Mesenchymal stem cell therapy alleviates the neuroinflammation associated with acquired brain injury

Ischemic stroke and traumatic brain injury (TBI) comprise two particularly prevalent and costly examples of acquired brain injury (ABI). Following stroke or TBI, primary cell death and secondary cell death closely model disease progression and worsen outcomes. Mounting evidence indicates that long‐term neuroinflammation extensively exacerbates the secondary deterioration of brain structure and function. Due to their immunomodulatory and regenerative properties, mesenchymal stem cell transplants have emerged as a promising approach to treating this facet of stroke and TBI pathology. In this review, we summarize the classification of cell death in ABI and discuss the prominent role of inflammation. We then consider the efficacy of bone marrow–derived mesenchymal stem/stromal cell (BM‐MSC) transplantation as a therapy for these injuries. Finally, we examine recent laboratory and clinical studies utilizing transplanted BM‐MSCs as antiinflammatory and neurorestorative treatments for stroke and TBI. Clinical trials of BM‐MSC transplants for stroke and TBI support their promising protective and regenerative properties. Future research is needed to allow for better comparison among trials and to elaborate on the emerging area of cell‐based combination treatments.     

Associations of appetitive behaviors in 7-year-old children with their cardiometabolic health at 10 years of age

Background and AimsAtherosclerosis begins early in life, thus optimal cardiovascular health needs to be promoted early. We investigated whether appetitive behaviors among 7 year olds are associated with their cardiometabolic health years later.Methods and ResultsA sample of 2951 children from a Portuguese birth cohort was analyzed. The Children's Eating Behavior Questionnaire assessed eating behaviors, and a measure of cardiometabolic risk (higher risk group: those in the upper quartile of triglycerides, homeostatic model assessment-insulin resistance, waist circumference and systolic blood pressure and in the lower quartile of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol z-scores) was created. Linear and logistic regressions were run. Children with more food avoidant behaviors had lower cardiometabolic risk (Satiety Responsiveness – boys: OR = 0.39, 95% CI 0.16; 0.93, girls: OR=0.37, 95% CI 0.17; 0.82 and Slowness in eating – boys: OR = 0.49, 95% CI 0.25; 0.95, girls: OR = 0.49, 95% CI 0.27; 0.91). Food approach behaviors (Food responsiveness (CEBQ-FR), Enjoyment of food (CEBQ-EF) and Emotional overeating (CEBQ-EOE)) increased cardiometabolic risks (e.g. CEBQ-FR: boys: OR = 2.50, 95% CI 1.45; 4.32, girls: OR = 2.33, 95% CI 1.46; 3.71). CEBQ-EF had stronger effects in boys, while CEBQ-EOE was positively associated with cardiometabolic risk among girls. When adjusting for BMIz at 7y, associations did not remain significant. Appetitive behaviors were also associated with isolated cardiometabolic parameters; the strongest association being with waist circumference.ConclusionsAppetitive behaviors at 7-years are associated with cardiometabolic risk at age 10. While ‘food avoidant’ behaviors protect against cardiometabolic risk and ‘food approach’ behaviors increase cardiometabolic risk, these associations are largely dependent of child's adiposity.     

