Potential Use of Umbilical Cord Mesenchymal Stem Cells for Improving Patients with COVID-19: A Review

The SARS-CoV-2 virus is a member of the coronavirus family that caused the COVID-19 respiratory disease epidemic in China before the global pandemic of the disease in late 2019. The virus's genome is of 79% similarity to that of the SARS-CoV virus, using the ACE2 receptor to enter its target cells. The most common symptoms of this disease include fever, cough, pulmonary involvement, and sometimes gastrointestinal symptoms. A decline in both the number and function of lymphocytes and a severe increase in leukocyte inflammatory activity are among the most obvious immunological complications of this disease. If the immune system response to the virus is inadequate, the disease can become acute. Immune cells activity leads to a sharp increase in the number of blood cytokines, causing "cytokine storm," which in turn can cause systematic damages to the heart, lungs, and kidneys, and ultimately may lead to death. Mesenchymal stem cell therapy offers a promising approach to reducing the destructive impacts of infection in patients with COVID-19. Mesenchymal stem cells can secrete immune-modulating factors that suppress cytokine storms. Furthermore, the role of mesenchymal stem cells in preventing cell death and inhibiting tissue fibrosis has been well demonstrated. This review shows available clinical trials that have tapped into the therapeutic potential of the umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells in patients with COVID-19. *Corresponding Author: Seyed Hadi Mousavi; Email: [email protected]; ORCID iD: 0000-0002-0163-5839 Please cite this article as: Motallebzadeh Khanmiri J, Khani-Eshratabadi M, Nasirzadeh A, Nematzade M, Talebpour M, Mousavi H. Potential Use of Umbilical Cord Mesenchymal Stem Cells for the Improving Patients with COVID-19. Arch Med Lab Sci. 2021;7:1-12 (e20). https://doi.org/10.22037/amls.v7.3537

The Comparison of Composition and Biological Activities in Wild and Cultivated of Thymus kotschyanus Essential Oils and Methanolic Extracts From East Azarbayjan, Iran

Objective: The gathering of wild type Thymus kotschyanus as medicinal plant is common in Iran because of their several biological properties which caused destruction of them. The aim of this research was to compare the chemical composition, antioxidant and antibacterial properties of wild and cultivated type of T. kotschyanus collected from East Azarbayjan, Iran. Material and Methods: The essential oils (EOs) from aerial parts of wild and cultivated T. kotschyanus were investigated by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS). Antibacterial activity of (EOs) and methanol extracts were tested against bacteria by disc diffusion method and determining of their minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) values by agar dilution method and antioxidant activity by DPPH and FRAP assays. Results: Thirty-five components were identified representing more than 90% of the total oil constituents. The oils were dominated by monoterpene hydrocarbons (50.2%) for wild type and oxygenated monoterpenes (63.38%) for cultivated type. The major components in the oils of the wild type were; thymol (29.96%), p-cymene (21.35%) and α-pinene (12.72%) and for the cultivated type were; thymol (47.48%) and α-pinene (5.49%). The MIC values of bacterial strains, which were sensitive to the EO of T. kotschyanus, were in the range of 2-128 μg/mL in wild type and 2-16 μg/mL in cultivated type. Conclusion: Our data shows that, cultivation significantly affects the EOs’ chemical composition and antioxidant potential of T. kotschyanus. They signify a reasonable source of natural antibacterial substances that exhibited potential as a drug for use in pathogenic bacteria

Growth and chondrogenic differentiation of mesenchymal stem cells derived from human adipose tissue on chitosan scaffolds

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Treatment of cartilage damage for any reason is associated with temporary relief of joint pain. Providing the possibility of differentiating various stem cells into adult tissues can contribute to recovery and treatment of damaged cartilage tissue in skeletal system. In this study, chondrogenic potential of chitosan scaffold, CH-β-GP-HEC, with stem cells derived from human adipose tissue. METHODS: In this cross-sectional study, adipose tissue-derived stem cells were separated from abdomen of 15 patients who underwent inguinal hernia repair. 6-7×105 cells were cultured in plate one-dimensionally and on chitosan scaffold three-dimensionally for 21 days. MTT assay was run to evaluate the toxic effect of scaffold on cell viability. Proliferation and differentiation of cells were studied in the two types of culture after toluidine blue staining. To confirm the formation of cartilage, expression of collagen type II was assessed by immunohistochemistry. FINDING: In MTT assay, the average OD for cells cultured on scaffold is higher than 0. 8 compared with control group, which confirms the nontoxicity of scaffold for culturing stem cells (p>0. 05). Chondrogenic differentiation of cells on scaffold shows more glycosaminoglycan deposition in the extracellular matrix compared with one-layer culture. Moreover, in group with three-dimensional culture system, cells were spherical and the morphology of nucleus was different from one-layer culture. Regarding immunohistochemistry results, increased synthesis was observed in collagen type II as chondrogenesis markers in three-dimensional culture system compared with one-layer culture. CONCLUSION: Results of the study revealed that hydrogel scaffold, CH-β-GP-HEC, with porous structure provides a better environment for the growth of mesenchymal stem cells and their differentiation into cartilage tissue. © 2016, Babol University of Medical Sciences. All rights reserved

