Biochemical and histopathological evaluations of chronic renal failure rats treated with pluripotent human stem cells

Abstract Regeneration of damaged kidney cells using stem cells is the current research approach in the treatment of chronic renal failure (CRF). In the present study, the histopathological and biochemical techniques were used to evaluate stem cells' (SCs) role in treatment of CRF. Sixty-four rats were divided into eight groups. Group I (GI): rats were injected with doxorubicin (15 mg/kg) to initiate CRF. GII-GVII: rats were injected with doxorubicin and treated with SCs (1x106 MSCs or/and 2x104 HSCs/rat) with/without growth factors extract (200 µL/rat) and/or immunosuppressor (cyclosporine A, 5 mg/kg/day). GVIII: rats treated with PBS (100 µL/kg/day). Levels of creatinine, urea and uric acid were increased in rats sera after injection with doxorubicin, while blood electrolyte levels of Na, K, P and Mg were decreased. Also, histopathological abnormalities such as hyalinized blood vessels, degenerated hyalinized glomerulus tubules and cell debris in the lumen and degeneration of renal tissues were observed in these rats. After treatment with SCs, all these parameters restore their normal values with regeneration of the damaged cells as demonstrated in histopathology of the treated groups. It can be concluded that, the use of SCs in treatment of kidney diseases is a promising approach and needs more efforts.

Determination of the antimicrobial property of oregano (Plectranthus amboinicus (Lour.) Spreng.) crude aqueous leaf extract against throat pathogens using broth and checkerboard dilution methods

@#<p style="text-align: justify;"><strong>Objective:</strong> This study aimed to determine the antimicrobial property of oregano (Plectranthus amboinicus) crude leaf extract against pathogens that infect the throat, specifically Streptococcus pyogenes and Candida albicans using the broth and checkerboard dilution methods.</p><p style="text-align: justify;"><strong>Methods:</strong> This study employed an experimental study design using broth dilution method for the determination of the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC), minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) against Streptococcus pyogenes ATCC 19615, and minimum fungicidal concentration (MFC) against Candida albicans ATCC 14053 of P. amboinicus crude extract (PA extract). Checkerboard dilution method was then used for determination of the synergy between PA extract and the standard antimicrobials.</p><p style="text-align: justify;"><strong>Results:</strong> In vitro growth inhibition of S. pyogenes (MIC 0.13 g/mL) and C. albicans (MIC 0.03 g/mL) was exhibited by the PA extract. The highest concentration of PA extract used in this study was not sufficient to demonstrate bactericidal and fungicidal activity (MBC >0.25 g/mL, MFC >0.25 g/mL). Results of checkerboard dilution method revealed that PA extract when combined with either penicillin (for S. pyogenes) or nystatin (for C. albicans) demonstrated indifference.</p><p style="text-align: justify;"><strong>Conclusion:</strong> The crude extract of Plectranthus amboinicus has the capability to inhibit the growth of both S. pyogenes and C. albicans. This demonstrates its potential use in the treatment of throat infections caused by these organisms.</p><p style="text-align: justify;"><strong>Key Words:</strong> Plectranthus amboinicus, oregano, antimicrobial, throat infections, herbal medicine</p>

Clostridium difficile causante de síndrome de distrés respiratorio agudo tras pancreatectomía total / Acute respiratory distress syndrome due to clostridium difficile after total pancreatectomy

La diarrea nosocomial, que es la adquirida en el ámbito hospitalario, suele ser producida por Clostridium difficile. Sin embargo, en raras ocasiones puede ocasionar un síndrome de distrés respiratorio. Por ello, el diagnóstico de dicha patología es difícil si no se sospecha. El tratamiento se basa en el uso de antibiótico vía oral. Se expone el caso de una paciente de 66 años con dicha patología tras la realización de pancreatectomía total.

