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Recent research reporting successful translation of stem cell therapies to patients have enriched the hope that such regenerative strategies may one day become a treatment for a wide range of vexing diseases. In fact, the past few years witnessed, a rather exponential advancement in clinical trials revolving around stem cell-based therapies. Some of these trials resulted in remarkable impact on various diseases. In this review, the advances and challenges for the development of stem-cell-based therapies are described, with focus on the use of stem cells in dentistry in addition to the advances reached in regenerative treatment modalities in several diseases. The limitations of these treatments and ongoing challenges in the field are also discussed while shedding light on the ethical and regulatory challenges in translating autologous stem cell-based interventions, into safe and effective therapies.
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BACKGROUND: Dental pulp stem cells (DPSCs) hold great promise for utilization in tissue repair and regenerative medicine. Routinely, culture media used for culturing stem cells are supplemented with animal serum for promoting growth and successful maintenance of stem cells. However, there is a growing demand for optimizing a well-defined culture media that could safely increase the efficacy and reproducibility of the cultured cells. In this study, we aimed at optimizing a serum-free/xeno-free culture medium. METHODS: A cocktail of various supplements intended to enrich DPSCs proliferation in defined concentrations was designed. It consisted of recombinant human basic fibroblast growth factor (hbFGF), insulin transferrin selenium (ITS), ascorbic acid (vitamin C), Beta mercaptoethanol and cholesterol. The effect of this optimized media on the proliferation of DPSCs was assessed by MTT assay and flow cytometric analysis (FACS) of early apoptotic marker annexin V. Expression of stemness-related genes (OCT4, SOX and NANOG) was assessed by qRT-PCR. RESULTS: Proliferation results by MTT illustrated a significant increase in the proliferation rate of DPSCs cultured in the proposed media. FACS analysis of annexin V expression was nil. Expression of OCT4, SOX and NANOG genes was also up-regulated. CONCLUSIONS: The proposed combination of supplements utilized in the proposed culture media successfully increased the proliferation potential of DPSCs in addition to enhancing the stemness properties. Thus, it can be considered a promising and safe substitute to traditional animal derived supplements like fetal bovine serum (FBS).
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INTRODUCTION: Tooth eruption, recognized as an aspect of human growth and development, could possibly be influenced by a number of factors. It may reflect the general body development. AIM: The aim of the present research is to investigate the relationship of deciduous teeth emergence with physical growth (weight/height indices). MATERIALS AND METHODS: A study was conducted among a sample of 1132 Egyptian infants whose ages range from 4 to 36 months. The sample was collected from some randomly selected health centers affiliated to the ministry of health where various socioeconomic strata from different geographic localities were recruited. The children visit there regularly for vaccination at definite ages. Weight and height were evaluated as factors that might have influence on the time of deciduous teeth emergence. RESULTS: The results showed a certain degree of correlation between the number of deciduous teeth emerged and the studied anthropometric measurements which differed by sex and age. CONCLUSION: All anthropometric parameters showed relationship with the number of teeth at different levels. Although weight showed influence on the number of teeth emerged, it was less significant than height.
