Other articles by Chien-Wen Chen on PubMed

• Thalidomide Reduces Lipopolysaccharide/zymosan-induced Acute Lung Injury in Rats Journal of Biomedical Science. Sep-Oct, 2004  |   Pubmed ID: 15316133 Pharmacological therapies targeting fulminant lung inflammation in acute lung injury (ALI) need to be improved. We evaluated the effect of thalidomide, a chemical modulating both acute and chronic inflammation, on ALI induced by intravenous administration of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and zymosan in male Sprague-Dawley rats. Injection of LPS and zymosan induced significant lung inflammation, as evidenced by increased neutrophil sequestration in lung tissue as well as enhanced nitric oxide metabolite (NO(x)(-)) production in the serum and bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) fluid. Lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) activity and protein concentration in BAL fluid were significantly increased after administration of LPS and zymosan. Pulmonary microvascular permeability was determined using the Evans blue retention method, which showed a significant increase in microvascular permeability after LPS and zymosan administration, indicating the development of ALI. Animals that received thalidomide (100 mg/kg) 2 h prior to LPS injection had significantly reduced pulmonary NO(x)(-) production, pulmonary microvascular permeability, and LDH activity and protein concentration in BAL fluid. We therefore conclude that thalidomide ameliorates lung inflammation and reduces ALI induced by combined LPS and zymosan administration in rats.
• Distinct Translation Regulation by Two Alternative 5'UTRs of a Stress-responsive Protein--dPrx I Journal of Biomedical Science. Oct, 2005  |   Pubmed ID: 16200348 Translation efficiency is often regulated in part by 5'-untranslated region (5'UTR). Sequence analysis of an evolutionarily conserved stress-responsive protein, Drosophila Peroxiredoxin I (dPrx I), found the transcript to have two alternative 5'UTRs that lead to an identical coding sequence: namely Ia and Ib. Although both isoforms coexisted in Drosophila cells, the Ia isoform appeared to be dominant. Furthermore, reporter assay found that Ia enhanced translation in steady-state cells while Ib increased translation in cells under oxidative stress. Together, our data suggest that the two alternative 5'UTRs of dPrx I may be involved in a translational regulatory mechanism that responds to cellular oxidative stress.
• Inhibition of Proinflammatory Tumor Necrosis Factor-{alpha}-induced Inducible Nitric-oxide Synthase by Xanthine-based 7-[2-[4-(2-chlorobenzene)piperazinyl]ethyl]-1,3-dimethylxanthine (KMUP-1) and 7-[2-[4-(4-nitrobenzene)piperazinyl]ethyl]-1, 3-dimethylxanthine (KMUP-3) in Rat Trachea: The Involvement of Soluble Guanylate Cyclase and Protein Kinase G Molecular Pharmacology. Sep, 2006  |   Pubmed ID: 16754782 In the study of anti-proinflammation by 7-[2-[4-(2-chlorobenzene)piperazinyl] ethyl]-1,3-dimethylxanthine (KMUP-1) and 7-[2-[4-(4-nitrobenzene)piperazinyl]ethyl]-1,3-dimethylxanthine (KMUP-3), exposure of rat tracheal smooth muscle cells (TSMCs) to tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha), a proinflammatory cytokine, increased the expression of inducible nitric-oxide synthase (iNOS) and NO production and decreased the expression of soluble guanylate cyclase alpha1 (sGCalpha1), soluble guanylate cyclase beta1 (sGCbeta1), protein kinase G (PKG), and the release of cGMP in TSMCs. The cell-permeable cGMP analog 8-Br-cGMP, xanthine-based KMUP-1 and KMUP-3, and the phosphodiesterase 5 inhibitor zaprinast all inhibited TNF-alpha-induced increases of iNOS expression and NO levels and reversed TNF-alpha-induced decreases of sGCalpha1, sGCbeta1, and PKG expression. These results imply that cGMP enhancers could have anti-proinflammatory potential in TSMCs. TNF-alpha also increased protein kinase A (PKA) expression and cAMP levels, cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) expression, and activated productions of prostaglandin (PG) E2 and 6-keto-PGF1alpha (stable PGI2 metabolite). Dexamethasone and N-[2-(cyclohexyloxyl)-4-nitrophenyl]-methane sulfonamide (NS-398; a selective COX-2 inhibitor) attenuated TNF-alpha-induced expression of COX-2 and activated productions PGE2 and PGI2. However, KMUP-1 and KMUP-3 did not affect COX-2 activities and did not further enhance cAMP levels in the presence of TNF-alpha. It is suggested that TNF-alpha-induced increases of PKA expression and cAMP levels are mediated by releasing PGE2 and PGI2, the activation products of COX-2. In conclusion, xanthine-based KMUP-1 and KMUP-3 inhibit TNF-alpha-induced expression of iNOS in TSMCs, involving the sGC/cGMP/PKG expression pathway but without the involvement of COX-2.
• Hemorrhage from an Enlarged Emphysematous Bulla During Commercial Air Travel Aviation, Space, and Environmental Medicine. Dec, 2006  |   Pubmed ID: 17183925 Pulmonary bullae are a common late complication in patients with emphysema. Non-communicating emphysematous bullae may expand during air travel when the ambient pressure is reduced, resulting in various forms of barotrauma including pneumothorax and air embolism. We report a 62-yr-old man with emphysema who developed hemoptysis during international commercial air travel. CT scan of the chest obtained after the travel showed air-fluid level in an enlarged bulla. He underwent resection of the bulla and had a full recovery. This is a unique presentation of stretch injury of a bulla as a form of pulmonary barotrauma occurring during commercial air travel. With the most recent ruling by the Federal Aviation Administration to allow patients with advanced chronic obstructive lung disease to travel by air with their own supplemental oxygen devices, physicians need to be aware of this type of pulmonary barotrauma and properly advise such patients who are planning to travel by air.
• Systemic Inflammation Caused by White Smoke Inhalation in a Combat Exercise Chest. Mar, 2008  |   Pubmed ID: 18198249 White smoke inhalation is an uncommon but potentially deadly cause of acute lung injury. No clinical spectrum or treatment protocol have been developed.
• Intravascular FC-77 Attenuates Phorbol Myristate Acetate-induced Acute Lung Injury in Isolated Rat Lungs Critical Care Medicine. Apr, 2008  |   Pubmed ID: 18379249 To evaluate whether intravascular Fluorinert (FC-77) attenuates phorbol myristate acetate (PMA)-induced acute lung injury in rats.
• Huntington's Disease: from Pathology and Genetics to Potential Therapies The Biochemical Journal. Jun, 2008  |   Pubmed ID: 18466116 Huntington's disease (HD) is a devastating autosomal dominant neurodegenerative disease caused by a CAG trinucleotide repeat expansion encoding an abnormally long polyglutamine tract in the huntingtin protein. Much has been learnt since the mutation was identified in 1993. We review the functions of wild-type huntingtin. Mutant huntingtin may cause toxicity via a range of different mechanisms. The primary consequence of the mutation is to confer a toxic gain of function on the mutant protein and this may be modified by certain normal activities that are impaired by the mutation. It is likely that the toxicity of mutant huntingtin is revealed after a series of cleavage events leading to the production of N-terminal huntingtin fragment(s) containing the expanded polyglutamine tract. Although aggregation of the mutant protein is a hallmark of the disease, the role of aggregation is complex and the arguments for protective roles of inclusions are discussed. Mutant huntingtin may mediate some of its toxicity in the nucleus by perturbing specific transcriptional pathways. HD may also inhibit mitochondrial function and proteasome activity. Importantly, not all of the effects of mutant huntingtin may be cell-autonomous, and it is possible that abnormalities in neighbouring neurons and glia may also have an impact on connected cells. It is likely that there is still much to learn about mutant huntingtin toxicity, and important insights have already come and may still come from chemical and genetic screens. Importantly, basic biological studies in HD have led to numerous potential therapeutic strategies.
• Differential Display of Grouper Iridovirus-infected Grouper Cells by Immunostaining Biochemical and Biophysical Research Communications. Aug, 2008  |   Pubmed ID: 18519026 Grouper iridovirus (GIV) is one of the most devastating infectious pathogens of aquaculture fish. When infecting a susceptible cell line, such as GK-2, GIV causes antigenic changes in host cellular proteins. To understand the host gene expression characteristics after viral infection, we developed an immunostaining method to screen differentially expressed genes of fish cells in response to GIV infection using phage display complementary DNA libraries. In total, 66 genes were identified from grouper kidney and brain cell lines. These genes are related to replication, transcription, translation, immunity, apoptosis, structure proteins, metabolism, energy, protein modification, and homeostasis. Four dynamic antigenic patterns were observed among these immunocloned genes upon GIV infection. Microarray analysis further confirmed the transcriptional patterns of 80% of the identified genes. This immunostaining screening method provides insights into a host's cellular protein response to viral infection on a translational basis.
