Stem cell transplantation for spinal cord injury： a meta-analysis of treatment effectiveness and safety

OBJECTIVE： The aim of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness and safety of stem cell transplantation for spinal cord injury（SCI）.DATA SOURCES： PubM ed, EMBASE, Cochrane, China National Knowledge Infrastructure, China Science and Technology Journal, Wanfang, and Sino Med databases were systematically searched by computer to select clinical randomized controlled trials using stem cell transplantation to treat SCI, published between each database initiation and July 2016. DATA SELECTION： Randomized controlled trials comparing stem cell transplantation with rehabilitation treatment for patients with SCI. Inclusion criteria：（1） Patients with SCI diagnosed according to the American Spinal Injury Association（ASIA） International standards for neurological classification of SCI;（2） patients with SCI who received only stem cell transplantation therapy or stem cell transplantation combined with rehabilitation therapy;（3） one or more of the following outcomes reported： outcomes concerning neurological function including sensory function and locomotor function, activities of daily living, urination functions, and severity of SCI or adverse effects. Studies comprising patients with complications, without full-text, and preclinical animal models were excluded. Quality of the included studies was evaluated using the Cochrane risk of bias assessment tool and Rev Man V5.3 software, provided by the Cochrane Collaboration, was used to perform statistical analysis. OUTCOME MEASURES： ASIA motor score, ASIA light touch score, ASIA pinprick score, ASIA impairment scale grading improvement rate, activities of daily living score, residual urine volume, and adverse events.RESULTS： Ten studies comprising 377 patients were included in the analysis and the overall risk of bias was relatively low level. Four studies did not detail how random sequences were generated, two studies did not clearly state the blinding outcome assessment, two studies lacked blinding outcome assessment, one study lacked follow-up information, and four studies carried out selective reporting. Compared with rehabilitation therapy, stem cell transplantation significantly increased the lower limb light touch score（odds ratio（OR） = 3.43, 95% confidence interval（CI）： 0.01 – 6.86, P = 0.05）, lower limb pinprick score（OR = 3.93, 95%CI： 0.74 – 7.12, P = 0.02）, ASI grading rate（relative risk（RR） = 2.95, 95%CI： 1.64 – 5.29, P = 0.0003）, and notably reduced residual urine volume（OR = –8.10, 95%CI： –15.09 to –1.10, P = 0.02）. However, stem cell transplantation did not significantly improve motor score（OR = 1.89, 95%CI： –0.25 to 4.03, P = 0.08） or activities of daily living score（OR = 1.12, 95%CI： –1.17 to 4.04, P = 0.45）. Furthermore, stem cell transplantation caused a high rate of mild adverse effects（RR = 14.49, 95%CI： 5.34 – 34.08, P 〈 0.00001）; however, these were alleviated in a short time. CONCLUSION： Stem cell transplantation was determined to be an efficient and safe treatment for SCI and simultaneously improved sensory and bladder functions. Although associated minor and temporary adverse effects were observed with transplanted stem cells, spinal cord repair and axon remyelination were apparent. More randomized controlled trials with larger sample sizes and longer follow-up times are needed to further validate the effectiveness of stem cell transplantation in the treatment of SCI.

Role of Green Governance in Achieving Sustainable Urbanization in China

Since economic reforms began in 1978, China＇s urban population has increased by half a billion. Over the next 20years, cities will likely add another 300 million people through local population growth, migration and the integration of nearby rural areas, Cities account for the majority of resource use and pollution so achieving greener growth will depend on developing and implementing a more sustainable urbanization model. China＇s leaders have responded to these challenges with ambitious goals and comprehensive environmental laws and regulations. These have so far not significantly reduced the harm from air, water and soil pollution.＂ in large measure because China ＂s green governance does not match its green ambitions. Drawing on the World Bank ＇s work on green growth and a recent joint urbanization study by the Development Research Center of China＇s State Council and the Worm Bank, this paper reviews recent academic research on green governance in urban China and discusses its main implications in the context of emerging global green growth concepts.