Objective: To investigate the effect of human umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells (hUCMSCs) on the immune function and prognosis of patients with decompensated hepatitis B cirrhosis. Methods: A total of 65 patients with decompensated hepatitis B cirrhosis were divided into observation group and control group. The patients in the observation group were given intervention (via the proper hepatic artery or the portal vein) and intravenous infusion of 4×108 hUCMSCs in two doses, as well as the same basic treatment as in the control group. The patients in the control group were given conventional medical treatment. ELISA as used to measure the serum levels of interleukin-6 (IL-6), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNFα), interleukin-10 (IL-10), and transforming growth factor-β (TGFβ) in the observation group before surgery and at 1 week after surgery, as well as the serum levels of IL-6, TNFα, IL-10, and TGFβ in the control group on admission and at 1 week after admission. Flow cytometry was used to measure the percentage of lymphocyte subsets in the observation group before surgery and at 1 week after surgery, as well as that in the control group on admission and at 1 week after admission. In addition, the patients' prognosis and major complications during hospitalization were observed in both groups, and the patients were followed up for 24 weeks to record the number of deaths. The t-test was used for comparison of continuous data, and the chi-square test was used for comparison of categorical data which were expressed as percentages. Results: At 1 week after the transplantation of hUCMSCs, compared with the control group, the observation group had significant reductions in the serum levels of IL-6 and TNFα and significant increases in the serum levels of IL-10 and TGFβ (all P < 0.001), as well as significant increases in the percentages of T4 cells and Treg cells and significant reductions in the percentages of T8 cells and B cells (all P < 0.05). There were no significant differences in the changes in T3 cells and natural killer cells between the two groups (P > 0.05). Compared with the control group, the observation group had a significantly lower probability of progression to liver failure (6.45% vs 14.71%, P = 0.017). Conclusion: In the treatment of patients with decompensated hepatitis B cirrhosis, transplantation of UCMSCs can inhibit the proliferation of T cells and B cells and the differentiation of T8 cells, upregulate Treg cells, promote the secretion of immunosuppressive cytokines, and reduce the production of inflammatory cytokines. Therefore, it can alleviate liver inflammatory response and liver cell damage and reduce the probability of hepatic failure.

It has been proposed that fat grafts can improve the appearance of mature burn scars. The pluripotent progenitor cells contained within autologous adipose tissue grafts are believed to induce skin repair and improve scar appearance. We conducted a prospective, randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled study to evaluate the effects of fat grafts on the appearance of mature burn scars.

Lenalidomide plus dexamethasone is a reference treatment for patients with newly diagnosed myeloma. The combination of the proteasome inhibitor bortezomib with lenalidomide and dexamethasone has shown significant efficacy in the setting of newly diagnosed myeloma. We aimed to study whether the addition of bortezomib to lenalidomide and dexamethasone would improve progression-free survival and provide better response rates in patients with previously untreated multiple myeloma who were not planned for immediate autologous stem-cell transplant.

Daclizumab, a humanized monoclonal antibody, binds CD25 and blocks formation of the IL-2 receptor on T cells. A study of daclizumab as acute graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) prophylaxis after unrelated bone marrow transplantation was conducted before the importance of CD25+FOXP3+ regulatory T cells (Tregs) was recognized. Tregs can abrogate the onset of GVHD. The relation between Tregs and a graft-versus-malignancy effect is not fully understood. An international, multicenter, double-blind clinical trial randomized 210 adult or pediatric patients to receive 5 weekly doses of daclizumab at 0.3 mg/kg (n = 69) or 1.2 mg/kg (n = 76) or placebo (n = 65) after unrelated marrow transplantation for treatment of hematologic malignancies or severe aplastic anemia. The risk of acute GVHD did not differ among the groups (P = .68). Long-term follow-up of clinical outcomes and correlative analysis of peripheral blood T cell phenotype suggested that the patients treated with daclizumab had an increased risk of chronic GVHD (hazard ratio [HR], 1.49; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.0 to 2.3; P = .08) and a decreased risk of relapse (HR, 0.57; 95% CI, 0.3 to 1.0; P = .05), but similar survival (HR, 0.89; 95% CI, 0.6 to 1.3; P = .53). T cells from a subset of patients (n = 107) were analyzed by flow cytometry. Compared with placebo, treatment with daclizumab decreased the proportion of Tregs among CD4 T cells at days 11-35 and increased the proportion of central memory cells among CD4 T cells at 1 year. Prophylactic administration of daclizumab does not prevent acute GVHD, but may increase the risk of chronic GVHD and decrease the risk of relapse. By delaying Treg reconstitution and promoting immunologic memory, anti-CD25 therapy may augment alloreactivity and antitumor immunity.

Osteoarthritis (OA) is a common and debilitating chronic degenerative disease of the joints. Currently, cell-based therapy is being explored to address the repair of damaged articular cartilage in the knee joint.

Peripheral artery disease (PAD) is important to public health as a major contributor to cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. Recent developments in magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) techniques permit improved assessment of PAD anatomy and physiology, and may serve as surrogate end points after proangiogenic therapies.

High-dose chemotherapy prior to autologous stem cell transplantation (ASCT) leads to adverse effects including mucositis, neutropenia and bacteremia. To reduce the toxicity, we treated myeloma and lymphoma patients with peroral bismuth as an adjuvant to chemotherapy to convey cytoprotection in non-malignant cells.

The safety and efficacy of autologous bone marrow-derived mononuclear cell (BM-MNC) transplantation in the treatment of lower limb ischemia is becoming established, although common treatment protocols are not yet agreed upon. We hypothesized that bone marrow mobilization with granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) improves the safety and effectiveness of cellular therapy.

