in Vitro Effect of Methamphetamine on Proliferation, Differentiation and Apoptosis of Adipose Tissue Stem Cells.

PURPOSE: Among abused substances, methamphetamine is a psychostimulant drug widely used recreationally with public health importance. This study investigated the effect of methamphetamine on proliferation, differentiation, and apoptosis of human adipose tissue stem cells (AdSCs). METHODS: AdSCs were isolated from human abdominal adipose tissue and were characterized for mesenchymal properties and growth kinetics. MTT assay was undertaken to assess methamphetamine toxicity on proliferation and differentiation properties and apoptosis of hAdSCs. RESULTS: Isolated cells were shown to have mesenchymal properties and a population doubling time (PDT) of 40.1 h. Following methamphetamine treatment, expressions of KI-67 and TPX2 as proliferation genes and Col1A1 and PPARg as differentiation genes decreased. Methamphetamine administration increased the expression of Bax and decreased Bcl-2 genes responsible for apoptosis. CONCLUSIONS: Our data suggested when AdSCs were exposed to methamphetamine, it decreased proliferation and differentiation properties of stem cells together with an increase in apoptosis. These findings can be added to the literature, especially when methamphetamine is used recreationally for weight loss purposes.

The predictive association between radiological findings and lung cancer development in patients exposed to sulfur mustard gas: 4 decades follow up of 719 victims.

BACKGROUND: Respiratory diseases are the leading cause of morbidity and mortality in the survivors exposed to Sulfur Mustard (SM). The late abnormalities can be present as chronic bronchitis, tracheobronchial stenosis, asthma, bronchiectasis, airway narrowing, lung fibrosis, and lung cancers. This study aims to investigate the association between radiological findings and lung cancer development in patients exposed to sulfur mustard gas. METHODS: We entered 719 victims exposed to SM during the Iran-Iraq war into our follow-up study in a consensus manner. They were periodically followed with Chest HRCT scans from 2001 to an interval of 2014-2019. The mean year interval between exposure and the last follow-up was 38 years. For confirming the lung cancer in those with evidence of malignancy in their imaging, fine needle aspiration/biopsy and/or surgical intervention were done. RESULTS: Among 719 patients, 57% were free from any pathologic findings in their HRCT scan. Among the subjects who had the abnormal radiologic findings, Air Trapping (AT), Lung Fibrosis (LF), Bronchiectasis (B), and the evidence of lung cancer were found in 265 (36.9%), 207 (28.8%), 151 (21.0%), and 42 (5.8%), respectively. Adenocarcinoma (38.1%) was the most common type of cancer. The right lung was involved more than the left one regarding LF, B, and cancer (p value < 0.05). Considering the laterality, a significant correlation was found between the side of LF and B and the tumor side. Furthermore, it was shown that the lung lobes with LF were statistically correlated to tumor-involved lobes. The relative risk of AT and B existence for tumor development was 11.73 [4.87-28.26] and 10.14 [5.12-20.090], respectively. The most predictive finding was LF which caused the risk of developing tumor 17.75 [7.35-42.86] times higher in the patient with this pathology. By each increment of the number of LF and B, the risk of developing tumors increased by 51% and 76%, respectively. CONCLUSION: In survivors exposed to Sulfur Mustard, those with bronchiectasis and lung fibrosis have a significantly higher risk of developing lung cancers, so a close follow-up of these victims is recommended. Trial registration This study was confirmed by the institutional review board and ethics committee at Shiraz University of Medical Sciences (SUMS) with the ethical code IR.SUMS.MED.REC.1399.637.

Use of Magnetic Resonance Imaging to Assess the Regenerative Effects of Adipose Tissue-Derived Mesenchymal Stem Cells in a Rabbit Cartilaginous Laryngeal Defect Model.

