Comparative assessment of proliferation and immunomodulatory potential of Hypericum perforatum plant and callus extracts on mesenchymal stem cells derived adipose tissue from multiple sclerosis patients

Background Mesenchymal stem cells-derived adipose tissue (AT-MSCs) are recognized for the treatment of inflammatory diseases including multiple sclerosis (MS). Hypericum perforatum (HP) is an anti-inflammatory pharmaceutical plant with bioactive compounds. Plant tissue culture is a technique to improve desired pharmacological potential. The aim of this study was to compare the anti-inflammatory and proliferative effects of callus with field-growing plant extracts of HP on AT-MSCs derived from MS patients. Materials and methods AT-MSCs were isolated and characterized. HP callus was prepared and exposure to light spectrum (blue, red, blue-red, and control). Total phenols, flavonoids, and hypericin of HP callus and plant extracts were measured. The effects of HP extracts concentrations on proliferation were evaluated by MTT assay. Co-culture of AT-MSCs: PBMCs were challenged by HP plant and callus extracts, and Tregs percentage was assessed by flow cytometry. Results Identification of MSCs was performed. Data showed that blue light could stimulate total phenols, flavonoids, and hypericin. MTT test demonstrated that plant extract in concentrations (0.03, 1.2, 2.5 and 10 mu g/ml) and HP callus extract in 10 mu g/ml significantly increased. Both HP extracts lead to an increase in Tregs percentage in all concentrations. In particular, a comparison between HP plant and callus extracts revealed that Tregs enhanced 3-fold more than control groups in the concentration of 10 mu g/ml callus. Conclusions High concentrations of HP extracts showed effectiveness on AT-MSCs proliferation and immunomodulatory properties with a certain consequence in callus extract. HP extracts may be considered as supplementary treatments for the patients who receiving MSCs transplantation

The effects of Nigella sativa ethanolic extract on proliferation and apoptosis of renal cell carcinoma ACHN cell line

زمینه و هدف: سیاه دانه (Nigella sativa) گیاهی ازتیره آلاله٬ علفی، یک ساله یا پایا است. ترکیبات این گیاه دارای خواص ضد سرطانی هستند. این مطالعه با هدف بررسی اثر سایتوتوکسیک و آپوپتوتیک عصاره الکلی سیاهدانه بر روی رشد سلول های سرطانی کلیه انسان رده ACHN و سلول های غیر سرطانی سالم رده L929 انجام شد. روش بررسی: در این مطالعه تجربی غلظت های مختلف عصاره الکلی سیاهدانه در محیط کشت، روی سلول های ACHN و L929 اثر داده شد. پس از 24، 48 و 72 ساعت، تغییرات مورفولوژیک ایجاد شده با میکروسکوپ معکوس ارزیابی گردید. با آزمون MTT اثر غلظت های عصاره بر درصد سلول های زنده هر دو رده سلولی در زمان‌های مذکور، از نظر کمی بررسی شد. بررسی میزان آپوپتوز با کیت فسفاتیدیل سرین با استفاده ار دستگاه فلوسیتومتری مشخص گردید. داده ها با استفاده از آنالیز آماری واریانس یک طرفه و آزمون تعقیبی Tukeyآنالیز شد. یافته ها: نتایج آزمون MTT نشان داد که غلظت های µg/ml 750 و بالاتر عصاره بر سلول های رده ACHN و غلظت های µg/ml 1250 و بالاتر عصاره بر روی سلول های رده L929 موجب کاهش معنی دار تعداد سلول های زنده ACHN و L929 می گردد (05/0P(P. نتیجه گیری: با توجه به نتایج این پژوهش عصاره الکلی سیاهدانه دارای اثرات آپوپتوتیک و سایتوتوکسیک بر سلول های سرطانی رده ACHN در مقایسه با سلول های سالم L929 است. لذا می توان عصاره الکلی سیاهدانه را به عنوان ترکیبی با اثرات سایتوتوکسیک روی سلول های سرطانی در درمان سرطان کلیه پیشنهاد کرد

The effect of heparin after primary percutaneous coronary intervention on short-term clinical outcomes in patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction

Background: Doing percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) in the first hours of myocardial infraction (MI) is effective in re-establishment of blood flow. Anticoagulation treatment should be prescribed in patients undergoing PCI to decrease the side effects of ischemia. The aim of this study is to determine the effect of heparin prescription after PCI on short-term clinical outcomes in patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI). Materials: This randomized clinical trial study was conducted at Imam Ali cardiovascular center at Kermanshah university of medical science (KUMS), Iran. Between April 2019 to October 2019, 400 patients with STEMI which candidate to PCI were enrolled. Patients randomly divided in two groups: intervention group (received 5,000 units of heparin after PCI until first 24 hours, every 6 hours) and control group (did not receive heparin). Data were collected using a checklist developed based on the study's aims. Differences between groups were assessed using independent t-tests and chi-square (or Fisher exact tests).Result: Observed that, mean prothrombin time (PT) (13.30±1.60 vs. 12.21±1.15, p<0.001) and partial thromboplastin time (PTT) (35.30±3.08 vs. 34.41±3.01, p=0.003) were significantly higher in intervention group compared to control group. Thrombolysis in myocardial infarction (TIMI) flow grade 0/1 after primary PCI was significantly more frequently in control group (5.5% vs. 1.0%, p=0.034). The mean of ejection fraction (EF) after PCI (47.58±7.12 vs. 45.15±6.98, p<0.001) was significantly higher in intervention group. Intervention group had a statistically significant shorter length of hospital stay (4.71±1.03 vs. 6.12±1.10, p<0.001). There was higher incidence of re-vascularization (0% vs. 3.0%; p=0.013) and re-MI (0% vs. 2.5%; p=0.024) in the control group.Conclusion: Performing primary PCI with receiving heparin led to improve TIMI flow and consequently better EF. Receiving heparin is associated with lower risk of re-MI and re-vascularization

Clinical & immunological characteristics in systemic lupus erythematosus patients

Background & objectives: Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a chronic autoimmune disease which affects females more than males. Gender affects the manifestations of SLE and men with lupus show more severe symptoms and worse prognosis. This study was aimed to compare clinical and immunological features in female and male lupus patients in Iran. Methods: Demographic, clinical and laboratory data from 78 women and 20 men with lupus were collected. Autoantibodies (against nRNP, Sm, SSA, SSB, Ro-52, CENP, Jo-1, Scl-70, nucleosome, anti-dsDNA, histone and Rib-p protein) were determined using immunoblotting technique. Results: Men with lupus had less anti-SSA (21.1 vs 48.1%) and anti-Ro52 (10.5 vs 44.3%) antibodies when compared to women and none of the male patients had anti-SSB antibodies. Kidney damage was more frequent in men (68.4% in men vs 36.7% in women). In men with kidney involvement, anti-dsDNA increased significantly (84.6 vs 20.0%) in comparison to males without nephritis. Anti-SSA (7.7 vs 50.0%) and anti-nRNP (0.0 vs 33.8%) on the other hand, decreased. Women with renal involvement had no anti-SSB antibodies. Interpretation & conclusions: In male patients, SLE appeared with more severe features, and kidney damage was more frequent in males. The frequency of some autoantibodies was different between females and males. In males with kidney damage anti-dsDNA increased significantly, while anti-SSA and anti-nRNP decreased. Anti-SSB was not detected in males and females with nephritis

Electrospinning of Nanodiamond-Modified Polysaccharide Nanofibers with Physico-Mechanical Properties Close to Natural Skins

Electrospinning of biopolymers has gained significant interest for the fabrication of fibrous mats for potential applications in tissue engineering, particularly for wound dressing and skin regeneration. In this study, for the first time, we report successful electrospinning of chitosan-based biopolymers containing bacterial cellulous (33 wt %) and medical grade nanodiamonds (MND) (3 nm; up to 3 wt %). Morphological studies by scanning electron microscopy showed that long and uniform fibers with controllable diameters from 80 to 170 nm were prepared. Introducing diamond nanoparticles facilitated the electrospinning process with a decrease in the size of fibers. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy determined hydrogen bonding between the polymeric matrix and functional groups of MND. It was also found that beyond 1 wt % MND, percolation networks of nanoparticles were formed which affected the properties of the nanofibrous mats. Uniaxial tensile testing of the woven mats determined significant enhancement of the strength (from 13 MPa to 25 MP) by dispersion of 1 wt % MND. The hydrophilicity of the mats was also remarkably improved, which was favorable for cell attachment. The water vapor permeability was tailorable in the range of 342 to 423 µg·Pa−1·s−1·m−1. The nanodiamond-modified mats are potentially suitable for wound healing applications

Investigating the quality of Isfahan city rainwater under the influence of air pollution in 2018-2019