• In Vitro Surface Reaction Layer Formation and Dissolution of Calcium Phosphate Cement-bioactive Glass Composites Biomedical Materials (Bristol, England). Sep, 2008  |   Pubmed ID: 18689928 Composites of hydrated calcium phosphate cement (CPC) and bioactive glass (BG) containing Si were immersed in vitro to study the effect of chemical composition on surface reaction layer formation and dissolution/precipitation behavior. The solutions used were 0.05 M tris hydroxymethyl aminomethane/HCl (tris buffer), tris buffer supplemented with plasma electrolyte (TE) with pH 7.4 at 37 degrees C, and this solution complemented with 10% newborn bovine serum (TES). The post-immersion solutions were analyzed for changes in Ca, PO(4) and Si concentrations. The reacted surfaces were analyzed using Fourier transform infrared (FTIR), and scanning electron microscopy with energy dispersive x-ray analysis. The sample weight variations after immersion were also determined. The results showed that the composition of the bioactive composite CPCs greatly affected their behavior in solution and the formation of apatite bioactive surface reaction layers. After immersion in the TE solution, Ca ions were taken up by all samples during the entire immersion duration. Initially, the P ion concentration increased sharply, and then decreased. This reaction pattern reveals the formation of an amorphous calcium phosphate layer on the surface of these composite CPCs. FTIR revealed that the layer was, in fact, poorly crystallized Ca-deficient carbonate apatite. The thickness of the layer was 12-14 microm and it was composed of rod-like apatite with directional arrangement. For immersion in the TES solution, the Ca and Si ion concentrations showed a similar behavior to that in TE, but the release rate of Si ions was higher. FTIR revealed that after TES immersion, not only did the typical, poorly crystallized, Ca-deficient carbonated apatite form, as it did in TE, but also the serum proteins co-adsorbed on the surface and thereby affected the surface reaction layer formation. A thinner apatite layer was formed and was composed of a micro-porous layer comprising rounded particles in a glue-like matrix. The addition of BG to the CPCs to create composite CPCs obviously is at the basis of this altered behavior of the cements. All data combined are useful for the design and optimization of degradable implant materials for use in bone tissue repair and regeneration procedures.
• A Perivascular Origin for Mesenchymal Stem Cells in Multiple Human Organs Cell Stem Cell. Sep, 2008  |   Pubmed ID: 18786417 Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs), the archetypal multipotent progenitor cells derived in cultures of developed organs, are of unknown identity and native distribution. We have prospectively identified perivascular cells, principally pericytes, in multiple human organs including skeletal muscle, pancreas, adipose tissue, and placenta, on CD146, NG2, and PDGF-Rbeta expression and absence of hematopoietic, endothelial, and myogenic cell markers. Perivascular cells purified from skeletal muscle or nonmuscle tissues were myogenic in culture and in vivo. Irrespective of their tissue origin, long-term cultured perivascular cells retained myogenicity; exhibited at the clonal level osteogenic, chondrogenic, and adipogenic potentials; expressed MSC markers; and migrated in a culture model of chemotaxis. Expression of MSC markers was also detected at the surface of native, noncultured perivascular cells. Thus, blood vessel walls harbor a reserve of progenitor cells that may be integral to the origin of the elusive MSCs and other related adult stem cells.
• Baicalin Attenuates Air Embolism-induced Acute Lung Injury in Rat Isolated Lungs British Journal of Pharmacology. May, 2009  |   Pubmed ID: 19309358 Baicalin has been reported to have anti-inflammatory effects and protect against various tissue injuries. However, the effect of baicalin on air embolism-induced acute lung injury has not been tested yet.
• Small Cell Lung Cancer Presenting As Ectopic ACTH Syndrome with Hypothyroidism and Hypogonadism Onkologie. Jul, 2009  |   Pubmed ID: 19556823 Small-cell lung cancer accounts for 15-20% of all lung cancers, and it is the cell type most commonly associated with paraneoplastic syndrome. Small-cell lung cancer presenting as ectopic adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) syndrome associated with hypothyroidism and hypogonadotropic hypogonadism is clinically very rare.
• Perivascular Multipotent Progenitor Cells in Human Organs Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences. Sep, 2009  |   Pubmed ID: 19796239 We have identified vascular pericytes in multiple human organs on expression of CD146, NG2, PDGF-Rbeta, and mesenchymal stem cell markers (CD44, CD73, CD90, CD105) and absence of blood, endothelial, and myogenic cell markers. Pericytes purified from all tissues were myogenic in culture and in vivo, sustained long-term culture during which they expressed markers of mesenchymal stem cells, and exhibited, at the clonal level, osteogenic, chondrogenic, and adipogenic potentials. These results suggest that human capillary and microvessel walls all over the organism harbor a reserve of progenitor cells that are at the origin of the elusive mesenchymal stem cells, so far identified only retrospectively in primary tissue cultures.
• Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome After Transcatheter Arterial Chemoembolization of Hepatocellular Carcinomas The American Journal of the Medical Sciences. Nov, 2009  |   Pubmed ID: 19826242 Acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) associated with pulmonary lipiodol embolism is a rare complication of transcatheter arterial chemoembolization (TACE). We performed a survey of ARDS associated with pulmonary lipiodol embolism after TACE.
• Hybrid Thin Films Derived from Poly(acrylic)/ Colloidal Silica/lanthanide Metal Complex Journal of Nanoscience and Nanotechnology. Jul, 2009  |   Pubmed ID: 19916406 In this study, poly(acrylic)/SiO2/EuL3 x 2H2O hybrid thin films were prepared from various acrylic monomers (MMA and EDMA/TMPTA), lanthanide metal complexs (EuL3 x 2H2O, L = pyridine carboxylic acid), and monodispersed colloidal silica with a coupling agent, 3-(trimethoxysilyl)propyl methacrylate (MSMA). It was a combination of the sol-gel reaction, thermal polymerization, and spin coating. The EuL3 x 2H2O content in the hybrid thin films was fixed at 0.05 g and silica content was varied from 10 to 50 wt%. TEM results showed that both SiO2 and EuL3 x 2H2O were well dispersed in the hybrid thin films without aggregation. PL spectra showed the unique emission of Eu3+. The addition of SiO2 made the compounds of Eu3+ disperse better and diminished the effect of concentration quenching. UV-Vis spectra and n&k analysis showed that the hybrid thin films had good transparency in visible light. Besides, the refractive index of hybrid thin films could be effectively controlled through the different ratio of SiO2 to EuL3 x 2H2O. TGA and DSC analysis indicated that the temperature of pyrolysis and T(g) increased with the increase in the SiO2 content. The results of SEM, SCMS, and AFM also showed that the hybrid thin films which prepared from the poly-functional acrylate had a flatter surface than those obtained from the single functional acrylate.
• Synthesis and Characterization of Polyimide/monodispersed Colloidal Silica Hybrid Thin Films Journal of Nanoscience and Nanotechnology. Jul, 2009  |   Pubmed ID: 19916420 In this study, two types of the polyimide-silica hybrid thin films, 6FDA-ODA/SiO2 (FS0-FS50) and PMDA-ODA/SiO2 (PS0-PS40), with different silica content were synthesized by using the sol-gel method. TGA analysis showed that the thermal decomposition temperatures (T(d)) of FS and PS hybrid films were in the range of 457-505 degrees C and 458-516 degrees C, respectively. The T(d) increased with increasing the silica content. The measurement of contact angle and FTIR indicated that the hydrophilic and hydrolytic abilities were significantly improved when the silica content increased. The contact angle of PS0-PS40 films was in the range of 80.3-51.8 degrees. UV-Vis spectra showed that the cutoff wavelength of prepared hybrid films could be tunable through the silica content. The n&k analysis showed that the refractive index (n) of FS and PS hybrid films were in the range of 1.60-1.49 and 1.76-1.59, respectively, which could be controlled by the silica content. The extinction coefficients (k) are almost zero in the wavelength range of 300-900 nm, indicating the prepared hybrid films have an excellent optical transparency in the UV and visible region. TEM images showed that the particle size of silica in the hybrid thin films could be effectively controlled under sufficient content of coupling agent. Moreover, the results of SEM and AFM showed that the ratios of average roughness to thickness for all the prepared hybrid films were under 1.6%. It demonstrated that the prepared polyimide-silica hybrid thin films have an excellent film formability and planarity.
