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Knee osteoarthritis (OA) is the most prevalent degenerative musculoskeletal disorder, which is particularly common in older population. While conventional treatments have limited effectiveness, the development of more effective therapeutic strategies is necessary to address this primary source of pain and disability. Umbilical cord mesenchymal stromal cells (UC-MSCs) offer a promising therapeutic approach for treating knee OA. This randomized, prospective, double-blind and controlled pilot study was carried out to evaluate and compare the safety and therapeutic efficacy of a single intra-articular injection of a standardized product CellistemOA (5 × 106 ± 5 × 105 UC-MSCs), vs. triamcinolone (a synthetic corticosteroid) (10 mg/mL) in thirty patients with symptomatic knee OA (Kellgren–Lawrence grade II or III). The outcomes included changes in Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC) scores based on a Likert scale, numerical rating score (NRS) for pain, Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI), and quality of life (SF-36 questionnaire), from baseline and throughout 12-months of follow-up. Patients treated with CellistemOA showed significant improvement in WOMAC score (including the three subscale scores (pain, stiffness and function), NRS in pain, and SF-36 profile from baseline to 12 months (p < 0.05) compared to the triamcinolone group, and no severe adverse events were reported. There were no significant differences in MRI WORMS scores between the two groups. However, patients who received the cellular treatment experienced a significant improvement in their SF-36 profile (p < 0.05). This pilot study revealed that a single dose of CellistemOA is safe and superior to the active comparator in knee OA at 1-year of follow-up, making it a compelling therapeutic alternative to treat symptomatic OA patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Diabetes-related foot complications have been identified as the most common isolated cause of morbidity among patients with diabetes and the leading cause of amputation. Therefore, new strategies to stimulate skin regeneration may provide a novel therapeutic approach to reduce non-healing ulcer disease. Recently, we demonstrated in proof-of-concept in humans that administration of allogeneic bone marrow mesenchymal stromal cellss derivatives (allo-hBM-MSCDs) is effective in a similar way to the use of allogeneic bone marrow mesenchymal stromal cellss (allo-hBM-MSCs) in grade 2 diabetic foot ulcers (DFUs). Aim: To assess the safety and efficacy profile of the allo-hBM-MSCDs relative to the conventional approach (PolyMen® dressing) in 1/2 clinical trial phases in patients with grade 1 and 2 DFUs. Methods: In the present study, we used 2 doses of allo-hBM-MSCDs (1 mL) or 1 dose of allo-hBM-MSCs (1 × 106 cells) intradermally injected around wounds and assessed their safety and effectiveness, relative to the conventional approach (PolyMem dressing). Allo-hBM-MSCDs and allo-hBM-MSCs were produced in a certified Good Manufacturing Practice-type Laboratory. Patients with grade 1 and 2 DFUs were randomized to receive allo-hBM-MSCDs (n=12), allo-hBM-MSCs (n=6) or conventional treatment (PolyMem dressing) (n=10). The wound-healing process was macroscopically evaluated until the complete closure of the ulcers. Results: No adverse events were reported. Patients with grade 1 and 2 DFUs treated with either allo-hBM-MSCDs or allo-hBM-MSCs, achieved greater percentages of wound closure, enhanced skin regeneration in shorter times and a greater ulcer-free survival relative to the patients who received conventional treatment. Finally, through proteomic analysis, we elucidated the proteins and growth factors that are secreted by allo-hBM-MSCs and relevant to the wound-healing process. In addition, by combining proteomics with Gene Ontology analysis, we comprehensively classified secreted proteins on both biological process and molecular function. Conclusions: In this phase 1/2 trial, our cumulative results suggest that 2 doses of allo-hBM-MSCDs combined with a wound dressing are a safe and effective treatment for grade 1 and 2 DFUs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) is an option treatment for many types of hematologic diseases. However, HSCT leads to short- and long-term complications. Endocrinology complications are one those and even if is not the most common group of complications, their diagnoses and treatment can improve the quality of life in the patients. To determine the cumulative incidence of metabolic alterations after 1st, 3rd and 5th year of HSCT in patients treated in a Colombian population. We conducted an analytical and observational retrospective cohort of adult patients treated with autologous and allogeneic HSCT at a fourth level referral center in Colombia from 2009 to 2018. The evaluated metabolic complications were metabolic syndrome, hypertriglyceridemia, low HDL cholesterol, hypercholesterolemia, atherogenic dyslipidemia, overweight, obesity, prediabetes, diabetes mellitus, hypertension and hyperuricemia. A total of 217 patients were included, 53% were men and mean age was 46 years. 155 (71.4%) patients had autologous HSCT and 62 (28.6%) patients had allogeneic HSCT. Results for the 1st year were obtained from 171 patients, for 3rd year from 68 patients and 5th year from 20 patients. By type of transplant, the highest cumulative incidence in the group of patients treated with autologous HSCT was overweight (43%, 60.5% and 69%) followed by obesity (9.2%, 17.6% and 69%), while hypercholesterolemia presented the highest cumulative incidence (38.4%, 52% and 53.8%) followed by low HDL cholesterol (44%, 46% and 46%) in the group of patients treated with allogenic HSCT. The results of the evaluated alterations are shown in the attached figures. Metabolic alterations are an important group of complications that needs to be taken into account even before and after the HSCT so an adequate prevention and treatment can be stablished, leading to decrease the risk of mortality in this group of patients. This study also suggests differences between the cumulative incidence of metabolic disease by type of transplant. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]