Use of human amnion epithelial cells as a feeder layer to support undifferentiated growth of mouse embryonic stem cells.

Mouse and human embryonic stem (ES) cells are usually maintained in an undifferentiated state by coculture with mouse embryonic fibroblasts (MEFs) as feeder cells. In the case of mouse ES cells, addition of leukemia inhibitory factor (LIF) to culture media is also necessary to prevent cell differentiation. Here, we report the use of primary human amnion epithelial cells (hAECs) as feeder cells to culture mouse ES cells using our newly developed protocols.

Thiopurine S-methyltransferase activity in three major Asian populations: a population-based study in Singapore.

Objective: The distribution of thiopurine methyltransferase (TPMT) activity in Asian populations has not been well documented. We studied the TPMT phenotype in three major Asian ethnic groups in Singapore, namely the Chinese (Ch), Malays (Mal) and Indians (Ind), with the aim of carrying out a comprehensive survey of the distribution of TPMT activity in Asians.

Methods: A radiochemical assay was used to measure the enzymatic activity of TPMT in the red blood cells (RBCs) of 479 healthy adults (Ch=153, Mal=163 and Ind=163).

Effects of rice bran on sensory and physico-chemical properties of emulsified pork meatballs.

Four kinds of bran, which are milled from important rice cultivators in Taiwan, have high contents of dietary fiber, fat and protein. The use of rice bran in Kung-wan, an emulsified pork meatball, was investigated. It was found that protein and fat contents, and white index of meatballs decreased as the amount of bran increased.

Ex vivo differentiation of human adult bone marrow stem cells into cardiomyocyte-like cells.

Bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells have been shown to transdifferentiate into cardiomyocytes after 5-azacytidine treatment or co-culturing with rodent cardiomyocytes. We investigate if adult human bone marrow stem cells can be differentiated ex vivo into cardiomyocyte-like cells (CLCs) independent of cytotoxic agents or co-culturing technique. Sternal bone marrow was collected from 16 patients undergoing coronary artery bypass surgery.

Acute lymphoblastic leukemia with the phenotype of a putative B-cell/T-cell bipotential precursor.

Biphenotypic acute leukemias (BALs) are uncommon. Most are of myeloid-B-cell or myeloid-T-cell lineage. We report herein a 70-year-old man with an unusual acute leukemia where the blasts expressed both B- and T-lymphoid markers.

Cyclosporine treatment for patients with CRF who developed pure red blood cell aplasia following EPO therapy.

Human recombinant erythropoietin is the main treatment for anemia in renal patients. Recently, there have been case reports of pure red blood cell aplasia (PRCA) developing in renal patients administered erythropoietin, probably because of neutralizing antibodies detected in all these patients. All reports were from the West, and most patients were treated with erythropoietin-alpha.