A study of the association between cognitive abilities and dietary intake in young women

Background: Cognitive abilities comprise activities that relate to receiving and responding to information from the environment, internal processing, making complex decisions, and then responding to this in the context of behavior. Aim: The current study investigated the association between dietary intake and seven aspects of cognitive abilities among healthy young women. Methods: The study was carried out among 182 women aged 18–25 years. A valid and reliable food frequency questionnaire containing 65 food items was used to estimate dietary intake. Neuropsychological function and cognitive abilities of participants were determined using standard questionnaires. Results: Significant differences were found in depression, anxiety, stress, physical, and mental health-related quality of life as well as daytime sleepiness for the participants in different quartiles of cognitive abilities score (p<0.05). Participants in the fourth quartile of cognitive abilities score consumed significantly higher energy, carbohydrate, protein, calcium, iron, zinc, vitamin A, thiamin, and riboflavin compared to those in the lowest quartile (p<0.05). There were strong correlations between total cognitive abilities score and dietary sodium, calcium, phosphorus, and thiamin (p<0.05). Using stepwise multiple linear regression analysis, iron and thiamin were statistically significant factors for the prediction of cognitive abilities. Conclusions: These findings demonstrate that neurocognitive function is related to dietary macro and micronutrients including energy, carbohydrate, protein, calcium, iron, zinc, vitamin A, thiamin, and riboflavin on cognitive performance among young women without memory deficit

Free Radical Scavenging Potential and Essential Oil Composition of the Dorema glabrum Fisch. C.A. Mey Roots from Iran

Introduction: Dorema glabrum is an endangered species that grow in Transcaucasia and North West of Iran. The plant has extensive uses e.g. as an herbal remedy or food additive in these regions. The chemical composition of hydrodistilled oil of D. glabrum growing in Iran was analyzed by GC-MS for the first time. Methods: The essential oil of air-dried roots was obtained by hydrodistillation using a Clevenger type apparatus. The oil was subjected to GC-MS analysis and its free radical scavenging properties were determined by DPPH method. Results: Thirty four constituents were identified that represented 81.6% of the total oil. The main compounds were delta-Cadinene (12.77%), beta-bisabolene (7.48%), alpha-Fenchyl acetate (6.32%), Copaene (5.68%) and Cubenol (5.42%). The essential oil had weak free radical scavenging properties with the RC50 value of 2.24 mg/mL. Conclusion: Present work is the first report on chemical composition of the essential oil obtained from D. glabrum roots. GC-MS Analysis showed that the oil was rich in sesquiterpenes. It deems that weak free radical scavenging activity of the oil is due to absence of potent antioxidant compounds

Protective Effect of Atorvastatin on Benzopyrene-Induced Hepatorenal Toxicity: A Histopathological Study

Background and purpose: Benzo[a]pyrene (BaP) is an environmental pollutant that has genotoxic and carcinogenic effects. Atorvastatin (ATV), as a lipid-lowering drug, has antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and anti-apoptotic properties. This study investigated the effects of ATV on chronic liver and kidney damage induced by BaP. Materials and methods: In this experimental study, adult female rats were randomly divided into seven groups (n= 8 per group), including control group, olive oil group, ATV group (10 mg/kg), BaP groups (10 and 20 mg/kg), and ATV + BaP groups (10 and 20 mg). The drugs were administered by oral gavage for ten consecutive days. Histopathologic evaluation of the liver and kidney tissues was done one month after drug administration. Results: Histopathologic changes in both liver and kidney tissues such as inflammatory cell infiltration, plasma leakage, reduced acidophilia of hepatocytes, and renal tubular cells were seen in the groups receiving BaP. Findings showed that BaP at 20 mg/kg caused more serious harm than that at 10 mg/kg. ATV treatment protected structural changes in liver and kidney tissues. Conclusion: Current study showed that destructive effects of benzopyrene remain until one month after administration. The protective effects of atorvastatin against benzopyrene-induced hepatotoxicity were confirmed over time

