Evaluation of the healing of critical bone defects treated with nanogel scaffold, platelet-rich plasma and freeze dried bone allografs alone or in combination in the rabbit

Reconstruction of critical bone defects is one of the most important issues in medical science where the use of materials with properties osteoconduction, osteoinduction and osteogenic needs. In some studies, the posetive effect of platelet rich plasma and other studies have reported no effect on the healing of bone defects. Current study also aimed to assess the restoration of critical bone defects treated with platelet rich plasma, nanogel bone scaffold and allograft alone an in combination. In this experimental study, 50 adult New Zealand white rabbits were randomly divided in five groups. After general anesthesia, under sterile conditions to help trephin drill hole size 8×12 mm in the femor of lateral condyl each of the animals created. In control group (G1) the defect was filled by blood clot only. In G2, G3 and G4, inside cavity were replaced nanogel scaffold, nanogel scaffold+PRP and nanogel scaffold +PRP, +FDBA, respectively. At weeks 2, 4 and 8 after surgery, three animals from each group were randomly selected and then sampling of the defect, the bone repair techniques using histological and histomorphometric parameters. Data were analyzed by Kruskal-Wallis and Mann-Whitney U tests and p>0.05 was considered significant. The minimum amount of bone formation between groups was belonged to the control group. The mean bone parameters were significantly different in the second week (p<0.05) and the average of all bone parameters in the G1 and G2 were zero in this week. In the fourth week of the fourth group, mean resorption surface was (83.04±2.65) and mean bone volume was (81,83±4.60). The mean bone parameters were significantly different in the fourth week (p<0.05). In the eighth week of the fourth group, mean resoption surface was (81.61 ±1.81) and mean bone volume was (83.20±1.40). The mean bone parameters were significantly different in the eitghth week (p<0.05). The results of this study showed that the bone grafts combined with PRP compared with none combining them with PRP increases the healing rate of critical bone defects. Also, healing rate of bone defects using allograft is more than with nanogel scaffold. © Medwell Journals, 2016

Myo-inositol effect on pregnancy outcomes in infertile women undergoing in vitro fertilization/intracytoplasmic sperm injection: A double-blind RCT

Background: Myo-inositol is an intracellular mediator which is involved in various aspects of reproduction in women. Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the impact of Myo-inositol on the outcomes of in vitro fertilization (IVF)/intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) cycles in infertile women. Materials and Methods: This double-blind randomized controlled trial was conducted on 70 infertile women referred to the Infertility Treatment Center, Besat hospital, Sanandaj, Iran from May 2019 to September 2019 for IVF/ICSI cycles. The participants were randomly divided into 2 intervention (n = 36) and control (n = 34) groups. The intervention group received 2000 mg of Myo-inositol and 200 mcg folic acid twice a day for 2 months and the control group received 200 mcg of folic acid twice a day for 2 months in the IVF/ICSI cycles (from the third day of cycle until the end of the second month). Finally, the number of oocytes, the quality of embryos, and the IVF/ICSI outcomes were compared between the 2 groups. Results: The mean numbers of oocytes, MII oocytes, and 2 pronuclear embryos were significantly higher in the intervention group than the control group. Also, the clinical pregnancy and live birth rates in the intervention group were significantly higher than in the controls (p = 0.04). Conclusion: The administration of Myo-inositol may increase clinical pregnancy and live birth rates by increasing the number of total and meiosis II oocytes in infertile women undergoing IVF/ICSI. Key words: Infertility, In vitro fertilization, Intracytoplasmic sperm injection, Myoinositol

Effect of Thalidomide on Cox-2 expression in bleomycin-induced pulmonary fibrosis in mice

