Characterization of Mesenchymal Stem Cells Derived from Rat Bone Marrow and Adipose Tissue: A Comparative Study

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Stem cell technology offers a new hope for many chronic disorders patients. The types of stem cells are different with many differences existing between each type. Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) represent one type of adult stem cells that can be easily isolated, then re-transplanted to the patients. This offers potential for their future application in treating many disorders without fear of rejection possibility. MSCs can be isolated from different sources e.g. bone marrow (BMSCs) and adipose tissue (ADSCs). In the present study we compared BMSCs and ADSCs isolated from Sprague-Dawley rats. METHODS AND RESULTS: For this comparison, immunophenotyping, the analysis of growth rates, proliferation by colony forming unit-fibroblast assay, population doubling time, and trilineage differentiation assays were performed for both BMSCs and ADSCs. The findings revealed that despite no difference in immunphenotypic character between BMSC and ADSC, a better proliferative capacity was observed for ADSCs which would advocate their better use in regenerative applications. On the other hand, BMSCs showed more potential for osteogenic and chondrogenic differentiation. CONCLUSIONS: Our study showed that, despite many similarities between both types of cells, there are differences existing which can offer assistance on choosing type of cell to be used in specific diseases. Although ADSCs seem more promising for regenerative application generally, BMSCs may represent a better choice for treating bone disorders.

Benign paroxysmal positional vertigo and different maneuvers for management

To study cases with positional vertigo who met criteria of benign paroxysmal positional vertigo BPPV in audiology unit Assiut university and determine the canal involvement, the type of BPPV whether canalithiasis or cupulolithiasis and evaluate the efficacy of different canalith repositioning maneuvers. Study group consists of 42 patients were diagnosed with BPPV, underwent history taking, ontological examination, neurological examination, basic audiological assessment, also patients underwent Dix-Hallpike and roll tests by infra red goggles video camera, and Electronystagmography. There were 42 patients were diagnosed with BPPV, 39 patients of them had PC-BPPV, three had HC-BPPV no AC-BPPV was found in the study group. The PC-BPPV were subdivided into canalithiasis and cupulolithiasis, it was found that 30 cases were canalithiasis and nine cases were cupulolithiasis, where all cases of HC-BPPV were canalithiasis. BPPV is the most common cause of positional vertigo and dizziness. The present study consisted of 42 BPPV patients. They are complaining of positional vertigo, which met the criteria of positional vertigo, with the characteristic positional provoked nystagmus. There were 39 patients of the 42 had posterior canal BPPV [92.86%], three cases had horizontal canal BPPV [7.14%]. The 30 patients with PC-BPPV canalithiasis were corrected with Epley's maneuver. The success rate was 86.6% after the 1[st] session of the Epley's maneuver. Eight patients of the PC-BPPV were cupulolithiasis, the success rate after the first Semont maneuver's was 55.6%, it's 77.8% after the 2[nd] session and its 88.9% after the 3[rd] session. The success rate of canalith repositioning maneuvers varies according the pathogenesis; it was very high in Eply's [96%] for canalithiasis than in Semont's for cupulolithiasis [88%]

Effect of Bone Marrow Derived Mesenchymal Stem Cells on Healing of Induced Full-Thickness Skin Wounds in Albino Rat

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Mesenchymal stem cells have delivered new approaches to the management of wound healing in severe skin injuries. This work was planned to evaluate the effect of bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) on healing of induced full thickness skin wounds in albino rats using topical & systemic injections. METHODS AND RESULTS: Forty adult male albino rats were classified into 2 groups after induction of full thickness skin wound; untreated group and stem cell-treated group. The latter was further subdivided into topically and systemically treated ones. BMSCs were isolated & labeled by PKH26 before injection. Healing of wounds was evaluated grossly. Skin biopsies were obtained one & three weeks after wound induction. Sections were stained with Hematoxylin & Eosin, Masson's trichrome and immunohistochemichal stain for vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF). Epidermal thicknesses and mean area percent of both collagen fibers & VEGF immunopositive cells were measured using image analyzer & results were subjected to statistical analysis. PKH26 fluorescent-labeled cells were found in the regenerated epidermis, hair follicles and dermis in BMSCs-treated groups. By the end of the third week, the wounds of BMSCs-treated groups showed full regeneration of epidermis, re-organization of collagen and decrease in VEGF immunopositive cells. Delayed wound healing was seen in 20% of systemically treated rats. Significant increase in the mean area percent of collagen fibers was detected in topically treated group. CONCLUSIONS: Both methods of BMSCs injection were effective in healing of full thickness skin wound but topical method was more effective.

