Allogeneic Mesenchymal Stem Cell Therapy Promotes Osteoblastogenesis and Prevents Glucocorticoid-Induced Osteoporosis.

Unlabelled: : Gene-modified mesenchymal stem cell (MSC)-like cells with enhanced bone marrow homing and osteogenesis have been used in treating glucocorticoid-induced murine osteoporosis (GIOP). Recent preclinical studies have further demonstrated the immunomodulatory and anticatabolic potential of allogeneic MSCs in treating osteoporosis under inflammatory and autoimmune conditions. In this study, we investigated whether systemic infusion of allogeneic MSCs without genetic manipulation could prevent GIOP, whether anabolic and anticatabolic effects existed, and whether homing or immunomodulation underlay the putative therapeutic effects.

IGF2BP2 promotes colorectal cancer cell proliferation and survival through interfering with RAF-1 degradation by miR-195.

Insulin-like growth factor 2 (IGF2) mRNA-binding protein 2 (IGF2BP2) is a post-transcriptional regulatory factor implicated in mRNA localization, stability, and translational control. However, the role of IGF2BP2 regulation in colorectal cancer (CRC) and its underlying mechanism remain elusive. In this study, we found that IGF2BP2 expression is markedly increased in CRC tissues.

Motivations of older Chinese adult learners in Hong Kong.

Background: Motivation for learning, as an important aspect pertaining to studying the phenomenon of elder learning, is not fully explored in Hong Kong.

Objective: This study was designed to create a measurement to investigate the possible diversity of motivations of elder learners, so as to harness the older people's potential in learning and thus capitalize on productive ageing.

Methods: 283 older learners participating in learning activities at elder centres were interviewed.

Invasive mouse gastric adenocarcinomas arising from Lgr5+ stem cells are dependent on crosstalk between the Hedgehog/GLI2 and mTOR pathways.

Gastric adenocarcinoma is the third most common cause of cancer-related death worldwide. Here we report a novel, highly-penetrant mouse model of invasive gastric cancer arising from deregulated Hedgehog/Gli2 signaling targeted to Lgr5-expressing stem cells in adult stomach. Tumor development progressed rapidly: three weeks after inducing the Hh pathway oncogene GLI2A, 65% of mice harbored in situ gastric cancer, and an additional 23% of mice had locally invasive tumors.

Hydrothermal Synthesis of Copper Nanowires as Advanced Conductive Agents for Lithium Ion Batteries.

Copper nanowires (CuNW) are synthesized via one-pot hydrothermal method and test as advanced conductive agents for lithium ion batteries. Anode prepared with CuNW and graphite show improved rate ability and excellent cycling stability even at high rate. AC-impedance of CuNW added electrode is much lower than that of electrodes containing carbon black only.

A review of soil cadmium contamination in China including a health risk assessment.

Cadmium (Cd) is one of the most serious soil contaminants in China, and it poses an increasing risk to human health as large amounts of Cd are emitted into the environment. However, knowledge about soil Cd concentrations and the human health risks of these concentrations at a national scale is limited. In this study, we conducted a review of 190 articles about soil Cd concentrations during 2001 to 2010.

Dorsal Horn Circuits for Persistent Mechanical Pain.

Persistent mechanical hypersensitivity that occurs in the setting of injury or disease remains a major clinical problem largely because the underlying neural circuitry is still not known. Here we report the functional identification of key components of the elusive dorsal horn circuit for mechanical allodynia. We show that the transient expression of VGLUT3 by a discrete population of neurons in the deep dorsal horn is required for mechanical pain and that activation of the cells in the adult conveys mechanical hypersensitivity.

A Novel WRN Frameshift Mutation Identified by Multiplex Genetic Testing in a Family with Multiple Cases of Cancer.

Next-generation sequencing technology allows simultaneous analysis of multiple susceptibility genes for clinical cancer genetics. In this study, multiplex genetic testing was conducted in a Chinese family with multiple cases of cancer to determine the variations in cancer predisposition genes. The family comprises a mother and her five daughters, of whom the mother and the eldest daughter have cancer and the secondary daughter died of cancer.

[Fluoride release and recharge properties of six restorative materials].

Objective: To evaluate the F(-) releasing and recharging properties of six dental restorative materials.

