Search

Background. Joint articular injection of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) has emerged as a novel treatment approach for osteoarthritis (OA). However, the effectiveness of MSCs derived from different sources in treating OA patients remains unclear. Therefore, this study aimed to explore the differences between the effectiveness and safety of different sources of MSCs. Materials and Methods. For inclusion consideration, we searched trial registries and published databases, including PubMed, Cochrane Library, Embase, and Web of Science databases. Revman (V5.3), STATA (V16.0), and R (V4.0) were utilized for conducting data analysis, while the Cochrane Risk of Bias Tool was employed for assessing the quality of the studies. We derived outcome measures at 6 and 12 months based on the duration of study follow-up, including visual analog scale (VAS) score, WOMAC score, WOMAC pain, WOMAC Functional Limitation, and WOMAC stiffness. The evaluation time for short-term effectiveness is set at 6 months, while 12 months is utilized as the longest follow-up time for most studies to assess long-term effectiveness. Results. The evaluation of literature quality showed that the included studies had excellent methodological quality. A meta-analysis revealed that different sources of MSCs improved knee function and pain more effectively among patients suffering from knee OA (KOA) than controls. The results of the network meta-analysis showed the following: short-term functional improvement (the indexes were evaluated after 6 months of follow-up) (WOMAC total score: bone marrow-derived MSC (BMMSC) vs. adipose-derived MSC (ADMSC) (mean difference (MD) = −20.12, 95% confidence interval (CI) −125.24 to 42.88), umbilical cord-derived MSC (UCMSC) (MD = −7.81, 95% CI −158.13 to 74.99); WOMAC stiffness: BMMSC vs. ADMSC (MD = −0.51, 95% CI −7.27 to 4.29), UCMSC (MD = −0.75, 95% CI −9.74 to 6.63); WOMAC functional limitation: BMMSC vs. ADMSC (MD = −12.22, 95% CI −35.05 to 18.86), UCMSC (MD = −9.31, 95% CI −44.26 to 35.27)). Long-term functional improvement (the indexes were evaluated after 12 months of follow-up) (WOMAC total: BMMSC vs. ADMSC (MD = −176.77, 95% CI −757.1 to 378.25), UCMSC (MD = −181.55, 95% CI −937.83 to 541.13); WOMAC stiffness: BMMSC vs. ADMSC (MD = −0.5, 95% CI −26.05 to 18.61), UCMSC (MD = −1.03, 95% CI −30.44 to 21.69); WOMAC functional limitation: BMMSC vs. ADMSC (MD = −5.18, 95% CI −316.72 to 177.1), UCMSC (MD = −8.33, 95% CI −358.78 to 218.76)). Short-term pain relief (the indexes were evaluated after 6 months of follow-up) (VAS score: UCMSC vs. BMMSC (MD = −10.92, 95% CI −31.79 to 12.03), ADMSC (MD = −14.02, 95% CI −36.01 to 9.81), PLMSC (MD = −17.09, 95% CI −46.31 to 13.17); WOMAC pain relief: BMMSC vs. ADMSC (MD = −11.42, 95% CI −39.52 to 11.77), UCMSC (MD = −6.73, 95% CI −47.36 to 29.15)). Long-term pain relief (the indexes were evaluated after 12 months of follow-up) (VAS score: BMMSC vs. UCMSC (MD = −4.33, 95% CI −36.81 to 27.08), ADMSC (MD = −11.43, 95% CI −37.5 to 13.42); WOMAC pain relief: UCMSC vs. ADMSC (MD = 0.23, 95% CI −37.87 to 38.11), BMMSC (MD = 5.89, 95% CI −25.39 to 51.41)). According to the GRADE scoring system, WOMAC, VAS, and AE scores were of low quality. Conclusion. Meta-analysis suggests MSCs can effectively treat KOA by improving pain and knee function compared to control groups. In terms of functional improvement in KOA patients, both short-term (6-month follow-up) and long-term (12-month follow-up) results indicated that while the differences between most treatments were not statistically significant, bone marrow-derived MSCs may have some advantages over other sources of MSCs. Additionally, BM-MSCs and UC-MSCs may offer certain benefits over ADMSCs in terms of pain relief for KOA patients, although the variances between most studies were not statistically significant. Therefore, this study suggests that BM-MSCs may present clinical advantages over other sources of MSCs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In order to further improve the emulsion stability and the intrinsic performance of self-emulsified epoxy resin, a novel amphipathic resin was synthesized from dodecylsuccinic anhydride (DDSA), methoxypolyethylene glycols and bisphenol-A epoxy. Similar systems based on different anhydrides including methyl hexahydrophthalic anhydride (MHHPA) as well as phthalic anhydride (PA) were prepared simultaneously for comparison. The stabilities of various emulsions were evaluated according to particle diameter, centrifugal stability