A COUP-TFII Human Embryonic Stem Cell Reporter Line to Identify and Select Atrial Cardiomyocytes

Reporter cell lines have already proven valuable in identifying, tracking, and purifying cardiac subtypes and progenitors during differentiation of human pluripotent stem cells (hPSCs). We previously showed that chick ovalbumin upstream promoter transcription factor II (COUP-TFII) is highly enriched in human atrial cardiomyocytes (CMs), but not ventricular. Here, we targeted mCherry to the COUP-TFII genomic locus in hPSCs expressing GFP from the NKX2.5 locus. This dual atrial NKX2.5^EGFP/+-COUP-TFII^mCherry/+ reporter line allowed identification and selection of GFP⁺ (G⁺)/mCherry⁺ (M⁺) CMs following cardiac differentiation. These cells exhibited transcriptional and functional properties of atrial CMs, whereas G⁺/M⁻ CMs displayed ventricular characteristics. Via CRISPR/Cas9-mediated knockout, we demonstrated that COUP-TFII is not required for atrial specification in hPSCs. This new tool allowed selection of human atrial and ventricular CMs from mixed populations, of relevance for studying cardiac specification, developing human atrial disease models, and examining distinct effects of drugs on the atrium versus ventricle.

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Dual NKX2.5^EGFP/+-COUP-TFII^mCherry/+ hPSCs to identify atrial cardiomyocytes

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COUP-TFII is not required for atrial specification of hPSCs in vitro

An international health and nursing informatics module for distance education

This paper describes why a module about health and nursing informatics is a necessary component for nursing education. Several developments in society and health care force health providers to manage the large amount of health data adequately. A module about health and nursing informatics was developed in international cooperation by three schools of nursing from Germany, The Netherlands and the UK. The content and learning activities of the realized example module for distance learning are described. Future plans include making this course material available in different languages on the World Wide Web.

Enhanced levels of lipoperoxides in low density lipoprotein incubated with murine fibroblast expressing high levels of human 15-lipoxygenase

There is strong experimental evidence that oxidized low density lipoprotein (Ox-LDL) plays an important role in atherosclerosis. However, the mechanisms by which Ox-LDL is formed in vivo are unknown. To test whether 15-lipoxygenase (15-LO) could play a role in oxidation of LDL by cells, we expressed 15-LO activity in murine fibroblasts, which do not normally have 15-LO activity, and tested their ability to modify LDL. Using a retroviral vector, we prepared fibroblasts that expressed 2- to 20-fold more 15-LO activity than control fibroblasts infected with a vector containing beta-galactosidase (lacZ). Compared with LDL incubated with lacZ cells, LDL incubated with 15-LO-containing cells were enriched with lipid hydroperoxides. When these LDL samples were subsequently subjected to oxidative stress, they were more susceptible to further oxidative modification, as judged by increased conjugated diene formation and by increased ability to compete with 125I-Ox-LDL for uptake by macrophages. These findings establish that cellular 15-LO can contribute to oxidative modification of LDL, but the quantitative significance of these findings to the in vivo oxidation of LDL remains to be established.

Topical calcitriol in the treatment of chronic plaque psoriasis: a double-blind study

A randomized, double-blind, left-right, vehicle-controlled study to assess the therapeutic efficacy and safety of twice daily application of 15 micrograms/g calcitriol ointment for a period of 6 weeks was performed in 32 patients suffering from bilateral, symmetrical, severe chronic plaque psoriasis. Twice daily 15 micrograms/g calcitriol ointment significantly improved erythema, induration, scaling and global severity of psoriatic plaques, and was much more effective than vehicle ointment. The difference in overall clinical efficacy between calcitriol and vehicle was statistically significant from week 1 onwards, and was maintained over the entire study. On completion of the study, clearance of psoriatic lesions was found in 47% of calcitriol-treated sides and in 13% of vehicle-treated sides. Skin histopathology of calcitriol-treated sides revealed a return to normal keratinization, with decreased inflammatory cell infiltration in the dermis and disappearance of the inflammatory infiltrate from the epidermis. Three patients had asymptomatic hypercalcaemia during the study. Mean serum levels of total calcium, albumin-adjusted total calcium, phosphorus, 25-hydroxyvitamin D and calcitriol did not show statistically significant changes in the baseline/end-point comparisons.