Development of a remediation program for Egyptian dyslexic children

The present study was designed to formulate a remediation program for Arabic speaking children suffering from dyslexia based on improving phonological awareness using materials appropriate for Arabic culture. The study was carried out at the unit of Phoniatrics, Faculty of Medicine, Alexandria main university hospital. The subjects were divided into two groups.Group I: 30 dyslexic children of both sexes in the age range of 6[1/2]-10[1/2] years on which the proposed remediation programme was applied. Group II: 30 dyslexic children age and sexmatched were included as a control group; they received no remediation programs during the time of conduction of the study. The formulated Arabic remediation program was based on improving the phonological awareness for dyslexic children, after the Phonological Awareness Training for Reading Program. Modifications and additions were made to suit the nature of the Arabic language, and face the differences between Arabic and English orthography. The program was divided into sound blending, sound segmenting, reading and spelling activities. The training program was applied twice weekly, with session duration lasting from 25 to 30 min. Each session had about 2 or 3 children. The studied groups were subjected to protocol for evaluation of dyslexia before and after therapy to document to evaluate the improvement and the stability in the condition of these children. The presented training program significantly improved reading, writing and phonological awareness of dyslexic cases. The present study highlighted the importance of phonological awareness skills as a prerequisite for emergence of literacy skills. The program was modified to suit Arabic speaking Egyptian children. The study found that the age of the child is the most important predictor factor, the younger the age of intervention the better the outcome of therapy program

Study of the neurologic soft signs in a sample of obsessive compulsive patients and its correlation with the severity of obsessive compulsive symptoms and the degree of insight

Is to detect the presence of Neurologic Soft Signs [NSS] in a group of patients having Obsessive Compulsive Disorder [OCD] and its correlation to the clinical presentation of OC symptoms and the degree of insight. 50 patients with OCD and 50 healthy subjects were assessed for the presence of NSSs by using physical and neurological examination of soft signs scale [PANESS]. In the patients group, Yale-Brown OC scale [Y-BOCS], and scale to Assess Unawareness of Mental Disorder will be used to evaluate the severity of OC symptoms and the degree of insight. The total mean NSS score was significantly higher in patient group compared to control group [P=0.000] as regard the following items of PANESS [balance, motor movement, and graphesthesia]. The total NSS score was positively correlated with total OC symptoms score and duration of illness. Also, patients with poor insight had a significantly higher soft sign mean score than patients with good insight. Neurological soft signs are likely to relate to both structural and functional brain abnormalities that the affected regions of the brain for NSS probably resemble those in OCD, and that NSSs may be followed by the symptoms of OCD

Comparative study of the beneficial efficacy of two antioxidants [curcumin and melatonin] on cisplatin induced genotoxicity in adult albino rats