• Perivascular Multi-lineage Progenitor Cells in Human Organs: Regenerative Units, Cytokine Sources or Both? Cytokine & Growth Factor Reviews. Oct-Dec, 2009  |   Pubmed ID: 19926515 Multi-lineage progenitors, e.g. mesenchymal stem cells, persist in adult developed organs, making a windfall for the cell therapist but an enigma for stem cell biologists. Recent results from our own and other laboratories show that the ancestor of these elusive adult stem cells is likely to be found in the perivascular area, explaining the ubiquitous distribution of these cells in the body. We have prospectively identified and purified vascular pericytes in multiple human organs and shown that these cells are potent mesodermal progenitors that give rise to genuine mesenchymal stem cells in culture. Pericytes can differentiate into diverse cell lineages, but also secrete multiple paracrine growth factors/cytokines, which likely explains in part their robust regenerative potential.
• Tracheo-oesophageal Fistula in a Patient with Oesophageal Squamous Cell Carcinoma BMJ Case Reports. 2009  |   Pubmed ID: 21686595
• Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome After Zinc Chloride Inhalation: Survival After Extracorporeal Life Support and Corticosteroid Treatment American Journal of Critical Care : an Official Publication, American Association of Critical-Care Nurses. Jan, 2010  |   Pubmed ID: 19304566 No standard protocol exists for the treatment of acute respiratory distress syndrome induced by inhalation of smoke from a smoke bomb. In this case, a 23-year-old man was exposed to smoke from a smoke grenade for approximately 10 to 15 minutes without protective breathing apparatus. Acute respiratory distress syndrome developed subsequently, complicated by bilateral pneumothorax and pneumomediastinum 48 hours after inhalation. Despite mechanical ventilation and bilateral tube thoracostomy, the patient was severely hypoxemic 4 days after hospitalization. His condition improved upon treatment with high-dose corticosteroids, an additional 500-mg dose of methylprednisolone, and the initiation of extracorporeal life support. Arterial oxygenation decreased gradually after abrupt tapering of the corticosteroid dose and discontinuation of the life support. On day 16 of hospitalization, the patient experienced progressive deterioration of arterial oxygenation despite the intensive treatment. The initial treatment regimen (ie, corticosteroids and extracorporeal life support) was resumed, and the patient's arterial oxygenation improved. The patient survived.
• Involuntary Cough Strength and Extubation Outcomes for Patients in an ICU Chest. Apr, 2010  |   Pubmed ID: 20097804 Removing the artificial airway is the last step in the mechanical ventilation withdrawal process. In order to assess cough effectiveness, a critical component of this process, we evaluated the involuntary cough peak flow (CPFi) to predict the extubation outcome for patients weaned from mechanical ventilation in ICUs.
• Correlation Between the %MinVol Setting and Work of Breathing During Adaptive Support Ventilation in Patients with Respiratory Failure Respiratory Care. Mar, 2010  |   Pubmed ID: 20196884 Adaptive support ventilation (ASV) is a new mode of mechanical ventilation that seeks an optimal breathing pattern based on the minimum work of breathing (WOB) principle. The operator's manual for the ventilators that provide ASV recommends that the %MinVol setting be started at 100% (the 100%MinVol setting), but it is unclear whether that setting reduces WOB in patients with respiratory failure.
• Laparoscopic Resection of an Ovarian Strumal Carcinoid Tumor with Dramatic Relief of Severe Constipation Journal of Minimally Invasive Gynecology. Mar-Apr, 2010  |   Pubmed ID: 20226417 Primary ovarian strumal carcinoid tumors associated with severe constipation are extremely rare. A woman with acquired constipation was suspected to have a right ovarian strumal carcinoid tumor preoperatively. The severe constipation was relieved dramatically after successful laparoscopic resection of the tumor. The correlation between constipation and a gut hormone, peptide YY, is discussed.
• Erythropoietin Activates Mitochondrial Biogenesis and Couples Red Cell Mass to Mitochondrial Mass in the Heart Circulation Research. Jun, 2010  |   Pubmed ID: 20395592 Erythropoietin (EPO) is often administered to cardiac patients with anemia, particularly from chronic kidney disease, and stimulation of erythropoiesis may stabilize left ventricular and renal function by recruiting protective effects beyond the correction of anemia.
• Perivascular Ancestors of Adult Multipotent Stem Cells Arteriosclerosis, Thrombosis, and Vascular Biology. Jun, 2010  |   Pubmed ID: 20453168 Independent studies by numerous investigators have shown that it is possible to harvest multipotent progenitor cells from diverse dissociated and cultured fetal, perinatal, and principally adult developed tissues. Despite the increasingly recognized medical value of these progenitor cells, the archetype of which remains the mesenchymal stem cell, this indirect extraction method has precluded the understanding of their native identity, tissue distribution, and frequency. Consistent with other researchers, we have hypothesized that blood vessels in virtually all organs harbor ubiquitous stem cells. We have identified, marked, and sorted to homogeneity by flow cytometry endothelial and perivascular cells in a large selection of human fetal, perinatal, and adult organs. Perivascular cells, including pericytes in the smallest blood vessels and adventitial cells around larger ones, natively express mesenchymal stem cell markers and produce in culture a long-lasting progeny of multilineage mesodermal progenitor cells. Herein, we review results from our and other laboratories that suggest a perivascular origin for mesenchymal stem cells and other adult progenitor cells. Recent experiments illustrate the therapeutic potential of human pericytes to regenerate skeletal muscle and promote functional recovery in the diseased heart and kidney.
• α-Synuclein Impairs Macroautophagy: Implications for Parkinson's Disease The Journal of Cell Biology. Sep, 2010  |   Pubmed ID: 20855506 Parkinson's disease (PD) is characterized pathologically by intraneuronal inclusions called Lewy bodies, largely comprised of α-synuclein. Multiplication of the α-synuclein gene locus increases α-synuclein expression and causes PD. Thus, overexpression of wild-type α-synuclein is toxic. In this study, we demonstrate that α-synuclein overexpression impairs macroautophagy in mammalian cells and in transgenic mice. Our data show that α-synuclein compromises autophagy via Rab1a inhibition and Rab1a overexpression rescues the autophagy defect caused by α-synuclein. Inhibition of autophagy by α-synuclein overexpression or Rab1a knockdown causes mislocalization of the autophagy protein, Atg9, and decreases omegasome formation. Rab1a, α-synuclein, and Atg9 all regulate formation of the omegasome, which marks autophagosome precursors.
• Synthesis and Characterization of Polyimide-based Hybrid Thin Films from a Novel Colloidal Core-shell Nanocomposite Particles Journal of Nanoscience and Nanotechnology. Aug, 2010  |   Pubmed ID: 21125898 In this study, poly(4,4-(hexafluoroisopropylidenediphthalic anhydride)-co-oxydianiline) (6FDA-ODA) and a novel core-shell nanoparticle consisting of a core (SnO2/TiO2) and a shell (ZrO2/Sb2O3) with the composition (SnO2:TiO2:ZrO2:Sb2O3 = 18:5:3:4) were used to prepare polyimide/nanoparticles hybrid thin films. The resultant hybrid thin films were investigated by FTIR, TGA, DSC, TEM, SEM, AFM, alpha-step, UV-Vis, and n&k analyses. The results show that the prepared hybrid thin films had a good thermal stability. The size of nanoparticles was effectively controlled in the range of 8-10 nm in the hybrid thin films. These nanoparticles were evenly distributed across the hybrid thin films and no phase separation occurred. In terms of the optical properties, the prepared hybrid thin films had good transparency in the range of visible light. The cutoff wavelength had a blue shift as the content of the nanoparticles increased. The refractive index of prepared hybrid thin films increased with corresponding increases in nanoparticle content. Moreover, the prepared polyimide/core-shell nanoparticle hybrid thin films displayed excellent film formability and planarity.
