Application of Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells for Disease Modeling and 3D Model Construction: Focus on Osteoarthritis.

Since their discovery in 2006, induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) have shown promising potential, specifically because of their accessibility and plasticity. Hence, the clinical applicability of iPSCs was investigated in various fields of research. However, only a few iPSC studies pertaining to osteoarthritis (OA) have been performed so far, despite the high prevalence rate of degenerative joint disease. In this review, we discuss some of the most recent applications of iPSCs in disease modeling and the construction of 3D models in various fields, specifically focusing on osteoarthritis and OA-related conditions. Notably, we comprehensively reviewed the successful results of iPSC-derived disease models in recapitulating OA phenotypes for both OA and early-onset OA to encompass their broad etiology. Moreover, the latest publications with protocols that have used iPSCs to construct 3D models in recapitulating various conditions, particularly the OA environment, were further discussed. With the overall optimistic results seen in both fields, iPSCs are expected to be more widely used for OA disease modeling and 3D model construction, which could further expand OA drug screening, risk assessment, and therapeutic capabilities.

Recent Developments in Clinical Applications of Mesenchymal Stem Cells in the Treatment of Rheumatoid Arthritis and Osteoarthritis.

Mesenchymal stem cell (MSC) therapies have been used as cell-based treatments for decades, owing to their anti-inflammatory, immunomodulatory, and regenerative properties. With high expectations, many ongoing clinical trials are investigating the safety and efficacy of MSC therapies to treat arthritic diseases. Studies on osteoarthritis (OA) have shown positive clinical outcomes, with improved joint function, pain level, and quality of life. In addition, few clinical MSC trials conducted on rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients have also displayed some optimistic outlook. The largely positive outcomes in clinical trials without severe side effects establish MSCs as promising tools for arthritis treatment. However, further research is required to investigate its applicability in clinical settings. This review discusses the most recent advances in clinical studies on MSC therapies for OA and RA.

Highly efficient one-pot multienzyme (OPME) synthesis of glycans with fluorous-tag assisted purification.

Oligo(ethylene glycol)-linked light fluorous tags have been found to be optimal for conjugating to glycans for both high-yield enzymatic glycosylation reactions using one-pot multienzyme (OPME) systems and quick product purification using fluorous solid-phase extraction (FSPE) cartridges. The combination of OPME glycosylation systems and the FSPE cartridge purification scheme provides a highly effective strategy for facile synthesis and purification of glycans.

In-practice predictors of response to proton pump inhibitor therapy in primary care patients with dyspepsia in an Asian population.

BACKGROUND: Data on Asian patients who present to primary care physicians with dyspepsia are limited. AIM: To determine predictors of response to a trial of proton pump inhibitor therapy. METHOD: One hundred ninety patients presenting to their general practitioners with dyspeptic symptoms but without alarm symptoms, underwent endoscopy and were subsequently treated with 20 mg of esomeprazole twice a day for 2 weeks. Possible predictors of response were assessed before treatment. Dyspeptic symptoms were scored at baseline and at the end of treatment. Excellent response and poor response were defined as end of treatment score of or=50% reduction in symptom scores. RESULTS: On bivariate analysis male sex and having 2 dyspeptic symptoms, anxiety, and irritable bowel syndrome predicted poor response. On multivariate analysis, male sex and