BACKGROUND:With the continuous advancement of medical technology,stem cell therapy has been used to treat a variety of diseases,including amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. OBJECTIVE:To review the research progress of stem cell therapy for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis,and prospect the development trend of this field. METHODS:PubMed,China National Knowledge Infrastructure(CNKI),and WanFang Data were searched for articles published from 1995 to 2024 using the key words"amyotrophic lateral sclerosis,mesenchymal stem cells,neural stem/progenitor cells,pluripotent stem cells."A total of more than 1 700 articles were retrieved,and 58 articles were finally included in this review. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis is a neurodegenerative disease that affects lower motor neurons in the brainstem and spinal cord and upper motor neurons in the motor cortex.The related research of stem cells in the treatment of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis has become a research hotspot.In this review,we summarize the application of different types of stem cells in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis research,including mesenchymal stem cells,neural stem progenitor cells,and induced pluripotent stem cells,and evaluate the key points of preclinical research such as stem cell source,cell volume,stem cell modification methods,and drug delivery routes,which lays the foundation for the future application of stem cell therapy.

Objective:To observe the morphological characteristics of high myopia (HM) paravalvular abnormalities (PVA), and the correlation between different manifestations of PVA and myopic traction maculopathy (MTM) was analyzed.Methods:A cross-sectional clinical study. A total of 42 middle-aged and elderly patients with HM and PVA diagnosed by ophthalmology examination in Department of Ophthalmology, The Second Hospital of Hebei Medical University from June to December 2021 were included in the study. There were 24 eyes in 16 males and 48 eyes in 26 females. Age was (56.71±8.10) years old. Diopter was (-13.05±3.10) D. Axial length (AL) was (28.22±1.04) mm. According to the characteristics of ultra-wide-angle optical coherence tomography images, PVA morphology was divided into paravascular microfolds (PM), paravascular cysts (PC) and paravascular lamellar holes (PLH). MTM was divided into T0-T5 grades, of which MTM≥T3 was defined as severe MTM. The state of vitreoretinal junction was observed and the state of posterior vitreous detachment (PVD) was recorded, which divided into complete PVD and partial PVD. Partial PVD was divided into macular fovea adhesions and paravascular adhesions according to the vitreoretinal adhesions. Posterior scleral staphyloma (PS) was divided into 6 types by ultra-wide-angle fundus photography. Logistic regression model was used to analyze the factors related to MTM.Results:In 72 eyes, PM, PC and PLH were 72 (100.0%, 72/72), 62 (86.1%, 62/72) and 29 (40.3%, 29/72) eyes, respectively. Among them, there were 10 (13.9%, 10/72) eyes with PM alone, 33 (45.8%, 33/72) eyes with PM and PC, and 29 (40.3%, 29/72) eyes with PM, PC and PLH, respectively. There were 42 eyes with partial PVD (58.3%, 42/72), among which the macular fovea and paravascular adhesion were 22 (52.4%, 22/42) and 24 (57.1%, 24/42) eyes, respectively. PS was present in 50 eyes (69.4%, 50/72), among which 27 (54.0%, 27/50), 21 (42.0%, 21/50), 1 (2.0%, 1/50), and 1 (2.0%, 1/50) eyes were types Ⅰ to Ⅳ, respectively. Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that AL[odds ratio ( OR)=16.139, 95% confidence interval ( CI) 4.062-64.120, P<0.001], PS ( OR=4.212, 95% CI 1.234-14.378, P=0.022), paravascular vitreoretinal adhesion (OR=3.478, 95% CI 11.124, P=0.036) were risk factors for PM, PC and PLH. MTM was present in 58 eyes (80.6%, 58/72), among which T1 was the most common type in 19 eyes (26.4%, 19/72). Univariate logistic regression analysis showed that the occurrence of MTM was significantly correlated to PS ( OR=4.190, 95% CI 1.240-14.157, P=0.021), coexistence of PM, PC and PLH ( OR=11.323, 95% CI 1.389-92.311, P=0.023), and PS were significantly correlated. There was no correlation with PVD ( OR=1.889, 95% CI 0.580-6.150, P=0.291) or PS ( OR=2.778, 1.786; 95% CI 0.700-11.023; 0.445-7.167; P=0.146, 0.413). There was significant difference in the incidence of severe MTM between PM alone, PM combined with PC and coexistence of PM, PC and PLH ( χ2=20.943, P<0.001). Conclusions:PM is the most common and earliest manifestation of PVA in middle-aged and elderly HM patients. AL, PS and paravascular vitreoretinal adhesion are risk factors for PM, PC and PLH. The coexistence of three PVA forms may be a marker of severe MTM.

