BACKGROUNDHuman amniotic epithelial cells (HAECs), which have several characteristics similar to stem cells, therefore could possibly be used in cell therapy without creating legal or ethical problems. In this study, we transplanted HEACs into the injured spinal cord of rats to investigate if the cells can improve the rats' hindlimb motor function.

METHODSHAECs were obtained from a piece of fresh amnion, labeled with Hoechst33342, and transplanted into the site of complete midthoracic spinal transections in adult rats. The rats (n = 21) were randomly divided into three groups: Sham-operation group (n = 7), cells-graft group (n = 7), and PBS group (n = 7). One rat of each group was killed for histological analysis at the second week after the transplantation. The other six rats of each group were killed for histological analysis after an 8-week behavioral testing. Hindlimb motor function was assessed by using the open-field BBB scoring system. Survival rate of the graft cells was observed at second and eighth weeks after the transplantation. We also detected the myelin sheath fibers around the lesions and the size of the axotomized red nucleus. A one-way ANOVA was used to compare the means among the groups. The significance level was set at P < 0.05.

RESULTSThe graft HAECs survived for a long time (8 weeks) and integrated into the host spinal cord without immune rejection. Compared with the control group, HAECs can promote the regeneration and sprouting of the axons, improve the hindlimb motor function of the rats (BBB score: cells-graft group 9.0 +/- 0.89 vs PBS group 3.7 +/- 1.03, P < 0.01), and inhibit the atrophy of axotomized red nucleus [cells-graft group (526.47 +/- 148.42) microm(2) vs PBS group (473.69 +/- 164.73) microm(2), P < 0.01].

CONCLUSIONTransplantation of HAECs can improve the hindlimb motor function of rats with spinal cord injury.

Amnion ; cytology ; transplantation ; Animals ; Cell Survival ; Epithelial Cells ; transplantation ; Female ; Hindlimb ; physiopathology ; Humans ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Spinal Cord Injuries ; pathology ; physiopathology ; therapy ; Stem Cell Transplantation ; methods

OBJECTIVETo observe the effect of the human amniotic membrane (HAM) loaded with human amniotic mesenchymal stem cells (hAMSCs) on the skin wounds of SD rats.

METHODSThe amniotic epithelial cells were removed by trypsin digestion, hAMSCs were loaded onto HAM and then covered on rats' skin defects. The wound healing was observed by HE staining and immunohistochemistry, and the results were compared with the amniotic membrane group and blank control group.

RESULTSThe average wound healing time was (18.3 +/- 0.9) d in the HAM load with hAMSCs group, which was significantly faster than those in the blank control group [(26.4 +/- 0.7) d, P < 0.01] and the amniotic membrane group [(21.5 +/- 1.2) d, P < 0.05]. After 11 d and 14 d, the wound healing rates in the HAM load with hAMSCs group were (81.5 +/- 7.2)% and (94.3 +/- 3.6)%, respectively, which were significantly higher than those in the blank control group [(48.5 +/- 3.2)% and (74.3 +/- 4.3 )%] and the amniotic membrane group [(68.5 +/- 4.5)% and (86.8 +/- 4.8)%] (all P < 0.01). Skin biopsy/HE staining confirmed that the quality of wound healing in the HAM load with hAMSCs group was significantly better than in the amniotic membrane group and the blank control group. Immunohistochemical staining showed that the number of CK19-positive epidermal stem cells in the HAM load with hAMSCs group (48.2 +/- 3.2) was significantly larger than those in the amniotic membrane group (37.7 +/- 3.1) (P < 0.05) and the blank control group (29.6 +/- 2.4) (P < 0.01). Furthermore, the vascular endothelial growth factor expression (64.5 +/- 4.5) in the HAM load with hAMSCs group was also significantly higher than those in the amniotic membrane group (52.6 +/- 3.8) (P < 0.05) and the blank control group (40.7 +/- 3.1) (P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONHAM loaded with hAMSCs may promote the repair of skin wounds by promoting the regeneration of epidermal stem cells and capillaries.

Amnion ; cytology ; Animals ; Cells, Cultured ; Disease Models, Animal ; Humans ; Male ; Mesenchymal Stem Cell Transplantation ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Skin ; injuries ; physiopathology ; Wound Healing

The aim of this study was to determine whether intra-amniotic infection/inflammation (IAI) was associated with subsequent ruptured membranes in women with preterm labor and intact membranes who had a clinically indicated amniocentesis. This retrospective cohort study included 237 consecutive women with preterm labor (20-34.6 weeks) who underwent amniocentesis. The clinical and laboratory parameters evaluated included demographic variables, gestational age, C-reactive protein (CRP) and amniotic fluid (AF) white blood cell, interleukin-6 (IL-6) and culture results. IAI was defined as a positive AF culture and/or an elevated AF IL-6 level (>2.6 ng/mL). The primary outcome was ruptured membranes in the absence of active labor occurring within 48 hours of amniocentesis. Preterm premature rupture of membranes subsequently developed in 10 (4.2%) women within 48 hr of amniocentesis. Multivariate analysis demonstrated that only IAI was independently associated with the ruptured membranes occurring within 48 hr of amniocentesis. In the predictive model based on variables assessed before amniocentesis, only CRP level was retained. IAI is an independent risk factor for subsequent ruptured membranes after clinically indicated amniocentesis in preterm labor. Prior to amniocentesis, measurement of serum CRP level can provide a risk assessment for the subsequent development of ruptured membranes after the procedure.
Adult ; Amniocentesis/*adverse effects ; Amnion/physiopathology ; Amniotic Fluid/cytology/metabolism/microbiology ; Bacterial Infections/*etiology/microbiology ; C-Reactive Protein/analysis ; Cohort Studies ; Demography ; Female ; Gestational Age ; Humans ; Inflammation/*etiology ; Interleukin-6/metabolism ; Leukocytes/cytology ; Multivariate Analysis ; Mycoplasma/isolation & purification ; Obstetric Labor, Premature/*etiology ; Pregnancy ; ROC Curve ; Retrospective Studies ; Risk Factors ; Ureaplasma urealyticum/isolation & purification