Intravenous administration of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells alleviates renal failure in diabetic mice.

OBJECTIVE: To study the protective effect and mechanism of intravenously administered bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) on renal failure in diabetic mice. PATIENTS AND METHODS: BMSCs were obtained from the bone marrow of mice, identified by flow cytometry and tri-line differentiation test. Diabetic model (DM) mice were established using STZ and infused with mice BMSCs intravenously, followed by the analysis of fasting blood glucose and proteinuria levels, renal tissue damage by optical microscope and electron microscope, and PI3K/AKT signaling protein expression in kidney by Western blot and endocrine function by immunofluorescence staining. RESULTS: DM mice exhibited gradually increased albumin excretion rate with time, and the MSC-treated diabetic mice presented significantly reduced proteinuria levels. HE staining indicated that MSC administration mitigated renal damage as proved by smaller tubular dilatation, reduced glomerulosclerosis and trace protein cylinders, and recovered kidney ultrastructure as shown by improved mesangial dilatation and podocyte loss. Further, BMSCs treatment activated PI3K/AKT signaling, which was downregulated in diabetic mice. However, MSC administration failed to improve pancreatic endocrine function in DM mice. CONCLUSIONS: Intravenous administration of MSCs can effectively prevent renal failure in diabetic mice by activating PI3K/AKT signaling pathway.

[Perioperative outcomes in off-pump coronary artery bypass grafting patients older than 80 years with left ventricular dysfunction or left ventricular normal: a comparative study based on propensity score matching].

Objective: To examine the outcome of off-pump coronary artery bypass (OPCAB) in elderly patients with left ventricular dysfunction. Methods: From June 2008 to July 2016, 252 patients aged over 80 years underwent isolated OPCAB at Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, Beijing Anzhen Hospital, Capital Medical University, these patients' data were collected. The left ventricular dysfunction group (ejection fraction (EF): 35% to 50%) was comprised of 31 patients aged (82.0±2.1) years (range: 80 to 88 years), including 25 males and 6 females. Through matching one-to-one on propensity scores, 31 patients (EF>50%) were included into the left ventricular normal group. Among them, there were 25 males and 6 females, aged (81.9±1.9) years (range: 80 to 89 years). Postoperative mortality and complications between the matched groups were compared using the t test, Wilcoxon rank-sum test, χ(2) test or Fisher exact test. Results: Between the dysfunction group and normal group, the preoperative serum creatinine was 144.6(66.0) µmol/L vs. 94.9(43.2) µmol/L (M(Q(R)), Z=3.177, P=0.033), respectively, while the pre-discharge serum creatinine was 147.0(59.0) µmol/L vs. 92.0(24.0) µmol/L (Z=-2.685, P=0.007), respectively. In dysfunction group, the perioperative intra-aortic balloon counterpulsation (IABP) utilization rate was higher (25.8%(8/31) vs. 3.2%(1/31), P=0.026), the total hospitalization day was longer (17(15) days vs. 14(8)days, Z=2.054, P=0.012), the preoperative hospitalization day was longer too (7(7) days vs. 5(4) days, Z=-2.457, P=0.014). However, there was no significant difference in the incidence of postoperative mortality (9.7%(3/31) vs. 3.2%(1/31), P=0.612) and other prognostic indicators between the two groups. Conclusions: The elderly patients, with light and moderate left ventricular insufficiency, are characterized by the abnormal increase in renal function and the rise of IABP utilization due to hemodynamic disorder in OPCAB perioperative period. Preoperative treatment for cardiac insufficiency may be the cause of prolonged preoperative and total hospital stay. However, there is no significant difference in the postoperative mortality and other complications compared with the patients of normal left ventricular function.