Sarcopenia: recent advances for detection, progression, and metabolic alterations along with therapeutic targets.

Sarcopenia, a disorder marked by muscle loss and dysfunction, is a global health concern, particularly in aging populations. Sarcopenia is intricately related to various health conditions, including obesity, dysphagia, and frailty, which underscores the complexity. Despite recent advances in metabolomics and other omics data for early detection and treatment, the precise characterization and diagnosis of sarcopenia remains challenging.

Cardiac Transcription Regulators Differentiate Human Umbilical Cord Mesenchymal Stem Cells into Cardiac Cells.

Stem cell-based therapy presents an attractive alternative to conventional therapies for degenerative diseases. Numerous studies have investigated the capability of human umbilical cord-derived mesenchymal stem cells (hUC-MSCs) to contribute to the regeneration of cardiomyocytes, and the results have encouraged further basic and clinical studies on the MSC-based treatment of cardiomyopathies. This study aimed to determine the potential of cardiomyogenic transcription factors in differentiating hUC-MSCs into cardiac-like cells MSCs were isolated from umbilical cord tissue and were transduced with the transcription factor genes, and , via infection with lentiviruses, to promote differentiation into the cardiomyogenic lineage.

Small molecule 2'-deoxycytidine differentiates human umbilical cord-derived MSCs into cardiac progenitors in vitro and their in vivo xeno-transplantation improves cardiac function.

Small molecules are widely used to induce stem cell differentiation. 2'-deoxycytidine (2-DC) belongs to the cytidine family. It stimulates the expression of cardiac-specific genes and proteins, and directs mesenchymal stem cells towards cardiomyogenic differentiation.

Cytotoxicity and chromosomal aberrations induced by methanolic extract of Cuscuta reflexa and its pure compounds on meristematic cells of Allium species.

Cuscuta reflexa (Convolvulaceae), is commonly known as amarbel or akashbel. In Bangladesh and Nepal some of the tribes use C. reflexa against edema, body ache, cancer, skin infections and liver disorders.