OBJECTIVES:This study aimed to explore the effects of bone marrow-derived Mesenchymal Stem Cell-Conditioned Medium (MSC-CM) treating diabetic foot ulcers in rats. METHODS:Models of T2DM rats were induced by a high-fat diet and intraperitoneal injection of STZ in SD rats. Models of Diabetic Foot Ulcers (DFUs) were made by operation on hind limbs in diabetic rats. Rats were divided into four groups (n = 6 for each group), i.e., Normal Control group (NC), Diabetes Control group (DM-C), MSC-CM group and Mesenchymal Stem Cells group (MSCs). MSC-CM group was treated with an injection of conditioned medium derived from preconditioned rats' bone marrow MSCs around ulcers. MSCs group were treated with an injection of rats' bone marrow MSCs. The other two groups were treated with an injection of PBS. After the treatment, wound closure, re-epithelialization (thickness of the stratum granulosums of the skin, by H&E staining), cell proliferation (Ki67, by IHC), angiogenesis (CD31, by IFC), autophagy (LC3B, by IFC and WB; autolysosome, by EM) and pyroptosis (IL-1β, NLRP3, Caspase-1, GSDMD and GSDMD-N, by WB) in ulcers were evaluated. RESULTS:After the treatment wound area rate, IL-1β by ELISA, and IL-1β, Caspase-1, GSDMD and GSDMD-N by WB of MSC-CM group were less than those of DM group. The thickness of the stratum granulosums of the skin, proliferation index of Ki67, mean optic density of CD31 and LC3B by IFC, and LC3B by WB of MSC-CM group were more than those of DM group. The present analysis demonstrated that the injection of MSC-CM into rats with DFUs enhanced the wound-healing process by accelerating wound closure, promoting cell proliferation and angiogenesis, enhancing cell autophagy, and reducing cell pyroptosis in ulcers. CONCLUSIONS:Studies conducted indicate that MSC-CM administration could be a novel cell-free therapeutic approach to treat DFUs accelerating the wound healing process and avoiding the risk of living cells therapy.
Background and rationale: Urine drainage after renal secretion and excretion requires an unobstructed urinary tract. In the event of an obstruction, and depending on the etiology of the obstruction, endoscopic drainage of the urinary tract is indicated. This study aimed to identify the indications and assess the quality of life of patients who have undergone endoscopic drainage of the upper urinary tract at the Clinique Universitaire d'Urologie - Andrologie of the CNHU-HKM in Cotonou over the past five years. Patients and method: This was a descriptive, retrospective study of patients who underwent endoscopic drainage of the upper urinary tract (JJ stent assembly) at the CNHU-HKM University Urology-Andrology Clinic from January 1, 2018, and December 31, 2022. The English-language "ureteral stent symptom questionnaire (USSQ)" developed and validated by Joshi et al, then translated and validated in French in 2010, enabled us to assess the tolerance of JJ stents in our patients. Results: A total of 173 patients were selected, with an average age of 46. Males accounted for 64.61 % of cases. JJ catheterization was indicated in 51.44 % of cases (n=89), due to ureterohydronephrosis. Etiologies were dominated by lithiasis obstacles in 73.41 % of cases. Pain and discomfort associated with the presence of the JJ stent were found in 27.75 % of cases (n=48). Sexual activity was impeded by pain in 4 patients (8.0 %). Conclusion: The use of JJ stent is common practice in urology, but they are responsible for significant morbidity. In our study, the indication is dominated by renal colic complicating lithiasis. Studies aimed at assessing the quality of life of JJ stent patients remain a challenge, as they very often lead to subjective conclusions and are generally influenced by confounding variables such as age and comorbidities. A better understanding of the areas of daily life impacted by JJ stent use will enable us to better inform our patients, as well as develop new JJ stent models to improve their tolerability.
Background: Air pollution is a serious public health concern, killing an estimated 800,000 people annually in developing and developed nations. In urban areas, traffic is one of the most significant sources of hazardous exhaust pollutants. Street vendors are often exposed to air pollutants as a result of their proximity to busy roads and intersections where vehicle emissions are high. Street vendors form an integral part of urban life globally as they provide convenience, affordable goods, and services to the general public. Aim: This study aimed to assess the prevalence and factors associated with respiratory and other health symptoms among street vendors in Gaborone, Botswana. Materials and Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted using a self-administered questionnaire distributed to randomly selected street vendors. The questionnaire gathered information on demographic characteristics and respiratory and other health symptoms among street vendors. Data was analysed using logistic regression. Results: About 392 street vendors participated in the study, with 71% females. The mean age (M±SD) of the respondents was 46±13 years, with an age range of 25–66 years. About 46%) and 38% attained senior and junior secondary school certificates, respectively and 78%) worked for >8 hours/day. Coughing, headache and dizziness were reported by 89%, 62% and 58% of respondents respectively. Female vendors were at increased risk of wheezes (Odds Ratio (OR): 3.12, 95% Confidence Intervals (CI):1.24-7.85) and headaches (OR: 4.61, 95% CI: 2.02-10.54) when compared to males. Increasing age and working for >5 days/week were significantly associated with respiratory and other health symptoms such as sore throat, nasal congestion and wheezes. Tobacco smoking and alcohol consumption predisposed street vendors to nasal congestion (OR: 4.34, 95% CI: 1.28-14.72) and shortness of breath (OR: 3.70, 95% CI: 1.29-10.65), respectively. Physical exercise provided a protective effect against chest tightness (OR: 0.133, 95% CI: 0.03-0.06) and dizziness (OR: 0.73, 95% CI: 0.15-0.35). Conclusion: Street vendors reported a high prevalence of respiratory and related health symptoms. Factors such as increasing age, tobacco smoking and alcohol consumption have been associated with respiratory and related health symptoms among street vendors. Large scale research that quantifies TRAP pollutants and health symptoms is needed to inform policy development.
