Corrigendum to "Investigation of Hepatoprotective Activity of Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells in the Mouse Model of Liver Injury"

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1155/2011/219060.].

microRNA-324 plays an oncogenic role in bladder cancer cell growth and motility

Background

Despite advances in the treatment of bladder cancer (BC), patients with late-stage BC have a high mortality rate. microRNA is a small, nonprotein coding RNA, and a dysfunction in its expression is frequently strongly correlated with the prognosis of patients with cancer. Aberrant expression of miR-324 has been reported to contribute to human carcinogenesis. However, the role of miR-324 in BC remains unclear.

Methods

The expression levels of miR-324-5p and miR-324-3p were analyzed by analyzing The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) database and real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) approach. The biological role of miR-324-5p and miR-324-3p were assessed in BFTC950 cells with miR-324-5p or miR-324-3p mimics transfection, respectively.

Results

In this study, we demonstrated that high expression levels of miR-324-5p and miR-324-3p were significantly correlated with poor survival of patients with BC. Furthermore, miR-324-5p expression significantly accelerated BC cell proliferation, colony formation ability, and invasion ability, whereas miR-324-3p expression slightly increased BC cell growth and motility.

Conclusion

Our data indicated that miR-324-5p and miR-324-3p play oncogenic roles in BC cells. This finding provides a new insight into potential therapeutic targets or putative biomarkers of BC.

Anti-epileptic drugs associated with fractures in the elderly: a preliminary population-based study

OBJECTIVE

Although classic anti-epileptic drugs have been associated with increased fracture risk, data are lacking on the outcomes of newer anti-epileptic drugs, such as gabapentin (GBP), levetiracetam, pregabalin, oxcarbazepine (OXC), and topiramate. This study was designed to determine fracture risks in the elderly associated with newly-developed anti-epileptic drugs.

METHODS

A total of 2,169 patients (median age = 71.01 years, SD = 11.25 years) who experienced fractures between 2006 and 2013 were selected. For each case, age-, sex-, and comorbidity-matched controls were selected. The assessed clinical outcome was any fracture, and the use of anti-epileptic drugs was used as an exposure variable.

RESULTS

There were no differences in age, sex, or comorbidities between patients and controls, but patients with fractures often lived in urban areas (odds ratio [OR] = 1.17; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.05-1.29) and had low income (OR = 1.14; 95% CI = 1.01-1.29) compared to controls. A significant increase in fractures was associated with OXC (OR = 3.31; 95% CI = 1.59-6.92), carbamazepine (CBZ; OR = 2.18; 95% CI = 1.31-3.61), and GBP (OR = 1.79; 95% CI = 1.01-3.18). Phenobarbital (OR = 1.97; 95%CI = 0.53-7.34), phenytoin (OR = 0.52; 95% CI = 0.23-1.16), levetiracetam (OR = 1.84; 95% CI = 0.55-6.16), valproic acid (OR = 1.01; 95% CI = 0.53-1.92), lamotrigine (OR = 1.44; 95% CI = 0.12-16.65), and topiramate (OR = 0.47; 95% CI = 0.10-2.31) were not associated with fracture risk.

CONCLUSIONS

CBZ, GBP, and OXC users have a significantly higher risk of fracture. Most recently-developed anti-epileptic drugs are not associated with an increased risk of fracture in individuals aged ≥50 years.

Improvement of carbon tetrachloride-induced acute hepatic failure by transplantation of induced pluripotent stem cells without reprogramming factor c-Myc

The only curative treatment for hepatic failure is liver transplantation. Unfortunately, this treatment has several major limitations, as for example donor organ shortage. A previous report demonstrated that transplantation of induced pluripotent stem cells without reprogramming factor c-Myc (3-genes iPSCs) attenuates thioacetamide-induced hepatic failure with minimal incidence of tumorigenicity. In this study, we investigated whether 3-genes iPSC transplantation is capable of rescuing carbon tetrachloride (CCl₄)-induced fulminant hepatic failure and hepatic encephalopathy in mice. Firstly, we demonstrated that 3-genes iPSCs possess the capacity to differentiate into hepatocyte-like cells (iPSC-Heps) that exhibit biological functions and express various hepatic specific markers. 3-genes iPSCs also exhibited several antioxidant enzymes that prevented CCl₄-induced reactive oxygen species production and cell death. Intraperitoneal transplantation of either 3-genes iPSCs or 3-genes iPSC-Heps significantly reduced hepatic necrotic areas, improved hepatic functions, and survival rate in CCl₄-treated mice. CCl₄-induced hepatic encephalopathy was also improved by 3-genes iPSC transplantation. Hoechst staining confirmed the successful engraftment of both 3-genes iPSCs and 3-genes iPSC-Heps, indicating the homing properties of these cells. The most pronounced hepatoprotective effect of iPSCs appeared to originate from the highest antioxidant activity of 3-gene iPSCs among all transplanted cells. In summary, our findings demonstrated that 3-genes iPSCs serve as an available cell source for the treatment of an experimental model of acute liver diseases.