妊娠早期胎儿颈部透明层厚度与胎儿预后的前瞻性队列研究

目的探讨妊娠早期胎儿颈部透明层(NT)厚度与胎儿预后的关系。方法收集2015年12月至2018年12月于南京大学医学院附属鼓楼医院行妊娠早期胎儿NT厚度测量的单胎孕妇,共4958例建立前瞻性研究队列,进行妊娠早期胎儿结构超声筛查、妊娠早期血清学筛查、妊娠中期超声筛查及对新生儿出生后28 d的体格检查。根据妊娠早期超声筛查的结果,分为胎儿NT增厚(≥3.0 mm)者167例与NT厚度正常者4791例;将胎儿NT增厚的孕妇,分为胎儿单纯NT增厚者86例与NT增厚合并结构异常者81例。分析不同NT厚度胎儿的预后,并重点对单纯NT增厚与NT增厚合并结构异常胎儿的妊娠结局进行分析。妊娠早期超声筛查发现胎儿结构异常或血清学筛查结果为高风险的孕妇,经绒毛穿刺取样术行染色体微阵列分析(CMA)检测以明确产前诊断。结果(1)胎儿NT厚度正常孕妇的妊娠结局:共4791例孕妇,包括胎儿NT厚度正常且无结构异常者4726例,其中妊娠中期及产后新诊断结构异常83例,4688例活产;胎儿NT厚度正常但结构异常的孕妇65例,其中61例孕妇终止妊娠,4例活产。(2)胎儿单纯NT增厚孕妇的妊娠结局:86例孕妇中,66例(76.7%,66/86)行CMA检测,3例胎儿诊断为21三体综合征;除7例孕妇选择终止妊娠外,余79例行妊娠中期超声检查、新生儿出生后28 d体格检查、新生儿电话随访至6~21个月均未发现发育异常。(3)胎儿NT增厚合并结构异常孕妇的妊娠结局:81例孕妇中,73例(90.1%,73/81)行CMA检测,其中32例的胎儿为染色体非整倍体异常。70例选择终止妊娠,2例妊娠中期自然流产,9例活产。(4)NT增厚是否合并结构异常胎儿的产前诊断结果及预后比较:单纯NT增厚的胎儿染色体非整倍体的发生率为3.5%(3/86),合并结构异常者为39.5%(32/81),两者比较,差异有统计学意义(χ2=32.7,P<0.01);胎儿单纯NT增厚孕妇的健康新生儿存活率为91.9%(79/86),合并结构异常者为9.9%(8/81),两者比较,差异有统计学意义(χ2=112.3,P<0.01)。结论妊娠早期,超声筛查胎儿NT及结构,能提高出生缺陷的产前筛查率。单纯NT增厚胎儿的染色体非整倍体的发生率较低,新生儿健康存活率较高。     

2012 – The year when BAOMS and its officers prevented closure of all UK shortened medical and dental courses

In Spring 2011 the Department of Health (DH) received a request to review European Union Directive 2005/36 EU – the directive relating to the recognition of professional qualifications. The Department of Health lawyer raised concerns that the existing shortened dental courses may be in breach of EU law. There were three shortened dental courses in the UK: 4 year graduate entry courses in Liverpool/Peninsula and 3-year Dental Programme for Medical Graduates (DPMG) in Kings, London. During the summer the General Dental Council (GDC) was made aware of these concerns. In autumn 2011 the Chief Dental Officer for England with the GDC, told the Dental Deans’ Council (DDC) that shortened dental courses were illegal. On 12th Jan 2012 students on the DPMG were told that they would have to complete a full 5-year dental degree. The GDC said that this interpretation of EU law would also impact on shortened medical courses. In view of the potentially enormous impact that this would have on OMFS training, BAOMS engaged all the resources it could and by assembling legal opinions including written contributions from Sir David Edward, whose opinion was being misinterpreted by the GDC and DH, and by sharing these resources with all the stakeholders, BAOMS was able to preserve shortened dental and medical courses. Now that the UK has left the European Union, negotiations around mutual recognition of qualifications may mean this issue will resurface. We should remain vigilant.     

Evidence-making hepatitis C cure: Towards a science that knows more carefully

There has been some controversy concerning the curative potential of new treatments for hepatitis C. This follows a systematic review of the Cochrane Collaboration questioning the clinical benefits of direct-acting antivirals (DAAs). This controversy has been debated as a matter of methods regarding how best to evidence treatment in an evidence-based medicine (EBM) approach. Drawing from science and technology studies (STS), we offer an alternative perspective. We propose a different way of thinking with evidence; one which treats ‘evidencing as performative’. Using the Cochrane review and its linked published responses as a resource for this analysis, we consider how hepatitis C cure is differently made-up through the knowledge-making practices performing it. We show how matters of apparent fact in evidence-based science are enacted as matters of clinical, social and ethico-political concern. We notice hepatitis C cure as a fluid object in negotiation. We highlight the limits of current debate to advocate a more critical and careful practice-based approach to knowing hepatitis C cure. This calls upon public health researchers to reflect on the performative work of their evidencing. We propose a ‘more-than’ EBM approach which treats ‘evidence-based’ science as an ‘evidence-making intervention’. We consider the implications of such an approach for the evidencing of public health interventions and for treating hepatitis C in the DAA era of ‘viral elimination’.