Chinese PLA General Hospital

About: Chinese PLA General Hospital is a healthcare organization based out in Beijing, China. It is known for research contribution in the topics: Medicine & Population. The organization has 18037 authors who have published 12349 publications receiving 184803 citations. The organization is also known as: 301 Military Hospital.

Aging adversely impacts biological properties of human bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells: implications for tissue engineering heart valve construction.

Abstract: Our aim was to study the aging effects on the in vitro biological properties of bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) for construction of tissue-engineered heart valves BMSCs were taken from teenagers with congenital heart diseases, and middle-aged and elderly patients with valvular diseases Proliferative abilities were compared among the three groups by using colony-forming unit counting and growth curves (5-bromo-2'-deoxyuridine assay) Cell differentiation, vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) release under hypoxic condition, and migratory abilities were compared as well Colony-forming units in the teenage group were significantly greater than those in the other two groups (P < 005), and significantly higher counts were observed in the middle age group than in the aged group (P < 005) Growth curves presented similar trends in which cells' proliferative abilities in the aged group decreased significantly (P < 005), while no differences were noted between the two nonaged groups The differentiation potential to endothelial cells, osteoblasts and adipocytes, VEGF releases, and migratory abilities differed significantly between the aged group and nonaged groups (P < 005) However, no differences were noted between the two nonaged groups BMSCs from older patients with heart valve diseases could be harvested and expanded successfully, and the phenotype and morphology were uniform as nonaged groups However, the proliferative and differentiation properties of aged cells, as well as cytokine release and migratory abilities, are significantly impaired

Schwann-like cell differentiation of rat adipose-derived stem cells by indirect co-culture with Schwann cells in vitro.

Abstract: Objectives: Schwann cell (SC) transplantation is a promising therapy for peripheral nerve transaction, however, clinical use of SCs is limited due to their very limited availability. Adipose-derived stem cells (ADSCs) have been identified as an alternative source of adult stem cells in recent years. The aim of this study was to evaluate the feasibility of using ADSCs as a source of stem cells for differentiation into Schwann-like cells by an indirect co-culture approach, in vitro. Materials and methods: Multilineage differentiation potential of the obtained ADSCs was assayed by testing their ability to differentiate into osteoblasts and adipocytes. The ADSCs were co-cultured with SCs to be induced into Schwann-like cells through proximity, using a Millicell system. Expression of typical SC markers S-100, GFAP and P75NTR of the treated ADSCs was determined by immunocytochemical staining, western blotting and RT-PCR. Myelination capacity of the differentiated ADSCs (dADSCs) was evaluated in dADSC/dorsal root ganglia neuron (DRGN) co-cultures. Results: The treated ADSCs adopted a spindle shaped-like morphology after co-cultured with SCs for 6 days. All results of immunocytochemical staining, western blotting and RT-PCR showed that the treated cells expressed S-100, GFAP and P75NTR, indications of differentiation. dADSCs could form Schwann-like cell myelin in co-culture with DRGNs. Undifferentiated ADSCs (uADSCs) did not form myelin compared to DRGNs cultured alone, but could produce neurite extension. Conclusions: These results demonstrate that this indirect co-culture microenvironment could induce ADSCs to differentiate into Schwann-like cells in vitro, which may be beneficial for treatment of peripheral nerve injuries in the near future.

Cotransplantation of haploidentical hematopoietic and umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells with a myeloablative regimen for refractory/relapsed hematologic malignancy

Abstract: Human leukocyte antigen haploidentical hematopoietic stem-cell transplantation (haplo-HSCT) is associated with an increased risk of graft failure and severe graft-versus-host disease (GVHD). Mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) have been shown to support in vivo normal hematopoiesis and to display potent immunesuppressive effects. We cotransplanted the culture-expanded third-party donor-derived umbilical cord MSCs (UC-MSCs) in 50 people with refractory/relapsed hematologic malignancy undergoing haplo-HSCT with myeloablative conditioning. We observed that all patients given MSCs showed sustained hematopoietic engraftment without any adverse UC-MSC infusion-related reaction. The median times to neutrophil >0.50 × 109/L and platelet >20 × 109/L engraftment were 12.0 and 15.0 days, respectively. We did not observe an increase in severe acute GVHD (aGVHD) and extensive chronic GVHD (cGVHD), too. Grade II–IV aGVHD was observed in 12 of 50 (24.0 %) patients. cGVHD was observed in 17 of 45 (37.7 %) patients and was extensive in 3 patients. Additionally, only five patients (10.0 %) experienced relapse at a median time to progression of 192 days. The probability that patients would attain progression-free survival at 2 years was 66.0 %. The results indicate that this new strategy is effective in improving donor engraftment and reducing severe GVHD, which will provide a feasible option for the therapy of high-risk hematologic malignancy.

Chinese Herbal Medicines for the Treatment of Type A H1N1 Influenza: A Systematic Review of Randomized Controlled Trials

Abstract: Background Chinese herbs are thought to be effective for type A H1N1 influenza. Series of Chinese herbs have been authorized recommended by the Chinese government, and until now a number of clinical trials of Chinese herbs for H1N1 influenza have been conducted. However, there is no critically appraised evidence such as systematic reviews or meta-analyses on potential benefits and harms of medicinal herbs for H1N1 influenza to justify their clinical use and their recommendation.

Update of chronic tension-type headache.

Abstract: Tension-type headache (TTH) is the most common type of primary headaches, and its chronic form, chronic tension-type headache (CTTH), is affecting 0.5 to 4.8 % of the worldwide population. Although the mechanism underlying CTTH remains unclear, the role of central versus peripheral mechanisms has always been discussed while explaining the pathogenesis of CTTH. There is always a debate on differential diagnosis between CTTH and chronic migraine without aura which are regarded as different aspects of chronic daily headache spectrum because of many similarities and fuzzy boundaries. Compared with pharmacological treatments, non-pharmacological treatments have been popular as alternative interventions for CTTH in recent years. This review summaries the update knowledge on CTTH and discusses the most interested questions regarding pathogenesis and therapeutic strategies of CTTH.