BACKGROUND:Currently,miR-196b-5p has been found to play a role in cell proliferation,migration and inhibition of scar hyperplasia,but there is a lack of relevant studies on whether it plays a role in the process of wound healing.OBJECTIVE:To investigate the effect of miR-196b-5p in adipose stem cell-derived exosomes on burn wound healing.METHODS:The models of deep second degree skin burn in SD rats were established and randomly divided into four groups:blank control group,exosome group,agomiR-196b-5p group,and exosome+antagomiR-196b-5p group,with 10 rats in each group.PBS,adipose-derived stem cell-derived exosomes,miR-196b-5p agonist,and miR-196b-5p inhibitor were injected around the wound according to different groups.Wound healing was observed immediately after injury and on days 7,14,and 21 after injury.On day 7 after surgery,hematoxylin-eosin staining was used to observe the expression of inflammation in the wound surface.On day 14 after suregery,Masson staining was used to observe the expression of collagen and immunohistochemical staining was used to observe the expression of CD31 in the wound surface.On day 7 after surgery,western blot assay was performed to detect the expression of α-smooth muscle actin and type Ⅰ collagen in the wound surface.RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:(1)The wound healing was faster in the agomiR-196b-5p group,while it was slower in the blank control group and the exosome+antagomiR-196b-5p group.(2)Compared with the blank control group and the exosome+antagomiR-196b-5p group,the wound infiltration of inflammatory cells was less in the exosome group and the agomiR-196b-5p group,and the expression of CD31 was significantly increased(P＜0.01).(3)Compared with the blank control group and the exosome+antagomiR-196b-5p group,the expression levels of α-smooth muscle actin and type Ⅰ collagen were increased in the exosome group and the agomiR-196b-5p group(P＜0.05).These findings indicate that miR-196b-5p in adipose stem cell-derived exosomes can promote burn wound healing in rats.

BACKGROUND:Currently,miR-196b-5p has been found to play a role in cell proliferation,migration and inhibition of scar hyperplasia,but there is a lack of relevant studies on whether it plays a role in the process of wound healing.OBJECTIVE:To investigate the effect of miR-196b-5p in adipose stem cell-derived exosomes on burn wound healing.METHODS:The models of deep second degree skin burn in SD rats were established and randomly divided into four groups:blank control group,exosome group,agomiR-196b-5p group,and exosome+antagomiR-196b-5p group,with 10 rats in each group.PBS,adipose-derived stem cell-derived exosomes,miR-196b-5p agonist,and miR-196b-5p inhibitor were injected around the wound according to different groups.Wound healing was observed immediately after injury and on days 7,14,and 21 after injury.On day 7 after surgery,hematoxylin-eosin staining was used to observe the expression of inflammation in the wound surface.On day 14 after suregery,Masson staining was used to observe the expression of collagen and immunohistochemical staining was used to observe the expression of CD31 in the wound surface.On day 7 after surgery,western blot assay was performed to detect the expression of α-smooth muscle actin and type Ⅰ collagen in the wound surface.RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:(1)The wound healing was faster in the agomiR-196b-5p group,while it was slower in the blank control group and the exosome+antagomiR-196b-5p group.(2)Compared with the blank control group and the exosome+antagomiR-196b-5p group,the wound infiltration of inflammatory cells was less in the exosome group and the agomiR-196b-5p group,and the expression of CD31 was significantly increased(P＜0.01).(3)Compared with the blank control group and the exosome+antagomiR-196b-5p group,the expression levels of α-smooth muscle actin and type Ⅰ collagen were increased in the exosome group and the agomiR-196b-5p group(P＜0.05).These findings indicate that miR-196b-5p in adipose stem cell-derived exosomes can promote burn wound healing in rats.

