Assessment of Neuroprotective Properties of Melissa officinalis in Combination With Human Umbilical Cord Blood Stem Cells After Spinal Cord Injury

Thermosensitive bFGF-Modified Hydrogel with Dental Pulp Stem Cells on Neuroinflammation of Spinal Cord Injury

Acute spinal cord injury (SCI) induces severe neuroinflammation, which increases intermediary filaments and neurodegeneration. Previous studies have shown that a basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) and dental pulp stem cells (DPSCs) contribute to a protective effect on injured neuronal cells, but the mechanism of SCI repair is still unclear. In this study, in situ heparin (HeP) hydrogel injection containing bFGF and DPSCs (HeP-bFGF-DPSCs), as well as in vitro studies of bFGF and DPSCs, proved an effective control over inflammation. The in vivo application of HeP-bFGF-DPSCs regulated inflammatory reactions and accelerated the nerve regeneration through microtubule stabilization and tissue vasculature. Our mechanistic investigation also showed that bFGF-DPSCs treatment inhibited microglia/macrophage proliferation and activation. Furthermore, HeP-bFGF-DPSCs prevented microglia/macrophage activation and reduced proinflammatory cytokine release. In this paper, we discovered that bFGF and DPSCs worked together to attenuate tissue inflammation of the injured spinal cord, resulting in a superior nerve repair. Our results indicated that a thermosensitive hydrogel delivering bFGF and DPSCs could serve as a promising treatment option for spinal cord injuries.

The Effects of Lemon balm on Menstrual Bleeding and the Systemic Manifestation of Dysmenorrhea

We conducted a double-blind randomized placebo controlled trial to evaluate the impact of Lemon balm (Melissa officinalis L.) on the bleeding and systemic manifestations of menstruation. A total of 90 students were randomly assigned to treatment or placebo group. Bleeding and systemic manifestations were evaluated with a menstrual pictogram and multidimensional verbal scale before and during 2 consecutive menstrual cycles, respectively. Statistical tests indicated that in both groups, the severity of the systemic symptoms associated with dysmenorrhea significantly decreased (P = 0.001). Among the systemic symptoms, the mean severity of fatigue, the lethargy, and nervous changes in the two groups decreased after the treatment, which was statistically significant. There was no significant difference between the two groups regarding fatigue in the three cycles, but there was a significant difference between the two groups regarding lethargy in the first cycle (P = 0.05) and the second cycle (P = 0.001) after the treatment. The present study demonstrated that Melissa officinalis decreases the severity of the systemic signs associated with menstruation. It showed that the herb does not increase the severity of bleeding and the duration of menstruation. However, it reduces the mean total score of the severity of all the systemic symptoms associated with dysmenorrhea.

Bcl-xL expression improves the therapeutic effect of human umbilical cord stem cell transplantation on articular cartilage injury in rabbit

BACKGROUND

To investigate the therapeutic effect of transplantation of B-cell lymphoma-extra large (Bcl-xL) gene modified human umbilical cord blood stem cells (HUCSCs) on rabbit articular cartilage injury.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

HUCSCs were isolated and identified. Lentiviral encoding Bcl-xL was applied to modify HUCSCs. The effects of Bcl-xL overexpression on apoptosis and related gene expression after differentiation induction of HUCSCs were detected. Additionally, the efficiency of transplantation of Bcl-xL gene modified HUCSCs on articular cartilage injury were evaluated.

RESULTS

HUCSCs could differentiate into chondrocytes after induction. Compared with control group, the apoptosis after induction was significantly elevated, but reduced by Bcl-xL gene overexpression. The differentiation of HUCSCs into chondrocytes was displayed by expression of type II collagen (CII), but accompanying with expression of caspase-3 and matrix metalloproteinase-3 (MMP-3). By contrast, Bcl-xL gene overexpression reduced caspase-3 and MMP-3 expression, but further increased CII expression. Pathological staining showed that Bcl-xL gene modified HUCSCs could obviously repair cartilage injury. Compared with sham control group, the expression of caspase-3 and MMP-3 in model group was significantly up-regulated, while the expression of CII was significantly down-regulated. Transplantation of HUCSCs could ameliorate the injury, while Bcl-xL modification could improve the therapeutic effect of transplantation of HUCSCs. Moreover, Bcl-xL modification could further decrease cartilage injury-induced expression of caspase-3 and MMP-3, and improve the expression of CII compared with transplantation of normal HUCSCs.

CONCLUSIONS

Bcl-xL gene modification decreases cell differentiation-induced apoptosis and improves the efficiency of HUCSCs transplantation in the repairing of cartilage injury.