Induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSC) are specially manipulated cells from somatic cells by the introduction of four factors that are reprogrammed. The properties of iPSC are similar to embryonic stem cells (ESC) characteristic of self-renewal and pluripotency. The technology of reprogramming somatic cells to iPSC enables the generation of patient-specific cells that can be used as powerful tools for drug screening, in vitro models for human disease and autologous transplantation. The iPSC technology provides a priceless resource for regenerative medicine but there are still changing obstacles over the safety of iPSC in avoiding induction of tumorigenicity and maintaining high purity of re-differentiated cells from iPSC to produce more functional cells for cell therapy. A variety of methods to overcome the limitation of iPSC application applied in the clinical setting have been developed. In this review, we summarize the recent progress in iPSC generation and differentiation techniques to facilitate clinical application of iPSC with future potential in regenerative medicine.
Autografts ; Cell- and Tissue-Based Therapy ; Drug Evaluation, Preclinical ; Embryonic Stem Cells ; Humans ; Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells* ; Regenerative Medicine ; Stem Cells* ; Transplantation, Autologous

6-Phosphogluconolactonase (6PGL) is one of the key enzymes in the ubiquitous pathways of central carbon metabolism, but bacterial 6PGL had been long known as a missing enzyme even after complete bacterial genome sequence information became available. Although recent experimental characterization suggests that there are two types of 6PGLs (DevB and YbhE), their phylogenetic distribution is severely biased. Here we present that proteins in COG group previously described as 3-carboxymuconate cyclase (COG2706) are actually the YbhE-type 6PGLs, which are widely distributed in Proteobacteria and Firmicutes. This case exemplifies how erroneous functional description of a member in the reference database commonly used in transitive genome annotation cause systematic problem in the prediction of genes even with universal cellular functions.
Bias (Epidemiology) ; Carbon ; Computer Simulation* ; Genome ; Genome, Bacterial* ; Metabolism ; Pentose Phosphate Pathway ; Proteobacteria

Nodular fasciitis is a pseudosarcomatous reactive process composed of fibroblasts and myofibroblasts, and it is most common in the upper extremities. Nodular fasciitis of the external auditory canal is rare. To the best of our knowledge, less than 20 cases have been reported to date. We present a case of nodular fasciitis arising in the cartilaginous part of the external auditory canal. A 19-year-old man complained of an auricular mass with pruritus. Computed tomography showed a 1.7 cm sized soft tissue mass in the right external auditory canal, and total excision was performed. Histologic examination revealed spindle or stellate cells proliferation in a fascicular and storiform pattern. Lymphoid cells and erythrocytes were intermixed with tumor cells. The stroma was myxoid to hyalinized with a few microcysts. The tumor cells were immunoreactive for smooth muscle actin, but not for desmin, caldesmon, CD34, S-100, anaplastic lymphoma kinase, and cytokeratin. The patient has been doing well during the 1 year follow-up period.
Actins ; Calmodulin-Binding Proteins ; Desmin ; Ear ; Ear Canal* ; Erythrocytes ; Fasciitis* ; Fibroblasts ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Hyalin ; Keratins ; Lymphocytes ; Lymphoma ; Muscle, Smooth ; Myofibroblasts ; Phosphotransferases ; Pruritus ; Upper Extremity ; Young Adult

PURPOSE: To report the surgical results of unilateral pediatric cataracts from uncertain causes in relatively older children and to identify factors related to better visual outcomes. METHODS: We retrospectively evaluated the medical records of 39 patients who underwent surgery between the ages of 3 and 10 years for unilateral pediatric cataracts of no known cause. All patients underwent primary intraocular lens implantation and postoperative amblyopia treatment. A postoperative final visual acuity better than 20 / 30 was considered to be a good visual outcome. RESULTS: The mean age of patients was 6.0 ± 1.8 years at the time of surgery. The mean preoperative visual acuity was 1.07 ± 0.71 logarithm of the minimum angle of resolution (range, 0.15 to 3.00), while the mean final postoperative visual acuity was 0.47 ± 0.54 logarithm of the minimum angle of resolution (range, 0.00 to 2.00). Of 39 patients, 18 (46.2%) achieved a good visual outcome. Only the preoperative visual acuity maintained a significant association with a good visual outcome according to our multivariate analysis (p = 0.040). A preoperative visual acuity of 20 / 100 or better was found to increase the chance of achieving a good visual outcome by 13.79-fold (95% confidence interval, 1.13 to 167.58). CONCLUSIONS: The visual outcome of unilateral pediatric cataract surgery for cataracts with no specific cause identified in patients after three years of age could be satisfactory, especially with a preoperative visual acuity of 20 / 100 or better.
Amblyopia ; Cataract* ; Child ; Humans ; Lens Implantation, Intraocular ; Medical Records ; Multivariate Analysis ; Phacoemulsification ; Prognosis ; Retrospective Studies ; Visual Acuity

