Adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells (ADSCs), which tended to neurogenically differentiate spontaneously after achieving high confluence, were observed. Human ADSCs reaching 80% confluence were cultured in DMEM without an inducing factor for 24 h and then maintained in DMEM plus 1% FBS medium for 7 days. The neurogenic, adipogenic, and osteogenic genes of the factor-induced and confluence-initiated differentiation of the ADSCs and bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) at passages 3 to 5 were determined and compared using RT-qPCR, and the neurogenic differentiation was confirmed using immunofluorescent staining. In vitro tests revealed that the RNA and protein expression of neuronal markers, including class III β-tubulin (TUBB3), microtubule-associated protein 2 (MAP2), neurofilament medium polypeptide (NEFM), neurofilament heavy polypeptide (NEFH), and neurofilament light polypeptide (NEFL), had been enhanced in the confluence-initiated differentiation of the ADSCs. In addition, the expressions of neurotrophins, such as the nerve growth factor (NGF), brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), and glial cell-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF), were also elevated in the confluence-initiated differentiation of the ADSCs. However, the confluent ADSCs did not show a tendency toward spontaneous adipogenic and osteogenic differentiation. Moreover, compared with the confluent ADSCs, the tendency of spontaneous neurogenic, adipogenic, and osteogenic differentiation of the confluent human bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) was not observed. The results indicated that ADSCs had the potential to spontaneously differentiate into neuron-like cells during the confluent culture period; however, this tendency was not observed in BMSCs.

Osteoarthritis is more prevalent than any other form of arthritis and is characterized by the progressive mechanical deterioration of joints. Glucosamine, an amino monosaccharide, has been used for over fifty years as a dietary supplement to alleviate osteoarthritis-related discomfort. Silibinin, extracted from milk thistle, modifies the degree of glycosylation of target proteins, making it an essential component in the treatment of various diseases. In this study, we aimed to investigate the functional roles of glucosamine and silibinin in cartilage homeostasis using the TC28a2 cell line. Western blots showed that glucosamine suppressed the N-glycosylation of the gp130, EGFR, and N-cadherin proteins. Furthermore, both glucosamine and silibinin differentially decreased and increased target proteins such as gp130, Snail, and KLF4 in TC28a2 cells. We observed that both compounds dose-dependently induced the proliferation of TC28a2 cells. Our MitoSOX and DCFH-DA dye data showed that 1 µM glucosamine suppressed mitochondrial reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation and induced cytosol ROS generation, whereas silibinin induced both mitochondrial and cytosol ROS generation in TC28a2 cells. Our JC-1 data showed that glucosamine increased red aggregates, resulting in an increase in the red/green fluorescence intensity ratio, while all the tested silibinin concentrations increased the green monomers, resulting in decreases in the red/green ratio. We observed increasing subG1 and S populations and decreasing G1 and G2/M populations with increasing amounts of glucosamine, while increasing amounts of silibinin led to increases in subG1, S, and G2/M populations and decreases in G1 populations in TC28a2 cells. MTT data showed that both glucosamine and silibinin induced cytotoxicity in TC28a2 cells in a dose-dependent manner. Regarding endoplasmic reticulum stress, both compounds induced the expression of CHOP and increased the level of p-eIF2α/eIF2α. With respect to O-GlcNAcylation status, glucosamine and silibinin both reduced the levels of O-GlcNAc transferase and hypoxia-inducible factor 1 alpha. Furthermore, we examined proteins and mRNAs related to these processes. In summary, our findings demonstrated that these compounds differentially modulated cellular proliferation, mitochondrial and cytosol ROS generation, the mitochondrial membrane potential, the cell cycle profile, and autophagy. Therefore, we conclude that glucosamine and silibinin not only mediate glycosylation modifications but also regulate cellular processes in human chondrocytes.

