Objective. Critical limb ischemia (CLI) is the most dangerous stage of peripheral artery disease (PAD). Many basic researches and clinical treatment had been focused on stem cell transplantation for CLI. This systematic review was performed to review evidence for safety and efficacy of autologous stem cell therapy in CLI. Methods. A systematic literature search was performed in the SinoMed, PubMed, Embase, ClinicalTrials.gov, and Cochrane Controlled Trials Register databases from building database to January 2018. Results. Meta-analysis showed that cell therapy significantly increased the probability of ulcer healing (RR = 1.73, 95% CI = 1.45–2.06), angiogenesis (RR = 5.91, 95% CI = 2.49–14.02), and reduced the amputation rates (RR = 0.59, 95% CI = 0.46–0.76). Ankle-brachial index (ABI) (MD = 0.13, 95% CI = 0.11–0.15), TcO₂ (MD = 12.22, 95% CI = 5.03–19.41), and pain-free walking distance (MD = 144.84, 95% CI = 53.03–236.66) were significantly better in the cell therapy group than in the control group (P<0.01). Conclusions. The results of this meta-analysis indicate that autologous stem cell therapy is safe and effective in CLI. However, higher quality and larger RCTs are required for further investigation to support clinical application of stem cell transplantation.

Therapeutic monoclonal antibodies (t-mAbs), such as daratumumab (anti-CD38), are increasingly used in plasma cell disorders including systemic AL amyloidosis. However, their exogenous IgG kappa/lambda components can mimic endogenous monoclonal immunoglobulins in serum immunofixation electrophoresis (IFE), leading to diagnostic challenges. We report a 48-year-old male with biopsy-confirmed lambda-restricted renal AL amyloidosis. After transitioning to daratumumab-CyBorD therapy following CyBorD failure, his serum IFE unexpectedly revealed biclonal bands—a cathodal IgG kappa and anodal IgG lambda—suggesting biclonal gammopathy. Suspecting daratumumab interference (an IgG kappa antibody), we employed mass spectrometry (iMS-LC assay) for definitive analysis. Post-treatment serum showed two distinct peaks (endogenous lambda: m/z 22,718; daratumumab kappa: m/z 23,389), while pre-treatment serum contained only the endogenous lambda peak (m/z 22,716). This confirms daratumumab generates a cathodal IgG kappa band mimicking pathological gammopathy. To prevent diagnostic errors in plasma cell disorder monitoring, laboratories should proactively identify t-mAb interference using historical controls and targeted mass spectrometry.

INTRODUCTION. Low high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) and high low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) levels are associated with incidence of cardiovascular disease (CVD). Alirocumab has been considered as an efficacious, safe and promising therapeutic modality for hypercholesterolemia. The purpose of this study is to compare the differences of the three different doses of alirocumab in patients with hypercholesterolemia. EVIDENCE ACQUISITION. Randomized controlled trials were identified from PubMed, EMBASE, PMC and Cochrane-library databases. The inter-comparison of different doses were performed by subgroups analysis. Meta-analyses were performed by the Review Manager 5.3 and STATA 13.0 software. EVIDENCE SYNTHESIS. A total of nine studies involving 3870 patients were included in this meta-analysis. Alirocumab administered at 75-150 mg every 2 weeks (Q2W) resulted in a greater percent change from baseline in LDL-C concentrations (MD, -55.17; 95% CI: -64.35 to -45.99; P<0.05), and HDL-C levels (MD, 7.70; 95% CI 5.94 to 9.46; P<0.05) than other two doses (300 mg every 4 weeks [Q4W], 150 mg every 2 weeks [Q2W]). There was no difference in achieving the treatment goal of LDL-C (<= 1.8 mmol/L), in other serum lipid parameters (total cholesterol [TC], triglyceride [TG]), and in the incidence of adverse events. CONCLUSIONS. The results demonstrate that alirocumab at a dose of 75-150 mg Q2W should be preferred in patients with hypercholesterolemia.