Scaffold-free bone-like 3D structure established through osteogenic differentiation from human gingiva-derived stem cells.

Introduction & Objectives: Stem cell therapy for regenerative medicine has been sincerely investigated, but not still popular although some clinical trials show hopeful results. This therapy is suggested to be a representative candidate such as bone defect due to the accident, iatrogenic resection oncological tumor, congenital disease, and severe periodontitis in oral region. Recently, the Bio-3D printer "Regenova®" has been introduced as an innovative three-dimensional culture system, equipped scaffold-free bio-assembling techniques without any biomaterials.

Luteolin Is a Potential Immunomodulating Natural Compound against Pulpal Inflammation.

Aim: The present study evaluated the therapeutic effects of luteolin in alleviating pulpitis of dental pulp- (DP-) derived microvesicles (MVs) via the inhibition of protein kinase R- (PKR-) mediated inflammation. . Proteomic analysis of immortalized human dental pulp (DP-1) cell-derived MVs was performed to identify PKR-associated molecules.

miR-1260b inhibits periodontal bone loss by targeting ATF6β mediated regulation of ER stress.

The expression profiles of exosomal microRNAs (miRNAs) are regulated by the microenvironment, and appropriate priming with mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) is one of the strategies to enhance the paracrine potency of MSCs. Our previous work demonstrated that exosomes from tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α-primed human gingiva-derived MSCs (GMSCs) could be a therapeutic tool against periodontitis, and that TNFα-inducible exosomal miR-1260b is essential for the inhibition of alveolar bone loss. However, the precise molecular mechanism underlying miR-1260b-mediated inhibition of osteoclastogenesis is not yet fully understood.

Extracellular vesicles derived from GMSCs stimulated with TNF-α and IFN-α promote M2 macrophage polarization via enhanced CD73 and CD5L expression.

Immunoregulatory properties of mesenchymal stem cell (MSC)-derived extracellular vesicles (EVs) are promising. Gingival tissue-derived MSCs (GMSCs) have unique immunoregulatory capacity and secrete large amounts of EVs. Recent findings suggest that priming MSCs with inflammatory stimuli is an effective strategy for cell-free therapy.

Combined application of geranylgeranylacetone and amelogenin promotes angiogenesis and wound healing in human periodontal ligament cells.

Amelogenin directly binds to glucose-regulated protein 78 (Grp78). Cell migration activity is expected to increase when human periodontal ligament cells (hPDLCs) overexpressing Grp78 are treated with amelogenin. Geranylgeranylacetone (GGA) is a drug that induces the expression of heat shock protein and is routinely used to treat gastric ulcers.

Exosomes from TNF-α-treated human gingiva-derived MSCs enhance M2 macrophage polarization and inhibit periodontal bone loss.

Mesenchymal stem cell (MSC)-derived exosome plays a central role in the cell-free therapeutics involving MSCs and the contents can be customized under disease-associated microenvironments. However, optimal MSC-preconditioning to enhance its therapeutic potential is largely unknown. Here, we show that preconditioning of gingival tissue-derived MSCs (GMSCs) with tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) is ideal for the treatment of periodontitis.

[Usage of New Device to Prevent Sternum Separation after Median Sternotomy in 140 Cases].

While minimally invasive cardiac surgery (MICS) has become increasingly popular recently even in the field of cardiovascular surgery, the conventional full median sternotomy is still the main approach to the mediastinum, especially for cases which cannot be applied for MICS or in the facilities where MICS is not performed. It has been known that sternal instability is one of the leading causes of sternal infection after median sternotomy. Therefore, we have sought for an additional product to secure strong sternal stability.

Development of type I/II oligodendrocytes regulated by teneurin-4 in the murine spinal cord.

In the spinal cord, the axonal tracts with various caliber sizes are myelinated by oligodendrocytes and function as high-velocity ways for motor and sensory nerve signals. In some neurological disorders, such as multiple sclerosis, demyelination of small caliber axons is observed in the spinal cord. While type I/II oligodendrocytes among the four types are known to myelinate small diameter axons, their characteristics including identification of regulating molecules have not been understood yet.

Amelogenin Downregulates Interferon Gamma-Induced Major Histocompatibility Complex Class II Expression Through Suppression of Euchromatin Formation in the Class II Transactivator Promoter IV Region in Macrophages.

Enamel matrix derivatives (EMDs)-based periodontal tissue regenerative therapy is known to promote healing with minimal inflammatory response after periodontal surgery, i. e., it promotes wound healing with reduced pain and swelling.

Laminin α2, α4, and α5 Chains Positively Regulate Migration and Survival of Oligodendrocyte Precursor Cells.

In the developing central nervous system (CNS), oligodendrocyte precursor cells (OPCs) migrate along blood vessels and are widely distributed in the CNS. Meanwhile, OPCs require survival factors from the extracellular microenvironment. In other tissues, laminins, heterotrimetric (αβγ) extracellular matrix proteins, promote cell migration and survival.

The extracellular domain of teneurin-4 promotes cell adhesion for oligodendrocyte differentiation.

Cell adhesion between oligodendrocytes and neuronal axons is a critical step for myelination that enables the rapid propagation of action potential in the central nervous system. Here, we show that the transmembrane protein teneurin-4 plays a role in the cell adhesion required for the differentiation of oligodendrocytes. We found that teneurin-4 formed molecular complexes with all of the four teneurin family members and promoted cell-cell adhesion.

Heterogeneity of Oligodendrocytes and Their Precursor Cells.

