Protective effect of antioxidant supplementation in sperm-preparation medium against oxidative stress in human spermatozoa.

Background: Oxidative stress induced by reactive oxygen species (ROS) is associated with an impaired fertilization ability of spermatozoa. We investigated the effects of adding antioxidants to a sperm preparation medium on the functional parameters of the spermatozoa.

Methods: Spermatozoa were washed with Ham's F-10 media containing the antioxidants, ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA) and catalase, at various concentrations, and then the ROS levels in sperm suspensions, and the forward motility, acrosome reaction, DNA integrity and lipid peroxidation of the spermatozoa were assessed.

Association between brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity and cardiovascular risk factors in healthy adolescents.

Objective: To investigate the associations between cardiovascular risk factors and arterial stiffness, measured as brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity (baPWV), in healthy adolescents.

Study Design: In this cross-sectional study, 178 male and 84 female adolescents, aged 12 to 18 years, were recruited. Total homocysteine levels, serum lipid profiles, high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) levels, fasting glucose levels, fasting insulin levels, and baPWV were measured.

Association between hypoadiponectinemia and cardiovascular risk factors in nonobese healthy adults.

Adiponectin levels are significantly lower in obese adult patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus, essential hypertension, dyslipidemia, and cardiovascular disease. However, the role of hypoadiponectinemia in nonobese healthy adults has not been fully elucidated. In this study, we examined the association between hypoadiponectinemia and cardiovascular risk factors and estimated plasma adiponectin values in nonobese, apparently healthy adults.

Expression of MT-1 MMP, MMP2, MMP9 and TIMP2 mRNAs in ductal carcinoma in situ and invasive ductal carcinoma of the breast.

We investigated the expression of membrane type-1 (MT1)-MMP, MMP2, MMP9 and TIMP2 mRNAs and their roles in ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) and T1 and T2 invasive ductal carcinoma of the breast. We further compared these two types of carcinomas for differences in microvessel density, and expression of angiogenic factors and CD44std. MT1-MMP, MMP2, MMP9 and TIMP2 mRNA were expressed in both DCIS and invasive ductal carcinomas.

Intraoperative examination of sentinel lymph nodes by immunohistochemical staining in patients with breast cancer.

Aim: To performed a prospective investigation of the relative merits of rapid cytokeratin immunohistochemical (CK-IHC) staining of the SLN removed during the operation of breast cancer patients.

Study Design: Between December 2002 and March 2004, 62 patients with T1 and T2 breast cancer were enrolled after undergoing successful sentinel lymph node biopsy. Eighty-nine sentinel lymph nodes (mean number, 1.

Efficient culture system for human embryonic stem cells using autologous human embryonic stem cell-derived feeder cells.

Human embryonic stem cells (hESCs) need feeder cells for their maintenance in an undifferentiated state. In conventional culture systems, mouse embryonic fibroblasts (MEFs) serve as feeder cells to maintain hESCs. However, the use of MEFs elevates the risk of transmitting mouse pathogens and thus limits the potential of hESCs in cell replacement therapy.

Plasma adiponectin levels in postmenopausal women with or without long-term hormone therapy.

Objective: Recent large, prospective, randomized studies show that hormone therapy (HT) does not confer a protective effect against cardiovascular disease (CVD) but may in fact increase cardiovascular events. Low plasma adiponectin levels are considered to be related to the development of atherosclerosis and CVD. The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of long-term hormone therapy on plasma adiponectin levels in postmenopausal women.

Efficient derivation of new human embryonic stem cell lines.

Human embryonic stem (hES) cells, unlike most cells derived from adult or fetal human tissues, represent a potentially unlimited source of various cell types for basic clinical research. To meet the increased demand for characterized hES cell lines, we established and characterized nine new lines obtained from frozen-thawed pronucleus-stage embryos. In addition, we improved the derivation efficiency from inner cell masses (to 47.

Comparative characteristics of three human embryonic stem cell lines.

Human embryonic stem (hES) cells have unique features including unlimited growth capacity, expression of specific markers, normal karyotypes and an ability to differentiate. Many investigators have tried to use hES cells for cell-based therapy, but there is little information about the properties of available hES cell lines. We compared the characteristics of three hES cell lines.

