The slow progress in clinical applications of stem cells and the bewildering mechanisms involved have puzzled many researchers. Recently, the increasing evidences have indicated that cells have superior plasticity in vivo or in vitro, spontaneously or under extrinsic specific inducers. The concept of stem cells may be challenged, or even replaced by the concept of cell plasticity when cell reprogramming technology is progressing rapidly. The characteristics of stem cells are manifestations of cellular plasticity. Incorrect understanding of the concept of stem cells hinders the clinical application of so-called stem cells. Understanding cellular plasticity is important for understanding and treating disease. The above issues will be discussed in detail to prove the reconceptualization of stem cells from cellular plasticity.
Cell Plasticity ; Cellular Reprogramming ; In Vitro Techniques ; Plastics ; Stem Cells

OBJECTIVE: Providing a risk assessment method for the implementation of radiotherapy to identify possible risks in the implementation of the treatment process, and proposing measures to reduce or prevent these risks. METHODS: A multidisciplinary expert evaluation team was developed and the radiotherapy treatment process flow was drawn. Through the expert team, the failure mode analysis is carried out in each step of the flow chart. The results were summarized and the (risk priority ordinal) score was obtained, and the quantitative evaluation results of the whole process risk were obtained. RESULTS: One hundred and six failure modes were obtained, risk assessment of (20%) high risk failure model are 22 and severity (≥ 8) high risk failure model are 27. The reasons for the failures were man-made errors or hardware and software failures. CONCLUSIONS Failure mode and effect analysis can be used to evaluate the risk assessment of radiotherapy, and it provides a new solution for risk control in radiotherapy field.
Healthcare Failure Mode and Effect Analysis ; Risk Assessment

In the present study, the characterization and properties of silver nanoparticles from Yucca shilerifera leaf extract (AgNPs) were investigated using UV–visible spectroscopic techniques, zeta potential, and dynamic light scattering. The UV–visible spectroscopic analysis showed the absorbance peaked at 460 nm, which indicated the synthesis of silver nanoparticles. The experimental results showed silver nanoparticles had Z-average diameter of 729 nm with lower stability (195.1 mV). Additionally, our dates revealed that AgNPs showed broad spectrum antagonism (p ≤ .05) against Fusarium solani (83.05%) and Macrophomina phaseolina (67.05%) when compared to the control after nine days of incubation. Finally, AgNPs from leaf extracts of Y. shilerifera may be used as an agent of biocontrol of microorganism of importance. However, further studies will be needed to fully understand the agronanotechnological potentialities of AgNPs from Yucca schidigera.
Dynamic Light Scattering ; Fragaria* ; Fusarium* ; Nanoparticles ; Silver* ; Yucca*

OBJECTIVETo introduce practical diagnostic criterion of blood stasis syndrome (BSS), and to evaluate its reliability and validity.

METHODSBy referring to three diagnostic criteria of BSS [practical diagnostic criterion of BSS (criterion A), diagnostic criterion of BSS in 1986 (criterion B), Consensus of Integrative Medicine on BSS Diagnosis in 2011 (criterion C)], 712 patients from different departments of Xiyuan Hospital were recruited. The reliability of criterion A and its consistency with the other two criteria were assessed using Kappa coefficient. A Bayesian approach was also employed to assess the sensitivity and specificity of criterion A.

RESULTSAccording to the consistency check, criterion A presented good consistency when used by different researchers (the diagnostic accordance rate was 91. 96%, Kappa =0. 82, P <0.001). Meanwhile, there was an acceptable diagnostic consistency among the three diagnostic criteria. Bayesian estimation suggested that criterion A had higher sensitivity but similar specificity, as compared with criterion B or criterion C. Compared with criterion B [the median of sensitivity and specificity were 0. 762 (95% Cl: 0. 731 -0. 790) and 0. 902 (95% Cl: 0. 858 -0. 936) respectively, the median of sensitivity and specificity of criterion A were 0. 911 (95% CI: 0. 888 - 0. 930) and 0. 875 (95% CI: 0. 826 - 0. 915) respectively. Estimating the difference between criterion A and B, the median of sensitivity and specificity were 0. 149 (95% CI: 0. 112 -0.184) and -0. 026 (95% CI:-0. 085 -0. 033) respectively. Compared with criterion C [the median of sensitivity and specificity were 0. 831 (95% Cl: 0. 804 -0. 857) and 0. 892 (95% CI: 0. 848 - 0. 926) respectively], the median of sensitivity and specificity of criterion A were 0. 912 (95% CI: 0. 889 -0. 932) and 0. 880 (95%CI: 0. 833 - 0.919) respectively. Estimating the difference between criterion A and C, the median of sensitivity and specificity were 0. 081 (95% CI: 0.047 - 0.114) and -0.011 (95%CI: -0.070 -0.046) respectively.

