Stem cell transplantation in cerebrovascular accidents: A global bibliometric analysis (2000-2023).

BACKGROUND: Cerebrovascular accident (CVA) is a major global contributor to death and disability. As part of its medical management, researchers have recognized the importance of promising neuroprotective strategies, where stem cell transplantation (SCT) is thought to confer advantages via trophic and neuroprotective effects. AIM: To evaluate the current state of research on SCT in patients with CVA, assess key trends and highlight literature gaps. METHODS: PubMed was screened for SCT in CVA-related articles in October 2023, for each country during the period between 2000 and 2023. Using the World Bank data, total population and gross domestic product were collected for comparison. VOSviewer_1.6.19 was used to create the VOS figure using the results of the same query. Graphs and tables were obtained using Microsoft Office Excel. RESULTS: A total of 6923 studies were identified on SCT in CVA, making 0.03% of all published studies worldwide. Approximately, 68% were conducted in high-income countries, with a significant focus on mesenchymal stem cells. The journal "Stroke" featured the largest share of these articles, with mesenchymal SCT having the highest rate of inclusion, followed by hematopoietic SCT. Over time, there has been a noticeable shift from in vitro studies, which assess stem cell proliferation and neurogenesis, to in vivo studies aimed at evaluating efficacy and safety. Additionally, the number of reviews increased along this approach. CONCLUSION: This bibliometric analysis provides a comprehensive guide for physicians and researchers in the field through an objective overview of research activity, and highlights both current trends and gaps. Having a potential therapeutic role in CVA, more research is needed in the future to focus on different aspects of SCT, aiming to reach a better treatment strategy and improve life quality in patients.

The Effects of Green Spaces and Noise Exposure on the Risk of Ischemic Stroke: A Case-Control Study in Lebanon.

BACKGROUND: Environmental surroundings reduce the rate of several diseases, especially those related to stressful events. Ischemic stroke can be affected by such events, either directly or through its risk factors. Therefore, the present study evaluates the effects of green spaces and noise exposure on the risk of ischemic stroke. METHODS: A case-control study was carried out, including 200 ischemic stroke cases within the first 48 h of diagnosis and 200 controls, divided equally into hospitalized and non-hospitalized participants. Controls were matched to cases based on age and gender. Socio-demographic characteristics were assessed, in addition to environmental surroundings and noise exposure at home and at workplaces. RESULTS: Living in a house, having a house garden, and taking care of the garden were associated with a lower risk of suffering an ischemic stroke (p < 0.001, p < 0.001, and p = 0.009, respectively). However, having buildings as the view from home led to a higher stroke rate (p < 0.001). Working in an urban area, the workplace being surrounded by buildings, and the workplace not being surrounded by green spaces were also associated with a higher risk of suffering an ischemic stroke (p = 0.002, p = 0.001, and p = 0.03, respectively). As for noise exposure, being exposed to traffic noise, human noise, and other types of noise was significantly associated with a higher risk of ischemic stroke, while being exposed to higher levels of natural noise was significantly associated with a lower risk of ischemic stroke. Higher levels of noise were also associated with higher risks of ischemic stroke in homes and workplaces (p < 0.001 and p = 0.008, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: Environmental surroundings and noise exposure were found to affect the risk of ischemic stroke. Greater green spaces and lower noise exposure play a protective role against ischemic stroke, suggesting a possible prevention strategy through environmental modifications at home and workplaces.

Adipose-Derived Stem Cell Therapy in Spinal Cord Injury.

Spinal cord injury (SCI) is a serious condition accompanied by severe adverse events that affect several aspects of the patient's life, such as motor, sensory, and functional impairment. Despite its severe consequences, definitive treatment for these injuries is still missing. Therefore, researchers have focused on developing treatment strategies aimed at ensuring full recovery post-SCI. Accordingly, attention has been drawn toward cellular therapy using mesenchymal stem cells. Considering their wide availability, decreased immunogenicity, wide expansion capacity, and impressive effectiveness in many therapeutic approaches, adipose-derived stem cell (ADSC) injections in SCI cases have been investigated and showed promising results. In this review, SCI pathophysiology and ADSC transplantation benefits are discussed independently, together with SCI animal models and adipose stem cell preparation and application techniques. The mechanisms of healing in an SCI post-ADSC injection, the outcomes of this therapeutic approach, and current clinical trials are also deliberated, in addition to the challenges and future perspectives, aiming to encourage further research in this field.