• Preparation of Poly(acrylic)/SiO2/EuL3 X 2H2O, Hybrid Thin Films from Monodispersed Colloidal Silica Journal of Nanoscience and Nanotechnology. Aug, 2010  |   Pubmed ID: 21125899 In this study, poly(acrylic)/SiO2/EuL3 x 2H2O hybrid thin films were prepared from various acrylic monomers (MMA and EDMA/TMPTA), lanthanide metal complexes (EuL3 x 2H2O, L = pyridine carboxylic acid), and monodispersed colloidal silica with a coupling agent, 3-(trimethoxysilyl)propyl methacrylate (MSMA). It is a combination of the sol-gel reaction, thermal polymerization, and spin coating. The silica content in the hybrid thin films is fixed at 20 wt%, and the EuL3 x 2H2O content is varied from 0.01 g to 0.07 g. FTIR and EA analysis confirms the chemical structure of the prepared EuL3 x 2H2O and poly(acrylic)/SiO2/EuL3 x 2H2O hybrid thin films. UV-Vis spectra and n&k analysis shows that the hybrid thin film has good transparency in visible light. The refractive index of hybrid thin films can be effectively controlled through the EuL3 x 2H2O content. The PL spectra shows that the strongest emission peak occurs at 615 nm and the emission intensity increases to the peak maximum at an EuL3 x 2H2O content of 0.05 g. Both TGA and PL analysis show that the prepared hybrid thin films from the crosslinked acrylic polymer moiety have much better film uniformity, thermal stability, and fluorescence properties. The TEM diagram shows that the MSMA/SiO2/EuL3 x 2H2O particles with a size 15-20 nm are well dispersed in the reaction solution. The SEM diagram shows that the particle distribution in the prepared hybrid thin films is uniform and no phase separation is observed. Finally, AFM analysis indicates that the prepared hybrid thin films have an excellent surface planarity.
• Controlling Pore Morphology and Properties of Nanoporous Silica Films Using the Different Architecture PS-b-P2VP As a Template Journal of Nanoscience and Nanotechnology. Jul, 2010  |   Pubmed ID: 21128459 Nanoporous silica films were prepared through the templating of amphiphilic block copolymer, poly(styrene-2-vinyl pyridine) (PS-b-P2VP), and monodispersed colloidal silica nanoparticles. The experimental and theoretical studies suggested that the intermolecular hydrogen bonding existes between the colloidal silica nanoparticles and PS-b-P2VP. The effects of the loading ratio and P2VP chain length on the morphology and properties of the prepared nanoporous silica films were investigated. TEM and AFM studies showed that the uniform pore size could be achieved and the pore size increased with increasing porogen loading. The refractive index and dielectric constant of the prepared nanoporous films decreased with an increase in PS-b-P2VP loading. On the other hand, the porosity increased with an increasing PS-b-P2VP loading. This study demonstrated a methodology to control pore morphology and properties of the nanoporous silica films through the templating of PS-b-P2VP.
• Five-day Course of Budesonide Inhalation Suspension is As Effective As Oral Prednisolone in the Treatment of Mild to Severe Acute Asthma Exacerbations in Adults Pulmonary Pharmacology & Therapeutics. Apr, 2011  |   Pubmed ID: 20659578 Limited evidence is available on the use of budesonide inhalation suspension (BIS) for the treatment of mild to severe acute asthma exacerbations (AAE) in adults in an inpatient setting. This study was conducted to evaluate the efficacy of a five-day course of BIS compared with oral prednisolone (OP) in the management of adults with AAE.
• Surface Modification of Poly(ε-caprolactone) Porous Scaffolds Using Gelatin Hydrogel As the Tracheal Replacement Journal of Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine. Feb, 2011  |   Pubmed ID: 20662011 This study evaluates the feasibility of poly(ε-caprolactone) as a tracheal replacement. To improve biocompatibility, the lumen was modified by gelatin hydrogel crosslinked with two different reagents, EDC and genipin. It was found that the choice of crosslinking agents could significantly affect human lung carcinoma cell proliferation. Genipin-crosslinked gelatin hydrogel had significantly better cell proliferation than EDC-crosslinked hydrogel. The study further investigated the performance of the PCL tube modified by genipin-crosslinked gelatin, using a rabbit tracheal implantation model with implants harvested and histologically examined. In vivo results showed that the PCL tube possessed suitable mechanical properties for resisting collapse during implantation. Additionally, PCL modified by genipin-crosslinked gelatin was found to suppress granulation tissue growth and prolong animal survival time in comparison with the original PCL tube. Genipin could be an effective treatment to reduce granulation tissue formation at the tracheal anastomoses.
• Placental Perivascular Cells for Human Muscle Regeneration Stem Cells and Development. Mar, 2011  |   Pubmed ID: 20923371 Perivascular multipotent mesenchymal progenitors exist in a variety of tissues, including the placenta. Here, we suggest that the abundant vasculature present in the human placenta can serve as a source of myogenic cells to regenerate skeletal muscle. Chorionic villi dissected from the mid-gestation human placenta were first transplanted intact into the gastrocnemius muscles of SCID/mdx mice, where they participated in muscle regeneration by producing myofibers expressing human dystrophin and spectrin. In vitro-cultured placental villi released rapidly adhering and migratory CD146+CD34⁻CD45⁻CD56⁻ cells of putative perivascular origin that expressed mesenchymal stem cell markers. CD146+CD34⁻CD45⁻CD56⁻ perivascular cells isolated and purified from the placental villi by flow cytometry were indeed highly myogenic in culture, and generated dystrophin-positive myofibers, and they promoted angiogenesis after transplantation into SCID/mdx mouse muscles. These observations confirm the existence of mesenchymal progenitor cells within the walls of human blood vessels, and suggest that the richly vascularized human placenta is an abundant source of perivascular myogenic cells able to migrate within dystrophic muscle and regenerate myofibers.
• Lentivirus-mediated Wnt11 Gene Transfer Enhances Cardiomyogenic Differentiation of Skeletal Muscle-derived Stem Cells Molecular Therapy : the Journal of the American Society of Gene Therapy. Apr, 2011  |   Pubmed ID: 21304494 Wnt signaling plays a crucial role in regulating cell proliferation, differentiation and inducing cardiomyogenesis. Skeletal muscle-derived stem cells (MDSCs) have been shown to be multipotent; however, their potential to aid in the healing of the heart after myocardial infarction appears to be due to the paracrine effects they impart on the host environment. The goal of this study was to investigate whether Wnt11 could promote the differentiation of MDSCs into cardiomyocytes and enhance the repair of infarcted myocardium. MDSCs transduced with a lentivirus encoding for Wnt11 increased mRNA and protein expression of the early cardiac markers NK2 transcription factor related 5 (NKx2.5) and Connexin43 (Cx43) and also led to an increased expression of late-stage cardiac markers including: α, β-myosin heavy chain (MHC) and brain natriuretic protein (BNP) at the mRNA level, and MHC and Troponin I (TnI) at the protein level. We also observed that Wnt11 expression significantly enhanced c-jun N-terminal kinase activity in transduced MDSCs, and that some of the cells beat spontaneously but are not fully differentiated cardiomyocytes. Finally, lentivirus-Wnt11-transduced MDSCs showed greater survival and cardiac differentiation after being transplanted into acutely infarct-injured myocardium. These findings could one day lead to strategies that could be utilized in cardiomyoplasty treatments of myocardial infarction.
• Effects of Implementing Adaptive Support Ventilation in a Medical Intensive Care Unit Respiratory Care. Jul, 2011  |   Pubmed ID: 21352661 Adaptive support ventilation (ASV) facilitates ventilator liberation in postoperative patients in surgical intensive care units (ICU). Whether ASV has similar benefits in patients with acute respiratory failure is unclear.
• Multilineage Stem Cells in the Adult: a Perivascular Legacy? Organogenesis. Apr-Jun, 2011  |   Pubmed ID: 21593599 Mesenchymal stem cells proliferate extensively in cultures of unselected, total cell isolates from multiple fetal and adult organs. Perivascular cells, principally pericytes surrounding capillaries and microvessels, but also adventitial cells located around larger arteries and veins, have been recently identified as possible originators of mesenchymal stem cells, first by phenotypic analogies and eventually following stringent cell sorting. While it is clear that purified perivascular cells exhibit multiple mesodermal developmental potentials and become indistinguishable from conventionally derived mesenchymal stem cells after in vitro culture, the possible roles played by these blood vessel-bound cells in organogenesis and adult tissue repair remain elusive. Unsolved questions regarding the identity of mesenchymal stem cells have not compromised the consideration of these cells as outstanding candidates for cell therapies. Better knowledge of the lineage affiliation, tissue distribution and molecular identity of mesenchymal stem cells will contribute to the development of more efficient, safer therapeutic cells.
