Porcine nasal septum cartilage-derived decellularized matrix promotes chondrogenic differentiation of human umbilical mesenchymal stem cells without exogenous growth factors.

Background: In the domain of plastic surgery, nasal cartilage regeneration is of significant importance. The extracellular matrix (ECM) from porcine nasal septum cartilage has shown potential for promoting human cartilage regeneration. Nonetheless, the specific biological inductive factors and their pathways in cartilage tissue engineering remain undefined.

Promotion of hair growth by a conditioned medium from human umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells cultivated in a 3D scaffold of gelatin sponge.

Background: This study aims to investigate the effects of a conditioned medium (CM) from human umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells (HuMSCs) cultivated in gelatin sponge (GS-HuMSCs-CM) on hair growth in a mouse model.

Methods: CM was collected from the HuMSCs cultivated in a monolayer or in a gelatin sponge. Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1), keratinocyte growth factor (KGF), and hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) levels in CMs were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISAs).

Cryopreserved amniotic membrane in the treatment of limb skin defects of aplasia cutis congenita: a case study.

Objective: To report the efficacy and long-term outcomes of treating the skin defects of aplasia cutis congenita (ACC) with cryopreserved amniotic membrane (AM).

Method: Human amnion was obtained from the caesarean delivery of a full-term healthy pregnancy and processed in a sterile laminar flow hood, and cryopreserved in liquid nitrogen. The structure of the AM was investigated histologically and the viability of the epithelial cells was assessed after cryopreservation and compared with fresh AM and with AM preserved in phosphate-buffered saline (PBS) at 4°C.

An investigation of a self-assembled cell-extracellular complex and its potentials in improving wound healing.

Background: To maintain and enhance the wound healing effects of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs), a scaffold for hosting MSCs is needed, which ought to be completely biocompatible, durable, producible, and of human source.

Objective: To build a cell-extracellular matrix (ECM) complex assembled by human umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells (HuMSCs) and to investigate its clinical potentials in promoting wound healing.

Method: HuMSCs were isolated and expanded.

Characteristics and clinical potential of a cellularly modified gelatin sponge.

Background: Human umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells (HuMSCs) injected directly have been proven effective for improving chronic wounds. However, HuMSCs largely die within 14 days. The aim of study is to establish a cellularly modified gelatin sponge and investigate its characteristics and clinical potential.

Acute effect of a variable pulse width Nd:YAG laser combined with hematoporphyrin monomethyl ether-mediated photodynamic therapy on a cockscomb model of nevus flammeus.

Background: Nevus flammeus (NF) is a congenital vascular malformation.

Objectives: To investigate the acute effect of a variable pulse width Nd:YAG laser combined with hematoporphyrin monomethyl ether (HMME)-mediated photodynamic therapy (PDT) on a cockscomb model of NF.

Material And Methods: Forty-two leghorn roosters were randomly divided into the following 7 groups: group A1 (treated with HMME-mediated PDT; energy density of 75 J/cm2), group A2 (treated with HMME-mediated PDT; 125 J/cm2), group A3 (treated with HMME-mediated PDT; 150 J/cm2), group A4 (treated with HMME-mediated PDT; 175 J/cm2), group B (treated with a variable pulse width Nd:YAG laser), group C (treated with a variable pulse width Nd:YAG laser and HMME-mediated PDT), and group D (the control group).

Articular chondrocyte-derived extracellular vesicles promote cartilage differentiation of human umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells by activation of autophagy.

Background: Umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cell (HUCMSC)-based therapies were previously utilised for cartilage regeneration because of the chondrogenic potential of MSCs. However, chondrogenic differentiation of HUCMSCs is limited by the administration of growth factors like TGF-β that may cause cartilage hypertrophy. It has been reported that extracellular vesicles (EVs) could modulate the phenotypic expression of stem cells.

Plasma membrane vesicles of human umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells ameliorate acetaminophen-induced damage in HepG2 cells: a novel stem cell therapy.

Background: Acetaminophen (APAP) overdose is the common cause of acute liver failure (ALF) due to the oxidative damage of multiple cellular components. This study aimed to investigate whether plasma membrane vesicles (PMVs) from human umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells (hUCMSCs) could be exploited as a novel stem cell therapy for APAP-induced liver injury.

Methods: PMVs from hUCMSCs were prepared with an improved procedure including a chemical enucleation step followed by a mechanical extrusion.

[Application of amniotic membrane-living skin equivalent in repairing skin defect after removal of congenital giant nevus].

Objective: To investigate the feasibility of human amniotic membrane-living skin equivalent (AM-LSE) in repairing the skin defect.

Methods: A 5-year-old boy with giant nevus at neck, shoulder, and back was admitted in July 2016. Normal skin tissue of the patient was harvested and keratinocytes and dermal fibroblasts were separated and expanded .

Poly(ε-benzyloxycarbonyl-L-lysine)-grafted branched polyethylenimine as efficient nanocarriers for indomethacin with enhanced oral bioavailability and anti-inflammatory efficacy.

Unlabelled: Star-block copolymers PEI-g-PZLL with a branched polyethylenimine (PEI) core and multiple grafted poly(ε-benzyloxycarbonyl-L-lysine) (PZLL) peripheral chains were designed, synthesized, and evaluated as nanocarriers for indomethacin (IND). In an aqueous solution, PEI-g-PZLL self-assembled into spherical nanoparticles capable of encapsulating IND at high loading capacity and loading efficiency. Differential scanning calorimetry and X-ray diffraction measurements indicated that IND was molecularly or amorphously dispersed in the nanoparticles.

Binding between Saikosaponin C and Human Serum Albumin by Fluorescence Spectroscopy and Molecular Docking.

Saikosaponin C (SSC) is one of the major active constituents of dried Radix bupleuri root (Chaihu in Chinese) that has been widely used in China to treat a variety of conditions, such as liver disease, for many centuries. The binding of SSC to human serum albumin (HSA) was explored by fluorescence, circular dichroism (CD), UV-vis spectrophotometry, and molecular docking to understand both the pharmacology and the basis of the clinical use of SSC/Chaihu. SSC produced a concentration-dependent quenching effect on the intrinsic fluorescence of HSA, accompanied by a blue shift in the fluorescence spectra.

Optimized Extraction of Polysaccharides from Grateloupia livida (Harv.) Yamada and Biological Activities.

Polysaccharides from Grateloupia livida (Harv.) Yamada (GL) were extracted by a heating circumfluence method. Single-factor experiments were performed for the three parameters: extraction time (X₁), extraction temperature (X₂) and the ratio of water to raw material (X₃) and their test range.