The Use of Stem Cells in Burn Wound Healing: A Review

Burn wound healing involves a series of complex processes which are subject to intensive investigations to improve the outcomes, in particular, the healing time and the quality of the scar. Burn injuries, especially severe ones, are proving to have devastating effects on the affected patients. Stem cells have been recently applied in the field to promote superior healing of the wounds. Not only have stem cells been shown to promote better and faster healing of the burn wounds, but also they have decreased the inflammation levels with less scar progression and fibrosis. This review aims to highlight the beneficial therapeutic effect of stem cells in burn wound healing and to discuss the involved pathways and signaling molecules. The review covers various types of burn wound healing like skin and corneal burns, along with the alternative recent therapies being studied in the field of burn wound healing. The current reflection of the attitudes of people regarding the use of stem cells in burn wound healing is also stated

Burden of obesity in the Eastern Mediterranean Region: findings from the Global Burden of Disease 2015 study

Mokdad AH, El Bcheraoui C, Afshin A, et al. Burden of obesity in the Eastern Mediterranean Region: findings from the Global Burden of Disease 2015 study. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF PUBLIC HEALTH. 2018;63(Suppl. 1):165-176.We used the Global Burden of Disease (GBD) 2015 study results to explore the burden of high body mass index (BMI) in the Eastern Mediterranean Region (EMR). We estimated the prevalence of overweight and obesity among children (2-19 years) and adults (20 years) in 1980 and 2015. The burden of disease related to high BMI was calculated using the GBD comparative risk assessment approach. The prevalence of obesity increased for adults from 15.1% (95% UI 13.4-16.9) in 1980 to 20.7% (95% UI 18.8-22.8) in 2015. It increased from 4.1% (95% UI 2.9-5.5) to 4.9% (95% UI 3.6-6.4) for the same period among children. In 2015, there were 417,115 deaths and 14,448,548 disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) attributable to high BMI in EMR, which constitute about 10 and 6.3% of total deaths and DALYs, respectively, for all ages. This is the first study to estimate trends in obesity burden for the EMR from 1980 to 2015. We call for EMR countries to invest more resources in prevention and health promotion efforts to reduce this burden

Burden of cancer in the Eastern Mediterranean Region, 2005-2015: findings from the Global Burden of Disease 2015 Study

Fitzmaurice C, Alsharif U, El Bcheraoui C, et al. Burden of cancer in the Eastern Mediterranean Region, 2005-2015: findings from the Global Burden of Disease 2015 Study. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF PUBLIC HEALTH. 2018;63(Suppl. 1):151-164.To estimate incidence, mortality, and disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) caused by cancer in the Eastern Mediterranean Region (EMR) between 2005 and 2015. Vital registration system and cancer registry data from the EMR region were analyzed for 29 cancer groups in 22 EMR countries using the Global Burden of Disease Study 2015 methodology. In 2015, cancer was responsible for 9.4% of all deaths and 5.1% of all DALYs. It accounted for 722,646 new cases, 379,093 deaths, and 11.7 million DALYs. Between 2005 and 2015, incident cases increased by 46%, deaths by 33%, and DALYs by 31%. The increase in cancer incidence was largely driven by population growth and population aging. Breast cancer, lung cancer, and leukemia were the most common cancers, while lung, breast, and stomach cancers caused most cancer deaths. Cancer is responsible for a substantial disease burden in the EMR, which is increasing. There is an urgent need to expand cancer prevention, screening, and awareness programs in EMR countries as well as to improve diagnosis, treatment, and palliative care services

Burden of diarrhea in the Eastern Mediterranean Region, 1990-2015: Findings from the Global Burden of Disease 2015 study

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Urine Cytology Findings in Cases of Pseudocarcinomatous Urothelial Hyperplasia of the Bladder Often Represent a Diagnostic Challenge