• Antioxidant Activity of Ixora Parviflora in a Cell/cell-free System and in UV-exposed Human Fibroblasts Molecules (Basel, Switzerland). Jul, 2011  |   Pubmed ID: 21734630 Polyphenols and flavonoids possess a variety of biological activities including antioxidant and anti-tumor activities. Ixora parviflora is a member of the flavonoid-rich Rubiaceae family of flowering plants and used as folk medicine in India. The aim of this study was to investigate the antioxidant activity of Ixora parviflora extract (IPE) in a cell-free system and erythrocytes, and the ability of IPE to inhibit reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation in human fibroblasts (Hs68) after ultraviolet (UV) exposure. Various in vitro antioxidant assays were employed in this study. The extraction yield of IPE was 17.4 ± 3.9%, the total phenolic content of IPE was 26.2 μg gallic acid equivalent (GAE)/mg leaves dry weight and the total flavonoids content was 54.2 ± 4.4 μg quercetin equvalent (QE)/mg extract. The content of chlorogenic acid was 9.7 ± 1.2 mg/g extract. IPE at 1000 μg/mL exhibited a reducing capacity of 90.5 ± 0.6%, a 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazy (DPPH) radical scavenging activity of 96.0 ± 0.4%, a ferrous chelating activity of 72.2 ± 3.5%, a hydroxyl radical scavenging activity of 96.8 ± 1.4%, and a hydrogen peroxide scavenging activity of 99.5 ± 3.3%. IPE at 500 μg/mL also possessed inhibitory activity against 2,2'-azobis (2-methylpropionamidine) dihydrochloride (AAPH)-induced hemolysis of erythrocytes (89.4 ± 1.8%) and resulted in a 52.9% reduction in ROS generation in UV-exposed fibroblasts. According to our findings, IPE is a potent antioxidant and a potential anti-photoaging agent.
• Injectable Fibroblast Growth Factor-2 Coacervate for Persistent Angiogenesis Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America. Aug, 2011  |   Pubmed ID: 21808045 Enhancing the maturity of the newly formed blood vessels is critical for the success of therapeutic angiogenesis. The maturation of vasculature relies on active participation of mural cells to stabilize endothelium and a basal level of relevant growth factors. We set out to design and successfully achieved robust angiogenesis using an injectable polyvalent coacervate of a polycation, heparin, and fibroblast growth factor-2 (FGF2). FGF2 was loaded into the coacervate at nearly 100% efficiency. In vitro assays demonstrated that the matrix protected FGF2 from proteolytic degradations. FGF2 released from the coacervate was more effective in the differentiation of endothelial cells and chemotaxis of pericytes than free FGF2. One injection of 500 ng of FGF2 in the coacervate elicited comprehensive angiogenesis in vivo. The number of endothelial and mural cells increased significantly, and the local tissue contained more and larger blood vessels with increased circulation. Mural cells actively participated during the whole angiogenic process: Within 7 d of the injection, pericytes were recruited to close proximity of the endothelial cells. Mature vasculature stabilized by vascular smooth muscle cells persisted till at least 4 wk. On the other hand, bolus injection of an identical amount of free FGF2 induced weak angiogenic responses. These results demonstrate the potential of polyvalent coacervate as a new controlled delivery platform.
• The Tunica Adventitia of Human Arteries and Veins As a Source of Mesenchymal Stem Cells Stem Cells and Development. May, 2012  |   Pubmed ID: 21861688 We previously demonstrated that human pericytes, which encircle capillaries and microvessels, give rise in culture to genuine mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs). This raised the question as to whether all MSC are derived from pericytes. Pericytes and other cells defined on differential expression of CD34, CD31, and CD146 were sorted from the stromal vascular fraction of human white adipose tissue. Besides pericytes, CD34+ CD31- CD146- CD45- cells, which reside in the outmost layer of blood vessels, the tunica adventitia, natively expressed MSC markers and gave rise in culture to clonogenic multipotent progenitors identical to standard bone marrow-derived MSC. Despite common MSC features and developmental properties, adventitial cells and pericytes retain distinct phenotypes and genotypes through culture. However, in the presence of growth factors involved in vascular remodeling, adventitial cells acquire a pericytes-like phenotype. In conclusion, we demonstrate the co-existence of 2 separate perivascular MSC progenitors: pericytes in capillaries and microvessels and adventitial cells around larger vessels.
• Isolation of Myogenic Stem Cells from Cultures of Cryopreserved Human Skeletal Muscle Cell Transplantation. 2012  |   Pubmed ID: 22472558 We demonstrate that subpopulations of adult human skeletal muscle-derived stem cells, myogenic endothelial cells (MECs), and perivascular stem cells (PSCs) can be simultaneously purified by fluorescence-activated cell sorting (FACS) from cryopreserved human primary skeletal muscle cell cultures (cryo-hPSMCs). For FACS isolation, we utilized a combination of cell lineage markers: the myogenic cell marker CD56, the endothelial cell marker UEA-1 receptor (UEA-1R), and the perivascular cell marker CD146. MECs expressing all three cell lineage markers (CD56(+)UEA-1R(+)CD146(+)/CD45(-)) and PSCs expressing only CD146 (CD146(+)/CD45(-)CD56(-)UEA-1R(-)) were isolated by FACS. To evaluate their myogenic capacities, the sorted cells, with and without expansion in culture, were transplanted into the cardiotoxin-injured skeletal muscles of immunodeficient mice. The purified MECs exhibited the highest regenerative capacity in the injured mouse muscles among all cell fractions tested, while PSCs remained superior to myoblasts and the unpurified primary skeletal muscle cells. Our findings show that both MECs and PSCs retain their high myogenic potentials after in vitro expansion, cryopreservation, and FACS sorting. The current study demonstrates that myogenic stem cells are prospectively isolatable from long-term cryopreserved primary skeletal muscle cell cultures. We emphasize the potential application of this new approach to extract therapeutic stem cells from human muscle cells cryogenically banked for clinical purposes.
• Human Blood-vessel-derived Stem Cells for Tissue Repair and Regeneration Journal of Biomedicine & Biotechnology. 2012  |   Pubmed ID: 22500099 Multipotent stem/progenitor cells with similar developmental potentials have been independently identified from diverse human tissue/organ cultures. The increasing recognition of the vascular/perivascular origin of mesenchymal precursors suggested blood vessels being a systemic source of adult stem/progenitor cells. Our group and other laboratories recently isolated multiple stem/progenitor cell subsets from blood vessels of adult human tissues. Each of the three structural layers of blood vessels: intima, media, and adventitia has been found to include at least one precursor population, that is, myogenic endothelial cells (MECs), pericytes, and adventitial cells (ACs), respectively. MECs and pericytes efficiently regenerate myofibers in injured and dystrophic skeletal muscles as well as improve cardiac function after myocardial infarction. The applications of ACs in vascular remodeling and angiogenesis/vasculogenesis have been examined. Our recent finding that MECs and pericytes can be purified from cryogenically banked human primary muscle cell culture further indicates their potential applications in personalized regenerative medicine.
• Transcriptional Analysis of Orange-spotted Grouper Reacting to Experimental Grouper Iridovirus Infection Developmental and Comparative Immunology. Jun, 2012  |   Pubmed ID: 22504162 Disease caused by grouper iridovirus (GIV) has resulted in economic losses due to high mortality in grouper culture. Thirty-eight up- and 48 down-regulated known entities have been identified using a GIV-infected grouper kidney cDNA microarray chip. Further quantitative validation was executed in the head-kidney and spleen for 24 candidate genes and 7 immune factors following GIV inoculation. Significant induction with various patterns could be seen in 30 tested genes in the spleen. However, only 23 genes had induction in the head-kidney and meanwhile 5 genes showed reduction. Transcriptional expression profiles of selected genes in response to lipopolysaccharide (LPS) or polyinosinic:polycytidylic acid (PIC) were also established to compare with the GIV-stimulated expression. The results indicated that the responses of most genes facing GIV invasion have more similarities to PIC treatment than LPS. Seven genes are thought to be interferon-related factors: RNA helicase DHX58, ISG15, viperin, HECT E3 ligase (HECT), CD9, urokinase plasminogen activator surface receptor (PLAUR) and Mx-1. Following immunization with inactivated GIV, significant induction could be seen in DHX58, viperin, IL-1β, IL-8, COX-2, HECT, PLAUR, IgM, Mx-1, very large inducible GTPase-1 (VLIG1) and TNF-α in the head-kidney or spleen, and the latter 6 genes also had a gradual increasing pattern by a boosting immunization. These factors might play important roles in adaptive antiviral protection. Thus, we have characterized the temporal response patterns of virus responsive genes and have also identified several potential immune markers to further investigate host antiviral defense mechanisms.