Introduction: Lung fibrosis is a progressive, fatal disease that is characterized by increasing fibroblasts proliferation and extracellular matrix precipitation. Studies have shown that cyclooxygenase-2 (Cox-2) could play a crucial role in the pathogenesis of lung fibrosis. In the current study, the effect of thalidomide on bleomycin-induced pulmonary fibrosis was qualitatively studied in a laboratory animal model.Methods: Thirty-two adult male C57BL/6 mice were randomly assigned to the following four groups: Group one received 2 mg bleomycin, group two received bleomycin in addition to 4 mg of thalidomide; group three received 4 mg of thalidomide, and Group 4 received 0.1 mg of 0.5% carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) via intraperitoneal (IP) administration. Finally, the expression of Cox 2 protein and the percentage of contact points of alveolar spaces and pulmonary connective tissue were determined. Results: Our results showed that in the Bleo + Thal group compared to the Bleo group, the percentage of contact points of pulmonary connective tissue decreased significantly (P<0.001), while the percentage of contact points among the alveolar spaces increased significantly (P = 0.01). Also, immunohistochemical studies have demonstrated the number of Cox-2 - cells in the volume unit in the Bleo + Thal group decreased significantly in comparison with the group that received only Bleo (P = 0.012). Conclusion: In conclusion, these results suggest thalidomide could alleviate the bleomycin-induced lung fibrosis and decreases the expression of Cox 2 protein

Biological Effects of Magnetic Resonance Imaging on Testis Histology and Seminiferous Tubules Morphometry.

OBJECTIVES: Spermatogenesis is a regular and lengthy process in which the function of testicular cells may potentially be influenced by several extrinsic and intrinsic stressors, including environmental factors such as magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) waves and radiation. Our study aimed to investigate the effects of MRI waves and fields on the testicular histology and morphometry of seminiferous tubules in mice. METHODS: The experiment was conducted on 40 adult Naval Medical Research Institute mice. The control group was located in the center of the MRI bore while it was turned off, while the exposed group was exposed to the active scanner for 36 minutes once a week for three weeks. Our study included four groups: group I (control group at one hour after last exposure), group II (experimental group at one hour after last exposure), group III (control group at 35 days after last virtual exposure), and group IV (experimental group at 35 days after last exposure). We then assessed the tube and lumen diameters, as well as epithelium thickness of the seminiferous tubules. RESULTS: Our data showed that MRI waves partially reduced testicular weight one hour after the last exposure (group II) compared to group I (p = 0.240). On the other hand, in group II the Johnson's score (score 10, complete spermatogenesis and perfect tubules) was 87.5% which was slightly less than recorded in groups I, III, and IV (91.4%, 92.2%, and 90.5%, respectively). Furthermore, the MRI in group II revealed induces vacuolization in the epithelium, arrest in primary spermatocytes in the pachytene stage as well as disruption in the testicular parenchyma. CONCLUSIONS: Long-term exposure to MRI waves has deleterious effects on the male reproductive system, fertility parameters, and the quantity of germ cells in the seminiferous tubules with the exception of the number of round spermatid cells and epithelial thickness. All these effects were reversible after a new period of spermatogenesis. The OMJ is Published Bimonthly and Copyrighted 2019 by the OMSB. KEYWORDS: Fertility; Magnetic Resonance Imaging; Mice; Seminiferous Tubules; Spermatogenesis; Testi

Hydrogen Peroxide Preconditioning Promotes Protective Effects of Umbilical Cord Vein Mesenchymal Stem Cells in Experimental Pulmonary Fibrosis

Purpose Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is a progressive lung disorder with few available treatments. Mesenchymal stem cell therapy (MSCT), an innovative approach, has high therapeutic potential when used to treat IPF. According to recent data, preconditioning of MSCs can improve their therapeutic effects. Our research focuses on investigating the anti-inflammatory and antifibrotic effects of H2O2-preconditioned MSCs (p-MSCs) on mice with bleomycin-induced pulmonary fibrosis (PF). Methods Eight-week-old male C57BL/6 mice were induced with PF by intratracheal (IT) instillation of bleomycin (4 U/kg). Human umbilical cord vein-derived MSCs (hUCV-MSCs) were isolated and exposed to a sub-lethal concentration (15 pM for 24 h) of H2O2 in vitro. One week following the injection of bleomycin, MSCs or p-MSCs were injected (IT) into the experimental PF. The survival rate and weight of mice were recorded, and 14 days after MSCs injection, all mice were sacrificed. Lung tissue was removed from these mice to examine the myeloperoxidase (MPO) activity, histopathological changes (hematoxylin-eosin and Masson\u27s trichrome) and expression of transforming growth factor beta 1 (TGF-β1) and alpha-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA) through immunohistochemistry (IHC) staining. Results Compared to the PF+MSC group, p-MSCs transplantation results in significantly decreased connective tissue () and collagen deposition. Additionally, it is determined that lung tissue in the PF+pMSC group has increased alveolar space () and diminished expression of TGF-β1 and α-SMA. Conclusion The results demonstrate that MSCT using p-MSCs decreases inflammatory and fibrotic factors in bleomycin-induced PF, while also able to increase the therapeutic potency of MSCT in IPF

