Transamniotic Delivery of Hematopoietic Stem Cells Genetically Modified to Carry a Human Hemoglobin Subunit Beta Gene (HBB) in a Healthy Rodent Model.

Background: We sought to determine whether transamniotic stem cell therapy (TRASCET) could be a viable alternative for the fetal administration of genetically modified hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) carrying a human hemoglobin subunit beta gene (hHBB) in a healthy syngeneic rat model.

Methods: Time-dated pregnant Lewis dams underwent volume-matched intra-amniotic injections in all their fetuses (n = 61) of a suspension of donor HSCs genetically modified with either both a hHBB gene and a firefly luciferase reporter gene (n = 42) or the firefly luciferase reporter gene alone to control for HBB-derived protein interspecies homology (n = 19) on gestational day 17 (E17; term = E21). Donor HSCs consisted of syngeneic cells phenotyped by flow cytometry with successful hHBB transduction confirmed by ELISA prior to administration in vivo.

Similar Regional Hypertrophy of the Elbow Flexor Muscles in Response to Low-Load Training With Vascular Occlusion at Short Versus Long Muscle Lengths.

Background: The regional hypertrophy response of elbow flexor muscles was compared after unilateral elbow flexion training in extended versus flexed shoulder position under vascular occlusion, which can induce muscle hypertrophy in the absence of muscle damage-induced edema/swelling.

Hypothesis: Hypertrophy of elbow flexor muscles would be greater in extended compared with flexed shoulder position.

Study Design: Randomized within-subject trial.