Mesenchymal Stem Cell-Derived Extracellular Vesicles in Tendon and Ligament Repair-A Systematic Review of In Vivo Studies.

Tendon and ligament injury poses an increasingly large burden to society. This systematic review explores whether mesenchymal stem cell-derived extracellular vesicles (MSC-EVs) can facilitate tendon/ligament repair in vivo. On 26 May 2021, a systematic search was performed on PubMed, Web of Science, Cochrane Library, Embase, to identify all studies that utilised MSC-EVs for tendon/ligament healing. Studies administering EVs isolated from human or animal-derived MSCs into in vivo models of tendon/ligament injury were included. In vitro, ex vivo, and in silico studies were excluded, and studies without a control group were excluded. Out of 383 studies identified, 11 met the inclusion criteria. Data on isolation, the characterisation of MSCs and EVs, and the in vivo findings in in vivo models were extracted. All included studies reported better tendon/ligament repair following MSC-EV treatment, but not all found improvements in every parameter measured. Biomechanics, an important index for tendon/ligament repair, was reported by only eight studies, from which evidence linking biomechanical alterations to functional improvement was weak. Nevertheless, the studies in this review showcased the safety and efficacy of MSC-EV therapy for tendon/ligament healing, by attenuating the initial inflammatory response and accelerating tendon matrix regeneration, providing a basis for potential clinical use in tendon/ligament repair

A Tale of Two Major Postwar Business Cycle Episodes

We offer a tale of two major postwar business cycle episodes: the pre-1980s and the post-1982s prior to the Great Recession. We revisit the sources of business cycles and the reasons for the large variations in aggregate volatility from the first to the second episode. Using a medium-scale DSGE model where monetary policy potentially has cost-channel effects, we first show the Fed most likely targeted deviations of output growth from trend growth, not the output gap, for measure of economic activity. When estimating our model with a policy rule reacting to output growth with Bayesian techniques, we find the US economy was not in a state of indeterminacy in either of the two subperiods. Thus, aggregate instability before 1980 did not result from self-fulfilling changes in inflation expectations. Our evidence shows the Fed reacted more strongly to inflation after 1982. Based on sub-period estimates, we find that shocks to the marginal efficiency of investment largely drove the cyclical variance of output growth prior to 1980 (61%), while they have seen their importance falls dramatically after 1982 (19%). When looking at the sources of greater macroeconomic stability during the second episode, we find no support for the “good-luck hypothesis”. Change in nominal wage flexibility largely drove the decline in output growth volatility, while the change in monetary policy was a key factor lowering inflation variability

Adipose Tissue-Derived Mesenchymal Stem Cells as a Potential Restorative Treatment for Cartilage Defects: A PRISMA Review and Meta-Analysis.

Cartilage defects are a predisposing factor for osteoarthritis. Conventional therapies are mostly palliative and there is an interest in developing newer therapies that target the disease's progression. Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) have been suggested as a promising therapy to restore hyaline cartilage to cartilage defects, though the optimal cell source has remained under investigation. A PRISMA systematic review was conducted utilising five databases (MEDLINE, EMBASE, Cochrane Library, Scopus, Web of Science) which identified nineteen human studies that used adipose tissue-derived MSC (AMSC)-based therapies, including culture-expanded AMSCs and stromal vascular fraction, to treat cartilage defects. Clinical, imaging and histological outcomes, as well as other relevant details pertaining to cartilage regeneration, were extracted from each study. Pooled analysis revealed a significant improvement in WOMAC scores (mean difference: -25.52; 95%CI (-30.93, -20.10); p < 0.001), VAS scores (mean difference: -3.30; 95%CI (-3.72, -2.89); p < 0.001), KOOS scores and end point MOCART score (mean: 68.12; 95%CI (62.18, 74.05)), thus showing improvement. The studies in this review demonstrate the safety and efficacy of AMSC-based therapies for cartilage defects. Establishing standardised methods for MSC extraction and delivery, and performing studies with long follow-up should enable future high-quality research to provide the evidence needed to bring AMSC-based therapies into the market

