Human induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSCs) were generated on several biomaterials from human amniotic fluid in completely xeno-free and feeder-free conditions via the transfection of pluripotent ...genes using a nonintegrating RNA Sendai virus vector. The effect of xeno-free culture medium on the efficiency of the establishment of human amniotic fluid stem cells from amniotic fluid was evaluated. Subsequently, the effect of cell culture biomaterials on the reprogramming efficiency was investigated during the reprogramming of human amniotic fluid stem cells into hiPSCs. Cells cultured in laminin-511, laminin-521, and Synthemax II-coated dishes and hydrogels having optimal elasticity that were engrafted with specific oligopeptides derived from vitronectin could be reprogrammed into hiPSCs with high efficiency. The reprogrammed cells expressed pluripotency proteins and had the capability to differentiate into cells derived from all three germ layers in vitro and in vivo. Human iPSCs could be generated successfully and at high efficiency (0.15–0.25%) in completely xeno-free conditions from the selection of optimal cell culture biomaterials.
This study examines the oral health benefits of heat-killed Lacticaseibacillus paracasei GMNL-143, particularly its potential in oral microbiota alterations and gingivitis improvement.
We assessed ...GMNL-143's in vitro interactions with oral pathogens and its ability to prevent pathogen adherence to gingival cells. A randomized, double-blind, crossover clinical trial was performed on gingivitis patients using GMNL-143 toothpaste or placebo for four weeks, followed by a crossover after a washout.
GMNL-143 showed coaggregation with oral pathogens in vitro, linked to its surface layer protein. In patients, GMNL-143 toothpaste lowered the gingival index and reduced Streptococcus mutans in crevicular fluid. A positive relationship was found between Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans and gingival index changes, and a negative one between Campylobacter and gingival index changes in plaque.
GMNL-143 toothpaste may shift oral bacterial composition towards a healthier state, suggesting its potential in managing mild to moderate gingivitis.
ID NCT04190485 ( https://clinicaltrials.gov/ ); 09/12/2019, retrospective registration.
Opioid dependence is currently one of the most serious problems affecting the social norms and public health system. Methadone maintenance therapy (MMT) is being widely used in treating ...heroin-dependent patients. The mechanism of methadone metabolism and disposition has been shown to involve cytochrome P450 (CYP450) and P-glycoprotein. The aim of this study was to explore the relationships among genetic polymorphisms, BMI and effective dose of methadone used in MMT within a northern Taiwan cohort.
One hundred heroin-dependent patients were enrolled in the study. The clinical data gathered included methadone dose, sex and BMI. DNA was collected from the oral swab of the participants to analyze the relevant alleles.
An effective methadone dose correlated with sex, BMI and the presence of ABCB1 2677GG (rs2032582) and CYP2B6 516GG (rs374527). Furthermore, the CYP2B6 516GG homozygote was related to a higher average dose of methadone (GG: 68.50 ± 32.43; GT: 52.28 ± 25.75; TT: 44.44 ± 29.64; P < 0.02), whereas the ABCB1 2677GG homozygote was related to a lower dose (GG: 51.09 ± 20.83; GT: 69.65 ± 37.51; TT: 62.52 ± 30.44; P < 0.05). We examined the predictive effect of polymorphisms combined with sex and BMI on methadone dose by conducting multiple linear regressions. Our data predicted the average dose of methadone in approximately 30% of heroin-dependent patients.
The interactions between genetic polymorphisms and clinical features proved useful in identifying the effective dose of MMT for heroin-dependent patients in Taiwan more precisely.
A new copper indium selenide, Ba3.5Cu7.55In1.15Se9, was synthesized by the KBr flux reaction at 800 °C. The compound crystallizes with orthorhombic Pnma , a = 46.1700(12) Å, b = 4.26710(10) Å, c = ...19.8125(5) Å, and Z = 8. The structural framework mainly consists of four sites of cubane-type defective M4Se3 (M = Cu, Cu/In) units with disordered Cu+/In3+ ions present at the part corner of each unit. The single crystal emits intense photoluminescence at 657 nm with a relative quantum yield (RQY) 0.2 times that of rhodamine 6G powder. The compound belongs to a direct band gap at 1.91 eV, analyzed by Tauc’s plot, and the energy is close to the PL position. The Hall effect measurement on a pressed pellet reveals an n-type conductivity with a carrier concentration of 3.358 × 1017 cm–3 and a mobility of 24.331 cm2 V–1 s–1. Furthermore, the compound produces a strong nonlinear third-harmonic generation (THG), with an χS (3) value of 1.3 × 105 pm2/V2 comparable to 1.6 × 105 pm2/V2 for AgGaSe2 measured at 800 nm.
