Reinke's Edema and Risk Factors, A Case-Control Study.

Reinke's edema (RE) is a benign pathological non-inflammatory disorder of the vocal folds with a wide range of clinical manifestations. We aim to investigate the relationship between Reinke's edema and some common inhalant abuse. In this case-control study, subjective consisted of 23 patients with RE (the cases), and 50 patients with sinusitis (control) who underwent surgery in the Department of Otolaryngology, between 2015 and 2020. Demographic characteristics, history of some related disease, methods, and the duration of cigarette, and opium consumption were collected through the patients' files. The chi-square (χ²) test was run to analyze the differences in the categorical and, and the Independent Sample T-test was used to compare two sample means from unrelated groups. A significant level (p-value) was considered less than 0.05. The mean age was 54 ± 12 years, and 42 ± 11 years, respectively for Reinke's edema and sinusitis. More women had been recorded in the RE group, compared to men. Allergy, unprincipled use of voice and talkativeness, history of laryngeal surgery, and type of disease were correlated to RE (p < 0.05). Also, cigarette smoking was significantly correlated with Reinke's edema. The average number of cigarettes per day, the duration of smoking, and opium consumption were more frequent in RE (P < 0.05). 90% of the RE and 4% of sinusitis patients were opium consumers. There was a statistically significant difference in the methods of substance use in the two groups of cases and control (p < 0.0001). Among the different methods, the poker and stone method was the most common (69.6%), and the opium smoking pipe was the second most common method. This study also confirmed the hazardous effects of smoking and inhaling opiates in the formation of lesions of the pharynx and larynx. In particular, longer use of these substances will be associated with more serious side effects. Therefore, it seems that people who are addicted to opiates should undergo periodic visits and counseling to reduce and stop their use.

Bone tissue regeneration by 58S bioactive glass scaffolds containing exosome: an in vivo study.

Exosomes, the naturally secreted nanocarriers of cells, have recently been demonstrated to have therapeutic benefits in a variety of disease models where parent cells are not present. However, the use of exosomes in bone defect regeneration has been unusual, and little is documented about the underlying processes. In recent study we produced and characterized exosomes derived human endometrial mesenchymal stem stromal cells and 58S bioactive glass scaffolds; in following, in this research exosome loaded scaffolds synthetized and release of exosome, porosity and bioactivity of them were assessed. More over the effect of scaffolds on repair of critical-size bone defects in rat's calvaria was evaluated by histological examination and micro computed tomography (µ CT). The findings confirmed that constructed porous scaffolds consistently release exosomes; additionally, in vivo findings including Hematoxilin & Eosin staining, Immunohistochemistry, Masson's trichrome, histomorphometric analysis, and µ CT clarified that our implant has osteogenic properties. We discovered that Exo-treated scaffolds might promote osteogenesis especially compared to pure scaffolds, indicating that produced scaffolds containing exosomes could be a potential replacement in bone tissue engineering.

Kaempferol-loaded bioactive glass-based scaffold for bone tissue engineering: in vitro and in vivo evaluation.

Due to the increasing prevalence of bone disorders among people especially in average age, the future of treatments for osseous abnormalities has been illuminated by scaffold-based bone tissue engineering. In this study, in vitro and in vivo properties of 58S bioactive glass-based scaffolds for bone tissue engineering (bare (B.SC), Zein-coated (C.SC), and Zein-coated containing Kaempferol (KC.SC)) were evaluated. This is a follow-up study on our previously published paper, where we synthesized 58S bioactive glass-based scaffolds coated with Kaempferol-loaded Zein biopolymer, and characterized from mostly engineering points of view to find the optimum composition. For this aim, in vitro assessments were done to evaluate the osteogenic capacity and biological features of the scaffolds. In the in vivo section, all types of scaffolds with/without bone marrow-derived stem cells (BMSC) were implanted into rat calvaria bone defects, and potential of bone healing was assessed using imaging, staining, and histomorphometric analyses. It was shown that, Zein-coating covered surface cracks leading to better mechanical properties without negative effect on bioactivity and cell attachment. Also, BMSC differentiation proved that the presence of Kaempferol caused higher calcium deposition, increased alkaline phosphatase activity, bone-specific gene upregulation in vitro. Further, in vivo study confirmed positive effect of BMSC-loaded KC.SC on significant new bone formation resulting in complete bone regeneration. Combining physical properties of coated scaffolds with the osteogenic effect of Kaempferol and BMSCs could represent a new strategy for bone regeneration and provide a more effective approach to repairing critical-sized bone defects.