Nosocomial (hospital-acquired) diarrhea is usually caused by Clostridium difficile. On rare occasions it can cause acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). Therefore, this condition should be suspected in order to make a diagnosis. Treatment is based on oral antibiotics. We report the case of a 66-year-old female patient with ARDS secondary to Clostridium difficile colitis after total pancreatectomy.

Current research progress on hypoxia and tumor

Hypoxia is the decrease of normal oxygen tension in tissues. It often occurs in the tissues of acute and chronic vascular diseases or lung diseases and cancerous lesions. Severe or persistent hypoxia can lead to the death of cell. The lack of oxygen in the tumor is mainly due to the absence or deficiency of normal tumor blood vessel function, which results in a decrease of the oxygen diffusion function within the tumor, eventually leading to a series of biochemical reactions. Although hypoxia is toxic on tumor cells, tumor cells still have a strong adaptability. In the hypoxic microenvironment of tumors, tumor cells can produce adaptive changes or genetic changes so that the tumor could survive in an oxygen-deficient environment, even proliferate. Finally, tumor progression will happen. This process visualizes malignant phenotype of the tumor and makes them more aggressive. The epithelial mesenchymal transition in the tumor microenvironment plays an important role in tumor cell migration, invasion, malignant progression and metastasis. Hypoxia leads to epithelial-mesenchymal transition in tumor tissue, reconstitution of extracellular matrix in tumors, and induction of resistance to antitumor drugs. There are many researches related to hypoxia and tumors. The research contents are complex. Targeted therapy for hypoxia is receiving more and more attention, but the overlapping of signal molecules due to the related mechanism between hypoxia and tumors. An effective hypoxia-targeted therapeutic drug that can be used clinically which requires hard work and arduous exploration from researchers.

Effects of gamma-radiation on red blood cell corpuscles and dimensional properties in rats

In an attempt to understand the toxicity and the potential role of gamma-radiation as a therapeutic tool, the effects of different Gamma-radiation doses on haematological and dimensional properties of rats' blood were investigated in vivo. 60 healthy male Wistar-Kyoto rats were used, which were randomly divided into five groups, 4 Gamma-radiated rat groups [1St group was radiated with five Gamma-radiation dose, 2nd group 25Gy; 3rd group with 50Gy, 4th group with 100Gy, and 5th group was control]. Different haematological and dimensional parameters were measured using the standard haematological technique. A significant decrease in red blood cells [RBCs] count, haemoglobin [HGB], and haematocrit [HCT] was observed compared with the control. While a significant increase in mean corpuscular volume [MCV], mean corpuscular haemoglobin [MCH] and mean corpuscular haemoglobin concentration [MCHC], red distribution width [RDW] were observed compared with the control. This study suggested that low RBCs, HGB, and HCT might produce anemia and cessation of erythrocytes production in the bone marrow. Moreover, the RBCs size increase might be attributed to changes in the morphology and deformability of RBCs, which was confirmed by a slightly increase in RDW

Impact of donor and recipient sex on outcomes of HLA-identical sibling allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation

Hematopoietic cell transplantation [HCT] is well established as therapy for hematologic malignancies as well as many non-malignant disorders. Donor selection is an important way to decrease the risks after HSCS and is therefore a key component of the clinical practice of transplantation. There are many criteria proved or hypothesized to affect outcomes after SCT and one of these, sex is the most controversial. Some investigators have found an increased risk of acute or chronic graft-versus-host disease [GVHD] associated with donor sex. Transplantation of stem cells from a female donor to a male recipient is a special circumstance in which donor T cells specific for minor H antigens, encoded by genes on the recipient Y-chromosome that are polymorphic to their X-chromosome homologues, may make a contribution to GVHD and GVL activity. Investigate the effect of donor and recipient sex mismatch on outcomes of HLA-identical sibling allogeneic stem cell transplantation. This study was carried on 82 patients selected from patients who had underwent a myelo-ablative preparative regimen for a hematologic malignancy and received HSC transplant from an HLA-identical sibling being divided into 2 groups: 1st one with a female donor to a male recipient and 2nd one include otherwise. Both groups will be subjected to HLA tissue typing, CBC, Bone marrow aspirate evaluation, PT and PTT, blood culture when needed, SGPT, SGOT, ALP, blood urea, s.creatinine, urine analysis, pulmonary function tests, chest x-ray, echocardiography ECG, CMV-, EBV-, VZV-, Toxoplasma- antibodies [IgG, IgM], HBs-Ag, HBs-Ab, and HCV-Ab. After variables controlling for patient and donor, there was an increased risk of acute GVHD in patients who received grafts from female donor being 18% for patients receiving grafts from female compared with 8% for recipients of male grafts. Donor sex was also an important influence on risk of developing chronic GVHD with cumulative incidences of chronic GVHD 9.7% for patients receiving transplants from male donors grafts compared to 24.3% for recipients of female donor grafts. We found that male recipients of grafts from female donors had a significantly higher probability for acute and chronic GVHD than male recipients with male donors or female recipients with female donors and despite the beneficial GVL effect observed in male recipients with female donors, these patients had significantly reduced survival compared with all patient/donor sex combinations, suggesting that other variables, particularly GVHD, contribute to transplantation-related mortality

Is diffusion weighted imaging adding value in diagnosis of focal hepatic lesions? Experience in 50 patients

Diffusion weighted imaging [DWI] offers molecular information that complements the morphologic information obtained with conventional magnetic resonance imaging [MRI] and can reflect the functions and structures of the body without trauma. To assess the role of DWI as a routine sequence in a MRI study to help in differentiating liver lesions. The study included 50 patients referred to do a MRI study to diagnose and/or to confirm the ultrasonographic or CT findings of focal hepatic lesions. The examination was done on 1.5T superconducting magnet MRI machines; Philips Gyroscan Intera version 12.1.1.2 [Best, The Netherlands] and Siemens Magnetom Avanto [Erlangen, Germany] machine. All studied patients had a focal hepatic lesion either on top of cirrhotic liver or non cirrhotic liver. DWI was found to be helpful with the routine MRI sequences to reach the diagnosis. The final diagnosis was confirmed by histopathological examination or follow up. A cutoff value of ADC for benign lesions was found to be 1.25 x 10[-3] mm[2]/s. DWI should be included as a basic sequence in the routine MRI study of the liver as it helps in diagnosis and so reaching a final diagnosis or at least trying to narrow the list of differential diagnosis

Metaplastic breast carcinoma with osteogenic component

Metaplastic breast carcinomas [MBC] are rare primary breast malignancies characterized by the co-existence of carcinoma with non-epithelial cellular elements. They can be classified as monophasic spindle cell [sarcomatoid] carcinoma, biphasic carcinosarcoma, adenocarcinoma with divergent stromal differentiation [osseous, chondroid and rarely rhabdoid] as well as adenosquamous and pure squamous cell carcinomas. Nearly all reports portrait women in their forties or older, yet younger affected females in their twenties have been reported. The usual presentation included firm painless breast mass ranging between 1.4 and 14 cm in diameter, with no evidence of loco-regional or distal metastasis. Mammary osteosarcomas are aggressive tumors with a propensity for blood-borne rather than lymphatic spread. Metastatic disease expected to develop at a mean of 10.5 and 14.5 months from the initial diagnosis and demise followed within 20 months of the onset of metastasis. MBC remains a rare entity with poor response to both chemo-radiotherapy, histological diagnosis is challenging yet it is the main stay in outlining the management. The surgical option remains the only successful current treatment in the form of simple Mastectomy to achieve negative margins sparing the patients axillary node dissection

Detecting Latent Tuberculosis Infection Prior to Kidney Transplantation in a Tertiary Hospital in Saudi Arabia: Comparison of the T-SPOT.TB Test and Tuberculin Test.