End-stage renal disease (ESRD) patients undergoing outpatient hemodialysis (HD) and home peritoneal dialysis (PD) are high risk population of severe and critical types caused by SARS-CoV-2 infection. In order to improve the quality of diagnosis and treatment in dialysis patients with SARS-CoV-2 infection, we wrote this recommendation for primary care clinicians. During the epidemic period of SARS-CoV-2 infection, all patients should be instructed to strengthen self-management. Once the SARS-CoV-2 infection was found in dialysis patients, early stratified management should be carried out within 72 hours after the first positive nucleic acid or antigen test results, which includes early antiviral therapy, early recognition, and transferring severe patients from community or primary hospital to a referral hospital promptly. Guidance for dietary and sports rehabilitation after SARS-CoV-2 infection should also be started as soon as possible.

Objective:Investigate the prognostic value of high density lipoprotein (HDL) level in patients with streptococcal bloodstream infection.Methods:A total of 698 patients with streptococcal bloodstream infection admitted to the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University from January 2015 to December 2019 were enrolled. Serum lipid and other clinical data of patients with positive blood culture within 48 h were recorded. The patients were followed up by telephone from January to March in 2020, and the end-point events were recorded, which were all-cause death 60 days after the diagnosis of streptococcal bloodstream infection. The patients were divided into two groups according to the levels of HDL: low HDL group (HDL ≤0.84 mmol/L) and high HDL group (HDL > 0.84 mmol/L). Univariate and multivariate Cox regression analysis were used to analyze the 60-day prognostic factors of patients with streptococcus bloodstream infection. The receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was used to explore predictive value of HDL level for 60-day prognosis of patients. Kaplan-Meier survival curve was used to compare the cumulative survival of patients with different HDL levels.Results:(1) A total of 491 patients were enrolled according to the inclusion criteria, and 461 patients were followed up successfully, with a follow-up rate of 93.89%. There were 373 survival patients and 88 death patients at 60 days, with a 60-day mortality rate of 19.09% (88/461). (2) There were significant differences in age, total cholesterol (TC), HDL, low density lipoprotein (LDL), platelets, albumin, fibrinogen, triglyceride (TG), creatinine, alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, white blood cell, PCT, total bilirubin, direct bilirubin, and respiratory failure and shock between the survival group and death group. (3) Multivariate Cox regression analysis showed that HDL ( RR=1.922, 95% CI: 1.186-3.117, P=0.008), aspartate aminotransferase ( RR=1.953, 95% CI: 1.233-3.094, P=0.004), shock ( RR=15.196, 95% CI: 6.953-33.211, P< 0.001), and respiratory failure ( RR=9.509, 95% CI: 4.232-21.367, P < 0.001) were independent risk factors for 60-day mortality of patients with streptococcal bloodstream infection. (4) The ROC curve analysis showed that HDL alone had a certain value in predicting the 60-day prognosis of patients with streptococcal bloodstream infection. The area under ROC curve (AUC) was 0.602, and the AUC of the combined predictive value of HDL, aspartate aminotransferase, shock and respiratory failure was 0.960, with a sensitivity of 92% and a specificity of 92%. (5) Kaplan-Meier survival curve analysis showed that the cumulative survival rate of patients without endpoint event in the HDL > 0.84 mmol/L group was higher than that in the HDL ≤ 0.84 mmol/L group, but without statistically significant difference (Log-Rank test: χ20.843, P<0.358). Conclusions:Patients with low HDL level of streptococcal bloodstream infection have an increased risk of 60-day death. HDL is an independent risk factor for 60-day death in patients with streptococcal bloodstream infection, and can be used as an indicator to evaluate the prognosis of patients with streptococcal bloodstream infection.

