identified, representing more than 98 % of the oils, with sabinene (34.75 %), linalool (14.77 %), β-ocimene (11.07 %), 4-terpineol (9.63 %), L-limonene (5.88 %), and γ-terpinene (4.67 %) as the main components. In the present study, we also investigated the anti-inflammatory effects of HEOs on lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated RAW 26 4.7 macrophage cells. HEOs were found to inhibit nitric oxide (NO) and prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) production and to suppress the LPS- induced expression of cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) protein. In addition, HEOs downregulated the production of the inflammatory cytokines, tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, interleukin (IL)-6, and IL-1 β(IC50 values are 0.05 %, 0.02 %, and 0.01 %, respectively). On the basis of these results, we suggest that HEOs can be consid ered potential anti-inflammatory candidates for therapeutic use in humans

Effects of Murine Dermal Cells on the Regulation of Hair Growth Is Dependent on the Cell Number and Post-Natal Age of Newborn Mice

Dermal cells from neonatal mice can initiate the formation of hair follicles (HFs) when combined with adult mouse epidermal cells and transplanted subcutaneously into athymic mice. In the present study, the effects of dermal cells on HF formation were tested in terms of total cell number and the time course of cell harvest. Results demonstrated that the number of dermal cells is critical to the formation of HF. Furthermore, hair forming ability is rapidly decreasing as the neonatal mice age. To examine potential differences in gene expression, cDNA array was performed. Results demonstrate that numerous molecules which are directly involved in receptor and signaling correlated with decreased hair inductivity in early time points after delivery. It is reported that bone morphogenic protein (BMP)-6 and Wnt3a treatment increased hair inductivity of dermal papilla cells. But in our study, no changes were observed in the expression levels of BMP-6 and Wnt3a. However, several Wnt related genes demonstrate increased or decreased expression levels. Thus, our results suggest that co-ordinated regulation of these molecules will be important in hair neogenesis within our model system

Prescription Pattern of NSAIDs and the Prevalence of NSAID-induced Gastrointestinal Risk Factors of Orthopaedic Patients in Clinical Practice in Korea

This is a cross-sectional observational study undertaken to explore the current prescription pattern of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and the prevalence of NSAID-induced gastrointestinal (GI) risk factors of orthopaedic patients in real clinical practice in Korea. Study cohort included 3,140 orthopaedic outpatients at 131 hospitals and clinics between January 2008 and August 2008. A self-administered questionnaire was completed by each patient and physician. A simplified risk scoring scale (the Standardized Calculator of Risk for Events; SCORE) was used to measure patients' risk for GI complications. The pattern of NSAIDs prescription was identified from medical recordings. Forty-five percents of the patients belonged to high risk or very high risk groups for GI complications. The cyclooxygenase-2 enzyme (COX-2) selective NSAID showed a propensity to be prescribed more commonly for high/very high GI risk groups, but the rate was still as low as 51%. In conclusion, physician's considerate prescription of NSAIDs with well-understanding of each patient's GI risk factors is strongly encouraged in order to maximize cost effectiveness and to prevent serious GI complications in Korea. Other strategic efforts such as medical association-led education programs and application of Korean electronic SCORE system to hospital order communication system (OCS) should also be accompanied in a way to promote physician's attention

Subsidence and Nonunion after Anterior Cervical Interbody Fusion Using a Stand-Alone Polyetheretherketone (PEEK) Cage

Background: The purposes of the present study are to evaluate the subsidence and nonunion that occurred after anterior cervical discectomy and fusion using a stand-alone intervertebral cage and to analyze the risk factors for the complications.Methods: Thirty-eight patients (47 segments) who underwent anterior cervical fusion using a stand-alone polyetheretherketone (PEEK) cage and an autologous cancellous iliac bone graft from June 2003 to August 2008 were enrolled in this study. The anterior and posterior segmental heights and the distance from the anterior edge of the upper vertebra to the anterior margin of the cage were measured on the plain radiographs. Subsidence was defined as ≥ a 2 mm (minor) or 3 mm (major) decrease of the segmental height at the final follow-up compared to that measured at the immediate postoperative period. Nonunion was evaluated accordingto the instability being ≥ 2 mm in the interspinous distance on the flexion-extension lateral radiographs.Results: The anterior and posterior segmental heights decreased from the immediate postoperative period to the final follow-up at 1.33 ± 1.46 mm and 0.81 ± 1.27 mm, respectively. Subsidence ≥ 2 mm and 3 mm were observed in 12 segments (25.5%) and 7 segments (14.9%), respectively. Among the expected risk factors for subsidence, a smaller anteroposterior (AP) diameter (14 mm vs. 12 mm) of cages (p = 0.034; odds ratio [OR], 0.017) and larger intraoperative distraction (p = 0.041; OR, 3.988) had a significantlyhigher risk of subsidence. Intervertebral nonunion was observed in 7 segments (7/47, 14.9%). Compared with the union group, the nonunion group had a significantly higher ratio of two-level fusion to one-level fusions (p = 0.001).Conclusions: Anterior cervical fusion using a stand-alone cage with a large AP diameter while preventing anterior intraoperative over-distraction will be helpful to prevent the subsidence of cages. Two-level cervical fusion might require more careful attention for avoiding nonunion.Keywords: Anterior cervical fusion, PEEK cage, Subsidence, NonunionOAIID:oai:osos.snu.ac.kr:snu2011-01/102/0000004226/3SEQ:3PERF_CD:SNU2011-01EVAL_ITEM_CD:102USER_ID:0000004226EMP_ID:A076317DEPT_CD:801FILENAME:E031T_CiOS-2011_Yang_Subsidence and nonunion after anterior cervical.pdfDEPT_NM:의학과EMAIL:[email protected]_YN:NCONFIRM:

Exclusive B-> M \nu \bar{\nu} (M= \pi, K, \rho, K^*) Decays and Leptophobic Z^\prime Model

We consider the exclusive flavor changing neutral current processes B -> M \nu \bar{\nu} (M= \pi, K, \rho, K^*) in the leptophobic Z^\prime model, in which the charged leptons do not couple to the extra Z^\prime boson. We find that these exclusive modes are very effective to constrain the leptophobic Z^\prime model. In the leptophobic Z^\prime model, additional right-handed neutrinos are introduced and they can contribute to the missing energy signal in B -> M + E_missing decays. Through the explicit calculations, we obtain quite stringent bounds on the model parameters, |U_{sb}^{Z^\prime}| \leq 0.29 and |U_{db}^{Z^\prime}| \leq 0.61, from the already existing experimental data. We also briefly discuss an interesting subject of massive right-handed neutrinos, which might be connected with the dark matter problem.Comment: 17 pages, 3 figures, minor corrections, version to appear in PL