Energy Metabolism in Human Pluripotent Stem and Differentiated Cells Compared Using a Seahorse XF96 Extracellular Flux Analyzer.

Evaluating cell metabolism is crucial during pluripotent stem cell (PSC) differentiation and somatic cell reprogramming as it affects cell fate. As cultured stem cells are heterogeneous, a comparative analysis of relative metabolism using existing metabolic analysis methods is difficult, resulting in inaccuracies. In this study, we measured human PSC basal metabolic levels using a Seahorse analyzer.

Integration of blue light with near-infrared irradiation accelerates the osteogenic differentiation of human dental pulp stem cells.

Blue light is used less in photobiomodulation than red or near-infrared light because of concerns about its high energy. However, some reports have suggested that blue light releases NO from nitrosated proteins, affects cell signal regulation, and promotes stem cell differentiation. Because blue and red lights could have different mechanisms of action, their combination is expected to have new consequences.

SHMT1 siRNA-Loaded hyperosmotic nanochains for blood-brain/tumor barrier post-transmigration therapy.

The near-perivascular accumulation in solid tumors and short-lived span in circulation, derails even the most competent nanoparticles (NPs) from achieving their maximum therapeutic potential. Moreover, delivering them across the blood brain/tumor barrier (BBB/BTB) is further challenging to sought anticancer effect. To address these key challenges, we designed a linearly aligned nucleic acid-complexed polydixylitol-based polymeric nanochains (X-NCs), with inherent hyperosmotic properties enabling transmigration of the BBB/BTB and navigation through deeper regions of the brain tumor.

Correction: Development of a bio-electrospray system for cell and non-viral gene delivery.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1039/C7RA12477E.].

Development of a bio-electrospray system for cell and non-viral gene delivery.

Bio-electrospray technology is a very attractive tool for preparing scaffolds and depositing desired solutions on various targets by electric force. In this study, we focused on the application of a bio-electrospray (BES) technique to spray cells on the target and to simultaneously deliver genetic constructs into the cells, called non-viral gene delivery-based bio-electrospray (NVG-BES). Using this method, we tried to harvest the electric charge produced during electrospray for the cellular internalization of cationic polymer/DNA nanoparticles as well as the delivery of living cells on the desired substrate.

Chitosan/PEI patch releasing EGF and the EGFR gene for the regeneration of the tympanic membrane after perforation.

Damage to the eardrum causes acute pain and can lead to chronic otitis media if it develops into chronic tympanic membrane (TM) perforations. Chronic TM perforations are usually treated with surgical methods such as tympanoplasty and myringoplasty. However, these surgeries are not only complicated and difficult but also cost a lot of money.

Continuous long-term entecavir therapy in naïve chronic hepatitis B patients showing partial virologic response.

Background/aims: We investigated the efficacy of continuous long-term entecavir 0.5 mg treatment in naïve chronic hepatitis B patients showing a partial virologic response (PVR).

Methods: A total of 227 patients were included.

Akt2 and nucleophosmin/B23 function as an oncogenic unit in human lung cancer cells.

The signaling network of protein kinase B(PKB)/Akt has been implicated in survival of lung cancer cells. However, understanding the relative contribution of the different isoform of Akt network is nontrival. Here, we report that Akt2 is highly expressed in human lung adenocarcinoma cell line A549 cells.

New insights into the mechanism of methoxyflurane nephrotoxicity and implications for anesthetic development (part 1): Identification of the nephrotoxic metabolic pathway.

Background: Methoxyflurane nephrotoxicity results from biotransformation; inorganic fluoride is a toxic metabolite. Concern exists about potential renal toxicity from volatile anesthetic defluorination, but many anesthetics increase fluoride concentrations without consequence. Methoxyflurane is metabolized by both dechlorination to methoxydifluoroacetic acid (MDFA, which may degrade to fluoride) and O-demethylation to fluoride and dichloroacetatic acid.

Central nervous system concentrations of cyclooxygenase-2 inhibitors in humans.

Background: Cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2)-selective inhibitors (coxibs) are under investigation for the potential therapy, attenuation, or prevention of neuroinflammatory and neurodegenerative disorders. Coxibs are also a significant advance in pain therapy and are traditionally considered to achieve analgesia via peripheral effects. However, in animals, central nervous system (CNS) COX-2 activity and prostanoid concentrations are increased by peripheral inflammation, central sensitization has been proposed to account for long-term pain-related phenomena, and coxibs achieve significant cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) concentrations and may cause analgesia via CNS action.

Sulfoxidation of cysteine and mercapturic acid conjugates of the sevoflurane degradation product fluoromethyl-2,2-difluoro-1-(trifluoromethyl)vinyl ether (compound A).

The volatile anesthetic sevoflurane is degraded in anesthesia machines to the haloalkene fluoromethyl-2,2-difluoro-1-(trifluoromethyl)vinyl ether (FDVE), which can cause renal and hepatic toxicity in rats. FDVE is metabolized to S-[1,1-difluoro-2-fluoromethoxy-2-(trifluoromethyl)ethyl]-L-cysteine (DFEC) and (E) and (Z)-S-[1-fluoro-2-fluoromethoxy-2-(trifluoromethyl)vinyl]-L-cysteine [(E,Z)-FFVC], which are N-acetylated to N-Ac-DFEC and (E,Z)-N-Ac-FFVC S-conjugates. Some haloalkene S-conjugates undergo sulfoxidation.

Laboratory Findings In Symptomless Clonorchiasis.

The duration of infection, frequency of eating raw fresh water fishes, and a series of liver function tests were studied in a group of 23 Korean symptomless cases with Clonorchis sinensis, and compared with those in a control group of uninfected persons. Of 23 lightly infected cases, 11 cases who had been infected for 10 to 20 years was found the highest in percentage(47.8), and 2 had been infected for over 30 years.