Inhibition of phosphorylated STAT3 by cucurbitacin I enhances chemoradiosensitivity in medulloblastoma-derived cancer stem cells

INTRODUCTION

CD133 (PROM1) is a potential marker for cancer stem cells (CSCs), including those found in brain tumors. Recently, medulloblastoma (MB)-derived CD133-positive cells were found to have CSC-like properties and were proposed to be important contributors to tumorigenicity, cancer progression, and chemoradioresistance. However, the biomolecular pathways and therapeutic targets specific to MB-derived CSCs remain unresolved.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

In the present study, we isolated CD133(+) cells from MB cell lines and determined that they showed increased tumorigenicity, radioresistance, and higher expression of both embryonic stem cell-related and drug resistance-related genes compared to CD133(-) cells. Bioinformatics analysis suggested that the STAT3 pathway might be important in MB and CD133(+) cells. To evaluate the effects of inhibiting the STAT3 pathway, MB-derived CD133(+/-) cells were treated with the potent STAT3 inhibitor, cucurbitacin I. Treatment with cucurbitacin I significantly suppressed the CSC-like properties and stemness gene signature of MB-derived CD133(+) cells. Furthermore, cucurbitacin I treatment increased the apoptotic sensitivity of MB-derived CD133(+) cells to radiation and chemotherapeutic drugs. Notably, cucurbitacin I demonstrated synergistic effects with ionizing radiation to inhibit tumorigenicity in MB-CD133(+)-inoculated mice.

RESULTS

These results indicate that the STAT3 pathway plays a key role in mediating CSC properties in MB-derived CD133(+) cells. Targeting STAT3 with cucurbitacin I may therefore represent a novel therapeutic approach for treating malignant brain tumors.

The effects of researcher-composed music at mealtime on agitation in nursing home residents with dementia

This study examined the effects of music at mealtimes on agitation in 22 nursing home residents with dementia. We used a pretest-posttest research design. We played researcher-composed music to residents at each of two mealtimes daily over a consecutive 4-week period. We observed and recorded agitation 24 hours daily for the 4-week period and the following 2-week period. Results revealed a significant decline in mean agitation scores. A cumulative dose effect and a short-term linger effect were observed. Findings suggest that soothing music may be beneficial in managing agitation in nursing home residents with dementia.

Reprogramming induced pluripotent stem cells in the absence of c-Myc for differentiation into hepatocyte-like cells

Induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) with four reprogramming factors (Oct-4/Sox2/Klf-4/c-Myc) have been shown to differentiate into hepatic lineages. However, it was unclear whether obviation of the c-Myc oncogene in iPSCs affected hepatic differentiation or inhibited in vivo tumor formation. In this study, we demonstrated that iPSCs without c-Myc had the capacity to differentiate into hepatocyte-like cells (iPSC-Heps) with biological functions. As detected using planar-radionuclide imaging and Hoechst labeling assays, these iPSCs and iPSC-Heps tended to mobilize to the injured liver area in thioacetamide (TAA)-treated mice. Intravenous transplantation of both iPSCs and iPSC-Heps but not mouse embryonic fibroblasts (MEFs) reduced the hepatic necrotic area, improved liver functions, and rescued TAA-treated mice from lethal acute hepatic failure (AHF). In addition, microarray-based bioinformatics and quantitative RT-PCR showed high expression of antioxidant genes in iPSCs and iPSC-Heps compared to MEFs. In vivo and in vitro studies of NAC pretreatment confirmed that iPSCs and iPSC-Heps potentially suppressed ROS production and activated antioxidant enzymes in TAA-injured livers. Six months after transplantation in TAA-treated mice, tumor formation was not seen in non-c-Myc iPSC grafts. Therefore, reprogramming adult somatic cells without c-Myc may prevent oxidative stress-induced damage and provide a safer alternative for hepatic regeneration in AHF.

Dysregulated apoptosis through the intrinsic pathway in the internal spermatic vein of patients with varicocele

BACKGROUND/PURPOSE

Apoptosis plays a critical role in various physiological processes. Varicocele is the most common cause of male infertility in adults. The dilated and thickened wall of the internal spermatic vein (ISV) in varicocele is considered similar to that in varicose veins. We investigated apoptotic protein expression in the ISV of varicocele, including Bcl-2, Fas, caspase-8 and caspase-9, to determine the intrinsic or extrinsic pathway.