Background Polymorphisms of the interferon gamma (IFN-γ) gene are associated with the risk of tuberculosis (TB) in different populations. However, the genetic susceptibility to TB in Han Chinese ...living in Taiwan is still unknown. The purpose of this study is to evaluate whether the polymorphisms of the IFN-γ gene are associated with TB in Han Taiwanese. Methods A total of 200 TB patients and 202 age-matched non-TB individuals were enrolled. Five tag single nucleotide polymorphisms (tSNPs) and rs2430561 (+874) of IFN-γ were selected from a public database. The genotypes were determined using polymerase chain reaction assays. Results Three IFN-γ polymorphisms in intron 3, rs1861494 and rs2069718, and rs2430561 in interon 1 were strongly associated with TB. The C carrier (CT+TT) of rs1861494, TT homozygous of rs2069718, and AA homozygous of rs2430561 were risk genotypes for susceptibility to TB. Conclusion The IFN-γ polymorphisms, rs1861494, rs2069718, and rs2430561, may confer the risk of TB in Han Taiwanese.
Aim:
The chromosomal aberrations induced by radiation appear about nonrandomly distributed across the whole genome. Previous studies have shown that chromosomes with high DNA content are less ...frequently involved in the formation of symmetrical translocations and dicentric chromosomes than expected, whereas smaller chromosomes are more frequently involved. We hypothesized that these translocation regions are linked to radiation sensitivity.
Materials and methods:
We investigated the frequencies of chromosome translocations induced by radiation exposure and adjusted the results according to chromosome length. We specifically analyzed whole blood samples from 3 participants. The samples were irradiated using 60Co at doses of 0.5, 1, 2.5, and 5 Gy. Traditional Giemsa-trypsin-Wright band staining was performed to identify the translocations in the chromosomes, and results were compared with microarray data generated in our previous study.
Results:
Our analysis indicated that chromosomes 9q were the most sensitive to translocations after various doses of radiation, and such translocations occurred in the euchromatin region. Chromosomes 1, 9, 15, and 17 were more sensitive to radiation doses of 0.5 Gy. This observation could be useful when selecting sensitive reference chromosomes in the low-dose region. The results of expression profiling analysis for radiation-sensitive regions were similar to those of chromosome translocation analysis.
Conclusion:
This study shows that some chromosomes or genomic regions are more sensitive to alteration by radiation exposure.
Recombinant vitronectin-grafted hydrogels were developed by adjusting surface charge of the hydrogels with grafting of poly-
l
-lysine for optimal culture of human embryonic stem cells (hESCs) under ...xeno- and feeder-free culture conditions, with elasticity regulated by crosslinking time (10-30 kPa), in contrast to conventional recombinant vitronectin coating dishes, which have a fixed stiff surface (3 GPa). hESCs proliferated on the hydrogels for over 10 passages and differentiated into the cells derived from three germ layers indicating the maintenance of pluripotency. hESCs on the hydrogels differentiated into cardiomyocytes under xeno-free culture conditions with much higher efficiency (80% of cTnT
+
cells) than those on conventional recombinant vitronectin or Matrigel-coating dishes just only after 12 days of induction. It is important to have an optimal design of cell culture biomaterials where biological cues (recombinant vitronectin) and physical cues (optimal elasticity) are combined for high differentiation of hESCs into specific cell lineages, such as cardiomyocytes, under xeno-free and feeder-free culture conditions.
Xeno-free culture and cardiomyocyte differentiation of human embryonic stem cells on vitronectin-grafted hydrogels by adjusting surface charge and elasticity.
