Guangfeng Zhao

At present, little research has been done on the metabolic phenotype of the differentiation of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) into osteoblasts. In this study, the effect of astaxanthin on improving osteogenic differentiation potential of mesenchymal stem cells was studied by metabolomics. Results showed that L-methionine, L-tyrosine, and 2-hydroxycinnamic acid were upregulated in MSCs treated with astaxanthin, while L-lysine, L-pipecolic acid, L-histidine, L-arginine, D-fructose, and L-aspartic acid were downregulated in samples treated with astaxanthin. In addition, astaxanthin exhibited a significant dose-dependent relationship with these markers. Metabolic pathway enrichment analysis revealed that AST mainly regulated phenylalanine metabolism; phenylalanine, tyrosine, and tryptophan biosynthesis; and pantothenate and CoA biosynthesis during the process of osteogenic differentiation of MSCs. Furthermore, the staining results showed that astaxanthin could actively promote the osteogenic differentiation of mesenchymal stem cells. These findings clearly indicate that astaxanthin plays an important role in inducing osteogenic differentiation of mesenchymal stem cells. In addition, the changed metabolites can be used to monitor the differentiation process.

Purpose. The aim of this current review was to confirm the efficacy of intra‐articular steroid therapy (IAST) for patients with hip osteoarthritis (OA) and discuss the duration and influential factors of IAST. Methods. Online databases (Medline, EMBASE, and Web of Science) were searched from inception to May 2019. Both randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and noncontrolled trials assessing the efficacy of hip IAST on pain were included. Common demographics data were extracted using a standardized form. Quality was assessed on the basis of Oxford Centre for Evidence‐Based Medicine 2011 Levels of Evidence. Results. 12 trials met the inclusion criteria. According to data from individual trials, IAST had significant efficacy on hip OA in both immediate and delay pain reduction, which persisted up to 12 weeks after IAST. The influences of the baseline severity of hip OA or synovitis and injection dose or volume on the clinical outcome of IAST were still controversial. The IAST appeared to be well tolerant by most of the participants. Conclusion. IAST was proved to be an efficacious therapy in both immediate and delay pain reduction for hip OA patients within 12 weeks. The longer follow‐up data of efficacy and safety and potentially influential factors are still unclear and needed further confirmation.

Identifying women at risk of preeclampsia (PE) by maternal serum screening is conducive to prompt gestational management and thereby improve both maternal and perinatal outcomes. The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the association between the concentrations of maternal serum placental growth factor (PLGF), pregnancy associated plasma protein-A (PAPPA), free β-human chorionic gonadotropin (β-hCG), and αFetoprotein (AFP) and the development of preeclampsia early in the second trimester. Forty pregnant women subsequently developed mild PE, 21 pregnant women subsequently developed severe PE, and 61 cases of normotensive controls were included. Maternal serum concentrations of PLGF, PAPPA, β-hCG, and AFP were measured at 15 - 20 weeks of gestation. Serum PLGF level was lower in women who subsequently developed PE than in normotensive controls. However, the significant difference was only found between the severe PE and control groups (p = 0.015). Serum PAPPA, β-hCG, and AFP levels were not significantly different between the PE and control groups. Serum PLGF level was lower in women who subsequently developed severe PE early in the second trimester, suggesting its role in prediction of PE.