University of Southern Denmark

About: University of Southern Denmark is a education organization based out in Odense, Syddanmark, Denmark. It is known for research contribution in the topics: Population & Randomized controlled trial. The organization has 11928 authors who have published 37918 publications receiving 1258559 citations. The organization is also known as: SDU.

Teratoma Formation by Human Embryonic Stem Cells Is Site Dependent and Enhanced by the Presence of Matrigel

Abstract: When implanted into immunodeficient mice, human embryonic stem cells (hESCs) give rise to teratoma, tumor-like formations containing tissues belonging to all three germ layers. The ability to form teratoma is a sine qua non characteristic of pluripotent stem cells. However, limited data are available regarding the effects of implantation site and the methods employed for implantation on the success rate of teratoma formation. In this study, the rate of teratoma formation in immunodeficient mice was site dependent: subcutaneous (25-100%), intratesticular (60%), intramuscular (12.5%), and under the kidney capsule (100%). Co-injecting the hESCs with Matrigel increased subcutaneous teratoma formation efficiency from 25-40% to 80-100%. We did not observe site-specific differences in the teratoma composition at the histological level. However, subcutaneous teratomas were quite distinct, easy to remove, and caused minimal discomfort to the mice. Also, subcutaneous teratomas displayed larger proportion of solid tissues as opposed to cyst formation that dominated the teratomas formed at the other sites. Interestingly, a chromosomally abnormal hESCs with trisomy 20 formed teratomas where the ratio of differentiated to undifferentiated tissues was significantly decreased suggesting defective pluripotency of the cells. In conclusion, subcutaneous implantation of hESCs in presence of Matrigel appears to be the most efficient, reproducible, and the easiest approach for teratoma formation by hESCs. Also, teratoma formation can be employed to study the development defects exhibited by the chromosomally abnormal hESC lines.

Blockade of the Intermediate-Conductance Calcium-Activated Potassium Channel as a New Therapeutic Strategy for Restenosis

Abstract: Background— Angioplasty stimulates proliferation and migration of vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMC), leading to neointimal thickening and vascular restenosis. In a rat model of balloon catheter injury (BCI), we investigated whether alterations in expression of Ca2+-activated K+ channels (KCa) contribute to intimal hyperplasia and vascular restenosis. Methods and Results— Function and expression of KCa in mature medial and neointimal VSMC were characterized in situ by combined single-cell RT-PCR and patch-clamp analysis. Mature medial VSMC exclusively expressed large-conductance KCa (BKCa) channels. Two weeks after BCI, expression of BKCa was significantly reduced in neointimal VSMC, whereas expression of intermediate-conductance KCa (IKCa1) channels was upregulated. In the aortic VSMC cell line, A7r5 epidermal growth factor (EGF) induced IKCa1 upregulation and EGF-stimulated proliferation was suppressed by the selective IKCa1 blocker TRAM-34. Daily in vivo administration of TRAM-34 to rats significantly...

Self-Propelled Oil Droplets Consuming Fuel Surfactant

Abstract: A micrometer-sized oil droplet of 4-octylaniline containing 5 mol % of an amphiphilic catalyst exhibited a self-propelled motion, producing tiny oil droplets, in an aqueous dispersion of an amphiphilic precursor of 4-octylaniline. The tiny droplets on the surface of the self-propelled droplet were conveyed to the posterior surface and released to the aqueous solution. Thus the persistent movement becomes possible in this chemical system, because the processing of chemical energy to mechanical movement proceeds by consuming exogenous fuel, not consuming the oil droplet itself. The mechanism of the unidirectional motion is hypothesized in terms of an asymmetric interfacial tension around the surface of the oil droplet.

Bowel dysfunction after low anterior resection with and without neoadjuvant therapy for rectal cancer: a population-based cross-sectional study.

Abstract: Aim Bowel dysfunction was assessed after low anterior resection with and without neoadjuvant therapy (NT) for rectal cancer using a novel symptom-based scoring system correlated with quality of life. Method We identified all patients who underwent curative resection for rectal cancer in Denmark between 2001 and 2007. A questionnaire on bowel function and quality of life, including the recently validated low anterior resection syndrome score (LARS score; range 0–42) was administered to recurrence-free patients in 2009. We used multivariate analysis to examine the association between major LARS (LARS score ≥ 30) and a number of patient and treatment-related factors. Results Of 1087 eligible patients, 980 agreed to participate and, of these, 938 were included in the analysis. Major LARS was observed in 41%. The use of NT (OR = 2.48; 95% CI: 1.73–3.55), long-course chemoradiotherapy vs short-course radiotherapy (OR = 0.90; 95% CI: 0.44–1.87), total mesorectal excision (TME) vs partial mesorectal excision (PME) (OR = 2.31; 95% CI: 1.69–3.16), anastomotic leakage (OR = 2.06; 95% CI: 0.93–4.55), age ≤ 64 years at surgery (OR = 1.90; 95% CI: 1.43–2.51) and female gender (OR = 1.35; 95% CI 1.02–1.79) were associated with major LARS. No association was found between major LARS and the time since surgery (OR = 0.78; 95% CI: 0.59–1.04) or neorectal reconstruction (colonic pouch vs straight colorectal or side-to-end anastomosis (OR = 0.96; 95% CI: 0.63–1.46). Conclusion Severe bowel dysfunction is a frequent long-term outcome after resection for rectal cancer. Use of NT, regardless of a long- or short-course protocol, and TME (compared with PME) are strong independent risk factors for major LARS.