Refractory lipoatrophy treated with autologous whole blood injection:A case report

BACKGROUND Intramuscular corticosteroid injection may cause adverse effects such as dermal and/or subcutaneous atrophy,alopecia,hypopigmentation,and hyperpigmentation.Although cutaneous atrophy can spontaneously resolve,several treatment options have been suggested for this condition.CASE SUMMARY In this paper,we report a case of corticosteroid injection induced lipoatrophy treated with autologous whole blood(AWB)injection,as the condition had been unresponsive to fractional laser therapy.A 29-year-old female patient visited the dermatology clinic complaining of skin depression on her right buttock area,which had appeared six months earlier.There had been only subtle improvement at the margins after fractional CO2 laser treatment;therefore,after obtaining informed consent from the patient,AWB treatment was initiated.One month after the first AWB injection,the size and depth of the lesion had noticeably improved,and a slight improvement was also observed in discoloration.CONCLUSION Close observation is the initial treatment of choice for steroid induced skin atrophy;however,for patients in need of immediate cosmetic improvement,AWB injection may be a safe and cost-effective alternative.

Autologous peripheral blood-derived orthobiologics:Different types and their effectiveness in managing knee osteoarthritis

Knees are the most commonly impacted weight-bearing joints in osteoarthritis(OA),affecting millions of people worldwide.With increasing life spans and obesity rates,the incidence of knee OA will further increase,leading to a significant increase in the economic burden.Conventional treatment modalities utilized to manage knee OA have limitations.Over the last decade,the role of various autologous peripheral blood-derived orthobiologics(APBOs)for the treatment of knee OA has been extensively investigated.This editorial provided an overview and focused on defining and shedding light on the current state of evidence based on the most recent published clinical studies concerning the use of APBO for the management of knee OA.While numerous studies have demonstrated promising results for these preparations,a notable gap exists in the comparative analysis of these diverse formulations.This absence of head-to-head studies poses a considerable challenge for physicians/surgeons in determining the optimal preparation for managing knee OA and achieving sustained longterm results.Thus,more adequately powered,multicenter,prospective,doubleblind,randomized controlled trials with longer follow-ups are needed to establish the long-term efficacy and to aid physicians/surgeons in determining the optimal APBO for the management of knee OA.

Effect of autologous serum after amniotic membrane transplantation for persistent corneal ulcers

AIM:To investigate the effect of adding autologous serum eye drops to the postoperative regime after amniotic membrane transplantation for severe persistent corneal ulcers.METHODS:Forty eyes of 40 patients with persistent corneal ulcers were randomly assigned to artificial tears(sodium hyaluronate 0.2%,ATs group,n=20)or autologous serum eye drops(ASEDs,n=20)following treatment with amniotic membrane transplantation.Digital slit lamp images were acquired from all patients before and 30d post treatment.The area with fibrovascular tissue was calculated using Image J.Central corneal sensitivity was assessed by Cochet-Bonnet aesthesiometry before and one month after treatment.Scar tissue transparency was assessed with a novel optical densitometry.RESULTS:Mean age of patients was 61.65±16.47y and 57.3±19.11y in the ATs group and ASEDs group,respectively.Twenty-two male and 18 female patients were included in the study.The improvement in visual acuity was significantly greater in the ASEDs group(0.14±0.04)than the ATs(0.08±0.04;P=0.00046).Cochet-Bonnet aesthesiometry improved significantly after treatment with a similar rate between groups.There were no statistically significant differences in the area of postoperative fibrovascular tissue between the two groups(P=0.082).The success rate in the two groups was similar.The difference in densitometry between the ATs and ASEDs group was statistically significant(P=0.042)with greater reduction from baseline in the ASEDS group.CONCLUSION:Autologous serum eye drops can lead to better visual acuity,more stable results and improved densitometry and should be considered in the postoperative care following amniotic membrane transplantation.

