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

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

BACKGROUND: We conducted this study to determine the optimal dose of esmolol in combination with nicardipine to block undesirable cardiovascular responses effectively during endotracheal intubation in patients undergoing ambulatory surgery. METHODS: One-hundred and twenty patients were randomly allocated into one of the following 4 groups: the E0 group (no esmolol, control), the E0.25 group (esmolol 0.25 mg/kg), the E0.5 group (esmolol 0.5 mg/kg) and the E1.0 group (esmolol 1.0 mg/kg). Anesthesia was induced with propofol 2 mg/kg and rocuronium 0.9mg/kg. All the patients received 20 microgram/kg of nicardipine, and esmolol was subsequently administered according to the group. Endotracheal intubation was performed 150 seconds after inhalation of 6 vol% of desflurane. The systolic (SBP), diastolic (DBP) and mean (MBP) blood pressure and the heart rate (HR) were measured before and immediately after intubation, and at 1, 3, 5, and 10 minutes after intubation. The rate changes were calculated using the baseline values as the standard (change rate [%] = measured value/baseline value x 100). RESULTS: There were no significant differences in SBP, DBP and MBP after intubation between the control and the experimental groups. The rate changes of HR in the experimental groups were significantly lower than those in the control group throughout the study period (P < 0.05). However, there was no difference in therate changes of HR among the experimental groups. CONCLUSIONS: The combination of nicardipine 20 microgram/kg and esmolol 0.25 mg/kg can most effectively and safely attenuate thecardiovascular responses during anesthetic induction in ambulatory patients.
Ambulatory Surgical Procedures ; Androstanols ; Anesthesia ; Blood Pressure ; Heart Rate ; Humans ; Inhalation ; Intubation ; Intubation, Intratracheal ; Isoflurane ; Nicardipine ; Propanolamines ; Propofol ; Tachycardia

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

Pluripotent stem cells can differentiate into many cell types including mature hepatocytes, and can be used in the development of new drugs, treatment of diseases, and in basic research. In this study, we established a protocol leading to efficient hepatic differentiation, and compared the capacity to differentiate into the hepatocyte lineage of human embryonic stem cells (hESCs) and human induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSCs). Optimal combinations of cytokines and growth factors were added to embryoid bodies produced by both types of cell. Differentiation of the cells was assessed with optical and electron microscopes, and hepatic-specific transcripts and proteins were detected by quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction and immunocytochemistry, respectively. Both types of embryoid body produced polygonal hepatocyte-like cells accompanied by time-dependent up regulation of genes for α-fetoprotein, albumin (ALB), asialoglycoprotein1, CK8, CK18, CK19, CYP1A2, and CYP3A4, which are expressed in fetal and adult hepatocytes. Both types of cell displayed functions characteristic of mature hepatocytes such as accumulation of glycogen, secretion of ALB, and uptake of indocyanine green. And these cells are transplanted into mouse model. Our findings indicate that hESCs and hiPSCs have similar abilities to differentiate into hepatocyte in vitro using the protocol developed here, and these cells are transplantable into damaged liver.
Adult ; Animals ; Cytochrome P-450 CYP1A2 ; Cytochrome P-450 CYP3A ; Cytokines ; Embryoid Bodies ; Glycogen ; Hepatocytes ; Human Embryonic Stem Cells* ; Humans* ; Immunohistochemistry ; In Vitro Techniques ; Indocyanine Green ; Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells* ; Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins ; Liver ; Mice ; Pluripotent Stem Cells ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Reverse Transcription ; Up-Regulation

PURPOSE: People with a family history of mood disorder are more likely to have depression. This study compared the characteristics of non-psychotic major depression disorder according to family history of depression. METHOD: Subjects were total of 817 persons recruited for the CRESCEND-K multicenter trial. Characteristics of depression and suicide history of patients with and without a family history of depression were assessed. Family history was determined through self-report. RESULTS: Of 817 participants, 12.4% had a positive family history of depression. Those with family history of depression reported an earlier age at onset of MDD, and more psychiatric comorbidity. Severity of depression and anxiety were not different according to family history of depression. There were no difference in attempted suicide history, number of attempted suicide and age at onset of 1st attempted suicide according to such a family history. CONCLUSION: Patients with family history of depression reported earlier onset of MDD and more history of psychiatric comorbidity.
Anxiety ; Comorbidity ; Depression ; Depressive Disorder, Major ; Humans ; Mood Disorders ; Suicide ; Suicide, Attempted

Cholangiopathies are rare diseases of the bile duct with high mortality rates. The current treatment for cholangiopathies is liver transplantation, but there are significant obstacles including a shortage of donors and a high risk of complications. Currently, there is only one available medicine on the market targeting cholangiopathies, and the results have been inadequate in clinical therapy. To overcome these obstacles, many researchers have used human induced pluripotent stem cells (hPSC) as a source for cholangiocyte-like cell generation and have incorporated advances in bioprinting to create artificial bile ducts for implantation and transplantation. This has allowed the field to move dramatically forward in studies of biliary regenerative medicine. In this review, the authors provide an overview of cholangiocytes, the organogenesis of the bile duct, cholangiopathies, and the current treatment and advances that have been made that are opening new doors to the study of cholangiopathies.
Bile Ducts ; Bile ; Bioprinting ; Humans ; Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells ; Liver Transplantation ; Mortality ; Organogenesis ; Rare Diseases ; Regenerative Medicine ; Tissue Donors

A 72-year-old woman was diagnosed with Kümmell's disease of the T12 and L3 vertebrae. During bone cement injection under continuous fluoroscopic guidance, bone cement spread beyond the posterior border of the T12 vertebral body. We halted the injection immediately. A few minutes later, the patient complained of increasing right lower quadrant abdominal pain. This was diagnosed as a preceding sign of neurological complication due to thermal injury. Consequently, we administered an epidural steroid injection, followed by cooled normal saline irrigation through an epidural catheter to minimize and treat the thermal injury. The pain gradually decreased after saline irrigation and completely disappeared after approximately 10 minutes. After completing the percutaneous vertebroplasty, the patient's lower back pain improved without neurological complications. In conclusion, immediate epidural steroid injection followed by cooled normal saline irrigation through epidural catheterization can be used to treat thermal injury due to bone cement leakage.
Abdominal Pain ; Aged ; Catheterization ; Catheters ; Female ; Humans ; Low Back Pain ; Polymethyl Methacrylate ; Spine ; Vertebroplasty