Hyperuricemia in the general population remains controversial, in terms of it being considered a risk factor for chronic kidney disease (CKD). Within this context, we evaluated the effects of ...hyperuricemia on renal function in older Taiwanese adults.
From January 2002 to December 2006, we conducted a community-based medical screening program involving 31,331 subjects older than 40 years. According to the National Kidney Foundation guidelines, stage 3 to 5 patients with CKD were included for analysis. Age, body mass index, systolic blood pressure, fasting plasma glucose, triglyceride, cholesterol and proteinuria were considered potential confounders.
Participants with hyperuricemia tended to have higher systolic blood pressure, sugar levels, body mass index, and cholesterol and triglyceride levels but lower estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) levels; eGFR negatively correlated with serum uric acid level. By using multiple logistic regression models before and after adjusting for any confounding factors, we noted that participants with hyperuricemia had a 4.036-fold (odds ratios = 4.036) and 3.649-fold (odds ratios = 3.649) increased risk for CKD, respectively, compared with the control group. We used multiple linear regression analysis to examine the association of serum uric acid level and eGFR at different stages of CKD; significance was found only in participants with stage 3 CKD and not in participants with stages 4 or 5.
Hyperuricemia is an independent risk factor for CKD in middle-aged and elderly Taiwanese adults. Thus, an effective screening program that identifies people with hyperuricemia is warranted.
OBJECTIVESChromosome 22q13 is a hot region of genomic rearrangements that may result in deletion, duplication, and translocation, and that may lead to neurodevelopmental disorders in affected ...patients.
MATERIALS AND METHODSWe carried out an array-based comparative genomic hybridization analysis to detect copy number variations (CNVs) of genomic DNA in patients with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) who were consecutively recruited into our molecular genetic study of ASD. Karyotyping, fluorescent in-situ hybridization analysis, and real time-quantitative PCR were used for validation tests.
RESULTSWe completed a genome-wide CNV analysis of 335 patients with ASD from Taiwan. Three unrelated male patients were found to carry three different CNVs at 22q13.3, respectively, including a de novo terminal deletion of ∼106 kb at 22q13.33, a de novo interstitial duplication of ∼1.8 Mb at 22q13.32–q13.33, and a microdeletion of ∼147 kb at 22q13.33. These three CNVs all involved the dosage change of the SHANK3 gene. The last patient also carried a genomic duplication of ∼3.86 Mb at 19q13.42–q13.4 in addition to a microdeletion of ∼147 kb at 22q13.33. His younger sister also carried these two CNVs, but she had developmental delay and other neurological deficits without ASD. These two CNVs were transmitted from their unaffected father, who carried a balanced translocation between chromosome 22q and 19q.
CONCLUSIONOur data support that recurrent genomic rearrangements at 22q13.3 are part of the genetic landscape of ASD in our patients and changes in SHANK3 dosage are associated with neurodevelopmental disorders. However, the clinical symptoms of patients with 22q13.3 rearrangements can vary depending on other genetic and nongenetic factors, not limited to genes involved in CNVs in this region.
Abstract Schizophrenia is a complex mental disorder with high degree of genetic influence in its etiology. Several recent studies revealed that copy number variations (CNVs) of genomic DNA ...contributed significantly to the genetic architecture of sporadic schizophrenia. This study aimed to investigate whether CNVs also contribute to the familial forms of schizophrenia. Using array-based comparative genomic hybridization technology, we searched for pathogenic CNV associated with schizophrenia in a sample of 60 index cases from multiplex schizophrenia families. We detected three inherited CNVs that were associated with schizophrenia in three families, including a microdeletion of ~ 4.4 Mb at chromosome 6q12–q13, a microduplication of ~ 1 Mb at chromosome 18q12.3, and an interstitial duplication of ~ 5 Mb at chromosome 15q11.2–q13.1. Our data indicate that CNVs contribute to the genetic underpinnings of the familial forms of schizophrenia as well as of the sporadic form. As 15q11–13 duplication is a well-known recurrent CNV associated with autism in the literature, the detection of the 15q11.2–q13.1 duplication in our schizophrenia patients provides additional support to other studies reporting that schizophrenia is part of the clinical spectrum of 15q11–q13 duplication syndrome.
PDF
