Mesenchymal stem cells (MSC) are multipotent, self-renewing cells that can be found mainly in the bone marrow, and other post-natal organs and tissues. The ease of isolation and expansion, together with the immunomodulatory properties and their capability to migrate to sites of infl ammation and tumours make them a suitable candidate for therapeutic use in the clinical settings. We review here the cellular mechanisms underlying the emerging applications of MSC in various fi elds.

Objective To observe the effect of Chaihushugansan combined with fluoxetine on interleukin -6 ( IL-6 ) , interleukin -1β( IL-1β) , tumor necrosis factor ( TNF-α) in the treatment of patients with postpartum depression.Methods 83 patients from November 2013 to July 2015 in Jiaxing Maternity and Child Health Care Hospital were randomly divided into 41 patients of observation group and 42 patients of control group.The control group were treated with fluoxetine treatment, the obsercation group received Chaihushugansan on the basis of control group.The Hamilton depression scale (HAMD) and Hamilton anxiety scale (HAMA),IL-6, IL-1β, TNF-α, high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) and adverse reactions were followed up and recorded.Results The HAMD and HAMA score in observation group post-treatment were (8.31 ±2.05,9.03 ±2.08)points, which were lower than (13.96 ±2.16, 13.61 ±2.14) points in control group (P<0.05).The serum IL-6 and IL-1βlevels in observation group post-treatment were (6.59 ±3.20,5.01 ±2.83)pg/mL, which were lower than (10.64 ±3.86,9.31 ±3.42)pg/mL in control group (P<0.05).The serum TNF-αand hs-CRP levels in observation group post-treatment were ( 9.16 ±2.01 ) pg/mL, ( 3.62 ±1.06 ) mg/L, which were lower than ( 12.30 ±2.37 ) pg/mL, (5.29 ±1.14)mg/L in control group (P<0.05).The total adverse reaction rate in observation group was 7.32%, significantly lower than 23.81% in control group ( P <0.05 ) .Conclusion Chaihushugansan combined with fluoxetine has a good therapeutic effect in the treatment of postpartum depression, could significantly reduce the IL-6, IL-1β, TNF-α levels, with fewer side effects, it is better than fluoxetine alone.

In this study, we evaluated the biological properties of human mesenchymal stem cells transfected (hMSC) with a plasmid vector expressing human cytokine interleukin-12 (IL-12). Surface markers were analysed by immunophenotyping using flow cytometry. Differentiation capability was evaluated towards adipogenesis and osteogenesis. We demonstrated that successfully transfected hMSC retained their surface immunophenotypes and differentiation potential into adipocytes and osteocytes. These results indicate that hMSC may be a suitable vehicle for gene transduction.
Antigens, Surface/metabolism ; Biological Markers/metabolism ; Bone Marrow Cells/cytology ; Bone Marrow Cells/metabolism ; Cell Differentiation/physiology ; Cells, Cultured ; Flow Cytometry ; Immunophenotyping ; Interleukin-12/genetics ; Interleukin-12/metabolism ; Mesenchymal Stem Cells/*cytology ; Mesenchymal Stem Cells/metabolism ; Transfection

Objective To analyze the clinical characters,treatment and prognosis of primary malignant tumor in vagina.Methods A retrospective analysis of 42 patients diagnosed with primary malignant tumor in vagina in Peking Union Medical College Hospital(PUMCH)between Jan 1984 and Aug 2006 was performed.Results Primary malignant tumor accounted for 0.98%(42/4286)in the total gynecological malignant tumors during that period in PUMCH.According to the International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics(FIGO)staging system,19 cases were at stage Ⅰ,12 cases at stage Ⅱ,5 cases at stageⅢ,and 6 cases at stage Ⅵ.Thairteen cases were squamous carcinoma,13 cases were malignant melanoma,8 cases were adenocarcinoma.3 case8 were yolk sac tumor and 5 cases were other types.The majority of patients were treated with surgery combined with radiotherapy and chemotherapy.Up to August 2007,19 cases survived.18 cases were dead and 5 casefl were lost.The longest follow up was 10 years,with the median time of 2 years.The overall 2-year SUrvival rate was 60.6%.For stage Ⅰ,stage Ⅱ, and stage Ⅲ-Ⅵ,the 2-year survival rates were 71.3%.58.3%and 29.6%respectively.The 2-year survival rate of patients with squamous carcinoma Was 46.8%,malignant melanoma 72.9%,adenocarcinoma 20.0%and patients with yolk sac tumor were all alive tumor-free after 6-10 years'follow up.Conclusions The prognosis of primary malignant tumor in vagina is affected by clinical stage and histological type.A8 to malignant melanoma,radical surgery combined with chemotherapy and immunotherapy produce good effects.Patients with yolk sac tumor can be cured only with chemotherapy.As to other types,more treatment experiences are needed.