Background: Stenosis and scar formation after repair of laryngeal tissue defects are serious problems that can significantly influence a patient's quality of life. Objective: In this study, we evaluated the use of magnetic resonance imaging to assess the efficacy of adipose tissue-derived mesenchymal stem cells (ASCs) on cartilaginous regeneration in an experimental rabbit model. Methods: Ten male white Dutch rabbits each had a 5 mm cartilaginous defect created surgically in the right and left thyroid lamina. On the right side, ASCs labeled with iron oxide particles were infused. As a control, the left side was left untreated. Repair of the defects were then evaluated by direct observation, histological evaluation, and magnetic resonance imaging monitoring done on days 1, 7, 14, and 28. Results: Histological examination revealed that compared with control, transplanted ASCs significantly increased cartilage regeneration (P ˂ 0.001), reduced inflammation (P ˂ 0.001), and fibrosis (P = 0.050). Magnetic resonance imaging tracking showed accurate placement and viability of the infused ASCs, as evidenced by low signal intensity onT2 weighted images at the level of the right thyroid cartilage. Conclusions: Infusion of ASCs improved laryngeal regeneration of surgically induced cartilaginous defects while decreasing fibrous tissue formation in this in vivo rabbit model. Furthermore, magnetic resonance imaging was shown to be a useful, noninvasive method to track correct ASCs placement and viability in cartilage regeneration in this animal model.

Protective Effects of the Probiotic Bacterium Streptococcus thermophilus on Candida albicans Morphogenesis and a Murine Model of Oral Candidiasis.

Background: Oral candidiasis is a frequent form of candidiasis, caused by Candida species, in particular, Candida albicans (C. albicans). The transition of C. albicans from yeast to hyphae allows its attachment to epithelial cells, followed by biofilm formation, invasion, and tissue damage. Hence, we investigated the effect of Streptococcus salivarius subspecies thermophilus (S thermophilus) on the growth as well as biofilm and germ-tube formation of C. albicans both in vitro and in vivo in a murine model. Methods: This experimental study was performed in the Department of Medical Mycology and Parasitology, School of Medicine, in collaboration with the Central Research Laboratory and the Comparative Biomedical Center, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran (2017 to 2018). The inhibitory activity of S. thermophilus against Candida species growth was evaluated using the broth microdilution method, and the inhibition of C. albicans biofilm formation was measured using the XTT assay. The inhibition of C. albicans germ-tube formation by S. thermophilus was evaluated using the plate assay and fluorescence microscopy. The experimental activity of the probiotic bacterium was assessed by culture and histopathological methods in six groups of five mice, comprising those treated with four concentrations of probiotics, fluconazole, and distilled water. The one-way analysis of variance, followed by a Tukey post hoc test, was used and a P value of less than 0.05 was considered significant. Results: S. thermophilus inhibited Candida species growth at concentrations of 16 to 512 µg/mL. This probiotic inhibited the formation of C. albicans biofilms and germ tubes in a dose-dependent manner. S. thermophilus significantly reduced the colony-forming units in the mice receiving 30 mg/mL of this probiotic treatment compared with the control group (P=0.024). The histopathological analysis showed that Candida colonization was diminished in the mice following the administration of the probiotic. Conclusion: Given the inhibitory activity of S. thermophilus against the growth, transition, and biofilm formation of C. albicans, it could be used in the management of oral candidiasis.

Platelet rich plasma in treatment of musculoskeletal pathologies.

Over the past two decades, platelet rich plasma (PRP) has been available as a biological treatment for healing or regeneration of impaired or non-functional tissues. This manuscript highlights PRP application in the treatment of musculoskeletal pathologies. Data in relation to PRP were gathered using PubMed and Medline database from 1994 to 2019, including in vivo animal experiments and clinical studies. PRP appears to promote pain relief and improvement in joint function and it usage has gained popularity for the treatment of musculoskeletal diseases. Nevertheless, limitations in current studies also need to be taken into account in view of the short term effects of PRP therapy and follow-up studies are needed to confirm the long-term efficacy of PRP. Growing interest in the use of this therapeutic modality for the treatment of musculoskeletal diseases gives new opportunities for further clinical studies on the efficacy of this bioproduct, including the more standardised PRP lysate which contains all the active principles of native PRP, and will become highly popular in regenerative medicine.

Enhancing the apoptotic effect of IL-24/mda-7 on the human hepatic stellate cell through RGD peptide modification.

