Objective: Parkinson's disease (PD), which is one of the most common neurodegenerative disorders, is characterized by the loss of dopamine (DA) neurons in the substantia nigra in the midbrain. Experimental and clinical studies have shown that fetal neural stem cells (NSCs) have therapeutic effects in neurological disorders. The aim of this study was to examine whether cells that were differentiated from NSCs had therapeutic effects in a rat model of PD. Methods: NSCs were isolated from 14-week-old embryos and induced to differentiate into neurons, DA neurons, and glial cells, and these cells were characterized by their expression of the following markers:βⅢ-tubulin and microtubule-associated protein 2 (neurons), tyrosine hydroxylase (DA neurons), and glial fibrillary acidic protein (glial cells). After a 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA)-lesioned rat model of PD was generated, the differentiated cells were transplanted into the striata of the 6-OHDAlesioned PD rats. Results: The motor behaviors of the PD rats were assessed by the number of apomorphine-induced rotation turns. The results showed that the NSCs differentiated in vitro into neurons and DA neurons with high efficiencies. After transplantation into the striata of the PD rats, the differentiated cells significantly improved the motor deficits of the transplanted PD rats compared to those of the control nontransplanted PD rats by decreasing the apomorphine-induced turn cycles as early as 4 weeks after transplantation. Immunofluorescence analyses showed that the differentiated DA neurons survived more than 16 weeks. Conclusions: Our results showed that cells that were differentiated from NSCs had therapeutic effects in a rat PD model, which suggests that differentiated cells may be an effective treatment for patients with PD.

Objective: The conflicting findings of previous morphological studies on intracranial aneurysm rupture may be caused by the different locations of aneurysms. We aimed to determine the independent risk factors of aneurysm rupture by focusing on only posterior communicating artery (PcomA) aneurysms. Methods: In 89 PcomA aneurysms (58 ruptured, 31 unruptured), clinical and morphological characteristics were compared between the ruptured and unruptured groups. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was performed to determine the independent predictors for the rupture status of PcomA aneurysms. Results: In univariate analyses, the aneurysm dome size, aspect ratio, size ratio, dome-to-neck ratio, and inflow angle were significant parameters. With multivariate analyses, only the aneurysm dome size and inflow angle were significantly associated with the rupture status of PcomA aneurysms. Conclusions: Morphology was related with rupture of PcomA aneurysms. The aneurysm dome size and inflow angle were found to be the independent parameters characterizing the rupture status of PcomA aneurysms.

Objective: To review and discuss the etiology, diagnosis and treatment C3 of bilateral cervical spondylolysis. Methods: This was a retrospective review of the clinical features, imaginge findings, and treatment of 4 cases of bilateral C3 cervical spondylolysis, with a review of the literature. Results: A 21-year-old woman, a 26-year-old man, a 14-year-old boy, and a 46-year-old man were diagnosed with bilateral C3 cervical spondylolysis. The patients had characteristic bilateral clefts between the articular pillar and the facets of C3, as well as spina bifida on CT. Although spondylolisthesis was not observed, spinal cord compression was definitive. All patients underwent posterior decompression with satisfactory results. Conclusions: C3 cervical spondylolysis is rare condition. The cause is most likely congenital. Diagnosis is dependent on characteristic radiological features. Surgical treatment is the first choice.

The reconstruction after peripheral nerve damage, especially for long-segment nerve defects, remains a clinical challenge. Autologous nerve graft transplantation is an efficient method for the repair of peripheral nerve defects, but the involved complications and shortcomings have greatly limited the clinical efficacy of treatments offered to patients with nerve defects. Thus, there is an urgent need to develop new therapeutic strategies and explore alternatives to autologous nerve transplantation in clinical practice, based on the knowledge of the peripheral nerve regeneration mechanism and biological histocompatibility principles. With significant advances in the research and application of nerve conduits, they have been used to repair peripheral nerve injury for several decades. In this paper, the study background of nerve conduits, their applications in clinic, status of conduit material research and construction of tissue-engineered artificial nerves were reviewed.

Without an understanding of functional musculoskeletal system recovery, the translation of knowledge concerning neurological recovery from laboratory discoveries to bedside applications will be incomplete. Because improvements in neurological function after cell transplantation are minor and can be easily ignored, this article draws attention to the minimal improvements required to allow a spinal cord injury patient or person to live a relatively independent life. These minimal improvements include (1) the key muscle power required for trunk stability; (2) the key muscle power required to allow a paraplegic to walk; and (3) the key muscle power required for hand usefulness or functionality. The system of muscle power grading promoted by the British Medical Research Council (MRC) is more sensitive and delicate than the ASIA Standards, as the latter only accept the full range of movement of a joint. The MRC system seems to be preferable to the ASIA Standards in clinical trials of cell transplantation, wherein minute improvements in function might result in large differences in the quality of life. The threshold of function is a grade 3 power level. Even if all relevant muscles fail to achieve a power higher than grade 3, the patient can be minimally functional and hence relatively independent. These relevant muscles include the latissimus dorsi, hip flexors, hip abductors, shoulder abductors and flexors, elbow flexors and extensors, and wrist extensors. These muscles are innervated by the C5-7 spinal cord segments except the latissimus dorsi, for which innervation extends to C8.

Objective: The local regulations for conducting experimental and clinical cell therapy studies are dependent on the national and cultural approach to the issue, and may have many common aspects as well as differences with the regulations in other countries. The study reflects the latest national aspects of cell therapy in Iran and relevant regulations. Methods: The following topics are discussed in the article including sources of cell harvest, regulations for cell disposal, stem cell manufacturing, and economic aspects of stem cell, based on current practice in Iran. Results: All cell therapy trials in Iran are required to strictly abide with the ethical codes, national and local regulations, and safety requirements, as well as considering human rights and respect. Adherence to these standards has facilitated the conduct of human cell therapy trials for research, academic advancement, and therapy. Conclusions: The cell therapy trials based on the aforementioned regulations may be assumed to be ethical and they are candidates for clinical translations based on safety and efficacy issues.

Objective: This study aimed to use a systematic approach to evaluate the current utilization, safety, and effectiveness of cell therapies for neurological diseases in human. And review the present regulations, considering United States (US) as a representative country, for cell transplantation in neurological disease and discuss the challenges facing the field of neurology in the coming decades. Methods: A detailed search was performed in systematic literature reviews of cellularbased therapies in neurological diseases, using PubMed, web of science, and clinical trials. Regulations of cell therapy products used for clinical trials were searched from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the National Institutes of Health (NIH). Results: Seven most common types of cell therapies for neurological diseases have been reported to be relatively safe with varying degrees of neurological recovery. And a series of regulations in US for cellular therapy was summarized including preclinical evaluations, sourcing material, stem cell manufacturing and characterization, cell therapy product, and clinical trials. Conclusions: Stem cell-based therapy holds great promise for a cure of such diseases and will value a growing population of patients. However, regulatory permitting activity of the US in the sphere of stem cells, technologies of regenerative medicine and substitutive cell therapy are selective, theoretical and does not fit the existing norm and rules. Compiled well-defined regulations to guide the application of stem cell products for clinical trials should be formulated.

Several debates have been raised over the use of stem cells in the field of regenerative medicine. Indeed, stem cell transplantation must follow strict rules. However, to date, many differences exist among different Western and Eastern European countries. This brief review summarizes the state-of-the-art stem cell regulation in Italy, European Union, and Ukraine.