Recent advances in electrospun protein fibers/nanofibers for the food and biomedical applications.

Electrospinning (ES) is one of the most investigated processes for the convenient, adaptive, and scalable manufacturing of nano/micro/macro-fibers. With this technique, virgin and composite fibers may be made in different designs using a wide range of polymers (both natural and synthetic). Electrospun protein fibers (EPF) shave desirable capabilities such as biocompatibility, low toxicity, degradability, and solvolysis. However, issues with the proteins' processibility have limited their widespread utilization. This paper gives an overview of the features of protein-based biomaterials, which are already being employed and has the potential to be exploited for ES. State-of-the-art examples showcasing the usefulness of EPFs in the food and biomedical industries, including tissue engineering, wound dressings, and drug delivery, provided in the applications. The EPFs' future perspective and the challenge they pose are presented at the end. It is believed that protein and biopolymeric nanofibers will soon be manufactured on an industrial scale owing to the limitations of employing synthetic materials, as well as enormous potential of nanofibers in other fields, such as active food packaging, regenerative medicine, drug delivery, cosmetic, and filtration.

Exosome loaded hydroxyapatite (HA) scaffold promotes bone regeneration in calvarial defect: an in vivo study.

In this study, hydroxyapatite (HA) scaffolds were synthesized and characterized, following the osteogenic and angiogenic effects of HA scaffolds with or without endometrial mesenchymal stem stromal cells (hEnSCs) derived Exosomes were investigated in rat animal model with calvaria defect. The X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis of HA powder formation was confirmed with Joint Corporation of Powder Diffraction Standards (JCPDS) files numbers of 34-0010 and 24-0033A and Ball mill, and sintering manufactured Nano-size particles. Obtained results containing FE-SEM images presented that the surface of scaffolds has a rough and porous structure, which makes them ideal and appropriate for tissue engineering. Additionally, the XRD showed that these scaffolds exhibited a crystallized structure without undergoing phase transformation; meanwhile, manufactured scaffolds consistently release exosomes; moreover, in vivo findings containing hematoxylin-eosin staining, immunohistochemistry, Masson's trichrome staining, and histomorphometric analysis confirmed that our implant has an osteogenic and angiogenic characteristic. So prepared scaffolds containing exosomes can be proposed as a promising substitute in tissue engineering.

Encapsulation of rat bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells (rBMMSCs) in collagen type I containing platelet-rich plasma for osteoarthritis treatment in rat model.

Osteoarthritis (OA) is the most common form of degenerative joint disease, affecting more than 25% of the adults despite its prevalence in the elderly population. Most of the current therapeutic modalities aim at symptomatic treatment which lingers the disease progression. In recent years, regenerative medicine such as stem cell transplantation and tissue engineering has been suggested as a potential curative intervention for OA. The objective of this current study was to assess the safety and efficacy of an injectable tissue-engineered construct composed of rat bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (rBMMSCs), platelet-rich plasma (PRP), and collagen type I in rat model of OA. To produce collagen type I, PRP and rBMMSCs, male Wistar rats were ethically euthanized. After isolation, culture, expansion and characterization of rBMMSCs, tissue-engineered construct was formed by a combination of appropriate amount of collagen type I, PRP and rBMMSCs. In vitro studies were conducted to evaluate the effect of PRP on chondrogenic differentiation capacity of encapsulated cells. In the following, the tissue-engineered construct was injected in knee joints of rat models of OA (24 rats in 4 groups: OA, OA + MSC, OA + collagen + MSC + PRP, OA + MSC + collagen). After 6 weeks, the animals were euthanized and knee joint histopathology examinations of knee joint samples were performed to evaluate the effect of each treatment on OA. Tissue-engineered construct was successfully manufactured and in vitro assays demonstrated the relevant chondrogenic genes and proteins expression were higher in PRP group than that of others. Histopathological findings of the knee joint samples showed favorable regenerative effect of rBMMSCs + PRP + collagen group compared to others. We introduced an injectable tissue-engineered product composed of rBMMSCs + PRP + collagen with potential regenerative effect on cartilage that has been damaged by OA.

