Ibrutinib reduces neutrophil infiltration, preserves neural tissue and enhances locomotor recovery in mouse contusion model of spinal cord injury.

Following acute spinal cord injury (SCI), excessive recruitment of neutrophils can result in inflammation, neural tissue loss and exacerbation of neurological outcomes. Ibrutinib is a bruton's tyrosine kinase inhibitor in innate immune cells such as the neutrophils that diminishes their activation and influx to the site of injury. The present study evaluated the efficacy of ibrutinib administration in the acute phase of SCI on neural tissue preservation and locomotor recovery. Ibrutinib was delivered intravenously at 3.125 mg/kg either immediately, 12 hours after, or both immediately and 12 hours after SCI induction in adult male C57BL/6 mice. Neutrophil influx into the lesion area was evaluated 24 hours following SCI using light microscopy and immunohistochemistry methods. Animals' body weight changes were recorded, and their functional motor recovery was assessed based on the Basso mouse scale during 28 days after treatment. Finally, spinal cord lesion volume was estimated by an unbiased stereological method. While animals' weight in the control group started to increase one week after injury, it stayed unchanged in treatment groups. However, the double injection of ibrutinib led to a significantly lower body weight compared to the control group at 4 weeks post-injury. Mean neutrophil counts per visual field and the lesion volume were significantly decreased in all ibrutinib-treated groups. In addition, ibrutinib significantly improved locomotor functional recovery in all treated groups, especially in immediate and double-injection groups. Neural tissue protection and locomotor functional recovery suggest ibrutinib treatment as a potent immunotherapeutic intervention for traumatic SCI that warrants clinical testing.

Biological Effects of Magnetic Resonance Imaging on Testis Histology and Seminiferous Tubules Morphometry.

OBJECTIVES: Spermatogenesis is a regular and lengthy process in which the function of testicular cells may potentially be influenced by several extrinsic and intrinsic stressors, including environmental factors such as magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) waves and radiation. Our study aimed to investigate the effects of MRI waves and fields on the testicular histology and morphometry of seminiferous tubules in mice. METHODS: The experiment was conducted on 40 adult Naval Medical Research Institute mice. The control group was located in the center of the MRI bore while it was turned off, while the exposed group was exposed to the active scanner for 36 minutes once a week for three weeks. Our study included four groups: group I (control group at one hour after last exposure), group II (experimental group at one hour after last exposure), group III (control group at 35 days after last virtual exposure), and group IV (experimental group at 35 days after last exposure). We then assessed the tube and lumen diameters, as well as epithelium thickness of the seminiferous tubules. RESULTS: Our data showed that MRI waves partially reduced testicular weight one hour after the last exposure (group II) compared to group I (p = 0.240). On the other hand, in group II the Johnson's score (score 10, complete spermatogenesis and perfect tubules) was 87.5% which was slightly less than recorded in groups I, III, and IV (91.4%, 92.2%, and 90.5%, respectively). Furthermore, the MRI in group II revealed induces vacuolization in the epithelium, arrest in primary spermatocytes in the pachytene stage as well as disruption in the testicular parenchyma. CONCLUSIONS: Long-term exposure to MRI waves has deleterious effects on the male reproductive system, fertility parameters, and the quantity of germ cells in the seminiferous tubules with the exception of the number of round spermatid cells and epithelial thickness. All these effects were reversible after a new period of spermatogenesis.

CMD kinetics and regenerative medicine.

The author's theory of the cell memory disc (CMD) offers a radical and holistic picture of the cell from both functional and structural perspectives. Despite all of the attention that has been focused on different regenerative strategies, several serious CMD-based obstacles still remain that make current cell therapies inherently unethical, harmful, and largely ineffective from a clinical viewpoint. Accordingly, unless there is a real breakthrough in finding an alternative or complementary approach to overcome these barriers, all of the discussion regarding cell-based therapies may be fruitless. Hence, this paper focuses on the issue of CMD kinetics in an attempt to provide a fresh perspective on regenerative medicine.

Cell memory-based therapy.

Current cell therapies, despite all of the progress in this field, still faces major ethical, technical and regulatory hurdles. Because these issues possibly stem from the current, restricted, stereotypical view of cell ultrastructure and function, we must think radically about the nature of the cell. In this regard, the author's theory of the cell memory disc offers 'memory-based therapy', which, with the help of immune system rejuvenation, nervous system control and microparticle-based biodrugs, may have substantial therapeutic potential. In addition to its potential value in the study and prevention of premature cell aging, age-related diseases and cell death, memory therapy may improve the treatment of diseases that are currently limited by genetic disorders, risk of tumour formation and the availability and immunocompatibility of tissue transplants.

