The selection of a good quality scaffold is an essential strategy for tissue engineering. Ideally, the scaffold should be a functional and structural biomimetic of the native extracellular matrix and support multiple tissue morphogenesis. However, investigators have previously shown that three-dimensional nanofibrous scaffolds are capable of influencing cellular behavior. In this study, we expe...

BACKGROUND The interplay between growth factors and transcription factors in vertebrate neurogenesis is poorly understood. MASH1 is a basic helix-loop-helix (bHLH) transcription factor that is essential for autonomic neurogenesis. Bone morphogenetic protein (BMP) 2, and its relative BMP4, have been shown to induce expression of MASH1 and to promote autonomic neuronal differentiation in neural c...

Long noncoding RNAs (lncRNA) have been recognized as important regulators in diverse biological processes, such as transcriptional regulation, stem cell proliferation, and differentiation. Previous study has demonstrated that lncRNA-ANCR (antidifferentiation ncRNA) plays a key role in regulating the proliferation and osteogenic differentiation of periodontal ligament stem cells (PDLSCs). Howeve...

BACKGROUND Ethanol is a potent teratogen. Its adverse neural effects are partly mediated by disrupting fetal neurogenesis. The teratogenic process is poorly understood, and vulnerable neurogenic stages have not been identified. Identifying these is a prerequisite for therapeutic interventions to mitigate effects of teratogen exposures. METHODS We used flow cytometry and qRT-PCR to screen feta...

background: gastrointestinal stromal tumors (gists) constitute the majority of gastrointestinal mesenchymal tumors. they usually express a proto-oncogen protein called cd117 detected by immunohistochemistry. this study investigated the differentiation of gists as well as the risk of aggressive behaviors in gists from surgically-treated patients in university affiliated hospitals.   methods: the...

background: drooping of the upper eyelid (blepharoptosis or ptosis) is not an uncommon ocular problem. the causes of ptosis could be myogenic, aponeurotic, mechanical or traumatic. detailed assessments of the cause, degree of ptosis and levator functions help determine the most appropriate management and treatment. this study was carried out to investigate the causes and presentations of ptosis...

Even in the adult mammalian brain progenitor cells proliferate and give rise to young neurons which integrate into the neuronal network. The dentate gyrus possesses such a neurogenic niche reactive to external stimuli like physical activity. In most studies mice or rats have been exposed to wheel running for periods of several weeks to activate neurogenesis while early neurogenic processes indu...