Development of Eco-Friendly Concrete Mix Using Recycled Aggregates: Structural Performance and Pore Feature Study Using Image Analysis.

The shortage of natural aggregates has compelled the developers to devote their efforts to finding alternative aggregates. On the other hand, demolition waste from old constructions creates huge land acquisition problems and environmental pollution. Both these problems can be solved by recycling waste materials. The current study aims to use recycled brick aggregates (RBA) to develop eco-friendly pervious concrete (PC) and investigate the new concrete's structural performance and pore structure distributions. Through laboratory testing and image processing techniques, the effects of replacement ratio (0%, 20%, 40%, 60%, 80%, and 100%) and particle size (4.75 mm, 9.5 mm, and 12.5 mm) on both structural performance and pore feature were analyzed. The obtained results showed that the smallest aggregate size (size = 4.75 mm) provides the best strength compared to the large sizes. The image analysis method has shown the average pore sizes of PC mixes made with smaller aggregates (size = 4.75 mm) as 1.8-2 mm, whereas the mixes prepared with an aggregate size of 9.5 mm and 12.5 mm can provide pore sizes of 2.9-3.1 mm and 3.7-4.2 mm, respectively. In summary, the results confirmed that 40-60% of the natural aggregates could be replaced with RBA without influencing both strength and pore features

Sinusoidal obstruction syndrome/veno-occlusive disease: current situation and perspectives—a position statement from the European Society for Blood and Marrow Transplantation (EBMT)

Sinusoidal obstruction syndrome or veno-occlusive disease (SOS/VOD) is a potentially life-threatening complication of hematopoietic SCT (HSCT). This review aims to highlight, on behalf of the European Society for Blood and Marrow Transplantation, the current knowledge on SOS/VOD pathophysiology, risk factors, diagnosis and treatments. Our perspectives on SOS/VOD are (i) to accurately identify its risk factors; (ii) to define new criteria for its diagnosis; (iii) to search for SOS/VOD biomarkers and (iv) to propose prospective studies evaluating SOS/VOD prevention and treatment in adults and children

Public awareness of blood donation in Central Saudi Arabia

Mostafa A Abolfotouh,1,2 Mohammed H Al-Assiri,1 Manar Al-Omani,2 Alwaleed Al Johar,3 Abdulaziz Al Hakbani,3 Ahmed S Alaskar1,2 1King Abdullah International Medical Research Center, 2King Saud bin-Abdulaziz University for Health Sciences, 3College of Medicine, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia Introduction: In Saudi Arabia, voluntary donors are the only source of blood donation. The aim of this study was to assess the level of public knowledge and attitude toward blood donation in Saudi Arabia. Methods: Using a previously validated questionnaire that comprises 38 questions to assess the levels of knowledge, attitudes, and motivations towards blood donation, 469 Saudi adults who attended different shopping malls in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia were surveyed. Multiple regression analyses were used to identify the significant predictors of blood donation, with the significance set at P<0.05. Results: Approximately half of all subjects (53.3%) reported that they had previously donated blood, 39% of whom had donated more than once. The knowledge percentage mean score was 58.07%, denoting a poor level of knowledge, with only 11.9% reporting a good level of knowledge. The attitude percentage mean score towards donation was 75.45%, reflecting a neutral attitude towards donating blood, with 31.6% reporting a positive attitude. Donation was significantly more prevalent among males than females (66% versus 13.3%; P<0.001). After adjustment for confounders, a higher knowledge score (t=2.59; P=0.01), a higher attitude score (t=3.26; P=0.001), and male sex (t=10.45; P<0.001) were significant predictors of blood donation. An inability to reach the blood donation centers and a fear of anemia were the main reasons for females not donating blood (49.9% and 35.7%, respectively), whereas a lack of time was the main reason for males (59.5%). Conclusion: Prevalence of blood donation was less than satisfactory among the Saudi public, probably due to misconceptions, poor knowledge, and unfavorable attitude to donation. Educational programs are necessary to increase the level of knowledge and improve the attitude of the Saudi public toward blood donation. Providing mobile blood collection units nearer to individuals' places of work to reduce their time costs of donating is a necessity. Keywords: knowledge, attitude, practice, blood donation, significant predictors, Saudi Arabi

Synthesis and Biological Evaluation of New Pyridone-Annelated Isoindigos as Anti-Proliferative Agents

A selected set of substituted pyridone-annelated isoindigos 3a–f has been synthesized via interaction of 5- and 6-substituted oxindoles 2a–f with 6-ethyl-1,2,9-trioxopyrrolo[3,2-f]quinoline-8-carboxylic acid (1) in acetic acid at reflux. Among these isoindigos, the 5\u27-chloro and 5\u27-bromo derivatives 3b and 3d show strong and selective antiproliferative activities against a panel of human hematological and solid tumor cell-lines, but not against noncancerous cells, suggesting their potential use as anticancer agents. In all the tested cell lines, compound 3b was a 25%–50% more potent inhibitor of cell growth than 3d, suggesting the critical role of the substitution at 5\u27-position of the benzo-ring E. The IC50 values after 48 hours incubation with the 5\u27-chloro compound 3b were 6.60 µM in K562, 8.21 µM in THP-1, 8.97 µM in HepG2, 11.94 µM in MCF-7 and 14.59 µM in Caco-2 cancer cells, while the IC50 values in noncancerous HEK-293 and L-929 were 30.65 µM and 40.40 µM, respectively. In addition, compound 3b induced higher levels apoptosis in K562 cells than 3d, as determined by annexin V/7-AAD flowcytometry analysis. Therefore, further characterization of the antitproliferative mechanisms of compounds 3b and 3d may provide a novel chemotherapeutic agents