Administration of zinc against arsenic-induced nephrotoxicity during gestation and lactation in rat model

Background: Free radicals production by toxicity of arsenic (Ar) is most important in the nephrotoxicity. There is accumulating evidence that zinc (Zn), has anti-oxidant properties. Objectives: The aim of present study was to evaluate protective and ameliorative effects of Zn against Ar-induced nephrotoxicity in rat pups during gestation and lactation. Materials and Methods: Twenty-four adult pregnant wistar rats were randomly divided into four groups (n = 6). Group one was given vehicle only. Group two received Zn (ZnSO4) at 20 mg/kg/d. Group three received Ar at 5 mg/kg/d as sodium meta-arsenite. Group four received Ar + Zn at the same dose that mentioned in groups of two and three. At the end of the study, 24 hours after the last treatment, samples were killed with overdose of sodium pentobarbital and kidneys were harvested for measuring malondialdehyde (MDA), glutathione (GSH) and histopathological assessment. Results: The MDA level in kidney was increased in the Ar group, which was decreased after Zn administration in the Ar + Zn group. The GSH level in kidney was decreased in the Ar group, which were increased after Zn administration in the Ar + Zn group. Also, the histopathological changes which were detected in the Ar group attenuated after Zn consumption. Conclusions: Our findings suggested that administration of Zn during gestation and lactation could have protective and prevent effect in Ar-induced oxidative stress in kidney tissue

Chemical Composition and Antibacterial and Cytotoxic Activities of Allium hirtifolium Boiss

Allium hirtifolium Boiss. known as Persian shallot, is a spice used as a traditional medicine in Iran and, Mediterranean region. In this study, the chemical composition of the hydromethanolic extract of this plant was analyzed using GC/MS. The result showed that 9-hexadecenoic acid, 11,14-eicosadienoic acid, and n-hexadecanoic acid are the main constituents. The antibacterial activity of the shallot extract was also examined by disk diffusion and microdilution broth assays. It was demonstrated that Persian shallot hydromethanolic extract was effective against 10 different species of pathogenic bacteria including methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), methicillin sensitive Staphylococcus aureus (MSSA), Staphylococcus aureus, Staphylococcus epidermidis, Streptococcus pneumoniae, Escherichia coli, Escherichia coli O157:H7, Salmonella typhimurium, Proteus mirabilis, and Klebsiella pneumoniae. Specifically, the minimum concentration of the extract which inhibited bacterial growth (MIC values) was 1.88 mg/mL for most of the gram-positive bacteria. This concentration was not much different from the concentration that was safe for mammalian cells (1.50 mg/mL) suggesting that the hydromethanolic extract of Persian shallot may be a safe and strong antibacterial agent

Effect of curcumin on inflammatory biomarkers and iron profile in patients with premenstrual syndrome and dysmenorrhea: A randomized controlled trial

Abstract Premenstrual syndrome (PMS) and primary dysmenorrhea are common gynecological problems and inflammation may have a role in their etiology. Curcumin is a polyphenolic natural product for which there is increasing evidence of anti‐inflammatory and iron chelation effects. This study assessed the effects of curcumin on inflammatory biomarkers and iron profile in young women with PMS and dysmenorrhea. A sample of 76 patients was included in this triple‐blind, placebo‐controlled clinical trial. Participants were randomly allocated to curcumin (n = 38) and control groups (n = 38). Each participant received one capsule (500 mg of curcuminoid+ piperine, or placebo) daily, from 7 days before until 3 days after menstruation for three consecutive menstrual cycles. Serum iron, ferritin, total iron‐binding capacity (TIBC) and high‐sensitivity C‐reactive protein (hsCRP), as well as white blood cell, lymphocyte, neutrophil, platelet counts, mean platelet volume (MPV) and red blood cell distribution width (RDW), were quantified. Neutrophil: lymphocyte ratio (NLR), platelet: lymphocyte ratio (PLR), and RDW: platelet ratio (RPR) were also calculated. Curcumin significantly decreased the median (interquartile range) serum levels of hsCRP [from 0.30 mg/L (0.0–1.10) to 0.20 mg/L (0.0–1.3); p = 0.041] compared with placebo, but did not show any difference for neutrophil, RDW, MPV, NLR, PLR and RPR values (p > 0.05). The treatment schedule was well‐tolerated, and none of markers of iron metabolism statistically changed after the intervention in the curcumin group (p > 0.05). Curcumin supplementation may have positive effects on serum hsCRP, a marker of inflammation, with no any changes on iron homeostasis in healthy women with PMS and dysmenorrhea