Delayed encephalopathy after carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning (DEACMP) is still a clinical challenge. This study aimed to investigate the efficacy of combined therapy of mesenchymal stem cell (MSC) transplantation and butylphthalide in DEACMP patients.Forty-two DEACMP patients were treated with 1 of the 3 therapies: combined therapy of MSC transplantation and butylphthalide; MSC transplantation alone; or hyperbaric oxygen therapy. The MSCs were alternatively injected into the subarachnoid space and the carotid artery using a self-made high-pressure injector. The Mini-Mental State Examination and the Barthel index of activities of daily living were administered before the treatment, and at 1 month, 3 months, and 6 months after the treatment. Computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging results before and after the treatment were compared.At 1 month, 3 months, and 6 months after the treatment, the Mini-Mental State Examination scores and the Barthl scores were significantly higher in patients with the combined therapy of MSC transplantation and butylphthalide than those in patients with MSC transplantation alone or hyperbaric oxygen therapy (all P < 0.0001). No significant adverse events occurred.The combination of MSC transplantation and butylphthalide is safe and effective in treating DEACMP.

To investigate the safety and efficacy of human umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) by intra-articular injection for degenerative knee osteoarthritis.

New therapies for refractory angina are needed.

Mechanical stretch, in term of skin expansion, can induce effective but limited in vivo skin regeneration for complex skin defect reconstruction. We propose a strategy to obtain regenerated skin by combining autologous stem cell transplantation with mechanical stretch.

Subtalar arthrodesis is the mainstay for treatment of a variety of hindfoot problems associated with arthritis, however with an unpredictable if not high rate of nonunion. This article covers the use of adipose-derived stem cells as an adjunct or alternative to autologous or other bone grafting materials. Promising development and encouraging data exist with respect to the use of adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells for bone arthrodesis, which is discussed in more detail in the article.

Potential benefits of mesenchymal stem cell (MSC) therapy in heart failure may be related to paracrine properties and systemic effects, including anti-inflammatory activities. If this hypothesis is valid, intravenous administration of MSCs should improve outcomes in heart failure, an entity in which excessive chronic inflammation may play a pivotal role.

Although human mesenchymal stem cells (hMSCs) have been tested in ischemic cardiomyopathy, few studies exist in chronic nonischemic dilated cardiomyopathy (NIDCM).

(1) Background: Endothelial dysfunction predicts cardiovascular events. Circulating angiogenic cells (CACs) maintain and repair the endothelium regulating its function. Tea flavonoids reduce cardiovascular risk. We investigated the effects of black tea on the number of CACs and on flow-mediated dilation (FMD) before and after an oral fat in hypertensives; (2) Methods: In a randomized, double-blind, controlled, cross-over study, 19 patients were assigned to black tea (150 mg polyphenols) or a placebo twice a day for eight days. Measurements were obtained in a fasted state and after consuming whipping cream, and FMD was measured at baseline and after consumption of the products; (3) Results: Compared with the placebo, black tea ingestion increased functionally active CACs (36 ± 22 vs. 56 ± 21 cells per high-power field; p = 0.006) and FMD (5.0% ± 0.3% vs. 6.6% ± 0.3%, p < 0.0001). Tea further increased FMD 1, 2, 3, and 4 h after consumption, with maximal response 2 h after intake (p < 0.0001). Fat challenge decreased FMD, while tea consumption counteracted FMD impairment (p < 0.0001); (4) Conclusions: We demonstrated the vascular protective properties of black tea by increasing the number of CACs and preventing endothelial dysfunction induced by acute oral fat load in hypertensive patients. Considering that tea is the most consumed beverage after water, our findings are of clinical relevance and interest.

Cultured meat is an unfamiliar emerging food technology that could provide a near endless supply of high quality protein with a relatively small ecological footprint. To understand consumer acceptance of cultured meat, this study investigated the influence of information provision on the explicit and implicit attitude toward cultured meat. Three experiments were conducted using a Solomon four-group design to rule out pretest sensitization effects. The first experiment (N = 190) showed that positive or negative information about cultured meat changed the explicit attitude in the direction of the information. This effect was smaller for participants who were more familiar with cultured meat. In the second experiment (N = 194) positive information was provided about solar panels, an attitude object belonging to the same sustainable product category as sustainable food products such as cultured meat. Positive information about solar panels was found to change the explicit attitude in the direction of the information. Using mood induction, the third experiment (N = 192) ruled out the alternative explanation that explicit attitude change in experiment 1 and 2 was caused by content free affect rather than category based inferences. The implicit attitude appeared insensitive to both information or mood state in all three experiments. These findings show that the explicit attitude toward cultured meat can be influenced by information about the sustainability of cultured meat and information about a positively perceived sustainable product. This effect was shown to be content based rather than merely affect based. Content based information in a relevant context could therefore contribute to the commercial success of cultured meat.

Since skin moisturization may be achieved by both actives and chosen carrier, plant stem cells, squalene and natural alkyl polyglucoside emulsifier may be potential components of contemporary cosmetic products. The aim of the study was in vivo evaluation of the skin irritation potential and the efficacy of Alpine Rose stem cells incorporated into li-posomes and olive oil squalene as ingredients of moisturizing creams, with respect to the novel emulsifier used for creams’ stabilization.

The effect of combined cytokine and cell therapy in ischaemic cardiomyopathy is unknown. Meta-analyses suggest improved cardiac function with cell therapy. The optimal cell delivery route remains unclear. We investigated whether granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) alone or in combination with intracoronary (i.c.) or intramyocardial (i.m.) injection of autologous bone marrow-derived cells (BMCs) improves cardiac function.