Functional constituents of plant-based foods boost immunity against acute and chronic disorders.

Plant-based foods are becoming an increasingly frequent topic of discussion, both scientific and social, due to the dissemination of information and exchange of experiences in the media. Plant-based diets are considered beneficial for human health due to the supply of many valuable nutrients, including health-promoting compounds. Replacing meat-based foods with plant-based products will provide many valuable compounds, including antioxidants, phenolic compounds, fibers, vitamins, minerals, and some ω3 fatty acids. Due to their high nutritional and functional composition, plant-based foods are beneficial in acute and chronic diseases. This article attempts to review the literature to present the most important data on nutrients of plant-based foods that can then help in the prevention of many diseases, such as different infections, such as coronavirus disease, pneumonia, common cold and flu, asthma, and bacterial diseases, such as bronchitis. A properly structured plant-based diet not only provides the necessary nutrients but also can help in the prevention of many diseases.

Omission of day 11 methotrexate in regimen for the prophylaxis of graft-versus-host disease after haploid hematopoietic stem cell transplantation.

BACKGROUND: The regimen of cyclosporin combined with four times of short-range methotrexate is still recognized as the classic prevention regimen for acute graft-versus-host disease. Previous studies have shown that whether day 11 methotrexate is used in sibling transplantation has no effect on the incidence of acute graft-versus-host disease. However, the effect of reducing day 11 methotrexate on the incidence of acute graft-versus-host disease in haploid hematopoietic stem cell transplantation patients remains unclear. OBJECTIVE: To investigate the efficacy of the omission of day 11 methotrexate in the regimen for the prophylaxis of graft-versus-host disease in haploid hematopoietic stem cell transplantation. METHODS: The clinical data of 63 patients with malignant hematologic diseases who received haploid hematopoietic stem cell transplantation from January 2017 to December 2019 were retrospectively analyzed. The graft-versus-host disease prevention regimen was cyclosporine combined with methotrexate 15 mg/m² on day 1, 10 mg/m² on day 3, day 6 and day 11. In the observation group (n=19), oral mucositis was grade III-IV at day 11, and day 11 methotrexate was cancelled. In the control group (n=44), oral mucositis was grade 0-II at day 11, and day 11 methotrexate was applied. The implantation situation, incidence of acute graft-versus-host disease, overall survival rate, and recurrence rate of the two groups were analyzed. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: (1) The median follow-up time was 30(3-54) months and all neutrophils were successfully implanted in both groups. The median implantation time was 12(9-29) days and 12(8-25) days, respectively, showing no significant difference (P=0.682). There was one patient with poor platelet implantation in the observation group, and four patients with poor platelet implantation in the control group. The median time of platelet implantation was 12(9-18) days and 13(9-31) days in the two groups, respectively, (P=0.71), showing no statistical difference. (2) The overall incidence of acute graft-versus-host disease was 44.4%, and grade II-IV acute graft-versus-host disease was 28.6%. The incidence of II-IV acute graft-versus-host disease in the observation group and control group was 31.5% and 27.3%, respectively, (P=0.728), and there was no statistical difference between the two groups. (3) The results showed that for haploid hematopoietic stem cell transplantation, the omission of day 11 methotrexate did not increase the incidence of acute graft-versus-host disease compared with the standard methotrexate regimen. (English) [ FROM AUTHOR] 背景：环孢素联合4次短程甲氨蝶呤方案仍是目前公认的、经典的预防急性移植物抗宿主病方案，以往研究显示在同胞全相合移植后第11 天是否应用甲氨蝶呤对于急性移植物抗宿主病的发生率没有影响，但减少第11天甲氨蝶呤对单倍体造血干细胞移植患者急性移植物抗宿主 病发生率的影响仍不清楚。 目的：探讨移植物抗宿主病预防方案中去除第11天甲氨蝶呤的应用对单倍体造血干细胞移植患者发生急性移植物抗宿主病的影响。 方法：回顾性分析 2017年1月至2019年12月接受单倍体造血干细胞移植治疗的 63例恶性血液病患者的临床资料，移植物抗宿主病预防方案 为环孢素联合甲氨蝶呤15 mg/m²(第1天)，10 mg/m2(第3，6，11天)。在第11天时发生严重口腔黏膜炎(Ⅲ-Ⅳ级)的患者，取消第4次甲氨蝶 呤应用，归为观察组，共19例；在第11天时发生轻度口腔黏膜炎(0-Ⅱ级)的患者，按标准方案继续第4次甲氨蝶呤应用，归为对照组，共 44例。对两组植入情况、急性移植物抗宿主病发生率、总体生存率及复发率进行分析。 结果与结论：①中位随访时间 30(3-54)个月，两组患者中性粒细胞全部植活，中位植入时间分别为 12(9-29) d 和12(8-25) d，差异无显著 性意义(P=0.682)；观察组1例血小板植入不良，对照组4例血小板植入不良，可分析数据两组中位植入时间分别为 12(9-18) d 和13(9-31) d， 差异无显著性意义(P=0.71)；②急性移植物抗宿主病总体发生率为 44.4%，Ⅱ-Ⅳ度急性移植物抗宿主病为28.6%；观察组及对照组Ⅱ-Ⅳ度 急性移植物抗宿主病发生率分别为31.5%，27.3%，差异无显著性意义(P=0.728)；③结果表明，对于单倍体造血干细胞移植，与标准甲氨蝶 呤预防方案比较，去除第11天甲氨蝶呤的应用并不引起急性移植物抗宿主病发生率升高。 (Chinese) [ FROM AUTHOR] Copyright of Chinese Journal of Tissue Engineering Research / Zhongguo zu zhi gong cheng yan jiu is the property of Chinese Journal of Tissue Engineering Research and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full . (Copyright applies to all s.)

