Generation of integration-free neural progenitor cells from cells in human urine

Human neural stem cells hold great promise for research and therapy in neural disease. We describe the generation of integration-free and expandable human neural progenitor cells (NPCs). We combined an episomal system to deliver reprogramming factors with a chemically defined culture medium to reprogram epithelial-like cells from human urine into NPCs (hUiNPCs). These transgene-free hUiNPCs can self-renew and can differentiate into multiple functional neuronal subtypes and glial cells in vitro. Although functional in vivo analysis is still needed, we report that the cells survive and differentiate upon transplant into newborn rat brain.postprin

Plasmon-Enhanced Quantum Dot Nanobeads-Based Lateral Flow Assay with Lower Background and Improved Sensitivity

Developing a quantum dot (QD) nanobeads-based lateral-flow assay (LFA) is of great importance for achieving ultrasen-sitive, quantitative, and rapid testing of clinical specimens at the point-of-care. However, the QD nanobeads currently used in LFA still have drawbacks such as large particle size, which leads to high background, easy aggregation, and poor fluidity. To address these issues, a promising strategy is to utilize plasmonic energy transfer from gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) to QDs in order to create smaller size and brighter fluorescent QD nanobeads, without simply increasing the amount of QDs encapsulated in the nanobeads. In this study, we prepared the plasmon-enhanced quantum dot nano-beads (PEQNB) by encapsulating AuNPs and QDs into polymer nanobeads using the versatile emulsion-solvent evapora-tion method. We were able to detect as low as ~4347 PEQNBs nanoparticles using a gel imager, which is 14.6 times brighter than the QD nanobeads of a similar size. Compared to QD nanobeads of similar size, the PEQNB-based LFA for interleukin-6 detection exhibited higher fluorescent signal and lower background. The detection limit of PEQNB-based LFA was 1.63-fold higher than that of QD nanobeads. Furthermore, compared to larger-sized QD nanobeads with aver-age diameter of 131.1nm, PEQNB with average diameter of 78.6 nm based LFA exhibited similar levels of fluorescence intensity, but 1.55-fold lower background signal and 1.44-fold lower detection limits. This work demonstrates that opti-mized plasmon-enhanced QD nanobeads can further increase the sensitivity and lower the background signals of ultra-sensitive QD nanobeads-based LFA for disease diagnosis at point-of-care

Expert Consensus on Prevention and Treatment of Aging-Related Gonadal Dysfunction

Aging -related hypogonadism involves complex mechanisms in humans, predominantly relating to the decline of multiple hormones and senile gonads. Late -onset hypogonadism (LOH) and erectile dysfunction (ED) are the main manifestations in men, while premature ovarian insufficiency (POI) and menopause are the main forms in women. Anti -aging measures include lifestyle modification and resistance training, hormonal supplementation, stem cell therapy, metformin, and rapamycin. In this expert consensus, the mechanisms, efficacy, and side effects of stem cell therapy on aging gonadal function are reviewed. Furthermore, various methods of stem cell therapy, administered intravenously, intracavernously, and intra-ovarially, are exemplified in detail. More clinical trials on aging -related gonadal dysfunction are required to solidify the foundation of this topic