Evaluation of the Role of Umbilical Cord Serum and Autologous Serum Therapy in Reepithelialization After Keratoplasty

Purpose: To evaluate the role of topical umbilical cord serum (TUCS) therapy in treating corneal epithelial defects (CEDs) after diabetic vitrectomy. Methods: In this double-masked, randomized clinical trial, we included 80 eyes of 80 patients who were candidates for vitrectomy due to proliferative diabetic retinopathy complications. In cases of corneal edema obscuring the fundus view during surgery, the corneal epithelium was removed using a 6-mm trephine and a blade no.15. The day after the surgery, patients were randomly divided into two groups: (1) the TUCS group that received 20% TUCS six times/day in addition to the conventional treatment of CED and (2) the control group, which was prescribed artificial tears as placebo in addition to the conventional treatment of CED. The rate of healing of CEDs was measured via two maximum linear dimensions perpendicular to each other at the start of therapy and on postoperative days 1–5, 7, and 12. Results: Of 80 eyes, 40 were assigned to each treatment group. The mean times to complete CED healing were 2.4 ± 0.7 and 3.8 ± 2.1 days in the TUCS and control groups, respectively (P < 0.001). Persistent CED occurred in two eyes in the control group but in no eyes in the TUCS group. Conclusion: TUCS therapy may be safe and effective in healing CEDs after vitrectomy in patients with diabetes.

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Endogenous erythropoietin at birth is associated with neurodevelopmental morbidity in early childhood

Pediatric Research ◽

10.1038/s41390-021-01679-0 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Elina J. Rancken ◽

Marjo P. H. Metsäranta ◽

Mika Gissler ◽

Leena K. Rahkonen ◽

Leena M. Haataja

Keyword(s):

Early Childhood ◽

Umbilical Cord ◽

Gestational Age ◽

Autism Spectrum ◽

List Type ◽

Endogenous Erythropoietin ◽

Cord Serum ◽

Increased Risk ◽

Serum Erythropoietin

Abstract Background New biomarkers that predict later neurodevelopmental morbidity are needed. This study evaluated the associations between umbilical cord serum erythropoietin (us-EPO) and neurodevelopmental morbidity by the age of 2–6.5 years in a Finnish cohort. Methods This study included 878 non-anomalous children born alive in 2012 to 2016 in Helsinki University Hospitals and whose us-EPO concentration was determined at birth. Data of these children were linked to data from the Finnish Medical Birth Register and the Finnish Hospital Discharge Register. Neurodevelopmental morbidity included cerebral palsy, epilepsy, intellectual disability, autism spectrum disorder, sensorineural defects, and minor neurodevelopmental disorders. Results In the cohort including both term and preterm children, us-EPO levels correlated with gestational age (r = 0.526) and were lower in premature children. High us-EPO levels (>100 IU/l) were associated with an increased risk of severe neurodevelopmental morbidity (OR: 4.87; 95% CI: 1.05–22.58) when adjusted for the gestational age. The distribution of us-EPO levels did not differ in children with or without the later neurodevelopmental diagnosis. Conclusions Although high us-EPO concentration at birth was associated with an increased risk of neurodevelopmental morbidity in early childhood, the role of us-EPO determination in clinical use appears to be minor. Impact We determined whether endogenous umbilical cord serum erythropoietin would be a new useful biomarker to predict the risk of neurodevelopmental morbidity. This study evaluated the role of endogenous erythropoietin at birth in neurodevelopmental morbidity with a study population of good size and specific diagnoses based on data from high-quality registers. Although high umbilical cord serum erythropoietin concentration at birth was associated with an increased risk of neurodevelopmental morbidity in early childhood, the clinical value of erythropoietin determination appears to be minor.

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Evaluation of umbilical cord serum therapy for persistent corneal epithelial defects

British Journal of Ophthalmology ◽

10.1136/bjo.87.11.1312 ◽

2003 ◽

Vol 87 (11) ◽

pp. 1312-1316 ◽

Cited By ~ 75

Author(s):

R B Vajpayee

Keyword(s):

Umbilical Cord ◽

Corneal Epithelial ◽

Cord Serum ◽

Serum Therapy

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Overexpression of Pygo2 Increases Differentiation of Human Umbilical Cord Mesenchymal Stem Cells into Cardiomyocyte-like Cells

Current Molecular Medicine ◽

10.2174/1566524019666191017150416 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 20 (4) ◽