Objective:To evaluate the clinical efficacy and safety of fractional CO 2 laser for the treatment of vaginal relaxation syndrome. Methods:Twenty-one females with vaginal relaxation syndrome receiced between December 2016 and January 2017 in our department were treated for 3 times at 1 month interval with femilift fractional CO 2 laser. Vaginal palpation, vaginal squeeze pressure test, vaginal ultrasound, pelvic floor MRI, and Incontinence Questionnaire Short-Form (ICIQ-SF) assessments were performed at baseline and at post-treatment. Results:Significant improvement in female sexual dysfunction and stress urinary incontinence was especially seen based on patient＇s feelings after treatments. A noted progressive differences were observed in FSFI and vaginal pressure test, which were much higher after treatment than before treatment ( P<0.01). Moreover, in 13 cases suffering from mild to moderate stress urinary incontinence (SUI), fractional CO 2 laser treatment was associated with a significant improvement of ICIQ-SF scores ( P<0.01). All subjects successfully completed the study with no adverse events such as infections, bleeding and pain, etc. Conclusions:Fractional CO 2 laser treatment is an effective treatment for female sexual dysfunction and stress urinary incontinence caused by vaginal relaxation syndrome.

Objective To explore the effect of inhibition of miR-214 expression on the proliferation of hepatocellular carcinoma cells via regulation of E2F3 expression.Methods The expression of miR-214 in SMMC-7721, HepG2, SK-Hep-1 and Huh 7 cells was examined by RT-PCR.Hepatocellular carcinoma cells were transfected with miR-214 NC and miR-214 mimics with liposomes.The expression of miR-214 was detected by RT-PCR.The cell viability was detected by MTT assay.Cell apoptosis was detected by Hoechst staining.Cell cycle was detected by flow cytometry.Western blot, RT-PCR and dual luciferase reporter gene assay were used to detect whether E2F3 was a downstream target gene of miR-214.Results The expression of miR-214 in SMMC-7721, HepG2, SK-Hep-1 and Huh 7 cells was 0.83±0.08, 0.32±0.03, 0.33±0.03, and 0.08±0.01, respectively.The expression of miR-214 in the HepG2 cells was the lowest, so HepG2 cells were selected as the subsequent experimental cell line.Compared with the miR-214 NC group, the expression of miR-214 (0.65±0.06 vs.0.14±0.01) was up-regulated, the cell viability (0.35±0.03 vs.0.69±0.06) was decreased, cell apoptosis rate [(36.37±3.43)% vs.(3.74±0.34)%] was increased, the G1 phase of the cell cycle (57.79±5.78 vs.45.319±4.53) was prolonged, the expression of E2F3 protein (0.23±0.02 vs.0.98±0.09) and mRNA (0.24±0.02 vs.0.99±0.10) was significantly down-regulated in the miR-214 mimics group (P<0.01).Conclusion miR-214 mimics suppress the HepG2 cell proliferation via targeted down-regulation of E2F3 expression.

Objective To observe the effects of neurotrophin 3 (NT3)-chitosan on motor function, and proliferation and differentiation of the neural stem cells (NSCs) in the injury area and subventricular zone (SVZ) in rats with motor cortex injury. Methods Sixty-five Wistar rats were divided into control group (n=7), injury group (n=29) and NT3-chitosan group (n=29). The motor cortex was aspirated and re-moved as cerebral injury model. NT3-chitosan was immediately implanted into the injured area after operation, and the control group re-ceived no intervention. Pellet reaching test was performed to detect the recovery of the forelimb function, HE staining was used to observe the lesion cavity size, and immunofluorescence staining was used to observe the proliferation and differentiation of NSCs 3 days, 7 days, 14 days, 1 month, 2 months and 3 months after operation. Results The grasp success rate was higher (F>6.00, P≤0.05), and the lesion cavity size was significantly smaller (F>629.5, P<0.001) in the NT3-chitosan group than in the injury group. In the NSCs differentiation experi-ment, the number of BrdU cells at all the time points was significantly higher in the NT3-chitosan group than in the injury group (F>171.43, P<0.001). In the NSCs proliferation experiment, the number of BrdU positive cells was still significantly higher in the NT3-chitosan group than in the control group and in the injury group (F>155.06, P<0.001), the number of Dcx positive cells was significantly higher in the NT3-chitosan group than in the injury group (F=62.367, P<0.001), and the number of BrdU/Dcx positive cells was significantly higher in the NT3-chitosan group than in the control group (F=33.527, P<0.001). Conclusion NT3-chitosan could activate NSCs in the SVZ, and pro-mote endogenous neurogenesis and forelimb function recovery in rats after motor cortex injury.