Correlation of the level of plasma biomarkers with acute graft-versus-host disease in children.

BACKGROUND: Acute graft-versus-host disease is one of the major complications of allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation, and it is also the key to the success of transplantation, which is particularly important to find specific biomarkers of acute graft-versus-host disease for the early diagnosis and treatment. The immune function of children is imperfect, and the changes of plasma biomarkers after acute graft-versus-host disease have their own characteristics. OBJECTIVE: To explore the correlation of plasma levels of soluble growth stimulation expressed gene 2 (sST2), regenerating islet-derived protein 3 alpha (REG3α), tumor necrosis factor receptor 1 (TNFR1), interleukin 6 (IL6), and interleukin 8 (IL8) with acute graft-versus-host disease in children after allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation. It is expected to provide reliable detection biomarkers for early diagnosis of acute graft-versus-host disease and prediction of therapy effect and prognosis. METHODS: Samples were collected from 127 pediatric patients who underwent allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation from March 2019 to December 2020 in the Department of Pediatrics, Nanfang Hospital. The plasma was collected at multiple time points, including 10 days before transplantation, 0, 7, 14, 28, and 90 days after transplantation, at the onset of acute graft-versus-host disease symptoms, 1, 2, and 4 weeks after acute graft-versus-host disease therapy. The plasma concentrations of sST2, REG3α, TNFR1, IL6 and IL8 were detected by the Luminex technology. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: (1) Plasma samples were collected from 100 of 127 patients at the point of occurrence of acute graft-versus-host disease. Sixty cases never developed acute graft-versus-host disease symptoms;40 cases presented acute graft-versus-host disease, among which 9 cases developed II-IV gastrointestinal acute graft-versus-host disease according to EBMT-NIH-CIBMTR classification standard. (2) The plasma concentrations of sST2 and REG3α at onset point in patients were significantly higher in the acute graft-versus-host disease group compared with the non-acute graft-versus-host disease group (P < 0.05). sST2 was significantly increased at 7 days after transplantation in the acute graft-versus-host disease group than that in the non-acute graft-versus-host disease group (P < 0.05). The sST2 and REG3α levels were significantly higher in the II-IV gastrointestinal acute graft-versus-host disease group than those in the non-gastrointestinal acute graft-versus-host disease group (P < 0.01;P < 0.05). There were no significant differences in TNFR1, IL6 and IL8 levels at onset point and 7 days after transplantation in patients between the acute graft-versus-host disease group and the non-acute graft-versus-host disease group (P > 0.05). (3) In all acute graft-versus-host disease patients, the plasma concentrations of sST2 and REG3α in the steroid-resistant acute graft-versus-host disease group showed increasing tendency compared with steroid-sensitive acute graft-versus-host disease group. (4) It is concluded that the increate of plasma sST2 and REG3α levels at onset point after transplantation suggests the incidence of acute graft-versus-host disease. sST2 and REG3α in plasma can be helpful for the early prediction of acute graft-versus-host disease. By analyzing the levels of biomarkers at 1, 2, and 4 weeks after treatment, no decrease in the sST2 and REG3α levels in patients with acute graft-versus-host disease after treatment may be related to poor prognosis. (English) [ FROM AUTHOR] 背景：急性移植物抗宿主病是造血干细胞移植最主要的并发症之一，也是影响移植成败的关键，寻找其特异性生物学标记物对于疾病的早 期诊断及治疗尤为重要。婴幼儿时期免疫功能不完善，其急性移植物抗宿主病发生后血浆生物标记物的变化有其自身特点。 目的：研究异基因造血干细胞移植儿童患者血浆可溶性生长刺激表达基因2、胰岛再生衍生因子3α、肿瘤坏死因子受体1、白细胞介素6 和白细胞介素8水平变化与急性移植物抗宿主病的关系，以期为急性移植物抗宿主病的早期诊断、预测治疗效果和预后提供可靠的检测指 标。 方法：南方医院儿科2019年3月至2020 年12月行异基因造血干细胞移植共计127例患儿，采集移植前10 d、移植后第0，7，14，28，90 天、临床急性移植物抗宿主病症状出现时、急性移植物抗宿主病药物干预后1，2，4周患儿外周血，采用Luminex方法检测血清可溶性生长 刺激表达基因2、胰岛再生衍生因子3α、肿瘤坏死因子受体1、白细胞介素6和白细胞介素8水平。 结果与结论：①在127例患儿中有100例在急性移植物抗宿主病发生点采集血浆标本，按照EBMT-NIH-CIBMTR 分级标准未发生急性移植物抗 宿主病60例，发生急性移植物抗宿主病有40例，其中有9例Ⅱ-Ⅳ度肠道急性移植物抗宿主病。②急性移植物抗宿主病组发生点的血浆可 溶性生长刺激表达基因2和胰岛再生衍生因子3α水平高于无急性移植物抗宿主病组，差异均有显著性意义(P < 0.05)。与无急性移植物抗宿 主病组相比，急性移植物抗宿主病组移植后7 d的血浆可溶性生长刺激表达基因2水平显著增加(P < 0.05)。单纯Ⅱ-Ⅳ度肠道急性移植物抗 宿主病组发生点的血浆可溶性生长刺激表达基因2和胰岛再生衍生因子3α水平高于非肠道急性移植物抗宿主病组，差异均有显著性意义(P< 0.01；P < 0.05)。在发生点和造血干细胞移植后7 d时，急性移植物抗宿主病组和非急性移植物抗宿主病组间肿瘤坏死因子受体1、白细胞 介素6和白细胞介素8水平无显著差异(P > 0.05)。③在所有急性移植物抗宿主病患者中，与激素敏感组相比，激素耐药组的血浆可溶性生长 刺激表达基因2和胰岛再生衍生因子3α水平呈上升趋势。④结果表明，移植后发生点的血浆可溶性生长刺激表达基因2和胰岛再生衍生因 子3α水平升高提示急性移植物抗宿主病的发生，二者有助于急性移植物抗宿主病的早期预测。通过分析用药后1，2，4周的生物标记物水 平，急性移植物抗宿主病患者治疗后血浆可溶性生长刺激表达基因2和胰岛再生衍生因子3α水平不降低可能与预后不良相关。 (Chinese) [ FROM AUTHOR] Copyright of Chinese Journal of Tissue Engineering Research / Zhongguo zu zhi gong cheng yan jiu is the property of Chinese Journal of Tissue Engineering Research and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full . (Copyright applies to all s.)