• Nanohybrids of Silver Particles Immobilized on Silicate Platelet for Infected Wound Healing PloS One. 2012  |   Pubmed ID: 22693632 Silver nanoparticles supported on nanoscale silicate platelets (AgNP/NSP) possess interesting properties, including a large surface area and high biocide effectiveness. The nanohybrid of AgNP/NSP at a weight ratio 7/93 contains 5-nm Ag particles supported on the surface of platelets with dimensions of approximately 80×80×1 nm(3). The nanohybrid expresses a trend of lower cytotoxicity at the concentration of 8.75 ppm Ag and low genotoxicity. Compared with conventional silver ions and the organically dispersed AgNPs, the nanohybrid promotes wound healing. We investigated overall wound healing by using acute burn and excision wound healing models. Tests on both infected wound models of mice were compared among the AgNP/NSP, polymer-dispersed AgNPs, the commercially available Aquacel, and silver sulfadiazine. The AgNP/NSP nanohybrid was superior for wound appearance, but had similar wound healing rates, vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF)-A levels and transforming growth factor (TGF)-β1 expressions to Aquacel and silver sulfadiazine.
• Intravenous Immunoglobulin Replacement Therapy to Prevent Pulmonary Infection in a Patient with Good's Syndrome Journal of Microbiology, Immunology, and Infection = Wei Mian Yu Gan Ran Za Zhi. Nov, 2012  |   Pubmed ID: 23200552 Good's syndrome is an acquired immunodeficiency state associated with thymoma and characterized by recurrent pulmonary infections. We describe a 67-year-old woman who presented with respiratory symptoms caused by concomitant disseminated cytomegalovirus infection and Pneumocystis jiroveci pneumonia 38 months after thymectomy for a thymoma. Immunologic analysis revealed hypogammaglobulinemia with absent B-cell population as demonstrated by flow cytometry, consistent with Good's syndrome. Following treatment with sulfamethoxazole/trimethoprim and ganciclovir, the patient improved with resolution of her respiratory symptoms. However, the patient subsequently experienced additional infections, necessitating additional subsequent hospital admissions. During the last admission, intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) replacement therapy was initiated and continued after discharge. Infection has been prevented for one year after beginning IVIG replacement therapy. This case reveals that in patients with combined humoral and cell-mediated immune deficiency, concomitant infection with different pathogens is not unusual, and immediate specific therapy is important. Periodic IVIG infusion, to maintain adequate Ig levels, is recommended.
• BMP2 is Superior to BMP4 for Promoting Human Muscle Derived-stem Cell Mediated Bone Regeneration in a Critical Size Calvarial Defect Model Cell Transplantation. Nov, 2012  |   Pubmed ID: 23244588 Muscle-derived cells have been successfully isolated using a variety of different methods and have been shown to possess multilineage differentiation capacities, including an ability to differentiate into articular cartilage and bone in vivo; however, the characterization of human muscle-derived stem cells (hMDSCs) and their bone regenerative capacities, have not been fully investigated. Genetic modification of these cells may enhance their osteogenic capacity which could potentially be applied for bone regenerative therapies. We found that hMDSCs, isolated by the preplate technique, consistently expressed the myogenic marker CD56, pericyte/endothelial cell marker CD146, mesenchymal stem cell markers CD73, CD90, CD105, CD44, but did not express the hematopoietic stem cell marker CD45, and they could undergo osteogenic, chondrogenic, adipogenic and myogenic differentiation in vitro. In order to investigate the osteoinductive potential of hMDSCs, we constructed a retroviral vector expressing BMP4 and GFP, and a lentiviral vector expressing BMP2. The BMP4 expressing hMDSCs were able to undergo osteogenic differentiation in vitro and exhibited enhanced mineralization compared to non-transduced cells; however, when transplanted into a calvarial defect they failed to regenerate bone. Local administration of BMP4 protein and cell pre-treatment with N-acetyl-cysteine (NAC), which improves cell survival, did not enhance the osteogenic capacity of the retro-BMP4 transduced cells. In contrast, lenti-BMP2 transduced hMDSCs not only exhibited enhanced in vitro osteogenic differentiation, but also induced robust bone formation and nearly completely healed a critical size calvarial defect in CD-1 nude mice 6 weeks following transplantation. Herovici's staining of the regenerated bone demonstrated that the bone matrix contained a large amount of type I collagen. Our findings indicated that the hMDSCs are likely mesenchymal stem cells of muscle origin, and that BMP2 is more efficient than BMP4 for promoting the bone regenerative capacity of the hMDSCs in vivo.
• Human Pericytes for Ischemic Heart Repair Stem Cells (Dayton, Ohio). Feb, 2013  |   Pubmed ID: 23165704 Human microvascular pericytes (CD146(+)/34(-)/45(-)/56(-)) contain multipotent precursors and repair/regenerate defective tissues, notably skeletal muscle. However, their ability to repair the ischemic heart remains unknown. We investigated the therapeutic potential of human pericytes, purified from skeletal muscle, for treating ischemic heart disease and mediating associated repair mechanisms in mice. Echocardiography revealed that pericyte transplantation attenuated left ventricular dilatation and significantly improved cardiac contractility, superior to CD56+ myogenic progenitor transplantation, in acutely infarcted mouse hearts. Pericyte treatment substantially reduced myocardial fibrosis and significantly diminished infiltration of host inflammatory cells at the infarct site. Hypoxic pericyte-conditioned medium suppressed murine fibroblast proliferation and inhibited macrophage proliferation in vitro. High expression by pericytes of immunoregulatory molecules, including interleukin-6, leukemia inhibitory factor, cyclooxygenase-2, and heme oxygenase-1, was sustained under hypoxia, except for monocyte chemotactic protein-1. Host angiogenesis was significantly increased. Pericytes supported microvascular structures in vivo and formed capillary-like networks with/without endothelial cells in three-dimensional cocultures. Under hypoxia, pericytes dramatically increased expression of vascular endothelial growth factor-A, platelet-derived growth factor-β, transforming growth factor-β1 and corresponding receptors while expression of basic fibroblast growth factor, hepatocyte growth factor, epidermal growth factor, and angiopoietin-1 was repressed. The capacity of pericytes to differentiate into and/or fuse with cardiac cells was revealed by green fluorescence protein labeling, although to a minor extent. In conclusion, intramyocardial transplantation of purified human pericytes promotes functional and structural recovery, attributable to multiple mechanisms involving paracrine effects and cellular interactions.
• The Effect of a Heparin-based Coacervate of Fibroblast Growth Factor-2 on Scarring in the Infarcted Myocardium Biomaterials. Feb, 2013  |   Pubmed ID: 23211448 Effective delivery of exogenous angiogenic growth factors can provide a new therapy for ischemic diseases. However, clinical translation of growth factor therapies faces multiples challenges; the most significant one is the short half-life of the naked protein. We use heparin and a nontoxic polycation to form an injectable coacervate that protects growth factors and preserves their bioactivities. Here we report the effectiveness of fibroblast growth factor-2 (FGF2) coacervate in reducing scar burden in a mouse myocardial infarction model. The coacervate provides spatial and temporal control of the release of heparin-binding proteins. Coacervate treated animals show lower level of inflammation, fibrosis and cardiomyocyte death in the infarcted myocardium. Histological evaluation indicates that FGF2 coacervate significantly increases the number of endothelial and mural cells and results in stable capillaries and arterioles to at least 6 weeks post injection. Echocardiographic assessment shows that FGF2 coacervate promotes cardiac contractibility and inhibits ventricular dilation, suggesting that the improvement at the tissue level leads to better cardiac functions. On the contrary, identical dosage of free FGF2 shows no statistical difference from saline or vehicle control in histological or functional assessment. Overall, injection of FGF2 coacervate ameliorated the ischemic injury caused by myocardial infarction. The promising data in rodent warrant further examination of the potential of clinical translation of this technology.
• Diagnosis of Albuminuria by Tryptic Digestion and Matrix-assisted Laser Desorption Ionization/time-of-flight Mass Spectrometry Clinica Chimica Acta; International Journal of Clinical Chemistry. May, 2013  |   Pubmed ID: 23266772 Matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization/time-of-flight (MALDI-TOF) mass spectrometry has been successfully used to detect trace albumin in urine for the diagnosis of albuminuria. However, only the monomeric form of albumin was detected with this approach.
