Selective Proliferation of Highly Functional Adipose-Derived Stem Cells in Microgravity Culture with Stirred Microspheres.

Therapeutic effects of adult stem-cell transplantations are limited by poor cell-retention in target organs, and a reduced potential for optimal cell differentiation compared to embryonic stem cells. However, contemporary studies have indicated heterogeneity within adult stem-cell pools, and a novel culturing technique may address these limitations by selecting those for cell proliferation which are highly functional. Here, we report the preservation of stemness in human adipose-derived stem cells (hASCs) by using microgravity conditions combined with microspheres in a stirred suspension.

Long-term survival after surgical resection of metachronous lung, brain and thyroid gland metastases from rectal cancer: A case report.

Introduction And Importance: Brain and thyroid metastasis from rectal cancer are uncommon, and the prognosis is poor. We report a patient with rectal cancer who developed metachronous lung, brain and thyroid metastases. Each metastatic lesion was curatively resected resulting in prolonged survival.

Development of a Kidney Calcification Inhibitor Employing Image-Based Profiling: A Proof-of-Concept Study.

Kidney calcification increases the risk of chronic kidney disease. However, to date, renal calcium phosphate crystallization, a main initiating and driving factor of kidney calcification, has not been explored as a drug target. Pre-clinical drug development is hampered by limited knowledge on the broad range of kidney calcification disorders, characterized by a multifactorial process of disease progression.

The impact of neoadjuvant systemic therapy on breast conservation rates in patients with HER2-positive breast cancer: Surgical results from a phase II randomized controlled trial.

Background: Neoadjuvant systemic therapy (NST) induces tumor shrinkage and boosts the chance of breast-conserving thearpy (BCT) in patients with breast cancer. However, only a few trials have evaluated the effect of NST in conversion from BCT ineligibility to BCT eligibility in HER2-positive breast cancer.

Methods: We conducted the surgical sub-study of a phase II randomized trial, which compared standard neoadjuvant treatment or an experimental treatment modified according to the interim Ki-67 evaluation in women with stage II or III HER2-positive breast cancer.

Hemophagocytic Lymphohistiocytosis Associated with Scrub Typhus: Systematic Review and Comparison between Pediatric and Adult Cases.

Background: Scrub typhus is a mite-borne bacterial infection caused by . Hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (HLH) is a potential severe complication. Most reported cases of HLH associated with scrub typhus were single cases or case series with a small sample sizes.

Late complications after Cabrol technique in a case with Marfan syndrome.

A patient with Marfan syndrome underwent aortic root replacement with the Cabrol technique at 37 years of age. She underwent a surgical repair for an aneurysm in the right coronary at 58 years of age, followed by a surgical repair for a pseudoaneurysm of the left coronary artery at 64 years of age.

Analyzing comprehensive palatability of cheese products by multivariate regression to its subdomains.

The present study explored the possibility of generating a novel sensory evaluation instrument for describing comprehensive food palatability via its subdomains (rewarding, cultural, and informational) while keeping physiological factors constant. Seventy-five Japanese participants were asked to taste cheese samples and to respond to a questionnaire that was developed to dissect the distinct subdomains of palatability. The subsequent factor analyses revealed that three major factors may serve as distinct subdomains of palatability: rewarding, cultural, and informational, although the informational factor was not sufficiently robust.

Role of Innate Immune System in Inflammation and Cardiac Remodeling After Myocardial Infarction.

The innate immune system is well recognized as the first line defense of foreign pathogens; however, it can also recognize endogenous signals released from injured tissues and induce sterile inflammation. Toll-like receptors (TLRs) and Nod-like receptors (NLRs) have been identified as its receptors, and they have been shown to play a key role in the disease processes of sterile inflammation, including myocardial infarction (MI). In particular, NLRs are the key components of the caspase-1 activating platform known as the "inflammasome" which produces the potent proinflammatory cytokine interleukin-1β.

Toward standardization of the cut-off value for the direct immunobead test using the postcoital test in immunologically infertile males.

Purpose: There is a need to improve our understanding of the cut-off value of the direct immunobead test (D-IBT).

Methods: The subjects were 26 D-IBT-positive and 140 D-IBT-negative males. The results of post coital tests (PCTs) for each subject were examined.