Current practice in autologous rib and costal-cartilage harvest for rhinoplasty:A systematic review

Background:Autologous costal grafts are used universally in clinical practice for rhinoplasty and reconstruction.However,surgeons worldwide have not agreed on the details of graft harvesting,including rib selection,side preference,operation mode,cutting methods,and handling of the periosteum and perichondrium.This study aimed to provide an overview of the novel techniques used for auto-rib harvesting in rhinoplasty within the past 5 years and identify potential avenues for future research.Methods:We searched for related articles in PubMed,Embase,and Web of Science from 2019 to 2023,summa-rized crucial but controversial steps in recent practice,and analyzed their theoretical basis and clinical feasibility.Results:Auto-rib and cartilage open harvest is still mainstream in rhinoplasty and reconstruction,with the 5th to 8th ribs and cartilage being the most used.The laparoscopic harvest is gaining attention,being second only to the open harvest,with the 9th/10th ribs and cartilages being particularly convenient.The clinical applications of full-cut and split-cut methods differ in their advantages.Except for some special reasons,almost all studies tended to preserve the periosteum and perichondrium in situ,and few surgeons chose to harvest the grafts on the left side.Conclusion:Multiple techniques have emerged,requiring surgeons to balance the benefits and risks of various strategies at each step.New theories and techniques should be fully tested promptly and in clinical practice before wide application.Overall,a professional consensus is needed for better directivity,precision,and stability in clinical practice.

Spoon-assisted autologous particulate bone graft harvesting technique

Particulate bone plays a crucial role in various oral and maxillofacial surgical procedures,including reconstruction,implantation,and craniofacial surgery.Autologous bone and deproteinized bovine bone xenografts are the two primary resources used for such procedures,with the former demonstrating superior cost-effectiveness and reduced comorbidity rates,particularly in cases involving donor zones.However,a significant challenge lies in acquiring uniformly sized autologous particulate bone specimens,with existing tools often yielding coarse particles at a high cost.Consequently,commercial bone xenograft solutions are frequently favored despite lower standards.This technical note introduces a novel technique for swiftly,safely,and efficiently obtaining autologous particulate bone specimens.The procedure involves the use of a motor handpiece fitted with a micro drill and surgical spoon to collect the bone particles.The continuous irrigation with saline maintains a clear surgical field during the milling process.The collected bone particles are then transferred to a metal capsule for further use.This technique offers a promising solution to the challenge of inconsistent particle size associated with harvesting using traditional methods,providing surgeons with a reliable and efficient method of obtaining autologous particulate bone samples.

Clinical effect of botulinum toxin type A combined with autologous fat grafting in patients with nasolabial fold depression

BACKGROUND Nasolabial fold(NLF)depression can affect the facial appearance of patients to some extent and increase their psychological burdens.In recent years,autologous fat grafting(AFG)combined with botulinum toxin A(BTX-A)injection(AFG+BTX-A injection)has been gradually applied in the treatment of patients with NLF depression.Although studies have been conducted on the efficacy and safety of AFG+BTX-A injection in treating NLF depression,the experimental design,observational indicators,and sample enrollment criteria vary remarkably,making it difficult to draw convincing and consistent conclusions.Thus,further relevant research is warranted.AIM To assess the esthetic improvement,efficacy,and safety of AFG+BTX-A injections in patients with NLF depression.METHODS This study included 60 patients with NLF depression who were treated in our hospital from February 2019 to April 2021.These patients were categorized into control(n=30)and observation(n=30)groups.The observation group received AFG+BTX-A injection,whereas the control group underwent AFG only.All patients were evaluated using the wrinkle severity rating scale(WSRS)and global aesthetic improvement scale.The compactness of facial contours,skin evaluation indexes,adverse reactions,and satisfaction of the two groups were evaluated 3 months postoperatively.RESULTS The WSRS scores of the observation group at 1,3,and 6 months postoperatively were lower than those of the control group(P<0.05).Three months postoperatively,facial fine lines and pores showed obvious improvement and the skin index score was higher in the observation group than in the control group(P<0.05).The compactness of facial contours was better in the observation group than in the control group(P<0.05).In addition,no remarkable differences were noted in the incidence of postoperative adverse reactions such as facial stiffness,facial asymmetry,facial bruising,and facial concavity inequality(P>0.05).CONCLUSION AFG+BTX-A injection is a highly safe,cost-effective,effective,and long-lasting treatment for NLF depression with high esthetic value,which should be promoted in the future.