CONCLUSIONCompared with criterion B and C, criterion A not only had better reliability, but also could significantly improve the sensitivity without obviously lowering the specificity.

The need to combine direct and indirect evidence is increasing in clinical fields, and this is especially true when direct evidence is inconclusive. Thus, in recent years, network meta-analysis has been utilized increasingly in medicine. Network meta-analysis is a statistical method that enables comparison of multiple treatments simultaneously-by combining direct and indirect evidence of the relative treatment effects-to assess the comparative effectiveness of multiple interventions even if there are no head-to-head comparisons. Network meta-analysis has some advantages in addressing all treatments for a specific condition, comparing interventions and ranking the efficacy and safety of multiple treatments, and increasing the certainty of evidence by pooling direct and indirect evidence to generate overall estimates. The major assumption in network meta-analysis is exchange-ability of the studies, and other key assumptions include similarity, consistency, and transitivity. The Bayesian approach is used most commonly in network meta-analysis because it provides greater flexibility that allows for the use of more complex models and can produce estimates of rank probabilities. Bayesian network meta-analysis produces treatment rankings according to the probability of being the best treatment, the second best, third best, and so forth. Network meta-analysis is an interesting method that provides useful information for use in by rheumatologists in decision-making.
Bayes Theorem ; Pliability

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: The potency of tissue resident stem cells is regulated primarily by inputs from the local microenvironment. Isolation of stem cells through enzymatic digestion of tissue may affect epigenetic regulation of cell fate and performance. Here we employ a non-enzymatic method to harvest and investigate tissue resident stem cells from the adult porcine pulmonary valve. METHODS AND RESULTS: The presence of c-Kit+ stem cells within the valve tissue was confirmed by immunohistochemistry. An in vitro culture of minced valve leaflets was developed under the standard conditions (37°C with 5% CO2). The viability of the cellular outgrowths was evaluated over the subsequent 12 weeks. Under this culture condition, we identified a population of non-adherent c-Kit+ cells and multiple cellular structures mimicking the phenotype of embryonic stem cells at different stages of development. Formation of multinucleated cells through cell fusion provided an active niche area for homing and interaction of the non-adherent c-Kit+ cells. Expression of pluripotency markers Oct-4 and Nanog was detected in the newly formed multinucleated cells but not in mature colonies. Partial cell fusion was shown by fluorescent live-cell tracking, which confirmed intercellular molecular exchange between donor and recipient cells, resulting in altered cytoplasmic protein expression by the recipient cell. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest a role for the microenvironment in decrypting the potential of the valve somatic stem cells in vitro. In addition, our data provide evidence for cell fusion, which may play a critical role in reversing somatic cell fate and spontaneous cellular reprogramming.
Adult ; Cell Fusion ; Cellular Microenvironment ; Cellular Reprogramming ; Cellular Structures ; Cytoplasm ; Digestion ; Embryonic Stem Cells ; Epigenomics ; Heart Valves ; Humans ; Immunohistochemistry ; In Vitro Techniques ; Methods ; Phenotype ; Pulmonary Valve ; Stem Cells ; Tissue Donors

BACKGROUND: Blood transfusions are complicated procedures, and are highly sensitive to mistakes that could seriously endanger the life of patients. The failure mode and effect analysis (FMEA) can be used to inspect and improve high risk processes. Here, we aimed to identify the risk factors of a blood transfusion process and to improve its safety by optimizing the process. METHODS: We conducted a weekly meeting from March to April 2014. We investigated the frequency of events for 2013 (before FMEA) and 2015 (after FMEA). The FMEA process was performed in eight steps and the improvement priorities were determined in accordance with the magnitude of calculated fatalities (multiplied by severity, occurrence, and detection scores). RESULTS: The whole process of blood transfusion was analyzed by detailed steps: Decision of blood transfusion, blood transfusion request, pre-transfusion test, blood product discharge, delivery, and administration process. Then, we identified the types of failures and likelihood of occurrence, discovery, and severity. Based on the calculated risk priority number, strategies to improve the highest failure modes were developed. Eleven transfusion-related events occurred before FMEA, and three events occurred after FMEA. CONCLUSION: In this study, we analyzed the failure modes that may occur during a transfusion procedure. The FMEA was a useful tool for analyzing and reducing the risks associated with a blood transfusion procedure. Continuous efforts to improve the failure modes would be helpful to further improve the safety of patients undergoing blood transfusion.
Blood Transfusion ; Healthcare Failure Mode and Effect Analysis* ; Hematologic Tests ; Humans ; Patient Safety ; Risk Factors ; Transfusion Medicine*

