Generation of induced pluripotent stem cells from Asian patients with chronic neurodegenerative diseases.

Induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cells derived from disease patients are an invaluable resource for biomedical research and may provide a source for replacement therapies. In this study, we have generated iPS cells from Asian patients with chronic degenerative diseases of the nervous system, including spinal muscular atrophy (SMA), Parkinson disease (PD) and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) by transduction with four factors (KLF4, SOX2, OCT4 and c-MYC). All of the iPS cells showed pluripotency similar to that of human embryonic stem cells (hESCs) and were able to differentiate into various somatic cell types in vitro and in vivo.

Telmisartan improves kidney function through inhibition of the oxidative phosphorylation pathway in diabetic rats.

Telmisartan provides renal benefit at all stages of the renal continuum in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus. This research is to investigate the effect of telmisartan on kidney function in diabetic rats and to identify the underlying molecular mechanisms. Diabetic rats were divided into vehicle group, low dosage (TeL) group, and high dosage of telmisartan (TeH) group.

In silico and in vitro analyses identified three amino acid residues critical to the catalysis of two aphid farnesyl diphosphate synthase.

Farnesyl diphosphate synthase (FPPS) plays an essential role in the isoprenoid biosynthetic pathway of microbes, plants and animals. In the present study, we first cloned two FPPSs from the bird cherry-oat aphid (RpFPPS1 and RpFPPS2), and activity assay by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry showed that both RpFPPS1 and RpFPPS2 were active in vitro. They were then subjected to homology modeling and molecular docking.

Triploid and diploid embryonic stem cell lines derived from tripronuclear human zygotes.

Purpose: Human embryonic stem cells (hESCs) are self-renewing, pluripotent cells that are valuable research tools and hold promise for use in regenerative medicine. The need for new hESC lines motivated our attempts to find a new resource for the derivation of hESC lines. The aim of this work was to establish more hESC lines from abnormal fertilized zygotes and to meet the emerging requirements for their use in cell replacement therapies, disease modeling, and basic research.

Generation of human β-thalassemia induced pluripotent stem cells from amniotic fluid cells using a single excisable lentiviral stem cell cassette.

Induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) derived from somatic cells of patients represent a powerful tool for biomedical research and may have a wide range of applications in cell and gene therapy. However, the safety issues and the low efficiency associated with generating human iPSCs have limited their usage in clinical settings. The cell type used to create iPSCs can significantly influence the reprogramming efficiency and kinetics.

Attenuating effect of Fufang Xueshuantong Capsule on kidney function in diabetic nephropathy model.

Fufang Xueshuantong Capsule (FXST) can reduce urinary albumin and whole blood viscosity in early diabetic nephropathy (DN) patients. This research aimed to investigate the effect of FXST on kidney function in DN rats and to identify the underlying molecular mechanisms. We performed Illumina RatRef-12 Expression BeadChip gene array analysis, and found that 3-month treatment with FXST significantly decreased 24-h urinary albumin, serum creatinine and blood urea nitrogen, and increased urinary creatinine in DN model rats.

Generation of induced pluripotent stem cells from skin fibroblasts of a patient with olivopontocerebellar atrophy.

Generation of induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cells from somatic cells of patients represents a powerful tool for disease modeling, and they may have a wide range of applications in cell therapies. Olivopontocerebellar atrophy (OPCA) is a rare and debilitating neurologic disease of insidious onset, characterized by atrophy of the cerebellum pons and inferior olivary nuclei with concomitant ambulation deficits and dyscoordination. Here, we report the generation of iPS cells from skin fibroblasts of a 56-year-old female patient with familial OPCA.

Augmentation of transgenic expression by ultrasound‑mediated liposome microbubble destruction.

Non-invasive, efficient and tissue-specific transgenic technologies could be valuable in gene therapy. Although non-viral carriers may be safer and cheaper, they have a much lower transfection efficiency than viral gene carriers. The present study was designed to test the transgenic expression and safety of red fluorescent protein (RFP) in HeLa cells in vitro and in transplanted tumors of nude mice in vivo under ultrasound-mediated liposome microbubble destruction (UMLMD) conditions.

[A case of adefovir dipivoxil induced hypophosphataemic osteomalacia and literature review].

Objective: To investigate the clinical features and treatment protocol and prognosis for the hypophosphataemic osteomalacia related to adefovir dipivoxil.

Methods: Analysis was made upon a case of patient with chronic hepatitis B developed hypophosphataemic osteomalacia after administration of adefovir dipivoxil. Literature review was carried out to survey the global prevalence of hypophosphataemic osteomalacia after administration of adefovir dipivoxil among patients with chronic hepatitis B.

The symptomatology of climacteric syndrome: whether associated with the physical factors or psychological disorder in perimenopausal/postmenopausal patients with anxiety-depression disorder.

Purpose: To explore whether the symptoms of climacteric syndrome associated with its physical factors or psychological disorder in perimenopausal/postmenopausal patients with anxiety-depression disorder.

Methods: We recruited 78 climacteric patients with anxiety-depression disorder and 72 control participants in perimenopausal/postmenopausal without anxiety-depression disorder for this study. We measured symptoms using the Greene Climacteric Symptom Scale in all cases.

[Study of dystrophin gene non-deletion/duplication mutations causing Becker muscular dystrophy].

Objective: To identify potential mutations in patients featuring Becker muscular dystrophy (BMD) and to enhance the understanding of non-deletion/duplication mutations of the dystrophin gene causing BMD.

Methods: Clinical data of two patients affected with BMD were collected. Potential mutations in the dystrophin gene were screened with multiplex ligation-dependent probe amplification assay (MLPA).

Elevated hemoglobin A2 as a marker for β-thalassemia trait in pregnant women.