Objective To systematically evaluate the therapeutic effects of video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) and robot-assisted thoracic surgery (RATS) in treating mediastinal tumors. Methods A computer search was conducted on PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library, Web of Science, Wanfang, CNKI, CBM, VIP databases for literature comparing the clinical efficacy of VATS and RATS in treating mediastinal tumors, with the search time from inception to March 31, 2024. The Newcastle-Ottawa Scale (NOS) was used to evaluate the quality of the included cohort studies, and Review Manager 5.4 software was used to perform a meta-analysis. Results A total of 32 articles were included, with 7868 patients. The NOS scores of the included cohort studies were all≥7 points. Meta-analysis results showed that compared with the VATS group, the RATS group had less intraoperative blood loss [MD=−16.71, 95%CI (−23.88, −9.54), P<0.001], lower conversion rate to open thoracotomy [OR=0.41, 95%CI (0.26, 0.67), P=0.003], lower overall postoperative complication rate [OR=0.66, 95%CI (0.48, 0.92), P=0.01], shorter postoperative drainage time [MD=−0.64, 95%CI (−0.92, −0.36), P<0.001], and shorter postoperative hospital stay [MD=−1.03, 95%CI (−1.28, −0.78), P<0.001]. There was no statistical difference between the two groups in terms of tumor size [MD=−0.06, 95%CI (−0.31, 0.19), P=0.64] or operation time [MD=5.52, 95%CI (−2.35, 13.40), P=0.17]. The RATS group had higher hospitalization costs than the VATS group [MD=1.69, 95%CI (1.26, 2.13), P<0.001]. Conclusion In mediastinal tumors resection, RATS is superior to VATS in terms of intraoperative blood loss, conversion rate to open thoracotomy, overall postoperative complication rate, postoperative drainage time, and postoperative hospital stay, but it increases hospitalization costs.

Objective:To investigate the effect of abdominal circumference on intestinal radiation dose volume and acute intestinal toxicity in pelvic intensity modulated radiation therapy for rectal cancer.Methods:A total of 150 patients with locally advanced rectal cancer (LARC) who received adjuvant and neoadjuvant concurrent chemoradiotherapy at the Affiliated Cancer Hospital of Guizhou Medical University from March 2023 to January 2025 were enrolled, including 82 cases of adjuvant radiotherapy and 68 cases of neoadjuvant radiotherapy. All patients underwent radiotherapy CT simulation positioning in the standard mode of prone position with abdominal board padding and bladder filling. Intestinal toxicity was categorized as a binary variable based on the occurrence of ≥2 grade acute intestinal toxicity. Linear and logistic regression models were used to analyze the factors influencing intestinal radiation dose volumes (V 10, V 20, V 30, V 40) and acute intestinal toxicity in LARC patients. Generalized additive models and piecewise linear and logistic regression analyses were employed to examine the threshold effects of abdominal circumference on intestinal radiation dose volumes and acute intestinal toxicity. The threshold value for abdominal circumference was determined based on the upper limit of the 95% CI for the threshold. A difference test was used to validate the differences in intestinal radiation dose volume and acute intestinal toxicity between small and medium-to-large abdominal circumferences. Results:Univariate analysis showed that, gender, body mass, abdominal circumference, planning target volume (PTV), intestinal volume were all influencing factors for the radiation dose volumes (V 10, V 20, V 30, V 40) of each intestinal segment of patients with LARC undergoing adjuvant radiotherapy (all P<0.05). Body mass, abdominal circumference, intestinal volume were all influencing factors for the radiation dose volumes (V 10, V 20, V 30, V 40) of each intestinal segment of patients with LARC undergoing neoadjuvant radiotherapy (all P<0.05). Body mass index (BMI), abdominal circumference, intestinal volume and individual intestinal radiation volumes (V 10, V 20, V 30, V 40) were all influencing factors for the acute intestinal toxicity of patients with LARC undergoing adjuvant radiotherapy (all P<0.05). Body mass, BMI, abdominal circumference, multiple intestinal radiation dose volumes (V 20, V 30, V 40) were all influencing factors for the acute intestinal toxicity of patients with LARC undergoing neoadjuvant