Biological scaffold as potential platforms for stem cells:Current development and applications in wound healing

Wound repair is a complex challenge for both clinical practitioners and researchers.Conventional approaches for wound repair have several limitations.Stem cell-based therapy has emerged as a novel strategy to address this issue,exhibiting significant potential for enhancing wound healing rates,improving wound quality,and promoting skin regeneration.However,the use of stem cells in skin regeneration presents several challenges.Recently,stem cells and biomaterials have been identified as crucial components of the wound-healing process.Combination therapy involving the development of biocompatible scaffolds,accompanying cells,multiple biological factors,and structures resembling the natural extracellular matrix(ECM)has gained considerable attention.Biological scaffolds encompass a range of biomaterials that serve as platforms for seeding stem cells,providing them with an environment conducive to growth,similar to that of the ECM.These scaffolds facilitate the delivery and application of stem cells for tissue regeneration and wound healing.This article provides a comprehensive review of the current developments and applications of biological scaffolds for stem cells in wound healing,emphasizing their capacity to facilitate stem cell adhesion,proliferation,differentiation,and paracrine functions.Additionally,we identify the pivotal characteristics of the scaffolds that contribute to enhanced cellular activity.

Adipose-derived stem cells in diabetic foot care:Bridging clinical trials and practical application

Diabetic foot ulcers(DFUs)pose a critical medical challenge,significantly impairing the quality of life of patients.Adipose-derived stem cells(ADSCs)have been identified as a promising therapeutic approach for improving wound healing in DFUs.Despite extensive exploration of the mechanical aspects of ADSC therapy against DFU,its clinical applications remain elusive.In this review,we aimed to bridge this gap by evaluating the use and advancements of ADSCs in the clinical management of DFUs.The review begins with a discussion of the classification and clinical management of diabetic foot conditions.It then discusses the current landscape of clinical trials,focusing on their geographic distribution,reported efficacy,safety profiles,treatment timing,administration techniques,and dosing considerations.Finally,the review discusses the preclinical strategies to enhance ADSC efficacy.This review shows that many trials exhibit biases in study design,unclear inclusion criteria,and intervention protocols.In conclusion,this review underscores the potential of ADSCs in DFU treatment and emphasizes the critical need for further research and refinement of therapeutic approaches,with a focus on improving the quality of future clinical trials to enhance treatment outcomes and advance the field of diabetic wound care.

Long non-coding RNA MEG3 regulates autophagy after cerebral ischemia/reperfusion injury

Severe cerebral ischemia/reperfusion injury has been shown to induce high-level autophagy and neuronal death.Therefore,it is extremely important to search for a target that inhibits autophagy activation.Long non-coding RNA MEG3 participates in autophagy.However,it remains unclear whether it can be targeted to regulate cerebral ischemia/reperfusion injury.Our results revealed that in oxygen and glucose deprivation/reoxygenation-treated HT22 cells,MEG3 expression was obviously upregulated,and autophagy was increased,while knockdown of MEG3 expression greatly reduced autophagy.Furthermore,MEG3 bound mi R-181 c-5 p and inhibited its expression,while mi R-181 c-5 p bound to autophagy-related gene ATG7 and inhibited its expression.Further experiments revealed that mir-181 c-5 p overexpression reversed the effect of MEG3 on autophagy and ATG7 expression in HT22 cells subjected to oxygen and glucose deprivation/reoxygenation.In vivo experiments revealed that MEG3 knockdown suppressed autophagy,infarct volume and behavioral deficits in cerebral ischemia/reperfusion mice.These findings suggest that MEG3 knockdown inhibited autophagy and alleviated cerebral ischemia/reperfusion injury through the mi R-181 c-5 p/ATG7 signaling pathway.Therefore,MEG3 can be considered as an intervention target for the treatment of cerebral ischemia/reperfusion injury.This study was approved by the Animal Ethics Committee of the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University,China(approval No.XF20190538)on January 4,2019.

The effects of Chinese herbal medicines on Madopar dose and adverse reaction during the maintenance phase of Parkinson's disease:a systematic review with meta-analysis

