ABSTRACT
<p><b>BACKGROUND</b>Treatments to regenerate different tissue involving the transplantation of bone marrow derived mesenchymal precursor cells are anticipated. Using an alternative methods, in vitro organotypic slice culture method, would be useful to transplant cells and assessing the effects. This study was to determine the possibility of differentiating human bone marrow precursor cells into cells of the neuronal lineage by transplanting into canine spinal cord organotypic slice cultures.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Bone marrow aspirates were obtained from posterior superior iliac spine (PSIS) of patients that had undergone spinal fusion due to a degenerative spinal disorder. For cell imaging, mesenchymal precursor cells (MPCs) were pre-stained with PKH-26 just before transplantation to canine spinal cord slices. Canine spinal cord tissues were obtained from three adult beagle dogs. Spinal cords were cut into transverse slices of 1 mm using tissue chopper. Two slices were transferred into 6-well plate containing 3 ml DMEM with antibiotics. Prepared MPCs (1×10(4)) were transplanted into spinal cord slices. On days 0, 3, 7, 14, MPCs were observed for morphological changes and expression of neuronal markers through immunofluorescence and reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR).</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The morphological study showed: spherical cells in the control and experiment groups on day 0; and on day 3, cells in the control group had one or two thick, short processes and ones in the experiment group had three or four thin, long processes. On day 7, these variously-sized processes contacted each other in the experiment group, but showed typical spindle-shaped cells in the control group. Immunofluorescence showed that PKH-26(+) MPCs stained positive for NeuN(+) and GFAP(+) in experimental group only. Also RT-PCR showed weak expression of β-tubulin III and GFAP.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>Human bone marrow mesenchymal precursor cells (hMPCs) have the potential to differentiate into the neuronal like cells in this canine spinal cord organotypic slice culture model. Furthermore, these findings suggested the possibility that these cells can be utilized to treat patients with spinal cord injuries.</p>
Subject(s)
Animals , Dogs , Humans , Bone Marrow Cells , Cell Biology , Cell Differentiation , Physiology , Cells, Cultured , Mesenchymal Stem Cells , Cell Biology , Spinal Cord , Cell BiologyABSTRACT
Objective The purpose of this retrospective research was to analyze the trend of hospitalized prevalence in the past 10 years (1998 -2007) and to estimate resource utilization associated with osteoporotic hip fractures, including hospital length of stay and inpatient costs in Guangzhou,China. Methods 3449 patients aged 50 years and older,hospitalized for primary diagnose of hip fractures in both hospitals in the past ten years were included in our study. Completed data was obtained retrospectively from the hospital medical records. Clinical parameters such as sex-specifics, hospital length of stay, inpatient costs and the constitutions of the inpatient costs were analyzed with multiple statistics methods and regrcssions Results Over the 10-year study period, the number of hospitalizations for hip fractures increased with a curve model. Male and female ratio was 1:1.95 with an average age of the patients as76.32±9.52 years old. Average hospital length of stay was 23.59±13.48 days with no significant difference between males and females, years of admission and the different diagnoses. The number of hospitalization went to the top at the age of 70 to 79 years old (38.45%), followed by 80-89 years old(33.08 % ). Femoral neck fractures was significantly more than that of inter-trochanteric fractures in those patients aged 50 to 79 years (P<0.01 ) but less than those intertrochanteric fractures aged 90 years and older (P<0.05). Average inpatient costs is about 23.52±17.00 thousand Yuan (RMB) (femoral neck fractures is about 25.09±17.62 thousand Yuan and intertrochanteric fracture is 21.44±15.92 thousand Yuan) of which treatment costs (included implants, materials used in the theatre and routinely care of the wound) contributed 52 %, pharmacy intervention 25 %, operation 6 %, ward expenditure 5 %, radiology and physical investigation 5 %, and chemistry test 4 %. The inpatient cost went to a peak at the age of 60-69 years old and were significantly correlated with the hospital length of stay. The coat increased every year in the past 10 years by 6.18%. Conclusion These results emphasized that the growing economic impact arising from the inpatient treatment of ostcoporotic hip fractures and most of which related to treatment cost(include implants, materials used in the theatre and routinely care of the wound), and drugs and always correlated to length of hospital stay. Cost control should be paid more attention to the implants and drugs.
ABSTRACT
<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To observe the effects of cryopreserved olfactory ensheathing cells (OECs) transplantation on axonal regeneration and functional recovery following spinal cord injury in adult rats.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Twenty-four rats were divided into experimental and control groups, each group having 12 rats. The spinal cord injury was established by transecting the spinal cord at T10 level with microsurgery scissors. OECs were purified from SD rat olfactory bulb and cultured in DMEM (Dulbecco's minimum essential medium) and cryopreserved (-120 degree) for two weeks. OECs suspension [(1-1.4)x10(5)/ul] was transplanted into transected spinal cord, while the DMEM solution was injected instead in the control group. At 6 and 12 weeks after transplantation, the rats were evaluated with climbing test and MEP (moter evoked potentials) monitoring. The samples of spinal cord were procured and studied with histological and immunohistochemical stainings.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>At 6 weeks after transplantation, all of the rats in both transplanted and control groups were paraplegic, and MEPs could not be recorded. Morphology of transplanted OECs was normal, and OECs were interfused with host well. Axons could regrow into gap tissue between the spinal cords. Both OECs and regrown axons were immunoreactive for MBP. No regrown axons were found in the control group. At 12 weeks after transplantation, 2 rats (2/7) had lower extremities muscle contraction, 2 rats (2/7) had hip and/or knee active movement, and MEP of 5 rats (5/7) could be recorded in the calf in the transplantation group. None of the rats (7/7) in the control group had functional improvement, and none had MEPs recorded. In the transplanted group, histological and immunohistochemical methods showed the number of transplanted OECs reduced and some regrown axons had reached the end of transected spinal cord. However, no regrown axons could be seen except scar formation in the control group.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>Cryopreserved OECs could integrated with the host and promote regrowing axons across the transected spinal cord ends.</p>