Exogenous Application of Proteoglycan to the Cell Surface Microenvironment Facilitates to Chondrogenic Differentiation and Maintenance.

Osteoarthritis (OA), a disease that greatly impacts quality of life, has increasing worldwide prevalence as the population ages. However, its pathogenic mechanisms have not been fully elucidated and current therapeutic treatment strategies are inadequate. In recent years, abnormal endochondral ossification in articular cartilage has received attention as a pathophysiological mechanism in OA.

Galectin-3: A Potential Prognostic and Diagnostic Marker for Heart Disease and Detection of Early Stage Pathology.

The use of molecular biomarkers for the early detection of heart disease, before their onset of symptoms, is an attractive novel approach. Ideal molecular biomarkers, those that are both sensitive and specific to heart disease, are likely to provide a much earlier diagnosis, thereby providing better treatment outcomes. Galectin-3 is expressed by various immune cells, including mast cells, histiocytes and macrophages, and plays an important role in diverse physiological functions.

How does video case-based learning influence clinical decision-making by midwifery students? An exploratory study.

Background: Clinical decision-making skills are essential for providing high-quality patient care. To enhance these skills, many institutions worldwide use case-based learning (CBL) as an educational strategy of pre-clinical training. However, to date, the influence of different learning modalities on students' clinical decision-making processes has not been fully explored.

Heterogeneity of Colon Cancer Stem Cells.

Colorectal cancer (CRC) remains the fourth leading cause of cancer death worldwide. Cancer stem cells (CSCs) have attracted a great deal of interest because of their potential clinical implications in a range of cancers, including CRC. CSCs were initially considered to be cell populations with well-defined phenotypic and molecular characteristics.

Heterogeneity in Colorectal Cancer Stem Cells.

Cancer stem cells (CSC) have attracted a great deal of interest for their clinical relevance in a range of cancers, including colorectal cancer. CSCs were initially considered to be cell populations with homogeneous, well-defined phenotypic and molecular characteristics. However, accumulating evidence suggests that CSCs represent phenotypically and functionally heterogeneous populations.

Time-course analysis of cardiac and serum galectin-3 in viral myocarditis after an encephalomyocarditis virus inoculation.

Galectin-3 is a β-galactoside-binding lectin which is important in cell proliferation and apoptotic regulation. Recently, serum galectin-3 has been shown to have prognostic value as a biomarker in heart failure. Encephalomyocarditis virus (EMCV) can cause severe myocarditis, congestive heart failure and dilated cardiomyopathy as well as encephalitis in various animals including mice.

Associations between emotional intelligence, empathy and personality in Japanese medical students.

Background: It is known that empathic communication is important for physicians to achieve higher patient satisfaction and health outcomes. Emotional intelligence (EI), empathy and personality in medical students predict students' individual disposition and their emotional and empathic perceptions. This study aimed to investigate: 1) The association between empathy, EI and personality, and 2) Gender differences in the association between empathy, EI and personality.

Cynaropicrin is dual regulator for both degradation factors and synthesis factors in the cartilage metabolism.

Aims: The molecular mechanism of osteoarthritis (OA) has never been understood clearly, but it has been suggested that imbalance of degradation and synthesis in cartilage contribute to the underlying mechanisms of OA. In this study, we investigated the effectiveness in the cartilage metabolism of the artichoke extract that includes the compound cynaropicrin.

Main Methods: We evaluated the efficacy of the artichoke extract or cynaropicrin in the cartilage metabolism factors and NF-κB signaling activity stimulated by inflammatory cytokine in chondrogenic cell lines, OUMS-27 and SW1353, using qRT-PCR, immunofluorescence and immunoblotting.

Galectin-3 expression in hippocampal CA2 following transient forebrain ischemia and its inhibition by hypothermia or antiapoptotic agents.

Recent evidence has suggested that the hippocampal CA2 region plays an important role in the recognition process. We have reported that ischemic damage in the hippocampal CA2 region following transient ischemia is caused by apoptosis, but the underlying mechanisms are still not clear. Galectin-3 is a β-galactosidase-binding lectin that is important in cell proliferation and apoptotic regulation.

Retinal Cell Degeneration in Animal Models.

The aim of this review is to provide an overview of various retinal cell degeneration models in animal induced by chemicals (N-methyl-D-aspartate- and CoCl2-induced), autoimmune (experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis), mechanical stress (optic nerve crush-induced, light-induced) and ischemia (transient retinal ischemia-induced). The target regions, pathology and proposed mechanism of each model are described in a comparative fashion. Animal models of retinal cell degeneration provide insight into the underlying mechanisms of the disease, and will facilitate the development of novel effective therapeutic drugs to treat retinal cell damage.

Early microlesion of viral encephalitis confirmed by galectin-3 expression after a virus inoculation.

Galectin-3 is a β-galactosidase-binding lectin which is important in cell proliferation and apoptotic regulation. Encephalomyocarditis virus (EMCV), which includes the Enterovirus genus, can cause not only acute myocarditis but also neuronal degeneration of central nervous system in various animals including mice. The pathophysiological role of galectin-3 in central nervous system following acute viral infection is not fully understood.

Indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase 1 is upregulated in activated microglia in mice cerebellum during acute viral encephalitis.

Indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase1 (IDO1) is the rate-limiting enzyme in the kynurenine pathway that converts l-tryptophan to l-kynurenine. Encephalomyocarditis virus (EMCV) can cause acute myocarditis in various animals including mice. Previously, IDO1 has been reported to have an important immunomodulatory function in immune-related diseases.

Expressing one's feelings and listening to others increases emotional intelligence: a pilot study of Asian medical students.

Background: There has been considerable interest in Emotional Intelligence (EI) in undergraduate medical education, with respect to student selection and admissions, health and well-being and academic performance. EI is a significant component of the physician-patient relationship. The emotional well-being of the physician is, therefore, a significant component in patient care.

PBN fails to suppress in delayed neuronal death of hippocampal CA1 injury following transient forebrain ischemia in gerbils.

Free radicals have been suggested to be involved in the genesis of ischemic brain damage, as shown by the protective effects of alpha-phenyl-N-tert-butyl nitrone (PBN), a spin trapping agent, in ischemic cerebral injury. However, the involvement of free radicals in transient ischemic-induced delayed neuronal death is not fully understood. To clarify this, in the present study, we evaluated the effect of PBN on delayed neuronal death and on the levels of free radicals in hippocampal CA1 region in the gerbil.

Increase of galectin-3 expression in microglia by hyperthermia in delayed neuronal death of hippocampal CA1 following transient forebrain ischemia.

The ischemic damage in the hippocampal CA1 region following transient forebrain ischemia, delayed neuronal death, is a typical apoptotic response, but the underlying mechanisms are not fully understood. We have reported that mild hyperthermia (38 °C) accelerates DNA fragmentation of the gerbil CA1 pyramidal neurons following transient forebrain ischemia. Recently, we reported that galectin-3, a β-galactosidase-binding lectin, is spatio-temporally expressed only by activated microglial cells located within CA1 region following transient forebrain ischemia in gerbils.

Galectin-3 expression in delayed neuronal death of hippocampal CA1 following transient forebrain ischemia, and its inhibition by hypothermia.

The ischemic damage in the hippocampal CA1 sector following transient ischemia, delayed neuronal death, is a typical apoptosis, but the mechanism underlying the delayed neuronal death is still far from fully understood. Galectin-3 is a β-galactosidase-binding lectin which is important in cell proliferation and apoptotic regulation. Galectin-3 is expressed by microglial cells in experimental models of adult stroke.

Folate antagonist, methotrexate induces neuronal differentiation of human embryonic stem cells transplanted into nude mouse retina.

Transplanted embryonic stem (ES) cells can be integrated into the retinas of adult mice as well-differentiated neuroretinal cells. However, the transplanted ES cells also have a tumorigenic activity as they have the ability for multipotent differentiation to various types of tissues. In the present study, human ES (hES) cells were transplanted into adult nude mouse retinas by intravitreal injections 20 h after intravitreal N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) administration.

Thromboxane A(2) promotes soluble CD40 ligand release from human platelets.

Objective: The plasma level of soluble CD40 ligand (sCD40L), which induces pro-inflammatory and pro-atherogenic responses, is known to be elevated in atherosclerotic patients. In this study, we investigated the mechanism of sCD40L release from human platelets, focusing on the involvement of thromboxane (TX) A(2).

Methods: We measured sCD40L release and TXA(2) production induced by ristocetin, an activator of GPIb/IX/V, from human platelets in vitro.

alphaB-crystallin extracellularly suppresses ADP-induced granule secretion from human platelets.

alphaB-crystallin, a low-molecular-weight heat shock protein (HSP), has binding sites on platelets. However, the exact role of alphaB-crystallin is not clarified. In this study, we investigated the effect of alphaB-crystallin on platelet granule secretion.

In vitro and in vivo differentiation of human embryonic stem cells into retina-like organs and comparison with that from mouse pluripotent epiblast stem cells.

Correctly inducing the differentiation of pluripotent hESCs to a specific lineage with high purity is highly desirable for regenerative cell therapy. Our first effort to perform in vitro differentiation of hESCs resulted in a limited recapitulation of the ocular tissue structures. When undifferentiated hESCs were placed in vivo into the ocular tissue, in this case into the vitreous cavity, 3-dimensional retina-like structures reminiscent of the invagination of the optic vesicle were generated.

Spatiotemporal expression of Hsp20 and its phosphorylation in hippocampal CA1 pyramidal neurons after transient forebrain ischemia.

The goal of this study was to analyze the spatiotemporal expression of heat shock protein 20 (Hsp20) and its phosphorylation in gerbil brain after transient forebrain ischemia. Brain sections from Mongolian gerbil killed 24, 48, 72 and 96 hours and 2 weeks after ischemia (n=5 in each experimental group) were evaluated with immunohistochemical and in situ DNA end-labeling [terminal 2'-deoxyuridine 5'-triphosphate nick end-labeling (TUNEL)] techniques. Ischemia-associated Hsp20 expression was observed 24 and 48 hours later in the area of the stratum radiatum and then disappeared by 72 hours.

Localization and spatiotemporal expression of IDO following transient forebrain ischemia in gerbils.

Indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase (IDO) is the rate-limiting enzyme in the kynurenine pathway that converts L-tryptophan to L-kynurenine. Transient forebrain ischemia initiates a series of cellular events that lead to the delayed neuronal degeneration of several brain regions. The goal of this study was to determine the localization of IDO in gerbil brain, and analyze the spatiotemporal expression of IDO in a transient forebrain ischemic model.