Background: Air pollution is one of the most important problems facing people all over the world today, especially in big cities. The ever-increasing population growth, as well as the increase in vehicles and the number of industrial factories in the city of Isfahan, have led to this city being considered one of the largest industrial cities in Iran. Therefore, this city is considered the second most polluted city in Iran after Tehran. The city of Isfahan faces the crisis of air pollution on many days of the year, which directly and indirectly affects all aspects of people's lives in this city. Among these impacts is the quality of rainwater in the area, which joins the surface and groundwater in the region and affects its quality. This cycle will continue and air pollution will affect the quality of drinking water, agriculture, respiratory diseases and, in a word, the health of the people in this region.Materials and methods: In this study, the effects of air pollution in Isfahan on the quality of rainwater in the 10th district of Isfahan city were investigated. The quality of rainwater was studied based on the World Health Organization standard for drinking water, APHA standard for running water, Chinese standard for agricultural use, and Iranian standard for drinking water and agricultural use. To evaluate the air quality of the region, the statistics of the Isfahan Meteorological Organization station were used and the meteorological parameters were analyzed based on the American Environmental Protection Agency standards. Results: The results showed that the EC value of rainwater is more sensitive than pH to determine the suitability of rainwater quality for drinking uses, so when considering pH, many samples have favorable quality, but when considering EC value of the same sample, the quality of rainwater is unfavorable. The results of air quality monitoring based on the amount of PM2.5 on rainy days showed that 5 days were clean, 13 days were acceptable, and 6 days were unsanitary for sensitive groups. Conclusion: Isfahan urban runoff needs to be treated for drinking but it is suitable for agriculture. The results showed that the EC of rainwater is more dependent than pH to the rainfall depth. The results show that rainfall with a relatively small depth caused a significant increase in EC of stormwater. This decrease in the amount of precipitation has led to an increase in the amount of CO and PM2.5 in the atmosphere. The amount of rainfall did not affect the pH of rainwater, while with the increase of rainfall depth, the EC of rainwater has decreased significantly. In general, rainfall depth has a significant effect on EC concentration of rainwater. The results showed that in all the rainy days, the amount of CO, SO2 and O3 pollutants are in a clean state

Immunoregulatory, proliferative and anti-oxidant effects of nanocurcuminoids on adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells

Curcuminoids are dietary complexes extracted from the seeds of Curcuma longa L. that contain curcumin, bisdemethoxycurcumin and desmethoxycurcumin. Curcuminoids are popular for their pleiotropic therapeutic functions, such as their anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidant effects. Nonetheless, their clinical use is associated with poor systemic bioavailability and insolubility. The nano-formulation of curcuminoids eliminates these shortcomings. In the present study, we explored immunoregulatory, proliferative and anti-oxidant effects of nanocurcuminoids on adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells (AT-MSCs). Flow cytometry analysis and MTT assay were employed to explore the effects of nanocurcuminoids on the apoptosis and proliferation of adipose-derived MSCs (AT-MSCs). The anti-oxidant effect of nanocurcuminoids on AT-MSCs also was examined. The immune regulatory effect of nanocurcuminoids was evaluated by the flow cytometric measurement of the T regulatory (Treg) population. The expression of inflammatory and anti-inflammatory cytokines was quantified using real-time PCR. Our findings demonstrate that low concentrations of nanocurcuminoids are beneficial for MSC proliferation, protection of MSCs from apoptosis, reducing inflammatory cytokines and SOD activity. A high concentration of nanocurcuminoids increases the population of Tregs and elevates the expression of TGFβ and FOXP3 genes. The beneficial effects of nanocurcuminoids on AT-MSCs were mainly observed at low doses of nanocurcuminoids

Evaluation of the immune-modulatory, anti-oxidant, proliferative, and anti-apoptotic effects of nano-silymarin on mesenchymal stem cells isolated from multiple sclerosis patients' adipose tissue sources

Silymarin (SL) has a long history of use for the treatment of a variety of diseases, but several limitations, such as poor bioavailability and negligible solubility, have restricted its successful translation in a clinical setting. However, the nano-micelle delivery system is a highly reproducible method which capable of improving poor-water solubility and bioavailability of free-SL. Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are multipotent cells proficient in tissue renewal and regeneration. MSCs have similar properties to SL including immunomodulatory, antioxidant, and neuroprotective effects. Here, we show that nano-SL (1 and 2.5) increased AD-MSCs proliferation and protected from apoptosis. Our findings indicated that the levels of anti-inflammatory agents including IL-10, IL-4, FOXp3 and TGF-B mRNA expression were significantly upregulated in nano-SL-treated MSCs along with downregulated mRNA expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines (IL-6, IL-17). We identified that nano-SL elevated the T-regulatory (Treg) population (1 and 2.5 µM) and superoxide dismutase activity (2.5 µM) while decreasing nitrite oxide content. Conclusively, combinatorial therapy by nano-SL and MSCs may be useful for MS patients who are receiving MSCs for treatment