Animals ; Calcium ; metabolism ; Cell Line ; Cricetinae ; Cricetulus ; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug ; Fibroblasts ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Vehicle Emissions

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the impact of lymphadenectomy on the relapse and survival of malignant ovarian germ cell tumor (OGCT).

METHODSThe clinical data of 102 OGCT cases treated in Peking Union Medical College Hospital from June 1980 to June 2003 were analyzed retrospectively. All the data about lymphadenectomy during primary and secondary surgery were collected, and other factors related to prognosis were also collected at the same time. Chi-squared test was applied in the univariate analysis related to relapse of disease. Cox model was applied in multivariate analysis related to relapse and survival of disease.

RESULTSPelvic and paraaortic lymph node metastasis was not significantly related to prognosis in primary and secondary treated patients. Lymphadenectomy showed no significant impact on disease relapse and survival. In the primary treatment, International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics (FIGO) staging, chemotherapy regimen, residual tumor and lymphadenectomy were the significant factors related to the relapse. After being stratified for the chemotherapy regimen, lymphadenectomy was not significantly related to the relapse in bleomycin +etoposide +cisplatin or cisplatin +vincristine +bleomycin regimen group, and lymphadenectomy could prevent relapse in no chemotherapy or other chemotherapy regimen group. In relapsed patients, only residual tumor was significantly related to survival time after relapse.

CONCLUSIONSPelvic lymph node metastasis is not the significant risk factor related to prognosis. Lymphadenectomy may have a beneficial effect on survival, although such effect is not significant. Although lymphadenectomy provides important information for prognosis, they provide little benefit to those patients already requiring chemotherapy based on the original operative findings. Lymphadenectomy should be performed to primary or relapsed patients by an expert surgical team.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols ; therapeutic use ; Child ; Combined Modality Therapy ; Female ; Germinoma ; mortality ; pathology ; surgery ; therapy ; Humans ; Lymph Node Excision ; methods ; Lymphatic Metastasis ; Neoplasm Recurrence, Local ; mortality ; pathology ; surgery ; therapy ; Neoplasm Staging ; Ovarian Neoplasms ; mortality ; pathology ; surgery ; therapy ; Prognosis ; Retroperitoneal Space ; Retrospective Studies

BACKGROUNDThe primary ovarian sarcoma is a very rare malignancy. The objective of this study was to further investigate the clinicopathologic features and outcome in patients with primary sarcoma of the ovary.

METHODSBetween 1988 and 2007, 24 patients with primary ovarian sarcoma who underwent treatment at Peking Union Medical Hospital were reviewed retrospectively. Response to treatment, progression and overall survival were analyzed.

RESULTSPatients with ovarian sarcoma had a mean age of (54.3 ± 10.3) years, and 16 of them were postmenopausal. The most common symptom was abdominal pain, present in 14 patients. Of the 24 patients, 16 patients were pathologically diagnosed as carcinosarcoma (known as malignant mixed mesodermal tumor (MMMT)), 2 as ovarian leiomyosarcoma (LS) and 6 patients as ovarian endometrial stromal sarcoma (ESS). The patients in optimal debulking group had a median survival period of 28 months and 1-year survival rate of 71%. The patients in suboptimal debulking group had a significantly lower median survival of 6 months (P = 0.02) and 1-year survival rate of 29%. Among the patients, 23 patients received chemotherapy and most of regimens were based on platinum, 3 patients received chemoradiation. The mean number of courses of combined chemotherapy was 6.6 ± 5.0, and the response was unsatisfactory. The median survival for the entire group was 18.7 months. The one-year survival rate was 58%, and two-year survival rate only 29%.

CONCLUSIONSOvarian primary sarcoma has a poor overall prognosis. Optimal debulking surgery appears to be of prognostic significance. There is a clear need for further study to explore the role and the regimen of platinum-based chemotherapy in primary ovarian sarcoma.

Adult ; Aged ; Female ; Humans ; Kaplan-Meier Estimate ; Middle Aged ; Ovarian Neoplasms ; diagnosis ; drug therapy ; radiotherapy ; surgery ; Retrospective Studies ; Sarcoma ; diagnosis ; drug therapy ; radiotherapy ; surgery ; Survival Rate

Adenosarcoma ; mortality ; pathology ; therapy ; Adolescent ; Adult ; Female ; Humans ; Middle Aged ; Mixed Tumor, Mullerian ; mortality ; pathology ; therapy ; Prognosis ; Uterine Neoplasms ; mortality ; pathology ; therapy

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the anti-tumor effect and toxicity of gemcitabine combined with platinum chemotherapy on recurrent epithelial ovarian cancer.