The anti-angiogenic effect of atorvastatin loaded exosomes on glioblastoma tumor cells: An in vitro 3D culture model.

Exosomes are endogenous nanoparticles with a lipid bilayer membrane whose natural function as carriers of biological materials has attracted much attention. The ability of exosomes to cross biological barriers, especially the blood-brain barrier, has highlighted them as tools of drug delivery to brain tumors. In a previous study, we isolated and characterized exosomes derived from human endometrial mesenchymal stem cells (hEnMSCs exosomes). In the present study, we used hEnMSCs exosomes as carriers for atorvastatin and investigated its pro-apoptotic and anti-angiogenic effects on U87 glioblastoma spheroids 3D co-cultured with Human Umbilical Vein Endothelial cells (HUVECs). In the study of HUVEC proliferation by using MTT assay, cell treatments with concentrations of 5 and 10 µM of free atorvastatin and atorvastatin-loaded hEnMSCs exosomes (AtoEXOs) showed significant differences in inhibition of proliferation compared to other concentrations. Also, 5 and 10 µM of AtoEXOs inhibited HUVEC migration in both scratch closure and transwell migration assays significantly more than that of free atorvastatin. In addition, in vitro HUVEC capillary tube network formation was inhibited by 5 and 10 µM treatment of AtoEXOs significantly more that of free atorvastatin. Moreover, a significant decrease in VEGF secretion and a significant increase in Bax/Bcl2 expression ratio were observed in U87 spheroids 3D co-cultured with HUVECs, especially for 10 µM AtoEXOs compared to other treated cell groups. Our results showed that hEnMSCs exosomes loaded with atorvastatin not only mimicked the anti-tumor effects of free atorvastatin but also potentiated its anti-tumor effects on glioblastoma cells. The enhanced pro-apoptotic and anti-angiogenic capabilities of atorvastatin loaded in hEnMSCs exosomes offer promising new perspectives for the treatment of glioblastoma.

Advanced approaches to regenerate spinal cord injury: The development of cell and tissue engineering therapy and combinational treatments.

Spinal cord injury (SCI) is a central nervous system (CNS) devastate event that is commonly caused by traumatic or non-traumatic events. The reinnervation of spinal cord axons is hampered through a myriad of devices counting on the damaged myelin, inflammation, glial scar, and defective inhibitory molecules. Unfortunately, an effective treatment to completely repair SCI and improve functional recovery has not been found. In this regard, strategies such as using cells, biomaterials, biomolecules, and drugs have been reported to be effective for SCI recovery. Furthermore, recent advances in combinatorial treatments, which address various aspects of SCI pathophysiology, provide optimistic outcomes for spinal cord regeneration. According to the global importance of SCI, the goal of this article review is to provide an overview of the pathophysiology of SCI, with an emphasis on the latest modes of intervention and current advanced approaches for the treatment of SCI, in conjunction with an assessment of combinatorial approaches in preclinical and clinical trials. So, this article can give scientists and clinicians' clues to help them better understand how to construct preclinical and clinical studies that could lead to a breakthrough in spinal cord regeneration.

Preparation and characterization of 58S bioactive glass based scaffold with Kaempferol-containing Zein coating for bone tissue engineering.

The aim of this study was to prepare a porous scaffold out of 58S bioactive glass as the bare and coated with Zein to improve mechanical properties and acting as a carrier for Kaempferol controlled delivery. Porosity and morphology, mechanical properties, drug release behavior, bioactivity, cell attachment, and biodegradation of the scaffolds were evaluated accordingly. Obtained results indicated that the scaffolds coated by (7wt/v %) Zein solution, showed the highest mechanical strength (3.06 ± 0.4 MPa) and desirable porous morphology. These scaffolds could support bioactivity, cell attachment, and provide sustained drug release in the safe range of Kaempferol concentration confirmed via 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide analysis. Overall, this study showed that the Zein-coated scaffold possesses superior properties rather than bare scaffold, and the scaffolds coated with 7wt/v % Zein solution could be considered as appropriate scaffolds for bone regeneration.