Menstrual blood-derived mesenchymal stem cells differentiate into functional hepatocyte-like cells

Orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT) is the only proven effective treatment for both end-stage and metabolic liver diseases. Hepatocyte transplantation is a promising alternative for OLT, but the lack of available donor livers has hampered its clinical application. Hepatocyte-like cells (HLCs) differentiated from many multi-potential stem cells can help repair damaged liver tissue. Yet almost suitable cells currently identified for human use are difficult to harvest and involve invasive procedures. Recently, a novel mesenchymal stem cell derived from human menstrual blood (MenSC) has been discovered and obtained easily and repeatedly. In this study, we examined whether the MenSCs are able to differentiate into functional HLCs in vitro. After three weeks of incubation in hepatogenic differentiation medium containing hepatocyte growth factor (HGF), fibroblast growth factor-4 (FGF-4), and oncostain M (OSM), cuboidal HLCs were observed, and cells also expressed hepatocyte-specific marker genes including albumin (ALB), α-fetoprotein (AFP), cytokeratin 18/19 (CK18/19), and cytochrome P450 1A1/3A4 (CYP1A1/3A4). Differentiated cells further demonstrated in vitro mature hepatocyte functions such as urea synthesis, glycogen storage, and indocyanine green (ICG) uptake. After intrasplenic transplantation into mice with 2/3 partial hepatectomy, the MenSC-derived HLCs were detected in recipient livers and expressed human ALB protein. We also showed that MenSC-derived HLC transplantation could restore the serum ALB level and significantly suppressed transaminase activity of liver injury animals. In conclusion, MenSCs may serve as an ideal, easily accessible source of material for tissue engineering and cell therapy of liver tissues.     

CHILDREN'S PLAYGROUND BEHAVIOUR ACROSS FIVE YEARS OF BROADCAST TELEVISION: A NATURALISTIC STUDY IN A REMOTE COMMUNITY

3‐ to 8‐year‐olds’ free‐play behaviour was video‐recorded in two playgrounds before broadcast TV's availability in the South Atlantic island of St. Helena. Similar aged children's behaviour in the same playgrounds was recorded five years after television's arrival. Recorded behaviours were then coded for pro‐social and anti‐social acts. Out of sixty‐four pre‐lpost‐TV comparisons only nine significant shifts were found. Five revealed decreases in pro‐social behaviour (boys and girls), two showed increases in pro‐social behaviour (boys only), and the remaining two showed decreases in anti‐social behaviour (for boys only). In the discussion, particular environmental factors are highlighted which may help determine whether learned aggression (from TV and elsewhere) is enacted.     

Academic Engagement in the Library Commons

Abstract

Beginning in July 2002, the Health Sciences Library at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill underwent an 11 million dollar renovation. During three phases of the renovation, parts of the collection were inaccessible to patrons. In order to continue to make the library's collection available, library staff created a paging system. Patrons submitted requests for needed library materials using paper and electronic forms and library staff retrieved the requested items. The paging service was modified three times based on prior experience. Patrons were generally satisfied with the service. The renovation ended in December 2004.     

“21世纪杯”全国中学生口语竞赛作品选

“21世纪杯”第二届全国中学生英语口语竞赛于2003年12月在苏州成功举办。来自全国各地的各路英语高手参加了本次比赛。他们用流利的英语现场演讲和敏捷的答辩尽显了风采，也让在场的中外评委对     

Let＇s Share!

读者吴晓梦：我想问一下，为什么学了很多新单词，但是写作文时仍习惯用一些旧的单词，新单词总是用不上。可以教一教我怎样在作文中用上新单词吗?     

Current status and future prospects of mesenchymal stem cell therapy for liver fibrosis

Liver fibrosis is the end-stage of many chronic liver diseases and is a significant health threat. The only effective therapy is liver transplantation, which still has many problems, including the lack of donor sources, immunological rejection, and high surgery costs, among others. However, the use of cell therapy is becoming more prevalent, and mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) seem to be a promising cell type for the treatment of liver fibrosis. MSCs have multiple differentiation abilities, allowing them to migrate directly into injured tissue and differentiate into hepatocyte-like cells. Additionally, MSCs can release various growth factors and cytokines to increase hepatocyte regeneration, regress liver fibrosis, and regulate inflammation and immune responses. In this review, we summarize the current uses of MSC therapies for liver fibrosis and suggest potential future applications.     

Online Assessment of Applied Anatomy Knowledge: The Effect of Images on Medical Students' Performance

Anatomical examinations have been designed to assess topographical and/or applied knowledge of anatomy with or without the inclusion of visual resources such as cadaveric specimens or images, radiological images, and/or clinical photographs. Multimedia learning theories have advanced the understanding of how words and images are processed during learning. However, the evidence of the impact of including anatomical and radiological images within written assessments is sparse. This study investigates the impact of including images within clinically oriented single-best-answer questions on students' scores in a tailored online tool. Second-year medical students (n = 174) from six schools in the United Kingdom participated voluntarily in the examination, and 55 students provided free-text comments which were thematically analyzed. All questions were categorized as to whether their stimulus format was purely textual or included an associated image. The type (anatomical and radiological image) and deep structure of images (question referring to a bone or soft tissue on the image) were taken into consideration. Students scored significantly better on questions with images compared to questions without images (P < 0.001), and on questions referring to bones than to soft tissue (P < 0.001), but no difference was found in their performance on anatomical and radiological image questions. The coding highlighted areas of “test applicability” and “challenges faced by the students.” In conclusion, images are critical in medical practice for investigating a patient's anatomy, and this study sets out a way to understand the effects of images on students' performance and their views in commonly employed written assessments.     

Plasticity of human menstrual blood stem cells derived from the endometrium

Stem cells can be obtained from women’s menstrual blood derived from the endometrium. The cells display stem cell markers such as Oct-4, SSEA-4, Nanog, and c-kit (CD117), and have the potent ability to differentiate into various cell types, including the heart, nerve, bone, cartilage, and fat. There has been no evidence of teratoma, ectopic formation, or any immune response after transplantation into an animal model. These cells quickly regenerate after menstruation and secrete many growth factors to display recurrent angiogenesis. The plasticity and safety of the acquired cells have been demonstrated in many studies. Menstrual blood-derived stem cells (MenSCs) provide an alternative source of adult stem cells for research and application in regenerative medicine. Here we summarize the multipotent properties and the plasticities of MenSCs and other endometrial stem cells from recent studies conducted both in vitro and in vivo.     

Reflecting on the EFA Global Monitoring Report's framework for understanding quality education: A teacher's perspective in Eritrea

This paper considers issues concerning the quality of education in Eritrea using the Education for All (EFA) Global Monitoring Report's (GMR) framework for quality education. Drawing on 2 years school-based professional experience in the country, the multiple factors affecting quality in schooling are discussed. The applicability of the GMR framework is then assessed. Given the recent militarisation of the Eritrean school system, it finds the framework seriously lacking, by failing to enable a critique of some of the issues that arguably go to the heart of the quality of education in the country.     

和自己结婚的男人

婚礼 “为何不呢？” 我的好朋友扎塔加牧师的这4个字改变了我的一生。他说,圣经上告诫男人不可以同他的姐妹、姑姨、母亲、岳母、女儿或是孙女结婚（即使受到诱惑）,可圣经上任何一个地方都没有规定说不可以同自己结婚啊。于是,当我告诉扎塔加牧师这正是我的想法时．他最终勉强说出了那4个决定性的字眼：“为何不呢？”