The impact of cell-based therapy on female sexual dysfunction: a systematic review and meta-analysis

INTRODUCTION

Female sexual dysfunction (FSD) is a complex issue affecting women of all ages; it involves several overlapping body systems and profoundly affects quality of life. The use of cell-based therapy, such as mesenchymal stem cells, has recently been investigated as a potential treatment for FSD.

OBJECTIVES

This systematic review and meta-analysis aim to assess FSD outcomes following cell-based therapy.

METHODS

We evaluated peer-reviewed articles from multiple online databases through November 2022 to identify studies that used cell-based therapy and reported sexual function outcomes in women. We performed a meta-analysis using data pooled from 3 clinical trials at our institution: CRATUS (NCT02065245), ACESO (NCT02886884), and CERES (NCT03059355). All 3 trials collected data from the Sexual Quality of Life-Female (SQOL-F) questionnaire as an exploratory outcome.

RESULTS

Existing literature on this topic is scarce. Five clinical studies and 1 animal study were included in the systematic review, and only 2 clinical studies were considered good quality: 1 reported significant SQOL-F improvement in women 6 months after cell therapy, and 1 reported posttherapy sexual satisfaction in all women. When individual patient data were pooled in a meta-analysis from 29 women across 3 trials at our institution, the SQOL-F was not significantly improved.

CONCLUSION

Despite growing interest in cell-based therapy for women's sexual health, this important issue is understudied in the literature. The optimal route, source, and dose of cell therapy to produce clinically meaningful change have yet to be determined, and further research is needed in larger randomized placebo-controlled clinical trials.

Identification and mapping QTL for high-temperature adult-plant resistance to stripe rust in winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) cultivar 'Stephens'

High-temperature adult-plant (HTAP) resistance from the winter wheat (Triticum aestivum) cultivar 'Stephens' has protected wheat crops from stripe rust caused by Puccinia striiformis f. sp. tritici for 30 years. The objectives of this study were to identify quantitative trait loci (QTL) for HTAP resistance in Stephens through genetic linkage analysis and identify DNA markers linked to the QTL for use in marker-assisted breeding. Mapping populations consisted of 101 recombinant inbred lines (RILs) through single-seed descent from 'Stephens' (resistant) x 'Michigan Amber' (susceptible). F(5), F(6) and F(7) RILs were evaluated for stripe rust resistance at Pullman, WA in 1996, 1997 and 1998, respectively, whereas F(8) RILs were evaluated at Mt Vernon, WA, USA in 2005. The 101 F(8) RILs were evaluated with 250 resistance gene analog polymorphism (RGAP), 245 simple sequence repeat (SSR) and 1 sequence tagged site (STS) markers for genetic linkage map construction. Two QTL, which explained 48-61% of the total phenotypic variation of the HTAP resistance in Stephens, were identified. QYrst.wgp-6BS.1 was within a 3.9-cM region flanked by Xbarc101 and Xbarc136. QYrst.wgp-6BS.2 was mapped in a 17.5-cM region flanked by Xgwm132 and Xgdm113. Both two QTL were physically mapped to the short arm of chromosome 6B, but in different bins. Validation and polymorphism tests of the flanking markers in 43 wheat genotypes indicated that the molecular markers associated with these QTL should be useful in marker-assisted breeding programs to efficiently incorporate HTAP resistance into new wheat cultivars.

Evaluation of Adapted Wheat Cultivars for Tolerance to Pythium Root Rot

Genetic resistance in wheat (Triticum aestivum) against Pythium species would be an efficient means of control of this major root fungal pathogen, but so far no source has been identified. In addition, no long-term, sustainable options for controlling Pythium root rot are available; therefore, identifying and then incorporating genetic resistance into wheat cultivars would create an ideal method of control for this disease. The objective of this study was to examine the level of tolerance to Pythium root rot among a diverse set of wheat germ plasm collected from all major wheat production regions in the United States. Pythium debaryanum isolate 90136 and P. ultimum isolate 90038, previously identified as the most virulent Pythium isolates on wheat, were used to infest pasteurized soil, which was seeded with wheat genotypes and placed in a growth chamber maintained at a constant 16°C with a 12-h photoperiod and ambient humidity. Length of the first leaf and plant height measurements were recorded, and roots were digitally scanned to create computer files that were analyzed using WinRhizo software for length and number of tips. Significant (P < 0.05) differences in plant variables were detected among wheat genotypes in the presence of both Pythium species, and a significant (P < 0.0001) correlation between plant stunting and root loss was detected. Based on both shoot and root measurements, Caledonia, Chinese Spring, MN97695, and OR942504 appear to be highly susceptible to Pythium root rot, whereas genotypes KS93U161, OH708, and Sunco were the most tolerant to this disease.

Construction of a designer chromosome in tobacco

The tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum L.) breeding line NC 152 is a doubled haploid that possesses an addition chromosome from N. africana [Merxm. and Buttler]. A gene on this chromosome confers potyvirus resistance (Poty(R)). Our objective was to use the addition chromosome as a base on which to construct a designer chromosome containing a foreign gene linkage package. A mutant dhfr gene conferring resistance to methotrexate (Mtx) was inserted into NC 152-haploid (n = 25) leaf tissue via Agrobacterium tumefaciens-mediated transformation. After chromosome doubling, 135 NC 152dhfr transformants (2n = 50) were pollinated with the potyvirus-susceptible (Poty(S)) cultivar 'McNair 944' (2n = 48). Linkage analysis was performed in the BC1 generation. Two transformants, NC 152dhfr-996 and NC 152dhfr-1517 exhibited complete linkage between Mtx resistance (Mtx(R)) and Poty(R). Segregants from these two transformants which were Mtx(R) and Poty(R) possessed 49 chromosomes, while Mtx sensitive (Mtx(S)) and Poty(S) progeny possessed 48 chromosomes. Eighty percent of the NC 152dhfr transformants transmitted the dhfr gene as one locus. Other foreign genes can be directed to the addition chromosome through transformation followed by selection for single loci with linkage to Poty(R) or Mtx(R). The integrity of both the foreign-gene linkage package and the rest of the genome will be maintained because recombination between the N. africiana and the N. tabacum chromosomes has not been observed.