Negative pressure device-assisted autologous fat grafting: A case report

This report describes a novel technique for improving depressed scars using negative pressure suction-assisted autologous fat grafting.A 35-year-old woman presented with a 20-year history of bilateral central buttock con-cavities,causing aesthetic concerns.To maximize fat graft survival and enhance tissue volume,we implemented intermittent negative pressure suction on the recipient area for one month preoperatively.The patient expressed satisfaction with the cosmetic outcome,and a three-month follow-up confirmed a significantly improved fat graft survival rate.This minimally invasive,cost-effective,and easily reproducible technique offers a promising clinical strategy for treating depressed scars.

Efficacy of Huangma Ding or autologous platelet-rich gel for the diabetic lower extremity arterial disease patients with foot ulcers

BACKGROUND Diabetes foot is one of the most serious complications of diabetes and an important cause of death and disability,traditional treatment has poor efficacy and there is an urgent need to develop a practical treatment method.AIM To investigate whether Huangma Ding or autologous platelet-rich gel(APG)treatment would benefit diabetic lower extremity arterial disease(LEAD)patients with foot ulcers.METHODS A total of 155 diabetic LEAD patients with foot ulcers were enrolled and divided into three groups:Group A(62 patients;basal treatment),Group B(38 patients;basal treatment and APG),and Group C(55 patients;basal treatment and Huangma Ding).All patients underwent routine follow-up visits for six months.After follow-up,we calculated the changes in all variables from baseline and determined the differences between groups and the relationships between parameters.RESULTS The infection status of the three groups before treatment was the same.Procalcitonin(PCT)improved after APG and Huangma Ding treatment more than after traditional treatment and was significantly greater in Group C than in Group B.Logistic regression analysis revealed that PCT was positively correlated with total amputation,primary amputation,and minor amputation rates.The ankle-brachial pressure and the transcutaneous oxygen pressure in Groups B and C were greater than those in Group A.The major amputation rate,minor amputation rate,and total amputation times in Groups B and C were lower than those in Group A.CONCLUSION Our research indicated that diabetic foot ulcers(DFUs)lead to major amputation,minor amputation,and total amputation through local infection and poor microcirculation and macrocirculation.Huangma Ding and APG were effective attreating DFUs.The clinical efficacy of Huangma Ding was better than that of autologous platelet gel,which may be related to the better control of local infection by Huangma Ding.This finding suggested that in patients with DFUs combined with coinfection,controlling infection is as important as improving circulation.

Conservative management of spinal pathology with autologous conditioned serum: A systematic review of the literature

BACKGROUND Chronic inflammatory pain is associated with increased expression of interleukin(IL)-1,an inflammatory cytokine,and activity on its receptor(IL-1R).In response,the body produces IL-1R antagonist(IL-1Ra)to reduce this signaling.Autologous conditioned serum(ACS)is the only biologic therapy for spinal pathologies that enhances the action of endogenous IL-1Ra reserves to improve symptoms.This systematic review investigates the effectiveness of ACS in treating pain and dis-ability caused by spinal pathologies.AIM To evaluate the use of ACS as a conservative management option for spinal path-ology.METHODS A systematic review of PubMed/Medline was performed to identify studies inve-stigating administration of ACS for treatment of any spinal pathology.RESULTS Six articles were included,comprising 684 patients treated with epidural(n=133)or transforaminal(n=551)ACS injections.Patients had an average age of 54.0 years with slight female predominance(53.2%).The lumbar spine was most com-monly treated,with 567 patients(82.9%)receiving injections for lumbar radicu-lopathy(n=67),degenerative disc disease(DDD)(n=372),or spinal stenosis(n=128);cervical injections were performed in 109 patients(15.9%).Mean(SD)follow-up was 21.7(4.8)weeks from first ACS injection.All studies investigating mecha-nical lumbar and lumbar or cervical radicular pain reported significant pain re-duction at final follow-up compared to baseline.ACS achieved comparable or su-perior results to lumbar epidural steroid injections.Adverse events were reported in 21 patients(3.1%),with no serious adverse events.CONCLUSION ACS injection is a safe and effective intervention for pain reduction in many spinal pathologies,including cervical and lumbar radiculopathies.