METHODS

The study group consisted of 10 patients with grade 3 left varicocele. The control group consisted of 10 patients with left indirect inguinal hernia. A 1-cm section of ISV was resected, using left inguinal incision, from each patient in both groups. The ISV sections were used to detect the mediators that regulate the intrinsic (Bcl-2 and caspase-9) and extrinsic (Fas and caspase-8) apoptotic pathways, by immunoblotting and immunohistochemical staining. Results were analyzed using Student's t tests.

RESULTS

Bcl-2, Fas, caspase-8 and caspase-9 immunoblots from both groups revealed a single band. The relative intensities of the Bcl-2 and caspase-9 protein bands differed significantly between the varicocele and control groups. Thickening of the smooth muscle layer of the ISV was found in patients with varicocele compared with the control group. Bcl-2 overexpression and downregulation of caspase-9 expression were noted in the varicocele group. There was no significant difference in Fas or caspase-8 expression in either group.

CONCLUSION

We showed overexpression of Bcl-2 and downregulation of caspase-9 expression in the ISV under hypoxic stress. This indicated dysregulated apoptosis through the intrinsic pathway in the ISV of patients with varicocele. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study of the apoptotic pathway in the human ISV. Additional studies are needed to establish whether adjunctive hyperbaric oxygen therapy reduces the recurrence rate after varicocelectomy.

Cadmium concentration and metallothionein expression in prostate cancer and benign prostatic hyperplasia of humans

BACKGROUND/PURPOSE

Cadmium (Cd) causes various genitourinary disorders and is a carcinogen for prostate cancer. Metallothionein (MT) is a protein that detoxifies heavy metals. We evaluated changes in Cd concentration and MT expression in human prostate cancer (CaP) and benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). Our goal was to clarify the relationship between Cd concentration and MT expression in prostatic diseases.

METHODS

The experimental group consisted of 18 patients who underwent radical prostatectomy for CaP. The control group consisted of 35 patients who underwent transurethral resection of the prostate for BPH. Tissue samples were acquired from the gross tumor site and from resected chips. We determined Cd concentration by atomic absorption, MT expression by immunoblotting, and immunohistochemical staining. The significance of between-group differences for these outcomes was analyzed using Student's t tests.

RESULTS

There was no statistically significant difference in Cd concentration between the CaP and BPH groups. Immunoblots from both groups revealed a single band. The relative intensity of the MT band was 0.58 +/- 0.09 in the BPH group and 0.17 +/- 0.03 in the CaP group. MT expression in patients with BPH was 3.4-fold higher than in those with CaP.

CONCLUSION

MT may bind heavy metals and protect patients from CaP. Additional studies are needed to reveal the factors that influence the expression of MT in prostate epithelial cells, and to analyze the free and compound forms of Cd at the same time.

Cadmium accumulation and metallothionein overexpression in internal spermatic vein of patients with varicocele

OBJECTIVES

To determine the possible molecular mechanism for the thickened wall in the internal spermatic vein (ISV) of patients with varicocele, we examined the cadmium (Cd) content and metallothionein (MT) expression in these diseased vessels. Previous studies have shown that Cd might play a role in the etiology of varicocele-associated infertility. MT, a metal-binding protein, protects against cell apoptosis during hypoxia.

METHODS

The study group consisted of 20 patients with grade 3 left varicocele. The control group consisted of 15 volunteers with left-sided indirect inguinal hernia. Through a left inguinal incision, a 1-cm section of the ISV was resected from each patient to measure the Cd and MT levels. The results were analyzed using Student's t test.

RESULTS

The Cd content in the ISV was 59.84 +/- 5.7 ng/g in the control group and 192.1 +/- 24.2 ng/g in the varicocele group. The relative intensity of the MT band was 40.52 +/- 3.74 in the control group and 78.26 +/- 5.61 in the varicocele group. MT expression was greater in the varicocele group than in the control group, and its deposition in the vascular endothelial layer was predominant using immunohistochemistry staining and confocal laser scanning.

CONCLUSIONS

The results of the present study have demonstrated a greater accumulation of Cd in the ISV of the varicocele group than in the control group. The high Cd content and hypoxic conditions would induce overexpression of MT in the diseased vessels to protect the vascular cells from apoptosis. This might be a mechanism for the thickened wall of the ISV in patients with varicocele.

