Medicina
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Background andObjectives: Human bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) are promising sources for cell-based regenerative therapy. The purpose of the present study was to elucidate the roles of age and sex on the cellular viability and osteogenic potential of BMSCs cultured in osteogenic media. Materials and Methods: Human BMSCs were isolated and expanded from 3 age groups-20s, 30s, and 50s-from both sexes. ⋯ No significant differences in Runx2 or collagen I expression were noted by age or gender. Moreover, no significant differences were shown in osteogenesis by alizarin red staining. Conclusions: The human BMSCs showed no age-related decreases in cellular viability or osteogenic differentiation potential.
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Background and Objectives: Fluid disbalance is associated with adverse outcomes in critically ill patients with acute kidney injury (AKI). In this study, we intended to assess fluid status using bioimpedance analysis (BIA) and central venous pressure (CVP) measurement and to evaluate the association between hyperhydration and hypervolemia with the outcomes of severe AKI. Materials and Methods: A prospective study was conducted in the Hospital of the Lithuanian University of Health Sciences Kauno Klinikos. ⋯ Conclusions: Three-fourths of the patients with severe AKI were hyperhydrated based on bioimpedance analysis. However, according to CVP, only half of these patients were hypervolemic. A tendency of higher mortality in hyperhydrated patients was observed.
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Background and Objectives: Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a disease with a complex pathophysiology involving immune-mediated reactions that lead to skin lesions that are typically localized and recurrent. Following the outbreak of the COVID-19 (coronavirus disease 2019) pandemic, attempting to assess the impact of SARS-CoV-2 infection on diseases caused by complex immune mechanisms has become important. The aim of this study was to assess the impact of SARS-CoV-2 infection on the course of AD, including immunosuppressive therapy, in patients with a severe form of the disease. ⋯ There was no significant effect of disease severity on the risk of severe COVID-19 (HR = 0.45; 95% CI: 0.32-0.65). Conclusions: The course of atopic dermatitis during SARS-CoV-2 infection may be different from the severity of its symptoms due to the lack of a significant influence. The immunosuppressive treatment used in patients with severe AD did not significantly affect the course of SARS-CoV-2 infection.
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Background and objectives: Systematic prostate biopsy (SB) has a low Gleason group (GG) accuracy when compared to final pathology. This may negatively impact the inclusion of patients into specific risk groups and treatment choice. The aim of our study was to assess the GG accuracy of magnetic resonance imaging-ultrasound (MRI-US) fusion prostate biopsy. ⋯ Conclusions: Pre-biopsy prostate MRI improves GG concordance between biopsy and RP. Combined biopsy provides the highest grading accuracy when compared to final pathology. Targeted and systematic biopsy data are predictive for adverse pathologic outcomes.
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Metabolic dysfunction-associated fatty liver disease has become the most common chronic liver disease as well as the most common cause for liver transplantation. With its different methods types, elastography of the liver can be used for non-invasive evaluation of the liver fibrosis and steatosis degree. ⋯ The following is an overview of the use of liver and spleen elastography in the detection of clinically relevant portal hypertension. It concludes with research and technological possibilities that could be important to the field in the upcoming years.