Germplasm resources and secondary metabolism regulation in Reishi mushroom (Ganoderma lucidum) / 中草药·英文版

Ganoderma lucidum is a valuable medical macrofungus with a myriad of diverse secondary metabolites, in which triterpenoids are the major constituents. This paper introduced the germplasm resources of genus Ganoderma from textual research, its distribution and identification at the molecular level. Also we overviewed G. lucidum in the components, the biological activities and biosynthetic pathways of ganoderic acid, aiming to provide scientific evidence for the development and utilization of G. lucidum germplasm resources and the biosynthesis of ganoderic acid.

Reparative dentin formation using stem cell therapy versus calcium hydroxide in direct pulp capping: an animal study

Abstract Direct pulp capping process is a therapeutic method aimed at maintenance of pulp vitality and health by using a biocompatible material placed directly over the exposed pulp. The aim of this study was to evaluate and compare the effect of direct pulp capping procedures by dental pulp stem cells (DPSCs) or calcium hydroxide on dentin tissue formation. Three mongrel dogs were used as experimental model. Two access cavities were prepared in the right and left mandibular fourth premolars in all dogs to expose and extirpate the pulp tissues which were processed in the lab to obtain a single-cell suspensions. The isolated cells were cultures in odontogenic medium for subsequent differentiation. The maxillary teeth (3 incisors and one canine) of the corresponding dog number were subjected to class V cavities to expose their pulps which were assigned into 2 groups of 12 teeth each ( group I - pulp capping with calcium hydroxide) and (group II - pulp capping with dental stem cells DPSCs). The operated teeth were collected after 3 months and processed for histological and electron microscopic examinations. Specimens were subjected to elemental analysis of calcium and phosphorus. EDX elemental analysis revealed significant differences in the calcium and phosphorous wt, % in the reparative dentin of calcium hydroxide treated group which confirmed histologically. Direct pulp capping by DPSCs has shown promising generative potential for regaining normal dentin.

Resumo O processo de capeamento pulpar direto é um método terapêutico que visa a manutenção da vitalidade e saúde da polpa, usando um material biocompatível colocado diretamente sobre a polpa exposta. O objetivo deste estudo foi avaliar e comparar o efeito do capeamento pulpar direto usando células-tronco da polpa dentária (CTPDs) ou hidróxido de cálcio sobre o tecido da dentina formação. Três cães sem raça definida foram utilizados como modelo experimental. Duas cavidades de acesso foram preparados nos quartos pré-molares inferiores direito e esquerdo em todos os cães para expor e extirpar os tecidos pulpares que foram processados ​​em laboratório para obter suspensões de uma célula única. As células isoladas foram cultivadas em meio odontogênico para posterior diferenciação. Os dentes superiores (3 incisivos e um canino) do respectivo cão foram submetidos ao preparo de cavidades classe V para expor suas polpas, as quais foram atribuídas a 2 grupos de 12 dentes cada (grupo I - capeamento pulpar com hidróxido de cálcio) e (grupo II - capeamento pulpar com CTPDs). Os dentes operados foram extraídos após 3 meses e processado para exames histológicos e por microscopia eletrônica de varredura. Os espécimes foram submetidos a análises elementares de cálcio e fósforo. Análise elementar por EDX revelaram diferenças significativas no peso de cálcio e fósforo, % na massa reparadora dentina do grupo tratado com hidróxido de cálcio, o que foi confirmado histologicamente. O capeamento pulpar com CTPDs mostrou potencial promissor para recuperar a dentina normal.

Predictive value of hepcidin in patients with chronic hepatitis C infection among egyptians

Background Iron is essential for oxygen transport and energy production, but it is potentially toxic through generation of oxidative stress. Patients with chronic hepatitis C [CHC] infection frequently have serum and hepatic iron overload, which is a cofactor for disease progression. Human hepcidin, a 25-amino acid peptide produced by hepatocytes, is considered a new mediator of innate immunity and master iron-regulatory hormone.Aim To determine clinical relevance of hepcidin in patients with CHC infection and whether it correlates with markers of hepatic inflammation and iron status in those patients

Patients and methods This study included 80 [54 patients and 26 controls] individual who were matched in age and sex. Serum hepcidin levels and serum iron status were determined. Their levels were correlated with each other and with other laboratory parameters

Results Mean serum hepcidin levels were significantly lower in patients with CHC than in controls [P=0.001]. Patients with CHC had significantly higher mean values of serum iron and ferritin than controls [P=0.001 and 0.017, respectively]. There was a significant negative correlation between hepcidin levels and alanine aminotransferase, [r=-0.454, P<0.001], aspartate aminotransferase [r=-0.440; P=0.001], and serum iron [r=-0.453, P=0.001], whereas hepcidin levels correlated positively with ferritin [r=0.105, P=0.017], platelets count [r=0.245, P=0.028], and hepatitis C virus RNA level [r=0.308, P=0.023]

Conclusion Adequate levels of hepcidin may improve severity of liver disease and may contribute to management of patients with CHC

impact of antithyroid antibodies on pregnancy outcome following intracytoplasmic sperm injection [icsi] cycle

Background: the presence of antithyroid antibodies [ATA] are frequently encountered in general population and approximately 1/5 of childbearing age women are positive for the antithyroid peroxidase antibody [TPO-Ab] or antithyroglobulin antibody [TG-Ab]. Autoimmune thyroid diseases are rather frequent in women in the childbearing age, affecting 5-20% of them. They are characterized by the presence of antithyroglobulin and antithyroperoxidase antibodies, grouped under the definition of ATA. ATA are often detected in subjects complaining of hypo- or hyperthyroidism, but are no rarely found in patients without any sign of thyroid dysfunction