CONTEXT: Pseudocarcinomatous urothelial hyperplasia (PCUH) architecturally and cytologically mimics cancer. The urine cytology features of PCUH have not been described. OBJECTIVE: To describe PCUH features in urine cytology. DESIGN: We reviewed urine cytology cases with concurrent PCUH tissue specimens from 5 academic institutions and classified them by using The Paris System criteria. RESULTS: Thirty-nine patients included 31 men and 8 women with a mean age of 67 years (range, 39-87 years). All patients had prior pelvic irradiation, and most presented with hematuria (n = 27). The specimens included voided urine (n = 16); bladder washing (n = 11); and urine, not otherwise specified (n = 12). The specimen preparation included cytospin (n = 29) and ThinPrep (n = 10). Original interpretations were negative for high-grade urothelial carcinoma (n = 28), atypical urothelial cells (AUCs; n = 10), and high-grade urothelial carcinoma (HGUC; n = 1). Twenty-five urine specimens (64%) had findings of PCUH. These specimens were moderately cellular and composed of sheets, cohesive groups, or isolated urothelial cells. Nucleoli were present in 23 cases. The nuclear membrane was smooth to irregular (n = 9), smooth (n = 8), and irregular (n = 8). The chromatin was glassy (n = 8), vesicular (n = 7), hyperchromatic (n = 7), and vesicular to finely granular (n = 3). The cytoplasm varied from dense squamoid, to finely vacuolated, to vacuolated. Nucleomegaly was observed in all 25 specimens, and nuclear-cytoplasmic ratio greater than 0.5 was seen in 11 of 25 cases (44%). The background contained acute inflammation (n = 14), was clean (n = 9), and contained red blood cells (n = 2). All cases originally interpreted as AUCs and HGUC had PCUH features. CONCLUSIONS: PCUH urine features can overlap with AUCs, HGUC, and other nonurothelial malignancies. In our cohort, 44% (11 of 25) of urine specimens with PCUH changes were initially misclassified. Recognition of cytologic features of PCUH is important to avoid overcalling reactive changes

Urine Cytology Findings in Cases of Pseudocarcinomatous Urothelial Hyperplasia of the Bladder Often Represent a Diagnostic Challenge

CONTEXT.—Pseudocarcinomatous urothelial hyperplasia (PCUH) architecturally and cytologically mimics cancer. The urine cytology features of PCUH have not been described. OBJECTIVE.—To describe PCUH features in urine cytology. DESIGN.—We reviewed urine cytology cases with concurrent PCUH tissue specimens from 5 academic institutions and classified them by using The Paris System criteria. RESULTS.—Thirty-nine patients included 31 men and 8 women with a mean age of 67 years (range, 39-87 years). All patients had prior pelvic irradiation, and most presented with hematuria (n = 27). The specimens included voided urine (n = 16); bladder washing (n = 11); and urine, not otherwise specified (n = 12). The specimen preparation included cytospin (n = 29) and ThinPrep (n = 10). Original interpretations were negative for high-grade urothelial carcinoma (n = 28), atypical urothelial cells (AUCs; n = 10), and high-grade urothelial carcinoma (HGUC; n = 1). Twenty-five urine specimens (64%) had findings of PCUH. These specimens were moderately cellular and composed of sheets, cohesive groups, or isolated urothelial cells. Nucleoli were present in 23 cases. The nuclear membrane was smooth to irregular (n = 9), smooth (n = 8), and irregular (n = 8). The chromatin was glassy (n = 8), vesicular (n = 7), hyperchromatic (n = 7), and vesicular to finely granular (n = 3). The cytoplasm varied from dense squamoid, to finely vacuolated, to vacuolated. Nucleomegaly was observed in all 25 specimens, and nuclear-cytoplasmic ratio greater than 0.5 was seen in 11 of 25 cases (44%). The background contained acute inflammation (n = 14), was clean (n = 9), and contained red blood cells (n = 2). All cases originally interpreted as AUCs and HGUC had PCUH features. CONCLUSIONS.—PCUH urine features can overlap with AUCs, HGUC, and other nonurothelial malignancies. In our cohort, 44% (11 of 25) of urine specimens with PCUH changes were initially misclassified. Recognition of cytologic features of PCUH is important to avoid overcalling reactive changes