Menstrual blood-derived stromal stem cells augment cd4+ t cells proliferation

Background: It is more than sixty years that the concept of the fetal allograft and immunological paradox of pregnancy was proposed and in this context, several regulatory networks and mechanisms have been introduced so far. It is now generally recognized that mesenchymal stem cells exert potent immunoregulatory activity. In this study, for the first time, the potential impact of Menstrual blood Stem Cells [MenSCs], as surrogate for endometrial stem cells, on proliferative capacity of CD4+ T cells was tested

Methods: MenSCs and Bone marrow Mesenchymal Stem Cells [BMSCs] were isolated and assessed for their immunophenotypic features and multi-lineage differentiation capability. BMSCs and MenSCs with or without IFNGamma pre-stimulation were co-cultured with purified anti-CD3/CD28-activated CD4+ T cells and the extent of T cell proliferation at different MenSCs: T cell ratios were investigated by CSFE flow cytometry. IDO activity of both cell types was measured after stimulation with IFNGamma by a colorimetric assay

Results: MenSCs exhibited dual mesenchymal and embryonic markers and multilineage differentiation capacity. MenSCs significantly increased proliferation of CD4+ cells at ratios 1:2, 1:4 and 1:8. IFNGamma pre-treated BMSCs but not MenSCs significantly suppressed CD4+ T cells proliferation. Such proliferation promoting capacity of MenSCs was not correlated with IDO activity as these cells showed the high IDO activity following IFNGamma treatment

Conclusion: Although augmentation of T cell proliferation by MenSCs can be a basis for maintenance of endometrial homeostasis to cope with ascending infections, this may not fulfill the requirement for immunological tolerance to a semi-allogeneic fetus. However, more investigation is needed to examine whether or not the immunomodulatory properties of these cells are affected by endometrial microenvironment during pregnancy

Detection of 4977-bp deletion of mitochondrial DNA in in vitro fertilization failure women: a case-control study

Background: The quality of oocyte is often considered as a limiting factor for fertility, especially IVF. Some mitochondrial mutations, particularly the 4977-bp deletion increase with the age. Thus, this mutation can serve as a marker for cell aging, which indicates the reduced quality of the oocytes for fertilization. It has been suggested that this can also be investigated in the blood cells of women with IVF failure

Objective: 1-Determination of the frequency of 4977-bp deletion in women with IVF failure, 2-Investigation of the relationship between 4977-bp deletion and the age of patients

Materials and Methods: Polymerase chain reaction was used to detect the 4977-bp deletion in blood samples of 52 IVF failure women and 52 women who had at least one healthy child. After polymerase chain reaction with deleted and wild-type primers, the products were examined using agarose gel electrophoresis

Results: 48.07% of women with IVF failure and 34.62% of healthy women had a mitochondrial 4977-bp deletion, with p=0.163 and OR: 1.749. Also, in association with the age of these patients and the frequency of 4977-bp mutation, p and OR were obtained 0.163 and 1.749, respectively and frequency of this mutation was higher in patients over 35 yr old compared to other subgroups [Patients >/=35: 57.69]

Conclusion: According to the findings of this study, there is no a significant relationship between the frequency of mitochondrial 4977-bp mutation and failure in IVF

Cisternostomy for management of intracranial hypertension in severe traumatic brain injury; case report and literature review

Main goal in the management of patients with severe traumatic brain injury [TBI] is control of intracranial pressure [ICP]. Decompressive craniectomy is an accepted technique for control of refractory intracranial hypertension in patients with severe TBI. Because of high complication rate after decompressive craniectomy, new techniques such as basal cisternostomy have developed. We herein report a case of severe TBI in a 13-year-old boy treated by cisternostomy. The patient was admitted following a motor vehicle accident. Brain CT scan showed diffuse brain edema, left frontal contusion and posterior interhemispheric subdural hematoma. The patient underwent ICP monitoring. Subsequently, with 26 mmHg mean-value of ICP, he was treated surgically by cisternostomy technique. A progressive improvement of the neurological conditions in the following hours. After 5 days the boy was discharged and in the 3-months follow-up he was completely recovered. Cisternostomy could be an appropriate alternative to decompressive craniectomy for management of intracranial hypertension in patietns with sever TBI

Effects of combined soy isoflavone extract and docetaxel treatment on murine 4T1 breast tumor model

Emergence of drug resistance has brought major problems in chemotherapy. Using nutrients in combination with chemotherapy could be beneficial for improvement of sensitivity of tumors to drug resistance. Soybean-derived isoflavones have been suggested as chemopreventive agents for certain types of cancer, particularly breast cancer. In this study, the synergistic effects of soy isoflavone extract in combination with docetaxel in murine 4T1 breast tumor model were investigated. In this study, mice were divided into 4 groups [15 mice per group] of control, the dietary Soy Isoflavone Extract [SIE, 100 mg/kg diet], the Docetaxel [DOCE, 10 mg/kg] injection and the combination of dietary soy isoflavone extract and intravenous docetaxel injection [DOCE+SIE]. After 3 injections of docetaxel [once a week], 7 mice were sacrificed to analyze MKI67 gene and protein expressions and the rest were monitored for diet consumption, tumor growth and survival rates. In DOCE+SIE group, diet consumption was significantly higher than DOCE group. While lifespan showed a trend towards improvement in DOCE+SIE group, no significant difference was observed among the 4 studied groups. Tumor volume was not significantly affected in treated groups. A lower but not significant MKI67 protein expression was detected in western blot in DOCE+SIE group. The mRNA expression was not significantly different among groups. The results suggest that the combination of soy isoflavone as an adjunct to docetaxel chemotherapy can be effective in improving diet consumption in breast cancer