Involved intrinsic apoptotic pathway of testicular tissues in varicocele-induced rats

INTRODUCTION

Increased testicular germ cell apoptosis has been reported in varicocele-induced rats. We studied intrinsic or extrinsic pathway of apoptosis by detecting Bcl-2, caspase-9, caspase-8, and activated caspase-3 expressions in the bilateral testes of experimental varicocele-induced rats.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Experimental left varicocele (ELV) was created by partial ligation of left renal vein in a study group of 24 adult male Sprague-Dawley rats. The other 24 rats were as control group. Eight rats from each group were killed at 4, 8, and 12 weeks following varicocele creation. Testicular tissues of both groups were sampled for TUNEL assay and immunoblotting.

RESULTS

Increased apoptotic germ cell was found in the ipsilateral testis of varicocele group at 8 and 12 weeks after operation (P < 0.05). Increased activated caspase-3 expression in the contralateral (right) testis was noted at 12 weeks following varicocele creation (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

Our study demonstrates down-regulation of Bcl-2 expression and increased expressions of caspase-9 and activated caspase-3 in the ipsilateral testis of ELV rats at 8 and 12 weeks, indicating gradually increased testicular tissues apoptosis through the intrinsic pathway in varicocele-induced rats. Simultaneously, increased apoptosis in the contralateral testis was observed at 12 weeks (P < 0.05) following varicocele creation also.

Bcl-2 Overexpression in the Internal Spermatic Vein of Patients with Varicocele

BACKGROUND/PURPOSE

Varicocele is characterized by dilatation and tortuosity of the internal spermatic vein (ISV). Cross sections of ISV showed marked thickening of smooth muscle layer under microscopy. This study examined Bcl-2 (anti-apoptotic protein) expression in the ISV of patients with varicocele.

METHODS

The study group consisted of eight patients with left varicocele, grade 3. The control group consisted of six volunteers with left indirect inguinal hernia. Using a left inguinal surgical incision, a 1-cm section of ISV was resected from each patient in both groups as specimens for immunoblotting and immunohistochemical staining of Bcl-2. Results were analyzed using Student's t test.

RESULTS

Bcl-2 immunoblots from both groups revealed one single band. alpha-tubulin was used as loading control. The average relative intensity of the Bcl-2 was 25.82 +/- 10.53 in the control group and 113.49 +/- 27.49 in the varicocele group. Hematoxylin staining revealed a thickening ISV in the patients with varicocele, predominantly in the muscle layer, which was not found in the control group. Moreover, the intensity of Bcl-2 immunostaining was markedly higher in the study group than in the control group.

CONCLUSION

This study showed Bcl-2 overexpression in the ISV of patients with varicocele. Additional studies are necessary to clarify the molecular mechanisms of varicocele formation and recurrence.

Increased Expression of Hypoxia-Inducible Factor-1α in the Internal Spermatic Vein of Patients With Varicocele

PURPOSE

Varicocele is recognized as a cause of male infertility. Testis hypoxia may be one of the possible mechanisms of varicocele. We examined whether tissue hypoxia occurred in the ISV of patients with varicocele by detecting the expression of HIF-1alpha.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The study group consisted of 8 patients with grade 3 left varicocele. The control group consisted of 6 volunteers with left indirect inguinal hernia. Using a left inguinal surgical incision, a 1 cm section of ISV was resected from each patient in both groups as specimens for immunoblotting and immunohistochemical staining of HIF-1alpha. Results were analyzed using Student's t test.

RESULTS

HIF-1alpha immunoblots from both groups revealed a single band. The relative intensity of the HIF-1alpha protein band was 10.92 +/- 2.70 in the control group and 73.15 +/- 8.93 in patients with varicocele (ie 7-fold higher).

CONCLUSIONS

HIF-1alpha expression in the ISV of patients with varicocele was significantly higher than in the control group. This directly shows that hypoxia related pathophysiological changes have occurred in the ISV of patients with varicocele and that hypoxia may have also occurred in the testicular tissue. Thus, it would be of interest to investigate whether decreasing HIF-1alpha activation and testis hypoxia could reduce the recurrence of varicocele. To our knowledge, this is the first report on HIF-1alpha expression in human ISV. Additional studies will be necessary to clarify the relationship between testis hypoxia and male infertility in patients with varicocele.

Reducing the anxiety of surgical patient's families access short message service

This study was to build a web-based short messaging service (SMS) system in operating room. We approached the efficiency of SMS for patient's families during the time series (pre-, intra-, and post-operation). In this study, 322 participants received 685 text messages. The findings show the usability of SMS that applied to the clinical care, especially for reducing family anxiety, improved their satisfaction. Therefore, it is suggested to exploit the effectiveness of personal medical care.

