Implications of Serum 25-Hydroxyvitamin D on the Prevalence of Neoplastic Polyps: A Cross-Sectional Study.

Background: Vitamin D is believed to help in the suppression of malignant cells. Epidemiologic studies suggest that there is an association between vitamin D deficiency and an increased risk of colorectal cancer. The primary aim of this study is to determine if the prevalence of neoplastic polyps is inversely related to serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels 25(OH)D.

Chondrogenic derivatives of embryonic stem cells seeded into 3D polycaprolactone scaffolds generated cartilage tissue in vivo.

In spite of recent scientific advances, treatment and repair of cartilage using tissue engineering techniques remains challenging. The major constraint is the limited proliferative capacity of mature autologous chondrocytes used in the tissue engineering approach. This problem can be addressed by using stem cells, which can self-renew with greater proliferative potential.

Paternal alcohol exposure affects sperm cytosine methyltransferase messenger RNA levels.

Background: Although paternal alcohol exposure has been shown to affect the growth and behavior of offspring, the mechanisms underlying these effects still remain to be elucidated. This study examines one possible mechanism, namely, altered genomic imprinting as reflected by changes in sperm cytosine methyltransferase messenger RNA (mRNA) levels.

Methods: Male rats were treated with alcohol for 9 weeks before breeding.