The Impact of Mesenchymal Stem Cells on Differentiation of Hematopoietic Stem Cells

Bone marrow microenvironment contains cellular and acellular compartments. The cellular compartment includes hematopoietic stem cells, mesenchymal stem cells and some other stromal cell types, while the acellular compartment is composed of scaffold proteins known as the extra cellular matrix. Direct cell-cell contact as well as cytokines secreted by mesenchymal stem cells during coculture of hematopoietic stem cells and mesenchymal stem cells play a critical role in hematopoiesis, and determines the fate of hematopoietic stem cells. Several studies have demonstrated the impact of mesenchymal stem cells on self-renewal, expansion, proliferation and differentiation of hematopoietic stem cells in vitro, which have shown different and contradictory results. In this paper, we will investigate the effect of mesenchymal stem cells on differentiation of hematopoietic stem cells in vitro

Effect of Beta Glucan on Quality of Life in Women with Breast Cancer Undergoing Chemotherapy: A Randomized Double-Blind Placebo-Controlled Clinical Trial

Purpose: Breast cancer is the most common female malignancy in the world. Beta glucan may improve quality of life in cancer patients receiving chemotherapy. The aim of this trial was to determine the effect of Beta glucan on quality of life in women with breast cancer undergoing chemotherapy. Methods: This study was conducted on 30 women with breast carcinoma. The eligible participants were randomly assigned to intervention (n=15) or placebo (n=15) groups using a block randomization procedure. Patients in the intervention group received two 10-mg capsules of soluble 1-3, 1-6, D-beta glucan daily and the placebo group received placebo for 21 days, in an interval between two courses of chemotherapy. Health - related quality of life (HRQL) was evaluated using the EORTC Quality of Life Questionnaire version.3.0 (EORTC QLQ-C30) at the beginning and end of the study. Results: At the end of the study, the Global health status /QoL score for the Beta glucan group was significantly increased (P=0.023), but the difference between the two groups was not significant. After intervention, the Functional scales score showed no significant change (P=0.099) between the two groups or within the groups. At the end of the study, the Symptom scales\items score was decreased significantly in Beta glucan group comparing the placebo group (P=0.048), as well as after adjusting for baseline score. The Symptom scales\items score’s change was significant (P=0.012) within the Beta glucan group, compared with the baseline score. Conclusion: The findings suggest that Beta glucan may be useful as a complementary or adjuvant therapy for improving quality of life in breast cancer patients in combination with cancer therapies