Ultrafast cell-free DNA extraction from body fluids using UiO-66-NH hydrogel packed syringe.

Liquid biopsy represents a noninvasive or minimally invasive diagnostic approach relevant for both the organ-specific changes and systemic health conditions, whereas cell-free DNA (cfDNA) extraction from body liquids has attracted much attention in liquid biopsy, especially. Nowadays, metal-organic frameworks (MOF) such as UiO-66-NH has been demonstrated efficient extraction property for DNA molecular, whereas the disadvantages of MOF for solid-phase extraction (SPE) still remain. Herein, one macro-pored MOF hydrogel formation strategy was constructed in this study to achieve superb extraction performance of cfDNAs from body fluids.

Activation of wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway down regulated osteogenic differentiation of bone marrow-derived stem cells in an anhidrotic ectodermal dysplasia patient with mutation.

Objective: To explore the mechanism by which the Wnt/β-catenin pathway induces osteogenic differentiation of bone marrow-derived stem cells (BMSCs) in anhidrotic ectodermal dysplasia (AED) with an Ectodysplasin A (EDA)/EDA receptor (EDAR)/EDARADD mutation.

Methods: An AED patient served as the AED group, whereas the other patients without AED were included in the normal group. Peripheral venous blood collected from the AED patient was subjected to whole-genome resequencing.

Three-dimensional positional relationship between impacted mandibular third molars and the mandibular canal.

Objective: To observe the three-dimensional positional relationship between impacted mandibular third molars (IMTMs) and mandibular canal close contacts using cone beam computed tomography (CBCT).

Methods: A total of 101 patients with IMTMs were selected who met the diagnostic criteria for 142 teeth (no bone wall imaging area between IMTMs and the mandibular canal, a high-density bone cortical imaging area only, or a ≦1 mm bone imaging area). The parameters of the rotating CBCT anode were set as follows: 110 kV, 40-50 mA; the focal point and exposure field were set as 0.

Correlation between serum α-Klotho levels and different stages of periodontitis.

Background: Periodontitis is an inflammatory disease characterized by inflammation and progressive destruction of periodontal tissues including alveolar bone. α-klotho protein is a multifunctional protein related to age-related diseases, inflammatory diseases, and bone metabolism-related diseases. However, large-sample epidemiological research evidence on the correlation between α-Klotho and the aggravation of periodontitis stages is still lacking.

Zinc Promotes Patient-Derived Induced Pluripotent Stem Cell Neural Differentiation via ERK-STAT Signaling.

Nerve regeneration remains a challenge. Patient-derived induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC)-differentiated neural stem cells (NSCs) provide a promising hope. Zinc is closely involved in central nervous system development and metabolism, but its role on iPSC neural differentiation is elusive and zinc detection methods in live cells are limited.

Small molecule inhibitor of TGF-β signaling enables robust osteogenesis of autologous GMSCs to successfully repair minipig severe maxillofacial bone defects.

Background: Clinically, for stem cell-based therapy (SCBT), autologous stem cells are considered better than allogenic stem cells because of little immune rejection and no risk of communicable disease infection. However, severe maxillofacial bone defects restoration needs sufficient autologous stem cells, and this remains a challenge worldwide. Human gingival mesenchymal stem cells (hGMSCs) derived from clinically discarded, easily obtainable, and self-healing autologous gingival tissues, have higher proliferation rate compared with autologous bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (hBMSCs).

The role of stem cells in benign tumors.

As stem cells contribute to the development and homeostasis of normal adult tissues, malfunction of stem cells in self-renewal and differentiation has been associated with tumorigenesis. A growing number of evidences indicating that tumor initiating cells play a crucial role, not only in malignancies, but also in generation and development of benign tumors. Here we offer an overview of the identification and functional characterization of benign tumor initiating cells in several tissues and organs, which typically show capacities of uncontrolled self-renewal to fuel the tumor growth and abnormal differentiation to give rise to tumor heterogeneity.