Mutations in Fused in Sarcoma (FUS) are associated with neurodegenerative disorders, including amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and frontotemporal dementia (FTD). This systematic review examined the connections between DNA damage in the central nervous system (CNS), dysfunction of DNA repair processes and the FUS proteinopathy. Twelve peer-reviewed publications were analyzed, investigating this question across a range of models, including immortalized cell lines, ALS-FTD patient-derived induced pluripotent stem cells, mouse tissues and post-mortem samples from ALS-FTD patients. The studies also explored the impact of inducing DNA damage using several agents, including calicheamicin and etoposide, on FUS pathology. Our findings indicated that accumulated DNA damage was documented in all twelve studies, with a key finding being the disruption of interactions between FUS and the DNA damage response (DDR). FUS interactions with various DDR and DNA repair proteins involved in sensing DNA damage and executing the major repair pathways were impaired, resulting in elevated levels of DNA damage in both the nucleus and mitochondria. Therefore, FUS is an essential protein for the preservation of genomic integrity and this loss of genome stability is likely to be a key contributor to the neurodegeneration in ALS-FTD.

Background/Objectives: Non-ischemic cardiomyopathy (NICM) refers to myocardial disease characterized by structural and functional impairment without coronary artery disease. Stem cell therapy has emerged as a potential treatment to restore heart function in NICM, but clinical results have been inconsistent. Methods: This meta-analysis comprises five randomized controlled trials with a total of 302 patients, retrieved from PubMed, ScienceDirect, the Cochrane Library, and SAGE Journals. Results: Compared with the control group, stem cell therapy group showed significant improvements in the left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) at the 3-month follow-up (MD = 4.55, 95% CI 2.12-6.98, p = 0.0002), a reduction in the left ventricular end-diastolic diameter (LVEDD) at the 3-month follow-up (MD = -3.83, 95% CI -7.27 to -0.39, p = 0.03) and an improvement in the New York Heart Association (NYHA) functional class both at 3 months (MD = -0.58 95% CI -0.97 to -0.19, p = 0.004) and 12 months (MD = -0.49 95% CI -0.91 to -0.07, p = 0.02). Additionally, there was a significant decrease in the Minnesota Living with Heart Failure Questionnaire (MLHFQ) score at the 6-month follow-up (MD = -14.05, 95% CI -25.97 to -2.13, p = 0.021). However, no significant differences were observed in the left ventricular end-diastolic volume (LVEDV), left ventricular end-systolic volume (LVESV), 6-min walk test (6-MWT), or major adverse cardiovascular events (MACEs) between the two groups. Conclusions: Bone marrow-derived stem cell therapy could be a promising and safe method to improve cardiac function and quality of life in patients with NICM. Further large-scale randomized controlled trials are needed to validate these findings.

Cancer stem cells (CSCs) are responsible for drug therapy resistance, recurrence and metastasis in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Certain microRNAs (miRNAs/miRs) are involved in various pathological cancer pathways via their binding interactions with target mRNAs. The objectives of the present study were to explore the potential microRNAs associated with HCC-CSCs, and to investigate their roles in recurrence, metastasis and drug resistance. Initially, a registered systematic review (CRD42024508526; International Prospective Register of Systematic Reviews) identified a group of miRNAs associated with HCC prognosis, and the Coremine Medical data mining tool identified another group of potential miRNAs associated with HCC-CSCs, recurrence, metastasis and drug resistance. Secondly, potential miRNAs that were associated with HCC prognosis, CSCs, recurrence, metastasis and drug resistance were detected by comparing the two groups of miRNAs. Subsequently, the expression levels of a potential miRNA in HCC tissues and its prognostic predictive power were evaluated using the Encyclopedia of RNA Interactomes and Kaplan-Meier plotter online tools. In addition, the expression levels of the target miRNA in Huh7-CSCs and Huh7 cells were measured using reverse transcription-quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR). Finally, the potential biological processes of the miRNA target genes were examined through bioinformatics analysis using the Enrichr database. Briefly, hsa-miR-17-5p was predicted to be associated with stemness, metastasis, recurrence and drug resistance in HCC. Bioinformatics analysis demonstrated that miR-17-5p expression was higher in HCC tissues compared with that in para-tumor tissues and that patients with low miR-17-5p expression demonstrated higher overall survival rates (months). The RT-qPCR results indicated that miR-17-5p expression in Huh7-CSCs was significantly higher compared with that in Huh7 cells. Further bioinformatics analysis suggested that miR-17-5p maintains stemness by targeting hypoxia-inducible factor-1α (HIF1A) and Myc. Additionally, the target genes of miR-17-5p were revealed to be involved in cell fate and metabolic reprogramming pathways. In conclusion, miR-17-5p may be a potential miRNA associated with CSCs, metastasis, recurrence and drug resistance in HCC via cell fate and metabolic reprogramming pathways. miR-17-5p exhibited higher expression in HCC-CSCs compared with that in HCC cell lines, and may target HIF1A and Myc to maintain HCC-CSCs stemness.

