WBNAA did not correlate with lesion load or EDSS.\n\nCONCLUSIONS: Normal WBNAA is not characteristic of benign MS and is not an early predictor of its course. These patients, therefore, probably benefit from successful compensation and sparing of eloquent regions. Because they may ultimately have a rapid decline once their brain plasticity is exhausted, they may benefit from treatment options offered to more affected patients.”
“Cysteine (C)-X-C chemokine receptor-4 (CXCR4)

is the primary transmembrane receptor for stromal cell-derived factor-1 (SDF-1). We previously reported in mouse or human bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stromal stem cells (BMSCs) that deleting or antagonizing CXCR4 inhibits RSL3 nmr bone morphogenetic protein-2 (BMP2)-induced osteogenic differentiation. The goal of this study was to determine whether

CXCR4-deficiency in BMSCs is an age-related effect in association with impaired osteogenic differentiation potency of aged BMSCs. Using BMSCs derived from C57BL/6J wild type mice at ages ranging from 3 to 23 months old, we detected decreased CXCR4 mRNA and protein expression as well as SDF-1 secretion with advancing aging. Moreover, CXCR4-deficient BMSCs from elderly vs. young mice exhibited impaired osteogenic differentiation in response to BMP2 stimulation Cell Cycle inhibitor or when cultured in dexamethasone (Dex)-containing osteogenic medium, evidenced by decreased alkaline phosphatase activity, osteocalcM AZD3965 in vivo synthesis, and calcium deposition (markers for immature and mature osteoblasts). Mechanistically, impaired BMP2- or Dex-osteoinduction in BMSCs of elderly mice was mediated by inhibited phosphorylation

of intracellular R-Smads and Erk1/2 or Erk1/2 and p38 proteins, and decreased Runx2 and Osx expression (osteogenesis “master” regulators) were also detected. Furthermore, adenovirus-mediated repair of CXCR4 expression in BMSCs of elderly mice restored their osteogenic differentiation potentials to both BMP2 treatment and osteogenic medium. Collectively, our results demonstrate for the first time that CXCR4 expression in mouse BMSCs declines with aging, and this CXCR4-deficiency impairs osteogenic differentiation potency of aged BMSCs. These findings provide novel insights into mechanisms underlying age-related changes in BMSC-osteogenesis, and will potentiate CXCR4 as a therapeutic target to improve BMSC-based bone repair and regeneration in broad orthopedic situations. (C) 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.”
“Objective: As part of new drug development initiatives in Thailand, a new tablet formulation of dihydroartemisinin (DHA, an antimalarial drug) has been developed. Our previous bioequivalence study indicated that the new and reference DHA formulations were well tolerated; however, a significant decrease in hemoglobin was detected after a single 200-mg oral close. To explore further, a clinical study with an emphasis on hematological parameters was conducted.