Change in self-image pressure level before and after autologous fat breast augmentation and its effect on social adaptability

BACKGROUND There is an increasingly strong demand for appearance and physical beauty in social life,marriage,and other aspects with the development of society and the improvement of material living standards.An increasing number of people have improved their appearance and physical shape through aesthetic plastic surgery.The female breast plays a significant role in physical beauty,and droopy or atrophied breasts can frequently lead to psychological inferiority and lack of confidence in women.This,in turn,can affect their mental health and quality of life.AIM To analyze preoperative and postoperative self-image pressure-level changes of autologous fat breast augmentation patients and their impact on social adaptability.METHODS We selected 160 patients who underwent autologous fat breast augmentation at the First Affiliated Hospital of Xinxiang Medical University from January 2020 to December 2022 using random sampling method.The general information,selfimage pressure level,and social adaptability of the patients were investigated using a basic information survey,body image self-assessment scale,and social adaptability scale.The self-image pressure-level changes and their effects on the social adaptability of patients before and after autologous fat breast augmentation were analyzed.RESULTS We collected 142 valid questionnaires.The single-factor analysis results showed no statistically significant difference in the self-image pressure level and social adaptability score of patients with different ages,marital status,and monthly income.However,there were significant differences in social adaptability among patients with different education levels and employment statuses.The correlation analysis results revealed a significant correlation between the self-image pressure level and social adaptability score before and after surgery.Multiple factors analysis results showed that the degree of concern caused by appearance in selfimage pressure,the degree of possible behavioral intervention,the related distress caused by body image,and the influence of body image on social life influenced the social adaptability of autologous fat breast augmentation patients.CONCLUSION The self-image pressure on autologous fat breast augmentation patients is inversely proportional to their social adaptability.

Donor-Site Morbidity Following Harvest of Autologous Costal Cartilage in Microtia Reconstruction

Objectives: The objective of this study is to evaluate donor-site morbidity after costal cartilage harvest for microtia reconstruction. Methods: A total of 70 patients who underwent autologous costal cartilage harvest for microtia reconstruction from March 2008-March 2009 were included. Anterior chest wall deformity was evaluated with chest topography, and scar quality at baseline and at 6-months follow-up, and final outcomes analyzed with SPSS. Results: In 70 patients, 52 (74%) were male, 18 (26%) were female, and altogether 40 (57%) patients developed deformity. At 6-month follow-up, the incidence of anterior chest wall deformity was highest at 80% in Block-III, and least at 0% in Block-I. The 6 - 10 years age group was the largest group at 84% (21), and also with highest incidence of deformity in association to Block-IV harvest at 83%. The incidence of donor-site deformity was higher in female gender at 66%, and 54% in males. But in the sub-group, male had higher incidence of deformity at 75% in both Block-III, and Block-IV when compared to the respective females. The 120 - 135 cm height group had the highest deformity at 67% with Block-IV costal cartilages harvested. At the three measurement points: 1) xiphisternum, 2) intersecting points between PSL and LCM, and 3) intersecting points between MCL and LCM, significant differences (mean) were observed in chest circumference from baseline to 6-month follow-up, and between the left and right chest hemi-circumference (postoperatively). Acceptable donor-site scar was observed in all but 3% (2) developed hypertrophic scar. Conclusion: The development of chest wall deformity was observed when more than one costal cartilage was harvested, particularly the 6th (complete), 7th, 8th block. Therefore, to minimize the deformity, we recommend harvesting only the necessary amount of cartilage, and at the lowest level possible to avoid injury of costochondral junction. Additionally, age, height, gender and chest development are equally important factors which influence donor-site deformity in microtia reconstruction.