and surface tension tests. Meanwhile, the curing behaviors, thermal resistances and interface properties between resins and diverse reinforcement fibers were also investigated. The results showed that introducing of DDSA could effectively enhance the stability of emulsion with the surface tension reducing to 37.22 mN/m. The microdebonding strength between the self-emulsifying resin system and carbon fiber is poor, but its interfacial strength with ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene fibers is better than that of the MHHPA and PA systems, and it has excellent overall performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Several studies have shown that hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) ameliorates chronic renal failure, but its mechanism of action is unclear. This study was designed to test the delivery of HGF in the PCI-neo vector, using the 5/6 nephrectomized rat as a model for chronic renal failure, and to confirm that this protective function is associated with decreased protein expression of transforming growth factor-beta1 (TGF-β1). Rats were randomly divided into the following groups: Control (untreated), PCI-neo (vector control), 5/6 nephrectomy, and PCI-neo-HGF. Rats were sacrificed at both the fifth and ninth week after 5/6 nephrectomy. Kidney specimens were used for pathological examination (hematoxylin-eosin staining), and detection of TGF-β1 protein (Western blot and immunohistochemistry) expression. Blood urea nitrogen, serum creatinine, and 24-h urinary protein excretion (UPE) were increased, renal interstitium was seriously injured, and TGF-β1 protein expression was elevated in 5/6 nephrectomized rats compared to control rats at either time point. Red blood cell and hemoglobin levels decreased in the ninth week after 5/6 nephrectomy. PCI-neo-HGF expression ameliorated the aforementioned changes and decreased TGF-β1 expression, not only in the fifth week, but also in the ninth week after surgery. The process of renal injury in the 5/6 nephrectomized rat was consistent with that of chronic renal failure. The increase in TGF-β1 expression was maintained after 5/6 nephrectomy. HGF relieved chronic renal failure, this protection was associated with down-regulation of TGF-β1 protein expression, and the protective effects were long-term and stable after 5/6 nephrectomy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed to examine whether hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) can improve renal function in 5/6 nephrectomized rats and investigate whether this function is associated with a decrease in α-smooth muscle actin ( α-SMA) expression in rat glomerulus mesangial cells and renal interstitium. Rats were randomly divided into the following groups: control, PCI-neo, sham-operation, 5/6 nephrectomy, and low-dose and high-dose PCI-neo-HGF. Rats were killed in the ninth week after 5/6 nephrectomy, and the kidney specimens were subjected to pathological examination by Hematoxylin-Eosin staining and detection of α-SMA expression by reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), Western blot, and immunohistochemistry. The results showed that blood urea nitrogen and serum creatinine levels were increased, renal interstitium was injured, and α-SMA expression was elevated in 5/6 nephrectomized rats compared with that in control. The above changes were ameliorated in the rats injected with PCI-neo-HGF vector. At the molecular level we found that PCI-neo-HGF repressed α-SMA expression in mesangial cells stimulated by lipopolysaccharide. In conclusion, our data suggest that HGF can relieve chronic renal failure, and this protection is associated with the down-regulation of α-SMA expression in mesangial cells and renal interstitium. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To explore the quality of life among people living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA) and analyze the influencing factors in Kunming., Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted from March to April in year 2011, and 247 PLWHA were selected by convenience sampling from Yunnan CDC, Yunnan and Kunming infectious disease hospitals. General questionnaires, the simplified Chinese edition of medical outcomes study-HIV health survey (MOS-HIV, including 11 dimensions) and Social Support Scale were used. t test and multivariable linear regression model were used to analyze the results., Results: For the subjects investigated, the age was (39.8 +/- 11.9) years old, the median (quartile) value of symptoms related to