The major objective of this study was to evaluate the toxic effect of cisplatin [a widely used antitumor drug] on antioxidant enzymes [catalase and glutathione peroxidase], hepatic [DNA and RNA] contents as well as on chromosomal pattern. The protective role of two antioxidants curcumin and melatonin were also studied and compared. Two hundreds and sixteen adult albino rats of both sexes were divided into six equal groups. A part from the three control groups, the fourth treated group [G IV] were received single dose of 1/10 of LD50 [5 mg/kg b.w IP] cisplatin. Group V: received curcumin [10 mg/kg. b.w. I.P.] + cisplatin. Group VI: received melatonin [5 mg/kg b.w. IP] +cisplatin, NB: each of curcurnin and melatonin in GV and GV1 were given 24 hours and another dose 1/2 an hour before single administration of [5 mg/kg b.w] cisplatin and daily for 20 days thereafter. Twelve rats from each group were sacrificed 24, 72 hours and 21 days after single cisplatin administration. Blood was collected from six rats to estimate catalase and glutathione peroxidase enzymes activities, then their livers were obtained after their sacrification to measure their [DNA and RNA] contents. The other six rats were utilized for cytogenetic study. The results of the present study showed that cisplatin significantly decreased catalase and glutathione peroxidase enzymes activities, and hepatic DNA and RNA concentrations and significantly increased both structural and numerical chromosomal aberrations and total chromosomal damage throughout the period of the study. curcumin and melatonin may be of therapeutic benefit as they modulate cisplatin toxicity as regards all studied parameters with the superiority of melatonin, so we recommended antioxidant supplementation along with cisplatin chemotherapy and between its courses to minimize its side effects through strengthening the antioxidant system

Mother-to-infant transmission of hepatitis C virus [HCV]

Hepatitis C Virus [HCV] infection is a major endemic health problem in Egypt. The risk of vertical transmission of HCV is reported to be highly variable. In Egypt, there is little information about the course of HCV during pregnancy and its vertical transmission. To estimate the seroprevalance rate of HCV infection during pregnancy and to evaluate the clinical aspects of HCV liver disease in mothers with HCV antibodies [HCV Ab's] positive, both during pregnancy and six months after delivery, and to assess the outcome of pregnancy. Prospective clinical study. Departments of Obstetrics and Tropical Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, El Menoufia University. Twenty hundred consecutive pregnant women were studied during a 2-year period, Serologic screening for HCV Ab's was done using ELISA 3. Women found to be positive were tested further using PCR for HCV-RNA. Clinico-biochemical assessment, follow up and recording of the fetal outcome were done. At birth, and at six months age, offspring were tested for HCV Ab's and HCV- RNA. HCV Ab's were positive in 18% [360/2000] of pregnant women and of these HCV-RNA was positive in 7.8% [28/360], Liver function tests [included transaminases] were within normal range in all mothers during pregnancy and six months after delivery. In all women the outcome of pregnancy was favorable. All the neonates born to HCV Ab's positive mothers were positive for HCV antibodies at birth and only one [0.3%] was positive at 6 months. All babies were negative for HCV-RNA. Although there is no evidence of vertical transmission of HCV, further studies together with long term follow up of seropositive mothers and their infants are recommended. HCV infection is only surely diagnosed by PCR for HCV-RNA. Pregnancy does not induce deterioration of liver disease and vice versa, HCV infection does not increase the risk of obstetric complications. National health awareness, guidelines, control methods are the main items for prophylactic programs against HCV. Cost benefit analysis of national screening program, for HCV infection must be considered and routine screening for HCV Ab's during ANC is recommend

In vitro and clinical evaluation of Chlorphen in polymeric films

In vitro-release profile of chlorphenesin from Eudragit films was investigated. As the hydrophilic polymer fractions, e.g. Eudragit RL 100, RLPM or L100 increased, the release rate of the drug from the matrix increased and the release pattern followed Higuchi model. Increasing drug concentration in the film also resulted in a considerable increase in the release rate of the drug. The release rate constant was found to be film thickness-independent, while the linear relationship between t0.5 and the square of film thickness confirmed the diffusion controlled profile. Incorporation of water- soluble and insoluble plasticizers affected the drug release rate to different extent, depending on the type and concentration of plasticizers. Increasing drug release rate from films due to plasticizers could be arranged as follows: Glycerol > glyceryl triacetate > PEG 400 > propylene glycol > dimethyl phthalate > diethyl phthalate. The effect of different enhancers on increasing drug release followed the order dimethyl sulfoxide > sodium lauryl sulfate > polyvinylpyrrolidine > Tween 80. Clinical evaluation of the selected formula was carried out on 20 patients and compared with an official cream. A complete cure of 70% of patients treated with films was an acceptable and promising result compared with 90% cure obtained with the cream