While setons are commonly used in the multidisciplinary care of patients with perianal fistulizing Crohn's disease (PFCD), fistula outcomes after their removal are poorly understood. We performed a systematic review with meta-analysis to evaluate fistula outcomes after seton removal in patients with PFCD.

The management of glenohumeral osteoarthritis (GHOA) is challenging, particularly in patients who are not eligible for surgery. In recent years, several injectable therapies, including hyaluronic acid (HA), corticosteroids (CCs), platelet-rich plasma (PRP), bone marrow aspirate concentrate (BMAC), and mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs), have emerged as potential options for managing pain and improving joint function. This systematic review aims to summarise the current evidence on infiltrative strategies to manage GHOA in adults.

The following systematic review provides an evaluation of the effectiveness of mesenchymal stem cell (MSC) transplantation in the treatment of osteogenesis imperfecta (OI). After reviewing 40 studies, 9 human clinical studies that included case reports or case series were included and resulted in a total of 12 patients with OI. Five studies documented an increase in total body bone mineral (TBBM) content, whereas four studies observed a reduction in fracture rates post-transplantation. Moreover, noticeable improvements in children's growth were recorded. Although both BMSCs and human fetal MSCs (hfMSCs) were found to be effective, studies involving BMSCs were rated higher in terms of methodological quality. Both BMSCs and hfMSCs demonstrated significant improvements in TBBM, growth rates, and fracture reduction, with BMSC studies scoring higher in methodological quality. Future randomized clinical trials with longer follow-ups are necessary.

Infertility remains a global health challenge, particularly in cases involving endometrial damage, diminished ovarian reserve, or poor embryo quality where conventional therapies often fail. Adipose-derived stem cells (ADSCs) have emerged as a promising regenerative option due to their accessibility, multipotency, and paracrine signaling capacity. This review evaluated preclinical and clinical studies investigating ADSCs and their derivatives for uterine, ovarian, and embryo applications in reproductive medicine. Literature searches were conducted in PubMed to July 2025, focusing on studies involving ADSCs, ADSC exosomes, and ADSC mitochondria in animal models and human studies. Results demonstrated that intrauterine ADSC administration improved endometrial thickness, vascularization, and receptivity, with some studies showing increased implantation and pregnancy rates in patients with thin endometrial lining thickness or Asherman's syndrome. Ovarian applications showed partial restoration of function in premature ovarian insufficiency and chemotherapy-induced damage, with evidence of menstrual recovery, hormonal improvements, and enhanced folliculogenesis in both animal and early human studies. At the gamete and embryo level, ADSC-derived mitochondria, exosomes, and conditioned media improved oocyte maturation, reduced oxidative stress, enhanced blastocyst development, and increased embryo survival in vitro. Collectively, these findings highlight ADSCs' therapeutic potential in addressing multiple infertility etiologies. However, current evidence is limited by small sample sizes, heterogeneous methodologies, short follow-up periods, and incomplete mechanistic insight. Most evidence to date comes from animal studies, while human clinical data remain limited to small early-phase trials. Large, well-designed clinical studies with standardized protocols and long-term safety evaluation are essential before ADSC-based therapies can be responsibly considered for full integration into assisted reproductive technologies.

CBD holds substantial promise in medical applications. This review aims to comprehensively analyse the current status of cannabidiol (CBD) in dentistry.

Bone defects can result from trauma, neoplasms, infections, or congenital anomalies. A common strategy for managing these defects is bone grafting, which must meet three essential biological requirements: osteoconductivity, osteogenicity, and osteoinductivity. Bone graft materials may be sourced from either natural or synthetic origins. Among natural materials, hydroxyapatite derived from marine coral has attracted attention as a bioceramic due to its compositional similarity to the mineral phase of human bone.

Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs), as a living bio-drug, are being considered as a potential treatment for coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19)-induced acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) due to their immunomodulatory and reparative properties.

