Transcription Factors in Regulatory and Protein Subnetworks during Generation of Neural Stem Cells and Neurons from Direct Reprogramming of Non-fibroblastic Cell Sources.

Direct reprogramming of non-fibroblastic cells to the neuronal cell types including induced neurons (iNs) and induced neural stem cells (iNSCs) has provided an alternative approach for the direct reprogramming of fibroblasts to those cells. However, to increase the efficiency of the reprogramming process the underlying mechanisms should be clarified. In the current study, we analyzed the gene expression profiles of five different cellular conversions to understand the most significant molecular mechanisms and transcription factors (TFs) underlying each conversion. For each conversion, we found the list of differentially expressed genes (DEGs) and the list of differentially expressed TFs (DE-TFs) which regulate expression of DEGs. Moreover, we constructed gene regulatory networks based on the TF-binding sites' data and found the most central regulators and the most active part of the networks. Furthermore, protein complexes were identified from constructed protein-protein interaction networks for DE-TFs. Finally, we proposed a list of main regulators for each conversion; for example, in the direct conversion of epithelial-like cells (ECs) to iNSCs, combination of centrality with active modules or protein complex analyses highlighted the role of POU3F2, BACH1, AR, PBX1, SOX2 and NANOG genes in this conversion. To the best of our knowledge, this study is the first one that analyzed the direct conversion of non-fibroblastic cells toward iNs and iNSCs and we believe that the expression manipulation of identified genes may increase efficiency of these processes.

Computerized Analysis of Acoustic Characteristics of Patients with Internal Nasal Valve Collapse Before and After Functional Rhinoplasty.

Acoustic analysis of sounds produced during speech provides significant information about the physiology of larynx and vocal tract. The analysis of voice power spectrum is a fundamental sensitive method of acoustic assessment that provides valuable information about the voice source and characteristics of vocal tract resonance cavities. The changes in long-term average spectrum (LTAS) spectral tilt and harmony to noise ratio (HNR) were analyzed to assess the voice quality before and after functional rhinoplasty in patients with internal nasal valve collapse. Before and 3 months after functional rhinoplasty, 12 participants were evaluated and HNR and LTAS spectral tilt in /a/ and /i/ vowels were estimated. It was seen that an increase in HNR and a decrease in LTAS spectral tilt existed after surgery. Mean LTAS spectral tilt in vowel /a/ decreased from 2.37 ± 1.04 to 2.28 ± 1.17 (P = 0.388), and it was decreased from 4.16 ± 1.65 to 2.73 ± 0.69 in vowel /i/ (P = 0.008). Mean HNR in the vowel /a/ increased from 20.71 ± 3.93 to 25.06 ± 2.67 (P = 0.002), and it was increased from 21.28 ± 4.11 to 25.26 ± 3.94 in vowel /i/ (P = 0.002). Modification of the vocal tract caused the vocal cords to close sufficiently, and this showed that although rhinoplasty did not affect the larynx directly, it changes the structure of the vocal tract and consequently the resonance of voice production. The aim of this study was to investigate the changes in voice parameters after functional rhinoplasty in patients with internal nasal valve collapse by computerized analysis of acoustic characteristics.

Effect of nasal beclomethasone spray in the treatment of otitis media with effusion.

BACKGROUND: Antimicrobials treatment of Otitis media (OM) reduces some complications, but some of chronic complications, and specially otitis media with effusion (OME), seem to increase. Theoretically the usage of nasal corticosteroid sprays may prevent this problem by reducing the local inflammation around the eustachian tube. So, this study aimed to evaluate the role of nasal corticosteroid spray as an adjuvant for the treatment of OME. METHODS: In a randomized, prospective clinical trial, 2 groups of 46 subjects who had OME were recruited. A questionnaire containing patients' characters, history, complaints, otologic examinations, and the report of tympanometries was filled for all before and after treatment. We administered a period of amoxicillin and a decongestant for both group and nasal beclomethasone spray only for case group. RESULTS: Thirty five of cases (76.1%) and 22 (47.8%) of controls had an improvement in their symptoms or the quality of hearing (p = 0.005). Partial remission was the most common finding in 52.2% of the patients in the case group but for control group there was no change (p = 0.024). The higher improvement in the tympanic retraction in the case group was significant (p < 0.05). A significant better tympanometric result has showed in the treatment of left ear in the patients of the case group (p = 0.038) but not for right ear (p = 0.136). CONCLUSIONS: We concluded that the administration of nasal beclomethasone spray as an adjuvant for the treatment of OME not only improved the results treatment but also increased the resolution of symptoms and the patients' quality of hearing.