Induction of apoptosis or quiescent hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) can be an attractive molecular strategy due to the importance of activation of HSCs during hepatic fibrogenesis. Interleukin-24/melanoma differentiation-associated gene-7 (IL-24/mda-7) is a cytokine that has attracted a great deal of attention in the tumor killing as well as pathophysiology of the diseases. In this study, the Pro-apoptotic and senescence inductive properties of IL-24/mda-7 were assessed in human-derived HSCs. Three plasmids expressing natural mda-7, peptide modified version, mda-7-RGD genes beside a recombinant IL-24 protein, were added or transfected into activated LX-2 cells. Cell viability and the amount of apoptosis were analyzed using MTT and Annexin V staining method, respectively. Hence, the expression levels of apoptotic genes and PPARγ in different groups were also compared by real-time PCR analysis. Furthermore, the senescence effect of IL-24/mda-7 by a ß-galactosidase (SA-ß-gal) senescence assay, was evaluated. The viability assessment showed that pmda-7-RGD had the most significant growth inhibitory effect when compared to the control group, pcDNA3.1 (P = 0.0002). The apoptosis analysis also revealed a significant impact of different mda-7 forms in apoptosis induction. The measuring of cell senescence also indicated that IL-24/mda-7 in plasmid and protein forms exhibited a senescence inductive activity as determined by an increase in PPARγ gene expression and beta-galctosidase activity. In conclusion, our findings demonstrated that both endogenous and soluble forms of IL-24/mda-7 induced apoptosis and senescence in activated LX-2 cells and more importantly, fusion of RGD peptide to this cytokine enhanced these activities. So, RGD-modified IL-24/mda-7 could be a suitable candidate for further molecular therapy of fibrosis.

Comparison of the regenerative effect of adipose-derived stem cells, fibrin glue scaffold, and autologous bone graft in experimental mandibular defect in rabbit.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: One of the main concerns for maxillofacial and orthopedic surgeons is finding a method to improve regeneration of large craniofacial bone defects. The aim of this study was to investigate the healing and regenerative effects of fibrin glue associated with adipose-derived stem cells (ADSCs) and fibrin glue scaffold alone with autologous bone grafts in experimental mandibular defects of the rabbit. METHODS: Bilateral uni-cortical osteotomies were performed in the mandible of 20 male Dutch rabbits. The animals were randomly divided into 2 equal groups. In one group, the defect on the right side was treated by fibrin glue associated with ADSCs and the defect on the other side remained as the control. In another group, the defect on the right side was treated with fibrin glue and on the left side with autologous bone graft. After 28 and 56 days, five rabbits from each group were evaluated by computed tomography (CT) and histopathological examinations. RESULTS: Coronal CT showed a remarkable reconstruction of cortical bone in the fibrin glue associated with ADSCs group at 28 and 56 days post-surgery. Histopathologically, new cortical bony bridge formation was seen increasingly in the fibrin glue, fibrin glue associated with ADSCs, and autologous bone graft groups after 28 days. Statistical analysis of the thickness of new cortical bone in the treatment versus control groups showed a significant difference between fibrin glue alone and fibrin glue associated with ADSCs groups (P = 0.02). No significant difference was found between the fibrin glue associated with ADSCs and the autologous bone graft groups (P > 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The healing process had a significant increase in the thickness of new cortical bone when fibrin glue scaffold associated with ADSCs was used.

Leukemia microvesicles affect healthy hematopoietic stem cells.

Microvesicles are released by different cell types and shuttle mRNAs and microRNAs which have the possibility to transfer genetic information to a target cell and alter its function. Acute myeloid leukemia is a malignant disorder, and leukemic cells occupy all the bone marrow microenvironment. In this study, we investigate the effect of leukemia microvesicles on healthy umbilical cord blood hematopoietic stem cells to find evidence of cell information transferring. Leukemia microvesicles were isolated from acute myeloid leukemia patients and were co-incubated with healthy hematopoietic stem cells. After 7 days, cell count, hematopoietic stem cell-specific cluster of differentiation (CD) markers, colony-forming unit assay, and some microRNA gene expressions were assessed. Data showed a higher number of hematopoietic stem cells after being treated with leukemia microvesicles compared with control (treated with no microvesicles) and normal (treated with normal microvesicles) groups. Also, increased levels of microRNA-21 and microRNA-29a genes were observed in this group, while colony-forming ability was still maintained and high ranges of CD34+, CD34+CD38-, CD90+, and CD117+ phenotypes were observed as stemness signs. Our results suggest that leukemia microvesicles are able to induce some effects on healthy hematopoietic stem cells such as promoting cell survival and some microRNAs deregulation, while stemness is maintained.