While oligodendrocytes have been thought to be homogenous, a number of reports have indicated evidences of the heterogeneity of oligodendrocytes and their precursor cells, OPCs. Almost a century ago, Del Río Hortega found three and four types of oligodendrocytes with regions where they exist and their morphologies, respectively. Interfascicular oligodendrocytes are one of the three regional dependent types and are the most typical oligodendendroglial cells that myelinate axonal fibers in the white matter tracts.

Differentiation of Oligodendrocyte Precursor Cells from Sox10-Venus Mice to Oligodendrocytes and Astrocytes.

Oligodendrocytes are well known as myelin-forming cells in the central nervous system (CNS). However, detailed mechanisms of oligodendrocyte differentiation and myelination are poorly understood, particularly due to the difficulty of the purification of murine oligodendrocyte precursor cells (OPCs). We have recently established a transgenic mouse line that expresses a fluorescent protein Venus under the promoter of Sox10, whose expression is restricted to OPCs and oligodendrocytes in the CNS.

[Left Ventricular Torsion in Papillary Muscle Relocation for Severe Functional Mitral Regurgitation].

A 42-year-old woman with a history of old myocardial infarction was admitted to our hospital with complaints of worsening orthopnea. Doppler echocardiography exhibited severe functional mitral valve regurgitation. Because of the tethered mitral valve, we performed mitral valve annuloplasty concomitantly with papillary muscle relocation procedure.

Single-incision thoracoscopic surgery using a chest wall pulley for lung excision in patients with primary spontaneous pneumothorax.

Purpose: The aim of the study was to evaluate the feasibility and compare the outcomes of single-incision thoracoscopic surgery using a chest wall pulley for lung excision (PulLE) vs. those of conventional video-assisted thoracic surgery (cVATS) in patients with primary spontaneous pneumothorax (PSP).

Methods: Sixty-nine patients who underwent PulLE (n = 34) or cVATS (n = 35) between January 2009 and December 2013 were enrolled in this study.

Volatiles emitted from the leaves of Laurus nobilis L. improve vigilance performance in visual discrimination task.

The leaves of Laurus noblis L. (laurel) are mainly used as a spice in cooking, and the essential oil obtained by steam distillation of the leaves is used as an additive in foods, drugs and cosmetics. We investigated the effect of the volatiles emitted from the leaves of L.

Nanogel-based scaffold delivery of prostaglandin E(2) receptor-specific agonist in combination with a low dose of growth factor heals critical-size bone defects in mice.

Objective: Regeneration of bone requires the combination of appropriate drugs and an appropriate delivery system to control cell behavior. However, the delivery of multiple drugs to heal bone is complicated by the availability of carriers. The aim of this study was to explore a new system for delivery of a selective EP4 receptor agonist (EP4A) in combination with low-dose bone morphogenetic protein 2 (BMP-2).

[Non-face-to-face sleep improvement program in a workplace: bibliotherapy with and without behavioral self-control procedure].

Background: Sleep hygiene education has been important health issue in the health promotion and the prevention of lifestyle-related diseases. A feasible and effective method is necessary for population approach.

Objective: To evaluate the effects of a non-face-to-face brief behavioral program for a sleep improvement in workplaces.

Osteoblastic bone formation is induced by using nanogel-crosslinking hydrogel as novel scaffold for bone growth factor.

Bone regeneration for the defects in revision surgery of joint replacement is an increasingly important issue. To repair bone defects, bone cell activation by growth factors using synthetic resorbable scaffold is a useful and safe option. We examine the efficiency of nanogel-crosslinking hydrogel as a novel synthetic scaffold for BMP to stimulate osteoblasts and to induce bone formation.

Multiple molecular interactions implicate the connectin/titin N2A region as a modulating scaffold for p94/calpain 3 activity in skeletal muscle.

p94/calpain 3 is a skeletal muscle-specific Ca(2+)-regulated cysteine protease (calpain), and genetic loss of p94 protease activity causes muscular dystrophy (calpainopathy). In addition, a small in-frame deletion in the N2A region of connectin/titin that impairs p94-connectin interaction causes a severe muscular dystrophy (mdm) in mice. Since p94 via its interaction with the N2A and M-line regions of connectin becomes part of the connectin filament system that serves as a molecular scaffold for the myofibril, it has been proposed that structural and functional integrity of the p94-connectin complex is essential for health and maintenance of myocytes.

The importance of conserved amino acid residues in p94 protease sub-domain IIb and the IS2 region for constitutive autolysis.

p94/calpain 3, a skeletal muscle-specific member of calpain protease family, is characterized by apparent Ca(2+)-independence during exhaustive autolysis and concomitant proteolysis of non-self substrates. The purpose of our study was to comprehensively profile the structural basis of p94 enabling activation in the cytosol without an extra Ca(2+). Ca(2+)-dependent p94 mutants were screened using "p94-trapping", which is an application of yeast genetic reporter system called "proteinase-trapping".

Serum osteopontin, an enhancer of tumor metastasis to bone, promotes B16 melanoma cell migration.

Tumor malignancy is associated with several features such as proliferation ability and frequency of metastasis. Since tumor metastasis shortens patients' lifetime, establishment of therapy for anti-metastasis is very important. Osteopontin (OPN), which abundantly expressed in bone matrix, is involved in cell adhesion, migration, extracellular matrix (ECM) invasion and cell proliferation via interaction with its receptor, that is, alphavbeta3 integrin.

Comprehensive survey of p94/calpain 3 substrates by comparative proteomics--possible regulation of protein synthesis by p94.

Calpain represents a family of Ca(2+)-dependent cytosolic cysteine proteases found in almost all eukaryotes and some bacteria, and is involved in a variety of biological phenomena, including brain function. Several substrates of calpain are aggressively proteolyzed under pathological conditions, e.g.