ERRγ enhances cardiac maturation with T-tubule formation in human iPSC-derived cardiomyocytes.

One of the earliest maturation steps in cardiomyocytes (CMs) is the sarcomere protein isoform switch between TNNI1 and TNNI3 (fetal and neonatal/adult troponin I). Here, we generate human induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSCs) carrying a TNNI1 and TNNI3 double reporter to monitor and isolate mature sub-populations during cardiac differentiation. Extensive drug screening identifies two compounds, an estrogen-related receptor gamma (ERRγ) agonist and an S-phase kinase-associated protein 2 inhibitor, that enhances cardiac maturation and a significant change to TNNI3 expression.

Over 1.4 V for Amorphous Tin-Oxide-Based Dopant-Free CsPbIBr Perovskite Solar Cells.

CsPbIBr perovskite solar cells have attracted much attention because of the rapid development in their efficiency and their great potential as a top cell of tandem solar cells. However, the outputs observed so far in most cases are far from that desired for a top cell. Up to now, with various kinds of treatments, the reported champion is only 1.

Organic/Inorganic Hybrid p-Type Semiconductor Doping Affords Hole Transporting Layer Free Thin-Film Perovskite Solar Cells with High Stability.

A feature of perovskite devices is their suitability in the fabrication of semitransparent solar cells (ST-SCs). Methylammonium lead iodide based perovskite material (MAPbI or PV) is a possible material of choice because of its semitransparent nature in thin film form and after considering a balance among average visible light transmittance (AVT), power conversion efficiency (PCE), and device stability. However, there are issues to be addressed in the design of PV ST-SCs, such as the stability of small grain crystals forming in thin films and reducing the number of layers in the device to increase AVT.

Disodium Benzodipyrrole Sulfonate as Neutral Hole-Transporting Materials for Perovskite Solar Cells.

Hole-transporting material (HTM) is an indispensable constituent in organic electronic devices, generally comprising a donor/dopant combination. We report that a disodium salt of substituted benzo[1,2- b:4,5- b']dipyrrole bearing two racemic alkanediylsulfonate anion side chains (BDPSOs) serves as a neutral, nonhygroscopic, dopant-free HTM for lead perovskite (MAPbI) solar cells. These organic/inorganic hybrid molecules are useful for tunable orbital level and controllable solubility.

Efficient, Selective Removal of Human Pluripotent Stem Cells via Ecto-Alkaline Phosphatase-Mediated Aggregation of Synthetic Peptides.

The incomplete differentiation of human induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) poses a serious safety risk owing to their potential tumorigenicity, hindering their clinical application. Here, we explored the potential of phospho-D-peptides as novel iPSC-eliminating agents. Alkaline phosphatases overexpressed on iPSCs dephosphorylate phospho-D-peptides into hydrophobic peptides that aggregate and induce cell death.

The number of microvascular complications is associated with an increased risk for severity of periodontitis in type 2 diabetes patients: Results of a multicenter hospital-based cross-sectional study.

Aims/introduction: To explore the relationships between periodontitis and microvascular complications as well as glycemic control in type 2 diabetes patients.

Materials And Methods: This multicenter, hospital-based, cross-sectional study included 620 patients with type 2 diabetes. We compared the prevalence and severity of periodontitis between patients with ≥1 microvascular complication and those without microvascular complications.

Corrigendum to "Long-Term Effects of Goshajinkigan in Prevention of Diabetic Complications: A Randomized Open-Labeled Clinical Trial".

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1155/2014/128726.].

Epigenetic Variation between Human Induced Pluripotent Stem Cell Lines Is an Indicator of Differentiation Capacity.

Variation in the differentiation capacity of induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) to specific lineages is a significant concern for their use in clinical applications and disease modeling. To identify factors that affect differentiation capacity, we performed integration analyses between hematopoietic differentiation performance and molecular signatures such as gene expression, DNA methylation, and chromatin status, using 35 human iPSC lines and four ESC lines. Our analyses revealed that hematopoietic commitment of PSCs to hematopoietic precursors correlates with IGF2 expression level, which in turn depends on signaling-dependent chromatin accessibility at mesendodermal genes.

Enhanced engraftment, proliferation, and therapeutic potential in heart using optimized human iPSC-derived cardiomyocytes.

Human pluripotent stem cell-derived cardiomyocytes (CMs) are a promising tool for cardiac cell therapy. Although transplantation of induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC)-derived CMs have been reported in several animal models, the treatment effect was limited, probably due to poor optimization of the injected cells. To optimize graft cells for cardiac reconstruction, we compared the engraftment efficiency of intramyocardially-injected undifferentiated-iPSCs, day 4 mesodermal cells, and day 8, day 20, and day 30 purified iPSC-CMs after initial differentiation by tracing the engraftment ratio (ER) using in vivo bioluminescence imaging.

Committee on Diabetes Mellitus Indices of the Japan Society of Clinical Chemistry-recommended reference measurement procedure and reference materials for glycated albumin determination.

Background: Glycated albumin is an intermediate glycaemic control marker for which there are several measurement procedures with entirely different reference intervals. We have developed a reference measurement procedure for the purpose of standardizing glycated albumin measurements.

Methods: The isotope dilution liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry method was developed as a reference measurement procedure for glycated albumin.

Efficacy and safety of liraglutide monotherapy compared with metformin in Japanese overweight/obese patients with type 2 diabetes.

There is little information on direct comparison between metformin and glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonists in the Asian population. This study examined the efficacy and safety of liraglutide monotherapy compared with metformin monotherapy in overweight/obese Japanese patients with type 2 diabetes (T2DM). The study was a 24-week, open-labeled, randomized controlled study.

Investigation of 2 models to set and evaluate quality targets for hb a1c: biological variation and sigma-metrics.

Background: A major objective of the IFCC Task Force on Implementation of HbA1c Standardization is to develop a model to define quality targets for glycated hemoglobin (Hb A1c).

Methods: Two generic models, biological variation and sigma-metrics, are investigated. We selected variables in the models for Hb A1c and used data of external quality assurance/proficiency testing programs to evaluate the suitability of the models to set and evaluate quality targets within and between laboratories.

Long-term effects of goshajinkigan in prevention of diabetic complications: a randomized open-labeled clinical trial.

Objective. This clinical trial was designed to investigate whether goshajinkigan reduces the onset of diabetic complications or not. Materials and Methods.

[Chairmen's introductory remarks].

Diagnostic criteria in diabetes mellitus has been revised after 11 years. In addition to previous diagnostic criteria, HbAlc was added to the new criteria as a biomarker of chronic diabetes. Although NGSP >6.

Conophylline suppresses hepatic stellate cells and attenuates thioacetamide-induced liver fibrosis in rats.

Background & Aims: Conophylline (CnP) is a vinca alkaloid purified from a tropical plant and inhibits activation of pancreatic stellate cells. We investigated the effect of CnP on hepatic stellate cells (HSC) in vitro. We also examined whether CnP attenuates hepatic fibrosis in vivo.

Screening of new bioactive metabolites for diabetes therapy.

Microorganisms and plants produce bioactive metabolites that are potentially useful in the treatment of disease. We have designed and synthesized DHMEQ as a specific inhibitor of NF-κB based on the structure of epoxyquinomicin. It directly binds to NF-κB components to inhibit DNA-binding and was shown to be endowed with inhibiting activity in various inflammatory and cancer models in experimental animals.