Preconditioning by Hydrogen Peroxide Enhances Multiple Properties of Human Decidua Basalis Mesenchymal Stem/Multipotent Stromal Cells

Stem cell-based therapies rely on stem cell ability to repair in an oxidative stress environment. Preconditioning of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) to a stress environment has beneficial effects on their ability to repair injured tissues. We previously reported that MSCs from the decidua basalis (DBMSCs) of human placenta have many important cellular functions that make them potentially useful for cell-based therapies. Here, we studied the effect of DBMSC preconditioning to a stress environment. DBMSCs were exposed to various concentrations of hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), and their functions were then assessed. DBMSC expression of immune molecules after preconditioning was also determined. DBMSC preconditioning with H2O2 enhanced their proliferation, colonogenicity, adhesion, and migration. In addition, DBMSCs regardless of H2O2 treatment displayed antiangiogenic activity. H2O2 preconditioning also increased DBMSC expression of genes that promote cellular functions and decreased the expression of genes, which have opposite effect on their functions. Preconditioning also reduced DBMSC expression of IL-1β, but had no effects on the expression of other immune molecules that promote proliferation, adhesion, and migration. These data show that DBMSCs resist a toxic environment, which adds to their potential as a candidate stem cell type for treating various diseases in hostile environments

Human chorionic villous mesenchymal stem/stromal cells protect endothelial cells from injury induced by high level of glucose

BACKGROUND: Mesenchymal stem/stromal cells derived from chorionic villi of human term placentae (pMSCs) protect human endothelial cells from injury induced by hydrogen peroxide (H2O2). In diabetes, elevated levels of glucose (hyperglycaemia) induce H2O2 production, which causes the endothelial dysfunction that underlies the enhanced immune responses and adverse complications associated with diabetes, which leads to thrombosis and atherosclerosis. In this study, we examined the ability of pMSCs to protect endothelial cell functions from the negative impact of high level of glucose. METHODS: pMSCs isolated from the chorionic villi of human term placentae were cultured with endothelial cells isolated from human umbilical cord veins in the presence of glucose. Endothelial cell functions were then determined. The effect of pMSCs on gene expression in glucose-treated endothelial cells was also determined. RESULTS: pMSCs reversed the effect of glucose on key endothelial cell functions including proliferation, migration, angiogenesis, and permeability. In addition, pMSCs altered the expression of many genes that mediate important endothelial cell functions including survival, apoptosis, adhesion, permeability, and angiogenesis. CONCLUSIONS: This is the first comprehensive study to provide evidence that pMSCs protect endothelial cells from glucose-induced damage. Therefore, pMSCs have potential therapeutic value as a stem cell-based therapy to repair glucose-induced vascular injury and prevent the adverse complications associated with diabetes and cardiovascular disease. However, further studies are necessary to reveal more detailed aspects of the mechanism of action of pMSCs on glucose-induced endothelial damage in vitro and in vivo

Phenotypic and Functional Characterization of Mesenchymal Stem/Multipotent Stromal Cells from Decidua Basalis of Human Term Placenta

Mesenchymal stem cell (MSC) therapies for the treatment of diseases associated with inflammation and oxidative stress employ primarily bone marrow MSCs (BMMSCs) and other MSC types such as MSC from the chorionic villi of human term placentae (pMSCs). These MSCs are not derived from microenvironments associated with inflammation and oxidative stress, unlike MSCs from the decidua basalis of the human term placenta (DBMSCs). DBMSCs were isolated and then extensively characterized. Differentiation of DBMSCs into three mesenchymal lineages (adipocytes, osteocytes, and chondrocytes) was performed. Real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and flow cytometry techniques were also used to characterize the gene and protein expression profiles of DBMSCs, respectively. In addition, sandwich enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was performed to detect proteins secreted by DBMSCs. Finally, the migration and proliferation abilities of DBMSCs were also determined. DBMSCs were positive for MSC markers and HLA-ABC. DBMSCs were negative for hematopoietic and endothelial markers, costimulatory molecules, and HLA-DR. Functionally, DBMSCs differentiated into three mesenchymal lineages, proliferated, and migrated in response to a number of stimuli. Most importantly, these cells express and secrete a distinct combination of cytokines, growth factors, and immune molecules that reflect their unique microenvironment. Therefore, DBMSCs could be attractive, alternative candidates for MSC-based therapies that treat diseases associated with inflammation and oxidative stress