Feasibility and Efficacy of Intra-Arterial Administration of Mesenchymal Stem Cells in an Animal Model of Double Toxin-Induced Multiple System Atrophy.

Multiple system atrophy (MSA) is a sporadic neurodegenerative disease of the central and autonomic nervous system. Because no drug treatment consistently benefits MSA patients, neuroprotective strategy using mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) has a lot of concern for the management of MSA. In this study, we investigated the safety and efficacy of intra-arterial administration of MSCs via internal carotid artery (ICA) in an animal model of MSA. The study was composed of feasibility test using a ×10 and ×50 of a standard dose of MSCs (4 × 107 MSCs) and efficacy test using a ×0.2, ×2, and ×20 of the standard dose. An ultrasonic flow meter and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) showed that no cerebral ischemic lesions with patent ICA blood flow was were observed in animals receiving a ×10 of the standard dose of MSCs. However, no MSA animals receiving a ×50 of the standard dose survived. In efficacy test, animals injected with a ×2 of the standard dose increased nigrostriatal neuronal survival relative to a ×0.2 or ×20 of the standard dose. MSA animals receiving MSCs at ×0.2 and ×2 concentrations of the standard dose exhibited a significant reduction in rotation behavior relative to ×20 of the standard dose of MSCs. Cerebral ischemic lesions on MRI were only observed in MSA animals receiving a ×20 of the standard dose. The present study revealed that if their concentration is appropriate, intra-arterial injection of MSCs is safe and exerts a neuroprotective effect on striatal and nigral neurons with a coincidental improvement in motor behavior. Stem Cells Translational Medicine 2017;6:1424-1433.

Gender and ethnic differences in cancer pain experience: a multiethnic survey in the United States.

BACKGROUND: Inconsistent findings on ethnic differences in cancer pain experience suggest the need for further studies on this topic for adequate cancer pain management. OBJECTIVES: To determine ethnic differences in cancer pain experience of four ethnic groups in the United States. METHODS: A feminist perspective was used as the theoretical basis. This was a survey of a multiethnic sample of 480 cancer patients asking questions on sociodemographic characteristics and health or illness status, 3 unidimensional cancer pain scales, 2 multidimensional cancer pain scales, the Memorial Symptom Assessment Scale, and the Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy Scale. The data were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics including ANOVA and hierarchical multiple regression analyses. RESULTS: The results indicated certain ethnic differences in types of pain and symptoms that patients experienced. Also, the results demonstrated significant ethnic differences in cancer pain and functional status. DISCUSSION: The findings suggest further in-depth qualitative exploration on cultural values and beliefs related to cancer pain in each ethnic group and national studies with a larger number of ethnic minorities on this topic.