radiotherapy (all P<0.05). Multivariate analysis showed that, abdominal circumference (V 10: β=-1.01, 95% CI: -1.68--0.33, P=0.004; V 20: β=-0.94, 95% CI: -1.28--0.60, P<0.001; V 30: β=-0.58, 95% CI: -0.82--0.34, P<0.001; V 40: β=-0.41, 95% CI: -0.60--0.23, P<0.001) was an independent influencing factor for the radiation dose volume of each intestinal segment of patients with LARC undergoing adjuvant radiotherapy. Abdominal circumference (V 10: β=-0.92, 95% CI: -1.62--0.22, P=0.010; V 20: β=-0.84, 95% CI: -1.11--0.57, P<0.001; V 30: β=-0.42, 95% CI: -0.57--0.28, P<0.001; V 40: β=-0.30, 95% CI: -0.41--0.19, P<0.001) was an independent influencing factor for the radiation dose volume of each intestinal segment of patients with LARC undergoing neoadjuvant radiotherapy. Abdominal circumference ( OR=0.86, 95% CI: 0.78-0.95, P=0.002) was an independent influencing factor for the acute intestinal toxicity of patients with LARC undergoing adjuvant radiotherapy. Abdominal circumference ( OR=0.87, 95% CI: 0.79-0.96, P=0.004) was an independent influencing factor for the acute intestinal toxicity of patients with LARC undergoing neoadjuvant radiotherapy. The generalized additive model revealed a nonlinear relationship between abdominal circumference and intestinal radiation dose volume and acute intestinal toxicity of adjuvant radiotherapy patients. Further segmented regression analysis results showed that there was a threshold effect between abdominal circumference and intestinal radiation dose volume (V 10, V 20, V 30, V 40) and acute intestinal toxicity. The inflection point values between abdominal circumference and intestinal radiation dose volume V 10, V 20, V 30, V 40 in LARC patients undergoing adjuvant radiotherapy were all 71.9 cm; the inflection point values between abdominal circumference and the intestinal radiation dose volume V 10, V 20, V 30, V 40 in LARC patients undergoing neoadjuvant radiotherapy were 69.0, 69.0, 69.0, 68.6 cm, respectively; The inflection point values between abdominal circumference and acute intestinal toxicity in LARC patients undergoing adjuvant radiotherapy and neoadjuvant radiotherapy were 71.9, 69.0 cm, respectively. Based on the upper limit of the 95% CI threshold, the cutoff values for small and medium-to-large abdominal circumferences for patients undergoing adjuvant and neoadjuvant radiotherapy were set at 76.1, 71.9 cm, respectively. In patients undergoing adjuvant radiotherapy, the levels of intestinal radiation dose volume V 10 [ (7.65±2.29) cm 3vs. (5.88±2.68) cm 3, t=2.76, P=0.007], V 20 [ (4.28±1.27) cm 3vs. (2.72±1.31) cm 3, t=4.81, P<0.001], V 30 [ (2.42±1.07) cm 3vs. (1.37±0.76) cm 3, t=4.95, P<0.001], V 40 [ (1.69±0.74) cm 3vs. (0.92±0.58) cm 3, t=4.93, P<0.001] in the small abdominal circumference group ( n=22) were significantly higher than those in patients with medium-to-large abdominal circumferences ( n=60) ; In patients undergoing neoadjuvant radiotherapy, patients with small abdominal circumferences ( n=11) had significantly higher V 20 [ (3.09±0.84) cm 3vs. (2.28±1.17) cm 3, t=2.17, P=0.033], V 30 [1.44 (1.22, 1.53) cm 3vs. 0.91 (0.56, 1.22) cm 3, Z=-3.04, P=0.002], V 40 [0.93 (0.84, 1.09) cm 3vs. 0.44 (0.30, 0.81) cm 3, Z=-3.19, P=0.001] than patients with medium-to-large abdominal circumferences ( n=57). In patients receiving adjuvant radiotherapy and neoadjuvant radiotherapy, there were statistically significant differences in acute intestinal toxicity between patients with small abdominal circumferences and with medium-to-large abdominal circumferences ( χ2=10.46, P=0.001; χ2=8.13, P=0.004) . Conclusions:In the standard mode (prone position with abdominal board padding and bladder filling), abdominal circumference is an independent factor influencing the intestinal radiation dose volume and acute intestinal toxicity in rectal cancer radiotherapy patients. There is a significant non-linear threshold effect between abdominal circumference and different levels of intestinal radiation dose volume and acute intestinal toxicity. The impact of abdominal circumference on intestinal radiation dose volume and toxicity differs significantly before and after the inflection point value. Patients with smaller abdominal circumferences not only fail to achieve the expected benefits under the current standard radiotherapy regimen but also face higher risks of intestinal radiation dose volume and toxicity.

