Background: Recently, adipose tissue harvested by liposuction has been identified as a source of processed lipoaspirate cells. The aim of this study was to determine the concentration of processed lipoaspirate cells in adipose tissue obtained by liposuction from different harvest areas in women. Methods: A prospective cross-sectional study was conducted in 25 women in whom liposuction in four or more different zones in the same procedure was indicated. After selective liposuction, the material was sent to the laboratory, where it was processed for extraction of processed lipoaspirate cells, which were separated from the adipose tissue, quantified, and characterized through determination of c-kit expression. The following harvest regions were evaluated: upper abdomen, lower abdomen, trochanteric region, inner thigh, knee, and flank. The cell concentration obtained at each site was compared by analysis of variance for mixed models. Results: A significant difference was found for cell concentration obtained at the different harvest sites. The cell concentration in the lower abdomen was greater than in other areas, but no significant difference was found in relation to the inner thigh. Conclusions: The lower abdomen and the inner thigh may have higher processed lipoaspirate cell concentrations. These sites may turn out to be better sources of adult mesenchymal stem cells.

Transplantation of autologous bone marrow mononuclear cells (BMMCs) has been proven safe in animal and human studies. However, there are very few studies in stroke patients. In this study, intra-arterial autologous BMMCs were infused in patients with moderate to severe acute middle cerebral artery infarcts. The subjects of this study included 20 patients with early or late spontaneous recanalization but with persistent deficits, in whom treatment could be initiated between 3 and 7 days after stroke onset. Mononuclear cells were isolated from bone marrow aspirates and infused at the proximal middle cerebral artery of the affected hemisphere. Safety analysis (primary endpoint) during the 6-month follow-up assessed death, any serious clinical events, neurological worsening with ≥ 4-point increase in National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) scores, seizures, epileptogenic activity on electroencephalogram, and neuroimaging complications including new ischemic, hemorrhagic, or neoplastic lesions. Satisfactory clinical improvement (secondary endpoint) at 90 days was defined according to the pretreatment NIHSS scores as follows: modified Rankin Scale score of 0 in patients with NIHSS 14. Good clinical outcome was defined as mRS ≤2 at 90 days. Serial clinical, laboratory, electroencephalogram, and imaging evaluations showed no procedure-related adverse events. Satisfactory clinical improvement occurred in 6/20 (30%) patients at 90 days. Eight patients (40%) showed a good clinical outcome. Infusion of intra-arterial autologous BMMCs appears to be safe in patients with moderate to severe acute middle cerebral artery strokes. No cases of intrahospital mortality were seen in this pilot trial. Larger prospective randomized trials are warranted to assess the efficacy of this treatment approach.