Viral myocarditis (VMC) is a prevalent inflammatory cardiac condition, characterized by highly variable clinical manifestations that present significant challenges for early diagnosis and the development of personalized treatment strategies. Consequently, there is an urgent need to develop novel biomarkers and targeted therapeutic approaches to enhance its clinical management. Circulating microRNAs (miRNAs) have emerged as promising candidates for disease diagnosis and treatment due to their stability as intercellular communication molecules and resistance to nuclease degradation. Their significance in various disease contexts has garnered considerable research attention. Recent advancements in high-throughput sequencing technologies, coupled with deep learning and the integration of artificial intelligence (AI) into RNA/protein structure prediction, have improved our understanding of the roles of regulatory networks involving circulating microRNAs in the pathogenesis of viral myocarditis. This systematic review covers recent evidence for the clinical applicability and limitations of the use of circulating miRNAs as specific diagnostic and therapeutic targets for viral myocarditis. It was performed with the aim of establishing a theoretical foundation and strategic framework to improve the precision of this condition's diagnosis and treatment.

Fascia, once considered a passive connective covering, is now recognized as a mechanosensitive tissue and stem cell niche with roles in regeneration, ECM remodeling, and immune-vascular regulation. The aim of this review was to synthetize evidence of fascia-derived progenitors and their mechanobiological functions across in vitro, preclinical and clinical domains. A systematic search of PubMed, Scopus and Web of Science (up to August 2025) was performed in accordance with PRIMS guidelines. Eligible studies addressed fascia in relation to stem/progenitor cells and regenerative outcomes. Risk of bias was assessed with OHAT criteria for in vitro studies, SYRCLE for animal studies and ROBINS-I for clinical studies. Of 648 records identified, 34 studies were included, encompassing 17 in vitro, 17 animal and 4 clinical investigations, with overlap across domains, and 3 reviews. In vitro, fascia-derived stem cells (FDSCs), FAPs and ASCs were shown to remodel ECM, promote angiogenesis and respond to mechanical cues. Animal models revealed collective fibroblast migration as ECM patches, regulated by N-cadherin, Connexin43 and p120-catenin, while CD201+ progenitors directed scar formation. Clinical studies, though few, reported improved outcomes with subfascial PRP injections and adipofascial flaps. Fascia appears as an active mechanobiological hub and stem cell reservoir that may influence tissue repair and fibrosis, although current evidence, particularly from clinical studies, remains preliminary. Despite promising insights, evidence is limited by methodological heterogeneity, emphasizing the need for mechanistic human studies and well-powered clinical trials.

The Zika virus (ZIKV), a mosquito-borne Flavivirus, has emerged as a global health threat due to its severe neuroteratogenic effects, particularly during pregnancy. This mechanistic-to-translational synthesis examines how ZIKV disrupts fetal brain development and links molecular events to clinical manifestations of Congenital Zika Syndrome (CZS). Our review advances prior summaries by presenting a unifying neural progenitor cell (NPC)-centric pathway framework that integrates viral entry, host signaling disruption, cell fate outcomes, and imaging correlates. Once transmitted vertically, the virus targets NPCs, impairing proliferation, triggering apoptosis, and halting the cell cycle. It modulates host pathways such as PI3K-Akt-mTOR and p53 to enhance autophagy, avoid immune detection, and sustain replication. ZIKV also interferes with RNA interference and synaptic formation, contributing to cortical thinning, ventriculomegaly, and agenesis of the corpus callosum. Inflammatory responses further exacerbate tissue damage as ZIKV activates TLRs and inflammasomes, increasing proinflammatory cytokines and pyroptosis. Brain organoid and imaging studies highlight the virus's NPC tropism and capacity for lasting neurodevelopmental impairment-even in normocephalic infants. Importantly, ZIKV exhibits SOX2-dependent permissiveness with integrin αvβ5 functioning as a key dependency/attachment factor in neural and glioblastoma stem cells, distinguishing transcriptional state from receptor function. This intersection of neurotropism and potential oncolytic activity underscores the dual pathogenic and therapeutic implications of ZIKV. Literature was synthesized according to a predefined search strategy, with evidence appraised for quality, strengths, and limitations. This review highlights mechanistic pathways linking viral replication, immune modulation, and disrupted neurodevelopment, emphasizing implications for surveillance, therapeutic targets, and maternal-fetal health preparedness.

Mesenchymal stromal/stem cell (MSC) transplantation has emerged as a promising therapeutic strategy for managing cutaneous scarring, an issue associated with significant aesthetic and functional morbidity. This systematic review evaluates the potential of MSCs to modulate scarring, highlighting their efficacy and distinct mechanisms from traditional scar treatments.

Adipose-derived therapies hold promise in addressing the increasing prevalence of skin wounds, scars, and ulcers. This systematic review, conducted following the PRISMA guidelines, evaluates the therapeutic potential of adipose derived stem cells for improving wound healing, scar development and ulcer management.