BACKGROUND:Neural stem cells (NSCs) hold self-renewal and multi-directional differentiation potential. NSCs differentiation into neurons in high proportion under induction conditions exhibits broad application prospect. OBJECTIVE:To explore the effect of basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF)-chitosan carrier on the NSCs differentiation into neurons in vitro, and whether the differentiated neurons could form synaptic-like connection with myocytes. METHODS:After purification, the NSCs were co-cultured with chitosan, soluble bFGF or bFGF-chitosan carrier. After 7-day induction, the NSCs differentiation into neurons was observed by immunofluorescence staining of beta tubulin Ⅲ. The NSCs differentiation into cholinergic neurons was observed through double immunofluorescence staining of ChaT and beta tubulin Ⅲ. The synaptic-like connection between the neurons and myocytes was observed by triple staining of beta tubulin Ⅲ and MHC. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:The percentage of differentiated neurons in the bFGF-chitosan carrier group was 74%, which was significantly higher than that in the other two groups. Additionally, the synaptic-like connection formed between the differentiated neurons and myocytes. To conclude, the bFGF-chitosan carrier promotes the NSCs differentiation into neurons to form synaptic-like connection with the co-cultured myocytes.

Objective To analyze the effect of different treatment conditions on cells synchronization in G0/G1 phase to get the best con-dition, and to explore its effect on neural differentiation of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) induced by basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF). Methods BMSCs were isolated and cultured in 5%, 1%, 0.5%, 0.1%, 0 fetal bovine serum (FBS) respectively, for 24 hours and 48 hours. After PI staining, cell cycle proportions of each phase were detected by flow cytometry, and were compared with the normal group (10%FBS). After the optimal treatment condition was got, 20 ng/ml bFGF was added into synchronization group and unsyn-chronization group 3 days and 7 days, respectively. The expression of Nestin and Tuj-1 were detected with immunofluorescence. Results Adult rat BMSCs were isolated from bone marrow and cultured, after passage, the cells were with long spindle shape. Compared with the normal group, the cell proportion of G1/G0 phase increased under different treatments, peaked with (94.274 ± 0.468)%under 1%FBS, 48 hours (F=39.91, P<0.001). After bFGF induction for 3 days, the Nestin+cell number was higher in the synchronization group than in the un-synchronization group [(80.3 ± 2.4)%vs. (12.1 ± 1.5)%] (F=28.25, P<0.001). After bFGF induction for 7 days, the Tuj-1+cell number was higher in the synchronization group than in the unsynchronization group [(74.8±3.2%)%vs. (19.3±2.5)%] (F=17.95, P<0.001). Conclusion 1%FBS, 48 hours is the optimal condition to BMSCs synchronization in G0/G1 phase, which can promote the neural differentiation of BM-SCs.

Objective To compare the application of CUBIC and iDISCO clearing methods in observing 3D imaging of spinal cord with immunofluorescent staining. Methods 1 mm thick spinal cord coronal sections were processed with CUBIC and iDISCO, respectively. The neurofilament (NF) protein was detected by immunofluorescent staining and then was observed by a laser confocal microscope. Results Compared with CUBIC, iDISCO had the advantages of shorter time, higher transparency (F=6.64, P<0.01), and deeper penetration (F=5117.55, P<0.01). Conclusion Immunofluorescent staining combined with iDISCO could completely observe the spinal axons with shorter time and better stain effect.