Ameliorative effect of melatonin against contrast media induced renal tubular cell injury

Reactive oxygen species [ROS] is a mediator of renal damage. Melatonin is a potent-free radical scavenger. Our objective was to test whether melatonin would protect against the nephrotoxicity of contrast media. In an experimental study 40 adult male Wistar rats were randomly divided into four equal groups including: 1] Control group [No drug], 2] Contrast media group [10 ml/kg iodixanol i.v. single dose], 3] Contrast media and melatonin [first 10 ml/kg iodixanol then 10 ml/kg/day melatonin by i.p. injection on days 3, 4 and 5] and 4] Contrast media and melatonin pretreatment group [melatonin 10 ml/ kg/day by i.p. injection on 1, 2 and 3 days, then 10 ml/kg iodixanol by i.v. injection on third day. The blood creatinine and BUN as well as the histological changes were evaluated for severity of renal injury [degeneration, vacuolization of tubular renal cells, dilatation of tubular lumen and presence of debris in the lumens], by scoring from one to four. Contrast media significantly increased the creatinine and BUN and renal injury [p < 0.05]. Melatonin prevented and reversed the injury induced by contrast media [P < 0.05]. Pretreatment with melatonin reduced the renal injury induced by contrast media [P < 0.05]. Melatonin is an effective drug to prevent contrast-induced renal injury. Therefore its usage [especially pretreatment] might be beneficial in patients who are planning to use contrast media agents

[Evaluation of association between coronary artery disease and gall stone using findings of biliary tract ultrasonography and exercise test]

Coronary artery diseases [CAD] are leading causes of death in developed countries. Also, 10-15% of elderly people of the United State of America have gallstone. These two diseases have similar risk factors, such as obesity, elderliness, diabetes, hyperlipidemia, and hyper tension. Determining the correlation of coronary artery disease and gallstone is the main Aim of this study. This analytical cross-sectional study was done on 130 patients whom were suspected to CAD and have been referred to Shohadaye Kargar Hospital of Yazd echocardiography department. They have been randomly selected and echo test and sonography have been done for all by expert specialists. Data were analyzed by chi-square, Exact Fisher and Mantel-Haenszel tests. Stress test were negative in 80 [61.53%] and were positive in 50 [38.47%] patients. Of 80 negative stress test subjects, negative gallbladder sonography was observed in 77 [96.25%] patients; while in 3 [3.75] patients gallbladder sonography was positive. Among 50 positive stress test patients, 42 [84%] and 8 [16%] patients had negative and positive gallbladder sonography, respectively. There not found statistically significant association between CAD and gallston [p= 0.022]. Patients who had coronary artery disease, compared with healthy individuals, are at increased risk of gallstones. In men older than 50 years suffering from vague upper abdominal pain, Liver and gallbladder sonography ultrasound is recommended for detection of probable biliary stones

Cytokine profile in the endometrium of normal fertile and women with repeated implantation failure

Repeated Implantation Failure [RIF] is one of the most intricate obstacles in assisted reproduction. The cytokine and chemokine composition of uterine cavity seem to play important roles in the implantation process. To compare the cytokine profile in the endometrium of normal fertile women and those with repeated implantation failure. After enzymatic digestion of endometrial tissues, whole endometrial cells and endometrial stromal cells from RIF and normal fertile women were cultivated and stimulated for cytokine secretion. The levels of IL-10, TGF-beta, IFN-gamma, IL-6, IL-8 and IL-17 in culture supernatants of the two groups were assayed by ELISA and compared together. Endometrial stromal cells and whole endometrial cells of normal fertile women produced higher levels of IL-6, IL-8 and TGF-beta compared to RIF group, although this difference was statistically significant only in endometrial stromal cells [p=0.005, 0.002 and 0.001, respectively]. In addition, endometrial stromal cells of normal fertile women produced lower levels of IL-10 in comparison with RIF group [p<0.005]. Disturbances in cytokine production at the feto-maternal interface could be a cause of implantation failure. A pro-inflammatory cytokine milieu seems to be pivotal for successful implantation

[Comparing educational, research and administrative activities of Faculty members completing their PhD degree either using scholarship funds or not]

Introduction: Every year some faculty members continue their education to get their PhD in the form of scholarship, educational assignment, or other ways. Granting scholarship for studying inside or outside the country imposes many problems and high costs to the Ministry of Health and medical universities in Iran. This study aimed to compare the educational, research and administrative performance of faculty members taking advantage of scholarship funds or using other sources to continue their studies for PhD degree

Methods: This descriptive study was done on faculty members of Isfahan University of Medical Sciences who completed their PhD degree during the years 1986-2006. Data gathering tool was a researcher-made questionnaire including three parts asking about faculty members educational, administrative and research performances. The obtained results were analyzed by SPSS software using descriptive statistics, t-test, and ANOVA

Results: In total 82 faculties were studied among which 39 had used external scholarship, 16 had internal scholarship, 12 were on educational assignment, and 13 had continued their studies without using any mentioned procedures. There was a significant difference [p=.01] between the 4 groups in evaluation scores [educational performance]. But, no significant difference was observed in their administrative performance. Regarding their research activities, a significant difference was observed in some research areas such as conducting research [p=.002], articles published in Iranian journals [p=.004], and in journals outside the country [p=.04]

Conclusion: According to the results, faculty members using external or internal scholarship had a lower performance in their research activities compared to the other groups. Also, the administrative activities of faculty members with external scholarship were less than the others. Therefore, it is recommended that through more detailed and extensive studies, re-examine the policies and regulations regarding scholarship or educational assignments