Close lateral internal sphincterotomy versus open lateral internal sphincterotomy for chronic anal fissure: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: Lateral internal sphincterotomy (LIS) has been the gold standard for treating chronic anal fissure (CAF) that persists despite other measures. The authors aim to evaluate the effects of the close method (CLIS) of performing LIS as compared to the open method (OLIS). Methods: Databases were searched for relevant studies and results were screened to identify eligible articles, and all concerned outcomes were pooled as odd ratio (OR) or mean difference (MD) with 95% CI in the meta-analysis models using RevMan 5.4. Results: Pooled data from 16 trials with 1,711 patients with idiopathic CAF showed that the CLIS has significant lower risk of delayed fissure healing [OR: 0.28, 95% CI (0.10, 0.77), P = 0.01], duration of hospital stay [MD: -0.82 with 95% CI (-1.07, -0.57), P < 0.00001] and postoperative visual analogue pain score (VAPS) at 24 h [MD: -0.30 with 95% CI (-0.39, -0.21), P < 0.00001]. Also, the risk of overall complications [OR: 0.33 with 95% CI (0.19, 0.55), P < 0.0001], incontinence [OR: 0.28 with 95% CI (0.20, 0.38), P < 0.00001], and postoperative pain [OR: 0.56 with 95% CI (0.35, 0.91), P = 0.02] was significantly lower with CLIS. Conclusion: CLIS is a safer option than OLIS for treating anal fissure. The risk of delayed fissure healing, incontinence, post-op pain and overall complication was significantly lower. However, the risk of surgical site infection, postoperative bleeding and recurrence did not differ. Future research with more prolonged follow-up is necessary to document recurrence reliably.

Intravenous fluid rate of 250 mL/h versus 125 mL/h in nulliparous women: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.

BACKGROUND: Evidence regarding the type and rate of intravenous (IV) fluid administration during labor is still inconclusive and the studies assessing the impact of IV fluids had mixed results. OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the effects of IV fluids at an infusion rate of 250 mL/h as compared with 125 mL/h on labor outcomes in nulliparous women. SEARCH STRATEGY: We searched six databases for relevant studies through a search strategy containing the relevant keywords "IV hydration", "IV fluids", and "labor" from the inception of these databases to May 1, 2023, without any applied restrictions. SELECTION CRITERIA: Search results were imported to Covidence for screening of eligible articles for this review. Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) assessing the impact of IV fluids at 250 mL/h on the outcomes of labor in nulliparous women at term (>37 weeks) as compared with 125 mL/h were included only. DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS: Data regarding the characteristics of included studies, participant's baseline characteristics, and concerned outcomes were collected in an Excel spreadsheet and all the concerned outcomes were pooled as risk ratios (RR) or mean difference (MD) with 95% confidence interval (CI) in the meta-analysis models using RevMan 5.4. MAIN RESULTS: Pooled data from 11 RCTs with 1815 patients showed that 250 mL/h infusion rate had a significant reduction in cesarean section rate (RR 0.70, 95% CI 0.56-0.88, P = 0.002), the first stage of labor duration (MD -46.97, 95% CI -81.79 to -12.14, P = 0.008), the second stage of labor duration (MD -2.69, 95% CI -4.34 to -1.05, P = 0.001), prolonged labor incidence (RR 0.72, 95% CI 0.58-0.89, P = 0.003), as compared with 125 mL/h. Also, the vaginal delivery rate (RR 1.07, 95% CI 1.02-1.12, P = 0.009) was higher with a 250 mL/h infusion rate. CONCLUSION: IV fluids at an infusion rate of 250 mL/h during labor in nulliparous women decreased the cesarean delivery rate, increased the vaginal delivery rate, shortened the first and second-stage labor duration, decreased the incidence of prolonged labor as compared with 125 mL/h. These findings suggest enhanced labor progression and a lower risk of labor complications with higher infusion rates. However, future research involving a more diverse population and exploring the potential benefits of combining IV infusion rates with other interventions, such as adding dextrose or less restrictive oral intake during labor, is needed.

Current state of clinical trials on xenograft.

BACKGROUND: Xenotransplantation is a worth investing branch of science, since it aims to fulfil the demand on human cells, tissues and organs. Despite decades of consistent work in preclinical assessments, clinical trials on xenotransplantation are far from reaching the targeted goal. Our study aims to track the characteristics, assess the content and summarize the plan of each trial on skin, beta-island, bone marrow, aortic valve and kidney xenografts, leading to a clear sorting of efforts made in this field. METHODS: In December 2022, we searched clinicaltrial.gov for interventional clinical trials related to xenograft of skin, pancreas, bone marrow, aortic valve and kidney. A total of 14 clinical trials are included in this study. Characteristics on each trial were gathered. Linked publications were searched using Medline/PubMed and Embase/Scopus. Content of trials was reviewed and summarized. RESULTS: Only 14 clinical trials met our study's criteria. The majority were completed, and most of the trials' enrolment was between 11 and 50 participants. Nine trials used a xenograft of porcine origin. Six trials targeted skin xenotransplantation, four targeted ß-cells, two targeted bone marrow and one trial targeted each of the kidney and aortic valve. The average length of trials was 3.38 years. Four trials were conducted in the United States and two trials in each of Brazil, Argentina and Sweden. Of all the included trials, none had any results provided and only three had published work. Phases I, III, and IV had only one trial each. A total of 501 participants were enrolled in these trials. CONCLUSION: This study sheds the light on the current state of clinical trials on xenograft. Characteristically, trials on this field are of low number, low enrolment, short duration, few related publications and no published results. Porcine organs are the most used in these trials, and skin is the most studied organ. An extension of the literature is highly needed due to the variety of conflicts mentioned. Overall, this study sheds the light on the necessity of managing research efforts, leading to the initiation of more trials targeting the field of xenotransplantation.