title: Cell-Based Therapies for Lumbar Discogenic Low Back Pain: Systematic Review and Single-Arm Meta-analysis.
abstract: METHODS
  A systematic review and single-arm meta-analysis of clinical trials.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To assess the efficacy of mesenchymal stem cells or chondrocyte in patients with discogenic low back pain.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  There is no previous review evaluated the efficacy of mesenchymal stem cell or chondrocyte therapy in adults with discogenic low back pain.
  
  
  METHODS
  A comprehensive literature search was conducted on PubMed, Ovid MEDLINE, Ovid EMBASE, EBSCO, and Web of Science from database inception through on September 10th, 2015. We included clinical trials that evaluated stem cells or chondrocyte-based therapy in patients with discogenic back pain. The primary outcomes of interest were pain score and Oswestry Disability Index (ODI). We performed random-effects model meta-analyses to assess net changes in the same outcome variables. Heterogeneity between studies was estimated by I statistic.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The initial search identified 1393 articles, of which 6 studies were eligible for this review. The pooled mean difference in pain score from baseline to follow-up points was 44.2 points decreased (95% CI: -61.8 to -26.5, P < 0.001, I  = 99.4%). Meanwhile, the pooled mean difference in ODI from baseline to follow-up points was 32.2 points decreased (95% CI: -41.6 to -22.9, P < 0.001, I  = 99.5%). No related adverse effects were reported by the included studies.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Cell-based therapy is for patients who have discogenic low back pain associated with improved pain relief and ODI. More stringently designed randomized double-blind clinical trials with appropriately determined sample sizes will be needed to confirm its clinical efficacy and safety.
  
  
  METHODS
  4.
authors.affiliation: Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital, College of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Zhejiang, China.
authors.forename: Tao
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.affiliation: Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital, College of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Zhejiang, China.
authors.forename: Hai-Xin
authors.initials: HX
authors.lastname: Song
authors.affiliation: Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Hangzhou Hospital of Zhejiang CAPF, Zhejiang, China.
authors.forename: Yan
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Dong
authors.affiliation: Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital, College of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Zhejiang, China.
authors.forename: Jian-Hua
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Li
mesh_terms: D064987:Cell- and Tissue-Based Therapy; D006801:Humans; D055959:Intervertebral Disc Degeneration / Q000150:complications*; D007405:Intervertebral Disc Displacement / Q000150:complications*; D017116:Low Back Pain / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy*; D008159:Lumbar Vertebrae; D059408:Pain Management; D016896:Treatment Outcome