PURPOSE: The purpose of this research was to provide patients with safe preoperative preparatory procedures by removing any risk factors from the preparatory procedures by using failure mode and effects analysis, which is a prospective risk-managing tool. METHODS: This was a research design in which before and after conditions of a single group were studied, Failure mode and effects analysis were applied for the preparatory procedures done before operations. RESULTS: The preparation omission rate before the operation decreased from 2.70% to 0.04%, and operation cancellation rate decreased from 0.48% to 0.08%. CONCLUSION: Failure mode and effects analysis which remove any risk factors for patients in advance of the operation is effective in preventing any negligent accidents.
Healthcare Failure Mode and Effect Analysis* ; Humans ; Patient Safety ; Prospective Studies ; Research Design ; Risk Factors

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the clinical application and effect evaluation of failure mode and effect analysis (FMEA) in the optimization of vascular recanalization in patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI). METHODS: A total of 389 STEMI patients admitted to the emergency department of the Fifth Central Hospital in Tianjin from January 2014 to January 2015 were served as the control group, and 398 STEMI patients admitted to the chest pain center of the Fifth Central Hospital in Tianjin from January 2016 to October 2017 were served as the experimental group. In the control group, routine emergency treatment was used. At the same time, the intervention room was 24-hour prepared for emergency vascular recanalization. The experimental group used FMEA. Through the usage of FMEA, the main factors those caused the delay in revascularization treatment were determined, and the revascularization process was optimized for these influencing factors, thereby shortening the "criminal" blood vessel opening time of patients. The door-to-balloon dilatation time (D-to-B time), troponin testing time, placement time of the catheterization room, initiation of the catheterization room to balloon dilatation time, and preoperative and 1 week postoperative N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) levels, heart function parameters [left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF), left ventricular short axis shortening rate (FS), left ventricular end-systolic diameter (LVESD), and left ventricular end-diastolic diameter (LVEDD)] within 1 week, 3 months and 6 months after intervention, and the incidence of main cardiovascular adverse events within 1 month after intervention, hospital mortality, the length of hospital stay, and readmission within 1 year in the patients of two groups were recorded. RESULTS: D-to-B time (minutes: 70.6±3.6 vs. 79.4±8.7), troponin testing time (minutes: 17.1±2.3 vs. 65.2±6.5), placement time of the catheterization room (minutes: 28.9±9.8 vs. 52.3±12.2) and activation of the catheterization room to balloon expansion time (minutes: 47.3±9.3 vs. 65.1±7.2) in the experimental group were significantly shorter than those in the control group (all P < 0.01). The NT-proBNP levels at 1 week after intervention in the two groups were lower than the preoperative levels, slightly lower in the experimental group, but the difference was not statistically significant. There was no significant difference in cardiac function at 1 week and 3 months after intervention between the two groups. The LVEF and FS at 6 months after intervention in the experimental group were significantly higher than those in the control group [LVEF: 0.622±0.054 vs. 0.584±0.076, FS: (38.1±4.3)% vs. (35.4±6.2)%, both P < 0.01], and LVESD and LVEDD were decreased significantly [LVESD (mm): 31.2±3.8 vs. 34.7±4.2, LVEDD (mm): 49.2±5.3 vs. 52.4±5.6, all P < 0.01]. The length of hospital stay in the experimental group was significantly shorter than that in the control group (days: 8.3±3.2 vs. 13.2±6.8, P < 0.01), the incidence of major cardiovascular adverse events within 1 month after intervention [13.6% (54/398) vs. 19.8% (77/389)], hospital mortality [1.8% (7/398) vs. 4.9% (19/389)], and readmission rate within 1 year [9.5% (38/398) vs. 14.5% (56/389)] in the experimental group were significantly lower than those in the control group (all P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS The usage of FMEA to optimize the vascular recanalization procedure can shorten the emergency treatment time of STEMI patients, reduce the occurrence of adverse events, and improve the prognosis.
Chest Pain ; Emergency Service, Hospital ; Healthcare Failure Mode and Effect Analysis ; Humans ; Myocardial Infarction ; Prognosis

Conventional statistical tests are usually called parametric tests. Parametric tests are used more frequently than nonparametric tests in many medical articles, because most of the medical researchers are familiar with and the statistical software packages strongly support parametric tests. Parametric tests require important assumption; assumption of normality which means that distribution of sample means is normally distributed. However, parametric test can be misleading when this assumption is not satisfied. In this circumstance, nonparametric tests are the alternative methods available, because they do not required the normality assumption. Nonparametric tests are the statistical methods based on signs and ranks. In this article, we will discuss about the basic concepts and practical use of nonparametric tests for the guide to the proper use.
Data Interpretation, Statistical ; Investigative Techniques ; Statistics, Nonparametric