Effect of Thalidomide on the MMP-2 Protein Expression and Mast Cells in the Lung Fibrosis Induced by Bleomycin in Mice

Introduction and AimsMatrix metallo proteinase-2 (MMP-2) is a family of proteolytic enzymes involved in degrading and remodeling the extracellular matrix and basement membrane. Researchers have shown that Mast cells have an important role in the inflammatory disease including lung fibrosis and they can be as the source of MMP-2 protein. The aim of this research is the examination of Thalidomide effect on the MMP-2 protein expression and Mast cells in the lung fibrosis induced by Bleomycin in mice.Materials and MethodsIn this research, 32 male adult C57BL/6 mices were randomly divided into 4 groups. Mices received in group 1 (Bleomycin) Bleomycin sulfate, in group 2 (Bleomycin+Thalidomide) Bleomycin beside Thalidomide, in group 3(Thalidomide) Thalidomide and in group 4 (Carboxy Methyl Cellulose) Carboxy Methyl Cellulose via intraperitoneum. At the end of experiment, mice’s lung samples were prepared and histological and immunohistochemical studies were performed about them. After the investigation of tissue slides, number of MMP-2 protein expression cells and Mast cells were calculated and results were analyzed by using OneWay ANOVA and Tukey’s test.ResultsHistological and immunohistochemical studies showed a significant increase in the number of MMP-2 protein expression and Mast cells in the Bleomycin group in comparison with the Carboxy Methyl Cellulose group (p < 0.001). But number of these cells in the Bleomycin+Thalidomide group decreased significantly compared to the Bleomycin group (p < 0.001).ConclusionThe results showed that the number of expressive cells of MMP-2 protein and Mast cells decreases by Thalidomide and subsequently reduces lung fibrosis in the mice.* Corresponding Author: Kurdistan University of Medical Science, Department of Anatomical Sciences.Email: [email protected]

Cardiac progenitor cells application in cardiovascular disease

Stem cells (SCs) have special potency to differentiate into different types of cells, especially cardiomyocytes. In order to demonstrate the therapeutic applications of these cells, various investigations are recently being developed. Cardiac progenitor cells are endogenous cardiac SCs that found to express tyrosine kinase receptors, c-Kit and other stemness features in adult heart, contributing to the regeneration of cardiac tissue after injury. This lineage is able to efficiently trans-differentiate into different cell types such as cardiomyocytes, endothelial cells, and smooth muscle cells. Noticeably, several cardiac progenitor cells have been identified until yet. The therapeutic applications of cardiac SCs have been studied previously, which could introduce a novel therapeutic approach in the treatment of cardiac disorders. The current review enlightens the potency of cardiac progenitor cells features and differentiation capacity, with current applications in cardiovascular field

Effect of preconditioning of human umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells with hydrogen peroxide on the therapeutic potential of MSCs in the cyclophosphamide -induced premature ovarian failure mice model

