Prospects of stem cell treatment in benign urological diseases

Stem cells (SCs) are undifferentiated cells that are capable of self-renewal and differentiation and that therefore contribute to the renewal and repair of tissues. Their capacity for division, differentiation, and tissue regeneration is highly dependent on the surrounding environment. Several preclinical and clinical studies have utilized SCs in urological disorders. In this article, we review the current status of SC use in benign urological diseases (erectile dysfunction, Peyronie disease, infertility, and urinary incontinence), and we summarize the results of the preclinical and clinical trials that have been conducted.

Hepatoprotective and antioxidative activities of the essential oils of Origanum syriacum [L.], Thymus decussatus [benth] and salvia multicaulis [vahl enum]

To isolate the essential oils of Origanum syriacum, Thymus decussatus and Salvia multicaulis and evaluate their antioxidative and hepatoprotective activities against paracetamol induced injury in primary-cultured rat liver cells. The essential oils isolated from Origanum syriacum, Thymus decussatus and Salvia multicaulis were analysed by GC-MS. Antioxidant activities of the essential oils were determined by DPPH scavenging activity [DPPH] and Trolox equivalent antioxidant capacity [TEAC] asssays. Conditions have been investigated to devise an in-vitro colorimetric MTT assay method for the hepatoprotective activity against paracetamol induced injury in primary-cultured rat liver cells. The major component of the essential oils of Origanum syriacum, Thymus decussatus was thymol 58.6% and 21.6% respectively. While the major component of Salvia multicaulis was camphor 39.8%. The antioxidant activity showed that the volatile oil of Origanum exhibited the highest activity followed by Thymus then Salvia. As for the hepatoprotective activity, the assay revealed that the volatile oil of Salvis multicaulis showed a suitable safety margin [the toxic concentration was 125 micro g/ml, while hepatoprotective concentration was only 25micro g/ml]. The essential oils of Origanum syriacum, Thymus decussatus and Salvia multicaulis exhibited remarkable antioxidant activity and significant hepatoprotective activity

Anti-hepatotoxic effect of pterocephalus sanctus growing in Egypt

Pterocephalus sanctus Decne. was subjected to a bioassay guided fractionation in order to follow and identify the active principles that could be responsible for its anti-hepatotoxic property. The aqueous methanol [80%] extract of the defatted powder of Pterocephalus sanctus was chromatographed over silica gel and eluted with gradient petroleum ether/ethyl acetate. Eight fractions were collected and tested for their biological activity using Primary Cultured Monolayer Hepatocytes where the fifth fraction was subjected to a further fractionation. Three compounds were identified as secologanin, loganin and swerosoid and the latter was only found to possess highly anti-hepatotoxic activity. This is the first report of the study of the anti-hepatotoxic activity of P. sanctus growing in Egypt

Outcome of anterior cervical decopression and fusion using the atlants anterior cervical plate system

The study was conducted on 45 patients suffering from degenerative disease of the cervical spine that was resistant to conservative treatment. Patients with either single-level or two-level cervical disc affection only were included. Radiculopathy was diagnosed in 41 patients and myelopathy in 10. The mean age was 43.2 years [range 34-66 years]. The patients were randomly divided into two groups: Group I [23 patients] had the Atlantis plate system to stabilize the grafted discs, while, group II [22 patients] had the same procedure without plating. It was concluded that, the Atlantis anterior cervical plate system provides the additional benefits of fixed, variable and hybrid constructs. In addition to being safe and easily implanted, its use appears to yield equal or better results than other established anterior plate systems, particularly with two-level fusion. Further studies and longer follow up should be carried out