The Effect of Listening to the Quran Verses on the Happiness of Girl Students of Junior High School in Borujen

Background: Happiness among students can enhance school performance. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of listening to the Quran verses on the happiness of female students of a junior high school in Borujen, Iran. Methods: In this semi-experimental study, all students of the 2nd grade of the Distinct Governmental Junior High School in Borujen, Iran, were included by census sampling method. Data were collected by the Oxford Happiness Questionnaire completed by the students. Then, the verses of Hashr sura recited by Mahmoud Minshavi were replayed for one week. After this, the questionnaires were completed by the students again. Finally, the data were analyzed by paired t-tests using SPSS 15. Results: In this study, 92 girl students of Junior High School with an average age of 13.57±0.49 were included. The average score of happiness before and after listening to the Quran verses were 60.39±10.69 and 67.58±14.30, respectively. The scores of happiness significantly increased (P<0.001). Conclusion: The findings show that Quran recitation probably increases the happiness of the students. Therefore, by planning to have Quran recitation in schools, the level of students’ happiness can be increased

An Unusual Case of Vulvar Schwannoma: A Case Report and Review of Literature

Background & aim: Schwannoma seldom occurs in female genitalia; with only a few cases being reported in the medical literature. This tumor can present on labia majora, labia minora, clitoris, and vagina. In this study, a case of vulvar schwannoma, which resembled a leiomyoma, is reported.Case report: A 44-year-old woman presented with a history of a small palpable mass located on the left labium. Ultrasonography showed a heterogeneous mass suggestive of a leiomyoma. Subsequently, the patient underwent surgical excision of the mass with clear margins. Histopathological examination confirmed the diagnosis of vulvar schwannoma. The patient was discharged in good condition following the excision.Conclusion: Schwannoma of the vulva represents a rare neoplasm that can be treated by surgical excision. The prognosis is excellent and recurrence is uncommon. Therefore, histopathological assessment is recommended for management of Schwannoma of the vulva

Selegiline Differentiates Adult Stem Cells toward Dopaminergic-Like Neurons: A Comparison between Two Cellular Niches of Hippocampal Neurogenesis

Objective: Neural stem cells (NSCs) are suitable therapeutic candidates. Here, we compare the proliferation rate,differentiation potential, and expression levels of specific markers in two groups of cultured NSCs derived from ratsubgranular (SGZ) and subventricular (SVZ) zones.Materials and Methods: In this experimental study, NSCs isolated from SGZ and SVZ were cultured in α-minimalessential medium (α-MEM) supplemented with 1% penicillin/streptomycin, 10% fetal bovine serum (FBS), 20 ng/mlbasic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF), 20 ng/ml epidermal growth factor (EGF), and B27 supplement. Glial fibrillaryacidic protein (Gfap), p75 neurotrophin receptor (Ngfr), tyrosine kinase receptor A (TrkA), beta-tubulin III (βTIII), andNestin gene levels were compared via reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) in these NSCs.Nestin and Gfap protein levels were compared by immunoassay. Subsequently, both populations were induced with10-8 M selegiline for 48 hours, followed by immunohistochemical analysis of tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) levels. One-wayANOVA and Tukey’s post-test were used with a significance level of P<0.05.Results: Both groups were successfully expanded in vitro and expressed the neurotrophin receptor genes. The SGZNSCshad a significantly higher proliferation rate and significantly higher numbers of Nestin and Gfap-positive cells.Although the majority of selegiline-induced NSCs were TH-positive, we observed more TH-positive cells in SGZ-derivedNSCs and these SGZ-NSCs displayed a shorter differentiation time.Conclusion: SGZ-derived NSCs appear to be a more appropriate candidate for therapeutic purposes based onproliferation rate, neurosphere size, and Gfap and Nestin expression levels, as well as differentiation time and THexpression level after dopaminergic induction

Intravenous Transplantation of Adipose-Derived Mesenchymal Stem Cells Promoted The Production of Dopaminergic Neurons and Improved Spatial Memory in A Rat Model of Parkinson’s Disease

Objective: Parkinson’s disease (PD) is a neurodegenerative disorder described by the dynamic decline of dopaminergicneurons in the substantia nigra pars compacta (SNpc). Stem cell transplantation is a new therapeutic strategy in thetreatment of PD. The objective of the study was to assess the impact of intravenous infusion of adipose-derivedmesenchymal stem cells (AD-MSCs) on memory disorder in Parkinsonian rats.Materials and Methods: In this experimental study, male Wistar rats were randomly divided to four groups containingsham, cell treatment, control, and lesion. The cell treatment group received intravenous injection of AD-MSCs 12 daysafter PD induction by bilateral injection of 6-hydroxydopamine. Four weeks after lesion formation, spatial memorywas examined using the Morris water maze (MWM) assessment. The rats’ brains were removed and assessed bybromodeoxyuridine (BrdU), tyrosine hydroxylase (TH), and glial fibrillary acidic protein (Gfap) immunostaining.Results: Statistical analyses revealed a significant addition and reduction in time spent and escape latency in the targetquadrant, respectively, in the cell group as compared to the lesion group. Also, BrdU-labeled cells were present in thesubstantia nigra (SN). The density of TH-positive cells was significantly increased in the AD-MSCs transplantation groupas compared to the lesion group, and the density of astrocytes significantly diminished in the AD-MSCs transplantationgroup as compared to the lesion group.Conclusion: It appears that AD-MSCs treatment for Parkinson’s could decrease the density of astrocytes and promotethe density of TH-positive neurons. It appears that AD-MSCs could improve spatial memory impairment in PD