In vitro differentiation of menstrual blood stem cells into keratinocytes: A potential approach for management of wound healing.

The skin wounds caused by insults should be treated immediately to restore the functions and integrity. Recent studies suggest that stem cells-based therapies may be applicable in wound healing. Newly defined menstrual blood-derived stem cells (MenSCs) show high rate of cell proliferation and trans-differentiation potency to various cell types. However, MenSCs potential to generate keratinocyte for future therapeutic use of skin lesions has been remained to investigate. We cultivated MenSCs in the presence of isolated foreskin derived-keratinocytes using an indirect co-culture system and evaluated efficiency of this protocol to generate keratinocytes using immunofluorescent staining and Real Time PCR technique. Our results showed that differentiated keratinocytes express epidermal/keratinocytes lineage specific markers such as K14, p63, and involucrin at both mRNA and protein levels. Immunofluorescent staining showed the expression of involucrin and K14 in differentiated cells in contrast to undifferentiated cells. Moreover, mRNA expression levels of K14 (11.1 folds, p = 0.001), p63 (10.23 folds, p = 0.001), and involucrin (2.94 folds, p = 0.001) were higher in differentiated MenSCs compared to non-cocultured cells. Therefore, we firstly presented evidence about differentiation capability of MenSCs into epidermal/keratinocytes lineage. Considering the advantages of MenSCs such as great accessibility, these stem cells are promising for stem cells-based therapies of skin defects.

Impacts of Bone Marrow Stem Cells on Caspase-3 Levels after Spinal Cord Injury in Mice.

Spinal cord injury (SCI) is a drastic disability that leads to spinal cord impairment. This study sought to determine the effects of bone marrow stem cells (BMSCs) on caspase-3 levels after acute SCI in mice. Forty-two mice were randomly divided into 3 groups: control (2 subcategories), subjected to no intervention; sham (3 subcategories), subjected to acute SCI; and experimental (2 subcategories), subjected to SCI and cell transplantation. In the experimental group, 2×105 BMSCs were injected intravenously 1 day after SCI. The mesenchymal property of the cells was assessed. The animals in the 3 groups were sacrificed 1, 21, and 35 days after the induction of injury and caspase-3 levels were evaluated using a caspase-3 assay kit. The obtained values were analyzed with ANOVA and Tukey tests using GraphPad and SPSS. Based on the assessments, the transplanted cells were spindle-shaped and were negative for the hematopoietic markers of CD34 and CD45 and positive for the expression of the mesenchymal marker of CD90 and osteogenic induction. The caspase-3 levels showed a significant increase in the sham and experimental groups in comparison to the control group. One day after SCI, the caspase-3 level was significantly higher in the sham group (1.157±0.117) than in the other groups (P<0.000). Twenty-one days after SCI, the caspase-3 level was significantly lower in the experimental group than in the sham group (0.4±0.095 vs. 0.793±0.076; P˂0.000). Thirty-five days following SCI, the caspase-3 level was lower in the experimental group than in the sham group (0.223±0.027 vs. 0.643±0.058; P˂0.000). We conclude that BMSC transplantation was able to downregulate the caspase-3 level after acute SCI, underscoring the role of caspase-3 as a marker for the assessment of treatment efficacy in acute SCI.

Human intestinal sarcocystosis in Iran: there but not seen.

Human sarcocystosis is a rare infection caused by the genus Sarcocystis who human serve as definitive (intestinal form of infection) host or intermediate (extraintestinal form) host for some various Sarcocystis species. The detection of Sarcocystis oocysts/sporocysts in the feces usually incidentally and is achieved by microscopic examination of the fresh or preserved specimens. To rule out any parasitological etiology among 23,875 (aged 2 months to 95 years) apparently immunocompetent Iranian individuals (from October of 2010 to June of 2016) with abdominal discomforts referred to several teaching hospitals and local clinical laboratories in Fars Province, Iran, their fecal samples were examined using light microscopy. Most pathogenic parasite-positive and doubtful samples were sent to the Intestinal Protozoology Laboratories of Fasa and Shiraz Universities of Medical Sciences to further examination to detect probable co-infection with other underdiagnose parasitoses. In addition to the common protozoal and helminthic infections, during the course of examining stool specimens using direct smear mixed with saline or iodine mounts and by formalin-ethyl acetate techniques, four cases of intestinal Sarcocystis infection as only or concurrently infected with other parasites were found. The present paper presents cases of human intestinal Sarcocystis infection in Iran. Since Sarcocystis are small in size and usually rare in stool, they often go unnoticed. It should be noted that stool smears must be examined with great care to avoid misinterpretation of Sarcocystis infections in microscopic examinations. To the best of our knowledge, co-infection of intestinal sarcocystosis and other principal parasitoses in stool investigations has not been reported earlier.

