ABSTRACT
Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a progressive, demyelinating neurodegenerative disease of the central nervous system. MS is immune-mediated and leads to disability especially in young adults. Even though 18 MS therapy drugs were approved, they slightly inhibit disease progression and do not induce regeneration and repair in the nervous system. Mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) have emerged as a new therapeutic modality in regenerative medicine and tissue engineering due to their immunomodulation and bio regenerative properties. We have designed a randomized, controlled clinical trial to assess safety and possible efficacy of MSC application in MS patients. Twenty-one MS patients were enrolled. Patients were allocated in two distinct groups: treatment group, which received systemic transplantation of autologous bone marrow-derived MSCs, and control group, which received placebo at the first injections. Patients in control group received MSCs at the second injection while the treatment group received placebo. All the patients were followed for 18 months. Follow-ups included regular visits, laboratory evaluation, and imaging analysis. Control patients received MSCs six month after treatment group. No severe immediate or late adverse events were observed in both groups after interventions. We did not find any significant differences in the rate of relapses, Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS) score, cognitive condition, Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) findings, or any biomarkers of cerebrospinal fluid between the two groups and in each group before and after cell infusion. Transplantation of autologous bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stromal cells is safe and feasible. The efficacy of transplantation of these cells should be evaluated through designing randomized clinical trials with larger sample sizes, different administration routes, other cell types (allogeneic adipose derived MSCs, allogeneic Wharton's jelly derived MSCs ), repeated injections, and longer follow-up periods.
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Measurement of glomerular filtration rate (GFR) and monitoring of it in any patient on nephrotoxic drugs is very important. Recently, cystatin C (cys-C) has been introduced as a better marker for determining and monitoring renal function than creatinine especially in a mild decrease of GFR. This study was done to assess the change of GFR measurement based on serum Cys-C and creatinine and their comparison in children with acute pyelonephritis on amikacin. METHODS: All children with acute pyelonephritis who were admitted in Nephrology ward were enrolled in this study. Serum creatinine, serum cys-C and the GFR calculation based on them were measured in patients on the day of admission (day zero) and then on days 3 and 7 after the start of treatment with amikacin and p-value less than 0.05 was considered significant. RESULTS: Among the 70 children, 61 patients were females and the others were males. Mean age was 42.66±41.53 months. Estimated GFR based on creatinine on day 0 (before amikacin administration), 3 and 7 were 72.41±20.89 ml/min/1.73 m2, 78.42±21.15 ml/min/1.73 m2 and 80.5±22.43 ml/min/1.73 m2, respectively. Moreover, GFR based on cys-C during these days were 116.23±58.9 ml/min/1.73 m2, 116.49±53.31 ml/min/1.73 m2 and 108.37±51.02 ml/min/1.73 m2, respectively (p<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: According to this study, decrease of GFR calculation based on Cys-C was seen and estimated GFR was not changed according to creatinine. So, we recommend the use of cys-C for the monitoring of renal function in any patient treated with nephrotoxic drugs such as amikacin.