Background: The global rise in visual impairment, driven by population aging, the increasing prevalence of lifestyle-related chronic diseases, and environmental factors, has made it a critical public health concern, highlighting the urgent need for effective preventive strategies and eye health maintenance. Cuscutae Semen (CS), a traditional Chinese herbal medicine long regarded for its vision-enhancing properties, has been widely used to support ocular health. However, its underlying molecular mechanisms and bioactive constituents remain poorly understood, limiting its modernization and broader clinical application. Objective: This study aims to investigate the restorative effects of CS on visual impairment, elucidate its underlying mechanisms, and identify potential active components. Methods: A zebrafish model of visual impairment was established using mepanipyrim to simulate retinal structural damage and visual dysfunction. The therapeutic effects of CS were systematically evaluated through behavioral analyses and histomorphological observations. To elucidate the underlying mechanisms, an integrated approach was employed, combining transcriptome sequencing (RNA-seq), reverse transcription quantitative polymerase chain reaction validation, and immunofluorescence staining to identify critical genes and pathways involved. Furthermore, macroporous resin column chromatography was employed for the fractionation and screening of potential active components. Results: CS treatment significantly alleviated mepanipyrim-induced ocular abnormalities in zebrafish, restoring approximately 82% of the observed morphological defects. Behavioral assessments revealed that CS-treated zebrafish exhibited markedly increased swimming speed and distance, indicating enhanced visual light sensitivity. Histopathological analysis demonstrated that CS effectively repaired the structure of retinal cell layers. RNA-seq revealed that CS broadly reversed mepanipyrim-induced gene expression disturbances, suggesting a restorative effect on transcriptomic homeostasis. Gene Ontology enrichment analysis identified the phototransduction pathway as a key mediator of CS’s therapeutic effects. This was further supported by reverse transcription quantitative polymerase chain reaction validation of critical genes and immunofluorescence staining, which confirmed the restored expression of Pde6a and Gnat2, key proteins involved in photic signal transmission. Active component screening indicated that high-polar constituents, including chlorogenic acid, may constitute one of the major bioactive fractions responsible for the observed therapeutic effects. Conclusion: This study provides evidence of the vision-protective effects of CS in a zebrafish model, demonstrating that its therapeutic mechanism involves modulation of the phototransduction pathway. Chlorogenic acid was identified as one of the key bioactive constituents contributing to this effect. These findings not only provide scientific validation for the traditional use of CS in ocular protection but also present promising therapeutic prospects for the prevention and treatment of visual impairment.

Objective: The CT/MRI Liver Imaging Reporting and Data System (LI-RADS) demonstrates high specificity with relatively limited sensitivity for diagnosing hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in high-risk patients. This study aimed to explore the possibility of improving sensitivity by combining CT/MRI LI-RADS v2018 with second-line contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) LI-RADS v2017 using sulfur hexafluoride (SHF) or perfluorobutane (PFB). Materials and Methods: This retrospective analysis of prospectively collected multicenter data included high-risk patients with treatment-naive hepatic observations. The reference standard was pathological confirmation or a composite reference standard (only for benign lesions). Each participant underwent concurrent CT/MRI, SHF-enhanced US, and PFB-enhanced US examinations. The diagnostic performances for HCC of CT/MRI LI-RADS alone and three combination strategies (combining CT/ MRI LI-RADS with either LI-RADS SHF, LI-RADS PFB, or a modified algorithm incorporating the Kupffer-phase findings for PFB [modified PFB]) were evaluated. For the three combination strategies, apart from the CT/MRI LR-5 criteria, HCC was diagnosed if CT/MRI LR-3 or LR-4 observations met the LR-5 criteria using LI-RADS SHF, LI-RADS PFB, or modified PFB. Results: In total, 281 participants (237 males; mean age, 55 ± 11 years) with 306 observations (227 HCCs, 40 non-HCC malignancies, and 39 benign lesions) were included. Using LI-RADS SHF, LI-RADS PFB, and modified PFB, 20, 23, and 31 CT/MRI LR-3/4 observations, respectively, were reclassified as LR-5, and all were pathologically confirmed as HCCs. Compared to CT/MRI LI-RADS alone (74%, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 68%–79%), the three combination strategies combining CT/MRI LI-RADS with either LI-RADS SHF, LI-RADS PFB, or modified PFB increased sensitivity (83% [95% CI: 77%–87%], 84% [95% CI: 79%–89%], 88% [95% CI: 83%–92%], respectively; all P < 0.001), while maintaining the specificity at 92% (95% CI: 84%–97%). Conclusion The combination of CT/MRI LI-RADS with second-line CEUS using SHF or PFB improved the sensitivity of HCC diagnosis without compromising specificity.