Background: Tuberculosis (TB) remains a major worldwide public health problem with over 8.8 million newly diagnosed cases in 2010. Patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD) who are on hemodialysis (HD) have a significantly higher incidence of Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection or disease than healthy individuals. Most cases of active tuberculosis (TB) in patients with ESRD are due to the reactivation of a latent infection, and this patient group is at roughly 10- to 25-fold higher risk for reactivating TB infection than the general population. Candidates for solid organ transplantation are routinely screened for latent tuberculosis infection (LTBI). In this study we aimed to compare Tuberculin Skin Test (TST) with T-SPOT.TB, for the detection of LTBI in candidates for kidney transplantation. Methods: Prospective study of 133 HD Patients who did not have a diagnosis of active TB diseases or LTBI previously referred, through a 5-month period, to our institutions. Forty four kidney donors without evidence of renal insufficiency or immunocompromising conditions by medical history served as control group. All patients were tested with tuberculin (TST), and T-Spot.TB and the results were compared. Results: In donors, the concordance between the T-SPOT and the TST was moderate (90.9 %, к=0.46). Forty of 44 donors (90.9%) had concordance results between the T-Spot TB and TST.In hemodialysis patients, the concordance between the T-SPOT.TB and the TST was poor (60.15 %, к=0.07). Fifty three of 133 patients (40%) had discordant results between the T-SPOT.TB and TST. Of these, 13 patients had a positive TST but negative T-SPOT.TB and 40 had a positive T-SPOT.TB but a negative TST. Conclusion: Our data strongly argue against the use of TST in screening of LTBI in HD patients. T-SPOT.TB test in dialysis patients correlated better than TST with the risk of TB infection (e.g. increased age and low body mass index). It is a more reliable and powerful diagnostic tool than TST. However, further studies should be carried out to determine the tests with higher sensitivity and most permitted specificity.

Effect of Ficus sycomorus and Azadirachta indica extracts on liver state of mice infected with Schistosoma mansoni

The potential role of hepatoprotective and antipathological effect of Ficus sycomorus and Azadirachta indica extracts was evaluated for scavenging the reactive oxygen species [ROS] and reduced the oxidative damage and pathological changes in the liver of S. mansoni infected mice. The levels of alanine aminotransferase [ALT], asparate aminotransferase [AST] and gamma glutamyl transferase [GGT] were evaluated in the infected mice and treated orally with each plant extract 12 weeks post infection [P.I.] in a dose of 500 mg/kg of each plant extract for five consecutive days and sacrificed two weeks P.I. The infection of mice showed an elevation of ALT, AST and GGT. Treatment of mice with 70% methanol extract of each plant extract reduced significantly ALT, AST and GGT elevation. The highest reduction was with the methanolic extract of F. sycomorus [42%, 35% and 44% for ALT, AST and GGT respectively]. Fractionation of the methanolic extract of each plant was carried out. The effect of ethyl acetate and butanolic fractions of each plant was also evaluated. The result showed that the two fractions lowered the levels of the tested enzymes and decreased the number and size of granuloma diameters with an increased in the percentage of degenerated ova

Role of fluconazole prophylaxis in decreasing Candida infection and colonization among severely neutropenic children with hematological malignancies

To Assess the role of antifungal prophylaxis in decreasing Candida infection and colonization in severely neutropenic children with hematological malignancies. Sixty four patients with severe neutropenia are randomized equally into 2 groups on 1:1 basis either to receive fluconazole prophylaxis [study group], or to receive placebo [control group]. Fluconazole antifungal prophylaxis/ placebo It was continued for 6 weeks, and follow up of the patient done until either Prophylaxis success by recovery from severe neutropenia [ANC

