Local application of Usag-1 siRNA can promote tooth regeneration in Runx2-deficient mice

Runt-related transcription factor 2 (Runx2)-deficient mice can be used to model congenital tooth agenesis in humans. Conversely, uterine sensitization-associated gene-1 (Usag-1)-deficient mice exhibit supernumerary tooth formation. Arrested tooth formation can be restored by crossing both knockout-mouse strains; however, it remains unclear whether topical inhibition of Usag-1 expression can enable the recovery of tooth formation in Runx2-deficient mice. Here, we tested whether inhibiting the topical expression of Usag-1 can reverse arrested tooth formation after Runx2 abrogation. The results showed that local application of Usag-1 Stealth small interfering RNA (siRNA) promoted tooth development following Runx2 siRNA-induced agenesis. Additionally, renal capsule transplantation of siRNA-loaded cationized, gelatin-treated mouse mandibles confirmed that cationized gelatin can serve as an effective drug-delivery system. We then performed renal capsule transplantation of wild-type and Runx2-knockout (KO) mouse mandibles, treated with Usag-1 siRNA, revealing that hindered tooth formation was rescued by Usag-1 knockdown. Furthermore, topically applied Usag-1 siRNA partially rescued arrested tooth development in Runx2-KO mice, demonstrating its potential for regenerating teeth in Runx2-deficient mice. Our findings have implications for developing topical treatments for congenital tooth agenesis

Resectable hepatoblastoma with tumor thrombus extending into the right atrium after chemotherapy: A case report

AbstractHepatoblastoma with intraatrial tumor thrombus is relatively rare. We report a case of hepatoblastoma with tumor thrombus extending into the right atrium, which responded well to chemotherapy and was resected using extracorporeal circulation. A 4-year-old girl was referred to our hospital because of abdominal distention and tenderness. A computed tomography (CT) scan showed a large tumor occupying the left 3 segments of the liver with tumor thrombus extending into the right atrium. There was also a small intrahepatic metastasis in the right lobe of the liver. She was diagnosed with hepatoblastoma on the basis of the results of open biopsy. Neoadjuvant chemotherapy with an intense CDDP-based regimen was performed. The tumor responded well to chemotherapy, and intrahepatic metastasis became undetectable on CT scan, although the tumor thrombus remained in the right atrium. After 7 courses of chemotherapy, we performed resection using extracorporeal circulation. The postoperative course was uneventful, and adjuvant chemotherapy was started 10 days after the operation. Her serum alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) level decreased to the normal range, and she was free of disease for 1 year after the operation. Tumor resection using extracorporeal circulation can be performed safely and is justified in patients with intraatrial tumor thrombus

Support for UNRWA's survival

The United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) provides life-saving humanitarian aid for 5·4 million Palestine refugees now entering their eighth decade of statelessness and conflict. About a third of Palestine refugees still live in 58 recognised camps. UNRWA operates 702 schools and 144 health centres, some of which are affected by the ongoing humanitarian disasters in Syria and the Gaza Strip. It has dramatically reduced the prevalence of infectious diseases, mortality, and illiteracy. Its social services include rebuilding infrastructure and homes that have been destroyed by conflict and providing cash assistance and micro-finance loans for Palestinians whose rights are curtailed and who are denied the right of return to their homeland

The role of photonics and natural curing agents of TGF-β1 in treatment of osteoarthritis

YesOsteoarthritis (OA) is a degenerative disease leading to the breakdown of the hyaline cartilage between a varieties of diarthrodial joints such as the knee joint, carpals of the wrist and etc. When the cartilage is affected by trauma or wear and tear, Osteolysis may occur; broken debris of cartilage found within the synovial fluid may be recognised as a pathogen and therefore, the body’s autoimmune response will directly target the cartilage for destruction. Cytokines are proteins/peptides of glycoproteins that are secreted by cells and are involved in interaction and communication between cells. Transforming Growth Factors Beta 1 (TGF-β1) is one of well-known cytokines and had shown many effects on cellular biology including simulation or inhibition of cell proliferation, differentiation, production of extracellular matrix (ECM), remodelling, and producing both hormones and growth factors. On the other hand, Photonics recently play an important role for treatment of OA. The main aim of this review article is to investigate the effect of TGF-β1 in treatment of OA. Other important aim of this work is to explore the broad applications of optics and photonics in biomedical applications including treatment of OA. Biomedical applications of photonics have broad aspects including laser, carbon nanotubes (CNTs), quantum dots (QDs) and graphene and photodynamic therapy (PDT) which discussed in this review paper

腎移植患者における白内障

The relationship between the administrated dose of steroid and the grade of cataract was studied in 22 kidney transplant recipients maintaining a good graft function for more than one year. Posterior subcapsular cataract was observed in 19 patients, of whom seven showed severe cataract accompanied by visual disturbance. The total dose of steroid, particularly the dose in the period from three months after grafting, correlated with the grade of cataract. Among the 15 patients who had taken less than one year to reduce the dose of steroid (Medrol) to less than 15 mg/day, only two patients (13.3 %) developed severe cataract with visual disturbance. On the contrary, among the seven patients who had taken more than one year to reduce the dose of Medrol, five patients (71.4%) developed severe cataract. These results suggest that the dose of steroid (Medrol) should be reduced to less than 15 mg/day within one year after transplantation in order to prevent the development of post-transplant steroid cataract

A case of biliary atresia with pancreaticobiliary maljunction

Abstract Background The pathogenesis of biliary atresia (BA) is still unknown. There are several reports on the etiology of BA, including pancreaticobiliary maljunction (PBM). We experienced a case of Kasai type IIIa BA with PBM, in which we found elevation of pancreatic enzymes in the gallbladder. We evaluated whether PBM is related to the pathogenesis of BA based on our findings. Case presentation The patient was born at 40 weeks of gestation. His body weight at birth was 2850 g. At the age of 4 days, he had an acholic stool and was referred to our hospital. Abdominal ultrasonography showed that triangular cord sign was negative. The gallbladder was isolated with a diameter of 19 mm, and it contracted in response to oral feeding. His ultrasonographic findings were atypical for BA, but his jaundice did not improve. Therefore, we performed an operation at the age of 56 days. Intraoperative cholangiography showed a common bile duct and pancreatic duct and a common channel patent, while the common hepatic duct or intrahepatic duct was not visualized. Bile in the gallbladder contained colorless fluid, which showed elevated lipase level (34,100 IU/L). We performed Kasai portoenterostomy under the diagnosis of Kasai type IIIa BA with PBM. The patient’s postoperative course was uneventful, and he was discharged on day 30 after the operation. Histopathological evaluation showed that the lumens of the common bile duct and cystic duct were patent. However, the common hepatic duct was closed, and only bile ductules with diameters of less than 50 μm were isolated. Infiltration of lymphocytes was detected in the porta hepatis. No apparent inflammation was observed around the cystic duct, which was constantly exposed to pancreatic juice because of reflux through PBM. Conclusions Reflux of pancreatic juice through PBM might not be an etiological factor for BA, but might be associated with patency of the common and cystic bile ducts in Kasai type IIIa BA