RESUMO
Recent paleobotanical investigations in Vietnam provide a good opportunity to improve our understanding of the biodiversity and paleoclimatic conditions in the geological past of Southeast Asia. Palms (Arecaceae) are a diverse family of typical thermophilous plants with a relatively low tolerance for freezing. In this study, we describe well-preserved fossil palm leaves from the Oligocene Dong Ho Formation of Hoanh Bo Basin, northern Vietnam. Characters of the fossil leaves, such as a fan-shaped costapalmate lamina, an unarmed petiole, a costa slightly enlarged at the base that then tapers distally into the blade, and well-preserved amphistomatic leaves with cuticles, suggest that they represent a new fossil species, which we herein designate Sabalites colaniae A. Song, T. Su, T. V. Do et Z.K. Zhou sp. nov. Together with other paleontological and palaeoclimatic evidence, we conclude that a warm climate prevailed in northern Vietnam and nearby areas during the Oligocene.
RESUMO
BACKGROUND: Sexual functional deficiency occurs at some point in life and becomes a problematic issue in middle-aged adulthood. Regenerative medicine, especially mesenchymal stem cell (MSC) transplantation, has developed extensively, with preclinical and clinical trials emphasizing the benefits of stem cell therapy for restoration of sexual deficiency. This study was designed to develop a new therapeutic stem cell treatment for people with sexual functional deficiency. METHODS: Thirty-one patients, including 15 males and 16 females with a medical history of reduced sexual activity, met the inclusion criteria and were enrolled in the study, phase I/IIa clinical trial with a 12-month follow-up. Adipose tissue-derived mesenchymal stem/stromal cells (ADSC) were isolated by type I collagenase digestion and cultured at the Stem Cell Core Facility under ISO 14644-1. Each participant received 1 million cells/kg of body weight via the intravenous route. Safety was evaluated by assessing the occurrence of adverse events or severe adverse events. Efficacy was assessed in males by monitoring testosterone levels and administering the International Index of Erectile Function (IIEF) questionnaire and in females by monitoring anti-Mullerian hormone (AMH), estradiol (E2), and follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) levels and administering the Female Sexual Functioning Index (FSFI) questionnaire at baseline and 3-, 6-, and 12-months post-transplantation. RESULTS: There was no occurrence of severe adverse events after ADSC administration in our study. Post-transplantation sexual satisfaction was observed in all patients enrolled in this study. Testosterone levels in males increased soon after transplantation and were maintained at high levels for up to 6 months before decreasing again at the 12-month follow-up. No significant changes in AMH, FSH or E2 levels were recorded in female patients. CONCLUSIONS: Autologous ADSC infusion is a potential therapeutic option for patients with reduced sexual activity, especially for male patients. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov. NCT03346967, Registered November 20, 2017.
