Let-7b regulates alpaca hair growth by downregulating ectodysplasin A.

Hypohidrotic ectodermal dysplasia (HED), also known as anhidrotic ectodermal dysplasia, is characterized by the clinical manifestations of less sweat or no sweat, sparse or no hair, tooth agenesis and/or abnormal tooth morphology. The characteristics of alpaca ear hair differ from the back hair. The ectodysplasin A (EDA) signaling pathway has a regulatory effect on skin development and hair growth.

Osteoprotective effect of cordycepin on estrogen deficiency-induced osteoporosis in vitro and in vivo.

The purpose of this study was to verify the effect of cordycepin on ovariectomized osteopenic rats. Fifty Wistar female rats used were divided into 5 groups: (1) sham-operation rats (control), (2) ovariectomized (OVX) rats with osteopenia, and (3) OVX'd rats with osteopenia treated with cordycepin (5 mg, 10 mg, and 20 mg) for 8 weeks. After the rats were treated orally with cordycepin, serum alkaline phosphatase (ALP), tartrate resistant acid phosphatase (TRAP), serum osteocalcin (OC), homocysteine (HCY) , C-terminal crosslinked telopeptides of collagen type I (CTX) level, and oxidative stress were examined, respectively.

Hyperglycemia promotes vasculogenesis in choroidal neovascularization in diabetic mice by stimulating VEGF and SDF-1 expression in retinal pigment epithelial cells.

To investigate the influence of hyperglycemia on the severity of choroidal neovascularization (CNV) in diabetic mice, especially the involvement of bone marrow-derived cells (BMCs) and underlying molecular mechanisms. The mice were randomly divided into control group, diabetes group and diabetes treated with insulin group, which were laser treated to induce CNV. The CNV severity was evaluated by fundus fluorescein angiography, HE staining and choroidal flatmount.

Amelioration of osteoarthritis by intra-articular hyaluronan synthase 2 gene therapy.

Osteoarthritis (OA) is a chronic, degenerative disorder of multifactorial aetiology, characterized by loss of articular cartilage and periarticular bone remodelling. Goals of managing OA include controlling pain, maintaining and improving function and health-related quality of life, and limiting functional impairment. Although several managements had been proved to ameliorate the symptoms of osteoarthritis, no methods could cure it thoroughly.