Investigation of the role of the miR17-92 cluster in BMP9-induced osteoblast lineage commitment.

Background: Bone morphogenetic protein 9 (BMP9) has been identified as a crucial inducer of osteoblastic differentiation in mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs). Although microRNAs (miRNAs) are known to play a role in MSC osteogenesis, the mechanisms of action of miRNAs in BMP9-induced osteoblastic differentiation remain poorly understood.

Methods: In this study, we investigate the possible role of the miR17-92 cluster in the BMP9-induced osteogenic differentiation of MSCs by using both in vitro and in vivo bone formation assays.

Strain Dependence of Energetics and Kinetics of Vacancy in Tungsten.

We investigate the influence of hydrostatic/biaxial strain on the formation, migration, and clustering of vacancy in tungsten (W) using a first-principles method, and show that the vacancy behaviors are strongly dependent on the strain. Both a monovacancy formation energy and a divacancy binding energy decrease with the increasing of compressive hydrostatic/biaxial strain, but increase with the increasing of tensile strain. Specifically, the binding energy of divacancy changes from negative to positive when the hydrostatic (biaxial) tensile strain is larger than 1.

Sporotrichosis: clinical and histopathological manifestations.

Sporotrichosis is a chronic fungal infection with a global distribution; both sporadically occurring infections and outbreaks of cases are not uncommon. Sporothrix schenckii, as the causative agent, can be isolated from soil, wood, land, and even marine animals. We present the clinical and histopathological presentations of sporotrichosis collected in our department for about 40 years.