Human mesenchymal stem cells derived from Wharton’s jelly (WJ-MSCs) were used for the treatment of the ischemic-compression model of spinal cord injury in rats. To assess the effectivity of the treatment, different dosages (0.5 or 1.5 million cells) and repeated applications were compared. Cells or saline were applied intrathecally by lumbar puncture for one week only, or in three consecutive weeks after injury. Rats were assessed for locomotor skills (BBB, rotarod, flat beam) for 9 weeks. Spinal cord tissue was morphometrically analyzed for axonal sprouting, sparing of gray and white matter and astrogliosis. Endogenous gene expression (Gfap, Casp3, Irf5, Cd86, Mrc1, Cd163) was studied with quantitative Real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT PCR). Significant recovery of functional outcome was observed in all of the treated groups except for the single application of the lowest number of cells. Histochemical analyses revealed a gradually increasing effect of grafted cells, resulting in a significant increase in the number of GAP43+ fibers, a higher amount of spared gray matter and reduced astrogliosis. mRNA expression of macrophage markers and apoptosis was downregulated after the repeated application of 1.5 million cells. We conclude that the effect of hWJ-MSCs on spinal cord regeneration is dose-dependent and potentiated by repeated application.
By means of radioimmunoassay, the content of endogenous cortisol in the aqueous humour and plasma of 35 patients suffering from various types of glaucomas and 35 cataract patients was determined, and the ratio of the plasma to the aqueous humour cortisol levels was calculated. The highest cortisol level in both plasma and aqueous humour was found to occur in patients with open-angle glaucoma suffering at the same time from systemic hypertension. The lowest plasma to aqueous humour cortisol ratio was found in patients with secondary glaucoma treated with steroids. In woman suffering from open-angle glaucoma, the rising cortisol level in plasma with age contrasted to the decreasing cortisol level in aqueous humour. The authors suggest that there is an active interference with homeostatic mechanisms responsible for ensuring the stability of the eye inner milieu and a certain protection of the trabecular meshwork of the angle of the anterior eye chamber against noxious effects of the endogenous cortisol.
Metastasis size, extent of tumour, technical complexity of surgery and the completeness of preoperative embolization had an important effect on the amount of peroperative blood loss. The evaluation of the benefits of preoperative embolization only on the basis of blood loss is not an adequate method.
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