β-thalassemia is one of the most prevalent inherited hemoglobin disorders. Compound heterozygotes or homozygous mutations of the β-globin chain gene account for severe cases of β-thalassemia that require lifelong transfusion, and make it necessary to identify β-thalassemia carries for prenatal diagnosis. The increase in hemoglobin A2 (HbA2) level is the most significant parameter in the identification of β-thalassemia carriers.

[Association of mutation types and distribution characteristics of dystrophin gene with clinical symptoms in Chinese population].

Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) is X-linked disorder caused by mutations in the dystrophin gene. To investigate mutation types and distribution characteristics of dystrophin gene in Chinese DMD patients, we used Multiplex Ligation-Dependent Probe Amplification (MLPA) to analyze the dystrophin gene in 720 DMD patients, their mothers, and 20 normal adult males. Results showed that detection rate was 64.

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.

[Relationship between mycoplasma and chlamydia infection and lesions in the cervical tissue in high-risk HPV-positive patients].

Objective: Discussion of the relationship between Mycoplasma and chlamydia infection and lesions in the cervical tissue in high-risk HPV-positive infertile patients with cervical.

Methods: HPV-negative patients with cervical as the control, retrospective analysis the relationship of Mycoplasma hominis and chlamydia infection, cervical histological graded, and inflammation graded.

Results: The rate of HPV infection in mycoplasma-positive and those with negative mycoplasma has significant difference (P < 0.

[The treatment research of people with different types of HPV infection in sterile patients].

Objective: Explore the optimal treatment of infertility patients infected with different types of human papillomavirus (HPV).

Methods: According to cervical pathology, cervical status and the procreate desire of the infertility patients, the 144 clinic cases of high-risk human papillomavirus infected infertile patients were divided into two gruoups: group with treatment and without treatment. Real-time quantitative fluorescent PCR (RT-PCR) has been employed, follow-up time is 6 months, to detect the HPV-DNA in the crevical exfoliated cells, to observe the negative conversion rate and pregnancy rate, and compare analyzed.

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.

Berberine Moderates Glucose and Lipid Metabolism through Multipathway Mechanism.

Berberine is known to improve glucose and lipid metabolism disorders, but the mechanism is still under investigation. In this paper, we explored the effects of berberine on the weight, glucose levels, lipid metabolism, and serum insulin of KKAy mice and investigated its possible glucose and lipid-regulating mechanism. We randomly divided KKAy mice into two groups: berberine group (treated with 250 mg/kg/d berberine) and control group.

Duchenne muscular dystrophy in a female patient with a karyotype of 46,X,i(X)(q10).

Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) is a severe recessive X-linked form of muscular dystrophy caused by mutations in the dystrophin gene and it affects males predominantly. Here we report a 4-year-old girl with DMD from a healthy family, in which her parents and sister have no DMD genotype. A PCR-based method of multiple ligation-dependent probe amplification (MLPA) analysis showed the deletion of exons 46 and 47 in the dystrophin gene, which led to loss of dystrophin function.

Two unrelated Chinese patients with hyperinsulinism /hyperammonemia (HI/HA) syndrome due to mutations in glutamate dehydrogenase gene.

Background: Hyperinsulinism/ hyperammonemia (HI/HA) syndrome is caused by excessive activity of glutamate dehydrogenase (GDH) encoded by GLUD1 gene, which oxidizes glutamate to alpha-ketoglutarate and which is a potential regulator of insulin secretion in pancreatic beta cells and of ureagenesis in the liver. So GDH is important in normal glucose homeostasis. Mutations of GDH result in HI/ HA syndrome.

The association between common genetic variation in the FTO gene and metabolic syndrome in Han Chinese.

Background: Genome-wide association studies for type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) identified FTO gene as a locus conferring increased risk for common obesity in many populations with European ancestry. However, the involvement of FTO gene in obesity or T2DM related metabolic traits has not been consistently established in Chinese populations. The objective of this study was to investigate the association of FTO genetic polymorphisms with metabolic syndrome (MetS) in Han Chinese.

[Development and genetic polymorphism of abnormal pronuclear zygotes after intracytoplasmic sperm injection].

Objective: To compare the development of abnormal pronuclear zygotes after intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) and analyze their genetic polymorphism.

Methods: Four hundred and ninety three abnormal pronuclear zygotes after ICSI were divided into three groups based on the number of pronuclei: 347 nonpronuclear oocytes, 71 monopronuclear zygotes and 75 multipronuclear zygotes. All of them were cultured in the medium of Vitrolife G5 series(TM).

A modified culture medium increases blastocyst formation and the efficiency of human embryonic stem cell derivation from poor-quality embryos.

Human embryonic stem cells (HESCs) are defined as self-renewing cells that retain their ability to differentiate into all cell types of the body. They have enormous potential in medical applications and as a model for early human development. There is a need for derivation of new HESC lines to meet emerging requirements for their use in cell replacement therapies, disease modeling, and basic research.

Molecular cloning and characterization of a prenyltransferase from the cotton aphid, Aphis gossypii.

Prenyltransferases play a key role in isoprenoid biosynthesis. Here, a cDNA encoding a prenyltransferase was isolated from the cotton aphid, Aphis gossypii, which consists of 1354 nucleotides and encodes a protein of 394 amino acids (AgIPPS). Subsequent sequencing of AgIPPS genomic DNA resulted in one 3138-bp sequence.

Monozygotic quadruplets after in vitro fertilization and embryo transfer.

A unique case is reported of a quadruple gestation (monochorionic quadramniotic quadruplets) after in vitro fertilization (IVF) and the transfer of two embryos. On the ninth week of pregnancy, a transvaginal sonogram revealed that there was no heart beat in any of the fetuses. Uterine curettage was then performed.