Mesenchymal Stem/Stromal Cells and Their Derivates in Acute Diseases: Emergency in the Post-COVID-19 Times.

The current coronavirus disease-19 (COVID-19) pandemic has strongly revived the pressing need to incorporate new therapeutic alternatives to deal with medical situations that result in a dramatic breakdown in the body's normal homeostasis [...].

Patterns of Emergency Department visits for acute and chronic diseases during the two pandemic waves in Italy.

BACKGROUND: Evidence is lacking about the impact of subsequent COVID-19 pandemic waves on Emergency Departments (ED). We analyzed the differences in patterns of ED visits in Italy during the two pandemic waves, focusing on changes in accesses for acute and chronic diseases. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective study using data from a metropolitan area in northern Italy that includes twelve ED. We analyzed weekly trends in non-COVID-19 ED visits during the first (FW) and second wave (SW) of the pandemic. Incidence rate ratios (IRRs) of triage codes, patient destination, and cause-specific ED visits in the FW and SW of the year 2020 vs. 2019 were estimated using Poisson regression models. MAIN FINDINGS: We found a significant decrease of ED visits by triage code, which was more marked for low priority codes and during the FW. We found an increased share of hospitalizations compared to home discharges both in the FW and in the SW. ED visits for acute and chronic conditions decreased during the FW, ranging, from -70% for injuries (IRR = 0.2862, p < 0.001) to -50% and - 60% for ischemic heart disease and heart failure. CONCLUSIONS: The two pandemic waves led to a selection of patients with higher and more urgent needs of acute hospital care. These findings should lead to investigate how to improve systems' capacity to manage changes in population needs.