Muscle stem cells, which are known as satellite cells have heterogeneous components of committed myogenic progenitors, non-committed satellite cells, and mesenchymal stem cells. This distinguishing organization of self-renewal and differentiation capacities encourages the remarkable regenerative ability of skeletal muscles. Lately it has been proved that the satellite cell is the derivation of muscle regeneration and with the self-renew function, it roles as a true muscle stem cell. Therefore, stem cell therapy using satellite cells is considered to be ideal therapy for muscular dystrophies, which is deficient in specific muscle protein and causes muscle degeneration. Especially, Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy (DMD), which is caused by mutations at the dystrophin gene, has been targeted by much research. In this article the satellite cell characteristics, regulation of cell function, and stem cell therapy for DMD and the present progressive clinical trials will be reviewed.
Dystrophin ; Mesenchymal Stromal Cells ; Muscle Proteins ; Muscle, Skeletal* ; Muscular Dystrophies ; Muscular Dystrophy, Duchenne* ; Regeneration ; Satellite Cells, Skeletal Muscle ; Stem Cells*

Patients with Pierre Robin syndrome are characterized by micrognathia, retrognathia, glossoptosis, and respiratory obstruction and are prone to have a difficult-to-intubate airway. The McGrath(R) MAC video laryngoscope provides a better view of the glottis than a Macintosh laryngoscope, but it is not easy to insert an endotracheal tube through the vocal cords because a video laryngoscope has a much greater curvature than that of a conventional direct laryngoscope and an endotracheal tube has a different curvature. The Frova Intubating Introducer is used as a railroad for an endotracheal tube in cases of a difficult airway. We thought that a combination of these two devices would make it easy to insert an endotracheal tube through the vocal cords, as a McGrath(R) MAC video laryngoscope provides a better glottic view and the Frova Intubating Introducer is a useful device for placing an endotracheal tube through the glottis. We report a successful endotracheal intubation with use of the McGrath(R) MAC video laryngoscope and Frova Intubating Introducer in a patient with Pierre Robin syndrome.
Airway Management ; Glottis ; Humans ; Intubation ; Intubation, Intratracheal ; Laryngoscopes* ; Pierre Robin Syndrome* ; Railroads ; Retrognathia ; Vocal Cords

A 5-year-old, 28 kg castrated male Border Collie was referred for surgical intervention following complications from a prior total hip replacement. A physical examination revealed reduced weight-bearing and metallic crepitus on the affected limb. A radiographic assessment confirmed a fractured femoral stem. Extended trochanteric osteotomy (ETO) was performed to extract the well-fixed stem, followed by the removal of the acetabular cup. ETO stabilization was achieved with cerclage wires and a locking plate. Six months postoperatively, the radiographs indicated successful bone healing, and the dog exhibited improved limb function. The ETO technique can provide enhanced surgical access to extract well-fixed implants.

A 5-year-old, 28 kg castrated male Border Collie was referred for surgical intervention following complications from a prior total hip replacement. A physical examination revealed reduced weight-bearing and metallic crepitus on the affected limb. A radiographic assessment confirmed a fractured femoral stem. Extended trochanteric osteotomy (ETO) was performed to extract the well-fixed stem, followed by the removal of the acetabular cup. ETO stabilization was achieved with cerclage wires and a locking plate. Six months postoperatively, the radiographs indicated successful bone healing, and the dog exhibited improved limb function. The ETO technique can provide enhanced surgical access to extract well-fixed implants.

A 5-year-old, 28 kg castrated male Border Collie was referred for surgical intervention following complications from a prior total hip replacement. A physical examination revealed reduced weight-bearing and metallic crepitus on the affected limb. A radiographic assessment confirmed a fractured femoral stem. Extended trochanteric osteotomy (ETO) was performed to extract the well-fixed stem, followed by the removal of the acetabular cup. ETO stabilization was achieved with cerclage wires and a locking plate. Six months postoperatively, the radiographs indicated successful bone healing, and the dog exhibited improved limb function. The ETO technique can provide enhanced surgical access to extract well-fixed implants.

A 5-year-old, 28 kg castrated male Border Collie was referred for surgical intervention following complications from a prior total hip replacement. A physical examination revealed reduced weight-bearing and metallic crepitus on the affected limb. A radiographic assessment confirmed a fractured femoral stem. Extended trochanteric osteotomy (ETO) was performed to extract the well-fixed stem, followed by the removal of the acetabular cup. ETO stabilization was achieved with cerclage wires and a locking plate. Six months postoperatively, the radiographs indicated successful bone healing, and the dog exhibited improved limb function. The ETO technique can provide enhanced surgical access to extract well-fixed implants.