Dental avulsion, defined as the complete displacement of a tooth from the alveolar bone with consequent loss of the blood and nerve supply, was reported as one of the most severe dental injuries. Avulsion can cause tissue ischemia, which leads to pulp necrosis.Apexification is a conventional treatment method that induces an apical calcified barrier in immature roots with pulp necrosis. However, root development characterized by an increase in the root thickness and length cannot be achieved by apexification.The purpose of this case report was to describe the radiographic and clinical outcomes of regenerative endodontic treatment for the avulsed and necrosed permanent tooth with an immature root after replantation in a 5-year-old girl; the treatment was performed using a mixture of ciprofloxacin, metronidazole and cefaclor, CollaTape and Biodentine.
Apexification ; Cefaclor ; Child, Preschool ; Ciprofloxacin ; Dental Pulp Necrosis ; Female ; Humans ; Ischemia ; Methods ; Metronidazole ; Replantation ; Tooth

In this study, total fluoride (TF) in commercial toothpastes for children in Korea was evaluated and compared with the fluoride concentration declared by the manufacturer (Declared F). Additionally, total soluble fluoride (TSF) was evaluated and compared with TF.Ten toothpastes were coded with letters to allow blind analysis. For evaluation of TF, each toothpaste was homogenized in deionized water. For evaluation of TSF, each toothpaste was centrifuged and then, the supernatant of the sample was evaluated. Fluoride concentrations were assessed using a fluoride electrode coupled to an ion analyzer.Only one toothpaste showed lower TF concentration than Declared F. In all toothpastes, TSF was similar to the TF.
Child ; Dentifrices ; Electrodes ; Fluorides ; Humans ; Korea ; Toothpastes ; Water

A key factor in evolution is reproduction, which is also a major concern in medicine. Evolutionists have proposed many theories and hypotheses to explain the low fertility rates of modern industrial societies, which are contrary to maximization of biological fitness. Given that childbirth is the most significant factor affecting re-productive fitness, it is likely that a variety of psychological modules related to childbirth behavior and intentionevolved over time. Several evolutionary psychological modules have been proposed in relation to reproduction, including sexual desire, status-seeking, a need for nurturing, and the desire for children. Previously adaptive psychological modules may now be expressed maladaptively due to the discrepancy between the Environment of Evolutionary Adaptedness (EEA) and the environment of modern industrial society. Several evolutionary ecological factors influence childbirth intention in modern society, including individual personality factors, childhood life his-tory experiences, and socioecological factors throughout reproductive life. By focusing on mental, social, and ecological factors, this review examines several hypothetical models relating to evolutionary psychological factors and childbirth decisions in modern industrial society, as well as a possible explanation for the low birth rate.

Purpose: The aim of this study was to measure the sodium content of the solid and liquid components of soup-based dishes (SBD) including Korean soup, stew, noodle/dumplings, and watery kimchi and to compare the sodium content in the dishes from home, schools, and restaurants in Seoul. Methods: The dishes were divided into 3 groups, namely home, restaurant and school food.We separated the dishes into solid and liquid to measure the weight, salinity, and sodium content. The sodium content of the dishes was analyzed using inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometry. Results: The proportion of sodium content in the liquid component of SBD were 65.2%– 66.7% in soup, 49.8%–61.2% in stew, 48.7%–56.7% in noodle/dumpling, and 43.7%–73.2% in watery kimchi. The sodium content per 100 g of the whole dishes of the same kind from the schools was significantly lower than that from the restaurants and home. However, there was no significant difference in sodium content per 100 g of whole dishes between the restaurants and home. The sodium content per 100 g of liquid in the same kind of dishes from the schools was significantly lower than those from the restaurants and home, and that from home was significantly lower than from the restaurants. Conclusion The sodium content of the liquid in SBD accounted for at least about half of the total sodium content of the whole dishes. It is important to establish a separate database with the sodium content in the solid and liquid portions of SBD and to evaluate how much liquid and/or solid would be consumed to estimate individual sodium intake more accurately.Also, it should be noted that the sodium content varies with the origin of the dishes, whether dishes were from home, restaurants, or schools.

We have noticed an inadvertent error in our article. In Figure 1, an abbreviation is misspelled.

Transient myeloproliferative disorder (TMD) is similar to congenital leukemia, with leukocytosis, increased peripheral blast cells, and hepatomegaly in the neonatal period. Although TMD occurs only in patients with Down syndrome and trisomy 21 mosaicism, there have been reports of congenital leukemia with trisomy 21 limited to hematopoietic cells showing spontaneous resolution. We identified trisomy 21 in the leukemic cells in a patient with congenital leukemia. As there was no other gene abnormality, we stopped chemotherapy, and the disease resolved spontaneously. We reviewed the cases of clonal trisomy 21 TMD and found that their clinical features were similar to those of TDM associated with Down syndrome. In conclusion, in a phenotypically normal patient with suspected congenital leukemia, it is necessary to confirm the presence of 21 trisomy. If the neonate has only trisomy 21 without other gene abnormalities, intensive chemotherapy may not be required.
Chromosomes, Human, Pair 21 ; Down Syndrome* ; Drug Therapy ; GATA1 Transcription Factor ; Hepatomegaly ; Humans ; Infant ; Infant, Newborn* ; Leukemia ; Leukocytosis ; Mosaicism ; Myeloproliferative Disorders* ; Trisomy*