Recent evidence shows that amniotic fluid (AF) contains multiple cell types derived from the developing fetus, and may represent a novel source of stem cells for cell therapy. In this study, we examined the paracrine factors released by human amniotic fluid-derived mesenchymal stem cells (AF-MSCs) and their ability to accelerate the wound-healing process by stimulating proliferation and migration of dermal fibroblasts. AF-MSCs expressed the typical MSC marker proteins CD13, CD29, and CD44 and differentiated into adipocytes, osteoblasts, and chondrocytes when exposed to the appropriate differentiation media. In addition, AF-MSC-conditioned media (AF-MSC-CM) significantly enhanced proliferation of dermal fibroblasts. Antibody-based protein array and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) indicated that AF-MSC-CM contains various cytokines and chemokines that are known to be important in normal wound healing, including IL-8, IL-6, TGF-beta, TNFRI, VEGF, and EGF. Application of AF-MSC-CM significantly enhanced wound healing by dermal fibroblasts via the TGF-beta/SMAD2 pathway. Levels of p-SMAD2 were increased by AF-MSC-CM, and both the increase in p-SMAD2 and migration of dermal fibroblasts were blocked by inhibiting the TGF-beta/SMAD2 pathway. Moreover, in a mouse excisional wound model, AF-MSC-CM accelerated wound healing. These data provide the first evidence of the potential for AF-MSC-CM in the treatment of skin wounds.

The rise in global population has led to explorations of alternative sources of energy and food. Because corn and soybean are staple food crops for humans, their common use as the main source of dietary energy and protein for food-producing animals directly competes with their allocation for human consumption. Alternatively, de-fatted marine microalgal biomass generated from the potential biofuel production may be a viable replacement of corn and soybean meal due to their high levels of protein, relatively well-balanced amino acid profiles, and rich contents of minerals and vitamins, along with unique bioactive compounds. Although the full-fatted (intact) microalgae represent the main source of omega-3 (n-3) polyunsaturated fatty acids including docohexaenoic acid (DHA) and eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), the de-fatted microalgal biomass may still contain good amounts of these components for enriching DHA/EPA in eggs, meats, and milk. This review is written to highlight the necessity and potential of using the de-fatted microalgal biomass as a new generation of animal feed in helping address the global energy, food, and environmental issues. Nutritional feasibility and limitation of the biomass as the new feed ingredient for simple-stomached species are elaborated. Potential applications of the biomass for generating value-added animal products are also explored.

Background: Prolonged high intakes of dietary selenium have been shown to induce gestational diabetes in rats and

Somatic cells can be reprogrammed into induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cells by the transcription factors

Abstract.A forward head posture (turtle neck posture) is becoming more common with the increasing popularity of smartphones. The aim of this study was to evaluate the craniovertebral angle, head position angle, pain threshold of the sternocleidomastoid and upper trapezius muscles, and presence of depression in heavy smartphone users compared to a control group. Twenty healthy students participated in the study. The participants were recruited from Sahmyook University and were divided into a heavy user group (n=10) and a control group (n=10) according to smartphone addiction proneness. Participants in both groups were assessed for their pain pressure threshold of the sternocleidomastoid and upper trapezius muscles, craniovertebral angle and head position angle, and depression. When comparing the results between the two groups, there were significant differences in the pain threshold of the sternocleidomastoid and upper trapezius muscles, head position angle, and depression (p<.05), but not in the craniovertebral angle. Based on the results, this study shows that heavy smartphone use may produce considerable stresses on the cervical spine, thus changing the cervical curve and pain threshold of the muscles around the neck. Smartphones could also cause negative effects on a person's psychological status, such as depression. Therefore, individuals should make an effort to look at their phones with a neutral spine and to avoid spending hours hunched over their screens each day.