Co-transplantation of Human Mesenchymal Stem Cells Promotes Human CD34+ Cells Engraftment in a Dose-dependent Fashion in NOD/SCID Mice

Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) have recently been identified and characterized in humans. Moreover, MSC secrete cytokines that can support hematopoietic progenitor growth. In the present study, we evaluated whether the efficacy of hematopoietic stem cell transplantation is improved by their co-transplantation with MSC, and whether this is positively correlated with the dose of infused MSCs. Accordingly, irradiated NOD/SCID mice were transplanted with 1×105 human CD34+ cells in the presence or absence of culture expanded MSCs (1×106 or 5×106). We evaluated human hematopoietic cell engraftment by flow cytometry and assessed MSC tissue distributions by fluorescence in situ hybridization. We found that CD45+ and CD34+ cell levels were significantly elevated in a dose-dependent manner in cotransplanted mice 4 weeks after transplantation. The engraftments of CD33+ and CD19+ cells also increased dose-dependently. However, the engraftment of CD3+ cells did not increase after co-transplantation with MSCs. Human Y chromosome+ cells were observed in multiple tissues and were more frequently observed in mice co-transplanted with 5×106 rather than 1×106 MSCs. These results suggest that MSCs are capable of enhancing hematopoietic cell engraftment and distribution in multiple organs in a dose-dependent fashion

The role of pattern electroretinograms and optical coherence tomography angiography in the diagnosis of normal-tension glaucoma

Abstract In this study, we investigated the correlation between pattern electroretinogram (PERG) and optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA) parameters for diagnosis in patients with normal-tension glaucoma (NTG). Forty-nine normal individuals (49 eyes) and 60 patients with NTG (60 eyes) were enrolled. OCTA and PERG parameters, such as macular vessel density (VD) and the amplitude of N35–P50 and P50–N95, were measured. Correlation analyses were performed between the parameters, and the area under the curve (AUC) was used to identify their diagnostic ability for NTG. Macular VD and the amplitude of N35–P50 and P50–N95 showed significant differences between the normal individuals and patients with NTG. Correlation between P50 and N95 amplitude and macular VD was significant in the normal and early glaucoma groups. Macular VD showed a higher AUC value (0.730) than that of P50–N95 amplitude (0.645) in the early glaucoma group. In the moderate to severe glaucoma group, the AUC value of the amplitude of P50–N95 (0.907) was higher than that of macular VD (0.876). The results indicate that PERG and OCTA parameters may identify glaucoma in its early stage, based on the severity of glaucomatous damage in patients with NTG

Chemoembolization of the Left Inferior Phrenic Artery in Patients With Hepatocellular Carcinoma: 9-Year Single-Center Experience

OBJECTIVE. The purpose of this study was to evaluate retrospectively the radiologic findings and imaging response of hepatocellular carcinoma supplied by the left inferior phrenic artery. MATERIALS AND METHODS. From January 2000 through December 2008, chemoembolization of the left inferior phrenic artery was performed on 152 patients (123 men, 29 women; mean age, 55.8 years) with hepatocellular carcinoma. The CT scans and digital subtraction angiograms of these patients were retrospectively reviewed in consensus by two investigators, who evaluated tumor location, tumor-feeding vessels, origin of the left inferior phrenic artery, technical success of chemoembolization, complications, and tumor response. Tumor response was assessed on the basis of the criteria of the European Association for the Study of the Liver. RESULTS. Tumors supplied by the left inferior phrenic artery were located in Couinaud segment 2/3 (n = 100), segment 4 (n = 45), and other segments (n = 7). The most common tumor-feeding vessel was the anteromedial limb of the left inferior phrenic artery (n = 82) followed by the lateral limb (n = 40) and the anterior limb (n = 30). Selective chemoembolization via the left inferior phrenic artery was achieved in 58 of the patients (38%). Complete or partial response as detected on first follow-up CT images (mean follow-up time, 2.5 months) was achieved by 30 patients. In 33 patients in whom the tumor was supplied exclusively by the left inferior phrenic artery, the tumor response was more favorable in patients who underwent selective than in those who underwent nonselective chemoembolization via the left inferior phrenic artery (p = 0.028). CONCLUSION. Selective chemoembolization via the left inferior phrenic artery is possible and results in good response of tumors supplied exclusively by the left inferior phrenic artery.Kim HC, 2009, AM J ROENTGENOL, V193, pW288, DOI 10.2214/AJR.09.2417Hieda M, 2009, CARDIOVASC INTER RAD, V32, P250, DOI 10.1007/s00270-008-9434-1KIM HC, 2009, AJR, V193, P983Kim HC, 2008, J VASC INTERV RADIOL, V19, P1551, DOI 10.1016/j.jvir.2008.08.005Kim HC, 2008, J VASC INTERV RADIOL, V19, P1419, DOI 10.1016/j.jvir.2008.06.015Miyayama S, 2007, J VASC INTERV RADIOL, V18, P365, DOI 10.1016/j.jvir.2006.12.004Kim HC, 2007, RADIOLOGY, V242, P925, DOI 10.1148/radiol.2423060220Chung JW, 2006, KOREAN J RADIOL, V7, P257Ishigami K, 2006, AM J ROENTGENOL, V187, P1002, DOI 10.2214/AJR.05.1114Song SY, 2006, J VASC INTERV RADIOL, V17, P461, DOI 10.1097/01.RVI.0000202718.16416.18Miyayama S, 2006, CARDIOVASC INTER RAD, V29, P39, DOI 10.1007/s00270-004-0287-ySuh SH, 2005, J VASC INTERV RADIOL, V16, P1741, DOI 10.1097/01.RVI.0000182172.00168.1BKim HC, 2005, RADIOGRAPHICS, V25, pS25, DOI 10.1148/rg.25si055508Loukas M, 2005, CLIN ANAT, V18, P357, DOI 10.1002/ca.20112Llovet JM, 2003, HEPATOLOGY, V37, P429, DOI 10.1053/jhep.2003.50047Geschwind JFH, 2002, J VASC INTERV RADIOL, V13, P991Bruix J, 2001, J HEPATOL, V35, P421SEKI H, 1999, RAD MED, V17, P435Chung JW, 1998, J VASC INTERV RADIOL, V9, P495SMITH DC, 1977, RADIOLOGY, V125, P613COUINAUD C, 1957, FOIE ETUDES ANATOMIQ, P9