HIV infection was 1(2). As to the scores of quality of life measured by MOS-HIV, physical summary score was 47.4 +/- 11.2, mental summary score was 43.6 +/- 9.7; for the scores of 11 dimensions of the MOS-HIV,that were general health (42.9 +/- 19.9), physical function (79.4 +/- 24.9), role function (59.8 +/- 48.2), social function (67.0 +/- 33.6), cognitive function (71.0 +/- 25.4), pain (81.3 +/- 26.2), mental health (62.0 +/- 22.3), vitality (49.3 +/- 23.8), health distress (74.4 +/- 21.0), quality of life (51.8 +/- 21.1), health transition (49.0 +/- 29.8). The total score of social support was 28.6 +/- 7.6, of which the score of subjective social support was 17.2 +/- 6.3, the score of the objective social support was 5.9 +/- 2.2; the score of the utilization of social support was 5.5 +/- 1.9. Multivariable linear regression analysis showed that the more the symptoms related to HIV infection, the lower the physical summary scores (standardized coefficients b' = -0.22), the general health (b' = - 0.31), the physical function (b' = -0.16), the role function (b' = -0.23), the pain (b' = -0.21), the mental health (b' = -0.22), the vitality (b' = -0.22) and the health distress scores (b' = - 0.24) (all P values < 0.05); the older the age, the lower the physical summary scores (b' = - 0.16), the mental summary scores (b' = - 0.16), the physical function (b' = -0.26), the vitality (b' = -0.26) and the quality of life scores (b' = -0.17) (all P values < 0.05); the higher the score of the subjective social support,the higher the physical summary scores (b' = 0.26), the mental summary scores (b' = 0.22), the general health (b' = 0.27), the social function (b' = 0.26), the mental health (b' = 0.15) and the quality of life scores (b' = 0.22) (all P values < 0.05); the higher the score of the utilization of social support, the higher the physical function (b' = 0.16) and the health transition scores (b' = 0.31) (all P values < 0.05)., Conclusion: PLWHA in Kunming have relatively lower scores of quality of life. A large number of symptoms during infection, older age and lower score of subjective social support were the hazard factors of quality of life in PLWHA.

Several studies have shown that hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) ameliorates renal interstitial fibrosis, but the mechanism is not fully clear. This study was designed to examine whether HGF can relieve renal interstitial injury in 5/6 nephrectomized rats, and to confirm whether this function was associated with decrease in alpha-smooth muscle actin (alpha-SMA) and transforming growth factor-betal (TGF-beta1) expression. The animals were randomized into 8 groups comprising 6 animals (n = 6) each: control (group I), PCI-neo (group II, 900 microg), sham-operation (group III, not nephrectomy), model or 5/6 nephrectomy group (group IV), lotensin group (an angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitor, group V, 0.6 mg/100 g/day for 5 weeks), low-dose PCI-neo-HGF group (group VI, 690 microg), high-dose PCI-neo-HGF group (group VII, 1380 microg) and lotensin + high-dose PCI-neo-HGF group (group VIII, 0.6 mg/100 g/day for 5 weeks, 1380 microg). The animals were sacrificed in the 5th week after 5/6 nephrectomy. The specimens of kidneys were used for pathological examination (hematoxylin-eosin staining), detection of alpha-SMA and TGF-beta1 mRNA (Reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction) and protein (Western blot and immunohistochemistry) expression. The results showed that in 5/6 nephrectomized rats blood urea nitrogen (BUN), serum creatinine (CRE) and 24 h urinary albumin excretion (UAE) were increased, renal interstitium was injured seriously and alpha-SMA, TGF-beta1 mRNA and protein expression were elevated compared with those of control. The above changes were ameliorated and alpha-SMA and TGF-beta 1 expression was reduced by both PCI-neo-HGF and lotensin. The lotensin + high-dose PCI-neo-HGF group rats exhibited the most significant therapeutic effect both in decreasing the BUN, CRE and 24 h UAE and in relieving renal interstitial injury. In conclusion, the study demonstrated that HGF can relieve renal interstitial injury and this protection was associated with down-regulation of a-SMA and TGF-beta 1 expressions.

The clinical throat swab specimen of an imported suspected case of influenza A (H1N1) was detec ted with real-time PCR, RT-PCR and subsequently confirmed by gene sequencing. The presence of influ enza A (H1N1) virus confirmed the first case with A (H1N1) infection in Mainland China.