Objective:To explore the clinical efficacy of "four-step" aortic valve anatomic repair for bicuspid aortic valve(BAV) with aortic regurgitation(AR).Methods:From August 2021 to November 2024, a total of 298 consecutive patients with BAV-AR underwent aortic valve anatomic repair(AVr) in Shanghai Zhongshan Hospital Fudan University, 266 males and 32 females, with age of 39(29.5, 48.5) years. All patients underwent " four-step" three-dimensional anatomic repair of the aortic annulus and leaflets, 129(43.3%) patients via upper mini-sternotomy and 169(56.7%) patients via conventional median sternotomy, with the main steps including: (1) deep dissecting and annuloplasty of the virtual basal ring(VBR); (2) symmetrical repairing of leaflets; (3) replacement or remodeling of the sinus of Valsalva; (4) annuloplasty of the sinotubular junction(STJ). Basal and perioperative data were retrospectively collected, and statistical analysis was performed in conjunction with follow-up data.Results:All patients successfully underwent anatomical repair without transferring to valve replacement during operation. Among them, 43 patients underwent aortic root reimplantation technique(Reimplantation group), while 255 patients underwent modified aortic root sleeve remodeling technique(Sleeve group). The median cardiopulmonary bypass time for the Reimplantation and Sleeve groups were 154(134, 169) minutes and 111(95, 129) minutes, respectively( P<0.05); the median aortic cross-clamp time were 112(100, 131) minutes and 80(67, 94) minutes, respectively( P<0.05). Preoperative TEE showed 35 patients(81.4%) and 229 patients(89.8%) with moderate and severe AR in Reimplantation and Sleeve groups, respectively. Postoperative TEE showed 41 patients(95.3%) with no/trace AR and 2 patients(4.7%) with central mild AR in Reimplantation group, while 212 patients(83.1%) with no/trace AR and 43 patients(16.9%) with central mild AR in Sleeve group. Follow-up was completed in all patients, with a median follow-up of 12.9(4.7, 21.2) months. Echocardiography was obtained in 271 patients(90.9%) at the latest follow-up, including no/trace AR in 167 patients(56.0%), mild AR in 89 patients(29.9%), moderate AR in 14 patients(4.7%), and severe AR in 1 patient(0.3%). Conclusion:Aortic valve anatomic repair by standardized "four-step" approach is safe and reproducible. Satisfied short- and mid-term outcome have obtained in selected BAV-AR patients.

Objective To optimize the platelet enrichment method,and to analyze the concentration changes of key molecules in platelet-rich plasma(PRP)before and after activation,as well as the impact of its activated products on the proliferation of rat endothelial progenitor cells.Methods The tube double-centrifu-gation method was employed to optimize platelet enrichment,and the platelet count in the enriched PRP was measured.ELISA was used to detect the concentration changes of vascular endothelial growth factor(VEGF),endostatin(ES),and P-selectin(CD62P)in PRP before and after activation.The PRP was activated by using liquid nitrogen freeze-thaw method,and the effect of its activated products on the proliferation of rat endothelial progenitor cells was evaluated by using the methyl thiazolyl tetrazolium(MTT)assay.Results The optimal enrichment coefficient of platelets achieved by the double-centrifugation method was 4.63.After low-speed,long-duration double centrifugation,the platelet count was highest in the upper layer of the buffy coat.For PRP with a platelet count of 500× 109/L obtained by machine collection,the VEGF con-centrations before and after activation were(3 418.12±488.80)pg/mL and(4 530.04±308.30)pg/mL,re-spectively,the ES concentrations were(6 168.98±253.22)pg/mL and(6 594.65±82.47)pg/mL,respec-tively,the CD62P concentrations were(6 678.23±324.15)pg/mL and(17 630.53±746.24)pg/mL,respec-tively,statistically significant differences were observed in the above indicators before and after activation(P＜0.01).The activated PRP was diluted in a gradient manner by using a specialized culture medium for en-dothelial progenitor cells.MTT assay results indicated that,in the basal medium,the optimal volume fraction for promoting endothelial progenitor cell proliferation was 0.25％after 48 hours of culture;in the complete medium,the optimal volume fractions for promoting endothelial progenitor cell proliferation were 0.062 5％after 24 hours and 0.125％after 48 hours.Conclusion The concentrations of VEGF,ES,and CD62P in the optimized,enriched PRP exhibited significant changes before and after activation.The optimal volume fraction for promoting endothelial progenitor cell proliferation in the basal medium was 0.25％.