Autologous blood in the management of ocular surface disorders

Autologous blood therapy has emerged as a promising modality in managing ocular surface disorders.This review provides a comprehensive overview of the current literature regarding the use of autologous blood in ocular surface disorders,encompassing its physiological basis,clinical applications,techniques,challenges,and future perspectives.The ocular surface,comprising the cornea,conjunctiva,and tear film,plays a critical role in maintaining visual function,and its disruption can lead to various pathological conditions.With its rich composition of growth factors,cytokines,and other bioactive molecules,autologous blood offers therapeutic potential in promoting corneal wound healing,reducing inflammation,and improving tear film stability.Clinical studies have demonstrated the efficacy and safety of autologous blood therapy in diverse ocular surface disorders,including persistent epithelial defects,neurotrophic keratopathy,and dry eye disease.However,challenges such as variability in treatment response,adverse effects,and optimal patient selection remain areas of concern.Further research is needed to elucidate the underlying mechanisms of action,refine treatment protocols,and explore synergistic approaches with other therapeutic modalities.Despite these challenges,autologous blood therapy holds promise as a valuable adjunctive treatment option for ocular surface disorders,offering new avenues for improving patient outcomes and quality of life.This review examines the mechanisms underlying ocular surface disorders while discussing existing autologous blood-based therapies for managing these disorders.Current clinical trials are also summarized,and a comparison between autologous blood therapy and conventional eyedrops is attempted.Finally,safe techniques and protocols for autologous blood medicine are elucidated,and adverse effects and future perspectives of this novel therapy are reviewed.

Complications Associated with Autologous Fat Transfer: Case Report and Literature Review

Undoubtedly, since its appearance, the interest and use of autologous fat transfer (AFT) as a breast reconstruction technique have been increasing, becoming one of the main surgical alternatives for aesthetic breast augmentation. This increase in its popularity has led to the development of new technologies to increase its efficacy and safety, however, it has inherently implied the inadequate use of this procedure, mainly when performed by unqualified medical personnel. We present the case of a patient with complications following a breast AFT for aesthetic purposes, performed by a general practitioner without a specialty in plastic and reconstructive surgery.

Application of Clinical Care Pathway in Perioperative Patients with Autologous Arteriovenous Fistula Balloon Expansion

[Objective] To explore the effect of clinical care pathways in perioperative patients with autologous arteriovenous fistula balloon expansion. [Method] 202 patients undergoing autologous arteriovenous fistula from July 2021 to June 2022 were randomly divided into a control group (101 cases) and an observation group (101 cases) to compare the incidence rates of postoperative complications, hospitalization days, hospitalization expenses, knowledge of self-management of arteriovenous fistula and nursing satisfaction. [Results] In the observation group, the incidence of arteriovenous fistula was higher than that of the control group, and the hospitalization days and hospitalization costs were lower than that of the control group. The difference between the two groups was statistically significant (P < 0.05). [Conclusion] The application of the clinical nursing path to intervene in patients with autologous arteriovenous fistula balloon dilation can reduce the incidence of postoperative complications, shorten the hospital length of time, reduce hospitalization costs and improve patient satisfaction, which is clinical promotion significance.

COVID-19 impact in Crohn’s disease patients submitted to autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplantation

BACKGROUND Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 is the virus responsible for coronavirus disease 2019(COVID-19),a disease that has been blamed for inducing or exacerbating symptoms in patients with autoimmune diseases.Crohn's disease(CD)is an inflammatory bowel disease that affects genetically susceptible patients who develop an abnormal mucosal immune response to the intestinal microbiota.Patients who underwent hematopoietic stem cell transplantation(HSCT)are considered at risk for COVID-19.AIM To describe for the first time the impact of COVID-19 in CD patients who had undergone autologous,non-myeloablative HSCT.METHODS In this descriptive study a series of 19 patients were diagnosed with positive COVID-19.For two patients there were reports of the occurrence of two infectious episodes.Parameters related to HSCT,such as time elapsed since the procedure,vaccination status,CD status before and after infection,and clinical manifestations resulting from COVID-19,were evaluated.RESULTS Among the patients with COVID-19,three,who underwent Auto HSCT less than six months ago,relapsed and one,in addition to the CD symptoms,started to present thyroid impairment with positive anti-TPO.Only one of the patients required hospitalization for five days to treat COVID-19 and remained in CD clinical remission.Nine patients reported late symptoms that may be related to COVID-19.There were no deaths,and a statistical evaluation of the series of COVID-19 patients compared to those who did not present any infectious episode did not identify significant differences regarding the analyzed parameters.CONCLUSION Despite the change in CD status in three patients and the presence of nine patients with late symptoms,we can conclude that there was no significant adverse impact concerning COVID-19 in the evaluated patients who underwent HSCT to treat CD.

