Medicinski glasnik : official publication of the Medical Association of Zenica-Doboj Canton, Bosnia and Herzegovina
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Aim To investigate the role of cordonal blood platelet-rich plasma (PRP) intra-articular injections for treating the patients with knee osteoarthritis in terms of procedure safety and clinical outcomes. Methods Twenty-five patients affected by knee osteoarthritis were enrolled and received one single intra-articular knee injection of umbilical cord PRP in a volume of 10 mL. A follow-up was investigated at time 0, 4, 8, 12 weeks and 6 months, evaluating clinical parameters and functional performances. ⋯ The paired ttest analysis showed a significant difference between baseline and each follow-up times for all clinical scales (p<0.05), with a significant improvement of clinical outcomes. Conclusion Allogeneic PRP can generate reliable therapeutic effect. The high content of tissue regenerative factors in cord blood platelets makes cordonal blood one of the ideal sources of PRP.
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Aim To investigate the effect of umbilical cord-derived mesenchymal stem cells (UC-MSCs) administration among liver fibrosis experimental rat model via the regulation of angiotensin II type 1 receptor (AT1R) and platelet-derived growth factor-β (PDGF-β) due to their therapeutic potential to replace liver transplantation for advanced liver fibrosis. Yet the mechanism of action has been questionably associated with UC-MSCs fibrosis regression properties. Methods Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats (n=18) were separated into three groups (control, untreated liver fibrosis, and UC-MSCs treated group). ⋯ Liver fibrosis was observed following 14 weeks of CCl4 injection concurrent with higher serum level of PDGF-β, but the UC-MSCs-treated group had lower level (980.08 ±289.41 and 606.42±109.85 for untreated liver fibrosis and UC-MSCs treated group, respectively; p=0.004). There was also a high expression of AT1R among untreated liver fibrosis group, as well as highgrade liver fibrosis versus localized fibrosis and low level of AT1R expression among UC-MSCs treated-group (p=0.001). Conclusion UC-MSCs administration could ameliorate liver fibrosis by reducing the AT1R expression and PDGF-β serum levels, and intervention through this signaling pathway could be alternative evidence for the causative of positive outcome.