Therapeutic potential of human umbilical cord–derived mesenchymal stem cells transplantation in rats with optic nerve injury

Purpose: There are no effective treatments currently available for optic nerve transection injuries. Stem cell therapy represents a feasible future treatment option. This study investigated the therapeutic potential of human umbilical cord–derived mesenchymal stem cell (hUC?MSC) transplantation in rats with optic nerve injury. Methods: Sprague–Dawley (SD) rats were divided into three groups: a no?treatment control group (n = 6), balanced salt solution (BSS) treatment group (n = 6), and hUC?MSCs treatment group (n = 6). Visual functions were assessed by flash visual evoked potential (fVEP) at baseline, Week 3, and Week 6 after optic nerve crush injury. Right eyes were enucleated after 6 weeks for histology. Results: The fVEP showed shortened latency delay and increased amplitude in the hUC?MSCs treated group compared with control and BSS groups. Higher cellular density was detected in the hUC?MSC treated group compared with the BSS and control groups. Co?localized expression of STEM 121 and anti?S100B antibody was observed in areas of higher nuclear density, both in the central and peripheral regions. Conclusion: Peribulbar transplantation of hUC?MSCs demonstrated cellular integration that can potentially preserve the optic nerve function with a significant shorter latency delay in fVEP and higher nuclear density on histology, and immunohistochemical studies observed cell migration particularly to the peripheral regions of the optic nerve.

High preoperative and postoperative levels of carcinoembryonic antigen and CYFRA 21‑1 indicate poor prognosis in patients with pathological Stage I nonsmall cell lung cancer.

BACKGROUND: Serum carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) and the soluble fragment of cytokeratin 19 (CYFRA 21‑1) are supposed to have a prognostic role in patients with nonsmall cell lung cancer (NSCLC) after surgery, but it has not been used as an adjunct to the tumor‑node‑metastasis (TNM) staging system to provide therapy options for patients with pathological Stage I NSCLC. This study was designed to investigate the effect of serum levels of CEA and CYFRA 21‑1 before and after surgery on the prognosis of patients with Stage I NSCLC. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A retrospective review was performed regarding the medical records and follow‑ups of 169 patients with Stage I NSCLC before and after surgery. The patients were divided into three groups based on levels of serum CEA and CYFRA 21‑1 before and after surgery: (1) continuously normal‑level groups (CEA [NN] and CYFRA 21‑1 [NN] groups); (2) declined to normal‑level groups (CEA [HN] and CYFRA 21‑1 [HN] groups); and (3) continuously high‑level groups (CEA [HH] and CYFRA 21‑1 [HH] groups). Survival analysis was conducted using the Kaplan–Meier method for each group. The Chi‑square or Fisher exact test was employed to compare clinical and pathologic factors at the level of P < 0.05. The prognostic factor was evaluated by the Cox proportional hazards model. RESULTS: Compared with the continuously normal‑level groups, the CEA [HN] group was significantly correlated to tumor size (P = 0.011), and the CYFRA 21‑1 [HN] group was significantly correlated to tumor type and pathological TNM in addition to tumor size. Five‑year survivals were significantly lower (P = 0.004) in the CEA [HH] group (67.3%) and the CEA [HN] group (86.5%) than in the CEA [NN] group (85.7%) and were significantly lower (P < 0.001) in the CYFRA 21‑1 [HH] group (47.2%) and the CYFRA 21‑1 [HN] group (70.1%) than in the CYFRA 21‑1 [NN] group (90.1%). Multivariate analysis demonstrated that tumor size (21–50 mm), CEA [HH], and CYFRA 21‑1 [HH] were independent unfavorable prognostic factors for overall survival (OS), whereas tumor size (21–50 mm), CEA [HH], CYFRA 21‑1 [HN], and CYFRA 21‑1 [HH] were independent significant prognostic factors for progression‑free survival (PFS). CONCLUSION: Patients with a persistently high serum CEA or CYFRA 21‑1 before and after surgery had shortest OS and PFS. These patients had worst prognosis. Adjuvant chemotherapy was likely to improve survival for these patients.

Epidemiology of paragonimiasis in Korea.

In Korea, soybean-sauce soaked freshwater crabs (kejang) have been a favorite delicacy when eating a bowl of rice. This traditional food has been a main source of human paragonimiasis. Until the late 1960s, human paragonimiasis had been prevalent; at least two million people had contracted the infection as determined by intradermal tests. About 40% of these were egg positive. In the turmoil of the green revolution and industrialization in the 1970s/1980s, ecological damage occurred widely. In many streams, populations of snail and crustacean hosts were reduced to levels almost of extinction. Population reduction of the intermediate hosts was followed by lowered endemicity. Attitudes of people, changed during the period, also reduced chances of paragonimiasis. Survey data in the 1990s indicated that prevalence of human paragonimiasis has lowered to about one 100th of that in the early 1970s. In a referral system, however, about one hundred clinical cases have been diagnosed annually by antibody test (ELISA), undertaken for clinical differentiation from tuberculosis. At least 10% of freshwater crabs sold in local markets are infected with the metacercariae. Paragonimiasis control has benefited in Korea mainly by the untoward effects of water pollution. To place P. westermani infections as enzootic, health education and surveillance systems should have a priority.