ABSTRACT Objective: To analyze the differences of peripheral blood immune cells in healthy people, and patients with myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) patients or acute myeloid leukemia (AML), and to investigate their correlations with International Prostate Symptom Score(IPSS), blasts and other factors in MDS patients. Methods: 55 patients with MDS(MDS group), 67 patients with AML(AML group) and 25 heathy people(healthy group) were selected as research objects from Dongzhimen Hospital Affiliated with Beijing University of Chinese Medicine from January, 2012 to April, 2022 for this retrospective analysis. By comparing peripheral blood lymphocyte subsets count and peripheral blood lymphocyte subsets percentage, we studied the expression of T lymphocyte subsets (CD3+, CD4+, CD8+, CD4+/CD8+, CD3+CD4+CD25+FoxP3+), B cells (CD19+) and NK cells (CD3-CD16+CD56+). The correlations between the different indexes and IPSS and blasts were analyzed. Results: (1) Peripheral blood lymphocyte subsets count: There were differences among the three groups. Through pairwise comparison, MDS group had lower peripheral blood lymphocyte subsets count(P＜0.025), probably owing to the low peripheral blood lymphocyte count. (2)Peripheral blood lymphocyte subsets percentage: The percentages of Treg cells, B cells and T cells varied among the three groups. Compared with the healthy group, the percentages of T cells ( P＜0.025) and Treg cells ( P＞0.025) in MDS group were higher, and the percentage of B cells ( P＜0.025) was lower. Compared with MDS group, the percentage of Treg cells ( P＜0.025) in AML group was higher and the proportion of B cells was lower ( P＜0.025). (3)Correlations with IPSS and blasts: The percentage of Treg cells was positively correlated with IPSS and blasts. Conclusion: Treg cells showed an increasing trend in turn by healthy people group, MDS group and AML group. The high expression of Treg cells may have great significance in prognosis and progression of MDS. Key words: Acute myeloid leukemia; Blasts; Immune cells; Myelodysplastic syndromes.
Objective To investigate the changes and clinical significance of bile acid spectrum levels in patients with early non-alcoholic fatty liver disease(NAFLD).Methods A total of 149 patients with early NAFLD(NAFLD group)and 140healthy controls(healthy group)who underwent physical examinations at the Physical Examination Center,the Fourth Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang Uni-versity School of Medicine from July 2021 to February 2022 were selected,and liver function test,bile acid spectrum detection and con-trolled attenuation parameter test were performed on all patients,the differences in liver function and bile acid spectrum between the two groups were compared,and the risk factors of early NAFLD and the efficacy of bile acid subgroups in diagnosing early NAFLD were ana-lyzed.Results The levels of aspartate transaminase(AST),alanine aminotransferase(ALT),and γ-glutamyl transpeptidase(r-GT)in the NAFLD group were higher than those in the healthy group(P<0.05).cholic acid(CA),glycocholic acid(GCA),tauro-cholic acid(TCA),glycodeoxycholic acid(GDCA),chenodeoxycholic acid(CDCA),glycochenodeoxycholic acid(GCDCA),tauro-chenodeoxycholic acid(TCDCA),glycineursodeoxycholic acid(GUDCA),tauroursodeoxycholic acid(TUDCA)and taurolithocholic acid(TLCA)were higher than those in the healthy group(P<0.05),and the level of lithocholic acid(LCA)was lower than the healthy group(P<0.05);Logistic regression analysis showed that AST,GCA,TCA,CDCA,GCDCA,TCDCA,GUDCA and TLCA were inde-pendent risk factors in NAFLD patients;receiver operating characteristic curve shows that AST,GCA,TCA,CDCA,GCDCA,TCDCA,GUDCA and TLCA could predict the occurrence of NAFLD to a certain extent,among which AST had the best comprehensive prediction effect(AUC =0.750),and GCA had the highest sensitivity(77.2%),and TLCA had the strongest specificity(88.6%);the levels of GCA and TCA in the severe group were significantly higher than those in the mild group(P<0.05),the concentration of serum TCA in-creased gradually increased with the aggravation of NAFLD severity,and there was a linear correlation between them(r = 0.52,P<0.05).Conclusion The bile acid spectrum components of patients with early NAFLD was changed,mainly primary bile acids and con-jugated bile acids.The level of TCA can not only predict the occurrence of NAFLD to a certain extent,but also has a positive correlation with the severity of NAFLD,which is expected to become a serological marker of NAFLD.
