Dynamic expression of microRNAs during the differentiation of human embryonic stem cells into insulin-producing cells.

Human embryonic stem (hES) cells with the capacity of self-renewal and multilineage differentiation are promising sources for generation of pancreatic islet cells for cell replacement therapy in diabetes. Here we induced hES cells into insulin-producing cells (IPCs) in a stepwise process which recapitulated islet organogenesis by directing cells through the stages resembling definitive endoderm, gut-tube endoderm, pancreatic precursor and cells that expressed pancreatic endocrine hormones. The dynamic expression of microRNAs (miRNAs) during the differentiation was analyzed and was compared with that in the development of human pancreatic islets.

Ghrelin promotes differentiation of human embryonic stem cells into cardiomyocytes.

Aim: Ghrelin is involved in regulating the differentiation of mesoderm-derived precursor cells. The aim of this study was to investigate whether ghrelin modulated the differentiation of human embryonic stem (hES) cells into cardiomyocytes and, if so, whether the effect was mediated by growth hormone secretagogue receptor 1α (GHS-R1α).

Methods: Cardiomyocyte differentiation from hES cells was performed according to an embryoid body (EB)-based protocol.

[Investigation on Fourier transform infrared spectrum of metastatic lymph node in thyroid cancer].

The aim of the study is to explore the possibility of detecting metastatic lymph nodes by FTIR spectra during the surgery of thyroid cancer. The FTIR spectra of 20 metastatic lymph nodes and 69 non-metastatic ones were collected via an ATR (attenuated total reflectance) probe. For each spectrum, 28 variables of 13 bands including peak positions and relative intensities were measured.

[Protective effect of calcium dobesilate against early diabetic nephropathy of rat kidney].

The aim of this study is to study the effect of calcium dobesilate on streptozotocin (STZ)-induced early diabetic nephrophathy (DN) in rats. All male Wistar rats were randomly divided into six groups: normal group; DN blank group; calcium dobesilate 75, 150, and 300 mg x kg(-1) groups and perindopril 0.4 mg x kg(-1) group.