In Vitro Assessment of Morphology, Proliferation, Apoptosis and Differential Potential of Dental Pulp Stem Cells, When Marijuana Is Added to Nutrients of Cell Culture Medium

Background: Cannabis, commonly known as marijuana, is widely used for recreational purposes. It has stimulatory effect on appetite, so cannabinoid receptor antagonists have been used to decrease food intake and to act peripherally by rising thermogenesis and energy expenditure to control obesity. This in vitro study determined morphological, growth, apoptosis and differential potential of changes in dental pulp stem cells (DPSCs) when marijuana wasadded to nutrients of cell culture medium.Methods: Wisdom teeth extracted were used to obtain DPSCs, while characterized morphologically, by osteo- and adipo-inductions and flowcytometry for mesenchymal properties. MTT assay identified optimal concentration of cannabis extract. Cells were treated with 120 and 1000 ng/mL of cannabis during seven days period, while proliferation, apoptosis and differentiation of DPSCs were assessed.Results: DPSCs were spindle shape and showed mesenchymal characteristics. MTT assay illustrated an increase in cell number until day 5th when DPSCs were treated with 120 and 1000 ng/mL of cannabis, while there was a decreasing trend on day 6th. There was an upregulation of the expression of Bax and COL1A1genes on day 6th when 120 and 1000 ng/mL of cannabis were added to the media in comparison to the control group.Conclusion: The increase in DPSC proliferation and viability when treated with cannabis denotes to its positive impact on cell proliferation during short term period, while a long term exposure to cannabis resulted in apoptosis and a decrease in cell proliferation. These findings reveal an issue of public health concern and alarm for health authorities

Determinants of carbon load in airway macrophages in pregnant women

The airway macrophages carbon loading (AMCL) has been suggested to be a biomarker of the long-term exposure to air pollution; however, to date no study has characterized AMCL for the pregnancy period. Therefore, this study aimed to assess the determinants of AMCL during pregnancy in Iran, a middle-income country. This study was based on a sample of 234 pregnant women with term and normal vaginal delivery who were residing in Sabzevar, Iran (2019). We characterized 35 potential determinants of personal exposure to air pollution for each participant, including six personal, nine indoor, and 20 home-outdoor factors. We applied Deletion/Substitution/Addition algorithm to identify the most relevant determinants that could predict AMCL levels. The median (IQR) of AMCL level was 0.12 (0.30) μm2 with a successful sputum induction in 82.9% (194) of participants. Ambient residential PM2.5 levels were positively associated with higher AMCL levels. On the other hand, increased residential distance to the traffic lights, squares and ring-roads, the duration of opening window per day, and opening window during cooking were inversely associated with AMCL levels. Our findings provide novel insights on the different personal, indoor, and outdoor determinants of personal exposure to air pollution during pregnancy in a middle-income country