Background: Osteoarthritis is an important health issue for the elderly. Many studies indicate that genetics is an important risk factor for osteoarthritis, and a disintegrin and metalloproteinase with thrombospondin motifs 5 (ADAMTS5) is one gene that is most frequently implicated. Many recent studies have examined the relationship between a polymorphism in the ADAMTS5 gene (rs226794) and the risk for developing osteoarthritis without definitive results. Objective: In this case-control study, we examined the correlation between the ADAMTS5 gene polymorphism, rs226794, and knee osteoarthritis. We used a meta-analysis and trial sequential analysis to determine whether ADAMTS5 rs226794 expression increases susceptibility to osteoarthritis. Methods: This study consisted of two parts: a case-control study and a meta-analysis. The case-control study included subjects who underwent knee radiography at the Health Examination Center of the Tri Service General Hospital from 2015 to 2019. The Kellgren–Lawrence (KL) grading system was used as diagnostic criteria. Patients with unsuccessful gene sequencing were excluded. There were 606 subjects in the knee osteoarthritis group (KL ≥ 2) and 564 in the control group (KL < 2). Gene sequencing was performed using iPLEX Gold to determine the association between the gene polymorphism of ADAMTS5 rs226794 and knee osteoarthritis. For the meta-analysis, databases such as PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane were queried to identify studies that examined the relationship between ADAMTS5 rs226794 and osteoarthritis. Next, the findings of the meta-analysis were incorporated with the results of the case-control study and samples from the published studies to estimate the association between the genetic polymorphism and osteoarthritis using an odds ratio and a 95% confidence interval. Results: We found a non-significant association between the G allele and knee OA (crude-OR: 0.93 (95% CI: 0.79–1.10) and adjusted-OR: 1.02 (95% CI: 0.76–1.36) in the allele model) in the present study, and the analysis of other genetic models revealed a similar trend. After including five published studies and our case-control study, the results with 2866 Asians indicated a conclusively null association between ADAMTS5 rs226794 and knee OA) OR: 1.09 (95% CI: 0.93–1.26). The results for Caucasians also revealed a null association (OR: 1.21 (95% CI: 0.81–1.82)). Conclusions: This study indicates that the gene polymorphism, ADAMTS5 rs226794, is not significantly associated with knee osteoarthritis. Additionally, assuming that the cumulative sample size in the allele model is sufficient, we confirmed that the G allele is not a risk factor for osteoarthritis. This study integrated all available evidence to arrive at this conclusion, and it suggests that no additional studies are necessary.

The synthesis and characterization of lead cation-incorporated strontium bismuth tantalate ferroelectrics were investigated. Monophasic layered perovskites were successfully prepared, and the formation of solid solutions of lead-doped SrBi₂Ta₂O₉ was corroborated. The value of lattice parameter c monotonicly increased with an increase in the lead content. The sinterability of the formed powder was poor; however, adding excess bismuth oxide markedly facilitated the sintering process. After sintering, the specimens exhibited strong preferred c-axis orientation. The degree of c-axis orientation significantly varied with the sintering temperature and the doping amount of lead species. SEM analysis indicated that the variation in the morphology of the grains was related to the degree of c-axis preferred orientation. The lead-doped specimens exhibited ferroelectric properties with well saturated P-E loops. Both the remanent polarization and the coercive field increased with the doping amount of lead cations.

Summary form only given. Flash memories have provided reliable solid-state storage solutions for over twenty years. In the last few years we have seen an explosive growth of NAND flash, fueled by digital camera, USB, MP3, iPhone and numerous new mobile applications. However, this phenomenal boom is silently threatened by scaling limitations intrinsically built into the flash devices. Old challenges such as scaling the charge tunneling oxide have remained unconquered (and now proven unconquerable) for nearly a decade, and new challenges such as floating gate cross talk become more serious with scaling. Will flash technology be simply a brief flash in the history of semiconductor? In this talk we will start with the flash memory technology and market trend. We will then discuss the scaling issues for NOR and NAND floating gate devices, and their fundamental limitations. Potential solutions, including both new devices and architecture and completely new types of non-volatile memory will then be discussed. Recent progresses in new NAND and NOR flash memory solutions or substitutes such as TANOS, BE-SONOS, 3D stacking and phase change memory will be examined in considerable details.

Knee osteoarthritis (KOA) inducing physiological pain and psychological health which is a public health issue in the older adults. However, research about the gender-specific effects on young–old and old–old is still scarce. The aim was to explore the vulnerability of physiology and psychology to KOA among the young–old and the old–old by gender. This case-control study recruited participants from health examinations at the Tri-Service General Hospital between March 2015 and October 2019. The Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Arthritis Index (WOMAC) and the 12-item short-form survey (SF-12) were used to evaluate the health status and quality of life (QoL) of subjects. Kellgren-Lawrence grading system (KL) was adopted to assess knee radiographs of subjects, KL grade ≥ 2 as KOA patients (KL grade ≥ 3 as severe KOA patients) and KL grade < 2 as controls. Student t-test and χ2 test were used to compare the distribution differences between KOA patients and controls, including demographic data, health statuses and QoL. The association of KOA and QoL was determined using multiple regression analysis. There were 772 subjects (young–old, n = 543; old–old, n = 229) in this study, 406 KOA patients (including 85 severe KOA patients) and 366 healthy individuals. In the young–old, KOA may play a least role in health status and QoL. However, in the old–old, males with severe KOA would cause a decrease in SF-12 mental component summary score (MCS) (β= −13.75, 95% CI: −23.90 to −3.61); however, females with severe KOA would cause a decrease in SF-12 physical functioning domain (β = −19.44; 95% CI: −35.32 to −3.56). The spectrum of anguish from KOA leads to differential reduction of QoL determined by age and gender. This study provides a glimpse on physiological and psychological need among the young–old and the old–old with KOA by gender.