Objective: Exposure of stem cells to sublethal levels of hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) can prevent oxidative stress-induced apoptosis. In the present study, the effects of H2O2 preconditioning on the therapeutic potential of human umbilical vein cord mesenchymal stem cells (hUCV-MSCs) were evaluated in a murine model of premature ovarian failure. Materials and methods: Mature mice were divided into 4 groups, and 10 mice were incorporated into each group. The control (Ctrl) group received phosphate buffered saline (PBS) intraperitoneal (IP), and the CTX group was injected IP with cyclophosphamide (CTX). The CTX + MSC group after receiving CTX was injected with a single dose of hUCV-MSCs labeled with CM-DiI intravenously (IV), whereas the CTX + preMSCs group after CTX injection received preconditioned MSCs with H2O2 IV. Seven days later, the mice were euthanized, and their ovaries were removed for histological studies such as H&E staining and the TUNEL assay. Furthermore, the numbers of CM-DiI-labeled hUCV-MSCs in the different regions of the ovary were calculated. FSH and estradiol values in the serum were measured. Results: Our studies showed that CTX caused degenerative changes and follicular loss in the ovary. The number of follicles in the CTX + MSCs and CTX + PreMSCs groups was significantly higher compared to the CTX group. In addition, in the CTX + PreMSCs group, the numbers of different types of follicles were higher than in the CTX-MSC group. Immunohistochemical studies in the CTX + MSCs and CTX + PreMSCs groups showed little evidence of TUNEL positivity compared with the CTX group. Moreover, the apoptotic index decreased in the CTX + PreMSCs group compared to the CTX + MSCs group. Moreover, CM-DiI-labeled MSCs in the ovary in the CTX + pre-MSCs group were higher than in the CTX + MSCs group. Conclusion: Our experiment offers preconditioning as an effective strategy in stem cell therapy to potentiate MSCs' therapeutic efficacy in ovarian function failure

Investigation of mechanical properties of experimental Bis-GMA/TEGDMA dental composite resins containing various mass fractions of silica nanoparticles

Purpose: Mechanical properties of dental composite resins need to be improved in order to enhance their performance for applications in direct restorations. Application of nanoparticles in this field is a recent development. The aim of this study was to investigate the mechanical properties of experimental composites containing various mass fractions of silica nanoparticles.Materials and Methods: Experimental composites were composed of a visible-light-curing monomer mixture (70 wt% Bis-GMA and 30 wt% TEGDMA) and silica nanoparticles of a size ranging from 20 nm to 50 nm modified with γ-methacryloxy propyl trimethoxy silane (γ-MPS) as reinforcing filler. The composites were classified into four groups according to their filler mass fractions ranging from 20% to 50%. Following the same preparation procedure, a conventional composite was also fabricated consisting of a mass percentage of 60% silica fillers having particle sizes ranging from 10 μm to 40 μm in the same organic matrix, which served as control. Ten specimens were prepared of each experimental group and also of the control. Fracture toughness was measured using single-edge notched bend (SENB) specimens. Specimen fracture surfaces were mounted on aluminum stubs with carbon cement, sputter-coated with gold and examined under scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Flexural strength was evaluated through a standard three-point bending test and Vickers microhardness test was performed to investigate the hardness of the samples.Results: Filler mass fraction had a significant effect on composite properties. Fracture toughness, flexural strength, and hardness of composites at filler mass fraction of 40% of silica nanoparticles were (mean ± SD) 1.43 ± 0.08 MPa.m, 149.74 ± 8.14 MPa, and 62.12 ± 3.07 VHN, respectively; relevant values for composites at 50% mass fraction of silica nanoparticles were 1.38 ± 0.07 MPa.m, 122.83 ± 6.13 MPa, and 70.69 ± 3.67 VHN, respectively, all of which were significantly higher than 1.07 ± 0.06 MPa.m, 104.61 ± 8.73 MPa, and 52.14 ± 4.02 VHN of the control, respectively (Tukey's multiple comparison test; family confidence coefficient = 0.95). Measured values for composites at 20% mass fraction of silica nanoparticles were 0.94 ± 0.06 MPa.m, 103.41 ± 7.62 MPa, and 42.87 ± 2.61 VHN, respectively; relevant values for composites at 30% mass fraction of silica nanoparticles were 1.16 ± 0.07 MPa.m, 127.91 ± 7.05 MPa, and 51.78 ± 3.41 VHN, respectively.Conclusions: Reinforcement of dental composite resins with silica nanoparticles resulted in a significant increase in the evaluated mechanical properties in comparison with the conventional composite. The filler mass fraction played a critical role in determining the composite's mechanical properties