Screening of Pre-miRNA-155 Binding Peptides for Apoptosis Inducing Activity Using Peptide Microarrays

MicroRNA-155, one of the most potent miRNAs that suppress apoptosis in human cancer, is overexpressed in numerous cancers, and it displays oncogenic activity. Peptide microarrays, constructed by immobilizing 185 peptides containing the C-terminal hydrazide onto epoxide-derivatized glass slides, were employed to evaluate peptide binding properties of pre-miRNA-155 and to identify its binding peptides. Two peptides, which were identified based on the results of peptide microarray and in vitro Dicer inhibition studies, were found to inhibit generation of mature miRNA-155 catalyzed by Dicer and to enhance expression of miRNA-155 target genes in cells. In addition, the results of cell experiments indicate that peptide inhibitors promote apoptotic cell death via a caspase-dependent pathway. Finally, observations made in NMR and molecular modeling studies suggest that a peptide inhibitor preferentially binds to the upper bulge and apical stem-loop region of pre-miRNA-155, thereby suppressing Dicer-mediated miRNA-155 processing

Acute cholecystitis in old adults: the impact of advanced age on the clinical characteristics of the disease and on the surgical outcomes of laparoscopic cholecystectomy

Abstract Background Impact of advanced age on disease characteristics of acute cholecystitis (AC), and surgical outcomes after laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC) has not been established. Methods This single-center retrospective study included patients who underwent LC for AC between April 2010 and December 2020. We analyzed the disease characteristics and surgical outcomes according to age: Group 1 (age < 60 years), Group 2 (60 ≤ age < 80 years), and Group 3 (age ≥ 80 years). Risk factors for complications were assessed using logistic regression analysis. Results Of the 1,876 patients (809 [43.1%] women), 723 were in Group 1, 867 in Group 2, and 286 in Group 3. With increasing age, the severity of AC and combined common bile duct stones increased. Group 3 demonstrated significantly worse surgical outcomes when compared to Group 1 and 2 for overall (4.0 vs. 9.1 vs. 18.9%, p < 0.001) and serious complications (1.2 vs. 4.2 vs. 8.0%, p < 0.001), length of hospital stay (2.78 vs. 3.72 vs. 5.87 days, p < 0.001), and open conversion (0.1 vs. 1.0 vs. 2.1%, p = 0.007). Incidental gallbladder cancer was also the most common in Group 3 (0.3 vs. 1.5 vs. 3.1%, p = 0.001). In the multivariate analysis, body mass index < 18.5, moderate/severe AC, and albumin < 2.5 g/dL were significant risk factors for serious complications in Group 3. Conclusion Advanced age was associated with severe AC, worse surgical outcomes, and a higher rate of incidental gallbladder cancer following LC. Therefore, in patients over 80 years of age with AC, especially those with poor nutritional status and high severity grading, urgent surgery should be avoided, and surgery should be performed after sufficient supportive care to restore nutritional status before LC