Aim of the Work: to investigate the impact of antithyroid antibodies on pregnancy outcome in cases of one or two failure of Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection [ICSI] cycle

Patients and Methods: the present study is a prospective study. This study was conducted at Ahmed Oraby IVF center [private center], and was approved by the Medical Ethical Committee of Al-Azhar University. Informed consent was obtained from every patient according to Hospital Ethics Committee. Age of patients, diseases status and previous treatments were recorded. This study was done on 50 patients complaining of infertility with history of one or two failure of ICSI cycle and patients divided into two groups, in the ATA positive group, 25 women were positive for TG-Ab and/or TPO-Ab, 25 women negative for TG-Ab and/or TPO-Ab served as controls. All patients did not receive any adjuvant treatment, such as glucocorticoids, anticoagulants, or other adjuvants. Patients with other autoimmune diseases, or positive for anticardiolipin antibody, antinuclear antibody, lupus anticoagulant, or rheumatoid factor were excluded from this study

Results: there were no significant differences in age, BMI, basal LH, FSH levels, cause of infertility and duration of infertility between two main groups. No significant differences in terms of the days of ovarian stimulation, estradiol level, total gonadotropins dose, number of oocytes retrieved, available embryos and blactocysts number neither of embryos transferred nor in rates of fertilization, implantation and clinical pregnancy between two main groups were found. The only statistically significant among the ATA positive group increase the abortion rate was found p value 0.02

Conclusion: patients with anti-TPO antibodies showed no significant differences in fertilization, implantation, pregnancy rates, live birth rates but higher risk for miscarriage following intracytoplasmatic sperm injection-ICSI and embryo transfer when compared with those negative for anti-thyroid antibodies

Reporting of the circumferential tumour margin involvement and preoperative levels of carcinoembryonic antigen as prognostic risk factors in colorectal cancer patients

Background and study aims: The two very important prognostic risk factors of colorectal cancer are circumferential tumour margin [CTM] involvement and preoperative levels of carcinoembryonic antigen [CEA]. The aim of this study is to monitor the frequency of reporting of the CTM in the postoperative pathology reports after colorectal cancer resection in addition to monitoring the frequency of reporting of preoperative levels of CEA and exploring the possibility of improving the frequency of reporting of both

Patients and methods: Reports of the CTM and preoperative level of CEA were found in 730 [664 retrospective and 66 prospective] patients with colorectal cancer. The possibility of improving the incidence of reporting was estimated by comparing the reporting frequency of both [retrospective and prospective] groups

Results: The percentage of reporting the involvement of the CTM was 46.08% and 81.81% for the retrospective group and the prospective group, respectively. The percentage of reporting the preoperative CEA levels was 40.9% and 68.7% for the retrospective and the prospective groups, respectively. There was a statistically significant difference in reporting both CTMs and the preoperative level of CEA between retrospective and prospective groups to the side of prospective group in which the p-value was <0.0001 for both groups

Conclusion: There was inadequate reporting of both the CTM involvement and preoperative levels of CEA in the retrospective patients with statistically significant improvement of this reporting in patients in the prospective group. This may point to the unawareness of the importance of both in the prognosis of colorectal cancer, which may be because both are not involved in the widely used tumour, node, metastasis [TNM] staging system

Aided air conduction threshold as a predictor of cochlear reserve in otosclerosis patients

Otosclerosis is a primary disease of tile otic capsule and the ossicles. Otosclerosis is one such surgically correctable cause of conductive deafness. Patients with elevated bone conduction [BC] thresholds and Poor Cochlear reserve, are not considered a good candidate for otosclerosis surgery. Sometimes, it might he difficult to decide to operate these patients considering relatively poor cochlear function. However, sometimes we may label a conductive or mixed hearing loss as essentially or purely sensorineural, "Due to the phenomenon known as Carhart's notch". Up to our knowledge there is no objective test to estimate the true cochlear reserve in otosclerosis patients. The rationale behind this study was the lack of easy and accurate clinical method to estimate the true cochlear reserve and to predict the hearing threshold outcome post operatively. The objective of this study was to evaluate the aided air pure tone thresholds as an easy, accurate way to estimate the true cochlear reserve

Neodymium: yag laser coagulation of the prostate in surgical risk patients

Transurethral Neodymium:YAG laser coagulation of the prostate gland was used to treat benign prostatic hyperplasia in 36 surgical risk patients, who had either significant lower urinary tract symptoms or urinary retention. The mean International Prostate Symptom Score [IPSS] decreased from 26.8 to 9.6, then increased to 14.2. The mean maximum flow rate [Qmax] increased from 8.3 to 15.1 ml/s and then decreased to 10.6 ml/s. The average residual urine volume [PVR] decreased from 139.3 to 65 ml, then increased to 87.5 ml at 12th and 60th months, respectively. Catheters were removed after seven days. Seven out of the 36 patients required re-catheterization within the first visit. Repeated interference was needed in 12 of the 36 patients. From the results obtained it was concluded that, aggressive Nd:YAG laser prostatectomy is safe and effective for high surgical risk patients with obstructive prostates and produces good results that are sustained for up to two years. On the contrary, the durability of this procedure is significantly decreased after three years with high incidence of re-treatment rate