Mesenchymal stem cell; biology, application and its role in regenerative medicine

Mesenchymal stem cells have extensive potential to proliferate and differentiate into different cell lineages. Their differentiation capability in vivo and in vitro makes them ideal tools for tissue engineering and regenerative medicine. In the present study more than 100 recent published articles which are about isolation, culture and differentiation of MSCs were reviewed for application of MSC in regenerative medicine and tissue engineering. Clinical applications of MSCs seem to be in two distinctive lines: bio-scaffold design without immunological responses as well as multipotent stem cell without clinical obstacles. MSCs due to their capacity of self-renewability, multilineage differentiation and immune modulatory effects are of great therapeutic potential for cell and gene therapy of congenital and degenerative disorders

Videonystagmographic finding in meniere's patients

Vertigo is the most common complaints of patients who refer to physician and menier's disease is one of the most common causes of it. Diagnose of menier's disease depend on clinical finding. Vestibular tests are affect the treatment method and prognosis of disease, to differentiate it from other causes of vertigo as well. In this study we performed evaluation and analysis of videonystagmoghrapy [VNG] finding in menier's disease. Total 61 patients with menier's disease referred to ENT outpatient department of Imam Khomeini and Apadana Hospitals were evaluated with VNG and Sacade, Smooth pursuit, Optokinetic, Positional and caloric tests. SPSS 16 software for data analysis was used. Directional preponderance was found in 11.44%, unilateral weakness in 39.33% and Latency of sacad in 42.6% with abnormal results. There was no significant correlation between severity of vertigo, severity of hearing loss, duration of Disease and videonystagmography finding. Unilateral weakness was most important finding in this study

[Cellular and molecular aspects of multiple myeloma]

Multiple Myeloma [MM] is a plasma cell disorder witch accounts for about 10% of all hematologic cancers; 99% of patients diagnosed are older than 40 years of age. The aim of this study is to evaluate the recognized cellular and molecular factors effective on the emergence and development of MM. In the present study, 150 articles about genetic translocation, osteoclast and osteoblast cells, chemokines, signaling pathways, and Multiple Myeloma published in recent years were firstly selected to be reviewed. Out of this number, 69 which applied to cellular and molecular biology of MM were selected to be studied. Bone lesions and pathological fractures are the most important complications of Multiple Myeloma. Recurrent infection, renal insufficiency, hyperproteinemia, amyloidosis, hypercalcemia, decrease of alkaline phosphatase, and osteocalcin are other complications which are mostly caused by cell-cell interaction, chemokine, and immunoglobulin signal induction. The results show that infiltration of tumor cells like myeloma cells is due to secretion of some factors from BM cells as well as the presence of calcium and iron whose concentration is high in BM

Diagnostic accuracy of conventional radiography for esophageal foreign bodies in adults

Foreign body in the esophagus is a common emergency presentation. Conventional x-ray imaging is usually obtained to aid the diagnosis during the initial evaluation. The decision for surgical intervention is usually based on a suspicious history, physical examination and radiologic findings. Our hypothesis is that radiographic imaging should not alter the decision for surgical intervention in patients with a suspicious history and appropriate findings on physical examination. Seven hundred and five adult patients with suspected impaction of an esophageal foreign body were reviewed from 1994 to 2006 at Imam Khomeini Hospital, Ahwaz. Plain films were performed in every patient with suspected esophageal foreign body [EFB]. Patients were included in this review if they were older than 15 years of age, initially presented for ingested foreign body evaluation, and underwent radiographic imaging prior to surgical intervention. Only adults satisfying all 3 criteria were included. The study group contained 705 patients [528 male and 177 female] with the malefemale ratio of 3:1. Of the total 705 cases, 636 patients had a radiologic study suggestive of FB and 623 cases [98%] had an FB at the time of esophagoscopy. The remaining 69 patients did not have an FB at the time of esophagoscopy. The sensitivity and specificity of conventional radiographs in the diagnosis of an ingested FB were 100% and 84.2%, respectively. Chicken bones were the most frequently responsible foreign body and the area just below the cricopharyngeus muscle was the most frequent level of impaction. Rigid esophagoscopy was used successfully for foreign body removal in 97.6%. The approach towards a patient with a foreign body in the esophagus comprises a thorough history and systematic examination followed by relevant investigations. Ingested FBs are commonly investigated with cervical x-ray studies

Overview of a 15 year experience with benign and malignant tumors of submandibular gland

We reviewed our 15 years experience with tumors of the submandibular gland to determine factors influences the outcome. The most common benign neoplasm was pleomorphic adenoma [11 cases], while among malignant tumors the adenoid cystic carcinoma was predominated [12cases]. among patients who had malignant tumors, the 5 year survivals were 61.9% in patients with malignant tumors, histology and size did not affect overall survival factors. the outcome was affectod by extraglandular soft-tissue extension and lymph node metastasis