pp. 318-324 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Lei Yang ◽

Shuoji Zhu ◽

Yongqing Li ◽

Jian Zhuang ◽

Jimei Chen ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Stem Cells ◽

Mesenchymal Stem Cells ◽

Umbilical Cord ◽

Heart Function ◽

Critical Role ◽

Human Umbilical Cord ◽

Stem Cell Markers ◽

Quantitative Real Time Pcr ◽

Qrt Pcr

Background: Our previous studies have shown that Pygo (Pygopus) in Drosophila plays a critical role in adult heart function that is likely conserved in mammals. However, its role in the differentiation of human umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells (hUC-MSCs) into cardiomyocytes remains unknown. Objective: To investigate the role of pygo2 in the differentiation of hUC-MSCs into cardiomyocytes. Methods: Third passage hUC-MSCs were divided into two groups: a p+ group infected with the GV492-pygo2 virus and a p− group infected with the GV492 virus. After infection and 3 or 21 days of incubation, Quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) was performed to detect pluripotency markers, including OCT-4 and SOX2. Nkx2.5, Gata-4 and cTnT were detected by immunofluorescence at 7, 14 and 21 days post-infection, respectively. Expression of cardiac-related genes—including Nkx2.5, Gata-4, TNNT2, MEF2c, ISL-1, FOXH1, KDR, αMHC and α-Actin—were analyzed by qRT-PCR following transfection with the virus at one, two and three weeks. Results : After three days of incubation, there were no significant changes in the expression of the pluripotency stem cell markers OCT-4 and SOX2 in the p+ group hUC-MSCs relative to controls (OCT-4: 1.03 ± 0.096 VS 1, P > 0.05, SOX2: 1.071 ± 0.189 VS 1, P > 0.05); however, after 21 days, significant decreases were observed (OCT-4: 0.164 ± 0.098 VS 1, P < 0.01, SOX2: 0.209 ± 0.109 VS 1, P < 0.001). Seven days following incubation, expression of mesoderm specialisation markers, such as Nkx2.5, Gata-4, MEF2c and KDR, were increased; at 14 days following incubation, expression of cardiac genes, such as Nkx2.5, Gata-4, TNNT2, MEF2c, ISL-1, FOXH1, KDR, αMHC and α-Actin, were significantly upregulated in the p+ group relative to the p− group (P < 0.05). Taken together, these findings suggest that overexpression of pygo2 results in more hUCMSCs gradually differentiating into cardiomyocyte-like cells. Conclusion: We are the first to show that overexpression of pygo2 significantly enhances the expression of cardiac-genic genes, including Nkx2.5 and Gata-4, and promotes the differentiation of hUC-MSCs into cardiomyocyte-like cells.

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Use of Acellular Umbilical Cord-Derived Tissues in Corneal and Ocular Surface Diseases

Medicines ◽

10.3390/medicines8020012 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 8 (2) ◽

pp. 12

Author(s):

Arianna A. Tovar ◽

Ian A. White ◽

Alfonso L. Sabater

Keyword(s):

Cord Blood ◽

Umbilical Cord ◽

Umbilical Cord Blood ◽

Ocular Surface ◽

Cellular Proliferation ◽

Mononuclear Cells ◽

Autologous Serum ◽

High Concentration ◽

Ocular Surface Diseases ◽

Natural Healing

Blood derived products have become a valuable source of tissue for the treatment of ocular surface diseases that are refractory to conventional treatments. These can be obtained from autologous or allogeneic sources (patient’s own blood or from healthy adult donors/umbilical cord blood, respectively). Allogeneic cord blood demonstrates practical advantages over alternatives and these advantages will be discussed herein. Umbilical cord blood (UCB) can be divided, generally speaking, into two distinct products: first, mononuclear cells, which can be used in regenerative ophthalmology, and second, the plasma/serum (an acellular fraction), which may be used in the form of eyedrops administered directly to the damaged ocular surface. The rationale for using umbilical cord serum (UCS) to treat ocular surface diseases such as severe dry eye syndrome (DES), persistent epithelial defects (PED), recurrent epithelial erosions, ocular chemical burns, graft versus host disease (GVHD), among others, is the considerably high concentration of growth factors and cytokines, mimicking the natural healing properties of human tears. Allogeneic serum also offers the opportunity for therapeutic treatment to patients who, due to poor heath, cannot provide autologous serum. The mechanism of action involves the stimulation of endogenous cellular proliferation, differentiation and maturation, which is highly efficient in promoting and enhancing corneal epithelial healing where other therapies have previously failed.

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Gestational Age Dependency of Umbilical Cord Serum IL-6 Levels for Detecting Fetal Inflammation

American Journal of Perinatology ◽

10.1055/s-0040-1721373 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Sota Iwatani ◽

Takao Kobayashi ◽

Sachiko Matsui ◽

Akihiro Hirata ◽

Miwa Yamamoto ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Umbilical Cord ◽

Gestational Age ◽

Area Under The Curve ◽

Roc Curves ◽

Significant Negative Correlation ◽

Cord Serum ◽

Very Preterm ◽

Key Points ◽

Extremely Preterm ◽

Preterm Newborns

Objective The fetal inflammatory response syndrome (FIRS) is characterized by elevated concentrations of inflammatory cytokines in fetal blood, with preterm delivery and morbidity. Umbilical cord serum interleukin-6 (UC-s-IL-6) is an ideal marker for detecting FIRS. However, the effect of gestational age (GA) on UC-s-IL-6 levels has not been reported. This study aimed to determine the relationship between GA and UC-s-IL-6 levels, and GA-dependent cutoff values of UC-s-IL-6 levels for detecting fetal inflammation. Study Design UC-s-IL-6 concentrations were measured in 194 newborns (44 extremely preterm newborns (EPNs) at 22–27 weeks' GA, 68 very preterm newborns (VPNs) at 28–31 weeks' GA, and 82 preterm newborns (PNs) at 32–34 weeks' GA). Linear regression analyses were used to correlate GA and UC-s-IL-6 levels. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves analyses were performed for detecting the presence of funisitis, as the histopathological counterpart of FIRS. Results A significant negative correlation between GA and UC-s-IL-6 levels was found in newborns with severe funisitis (r s = − 0.427, p = 0.004) and those with mild funisitis (r s = − 0.396, p = 0.025). ROC curve analyses revealed the area under the curve for detecting funisitis were 0.856, 0.837, and 0.622 in EPNs, VPNs, and PNs, respectively. The UC-s-IL-6 cutoff value in EPNs (28.1 pg/mL) exceeded those in VPNs and PNs (3.7 and 3.0 pg/mL, respectively). Conclusion UC-s-IL-6 levels were inversely correlated with GA especially in newborns with funisitis. Such GA dependency of UC-s-IL-6 should be considered for detecting fetal inflammation. Key Points

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