ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND@#Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are used for tissue regeneration due to their wide differentiation capacity and anti-inflammatory effects. Extracellular vesicles (EVs) derived from MSCs are also known for their regenerative effects as they contain nucleic acids, proteins, lipids, and cytokines similar to those of parental cells. There are several studies on the use of MSCs or EVs for tissue regeneration. However, the combinatorial effect of human MSCs (hMSCs) and EVs is not clear. In this study, we investigated the combinatorial effect of hMSCs and EVs on cartilage regeneration via co-encapsulation in a hyaluronic-acid (HA)-based hydrogel. @*METHODS@#A methacrylic-acid-based HA hydrogel was prepared to encapsulate hMSCs and EVs in hydrogels. Through in vitro and in vivo analyses, we investigated the chondrogenic potential of the HA hydrogel-encapsulated with hMSCs and EVs. @*RESULTS@#Co-encapsulation of hMSCs with EVs in the HA hydrogel increased the chondrogenic differentiation of hMSCs and regeneration of damaged cartilage tissue compared with that of the HA hydrogel loaded with hMSCs only. @*CONCLUSION@#Co-encapsulation of hMSCs and EVs in the HA hydrogel effectively enhances cartilage tissue regeneration due to the combinatorial therapeutic effect of hMSCs and EVs. Thus, in addition to cartilage tissue regeneration for the treatment of osteoarthritis, this approach would be a useful strategy to improve other types of tissue regeneration.
ABSTRACT
PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to systematically review the instruments utilized to assess physical impairment in post-intensive care syndrome (PICS) of intensive care unit (ICU) survivors.METHOD: Online databases searched were MEDLINE, Cochrane, CINAHL, and Embase. Studies that met the following criteria were included: 1) the study population exclusively had experience with ICU admission; 2) the study assessed pulmonary, neuromuscular, and physical functions; and 3) the study was published in English language journals after 2007.RESULTS: A total of 56 instruments (2 pulmonary, 25 neuromuscular, 29 physical function) from 94 studies were reviewed. They were classified into self-report, observation, and measurement according to the type of assessment. No instrument measured all 3 areas of physical impairment. Five instruments were originally developed for the ICU patients. The most frequently applied instruments were the Medical Research Council and the 36-item Short Form Survey (physical component summary), which were used in 23 studies each. Only 13.8% of reviewed studies reported the reliability or validity of the instruments.CONCLUSION: Our results suggest that the appropriateness of instruments assessing physical impairment in PICS cannot be guaranteed. Despite the multidimensional concept of physical disabilities, most studies measured only one area, and studies that reported psychometric properties were limited. Accordingly, we propose to develop a unique and multifaceted instrument for ICU survivors.
Subject(s)
Humans , Intensive Care Units , Methods , Psychometrics , SurvivorsABSTRACT
We report the case of a 66-year-old man who died of fatal delayed hemothorax after blunt trauma to the chest. When the deceased was transferred to the hospital, his vital signs were stable; hence, medical attention was focused only on the fracture on right ankle. Three days after the orthopedic surgery, he became unsettled with symptoms similar to delirium and exhibited unstable vital signs; he then suddenly died. On autopsy, a beveled fracture was identified on the posterior aspect of the left second rib with hemothorax. It was because of a rupture in the intercostal artery at the fracture site that a simple fracture in a rib, following a blunt chest trauma can be a potentially life-threatening condition. We suggest that a meticulous examination should be performed at the rib fracture sites when a blunt trauma to the chest is suspected even when there are no internal organ injuries identified except hemothorax.