Adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells for treatment of airway injuries in a patient after long-term exposure to sulfur mustard

Objective: Sulfur mustard [SM] is a potent mutagenic agent that targets several organs, particularly lung tissue. Changes in morphological structure of the airway system are associated with chronic obstructive pulmonary deficiency following exposure to SM. Although numerous studies have demonstrated pathological effects of SM on respiratory organs, unfortunately there is no effective treatment to inhibit further respiratory injuries or induce repair in these patients. Due to the extensive progress and achievements in stem cell therapy, we have aimed to evaluate safety and potential efficacy of systemic mesenchymal stem cell [MSC] administration on a SM-exposed patient with chronic lung injuries

Materials and Methods: In this clinical trial study, our patient received 100x106 cells every 20 days for 4 injections over a 2-month period. After each injection we evaluated the safety, pulmonary function tests [PFT], chronic obstructive pulmonary disease [COPD] Assessment Test [CAT], St. George's Respiratory Questionnaire [SGRQ], Borg Scale Dyspnea Assessment [BSDA], and 6 Minute Walk Test [6MWT]. One-way ANOVA test was used in this study which was not significant [P>0.05]

Results: There were no infusion toxicities or serious adverse events caused by MSC administration. Although there was no significant difference in PFTs, we found a significant improvement for 6MWT, as well as BSDA, SGRQ, and CAT scores after each injection

Conclusion: Systemic MSC administration appears to be safe in SM-exposed patients with moderate to severe injuries and provides a basis for subsequent cell therapy investigations in other patients with this disorder

Total antioxidant capacity and lipid peroxidation in semen of patient with hyperviscosity

Semen hyperviscosity [SHV] is one of the factors involved in deficiency in sperm function. This research aimed to evaluate seminal plasma total antioxidant capacity [TAC] and malondialdehyde [MDA] levels in infertile patients with hyperviscous and non-hyperviscous semen samples to understand whether hyperviscous semen is associated with oxidative damage in infertile subjects. In this cross sectional study, 59 semen samples were provided by fertile [n=12] individuals as control, infertile patients with normal viscosity [n=25] and infertile patients with hyperviscosity [n=22]. After semen parameters examination, semen viscosity was studied by glass pipettes. Seminal plasma TAC and MDA levels were measured by ferric reducing of antioxidant power [FRAP] and thiobarbituric acid reaction [TBAR] methods, respectively. A probability less than 0.05 was considered statistically significant throughout the article. The mean of sperm parameters including: counts, motility and normal morphology in patients with hyperviscosity were significantly lower than those in non-hyperviscosity patients [p<0.05, p<0.01 and p<0.001, respectively]. The mean of seminal plasma TAC value in seminal plasma of non-hyperviscosity patients [1710.31 +/- 458.67 micro mol/l] was significantly [p<0.01] higher than that of hyperviscosity group [1230.25 +/- 352 micro mol/l]. A trend toward a higher mean of seminal plasma MDA value was estimated for hyperviscous group compared with non-hyperviscous [1.01 +/- 0.41 nmol/ml vs. 0.94 +/- 0.28 nmol/l]; however, it was nonsignificant. Hyperviscous semen impairs seminal plasma TAC which is eventually associated with sperm membrane lipid peroxidation

effect of 8-methoxypsoralen on pituitary-gonad axis and ovarian function in mice

8-Methoxypsoralen [8-MOP] is a photoactive compound widely used in the treatment of proliferate disorders. The present study investigates the effects of 8-MOP on ovary function and pituitary-gonad axis in mice. In this experimental analytical study, 45 female Balb/C mice were divided into three groups [n=15], control, sham [olive oil injection] and experimental. The experimental group were received an intraperitoneal [i.p.] injection of the LD50 dose of 60 mg/kg 8-MOP. At 30 days after injection, the animals were sacrificed while in the proestrus stage and examined for morphological and histological changes their ovaries. Blood samples were collected and estrogen, luteinizing hormone [LH] and follicle stimulating hormone [FSH] levels were assessed by radioimmunoassay. Data were analyzed using one-way ANOVA and the t test. The mean levels of estrogen and progesterone in the experimental group significantly decreased [p<0.001]. However, there was a significant increase in LH and FSH levels in this group compared to the control groups [p<0.001]. The mean number and diameter of the corpus luteum [CL] and the number of growing follicles in the experimental group significantly reduced compared to the control and sham groups [p<0.001]. The mean granulosa thickness in the experimental group also significantly decreased compared to the control and sham groups [p<0.001]. Our data indicated that 8-MOP can affect the levels of LH, FSH, estrogen and progesterone. Our findings further suggest that consecutive doses of 8-MOP may impair the female reproductive tract [or development]

Relationship between seminal malondialdehyde levels and sperm quality in fertile and infertile men

The aim of this study was to determine the level of malondialdehyde in seminal plasma of fertile and infertile men and investigate its relationship with sperm quality. Results showed that the mean of ± S.D. MDA concentration in seminal plasma of infertile men (0.94 ± 0.28 nmol/ml) was significantly higher than fertile men (0.65 ± 0.17 nmol/ml) (p value< 0.001), and had negative relationship with sperm count, motility and morphology. Therefore it could be concluded that increase in lipid peroxidation was associated with sperm membrane destructed and high level of MDA.