The effect of Aloe vera gel on viability of dental pulp stem cells.

BACKGROUND: Dental pulp stem cells (DPSCs) can play a prominent role in tissue regeneration. Aloe vera L. (Liliaceae) contains the polysaccharide of acemannan that was shown to be a trigger factor for cell proliferation, differentiation, mineralization, and dentin formation. AIM: This study sought to determine the viability of DPSCs in Aloe vera in comparison with Hank's balanced salt solution (HBSS). MATERIALS AND METHOD: Twelve rabbits underwent anesthesia, and their incisor teeth were extracted; the pulp tissue was removed, chopped, treated with collagenase and plated in culture flasks. DPSCs from passage 3 were cultured in 24-well plates, and after 3 days, the culture media changed to 10, 25, 50, and 100% concentrations of Aloe vera at intervals of 45 and 90 min and 3 and 6 h. Distilled water was used as negative and HBSS as positive control for comparison. The cell morphology, viability, population doubling time (PDT), and growth kinetics were evaluated. RT-PCR was carried out for characterization and karyotyping for chromosomal stability. RESULTS: Aloe vera showed a significant higher viability than HBSS (74.74%). The 50% Aloe vera showed higher viability (97.73%) than other concentrations. PDT in 50% concentration was 35.1 h and for HBSS was 49.5 h. DPSCs were spindle shaped and were positive for CD73 and negative for CD34 and CD45. Karyotyping was normal. CONCLUSIONS: Aloe vera as an inexpensive and available herb can improve survival of avulsed or broken teeth in emergency cases as a transfer media.

The healing effect of bone marrow-derived stem cells in acute radiation syndrome.

OBJECTIVES: To determine the effect of bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) on regeneration of bone marrow and intestinal tissue and survival rate in experimental mice with acute radiation syndrome (ARS). METHODS: Forty mice were randomly divided into two equal groups of A receiving no BMSC transplantation and B receiving BMSCs. BMSCs were isolated from the bone marrow and cultured in DMEM media. Both groups were irradiated with 10 Gy (dose rate 0.28 Gy/ min) (60)CO during 35 minutes with a field size of 35×35 for all the body area. Twenty-four hours after γ irradiation, 150×10(3) cells of passage 5 in 150 µl medium were injected intravenously into the tail. Animals were euthanized one and two weeks after cell transplantation. They were evaluated histologically for any changes in bone marrow and intestinal tissues. The survival rate in mice were also determined. RESULTS: A significant increase for bone marrow cell count and survival rate were observed in group B in comparison to group A. Histological findings denoted to a healing in sample tissues. CONCLUSION: BMSCs could significantly reduce the side effects of ARS and increase the survival rate and healing in injured tissue. As such their transplantation may open a window in treatment of patients with ARS.

Growth Kinetics, Characterization, and Plasticity of Human Menstrual Blood Stem Cells.

