Human pluripotent stem cells (hPSCs) hold great promise for future applications in drug discovery and cell therapies. hPSC culture protocols require specific substrates and medium supplements to support cell expansion and lineage specific differentiation. The animal origin of these substrates is a severe limitation when considering the translation of hPSC derivatives to the clinic and in vitro disease modeling. The present study evaluates the use of a human placenta-derived extracellular matrix (ECM) hydrogel, HuGentraⓇ , to support tri-lineage differentiation of human induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSCs). Lineage-specific embryoid bodies (EBs) were plated onto three separate matrices, and differentiation efficiency was evaluated based on morphology, protein, and gene expression. HuGentra was found to support the differentiation of hiPSCs to all three germ layers: ectodermal, mesodermal, and endodermal lineages. hiPSCs differentiated into neurons, cardiomyocytes, and hepatocytes on HuGentra had similar morphology, protein, and gene expression compared to differentiation on Matrigel or other cell preferred matrices. HuGentra can be considered as a suitable human substrate for hiPSC differentiation.

OBJECTIVE: To aid the development of a frontal image simulating program, we evaluated the soft tissue frontal changes in relationship to movement of hard tissue with orthognathic surgery of facial asymmetry patients. METHODS: Preoperative and postoperative frontal cephalograms and frontal view photographs of 45 mandibular surgery patients with facial asymmetry were obtained in a standardized manner. Vertical and horizontal changes of hard tissue and soft tissue were measured from cephalograms and photographs, respectively. Soft tissue change in result to hard tissue change was then analyzed. RESULTS: Both vertical and horizontal correlation analysis showed a weak relationship between the changes. Hard tissue points that were picked for 1:1 mean ratio with soft tissue points did not show any significant relevance. For each soft tissue change, regressive equation was formulated by stepwise multiple regression analysis, and the equation for soft tissue Menton was most reliable in predicting changes. Both vertical and horizontal hard tissue changes were used together in prediction of vertical or horizontal soft tissue change. CONCLUSIONS: The results suggest that computerized image simulation using regression analysis may be of help for prediction of soft tissue change, while 1:1 mean ratio method is not useful.
Facial Asymmetry ; Humans ; Orthognathic Surgery