The physeal growth plate is a common site of involvement in pediatric and adolescent fractures, with 18-30% of fractures complicated by physis injury potentially leading to growth plate arrest and formation of a bony bar (BB). Inadequate treatment of growth arrest in children can cause long-term complications such as limb-length discrepancies or angular deformities. Stem cell transplantation has been increasingly studied as a potential treatment modality for growth arrest and prevention of BB formation in physeal injuries. The purpose of this study is to summarize the current state of literature on the ability of stem cells to prevent physeal growth arrest, determine the ideal stem cell type for use in physeal injuries, and analyze the methods of stem cell delivery and biochemical environment necessary for stem cell therapy success. This study is a systematic review. The Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis (PRISMA) guidelines were utilized to search PubMed including the terms "growth plate arrest", "physeal injury", "physeal", "growth plate injury", "bony bar", "stem cell", "mesenchymal", and "chondrocyte" from 2012-2024 and then independently analyzed by three reviewers. Studies were excluded if they were off topic, bench-top studies, editorials, non-English, or did not include a focus on stem cells. The search identified 269 potential articles, 68 remained after applying exclusion criteria, and eight were included after reviewer analysis. No studies in human models remained. Based on the findings of this systematic review, the use of mesenchymal stem cells and chondrocytes, when compared to controls, is associated with a decrease in bony deformities following injury to an open physeal growth plate in animal models. However, there is considerable variability in the literature on the method of stem cell transplantation and which combination of cells provides the greatest benefit. Given the high likelihood of limb deformity following pediatric or adolescent growth arrest injuries, utilizing mesenchymal stem cells to prevent growth arrest and BB formation would significantly impact the field of pediatric orthopedics. Stem cells have demonstrated the potential to improve outcomes in physeal plate injury in animal models; however, further research is needed to determine the ideal methods and biochemical environment required for successful stem cell therapy in humans.

Population aging has become a widespread health problem that leads to huge socioeconomic burden. Skeletal muscle as an important component of motor system, gradually degenerates with age. Age-related muscle disorders, such as sarcopenia is associated with higher risks of falls, fracture, disability, and mortality in old people. As there is still no Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved drug to treat sarcopenia, conducting research of in-depth mechanisms is warranted to develop novel treatments. The cutting-edge techniques single-cell and single-nuclei RNA sequencing can help to address this issue by discovering age-related changes of muscle at the single-cell level. This review aims to systematically explore current evidence of age-related muscle changes during normal aging, regeneration, and after treatments at the single-cell level. 29 studies were eligible and included in the current review according to the PRISMA guideline. The muscle cell composition was altered with age, such as diminished muscle stem cells (MuSCs), vascular cells, Schwann cells, and increased myocytes as well as some types of immune cells. Inflammation levels, collagen and extracellular matrix (ECM) signaling, protein catabolism, TGFβ signaling, apoptosis, and autophagy of MuSCs, myocytes, fibro-adipogenic progenitor cells, vascular cells, or immune cells were regulated with age. Delayed muscle regeneration of aged muscle was relied on disorders of cell-specific immune response, myogenesis, angiogenesis, and ECM remodeling. Three treatments involved in this review could reverse age-related dysfunction of muscle cells to some extent. Further research targeting age-related changes of muscle at the single-cell level is an important tool in assisting development of more effective treatments for sarcopenia.

Glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists, originally developed for managing type 2 diabetes, have gained attention for their weight-reducing and broader biological effects. Among these, their influence on human mesenchymal stem cells remains underexplored, despite the critical role of mesenchymal stem cells in tissue regeneration and secretion of bioactive factors.

Osteoarthritis is a disease that occurs due to articular cartilage degeneration. It commonly manifests as fluctuating joint pain, stiffness, and locomotor restriction. In the past decade, researchers have discovered that mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) could potentially treat osteoarthritis. However, improper administration of MSCs may cause serious adverse events, and the process can be costly. Recent findings suggest that MSC secretomes can reverse the damage caused by osteoarthritis. This study aims to systematically report the in vitro and in vivo potential of the secretome as a novel treatment for osteoarthritis.

Allogeneic umbilical cord blood is regarded as a beneficial source of stem cells with varying therapeutic potential. On the other hand, cerebral palsy is one of the neurological conditions that are the primary contributor to early childhood disability. The aim of this systematic review was to harvest data from currently available sources to determine the safety and efficacy of treating cerebral palsy patients with stem cells obtained from allogeneic umbilical cords.