Histological Analysis and Morphometric Changes after Autologous Fat Grafting in Large Volumes on Pigs

Nowadays, fat transfer is an accepted technique that has been popularized in clinical practice, during which large volumes of fat are strategically relocated to increase and improve the contour of the body. In the present study, we investigated the histological and morphometric changes after large volumes of fat were grafted within the subcutaneous cellular tissue. An experimental study was designed using four 3-month-old male pigs. One hundred cc of decanted fat tissue was transferred into the right leg. Volume augmentation achieved by auto lipo-injecting within the subcutaneous cellular tissue persisted up to two months. Although there is a reduction in cell number and size, an increased amount of extracellular matrix and the presence of oily cysts and microcalcifications were observed. Conclusion: The volume augmentation, which is achieved by autologous fat transfer in large quantities in subcutaneous cellular tissue, can remain for months.

Effect of autotransfusion system on tumor recurrence and survival in hepatocellular carcinoma patients

AIM:To investigate the therapeutic efficacy and safety of continuous autotransfusion system(CATS) during liver transplantation of hepatocellular carcinoma patients.METHODS:Eighty-three hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC) patients who underwent liver transplantation with intraoperative CATS(n = 24,CATS group) and without(n = 59,non-CATS group) between April 2006 and November 2011 at the Liver Transplant Institute of Inonu University were analyzed retrospectively.Postoperative HCC recurrence was monitored by measuring alpha-fetoprotein(AFP) levels at 3-mo intervals and performing imaging analysis by thoracoabdominal multidetector computed tomography at 6-month intervals.Inter-group differences in recurrence and correlations between demographic,clinical,and pathological data were assessed by ANOVA and χ 2 tests.Overall and disease-free survivals were calculated by the univariate Kaplan-Meier method.RESULTS:Of the 83 liver transplanted HCC patients,89.2% were male and the overall mean age was 51.3 ± 8.9 years(range:18-69 years).The CATS and nonCATS groups showed no statistically significant differences in age,sex ratio,body mass index,underlying disease,donor type,graft-to-recipient weight ratio,Child-Pugh and Model for End-Stage Liver Disease scores,number of tumors,tumor size,AFP level,Milan and University of California San Francisco selection criteria,tumor differentiation,macrovascular invasion,median hospital stay,recurrence rate,recurrence site,or mortality rate.The mean follow-up time of the nonCATS group was 17.9 ± 12.8 mo,during which systemic metastasis and/or locoregional recurrence developed in 25.4% of the patients.The mean follow-up time for the CATS group was 25.8 ± 15.1 mo,during which systemic metastasis and/or locoregional recurrence was detected in 29.2% of the patients.There was no significant difference between the CATS and non-CATS groups in recurrence rate or site.Additionally,no significant differences existed between the groups in overall or disease-free survival.CONCLUSION:CATS is a safe procedure and may decrease the risk of tumor recurrence in HCC patients.

Controversy over the use of intraoperative blood salvage autotransfusion during liver transplantation for hepatocellular carcinoma patients

Intraoperative blood salvage autotransfusion (IBSA) is used in various surgical procedures. However, because of the risk of reinfusion of salvaged blood contaminated by tumor cells, the use of IBSA in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patients undergoing liver transplantation (LT) is controversial. The critical points include whether tumor cells can be cleared by IBSA, whether IBSA increases the risk of recurrence or metastasis, and what are the indications for IBSA. Moreover, is it warranted to take the risk of tumor dissemination by using IBSA to avoid allogeneic blood transfusion? Do the remaining tumor cells after additional filtration by leukocyte depletion filters still possess potential tumorigenicity? Does IBSA always work well? We have reviewed the literature and tried to address these questions. The available data indicate that IBSA is safe in LT for HCC, but randomized, controlled and prospective trials are urgently required to clarify the uncertainty.