Contribution of the PI3K/Akt/PKB signal pathway to maintenance of self-renewal in human embryonic stem cells.

Although basic fibroblast growth factor (FGF2) is generally included in the media for maintenance of human embryonic stem cells (hESCs), the action of FGF2 in these cells has not been well defined. Here, we determined the roles of FGF2 in maintaining hESC self-renewal. Withdrawal of FGF2 from the media led to acquisition of typical differentiated characteristics in hESCs.

Available human feeder cells for the maintenance of human embryonic stem cells.

Mouse embryonic fibroblasts (MEFs) have been previously used as feeder cells to support the growth of human embryonic stem cells (hESCs). In this study, human adult uterine endometrial cells (hUECs), human adult breast parenchymal cells (hBPCs) and embryonic fibroblasts (hEFs) were tested as feeder cells for supporting the growth of hESCs to prevent the possibility of contamination from animal feeder cells. Cultured hUECs, hBPCs and hEFs were mitotically inactivated and then plated.

Effects of type IV collagen and laminin on the cryopreservation of human embryonic stem cells.

Previous reports have indicated that extracellular matrices (ECMs) affect the developmental fate of human embryonic stem cells (hESCs). Specially, type IV collagen and laminin, which belong to a group of macromolecular proteins with a substantial proportion of ECMs, are known to influence the proliferation and differentiation of hES cells. In this study, we evaluated the effects of type IV collagen and laminin in freezing medium on the survival and differentiation rates of hES cells after slow freezing and rapid thawing.

Establishment and maintenance of human embryonic stem cell lines on human feeder cells derived from uterine endometrium under serum-free condition.

Human embryonic stem (hES) cells are usually established and maintained on mouse embryonic fibroblast (MEFs) feeder layers. However, it is desirable to develop human feeder cells because animal feeder cells are associated with risks such as viral infection and/or pathogen transmission. In this study, we attempted to establish new hES cell lines using human uterine endometrial cells (hUECs) to prevent the risks associated with animal feeder cells and for their eventual application in cell-replacement therapy.

Establishment of a human embryonic germ cell line and comparison with mouse and human embryonic stem cells.

Human embryonic stem (ES) cells and embryonic germ (EG) cells are pluripotent and are invaluable material for in vitro studies of human embryogenesis and cell therapy. So far, only two groups have reported the establishment of human EG cell lines, whereas at least five human ES cell lines have been established. To see if human EG cell lines can be reproducibly established, we isolated primordial germ cells (PGCs) from gonadal ridges and mesenteries (9 weeks post-fertilization) and cultured them on mouse STO cells.

Establishment and maintenance of human embryonic stem cells on STO, a permanently growing cell line.

Human embryonic stem (hES) cells have been traditionally cultured on primary mouse embryonic fibroblasts (PMEFs). However, though STO cells have some advantages over PMEFs and human embryonic fibroblasts (hEFs) as feeder cells, they have never been used as feeder cells to establish hES cell lines. In this study, three hES cell lines (Miz-hES1, Miz-hES2, and Miz-hES3) were established from inner cell masses (ICM), using STO as feeder cells.

Differential expression of tissue transglutaminase protein in mouse ovarian follicle.

Tissue transglutaminase (tTG) protein begins to accumulate in apoptotic cells and its mRNA is expressed at the onset of apoptotic change. In the present study, we compared tTG expression with the atretic degree of mouse ovarian follicles. The whole-body gamma-irradiated mouse ovaries were collected and immunohistochemistry for tTG and in situ 3'-end labeling (TUNEL) was performed.

Ovarian expression of melatonin Mel(1a) receptor mRNA during mouse development.

Melatonin, secreted by the pineal gland, is involved in the regulation of many physiological functions of various species of animals. In the present study, the expression of gene for melatonin Mel(1a) receptor (MelR) was evaluated in the ovary, hypothalamus, and pituitary according to the developmental stages in female mice. Semiquantitative reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and in situ PCR techniques were applied.