The basics of cell therapy to treat cardiovascular disease: one cell does not fit all

Prospect of 3D bioprinting over cardiac cell therapy and conventional tissue engineering in the treatment of COVID-19 patients with myocardial injury

Due to multiple mutations of SARS-CoV-2, the mystery of defeating the virus is still unknown. Cardiovascular complications are one of the most concerning effects of COVID-19 recently, originating from direct and indirect mechanisms. These complications are associated with long-term Cardio-vascular diseases and can induce sudden cardiac death in both infected and recovered COVID-19 patients. The purpose of this research is to do a competitive analysis between conventional techniques with the upgraded alternative 3D bioprinting to replace the damaged portion of the myocardium. Additionally, this study focuses on the potential of 3D bioprinting to be a novel alternative. Finally, current challenges and future perspective of 3D bioprinting technique is briefly discussed.

Increased risk of coronary heart disease in patients with hip fracture: a nationwide cohort study

The study indicates that hip fracture is independently associated with increased risk of coronary heart disease. In addition, the highest risk of coronary heart disease following hip fracture appeared within the first year after hip fracture, indicating the need for multidisciplinary care for the patients.

INTRODUCTION

Bone and vasculature are modulated through numerous common pathways. However, data on the risk of coronary heart disease (CHD) after hip fracture are scarce. Therefore, we investigated whether hip fracture increased the risk of CHD by conducting a large nationwide cohort study.

METHODS

Using universal insurance claims data from 2000 to 2010, we identified a study cohort of 6013 participants newly diagnosed with hip fracture and a control cohort of 23,802 participants. Both cohorts were followed up to the end of 2011 to evaluate the risk of CHD.

RESULTS

The overall incidence of CHD was 1.69-fold higher in the hip fracture cohort than it was in the control cohort (29.2 vs. 17.1 per 1000 person-years) with an adjusted hazard ratio of 1.51 (95 % confidence interval [CI] = 1.39-1.65). Sex-, age-, and comorbidity-specific analyses showed a higher relative risk of CHD for both women and men, all age groups, those with and without comorbidities, and patients with hip fracture compared with the control cohort. The highest risk of CHD was within the first year after hip fracture (adjusted HR = 1.72, 95 % CI = 1.45-2.04), and the risk remained high in the following years.

CONCLUSION

Hip fracture was independently associated with a subsequent risk of CHD.

The challenges for cardiac vascular precursor cell therapy: lessons from a very elusive precursor

There is compelling evidence that cardiovascular disorders arise and/or progress due mainly to endothelial dysfunction. Novel therapeutic strategies aim to generate new myocardial tissue using cells with regenerative potential, either alone or in combination with biomaterials, cytokines and advanced monitoring devices. Among the human adult progenitor cells used in such methods, those historically termed 'endothelial progenitor cells' show promise for vascular growth and repair. Asahara et al. [Science 1997;275:964-967] initially described putative endothelial cell precursors in 1997. Subsequently, distinct cell populations termed endothelial colony-forming units-Hill, circulating angiogenic cells and endothelial colony-forming cells were identified that varied in terms of phenotype, vascular homeostasis contribution and purity. Notably, most of these cells are not genuine vascular precursor cells belonging to the endothelial lineage. This review provides a broad overview of the main properties of the endothelium, focusing on the basis governing its growth and repair. We discuss efforts to identify true vascular precursors, a matter of debate for the past 15 years, as well as recent methodological advances in identifying new hierarchies of more homogeneous, clonogenic and proliferative vascular endothelial-lineage precursors. Consideration of these issues provides insights that may help develop more effective therapies against human diseases that involve vascular deficits.