Solid pseudopapillary tumor of the pancreas in a pregnant female: a case report

Solid pseudopapillary tumor of the pancreas is a rare neoplasm that occurs mostly in young women. Its origin remains enigmatic. This tumor is often clinically asymptomatic, yet patients may present with a gradually enlarging abdominal mass or vague abdominal pain or discomfort. Despite of its low malignant potential, 10% to 15% of the cases have aggressive behavior with metastatic dissemination. It generally carries a much better prognosis than the typical adenocarcinoma of the pancreas, and surgical excision is usually curative. We present a 30 year old female who developed colicky left loin pain and backache during the second month of her first pregnancy. Ultrasound revealed a mass in the tail of the pancreas. Distal pancreatectomy was done, the biopsy result indicated solid pseudopapillary tumor of the pancreas

case of gllucagonoma and a review the literature

Glucagonoma is a rare islet cell tumor [alpha cell tumor] of the pancreas, when active it produces a syndrome characterized by necrolytic migratory erythema, diabetes mellitus, weight loss, anemia, glossitis, thromboembolism, neuropsychatric disturbances and hyperglucagonaemia. We present a case of a large pancreatic head tumor with diabetes mellitus [DM], anemia, weight loss and muscle wasting. After complete resection of the pancreatic tumor, the hyperglycaemia subsided. Peviewing 120 cases of glucagonoma in the literature the average tumor diameter was 3.6 cm. Most of the tumors [90%] occurred in the body and the tail. Two thirds of the reported glucagonomas were malignant and 53.3% metastasizes to other organs. Necrolytic migratory erythema [NME] is not a prerequisite for the diagnosis of Glucagonoma syndrome, where anemia, hyperglycemia, muscle wasting and weight loss may be the presenting features

Castleman's Disease: two case reports, with review of literature

Castlemann's Disease [CD] is a rare disorder characterized by a benign atypical proliferation of lymphatic tissue, and can occur anywhere along the lymphatic channels in either localized or multicentric [systemic] forms. Most cases occur as a mediastinal mass, although about one quarter of cases presented as neck and abdominal masse whether nodal or extra nodal. We present tow patients, one is a 58-years old man with localized cervical mass, who was treated successfully by local excision. The other is a 30-yeasr old female complaining form a retroperitoneal mass abutting the caudate lobe of the liver, mistaken as liver haemangioma, which was then successfully removed laparoscopically. More than three years of follow-up with no recurrence noticed

Studies on evaluation of inactivated lyophilized equine influenza vaccine in Egypt

Two batches of egg adapted monovalent inactivated freeze dried equine influenza vaccine [EIV] were evaluated. There was no abnormal appearance of the freezed disc, prepared from locally isolated strains. The efficacy was tested by lab animal [Guinea pigs] and target animal [horse], The vaccine proved to be safe and potent for both guinea pigs and horses. The mean haemagglutination inhibition [HI] antibodies of the vaccine reconstituted in DEAE-Dextran solution [as a solvent and adjuvant] were 120.4 and 153.7 in G. pigs, 179.2 and 230.4 in horses for the two batches of vaccine respectively. The keeping quality of the local prepared vaccine was studied. Shelf validity was stable at 4°C for one year, could be kept at -20°C for 3 years and 10 months at 40°C

Overexpression of rice chitinase gene: evaluation of chitinase ability as a bio-antifungal agent

Seven local fungal isolates of Pyricularia grisea were purified from infected rice leaves. The total proteins were extracted and SDS-PAGE was carried out to differentiate between the expression of proteins in infected and healthy plants. SDS-PAGE analysis revealed the accumulation of 35-kDa chitinase after 16, 20, 24 and 48 hr [hours post inoculation]. Rice chitinase gene [1.023 bp] was successfully amplified from the total RNA extracted from infected rice using RT-PCR. The amplified fragment was cloned and overexpressed in E. coli BL21 cells as 6x-His- fusion protein. Recombinant chitinase fusion protein was successfully purified using Ni-NTA affinity column chromatography. Two chitinase activity assays against P. grisea were carried by the filter disc and the dissimilar concentrations plates method. The results indicated that the expressed chitinase protein had an antifungal activity against P. grisea

Potential preventive and therapeutic effects of glutathione supplementation in experimental colitis