Teaching Programming and Design-by-Contract

This paper summarizes the experience of teaching an introductory course to programming by using a correctness by construction approach at Innopolis University, Russian Federation. In this paper we claim that division in beginner and advanced groups improves the learning outcomes, present the discussion and the data that support the claim.Comment: 21th International Conference on Interactive Collaborative Learnin

Laparoscopic Heminephrectomy of a Horseshoe Kidney

These authors suggest that laparoscopic heminephrectomy is a feasible option in the surgical management of diseases of the horseshoe kidney and can be performed safely using a transperitoneal or retroperitoneal approach

Run ‐ to ‐Run Control of ITO Deposition Process

This paper describes the design and development of run‐to‐run control solution for an Indium Tin Oxide (ITO) deposition process. ITO deposition is an inherently complex process making it hard to simultaneously optimize the many characteristics of the ITO film such as optical transmission, resistivity, stresses in the film etc. With the run‐to‐run control solution, post‐process measurements made after every run are used along with empirical process models and drift compensation and noise rejection techniques to suggest new equipment settings for the next run. Theoretical models and simulation results show that this approach gives very stable ITO characteristics. Some of the methods that improve the control algorithm are discussed and future work is explored.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/92093/1/1.1833812.pd

Enhanced Tissue Integration During Cartilage RepairIn VitroCan Be Achieved by Inhibiting Chondrocyte Death at the Wound Edge

Objective: Experimental wounding of articular cartilage results in cell death at the lesion edge. The objective of this study was to investigate whether inhibition of this cell death results in enhanced integrative cartilage repair. Methods: Bovine articular cartilage discs (6mm) were incubated in media containing inhibitors of necrosis (Necrostatin-1, Nec-1) or apoptosis (Z-VAD-FMK, ZVF) before cutting a 3mm inner core. This core was left in situ to create disc/ring composites, cultured for up to 6 weeks with the inhibitors, and analyzed for cell death, sulfated glycosaminoglycan release, and tissue integration. Results: Creating the disc/ring composites resulted in a significant increase in necrosis. ZVF significantly reduced necrosis and apoptosis at the wound edge. Nec-1 reduced necrosis. Both inhibitors reduced the level of wound-induced sulfated glycosaminoglycan loss. Toluidine blue staining and electron microscopy of cartilage revealed significant integration of the wound edges in disc/ring composites treated with ZVF. Nec-1 improved integration, but to a lesser extent. Push-out testing revealed that ZVF increased adhesive strength compared to control composites. Conclusions: This study shows that treatment of articular cartilage with cell death inhibitors during wound repair increases the number of viable cells at the wound edge, prevents matrix loss, and results in a significant improvement in cartilage-cartilage integration

Concurrent Partnerships, Nonmonogamous Partners, and Substance Use Among Women in the United States

Objectives. We determined the prevalence, distribution, and correlates of US women's involvement in concurrent sexual partnerships, a sexual-network pattern that speeds population-wide HIV dissemination. Methods. We used sexual partnership dates reported by 7643 women in the 2002 National Survey of Family Growth to determine prevalence of concurrent sexual partnerships during the preceding 12 months. We examined associations between concurrency and sociodemographic characteristics and risk behaviors. Results. Prevalence of concurrent partnerships was 5.7% based on reported partnerships and 8.3% after adjustment for possible underreporting. Concurrency was associated with younger age (22 to 24 years: prevalence odds ratio [POR]=2.44) versus older age (40 to 44 years); marital status (formerly married: POR=6.56; never married: POR=3.81; vs married); Black race/ethnicity (POR=1.78); younger age at first sexual intercourse (12 to 13 years: POR=2.89) versus 18 years or older); having a nonmonogamous sexual partner (POR=6.96); having intercourse while ‘‘high’’ on drugs or alcohol (POR=1.61); binge drinking (POR=1.70); and crack or cocaine use (POR=2.72). Conclusions. The association of concurrency with nonmonogamous sexual partners and substance use suggests the existence of extensive sexual networks that link people at higher risk for HIV infection with increased opportunities for disseminating infection