Background:Parkinson’s disease is a progressive neurodegenerative disease,and is usually treated with levodopa combined with dopa decarboxylase inhibitor like Madopar.In order to improve the efficacy and reduce adverse reactions,Chinese herbal medicines are usually applied with Madopar to treat Parkinson’s disease in clinic.According to the results of certain randomized controlled trials,levodopa drugs combined with Chinese herbal medicines could achieve better effects like the improvement of clinical symptoms,the reduced incidence of adverse reactions,and the reduced dose of levodopa drugs(especially in the maintenance phase).However,not all the randomized controlled trials showed favorable effect on Parkinson’s disease.Therefore,it is necessary to find out how to effectively combine Chinese herbal medicines with Madopar.In order to evaluate the effects of Chinese herbal medicines on Madopar dose and adverse reaction during the maintenance phase of Parkinson’s disease,a meta-analysis was conducted.Methods:A systematic research was carried out for randomized controlled trials of combined Chinese herbal medicines and Madopar treatment for Parkinson’s disease during the maintenance phase published till August 2019.The primary outcome was the Madopar dose and secondary outcome was the incidence of adverse reaction.Data were pooled and analyzed with RevMan 5.3.Results:A total of 18 studies were included with 1,169 cases.However,study quality evaluation showed low methodological quality.Meta-analyses showed that the dose of Madopar in the treatment group was significantly lower than that in the control group,and the incidence of adverse reactions in the treatment group was also significantly lower than that in the control group.However,the correlation analysis showed that the reduction of Madopar dose was not related to the reduction of incidence of adverse reactions(P>0.05).There existed publication bias on the primary outcome and secondary outcome.Conclusions:Chinese herbal medicines could reduce the Madopar dose and adverse reaction during the maintenance phase of Parkinson’s disease treatment.This conclusion must be considered cautiously,for lack of studies of high quality.

To set up a logistic regression prediction model for hepatotoxicity of Chinese herbal medicines based on the efficacy of Chinese herbal medicines

In our previous research,a logistic regression prediction model for hepatotoxicity of Chinese herbal medicines based on the four properties,five flavors and channel tropism has been successfully established.However,could Chinese herbal medicines efficacy also be applied to predict the hepatotoxicity of Chinese herbal medicines?Therefore,a logistic regression prediction model for hepatotoxicity of Chinese herbal medicines based on Chinese herbal medicines efficacy has been tentatively set up to study the correlations of hepatotoxic and nonhepatotoxic Chinese herbal medicines with efficacy by using a chi-square test for two-way unordered categorical data.Logistic regression prediction model was established and the accuracy of the prediction by this model was evaluated.It has been found that the hepatotoxicity and nonhepatotoxicity of Chinese herbal medicines were weakly related to the efficacy,and the coefficient was 0.295.There were 20 variables from Chinese herbal medicines efficacy analyzed with unconditional logistic regression,and 6 variables,rectifying Qi and relieving pain,clearing heat and disinhibiting dampness,invigorating blood and stopping pain,invigorating blood and relieving swelling,killing worms and relieving fright were chosen to establish the logistic regression prediction model,with the optimal cutoff value being 0.250.Dissipating cold and relieving pain(DCRP),clearing heat and disinhibiting dampness,invigorating blood and relieving pain(IBRP),invigorating blood and relieving swelling,killing worms,and relieving fright were the variables to affect the hepatotoxicity and the established logistic regression prediction model had predictive power for hepatotoxicity of Chinese herbal medicines to a certain degree.

Efficacy and Safety of Chinese Herbal Medicines Combined with Chemical Drugs for Alzheimer's Disease:A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Objective:To evaluate the efficacy and safety of Chinese herbal medicines(CHMs)combined with chemical drugs for the treatment of Alzheimer's disease(AD).Materials and Methods:Databases were searched to retrieve randomized controlled trials(RCTs)of CHMs combined with tacrine,galantamine,rivastigmine,donepezil,or memantine,following strict inclusion and exclusion criteria.Only research papers published in English,Chinese,and Japanese were considered.The primary outcome was the mini-mental state examination(MMSE)score and the secondary outcomes were AD assessment scale cognitive subscale(ADAS-Cog)score and safety evaluation.Meta-analysis was carried out using Rev Man 5.3 and subgroup analysis was conducted to identify the sources of heterogeneity.Results:A total of 15 RCTs with 1386 participants were included in this study.Only donepezil was used in the retrieved literature.Meta-analyses showed that the combination of CHMs with donepezil led to significant improvement in the MMSE score(Z=9.45;P<0.00001;weighted mean difference[WMD]=2.68,95%confidence interval[CI]:2.12-3.24)and a significant decrease in the ADAS-Cog score(Z=5.53;P<0.00001;WMD=-3.79;95%CI:-5.13--2.44).Safety evaluation demonstrated that these combination treatments relieved adverse events such as insomnia(risk ratio[RR]=0.20,95%CI:0.06-0.68;P=0.01)and hive(RR=0.10;95%CI:0.01-0.73;P=0.02).Conclusions:The combination of CHMs with a chemical drug like donepezil led to significant improvements in patient cognition as well as a better safety profile when compared to the application of a chemical drug alone.