The aim of this study was to assess the potential preventive and therapeutic effects of glurathione [GSH] on inflammatory bowel diseases [IBD] and to evaluate the use of fecal calprotectin [FC] and fecal lactoferrjn [Lf] as a non-invasive diagnostic marker of IBD. Forty albino rats were divided into four groups; group I: control group; group II: acetic acid induced colitis group, group III: after colitis induction, rats were treated with glutathione for one week [50 mg/kg, i.p.] and group IV: before the induction of colitis, rats were given a preventive dose of glutathione [200 mg/kg, i.p]. At the end of experimental period, rats were sacrificed, fecal calprotectin and lactoferrin were assessed in the different groups, the level of antioxidants in the intestine was evaluated and the severity of inflammation was histopathologically scored. Intestinal glutathione level was decreased significantly after colitis induction, however, it was significantly high in the prevention group. There was significant reduction in the antioxidant enzymes after colitis induction. However, glutathione prevention was associated with higher antioxidant enzymes compared to treatment. Various histopathological changes as inflammation, ulceration and dysplasia were detected after colitis induction and in rats treated with glutathione, however, rats supplemented with glutathione as prevention showed no ulceration and mild inflammation. In addition, colitis induction was associated with significant increase in the colonic level of FC and Lf which was significantly reduced with glutathione prevention. Glutathione prevention appeared to be beneficial for the acute stage of IBD than glurathione treatment. Moreover, intestinal antioxidant enzymes were correlated negatively with FC level. FC and Lf can be used as non-invasive and simple marker for diagnosis of IBD

Breast cancer management delay - time for improvement: a reflection from the eastern province of Saudi Arabia

Breast cancer is the commonest international malignancy among women. Its increased prevalence over recent years in our part of the world has prompted women to randomly seek medical advice. Many patients are delayed for weeks to months prior to receiving medical treatment. This review explores the causes of delay and proposes possible solutions. This review was undertaken at King Fahd Hospital of the University, a tertiary care center with the capacity of 420 beds. It accommodates a large number of referrals from the Eastern Province, other regions of the Kingdom, in addition to many walk-in patients. Most of the patients referred with breast cancer are directed to the breast clinic for treatment. There was random re-tracing of patients' steps from the discovery of the suspicious breast mass to the delivery of care. The total number of diagnosed breast cancer cases at this center between 1997-2007 was 303, with a total number of 975 registered visits. Random retracing of these patients' records identified three points of delay: community related, primary heath care and tertiary care. It was found that the patients spent 6-15 weeks and around 32-38 hand offs before receiving the final care. This unnecessary delay creates anxiety and mistrust of the operating health system leading patients to seek alternative medicine or treatment abroad. A multidisciplinary one-stop breast oncology clinic may be the solution to the above problem. It may allow the fast tracking of breast cancer patients through a highly specialized and well-trained multidisciplinary team that offers the highest quality of care, thereby optimizing the chances of cure with the least delay and possible morbidity

Study of fatigue among selected occupational groups in Egypt

Fatigue is a common yet not fully understood complaint both in general population and work environment. Due to its potential impact on performance in the workplace, it is important to examine fatigue determinants. To test use of a validated Arabic questionnaire to compare the fatigue scores in doctors, teachers and engineers, and to relate fatigue scores to personality traits and physical and psychological stresses in the work place. Three volunteer samples from each group were selected and subjected to a short questionnaire, the Eysenck Personality Questionnaire and the Multidimensional Fatigue Symptom Inventory [MFSI]. General fatigue was reported by 8.5% of doctors, 3.5% of the teachers and 3% of the engineers. In the different fatigue scales, fatigue score among doctors were the highest, followed by teachers and lastly engineers. The highest fatigue score differences were observed in somatic fatigue and cognitive fatigue scores followed by the affective and global scales and lastly the behavioral scale, Age, presence of chronic diseases, neuroticism score and extraversion score were independent determinants of fatigue scores while the respondents' personal perception of physical and psychological stresses in the work environment played minor roles. Fatigue is a common complaint among doctors, teachers and engineers. Age, personality traits, presence of a chronic disease as Well as the nature of the work are determinants of all fatigue scales