Methods: Disc specimens 10 mm in diameter and 1 mm in thickness were prepared from 6 different dental restorative materials: Fuji VII [glass ionomer cement (GIC)], Fuji II LC (light-curing, GIC), Beautifil (giomer), Compoglass F (compomer), Charisma (composite) and Experimental I (a fluoride releasing composite), with 10 discs for each material. Specimens were dipped in 5 ml deionized water and F(-) release was detected using a fluoride-specific ion electrode every day from 1-7 days and every three days from 8-28 days.

[Liraglutide protects against nonalcoholic fatty liver disease in ApoE knockout mice with high-fat diet and silenced Acrp30 by increasing AMPK].

Objective: To investigate the mechanism of liraglutide-mediated protection against nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) using aApoE knockout (KO) mouse with high-fat diet (HFD) and Acrp30 knockdown.

Methods: Fifty-six male ApoE KO mice were divided into the following six modeling and experimental groups:regular chow fed (ApoE KO, n=10), HFD fed (HF, n=10), HFD+Adenovirus (Ad)-small hairpin (sh) Acrp30 (Ad-shAcrp30, n=10), HFD+Ad-shGreen Fluorescent Protein (GFP) (Ad-shGFP, n=6), HFD+Ad-shAcrp30+liraglutide (liraglutide, n=10), and HFD+Ad-shAcrp30+saline (saline, n=10). Weight-matched C57BL/6 mice on the regular chow diet were used as the control group (WT control, n=10).

Bioinformatics method to predict two regulation mechanism: TF-miRNA-mRNA and lncRNA-miRNA-mRNA in pancreatic cancer.

Altered expressions of microRNAs (miRNAs) are reported in pancreatic cancer and associate with cancer pathogenesis, apoptosis, and cell growth, thereby functioning as either tumor suppressors or oncogenes. However, the majority of studies focus on defining the regulatory functions of miRNAs, whereas few investigations are directed toward assessing how the miRNA themselves are transcriptionally regulated. In this study, integration of published multi-level expression data and bioinformatics computational approach was used to predict two regulation mechanisms: transcription factors (TF)-miRNA-mRNA regulation and long non-coding RNA(lncRNA)-miRNA-mRNA regulation.

Overexpression of β3 Chains of Laminin-332 is Associated With Clinicopathologic Features and Decreased Survival in Patients With Pancreatic Adenocarcinoma.

Background: Laminin-332 (LM-332, formerly termed laminin-5) is a heterotrimeric glycoprotein that promotes cellular adhesion and migration. The heterotrimer consists of an α3, a β3, and a γ2 chain. The aim of this investigation was to clarify the clinicopathologic significance of laminin-332β3 (LNβ3) chain expression and determine its influence on survival in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma.

[Efficacy of flowable composite resin as stress-absorbing liners in Class I cavity restorations].

Objective: To evaluate the efficacy of flowable composite resin(FCR) as stress-absorbing liners in Class I cavity restorations in vitro.

Methods: Thirty Class I cavities of 4 mm in diameter and 2 mm in depth were prepared in polycarbonate (PC) plates and divided into three groups, ten each. After application of an adhesive, cavities in each group were restored using one of the following methods: A: restored with Charisma without any lining of FCR; B: lined with Revolution Formula 2 twice before restoration with Charisma; C: lined with Teric Flow twice before restoration with Charisma.

An in vitro investigation of wear resistance and hardness of composite resins.

Purpose: The aim of the present study was to investigate the wear resistance and hardness of five kinds of composite resins.

Materials And Methods: Sixty-five specimens were fabricated with one nano-hybrid (Charisma Diamond), two micro-hybrid (3MZ250, Clearfil AP-X) and two packable (3MP60, Surefil) composite resins, according to a randomized complete block design (n=13, 8 for wear test; 5 for hardness test). The composites were filled in a rectangular mold, and light polymerization.

[Detection of marginal leakage of Class V restorations in vitro by micro-CT].

Objective: To evaluate the reliability and superiority of micro-CT in marginal leakage assessment of Class V restorations.

Methods: Class V preparations with gingival margins in dentin and occlusal in enamel were made in sixteen extracted non-carious human molars and restored with dental bonding agents and composite resin. All teeth were then immersed in 50% ammonia-silver nitrate solution for 12 hours, followed by developing solution for 8 hours.

Analysis of daidzein in nanoparticles after oral co-administration with sodium caprate to rats by ultra-performance liquid chromatography-quadrupole-time-of-flight mass spectrometry.