• Platelet-rich Plasma Promotes the Proliferation of Human Muscle Derived Progenitor Cells and Maintains Their Stemness PloS One. 2013  |   Pubmed ID: 23762264 Human muscle-derived progenitor cells (hMDPCs) offer great promise for muscle cell-based regenerative medicine; however, prolonged ex-vivo expansion using animal sera is necessary to acquire sufficient cells for transplantation. Due to the risks associated with the use of animal sera, the development of a strategy for the ex vivo expansion of hMDPCs is required. The purpose of this study was to investigate the efficacy of using platelet-rich plasma (PRP) for the ex-vivo expansion of hMDPCs. Pre-plated MDPCs, myoendothelial cells, and pericytes are three populations of hMDPCs that we isolated by the modified pre-plate technique and Fluorescence Activated Cell Sorting (FACS), respectively. Pooled allogeneic human PRP was obtained from a local blood bank, and the effect that thrombin-activated PRP-releasate supplemented media had on the ex-vivo expansion of the hMDPCs was tested against FBS supplemented media, both in vitro and in vivo. PRP significantly enhanced short and long-term cell proliferation, with or without FBS supplementation. Antibody-neutralization of PDGF significantly blocked the mitogenic/proliferative effects that PRP had on the hMDPCs. A more stable and sustained expression of markers associated with stemness, and a decreased expression of lineage specific markers was observed in the PRP-expanded cells when compared with the FBS-expanded cells. The in vitro osteogenic, chondrogenic, and myogenic differentiation capacities of the hMDPCs were not altered when expanded in media supplemented with PRP. All populations of hMDPCs that were expanded in PRP supplemented media retained their ability to regenerate myofibers in vivo. Our data demonstrated that PRP promoted the proliferation and maintained the multi-differentiation capacities of the hMDPCs during ex-vivo expansion by maintaining the cells in an undifferentiated state. Moreover, PDGF appears to be a key contributing factor to the beneficial effect that PRP has on the proliferation of hMDPCs.
• Neonauclea Reticulata (Havil.) Merr Stimulates Skin Regeneration After UVB Exposure Via ROS Scavenging and Modulation of the MAPK/MMPs/Collagen Pathway Evidence-based Complementary and Alternative Medicine : ECAM. 2013  |   Pubmed ID: 23843873 In this study, we investigated whether the protective effects of Neonauclea reticulata water extract against ultraviolet B (UVB) irradiation in human skin fibroblast cell cultures (Hs68) are governed by its ability to protect against oxidative stress and expression of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs). We found that Neonauclea reticulata extract exhibited DPPH scavenging activity and inhibited AAPH-induced haemolysis of erythrocytes in a dose- and time-dependent manner. We also found that pretreatment of fibroblasts with Neonauclea reticulata water extract resulted in markedly lower levels of MMP-1, -3, and -9 expressions. Furthermore, our results indicate that Neonauclea reticulata extract inhibits the expression of MMPs by inhibiting ERK, JNK, and p38 phosphorylation. Our results also demonstrate that treatment with Neonauclea reticulata extract protects against UVB-induced depletion of collagen. In addition, Neonauclea reticulata extract did not have a cytotoxic effect. These findings indicate that the antioxidant activity of Neonauclea reticulata extract resulted in inhibition of MMP-1, -3, and -9 expressions and in increased levels of collagen activity. Our results suggest that Neonauclea reticulata extract can protect against photoaging.
• The Role of Antioxidation and Immunomodulation in Postnatal Multipotent Stem Cell-mediated Cardiac Repair International Journal of Molecular Sciences. 2013  |   Pubmed ID: 23924945 Oxidative stress and inflammation play major roles in the pathogenesis of coronary heart disease including myocardial infarction (MI). The pathological progression following MI is very complex and involves a number of cell populations including cells localized within the heart, as well as cells recruited from the circulation and other tissues that participate in inflammatory and reparative processes. These cells, with their secretory factors, have pleiotropic effects that depend on the stage of inflammation and regeneration. Excessive inflammation leads to enlargement of the infarction site, pathological remodeling and eventually, heart dysfunction. Stem cell therapy represents a unique and innovative approach to ameliorate oxidative stress and inflammation caused by ischemic heart disease. Consequently, it is crucial to understand the crosstalk between stem cells and other cells involved in post-MI cardiac tissue repair, especially immune cells, in order to harness the beneficial effects of the immune response following MI and further improve stem cell-mediated cardiac regeneration. This paper reviews the recent findings on the role of antioxidation and immunomodulation in postnatal multipotent stem cell-mediated cardiac repair following ischemic heart disease, particularly acute MI and focuses specifically on mesenchymal, muscle and blood-vessel-derived stem cells due to their antioxidant and immunomodulatory properties.
• Clinical Features and Outcomes of Neck Lymphatic Metastasis in Ovarian Epithelial Carcinoma World Journal of Surgical Oncology. Oct, 2013  |   Pubmed ID: 24088247 Neck lymph node metastasis (NLNM) in epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC) is rare and treated as advanced stage cancer. However, ovarian cancer with lymphatic metastasis may manifest a different clinical course from peritoneal carcinomatosis.
• Simple Synthesis, Self-assembly, and Cytotoxicity of Novel Dimeric Cholesterol Derivatives Colloids and Surfaces. B, Biointerfaces. Apr, 2014  |   Pubmed ID: 24469440 A simple and economic methodology to synthesize three types of novel dimeric cholesterol derivatives (DCDs) was developed. Results obtained from dynamic light scattering and transmission electron microscopy show that spherical and/or angular nano-structural aggregates of DCDs are formed by self-assembly in aqueous solution. The size and morphology of DCD dispersions depend on the spatial arrangement of the substituents and polarity of the head group in the DCD structures. The cytoxicity of DCD dispersions to human keratinocytes (HaCaT) and squamous cell carcinomas (SCC25) cells was also evaluated by a 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay. The present novel DCD dispersions were not toxic to HaCaT and SCC25 cells at appropriate tested concentrations.
• Spontaneous Rupture of a Cystic Mediastinal Teratoma Complicated by Superior Vena Cava Syndrome The Annals of Thoracic Surgery. Feb, 2014  |   Pubmed ID: 24484811 Spontaneous rupture of cystic mediastinal teratomas is rare but may cause serious complications. Here we report an unusual case of a cystic teratoma, which ruptured into the mediastinal and pleural cavities resulting in superior vena cava syndrome, acute mediastinitis, and pleural effusion. Early diagnosis and prompt surgical treatment of ruptured mediastinal teratomas are essential to preventing life-threatening complications.
• Role of Donor and Host Cells in Muscle-derived Stem Cell-mediated Bone Repair: Differentiation Vs. Paracrine Effects FASEB Journal : Official Publication of the Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology. Aug, 2014  |   Pubmed ID: 24843069 Murine muscle-derived stem cells (MDSCs) have been shown capable of regenerating bone in a critical size calvarial defect model when transduced with BMP 2 or 4; however, the contribution of the donor cells and their interactions with the host cells during the bone healing process have not been fully elucidated. To address this question, C57/BL/6J mice were divided into MDSC/BMP4/GFP, MDSC/GFP, and scaffold groups. After transplanting MDSCs into the critical-size calvarial defects created in normal mice, we found that mice transplanted with BMP4GFP-transduced MDSCs healed the bone defect in 4 wk, while the control groups (MDSC-GFP and scaffold) demonstrated no bone healing. The newly formed trabecular bone displayed similar biomechanical properties as the native bone, and the donor cells directly participated in endochondral bone formation via their differentiation into chondrocytes, osteoblasts, and osteocytes via the BMP4-pSMAD5 and COX-2-PGE2 signaling pathways. In contrast to the scaffold group, the MDSC groups attracted more inflammatory cells initially and incurred faster inflammation resolution, enhanced angiogenesis, and suppressed initial immune responses in the host mice. MDSCs were shown to attract macrophages via the secretion of monocyte chemotactic protein 1 and promote endothelial cell proliferation by secreting multiple growth factors. Our findings indicated that BMP4GFP-transduced MDSCs not only regenerated bone by direct differentiation, but also positively influenced the host cells to coordinate and promote bone tissue repair through paracrine effects.