One of the readily available sources of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) is menstrual blood-derived stem cells (Men-SCs), which exhibit characteristics similar to other types of MSCs. This study was performed to determine the growth kinetics, plasticity, and characterization of Men-SCs in women. During spring 2014 in the southern Iranian city of Shiraz, menstrual blood (5 mL) was obtained from 10 women on their third day of menstruation in 2 age groups of 30 to 40 and 40 to 50 years old. Ficoll was used to separate the mononuclear cell fraction. After the Men-SCs were cultured, they were subcultured up to passage 4. Growth behavior and population doubling time were evaluated by seeding 5×10(4) cells into 12- and 24-well culture plates, and the colonies were enumerated. The expression of CD44, CD90, and CD34 was evaluated. The osteogenic potential was assessed by alizarin red staining. The Men-SCs were shown to be plastic adherent and spindle-shaped. Regarding the growth curves in the 12- and 24-well culture plates, it was demonstrated that in the women aged between 30 and 40 years, population doubling time was 55.5 and 62 hours, respectively, while these values in the women aged between 40 and 50 years were 70.4 and 72.4 hours, correspondingly. Positive expression of CD44 and CD90 and negative expression of CD34 were noted. In the osteogenic differentiation medium, the cells differentiated toward osteoblasts. As human Men-SCs are easily collectable without any invasive procedure and are a safe and rapid source of MSCs, they can be a good candidate for stem cell banking and cell transplantation in women.

The prevalence of dyspepsia symptoms and its correlation with the quality of life among Qashqai Turkish migrating nomads in Fars Province, Southern Iran.

OBJECTIVES: To determine the prevalence of dyspepsia and its correlation with quality of life in Fars Qashqai Turkish migrating nomads from Southern Iran. METHODS: During 2010 we enrolled 397 Qashqai migrating nomads from Southern Iran who were 25 years of age or older. Participants completed a questionnaire that consisted of demographic factors, lifestyle data, gastrointestinal symptoms, and the Short-Form 36 Health Survey (SF-36) questionnaire. RESULTS: There was a 48% prevalence of dyspepsia symptoms among participants. The prevalence was higher among females, those less than 35 years of age, married participants, and those with a low body mass index (BMI). The correlation between dyspepsia and quality of life was significant. Dyspeptic patients were classified into ulcer-like (27.9%), dysmotility-like (26.2%), and unspecified (45.9%) groups. A significant correlation existed between dyspepsia symptoms and consumption of dairy products, drinking water and tea before and after meals, smoking, dysphagia, reflux, heartburn, and use of non-steroid anti-inflammatory drugs and acetaminophen. CONCLUSION: The high prevalence of dyspepsia in Qashqai nomads necessitates educational health programs for the migrating tribes in order to decrease prevalence of this disease.

Bioengineered larynx and vocal folds: where are we today? A review.

The larynx is responsible for breathing, producing sound, and protecting the trachea against food aspiration through the cough reflex. Nowadays, scaffolding surgery has made it easier to regenerate damaged tissues by facilitating the influx of cells and growth factors. This review provides a comprehensive overview of the current knowledge on tissue engineering of the larynx and vocal folds. It also discusses the achievements and challenges of data sources. In conducting a literature search for relevant papers, we included 68 studies from January 2000 to November 2023, sourced from PubMed and Scholar Google databases. We found a need for collaboration between voice care practitioners, voice scientists, bioengineers, chemists, and biotechnologists to develop safe and clinically valid solutions for patients with laryngeal and vocal fold injuries. It is crucial for patients to be knowledgeable about the available choices of laryngeal tissue engineering for successful tissue repair. Although few human trials have been conducted, future works should build upon previously completedin-vivostudies in an effort to move towards more human models.

Mesenchymal Stem Cells in Regenerative Medicine, Possible Applications in The Restoration of Spermatogenesis: A Review.

Infertility is a common clinical condition and about half of the major causes are due to male-related infertility. Pathogenesis of this abnormality is generally undefined; so establishing a proper treatment option is relatively uncertain. In recent years, several evidences demonstrated that mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) can be a hope for innovative and efficient treatment of male infertility. This study reviews possible applications of MSCs in the restoration of spermatogenesis in male infertility of both humans and animals to suggest new avenues for future clinical practices. Articles published in "PubMed" and "Google Scholar" from January 1, 2000, to August 1, 2023, were investigated by searching items of "mesenchymal stem cells", "cell therapy", "cell transplantation", and, "regenerative medicine" keywords, in addition to the "urology", "andrology", "reproductive medicine", "male infertility", "azoospermia", and "spermatogenesis". The results obtained from the transplantation of MSCs in the treatment of male infertility seemed encouraging and they revealed the safety and efficacy of these cells to recover spermatogenesis; eventhough further stem cell research is still required before recruiting clinical application of MSCs in the treatment of human male infertility. Undertaking more well-defined, standardized, and reproducible protocols and enrolling larger sample sizes during a longer follow-up period can benefit the relevance of MSC transplantation in the restoration of spermatogenesis and treatment of male infertility. It seems that developing and utilizing stem cell transplantations, exosomes, scaffold delivery systems, and three dimensional (3D) culture methods may open a new window to getting more benefits from cell therapy in the treatment of men infertility.

