Abstract: The amniotic fluidderived stem cells (AFSC) possess considerable advantageous characteristics including high proliferation potential, easy availability, low immunogenicity and oncogenicity，and accordance with medical ethnics. Moreover, they do not require the sacrifice of human embryos for their isolation and the cells can differentiate into all three kinds of germs. Accordingly，they initiate a new and very promising field in stem cell research and they will be a potential source of stem cells for therapies related to regeneration medicine of cardiovascular diseases. The research about the AFSC utilization in cardiovascular diseases is just started. Though there were some exciting breakthroughs, there still remain many challenges. In the article，we will discuss AFSC characteristics, influence of amniotic fluid harvesting time on stem cells, isolation and purification, emphasizing mainly on the potential of AFSC differentiation into cardiovascular cells, current situation and problems in this field.
To review the latest development of amniotic fluid-derived stem cell(AFS) and to predict its future appl ication. Methods The recent articles about AFS were extensively reviewed. The origin, culture, identification, and directional differentiation as well as future appl ication of AFS were summarized and discussed. Results In 1993, AFS were thought to be exist possibly, and it was confirmed in recent years. AFS have some surface markers l ike other stem cells, and has multi-differentiated potential and extensive future appl ication in cell therapy and tissue engineering approaches. Conclusion As a new stem cell, AFS remains to be further researched.
Objective To study the clinical significance of the microorganism culture result of amniotic fluid in cesarean section in the treatment of anti-infection after operation. Methods From August 2016 to May 2017 in Women’s and Children’s Hospital of Sichuan Province, 502 amniotic fluid samples were collected in cesarean section to carry out bacteria culture. The correlations between the amniotic fluid culture result and the preoperative and intraoperative risk factors and the correlations between postoperative infection and the preoperative and intraoperative risk factors were analyzed. Results In the 502 amniotic fluid samples, there were 131 samples culture-positive. The microbiological culture results of amniotic fluid were statistically different between the puerperae with gestational age<37 weeks and the ones with gestational age≥37 weeks (P=0.001). Postoperative infection occurred in 6 puerperae, in whom the amniotic fluid culture results were positive in 3 puerperae. There was no statistical difference in the occurrence of postoperative infection between the puerperae with amniotic fluid culture-positive results and the ones with negative results (P=0.382). The occurrence of postoperative infection was associated with preoperative infections, gestational age, using time of antimicrobial, and preoperative rupture of membranes (P<0.05). Conclusions The contamination rate of amniotic fluid specimen was high, which was of low reference value to anti-infection treatment after operation. When an extension of anti-infection treatment be carried out after cesarean section, suitable specimens should be selected according to the infection site.