Platelet-rich plasma increases transforming growth factor-beta1 expression at graft-host interface following autologous osteochondral transplantation in a rabbit model

AIM: To explore the effect of platelet-rich plasma on protein expression patterns of transforming growth factor-beta1(TGF-β1) in cartilage following autologous osteochondral transplantation(AOT) in a rabbit knee cartilage defect model.METHODS: Twelve New Zealand white rabbits received bilateral AOT. In each rabbit, one knee was randomized to receive an autologous platelet rich plasma(PRP) injection and the contralateral knee received saline injection. Rabbits were euthanized at 3, 6 and 12 wk post-operatively. Articular cartilage sections were stained with TGF-β1 antibody. Histological regions of interest(ROI)(left, right and center of the autologous grafts interfaces) were evaluated using Meta Morph. Percentage of chondrocytes positive for TGF-β1 was then assessed.RESULTS: Percentage of chondrocytes positive for TGF-β1 was higher in PRP treated knees for selected ROIs(left; P = 0.03, center; P = 0.05) compared to control and was also higher in the PRP group at each post-operative time point(P = 6.6 × 10^(-4), 3.1 × 10^(-4) and 7.3 × 10^(-3) for 3, 6 and 12 wk, respectively). TGF-β1 expression was higher in chondrocytes of PRP-treated knees(36% ± 29% vs 15% ± 18%)(P = 1.8 × 10^(-6)) overall for each post-operative time point and ROI. CONCLUSION: Articular cartilage of rabbits treated with AOT and PRP exhibit increased TGF-β1 expression compared to those treated with AOT and saline. Our findings suggest that adjunctive PRP may increase TGF-β1 expression, which may play a role in the chondrogenic effect of PRP in vivo.

Effect of human autologous serum and fetal bovine serum on human corneal epithelial cell viability,migration and proliferation in vitro

AIM： To analyze the concentration-dependent effects of autologous serum （AS） and fetal bovine serum （FBS） on human corneal epithelial cell （HCEC） viability, migration and proliferation. METHODS： AS was prepared from 13 patients with non- healing epithelial defects Dulbecco＇s modified eagle medium/ Ham＇s F12 （DMEM/F12） with 5% FBS, 0.5% dimethyl sulphoxide （DMSO）, 10 ng/mL human epidermal growth factor, 1% insulin-transferrin-selenium, then were incubated in serum media： DMEM/F12 supplemented by 5%, 10%, 15% or 30% AS or FBS. HCEC viability was analyzed using cell proliferation kit XTI＇, migration using a wound healing assay, proliferation by the cell proliferation enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay （ELISA） BrdU kit. Statistical analysis was performed using the generalized linear model, the values at 30% AS or 30% FBS were used as the baselines. RESULTS： HCEC viability was the highest at 30% AS or 15% FBS and the lowest at 10% AS or 30% FBS application. HCEC migration was the quickest through 30% AS or 30% FBS and the slowest through 5% AS or 5% FBS concentrations. Proliferation was the most increased through 15% AS or 5% FBS and the least increased through 30% AS or 30% FBS concentrations. HCEC viability at 10% and 15% AS was significantly worse （P=0.001, P=0.023） compared to baseline and significantly better at 15% FBS （P=0.003） concentrations. HCEC migration was significantly worse （P〈0.007） and HCEC proliferation significantly better （P〈0.001） in all concentration groups compared to baseline. CONCLUSION： For the best viability of HCEC 30% AS or 15% FBS, for HCEC migration 30% AS or 30% FBS, for proliferation 15% AS or 5% FBS should be used. Therefore, we suggest the use of 30% AS in clinical practice.