3'-UTR Sequence of Exosomal NANOGP8 DNA as an Extracellular Vesicle-Localization Signal.

Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are garnering attention as a safe and efficient biomolecule delivery system. EVs intrinsically play a crucial role in intercellular communication and pathophysiology by transporting functionally active DNA molecules. The internalized DNA pleiotropically affects the recipient cells.

Amelioration of Motor Performance and Nigrostriatal Dopamine Cell Volume Using a Novel Far-Infrared Ceramic Blanket in an A53T Alpha-Synuclein Transgenic Parkinson's Disease Mouse Model.

We had attended a Parkinson's Disease (PD) patient for a non-healing wound who reported a marked decrease in his hand tremor and freezing of gait when his wound was exposed to a ceramic far-field infrared (cFIR) blanket. PD is the most frequent motor disorder and the second most frequent neurodegenerative disease after Alzheimer's Disease (AD). The tremor, rigidity, and slowness of movement associated with Parkinson's disease (PD) affect up to 10 million people throughout the world, and the major contributing factor to the pathogenesis of PD is the accumulation and propagation of pathological α-synuclein (α-Syn) and the death of dopaminergic cells in the Nigrostriatal system.

Suppression of NANOG Expression Reduces Drug Resistance of Cancer Stem Cells in Glioblastoma.

Glioblastoma (GBM) is an aggressive and incurable primary brain tumor that harbors therapy-resistant cancer stem cells (CSCs). Due to the limited effectiveness of conventional chemotherapies and radiation treatments against CSCs, there is a critical need for the development of innovative therapeutic approaches. Our previous research revealed the significant expression of embryonic stemness genes, NANOG and OCT4, in CSCs, suggesting their role in enhancing cancer-specific stemness and drug resistance.

Neural Differentiation of Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells for a Xenogeneic Material-Free 3D Neurological Disease Model Neurulation from Pluripotent Cells Using a Human Hydrogel.

Alzheimer's Disease (AD) is characterized by synapse and neuronal loss and the accumulation of neurofibrillary tangles and Amyloid β plaques. Despite significant research efforts to understand the late stages of the disease, its etiology remains largely unknown. This is in part because of the imprecise AD models in current use.

Methods and Protocols for Using Extracellular Vesicles as Delivery Vehicles in Neuronal Research.

Extracellular vesicles (EVs) transport nucleic acids, proteins, and lipid molecules for intercellular communication. The biomolecular cargo from EVs can modify the recipient cell genetically, physiologically, and pathologically. This innate ability of EVs can be harnessed to deliver the cargo of interest to a specific organ or a cell type.

Coculture with Neural Stem Cells May Shift the Transcription Profile of Glioblastoma Multiforme towards Cancer-Specific Stemness.

Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) possesses a small but significant population of cancer stem cells (CSCs) thought to play a role in its invasiveness, recurrence, and metastasis. The CSCs display transcriptional profiles for multipotency, self-renewal, tumorigenesis, and therapy resistance. There are two possible theories regarding the origin of CSCs in the context of neural stem cells (NSCs); i.

Analysis of regulatory sequences in exosomal DNA of NANOGP8.

Exosomes participate in intercellular communication by transporting functionally active molecules. Such cargo from the original cells comprising proteins, micro-RNA, mRNA, single-stranded (ssDNA) and double-stranded DNA (dsDNA) molecules pleiotropically transforms the target cells. Although cancer cells secrete exosomes carrying a significant level of DNA capable of modulating oncogene expression in a recipient cell, the regulatory mechanism is unknown.

Exosome mediated Tom40 delivery protects against hydrogen peroxide-induced oxidative stress by regulating mitochondrial function.

Mitochondrial dysfunction is a hallmark of neurodegeneration. The expression level of Tom40, a crucial mitochondrial membrane protein, is significantly reduced in neurodegenerative disease subjects. Tom40 overexpression studies have shown to protect the neurons against oxidative stress by improving mitochondrial function.

Exposure to a Pathological Condition May Be Required for the Cells to Secrete Exosomes Containing mtDNA Aberration.

