Combination of induced pluripotent stem cell-derived motor neuron progenitor cells with irradiated brain-derived neurotrophic factor over-expressing engineered mesenchymal stem cells enhanced restoration of axonal regeneration in a chronic spinal cord injury rat model.

Background: Spinal cord injury (SCI) is a disease that causes permanent impairment of motor, sensory, and autonomic nervous system functions. Stem cell transplantation for neuron regeneration is a promising strategic treatment for SCI. However, selecting stem cell sources and cell transplantation based on experimental evidence is required.

Stepwise combined cell transplantation using mesenchymal stem cells and induced pluripotent stem cell-derived motor neuron progenitor cells in spinal cord injury.

Background: Spinal cord injury (SCI) is an intractable neurological disease in which functions cannot be permanently restored due to nerve damage. Stem cell therapy is a promising strategy for neuroregeneration after SCI. However, experimental evidence of its therapeutic effect in SCI is lacking.

Effects of stepwise administration of osteoprotegerin and parathyroid hormone-related peptide DNA vectors on bone formation in ovariectomized rat model.

Osteoporosis is a metabolic bone disease that impairs bone mineral density, microarchitecture, and strength. It requires continuous management, and further research into new treatment options is necessary. Osteoprotegerin (OPG) inhibits bone resorption and osteoclast activity.

Intranasal administration of induced pluripotent stem cell-derived cortical neural stem cell-secretome as a treatment option for Alzheimer's disease.

Background: Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the most common neurodegenerative disorder in the elderly, resulting in gradual destruction of cognitive abilities. Research on the development of various AD treatments is underway; however, no definitive treatment has been developed yet. Herein, we present induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC)-derived cortical neural stem cell secretome (CNSC-SE) as a new treatment candidate for AD and explore its efficacy.

The neuro-protective role of telomerase via TERT/TERF-2 in the acute phase of spinal cord injury.

Purpose: To investigate the interaction of telomerase activity and telomere length on neuro-protection or neuro-degeneration effects after spinal cord injury (SCI).

Methods: A contusive SCI model was developed using 56 Sprague-Dawley rats. Seven rats were allocated into acute injury phase groups (1, 3, 8, 24, and 48 h), and sub-acute and chronic injury phase groups (1, 2, and 4 weeks).

Mitigating Effect of Estrogen in Alzheimer's Disease-Mimicking Cerebral Organoid.

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the most common condition in patients with dementia and affects a large population worldwide. The incidence of AD is expected to increase in future owing to the rapid expansion of the aged population globally. Researchers have shown that women are twice more likely to be affected by AD than men.

Increased Potential of Bone Formation with the Intravenous Injection of a Parathyroid Hormone-Related Protein Minicircle DNA Vector.

Osteoporosis is commonly treated via the long-term usage of anti-osteoporotic agents; however, poor drug compliance and undesirable side effects limit their treatment efficacy. The parathyroid hormone-related protein (PTHrP) is essential for normal bone formation and remodeling; thus, may be used as an anti-osteoporotic agent. Here, we developed a platform for the delivery of a single peptide composed of two regions of the PTHrP protein (1-34 and 107-139); mcPTHrP 1-34+107-139 using a minicircle vector.

Integrity of the Untorn Articular-Sided Tendon in Bursal-Sided Partial-Thickness Rotator Cuff Tear: A Comparative Study of Apoptotic Activity in Torn and Untorn Layers.

Background: Conversion to full-thickness tear in partial-thickness rotator cuff tears (PTRCTs) is based on the quality and thickness of the normal-looking untorn rotator cuff layer. However, whether the untorn tendon is a healthy tissue remains to be elucidated.

Purpose: To compare the apoptotic gene expression of the untorn articular layer with the torn bursal layer in PTRCTs.

Induction of Endogenous Neural Stem Cells By Extracorporeal Shock Waves After Spinal Cord Injury.

Study Design: Animal experimental study OBJECTIVES.: The purpose of this study is to investigate the effects of extracorporeal shock waves (ESWs) on endogenous neural stem cells (NSCs) proliferation after spinal cord injury (SCI).

Summary Of Background Data: Exogenous stem cell transplantation for SCI still has many limitations to be addressed such as ideal cell sources, timing of transplantation, and fate of the transplanted cells.

Transplantation of Mesenchymal Stem Cells for Acute Spinal Cord Injury in Rats: Comparative Study between Intralesional Injection and Scaffold Based Transplantation.

Experimental stem cell therapy for spinal cord injury (SCI) has been extensively investigated. The selection of effective cell transplantation route is also an important issue. Although various types of scaffold have been widely tried as a carrier of stem cells to the injured spinal cord, there was little comparative study to investigate the efficacy of transplantation comparing with conventional transplantation route.

Theoretical Investigation of the Radical-Radical Reaction of O((3)P) + C2H3 and Comparison with Gas-Phase Crossed-Beam Experiments.

Herein, we present an ab initio study of the prototypal radical-radical reactions of ground-state atomic oxygen [O((3)P)] with the vinyl (C2H3) radical using density functional theory and a complete basis set model. Two distinctive pathways on the lowest doublet potential energy surfaces (PESs) were predicted to be in competition: addition and abstraction. The barrierless addition of O((3)P) to the hydrocarbon radicals leads to energy-rich intermediate formation followed by subsequent isomerization and decomposition to yield various products: CH2CO (ketene) + H, CO + CH3, C2HOH (acetylenol) + H, (3,1)CCHOH + H, H2O + C2H, (3,1)CH2 + HCO, H2CO (formaldehyde) + CH, C2H2 (acetylene) + OH, and (3,1)CCH2 + OH.

Effects of Therapeutic Hypothermia on Apoptosis and Autophagy After Spinal Cord Injury in Rats.

Study Design: Animal study.

Objective: To further investigate the effects of therapeutic hypothermia (TH), the present study compared autophagy and apoptosis after treatment with either therapeutic moderate systemic hypothermia or methylprednisolone sodium succinate (MP) in a rat model of acute spinal cord injury (SCI).

Summary Of Background Data: The neuroprotective effects of TH have recently become an important topic in the field of SCI research.

Does extracorporeal shock wave introduce alteration of microenvironment in cell therapy for chronic spinal cord injury?

Study Design: Animal experimental study.

Objective: To present experimental evidence for cell therapy for spinal cord injury (SCI).

Summary Of Background Data: In chronic SCI, the efficacy of cell engraftment has been known to be low due to its distinct pathology.

Bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cell transplantation for chronic spinal cord injury in rats: comparative study between intralesional and intravenous transplantation.

Study Design: Animal experimental study.

Objective: To present experimental evidence for mesenchymal cell therapy for spinal cord injury (SCI).

Summary Of Background Data: Prior to clinical application of stem cell therapy for SCI, many critical issues have to be addressed including efficiency, safety, method of transplantation, and differentiation of the transplanted cells.