An ultra-performance-liquid-chromatography-quadrupole-time-of-flight mass spectrometry (UPLC/Q-TOF-MS) method was developed and validated for the quantitation of daidzein (DZ) in rat plasma. Ethylparaben was chosen as internal standards (IS). DZ was linear over the range of 0.

Loss of zygotic NUP107 protein causes missing of pharyngeal skeleton and other tissue defects with impaired nuclear pore function in zebrafish embryos.

The Nup107-160 multiprotein subcomplex is essential for the assembly of nuclear pore complexes. The developmental functions of individual constituents of this subcomplex in vertebrates remain elusive. In particular, it is unknown whether Nup107 plays an important role in development of vertebrate embryos.

The comparison of different daidzein-PLGA nanoparticles in increasing its oral bioavailability.

The aim of this research was to increase the oral bioavailability of daidzein by the formulations of poly(lactic-co-glycolic) acid (PLGA) nanoparticles loaded with daidzein. Amongst the various traditional and novel techniques of preparing daidzein-loaded PLGA nanoparticles, daidzein-loaded phospholipid complexes PLGA nanoparticles and daidzein-loaded cyclodextrin inclusion complexes PLGA nanoparticles were selected. The average drug entrapment efficiency, particle size, and zeta potential of daidzein-loaded phospholipid complexes PLGA nanoparticles and daidzein-loaded cyclodextrin inclusion complexes PLGA nanoparticles were 81.

Enhanced intestinal absorption of daidzein by borneol/menthol eutectic mixture and microemulsion.

In the present study, the effect of a borneol/menthol eutectic mixture (25:75) and microemulsion on the absorption of daidzein in rat intestinal membrane was evaluated. The microemulsion formulation was composed of ethyl oleate (oil), Cremophor RH40 (surfactant), PEG400 (co-surfactant), and water. The borneol/menthol eutectic mixture and its microemulsion were found to enhance the intestinal absorption of daidzein in vitro.

[Effect of carbamide peroxide bleaching agents on micro-leakage of composite resin interface in vitro].

Objective: To evaluate the effect of carbamide peroxide (CP) bleaching agents at different concentrations and with different carriers on the micro-leakage of composite resin interface.

Methods: Class V cavity (2 mm in diameter and 2 mm in depth) preparations were made at the enamelo-cemental junction on the buccal and lingual surfaces of 35 extracted human premolars. The cavities were filled with hybrid composite resin.

An HPLC method for the pharmacokinetic study of daidzein-loaded nanoparticle formulations after injection to rats.

This study was aimed at developing a simple HPLC method for the detection of daidzein in rat plasma. Daidzein was extracted from rat plasma with ethylparaben as internal standards (IS). Chromatographic separation of daidzein and IS was achieved by a Dikma Dimonsil C18 column (200 mm × 4.

Microtensile bond strength of one- and two-step self-etching adhesives on sclerotic dentin: the effects of thermocycling.

This study evaluated the effects of thermocycling on the microtensile bond strength (microTBS) of one- and two-step self-etch adhesives (SEAs) to sclerotic dentin. Two adhesives, Clearfil S3 Bond (S3), a one-step self-etch adhesive (1-SEA), and Clearfil SE Bond (SE), a two-step self-etch adhesive (2-SEA), were applied on cervical lesions in human premolars with sclerotic or normal dentin. After adhesive application, the lesions were restored and built up using a resin composite (Clearfil AP-X).

Interruption of cenph causes mitotic failure and embryonic death, and its haploinsufficiency suppresses cancer in zebrafish.

Kinetochore proteins associate with centromeric DNA and spindle microtubules and play essential roles in chromosome segregation during mitosis. In this study, we uncovered a zebrafish mutant, stagnant and curly (stac), that carries the Tol2 transposon element inserted at the kinetochore protein H (cenph) locus. Mutant embryos exhibit discernible cell death as early as 20 hours postfertilization, extensive apoptosis, and upward curly tail during the pharyngula period and deform around 5 days postfertilization.

[Evaluation of porosity in the restorations of light-cured resin composite].

Objective: To investigate the influence of the consistency of resin composite and insertion techniques on the homogeneity of the Class I restorations.

Methods: Standardized Class I cavities were prepared in polymethyl methyacrylate (PMMA) blocks and restored with three resin composites (Prodigy, Tetric EvoCeram and Tetric Ceram HB) using either a packing or an injection technique by six operators. Then the restorations were sectioned longitudinally and inspected for the presence of porosities and voids with microscope.