Coexistence of multiple arterial variations in the genitourinary system.

Variations in the renal, adrenal and testicular arteries are of clinical significance as well as anatomical and embryological interest. The present case report describes the incidental finding of unilateral multiple renal arteries on the right side with bilateral variant testicular arteries, which had not been reported so far. These variations were observed during routine dissection of the abdominal region in an Iranian cadaver. The upper supplementary renal artery branched from the abdominal aorta and sent superior suprarenal artery to the adrenal gland. The lower supplementary renal artery arose from the main renal artery. Both additional arteries entered the kidney proximal to its hilum. The right testicular artery supplied the right suprarenal gland by an unusual branch. Double testicular arteries were seen on the left side with a relatively high origin from abdominal aorta. The objective of this report is to supplement the knowledge of vascular variations in the renal, suprarenal and testicular arteries that could be quite useful from a clinical point of view.

Biceps sternalis: a Y-shaped muscle on the anterior chest wall.

The sternalis muscle is an accessory muscle located in the anterior thoracic region, which is relatively unfamiliar to clinicians and surgeons. To date, no data from the Iranian population have been published. Here, a rare case of a sternalis muscle is presented. In addition, this anomalous muscle was observed along with other visceral and vascular anomalies. This case is unique and provides significant information to radiologists, angiologists and surgeons seeking to apply safer interventions. It is also imperative for better interpretation of mammographic images and in reconstructive surgery.

The cellular memory disc of reprogrammed cells.

The crucial facts underlying the low efficiency of cellular reprogramming are poorly understood. Cellular reprogramming occurs in nuclear transfer, induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC) formation, cell fusion, and lineage-switching experiments. Despite these advances, there are three fundamental problems to be addressed: (1) the majority of cells cannot be reprogrammed, (2) the efficiency of reprogramming cells is usually low, and (3) the reprogrammed cells developed from a patient's own cells activate immune responses. These shortcomings present major obstacles for using reprogramming approaches in customised cell therapy. In this Perspective, the author synthesises past and present observations in the field of cellular reprogramming to propose a theoretical picture of the cellular memory disc. The current hypothesis is that all cells undergo an endogenous and exogenous holographic memorisation such that parts of the cellular memory dramatically decrease the efficiency of reprogramming cells, act like a barrier against reprogramming in the majority of cells, and activate immune responses. Accordingly, the focus of this review is mainly to describe the cellular memory disc (CMD). Based on the present theory, cellular memory includes three parts: a reprogramming-resistance memory (RRM), a switch-promoting memory (SPM) and a culture-induced memory (CIM). The cellular memory arises genetically, epigenetically and non-genetically and affects cellular behaviours. [corrected].

Abnormal patterns of the renal veins.

Knowledge of the renal vascular anatomy may greatly contribute to the success of surgical, invasive and radiological procedures of the retroperitoneal region. Here, morphometric and histological studies of a human cadaveric specimen presented a complex, anomalous pattern of renal veins. The left renal vein had an oblique retro-aortic course and received two lumbar veins. It bifurcated near its drainage point into the inferior vena cava. The right renal vein received the right testicular vein. In addition, the left kidney was located at a low position. The spleen was enlarged. The present case is unique and provides information that may help surgeons or angiologists to apply safer interventions.

Coexistence of multiple anomalies in the hepatobiliary system.

The co-occurrence of several anomalies in the hepatobiliary system is uncommon. In the present study, hepatic lobe anomalies occurring in combination with hepatic artery and biliary variations were observed in an adult male cadaver. There are no previous reports in the literature on the coexistence of such anatomical variations. Preoperative diagnosis of such coexisting anomalies is very difficult. Hence, a thorough knowledge of these variations will enable surgeons to select the most appropriate hepatobiliary surgical procedure and postoperative management.

Successfully treated stump appendicitis diagnosed by CT and ultrasonography.

Although rare, inflammation of the appendiceal stump can occur and is still an important clinical entity. There has been a recent increase in interest in stump appendicitis. In this study a case of right lower quadrant pain in an 18-year-old man who underwent an appendicectomy 7 months previously is presented. Recurrent appendicitis was noted in an appendiceal stump during surgery which previously diagnosed by CT and ultrasonography.