A 5-year-old, 28 kg castrated male Border Collie was referred for surgical intervention following complications from a prior total hip replacement. A physical examination revealed reduced weight-bearing and metallic crepitus on the affected limb. A radiographic assessment confirmed a fractured femoral stem. Extended trochanteric osteotomy (ETO) was performed to extract the well-fixed stem, followed by the removal of the acetabular cup. ETO stabilization was achieved with cerclage wires and a locking plate. Six months postoperatively, the radiographs indicated successful bone healing, and the dog exhibited improved limb function. The ETO technique can provide enhanced surgical access to extract well-fixed implants.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Cancer is known to be a disease by many factors. However, specific results of reprogramming by pluripotency-related transcription factors remain to be scarcely reported. Here, we verified potential effects of pluripotent-related genes in hepatocellular carcinoma cancer cells. METHODS: To better understand reprogramming of cancer cells in different genetic backgrounds, we used four liver cancer cell lines representing different states of p53 (HepG2, Hep3B, Huh7 and PLC). Retroviral-mediated introduction of reprogramming related genes (KLF4, Oct4, Sox2, and Myc) was used to induce the expression of proteins related to a pluripotent status in liver cancer cells. RESULTS: Hep3B cells (null p53) exhibited a higher efficiency of reprogramming in comparison to the other liver cancer cell lines. The reprogrammed Hep3B cells acquired similar characteristics to pluripotent stem cells. However, loss of stemness in Hep3B-iPCs was detected during continual passage. CONCLUSIONS: We demonstrated that reprogramming was achieved in tumor cells through retroviral induction of genes associated with reprogramming. Interestingly, the reprogrammed pluripotent cancer cells (iPCs) were very different from original cancer cells in terms of colony shape and expressed markers. The induction of pluripotency of liver cancer cells correlated with the status of p53, suggesting that different expression level of p53 in cancer cells may affect their reprogramming.
Carcinoma, Hepatocellular ; Cell Line ; Genetic Background ; Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells* ; Liver Neoplasms* ; Pluripotent Stem Cells ; Transcription Factors ; Zidovudine

High-performance liquid chromatography was performed in order to analyze the changes in the flavonoid content (rutin, hyperin, afzelin, quercetin, and kaempferol) of Acanthopanax divaricatus and A. koreanum, in response to different cultivation methods (pinching height, planting time, and top dressing). The total flavonoid content of A. divaricatus and A. koreanum ranged from 0.201 to 0.690 mg/g with different pinching heights, 0.143 to 1.001 mg/g for different planting times, and 0.156 to 1.074 mg/g depending on the rate of fertilizer application. In both A. divaricatus and A. koreanum, the total flavonoid content in the upper section of the plant was greater than that in the lower section. These results demonstrate which cultivation methods maximize the flavonoid content of A. divaricatus and A. koreanum, and thus help to optimize flavonoid yields to improve production for nutraceutical, pharmaceutical, and cosmeceutical applications.
Eleutherococcus* ; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; Chromatography, Liquid ; Dietary Supplements ; Flavonoids* ; Methods* ; Plants ; Quercetin

OBJECTIVES: Osteoporosis is a disease of bones that is thought to result from an imbalance between bone resorption and bone formation. Although osteoporosis itself has no symptoms, osteoporosis caused by osteoclasts leads to an increased risk of fracture. Here we examined the effects of cornus officinalis on receptor activator of nuclear factor-kappaB ligand (RANKL)-mediated osteoclast differentiation. METHODS: We evaluated the effects of cornus officinalis on RANKL-induced osteoclast differentiation from bone marrow-derived macrophages (BMMs) and performed a cytotoxicity assay, reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), and Western blot analysis. RESULTS: Cornus officinalis significantly inhibits RANKL-mediated osteoclast differentiation in a dose-dependent manner, but without cytotoxicity against BMMs. The mRNA expression of tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase (TRAP), osteoclast-associated receptor (OSCAR), c-Fos, and nuclear factor of activated T cells cytoplasmic 1 (NFATc1) in BMMs treated with RANKL was considerably inhibited by cornus officinalis treatment. Also, cornus officinalis inhibits the protein expression of c-Fos and NFATc1. Cornus officinalis greatly inhibits RANKL-induced phosphorylation of p38 and c-JUN N-terminal kinase (JNK). Also, cornus officinalis significantly suppresses RANKL-induced degradation of I-kappaB. CONCLUSIONS: Taken together, our results suggest that cornus officinalis may be a useful the treatment of osteoporosis.
Acid Phosphatase ; Blotting, Western ; Bone Resorption ; Cornus ; Cytoplasm ; Isoenzymes ; JNK Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases ; Macrophages ; Osteoclasts ; Osteogenesis ; Osteoporosis ; Phosphorylation ; RANK Ligand ; Receptor Activator of Nuclear Factor-kappa B ; RNA, Messenger ; T-Lymphocytes