A Web-based short messaging service system to enhance family-centered surgical patient care

The purpose of this study was to develop a web-based short messaging service (SMS) system in the operating room (OR). At the same time, we integrated and analyzed the limits of SMS in the OR. A cross-sectional study with quantitative methods and convenience sampling was used to gather data in this study. In the SMS project, we approached the content of SMS with operation diagnosis, patient sources and time series (pre-, intra-, and post-operation). We also default the contents of SMS by patient individual conditions. In this study, 177 participants received 346 text messages and 139 participants answered satisfaction questionnaires (78.53 %). The findings show the usability of SMS as applied to clinical care, especially for reducing family anxiety, for real time information, physician-patient communication, medical care processes and patient safety. Therefore, it is suggested to exploit the effectiveness of a personal medical care information database under global goal in the future and to develop comprehensive management of the surgical patient relationship.

Bilateral idiopathic infantile pyoceles: a case report

A 15-day-old infant was admitted to the 803 Military Hospital with swelling, bilateral erythematous changes, a tender firm mass in the scrotum and fever of six hours' duration. Scrotal sonography showed accumulated fluid with internal echoes in both hydrocele sacs. Aspirated fluid was found to contain Escherichia coli and bilateral scrotal pyoceles was diagnosed. The most common etiologic factor for this is meconium peritonitis, with surgical drainage being the necessary treatment. The case is reported, with a review of the literature.

Characterization and partial purification of bovine alpha-lactalbumin and beta-casein produced in milk of transgenic mice

Bovine alpha-lactalbumin (alpha-LA) and bovine beta-casein (beta-CN), from milk from transgenic mice were characterized and partially purified using electrophoretic, immunoblotting, and chromatographic methods. The transgenically expressed bovine milk proteins were identified using PAGE or by a combination of preparative isoelectrofocusing followed by Western immunoblotting. The heterologous bovine alpha-IA and bovine beta-CN had molecular masses that were identical to those of those of the native proteins. The estimated expression of the proteins was 1.0 mg/ml of milk for alpha-LA and 3.0 mg/ml for beta-CN. The calcium binding of bovine alpha-LA suggested that the protein produced in murine milk has the same electrophoretic shift as native bovine alpha-LA after the removal of calcium. Nitrogen-linked glycosylation of native and murine synthesized bovine alpha-LA was identified by peptide-N-glycosidase F treatment, and the N-terminal amino acid sequence of HPLC-purified bovine alpha-LA from mouse milk was confirmed to be identical to native bovine alpha-LA. In addition, the phosphorylation of the bovine beta-CN expressed in the milk of transgenic mice was the same as that of native bovine beta-CN, as determined by phosphatase digestion.

Pelvic inflammatory pseudotumor with central infectious abscess: a case report

Inflammatory pseudotumors (IPT) are a fascinating group of lesions which involve almost all organs and tissues of the body. The clinical manifestations are diverse. Final diagnosis can only be made by meticulous microscopic examination of different areas of the tumor. A 60 year-old woman had a pelvic IPT with central infectious abscess. The lesion involved her urinary bladder, mesentery, terminal ileum, right rudimentary ovary and the abdominal wall. It mimicked malignant tumor clinically, and led to total surgical excision. Early follow-up has shown a favorable results. IPTs are extremely uncommon. The characteristic pathologic picture is a reparative fibroblastic tissue infiltrated by polymorphic inflammatory cells. Pelvic IPT, admixed with central infectious abscess, is even rarer. Prior pelvic surgery and pasteurella hemolytica infection might be causative factors in this reported case.

Self-introduction of unusual foreign body into the urethra: a case report

An 89-year-old male developed chronic urinary retention for five days due to a lobster tentacle impacted in his penile urethra. Because the penile deformity and abscess formation, he received external urethrotomy with removal of foreign body and suprapubic urinary diversion. There was no psychiatric problem in this patient.

The extracellular matrix of the human optic nerve

The nerve fibers of the optic nerve are enclosed and segmented by extracellular matrix. With immunostains, we localized collagen types I through VI, laminin, and fibronectin in frozen sections of the extracellular matrix of the prelaminar, laminar, and retrolaminar human optic nerve. The internal limiting lamina of the optic nerve has an extracellular composition similar to the thicker adjacent retinal internal limiting lamina. We confirmed that the lamina cribrosa contains type IV collagen and laminin, whereas the sclera does not. The septa of the retrolaminar optic nerve appear as vascular inward extensions of the pia mater. The glial tube that lines the optic nerve extends forward from the retrolaminar optic nerve through the lamina cribrosa to end anteriorly at the retinal pigment epithelium. It does not separate the optic nerve from the adjacent sensory retina.