Dynamics of Sex Hormones in Men with Diabetes Mellitus After Autologous Mesenchymal Stem Cell Transplant.

OBJECTIVES: Our goal was to determine levels of sex hormones in men with type 1 diabetes mellitus and type 2 diabetes mellitus after autologous mesenchymal stem cell transplant. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We examined 10 male patients (32-56 years old) with type 1 diabetes mellitus and type 2 diabetes mellitus, whom we subsequently divided into 2 groups and examined. Group 1 comprised 5 male patients who received autologous mesenchymal stem cell transplant (cells were obtained from patient's iliac crest and cultured for 3-4 weeks) by intravenous infusion. Group 2 comprised 5 male patients (control group) who were on hypoglycemic tablet therapy or insulin therapy. The quantity of autologous mesenchymal stem cells infused was 95 × 106 to 97 × 106 cells. We analyzed levels of testosterone, luteinizing hormone, estradiol, and glycated hemoglobin in patients both before and 3 months after the autologous mesenchymal stem cell transplant procedure. RESULTS: In men with type 1 diabetes mellitus and type 2 diabetes mellitus, autologous mesenchymal stem cell transplant led to an increase in testosterone levels from 5.31 ± 2.12 to 6.33 ± 2.12 ng/mL (P = .82), a decrease in luteinizing hormone from 8.43 ± 1.25 to 5.94 ± 1.57 mIU/mL (P = .04), and a decrease in glycated hemoglobin from 9.45 ± 1.24% to 8.53 ± 1.08% (P = .25) after 3 months. The increase in testosterone in men with autologous mesenchymal stem cell transplant group of 6.33 ± 2.12 ng/mL was significant compared with men in the control group (3.9 ± 1.18 ng/mL; P = .01). CONCLUSIONS: Testosterone level increased and luteinizing hormone level decreased within 3 months after autologous mesenchymal stem cell transplant in men with diabetes mellitus.

Reliability of the Multiplex CytoBead CeliAK Immunoassay to Assess Anti-tTG IgA for Celiac Disease Screening.

Background and Objective: The diagnosis of Celiac Disease (CD) is first based on the positivity for specific serological markers. The CytoBead CeliAK immunoassay simultaneously measures antibodies (IgA) directed to tissue transglutaminase (tTG), endomysium (EMA), and deamidated gliadin (DG), in addition to providing a control for total IgA levels. The aim of this study is to assess the reliability of this multiplex assay to detect anti-tTG IgA positive patients, compared with a conventional single-parameter enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Methods: Serum samples from 149 pediatric patients were assessed by both CytoBead CeliAK immunoassay and ELISA, in order to evaluate their concordance for the measurement of anti-tTG IgA. Results: The measurement of anti-tTG IgA by CytoBead CeliAK immunoassay basically showed a complete concordance rate with the conventional and single-parameter ELISA, according to the respective cutoff values (3 U/ml and 10 U/ml). Conclusions: Our comparative analysis demonstrates a substantial equivalency between multiplex CytoBead CeliAK assay and the single-parameter conventional ELISA to assess anti-tTG IgA antibody in the context of the screening for CD in children. Importantly, CytoBead CeliAK assay could present some preanalytic, analytic, and economic advantages.