Tissue engineering in otology: a review of achievements.

Tissue engineering application in otology spans a distance from the pinna to auditory nerve covered with specialized tissues and functions such as sense of hearing and aesthetics. It holds the potential to address the barriers of lack of donor tissue, poor tissue match, and transplant rejection through provision of new and healthy tissues similar to the host and possesses the capacity to renew, to regenerate, and to repair in-vivo and was shown to be a bypasses for any need to immunosuppression. This review aims to investigate the application of tissue engineering in otology and to evaluate the achievements and challenges in external, middle and inner ear sections. Since gaining the recent knowledge and training on use of different scaffolds is essential for otology specialists and who look for the recovery of ear function and aesthetics of patients, it is shown in this review how utilizing tissue engineering and cell transplantation, regenerative medicine can provide advancements in hearing and ear aesthetics to fit different patients' needs.

Regenerative medicine by utilizing tissue engineering and cell transplantation was shown to provide advancements in hearing and ear aesthetics to fit different patients' needs.Gaining the necessary knowledge and training on use of different scaffolds is essential for otology specialists and patients who search for hearing and ear aesthetics.It is crucial that patients are instructed for differences exist between various scaffolds for hearing and ear aesthetics.

The effect of topical magnesium on healing of pre-clinical burn wounds.

BACKGROUND: Magnesium (Mg) is an essential factor in the healing process. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of Mg creams on healing burn wounds in the rat model. METHODS: To induce burns under general anaesthesia, a 2 × 2 cm2, 100 °C plate was placed for 12 s between the scapulas in 100 male adult Sprague Dawley rats. Animals were divided into five groups (n = 20); positive control (induced burn without treatment); vehicle control (received daily Eucerin cream base topically); comparative control (induced burn and treated daily with Alpha burn cream topically); Treatment 1 and 2 (received daily Mg cream 2% and 4% topically, respectively). All animals were bled for hematological assessment of malondialdehyde (MDA) and TNF-α and sacrificed on days 0, 1, 7, 14, and 21 after interventions for biomechanical, histological, and stereological studies. RESULTS: Stereologically speaking, in treatment groups an increase in dermal collagen volume and fibroblasts was noticed. In treatment groups, the length of vessels, angiogenesis, and skin stretch increased, but the wound area, MDA, and TNF-α level decreased. CONCLUSION: Mg cream was effective in healing burns.

The impact of acemannan, an extracted product from Aloe vera, on proliferation of dental pulp stem cells and healing of mandibular defects in rabbits.

OBJECTIVES: Dental pulp stem cells (DPSCs) were shown to play an important role in regenerative medicine including reconstruction of various bone lesions. This study determined the impact of acemannan, an extracted product from Aloe vera, on in vitro proliferation of DPSCs and in vivo healing of mandibular defects in rabbits. METHODS: DPSCs were isolated and characterized. The growth kinetics of cells exposed to acemannan (8 mg/mL) and Hank's balanced salt solution (HBSS) were compared in vitro. Fifteen male rabbits were divided into 3 groups. Five animals were left as control group without any therapeutic intervention. Five rabbits were considered as experimental group 1 and received 20 µL of a cell suspension containing 106 DPSCs in the bone defect. Another 5 rabbits were regarded as experimental group 2 and were injected in the bone defect with 20 µL of a cell suspension containing 106 DPSCs treated with acemannan for 24 h. After 60 days, the animals were assessed by radiography and histologically. RESULTS: The mesenchymal properties of DPSCs were confirmed. Population doubling time (PDT) of DPSCs treated with acemannan (29.8 h) was significantly shorter than cells were just exposed to HBSS (45.9 h). DPSCs together with acemannan could significantly accelerate the healing process and osteogenesis in mandibular defects. CONCLUSIONS: As DPSCS showed an increased proliferation when treated with acemannan and accelerated the healing process in mandibular defects, these findings can open a new avenue in dentistry regenerative medicine when remedies of bone defects are targeted.