Exosomes, nanovesicles secreted by all cells, carry out intercellular communication by transmitting biologically active cargo comprising DNA, RNA, and proteins. These biomolecules reflect the status of their parent cells and can be altered by pathological conditions. Therefore, the researchers have been investigating differential sequences and quantities of DNA associated with exosomes as valuable biomarkers of diseases.

Homologous Use of Allogeneic Umbilical Cord Tissue to Reduce Knee Pain and Improve Knee Function.

To determine if knee pain subjects who received cryopreserved umbilical cord tissue (UCT) injected into knee joints experience less knee pain, better function, decreased physical limitations, and reduction of medications (opiates, NSAIDs, and acetaminophen) over a 24 week period, Visual Analog Scale (VAS), Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC), and medication usage data were recorded for 30 consenting human knee pain subjects receiving UCT at a single site in the United States. Subject profile information was gathered and analyzed to gain insight into the effects of age, sex, and BMI on improvement over time. Mean resting VAS scores and mean VAS scores with activity improved over 24 weeks (from 1.

The Pupillary Light Reflex as a Biomarker of Concussion.

The size of our pupils changes continuously in response to variations in ambient light levels, a process known as the pupillary light reflex (PLR). The PLR is not a simple reflex as its function is modulated by cognitive brain function and any long-term changes in brain function secondary to injury should cause a change in the parameters of the PLR. We performed a retrospective clinical review of the PLR of our patients using the BrightLamp Reflex iPhone app.

Accelerated Wound Healing Using a Novel Far-Infrared Ceramic Blanket.

Introduction: Wounds are associated with ranges of simple to complex disruption or damage to anatomical structure and function. They are also associated with enormous economic and social costs, increasing yearly, resulting in a severe impact on the wellbeing of individuals and society. Technology that might accelerate wound healing is associated with many benefits to injured people.

Methods for the Detection of Circulating Pseudogenes and Their Use as Cancer Biomarkers.

Pseudogenes, once considered the "junk remnants of genes," are found to significantly affect the regulatory network of healthy and cancer cells, as well as to be highly specific markers of cancer cell identity. Qualitative and quantitative analysis of pseudogenes has a diagnostic and prognostic value in cancer research via the detection of cell-free pseudogenic DNA circulating throughout the body. Exosomes, nanoparticles with a lipid membrane secreted by almost all types of cells, carry cellular-blueprint molecules, including pseudogenic DNA, as cancer-specific cargo.

DNA Associated with Circulating Exosomes as a Biomarker for Glioma.

Cancerous and non-cancerous cells secrete exosomes, a type of nanovesicle known to carry the molecular signature of the parent for intercellular communications. Exosomes secreted by tumor cells carry abnormal DNA, RNA, and protein molecules that reflect the cancerous status. DNA is the master molecule that ultimately affects the function of RNA and proteins.

Xeno- and transgene-free reprogramming of mesenchymal stem cells toward the cells expressing neural markers using exosome treatments.

Neural stem cells (NSCs), capable of self-renew and differentiate into neural cells, hold promise for use in studies and treatments for neurological diseases. However, current approaches to obtain NSCs from a live brain are risky and invasive, since NSCs reside in the subventricular zone and the in the hippocampus dentate gyrus. Alternatively, mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) could be a more available cell source due to their abundance in tissues and easier to access.

Differential sequences and single nucleotide polymorphism of exosomal SOX2 DNA in cancer.

Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is the most common form of brain cancer, with an average life expectancy of fewer than two years post-diagnosis. We have previously reported that cancer cell originated exosomes, including GBM, have NANOG and NANOGP8 DNA associated with them. The exosomal NANOG DNA has certain differences as compared to its normal counterpart that are of immense importance as a potential cancer biomarker.

On-chip Detection of Single Vesicle Release from Neuroblastoma Cells using Monolithic CMOS Bioelectronics.

Neuroblastoma cells are often used as a cell model to study Parkinson's disease, which causes reduced dopamine release in substantia nigra, the midbrain that controls movements. In this paper, we developed a 1024-ch monolithic CMOS sensor array that has the spatiotemporal resolution as well as low-noise performance to monitor single vesicle release of dopamine from neuroblastoma cells. The CMOS device integrates 1024 on-chip electrodes with an individual size of $15 \mu \mathrm{m}\times 15 \mu \mathrm{m}$ and 1024 transimpedance amplifiers for each electrode, which are each capable of measuring sub-pA current.

