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Objective:To observe any effect of transplanting bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) after ischemic stroke, and explore its mechanism.Methods:Seventy-two spontaneous hypertensive male rats were randomly divided into a sham group, a model group and a BMSCs group, each of 24. A model of middle cerebral artery occlusion was induced in the rats of the model and BMSCs groups but not in the sham group. The BMSCs rats had 106 BMSCs injected into their tail veins 24 hours after the modeling, while the other 2 groups were injected with the same amount of phosphate buffer. Modified neurological deficit scoring and 2, 3, 5-triphenyltetrazole chloride staining were performed on the 3rd, 7th and 14th days after the operation. The mRNA and protein expressions of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and glial cell-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF) in the rats′ brain tissues were detected by RT-PCR and western blotting.Results:On the 3rd, 7th and 14th days after the operation, the average neurological deficit score of the BMSCs group was significantly lower and the area of cerebral infarction was significantly smaller than among the model group. Moreover, the infarcted volume in the BMSCs group continued to decrease gradually as time went on. There was no significant difference between the sham and model group in the expression of VEGF or GDNF mRNA or protein 3, 7 or 14 days after the operation. They were, however, significantly higher in the ischemic brain tissue of the BMSCs group compared with the other two groups.Conclusions:BMSC transplantation has a neuroprotective effect on rats with hypertension modeling ischemic stroke. The mechanism may be that BMSCs can up-regulate the expression of VEGF and GDNF in ischemic brain tissue.
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Background and Objectives@#Stroke is the most common cause of human death and functional disability, resulting in more than 5 million deaths worldwide each year. Bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) are a kind of stem cell that are able to self-renew and differentiate into many types of tissues. Therefore, BMSCs have the potential to replace damaged neurons and promote the reconstruction of nerve conduction pathways and connective tissue. However, it remains unknown whether transplanted BMSCs promote angiogenesis or improve the tissue microenvironment directly or indirectly through paracrine interactions. This study aimed to determine the therapeutic effect of BMSCs on ischemic stroke with hypertension in a rodent model and to explore the possible mechanisms underlying any benefits. @*Methods@#and Results: Middle cerebral artery occlusion was used to establish the experimental stroke model. The area of cerebral infarction, expression of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF), and increment of astrocyte were measured by TTC staining, western blot, real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) and immunocytochemistry. The results showed a smaller area of cerebral infarction and improved neurological function scores in animals treated with BMSCs compared to controls. The results of RT-qPCR and western blot assays showed higher expression of VEGF and GDNF in BMSC-treated animals compared with controls. Our study also showed that one round of BMSCs transplantation significantly promoted the proliferation of subventricular zone and cortical cells, especially astrocytes, on the ischemic side following cerebral ischemia. @*Conclusions@#Above findings support that BMSCs have therapeutic effects for ischemic stroke complicated with hypertension, which may occur via up-regulated expression of VEGF and GDNF and reduction of neuronal apoptosis, thereby promoting the recovery of nerve function.
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Objective To observe of the effect of neurophysiological facilitation of respiration combined with external diaphragm pacing on the respiration of stroke survivors. Methods Sixty-four stroke survivors were divided randomly into a treatment group and a control group, each of 32. Both groups were given routine drugs, while the treatment group was additionally provided with an external diaphragm pacemaker. Those in the treatment group also received neurophysiological facilitation of respiration six times a week for 3 weeks. Before and after the treatment, ar-terial oxygen partial pressure (PaO2) was measured in both groups along with arterial carbon dioxide partial pressure (PaCO2), arterial oxygen saturation ( O2sat) and C-reactive protein (CRP). Ultrasonography was used to measure diaphragm mobility at the end of expiration and inspiration (Δm) , diaphragm mobility of the end of forced inspiration and expiration ( ΔM), and the difference of diaphragm thickness ( Δd). First second forced expiratory volume ( FEV), and maximum voluntary ventilation (FVC) were also measured. Results After the treatment, the average PaO2, PaCO2, O2sat, CRP, Δm, ΔM, FEV and FVC of the treatment group were all significantly better than before the treatment and better than those of the control group. Conclusion Neurophysiological therapy combined with an external diaphragm pacemaker can significantly improve the respiration of stroke survivors, reducing the risk of lung infection.
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Objective To investigate expression of cytokeratin 19 fragment antigen 21-1 (CYFRA21-1) and squamous cell carcinoma antigen (SCC-Ag) in cervical cancer patients with lung metastasis before treatment and their prognostic value. Methods The pretreatment serum expression levels of SCC-Ag and CYFRA21-1 of 72 cervical cancer patients with lung metastasis were measured. Survival rate analysis and Cox proportional hazard model were performed to evaluate the prognostic significance of two pretreatment variables. Results The media survival time (MST) of 72 patients was 14 months, and 38 (52.8 %) patients with pulmonary metastasis occurred in 1 year of treatment. The pretreatment serum SCC-Ag and CYFRA21-1 levels in the patients with tumor diameter over 4 cm or with squamous cell carcinoma were higher than those in the other patients (all P3.3 mg/L) was higher than that in the negative group (13 months vs 19 months, P1.5 mg/L) was also higher than that in the negative group (14 months vs 21 months, P<0.05). The result of Cox regression analysis showed that the tumor diameter (OR = 11.6, P = 0.01), pretreatment serum SCC-Ag (OR= 4.2, P= 0.01) and CYFRA21-1 (OR= 8.2, P= 0.05) levels were independent prognostic factors of overall survival. Conclusion Pretreatment CYFRA 21-1 and SCC-Ag levels may be considered as useful prognostic indicators for cervical cancer patients with lung metastasis.