Small extracellular vesicles derived from umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells alleviate radiation-induced cardiac organoid injury.

Background: Radiation-induced heart disease (RIHD) is one of the most serious complications of radiation therapy (RT) for thoracic tumors, and new interventions are needed for its prevention and treatment. Small extracellular vesicles (sEVs) from stem cells have attracted much attention due to their ability to repair injury. However, the role of umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cell (UCMSC)-derived sEVs in protecting cardiac organoids from radiation-induced injury and the underlying mechanisms are largely unknown.

The relationship between excessive iodine during pregnancy and adverse pregnancy complications.

Purpose: Iodine nutrition during pregnancy plays an important role in fetal development and maternal outcomes. Iodine deficiency has been proved to be associated with maternal thyroid dysfunction, adverse fetal outcomes and neurodevelopmental disorders in offspring. At present, there are few studies concentrate on the effects of iodine excess during pregnancy on thyroid function, maternal and neonatal outcomes, and the results are still controversial.

Diagnostic Utility of Cord Thyroid-Stimulating Hormone (TSH) in Congenital Hypothyroidism and Its Association With Perinatal Factors: A Study From a Tertiary Referral Centre in Hyderabad, India.

Introduction Congenital hypothyroidism (CH) is one of the most common, easily treatable, causes of long-term neurodevelopmental complications in children. The prevalence of CH in India is much higher compared to other countries. Although developed countries have well-established neonatal screening programs, a uniform nationwide screening program at birth is still not established in India.

Concerns on the mother-to-child transmission of hepatitis B virus reported in Ethiopia.

Introduction: Taye and colleagues reported that the rate of mother-to-child transmission (MTCT) of hepatitis B virus (HBV) was as high as 20.7% in Ethiopia based on their meta-analysis of three studies [1]. However, numerous studies demonstrate that the overall rate of MTCT is below 5% after timely neonatal administration of hepatitis B immunoglobulin (HBIG) and hepatitis B vaccine after birth.

CT-Guided Foramen Ovale Injection of Mesenchymal Stem Cells: First Human Case Report of Trigeminal Neuralgia Relief.

Introduction/objective: Trigeminal Neuralgia (TN) is an extremely painful condition without an established treatment other than symptom-suppressive medications or temporary relief from corticosteroid injections. Mesenchymal Stem Cells (MSCs) have demonstrated the ability to enhance healing and reduce inflammation and pain without side effects. Our objective was to evaluate the safety and efficacy of CT-guided foramen ovale MSC injection in the treatment of TN.

Post-transplant transient abnormal myelopoiesis evolving from a GATA1 mutant clone in umbilical cord blood.

Transient abnormal myelopoiesis (TAM) generally affects newborns with Down syndrome and is associated with constitutional trisomy 21 and a somatic GATA1 mutation. Here we describe a case of TAM which evolved after umbilical cord blood transplantation (UCBT), whose origin was identified as a GATA1 mutation-harboring clone in umbilical cord blood (UCB) by detailed genetic analyses. A 58-year-old male who received UCBT for peripheral T-cell lymphoma presented progressive anemia and thrombocytopenia, and leukocytosis with blast cells in the peripheral blood (PB).

Impact of Tissue Factor Gene Knockout on Coagulation Properties of Umbilical Cord-Derived Multipotent Mesenchymal Stromal/Stem Cells.

Multipotent mesenchymal stromal/stem cells (MSCs) refer to a population of stem cells that exhibit distinct progenitor cell characteristics including the potential for differentiation into a wide range of cell types. MSCs have become a promising candidate for cell therapy and tissue regeneration due to their unique properties, such as their ability to differentiate into multiple cell types, their capacity for expansion, self-renewal, and immune-regulatory effects. However, reports have brought attention to thrombosis-related complications associated with MSCs therapy in the last decade.

Newborn Screening for Hurler Syndrome Facilitates Early Transplant and Good Outcomes.

Background: Hematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT) is the standard of care treatment for children with Hurler syndrome (HS). This study describes the impact of newborn screening (NBS) on HCT outcomes for these patients.

Methods: Retrospective study of HS patients diagnosed through NBS and referred to Duke from 2017 to 2023.

Implementation of a crash cesarean section policy and its impact on maternal and neonatal outcomes at King Abdulaziz University Hospital: A retrospective study.

A typical surgical technique for pregnant women with potentially fatal problems affecting the mother or fetus is an emergency cesarean section (ECS). The decision-to-delivery interval (DDI) for ECS should be within 30 minutes. The objective of this study was to investigate crash ECS indications and effects on maternal and neonatal outcomes.

METRNL exerts cytoprotective effects on EPCs via regulation of the E2F1-TXNIP axis in obese limb ischemia.

Background: Obesity increases cardiovascular disease risk by impairing angiogenesis, primarily through dysfunction of endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs). METRNL, a recently identified secreted protein, exhibits diverse biological activities. However, its impact on EPC function and its role in obesity-related microvascular dysfunction remain unclear.

Interplay Between Vitamin D Levels and Heavy Metals Exposure in Pregnancy and Childbirth: A Systematic Review.

Background/objectives: Vitamin D (VD) deficiency has been associated with increased risk of gestational disorders affecting the endocrine system, immune system, and neurodevelopment in offspring. Recent studies have focused on the interaction between toxic elements and micronutrients during pregnancy. This review analyzes the potential relationships between VD levels and heavy metals in pregnant women and their offspring.