PURPOSE: To investigate the protective effect of sub-hypothermic mechanical perfusion combined with membrane lung oxygenation on ischemic hypoxic injury of yorkshire brain tissue caused by traumatic blood loss. METHODS: This article performed a random controlled trial. Brain tissue of 7 yorkshire was selected and divided into the sub-low temperature anterograde machine perfusion group (n = 4) and the blank control group (n = 3) using the random number table method. A yorkshire model of brain tissue injury induced by traumatic blood loss was established. Firstly, the perfusion temperature and blood oxygen saturation were monitored in real-time during the perfusion process. The number of red blood cells, hemoglobin content, NA⁺, K⁺, and Ca²⁺ ions concentrations and pH of the perfusate were detected. Following perfusion, we specifically examined the parietal lobe to assess its water content. The prefrontal cortex and hippocampus were then dissected for histological evaluation, allowing us to investigate potential regional differences in tissue injury. The blank control group was sampled directly before perfusion. All statistical analyses and graphs were performed using GraphPad Prism 8.0 Student t-test. All tests were two-sided, and p value of less than 0.05 was considered to indicate statistical significance. RESULTS: The contents of red blood cells and hemoglobin during perfusion were maintained at normal levels but more red blood cells were destroyed 3 h after the perfusion. The blood oxygen saturation of the perfusion group was maintained at 95% - 98%. NA⁺ and K⁺ concentrations were normal most of the time during perfusion but increased significantly at about 4 h. The Ca²⁺ concentration remained within the normal range at each period. Glucose levels were slightly higher than the baseline level. The pH of the perfusion solution was slightly lower at the beginning of perfusion, and then gradually increased to the normal level. The water content of brain tissue in the sub-low and docile perfusion group was 78.95% ± 0.39%, which was significantly higher than that in the control group (75.27% ± 0.55%, t = 10.49, p < 0.001), and the difference was statistically significant. Compared with the blank control group, the structure and morphology of pyramidal neurons in the prefrontal cortex and CA1 region of the hippocampal gyrus were similar, and their integrity was better. The structural integrity of granulosa neurons was destroyed and cell edema increased in the perfusion group compared with the blank control group. Immunofluorescence staining for glail fibrillary acidic protein and Iba1, markers of glial cells, revealed well-preserved cell structures in the perfusion group. While there were indications of abnormal cellular activity, the analysis showed no significant difference in axon thickness or integrity compared to the 1-h blank control group. CONCLUSIONS Mild hypothermic machine perfusion can improve ischemia and hypoxia injury of yorkshire brain tissue caused by traumatic blood loss and delay the necrosis and apoptosis of yorkshire brain tissue by continuous oxygen supply, maintaining ion homeostasis and reducing tissue metabolism level.
Animals ; Perfusion/methods* ; Disease Models, Animal ; Brain Injuries/etiology* ; Swine ; Male ; Hypothermia, Induced/methods*

Stem cell treatment may enhance erectile dysfunction (ED) in individuals with cavernous nerve injury (CNI). Nevertheless, no investigations have directly ascertained the implications of varying amounts of human umbilical cord-derived mesenchymal stem cells (HUC-MSCs) on ED. We compare the efficacy of three various doses of HUC-MSCs as a therapeutic strategy for ED. Sprague-Dawley rats (total = 175) were randomly allocated into five groups. A total of 35 rats underwent sham surgery and 140 rats endured bilateral CNI and were treated with vehicles or doses of HUC-MSCs (1 × 10 6 cells, 5 × 10 6 cells, and 1 × 10 7 cells in 0.1 ml, respectively). Penile tissues were harvested for histological analysis on 1 day, 3 days, 7 days, 14 days, 28 days, 60 days, and 90 days postsurgery. It was found that varying dosages of HUC-MSCs enhanced the erectile function of rats with bilateral CNI and ED. Moreover, there was no significant disparity in the effectiveness of various dosages of HUC-MSCs. However, the expression of endothelial markers (rat endothelial cell antigen-1 [RECA-1] and endothelial nitric oxide synthase [eNOS]), smooth muscle markers (alpha smooth muscle actin [α-SMA] and desmin), and neural markers (neurofilament [RECA-1] and neurogenic nitric oxide synthase [nNOS]) increased significantly with prolonged treatment time. Masson's staining demonstrated an increased in the smooth muscle cell (SMC)/collagen ratio. Significant changes were detected in the microstructures of various types of cells. In vivo imaging system (IVIS) analysis showed that at the 1 st day, the HUC-MSCs implanted moved to the site of damage. Additionally, the oxidative stress levels were dramatically reduced in the penises of rats administered with HUC-MSCs.
Male ; Animals ; Erectile Dysfunction/metabolism* ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Mesenchymal Stem Cell Transplantation/methods* ; Rats ; Penis/pathology* ; Humans ; Disease Models, Animal ; Umbilical Cord/cytology* ; Peripheral Nerve Injuries/complications* ; Mesenchymal Stem Cells ; Nitric Oxide Synthase Type III/metabolism* ; Actins/metabolism* ; Nitric Oxide Synthase Type I/metabolism*