Efficacy of a novel percutaneous pedicle screw fixation and vertebral reconstruction versus the traditional open pedicle screw fixation in the treatment of single-level thoracolumbar fracture without neurologic deficit.

Objective: The aim of this study was to compare the efficacy and safety of a novel percutaneous pedicle screw fixation and vertebral reconstruction (PPSR) vs. that of open pedicle screw fixation (OPSF) in the treatment of thoracolumbar fractures.

Methods: This retrospective study enrolled 153 patients who underwent PPSR and 176 patients who received OPSF.

Structure and antimicrobial activity relationship of royalisin, an antimicrobial peptide from royal jelly of Apis mellifera.

Royalisin is a 5.5-kDa antibacterial peptide isolated from the royal jelly of the honeybee (Apis mellifera). The antimicrobial activity of royalisin against fungi, Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria has been revealed.

Derivation of cloned human blastocysts by histone deacetylase inhibitor treatment after somatic cell nuclear transfer with β-thalassemia fibroblasts.

Derivation of embryonic stem cells from patient-specific cloned blastocysts by somatic cell nuclear transfer (SCNT) holds promise for both regenerative medicine and cell-based drug discovery. However, the efficiency of blastocyst formation after human SCNT is very low. The developmental competence of SCNT embryos has been previously demonstrated in several species to be enhanced by treatment with histone deacetylase inhibitors, such as trichostatin A (TSA), to increase histone acetylation.

Genetic and epigenetic X-chromosome variations in a parthenogenetic human embryonic stem cell line.

Purpose: To assess the genetic and epigenetic status of parthenogenetic human embryonic stem cells (phESCs).

Methods: Cytogenetics, X chromosome inactivation (XCI) and gene expression patterns were analyzed in one phESC line (FY-phES-018) that was derived from our laboratory.

Results: FY-phES-018 cells displayed the classical characteristics of normal hESCs.

Differentiation of reprogrammed somatic cells into functional hematopoietic cells.

Recent advances have demonstrated that the differentiated somatic cells could be reprogrammed into pluripotent state. Consequently, the reprogrammed somatic cells recapitulate the capacity to differentiate into specific cell lineages under appropriate culture conditions, which provides unlimited cell sources for cell transplantation-based therapy. In the present study, testicular Sertoli cells were successfully reprogrammed into pluripotent stem cells through somatic cell nuclear transfer (SCNT).