The present study was designed to compare the functional outcome of the intraspinal transplantation of CD34+ human umbilical cord blood (CB) cells with that of human bone marrow stromal (BMS) cells in adult rats with spinal cord injury. Sixty adult Wistar rats were subjected to left spinal cord hemisection, and then divided into three groups randomly. The control group received an injection of PBS without cells, while the two other groups of rats received a transplantation of 5 × 10 5 CD34+ CB or BMS cells, respectively. Functional outcome was measured using the modified Tarlov score at days 1, 7, 14, 21, and 28 after transplantation. A statistically significant improvement in functional outcome and survival rate in the experimental groups of rats was observed compared with the control group. Rats that received CD34+ CB cells achieved a better improvement in functional score than those that received BMS cells at days 7 and 14 after transplantation. Histological evaluation revealed that bromodeoxyuridine (BrdU)-labeled CD34+ CB and BMS cells survived and migrated into the injured area. Some of these cells expressed glial fibriliary acidic protein (GFAP) or neuronal nuclear antigen (NeuN). Our data demonstrate for the first time that intraspinal transplantation of human CD34+ CB cells provides benefit in function recovery after spinal cord hemisection in rats and suggest that CD34+ CB cells may be an excellent choice of cells as routine starting material of allogenic and autologous transplantations for the treatment of spinal cord injury.

Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) have been successfully isolated from a broad range of adult, fetal, and other nonembryonic tissues. Fetal lung has been identified as a rich source of MSCs. However, the biological characteristics and differentiation potential of fetal lung MSCs remain to be explored. In this study, we established a series of methods for isolation and expansion of fetal lung MSCs. These MSCs could withstand more than 40 passages without obvious decline in proliferation ability, significant changes in morphology, and expression of cell markers. Flow cytometric analysis showed that fetal lung MSCs expressed CD13, CD29, CD44, CD90, CD105, CD166, and HLA-ABC, but not CD14, CD31, CD34, CD38, CD41a, CD42b, CD45, CD49d, CD61, CD106, CD133, and HLA-DR. Cell cycle analysis revealed that when the MSCs reached their log phase of growth, more than 90% of the cells were in G 0 /G 1 phase while the proportion of cells in S phase and G 2 /M phase were about 5.56% and 2.08% cells, respectively. These MSCs could differentiate into neural cells in addition to their mesenchymal differentiation potential. Our data suggest that the fetal lung MSC population is an alternative source of stem cells for cell-based therapy of neurological defects or mesenchymal-originating diseases.Key words: Mesenchymal stem cell; Bone marrow; Fetal lung; Stem cell plasticity; Neural differentiation INTRODUCTIONduced and terminally differentiated into osteoblasts, chondrocytes, adipocytes, hypocytes, tenocytes, myotubes, neural cells, and hematopoietic-supporting stroma (3,13, Self-renewal capacity, long-term viability, and multilineage potential are the basic properties of stem cells 16,18,19,21,22,31). The multipotential capability of these cells, their straightforward isolation and culture as well (8). Within stem cell research, multilineage potential embryonic stem cells and mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) as high ex vivo expansive potential make the MSCs an attractive therapeutic tool for various kinds of diseases. from adults and fetuses are the two fields that have been extensively investigated. Embryonic stem cells, whichTo date, MSCs have been isolated from a broad range of tissues and organs, including bone marrow, umbilical are derived from mammalian embryos in the blastocyst stage, can proliferate indefinitely and differentiate into cord blood, the wall of artery, umbilical cord vein, peripheral blood, fetal bone marrow, liver, spleen, etc. (7, derivatives of all three germ layers (10), but the adult stem cells may have less replication and differentiation 11,12,20,21,25,32). Current investigation on the immunophenotype and differentiation potential of second tricapacities. Until recently, it was thought that tissuespecific adult stem cells could only differentiate into mester bone marrow, liver, lung, and spleen revealed that cultured-expanded cells from these tissues are phecells of their origin. However, current studies have suggested that tissue-specific stem cells may have greater notypically similar but exhibit heterogenei...

Background Chronic subdural haematoma (CSDH) is a common condition in the elderly that often requires neurosurgical management. For small CSDH, evidence has emerged that statins may reduce haematoma volume and improve outcomes, presumably by reducing local inflammation and promoting vascular repair. We wish to extend this evidence in a study that aims to determine the efficacy and safety of atorvastatin combined with low-dose dexamethasone in patients with CSDH. Methods The second ATorvastatin On Chronic subdural Hematoma (ATOCH-II) study is a multi-centre, randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind trial which aims to enrol 240 adult patients with a conservative therapeutic indication for CSDH, randomly allocated to standard treatment with atorvastatin 20 mg combined with low-dose dexamethasone (or matching placebos) daily for 28 days, and with 152 days of follow-up. The primary outcome is a composite good outcome defined by any reduction from baseline in haematoma volume and survival free of surgery at 28 days. Secondary outcomes include functional outcome on the modified Rankin scale (mRS) and modified Barthel Index at 28 days, surgical transition and reduction in haematoma volumes at 14, 28 and 90 days. Discussion This multi-centre clinical trial aims to provide high-quality evidence on the efficacy and safety of the combined treatment of atorvastatin and low-dose dexamethasone to reduce inflammation and enhance angiogenesis in CSDH. Trial registration ChiCTR, ChiCTR1900021659. Registered on 3 March 2019, http://www.chictr.org.cn/showproj.aspx?proj=36157.