• N-Phenethyl Caffeamide and Photodamage: Protecting Skin by Inhibiting Type I Procollagen Degradation and Stimulating Collagen Synthesis Food and Chemical Toxicology : an International Journal Published for the British Industrial Biological Research Association. Oct, 2014  |   Pubmed ID: 25019243 Skin is mainly damaged by genetic and environmental factors such as ultraviolet (UV) light and pollutants. UV light is a well-known factor that causes various types of skin damage and premature aging. Reactive oxygen species (ROS) are commonly involved in the pathogenesis of skin damage by activating the metalloproteinases that break down type I collagen. This study investigated the antioxidant and antiphotodamage activity and mechanisms of N-phenethyl caffeamide (K36) in human skin fibroblasts. The results indicated that K36 demonstrated strong 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl radical (DPPH) scavenging activity, which dose-dependently reduced the production of UVB-induced intracellular ROS in human dermal fibroblasts. K36 prevented UVB-irradiation-induced type I collagen degradation by inhibiting the expression of matrix metalloproteins-1, -3, and -9 and the phosphorylation of mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinases. Furthermore, K36 elevated collagen synthesis in skin fibroblasts by inhibiting UVB-induced Smad7 overexpression. K36 downregulated the expression of the transcription factor, activator protein-1 (AP-1). Our results indicated that K36 exhibited antioxidant properties and prevented skin collagen degradation caused by UV exposure and the stimulation of collagen synthesis, which suggests the potential use of K36 in preventing photodamage.
• Recognition of Linear B-Cell Epitope of Betanodavirus Coat Protein by RG-M18 Neutralizing MAB Inhibits Giant Grouper Nervous Necrosis Virus (GGNNV) Infection PloS One. 2015  |   Pubmed ID: 25938761 Betanodavirus is a causative agent of viral nervous necrosis syndrome in many important aquaculture marine fish larvae, resulting in high global mortality. The coat protein of Betanodavirus is the sole structural protein, and it can assemble the virion particle by itself. In this study, we used a high-titer neutralizing mAB, RG-M18, to identify the linear B-cell epitope on the viral coat protein. By mapping a series of recombinant proteins generated using the E. coli PET expression system, we demonstrated that the linear epitope recognized by RG-M18 is located at the C-terminus of the coat protein, between amino acid residues 195 and 338. To define the minimal epitope region, a set of overlapping peptides were synthesized and evaluated for RG-M18 binding. Such analysis identified the 195VNVSVLCR202 motif as the minimal epitope. Comparative analysis of Alanine scanning mutagenesis with dot-blotting and ELISA revealed that Valine197, Valine199, and Cysteine201 are critical for antibody binding. Substitution of Leucine200 in the RGNNV, BFNNV, and TPNNV genotypes with Methionine200 (thereby simulating the SJNNV genotype) did not affect binding affinity, implying that RG-M18 can recognize all genotypes of Betanodaviruses. In competition experiments, synthetic multiple antigen peptides of this epitope dramatically suppressed giant grouper nervous necrosis virus (GGNNV) propagation in grouper brain cells. The data provide new insights into the protective mechanism of this neutralizing mAB, with broader implications for Betanodavirus vaccinology and antiviral peptide drug development.
• Iridovirus CARD Protein Inhibits Apoptosis Through Intrinsic and Extrinsic Pathways PloS One. 2015  |   Pubmed ID: 26047333 Grouper iridovirus (GIV) belongs to the genus Ranavirus of the family Iridoviridae; the genomes of such viruses contain an anti-apoptotic caspase recruitment domain (CARD) gene. The GIV-CARD gene encodes a protein of 91 amino acids with a molecular mass of 10,505 Daltons, and shows high similarity to other viral CARD genes and human ICEBERG. In this study, we used Northern blot to demonstrate that GIV-CARD transcription begins at 4 h post-infection; furthermore, we report that its transcription is completely inhibited by cycloheximide but not by aphidicolin, indicating that GIV-CARD is an early gene. GIV-CARD-EGFP and GIV-CARD-FLAG recombinant proteins were observed to translocate from the cytoplasm into the nucleus, but no obvious nuclear localization sequence was observed within GIV-CARD. RNA interference-mediated knockdown of GIV-CARD in GK cells infected with GIV inhibited expression of GIV-CARD and five other viral genes during the early stages of infection, and also reduced GIV infection ability. Immunostaining was performed to show that apoptosis was effectively inhibited in cells expressing GIV-CARD. HeLa cells irradiated with UV or treated with anti-Fas antibody will undergo apoptosis through the intrinsic and extrinsic pathways, respectively. However, over-expression of recombinant GIV-CARD protein in HeLa cells inhibited apoptosis induced by mitochondrial and death receptor signaling. Finally, we report that expression of GIV-CARD in HeLa cells significantly reduced the activities of caspase-8 and -9 following apoptosis triggered by anti-Fas antibody. Taken together, these results demonstrate that GIV-CARD inhibits apoptosis through both intrinsic and extrinsic pathways.
• Synthesis, Self-assembly, and in Vitro Biocompatibility of a Novel Steroidal Oxime Current Pharmaceutical Biotechnology. 2015  |   Pubmed ID: 26278530 A novel steroidal oxime (SO) was synthesized using an economic method and then characterized by Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) and 1H nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR). When dispersed in pure water, SO can self-assemble into a nano-scale circular structure which was verified by dynamic light scattering (DLS) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The formation of SO nano aggregates may result from its ambiphilic characteristic which has the hydrophobic cholesterolbased backbone and the hydrophilic oxime head group. The prepared SO aggregates were then examined for its in vitro biocompatibility using the human keratinocytes cell line (HaCaT) as a representative skin exposure model. The biocompatibility was evaluated by 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay and cell morphology observation. The results showed that the nano-scale SO aggregates did not cause serious damage to HaCaT cells at the designed concentrations and suggested that SO could be a potential material for preparing cosmeceutical carrier.
• In Vitro and In Vivo Studies on Protective Action of N-Phenethyl Caffeamide Against Photodamage of Skin PloS One. 2015  |   Pubmed ID: 26367260 In our previous study, N-phenethyl caffeamide (K36) was proved to act as an antioxidant and an antiphotoaging agent by inhibiting type I procollagen degradation and stimulating collagen synthesis in human skin fibroblasts. In the present study, in vitro and in vivo experiments were conducted to investigate the mechanism of action and the antiinflammatory and antiphotoaging activity of K36. K36 reduced UVB-induced cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) and inducible nitric oxide synthases (iNOS) expression by regulating IκB and p-IκB expression. K36 also inhibited the nuclear translocation of NF-κB. Furthermore, the inhibition of mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinases by K36 was attributed to the downregulation of COX-2. Topically applying K36 led to efficient antiwrinkle formation and reduced UVB-induced erythema and thickness of epidermis in hairless mice. In addition, K36 penetrated into the skin of hairless mice. Our findings show that K36 has significant beneficial effects on antioxidant, antiinflammatory, and antiphotoaging activity and suggest that K36 can be developed as an antiaging agent for cosmetic and skin care products.
• Circulating Growth Arrest-specific Protein 6 Levels Are Associated with Erythropoietin Resistance in Hemodialysis Patients SpringerPlus. 2016  |   Pubmed ID: 26788441 Growth arrest-specific protein 6 (Gas6) works synergistically with erythropoietin (EPO) to increase the proliferation and maturation of erythroblasts. However, the role of Gas 6 levels on EPO resistance in hemodialysis (HD) patients remains unclear. Therefore, the objective of this study was the first to examine the correlation between plasma Gas6 levels and EPO resistance in HD patients. We enrolled 134 HD patients and 85 healthy individuals. The HD patients were divided into 2 groups: 98 non-EPO-resistant patients and 36 EPO-resistant patients. Plasma levels of Gas6, interleukin 6 (IL-6), high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP), and albumin were quantified. Compared with non-EPO-resistant patients, EPO-resistant patients had elevated plasma concentrations of Gas6 (15.4 ± 3.3 vs. 13.7 ± 3.2 ng/mL, P = 0.006), IL-6 (3.1 ± 3.1 vs. 2.1 ± 1.5 pg/mL, P = 0.009), and hs-CRP (12.7 ± 25.2 vs. 4.5 ± 5.5 mg/L, P = 0.002). In EPO-resistant HD patients, plasma Gas6 levels were negatively correlated with albumin levels (r = -0.388, P 
• A Comparison of Efficacy of Endovascular Versus Surgical Repair for the Treatment of Arteriovenous Fistula Stenosis in Taiwan The Journal of Vascular Access. Feb, 2017  |   Pubmed ID: 28218365 Percutaneous transluminal angioplasty (PTA) and fistula reconstruction surgery are therapeutic options for vascular access occlusion in hemodialysis patients. However, owing to its convenience, PTA has gradually become the preferred therapeutic option for fistula stenosis or occlusion. This study investigated the effects of the two therapeutic methods on the vascular access maintenance duration (number of days) and maintenance costs of fistula in dialysis patients from different dialysis units.