Single-Cell Recording of Vesicle Release From Human Neuroblastoma Cells Using 1024-ch Monolithic CMOS Bioelectronics.

Human neuroblastoma cells, SH-SY5Y, are often used as a neuronal model to study Parkinson's disease and dopamine release in the substantia nigra, a midbrain region that plays an important role in motor control. Using amperometric single-cell recordings of single vesicle release events, we can study molecular manipulations of dopamine release and gain a better understanding of the mechanisms of neurological diseases. However, single-cell analysis of neurotransmitter release using traditional techniques yields results with very low throughput.

Differential sequences of exosomal NANOG DNA as a potential diagnostic cancer marker.

NANOG has been demonstrated to play an essential role in the maintenance of embryonic stem cells, and its pseudogene, NANOGP8, is suggested to promote the cancer stem cell phenotype. As the roles of these genes are intimately involved with glioblastoma multiforme progression and exosomes are critical in intercellular communication, we conducted a detailed analysis of the association of the NANOG gene family with exosomes to identify diagnostic markers for cancer. Exosomes were precipitated from conditioned culture media from various cell lines, and NANOG gene fragments were directly amplified without DNA isolation using multiple primer sets.

Stem Cell Therapies for Neurodegenerative Diseases.

Stem cell therapies have been proposed as a treatment option for neurodegenerative diseases, but the best stem cell source and therapeutic efficacy for neuroregeneration remain uncertain. Embryonic stem cells (ESCs) and neural stem cells (NSCs), which can efficiently generate neural cells, could be good candidates but they pose ethical and practical issues. Not only difficult to find the good source of those cells but also they alway pose immunorejection problem since they may not be an autologous cells.

Guiding cellular activity with polarized light.

Actin, cytoskeleton protein forming microfilaments, play a crucial role in cellular motility. Here we show that exposure to very low levels of polarized light guide their orientation in-vivo within the live cell. Using a simple model to describe the role of actin-filament orientation in directional cellular motion, we demonstrate that the actin polymerization/depolymerization mechanism develops primarily along this direction and, under certain conditions, can lead to guidance of the cell movement.

3D printing and milling a real-time PCR device for infectious disease diagnostics.

Diagnosing infectious diseases using quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) offers a conclusive result in determining the infection, the strain or type of pathogen, and the level of infection. However, due to the high-cost instrumentation involved and the complexity in maintenance, it is rarely used in the field to make a quick turnaround diagnosis. In order to provide a higher level of accessibility than current qPCR devices, a set of 3D manufacturing methods is explored as a possible option to fabricate a low-cost and portable qPCR device.

Critical review on the physical and mechanical factors involved in tissue engineering of cartilage.

Articular cartilage defects often progress to osteoarthritis, which negatively impacts quality of life for millions of people worldwide and leads to high healthcare expenditures. Tissue engineering approaches to osteoarthritis have concentrated on proliferation and differentiation of stem cells by activation and suppression of signaling pathways, and by using a variety of scaffolding techniques. Recent studies indicate a key role of environmental factors in the differentiation of mesenchymal stem cells to mature cartilage-producing chondrocytes.

The effects of histone deacetylase inhibitors on glioblastoma-derived stem cells.

Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is the most malignant brain tumor with limited effective treatment options. Cancer stem cells (CSCs), a subpopulation of cancer cells with stem cell properties found in GBMs, have been shown to be extremely resistant to radiation and chemotherapeutic agents and have the ability to readily reform tumors. Therefore, the development of therapeutic agents targeting CSCs is extremely important.

Secreted type of amyloid precursor protein induces glial differentiation by stimulating the BMP/Smad signaling pathway.

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is one of the most common neurodegenerative diseases leading to dementia. Although cytotoxicity of amyloid β peptides has been intensively studied within pathophysiology of AD, the physiological function of amyloid precursor protein (APP) still remains unclarified. We have shown previously that secreted APPα (sAPPα) is associated with glial differentiation of neural stem cells.