METHODSPhase II study of gemcitabine combined with platinum chemotherapy was carried out in 22 patients with recurrent epithelial ovarian cancer. Median age of patients was 50.5 years old. Seven patients were platinum-sensitive and 15 patients were platinum-resistant or -refractory. All patients received gemcitabine combined with carboplatin or oxaliplatin chemotherapy. Patients' response rate (RR) and toxicity of gemcitabine combined with platinum chemotherapy were evaluated.

RESULTSA total of 98 gemcitabine-based chemotherapy cycles were performed. Total RR was 36.4%, RR of platinum-sensitive patients was 4/7 and platinum-resistant and -refractory patients was 4/15. The estimated median survival time was 10.0 months (95% CI: 7.0-13.0) after initiation of gemcitabine combined with platinum chemotherapy. There was no significant difference in survival time between platinum-resistant/refractory group and platinum-sensitive group (P = 0.061). Side effects of gemcitabine combined with platinum chemotherapy were observed in 81.8% of patients. Grade II/III anemia (54.5%) and grade III/IV neutropenia (54.5%) were most common toxicities. Ten (45.5%) patients had to delay their chemotherapy cycles or reduce the dose of chemotherapeutic drugs because of the severe side effects. Fourteen (63.6%) patients received granulocyte colony-stimulating factor to relieve neutropenia, and 8 (36.4%) patients received component blood transfusion to treat anemia or thrombocytopenia. There was no treat-ment-associated death.

CONCLUSIONGemcitabine combined with platinum chemotherapy appears to be an effective and well-tolerant treatment for recurrent epithelial ovarian cancer, including platinum-resistant or -refractory diseases.

Adult ; Aged ; Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols ; adverse effects ; therapeutic use ; Deoxycytidine ; administration & dosage ; adverse effects ; analogs & derivatives ; Female ; Humans ; Middle Aged ; Neoplasms, Glandular and Epithelial ; drug therapy ; Ovarian Neoplasms ; drug therapy ; Platinum Compounds ; administration & dosage ; adverse effects

OBJECTIVETo investigate the clinicopathologic features, diagnosis, treatment and prognosis of uterine mullerian adenosarcoma.

METHODSThe clinicopathological data of 9 cases of uterine mullerian adenosarcoma in PUMC hospital from January 2003 to February 2009 were retrospectively analyzed.

RESULTSThere were 6 uterine endometrial adenosarcomas and 3 cervical adenosarcomas. The main clinical manifestations were abnormal vaginal bleeding and pelvic pain. Physical examination showed cervical/vaginal mass, enlarged uterus or pelvic mass. The adenosarcoma was characterized by benign or atypical-appearing neoplastic glands within a sarcomatous stroma. This stroma could appear as periglandular cuffs or intraglandular polypoid projections of increased cellular structure. The primary diagnostic rate was 66.7% and the most common clinical stage was stage I (7/9). All patients received surgical treatment and seven had postoperative chemotherapy, radiotherapy or hormone therapy. Conservation of unilateral ovary or bilateral ovaries was performed in 5 cases. Three patients underwent local excision, which resulted in the preservation of reproductive function. During the follow-up, 2 cases of uterine endometrial adenosarcoma recurred. One patient of clinical stage III containing sarcomatous overgrowth died from recurrence 13 months after surgery. The other one recurred 2 years after local excision of the tumor in the uterine cavity and she remained healthy since hysterectomy.

CONCLUSIONUterine mullerian adenosarcoma is a rare tumor without specific clinical symptoms and signs. The diagnosis depends on pathomorphologic examination. The tumors show low malignant potential and the vast majority are at early stage. Surgical excision is the main treatment strategy with a good prognosis in the early stage disease with complete removal of tumors. The prognosis is poor in advanced adenosarcoma with sarcomatous overgrowth. Due to the relatively high rate of recurrence, long-term follow-up is recommended.

Adenosarcoma ; drug therapy ; pathology ; surgery ; Adolescent ; Adult ; Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols ; therapeutic use ; Chemotherapy, Adjuvant ; Cisplatin ; therapeutic use ; Endometrial Neoplasms ; drug therapy ; pathology ; surgery ; Etoposide ; therapeutic use ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Hysterectomy ; methods ; Ifosfamide ; therapeutic use ; Middle Aged ; Neoplasm Recurrence, Local ; Neoplasm Staging ; Retrospective Studies ; Uterine Cervical Neoplasms ; drug therapy ; pathology ; surgery ; Uterine Neoplasms ; drug therapy ; pathology ; surgery ; Young Adult