[Assessment of functional recovery of contusive spinal cord injury by administration of [-]-Deprenyl in rats]

In this study, the functional recovery of female rats with contusive spinal cord injury [SCI] model was evaluated after administration of [-]-deprenyl. A total of 18 Sprague Dawley female rats were selected for the study and randomly allocated into equal groups [n=6]; control, sham and [-]-deprenyl-treated groups. All animals were laminectomized at T13 level. Based on the weight dropping technique contusion was induced in both control and [-]-deprenyl-treated groups. [-]-deprenyl group received daily injections of 0.1 mg/kg [-]-deprenyl and other group received intra peritoneal [IP] injection of equal amount of normal saline for 14 days. BBB test was carried out in all groups at the first day and at the end of each week after induction of injury for eighth weeks. Spared tissue volume and the number of motoneurons at the site of lesion were measured and compared by means of frozen sections of spinal cord. In contrast to control group, [-]-deprenyl-treated group showed a significant increase in motor ability at all times except for the first day [P <0.05]. In the [-]-deprenyl-treated group the mean volume of spared spinal cord and the mean number of motor neurons were more than those of control group significantly [P<0.05].The results of this study indicated that [-]-deprenyl probably protected motor neurons and spinal cord white matter; hence, it caused motor recovery in contusive SCI model in female rats

[Assessment of capability of fetal and adult neural stem cells to differentiate into endothelial cells]

Neural stem cells exist in various regions of the developing and adult central nervous system [CNS]. They are undifferentiated cells, capable of both self-renewal and producing neurons and glial cells. In addition to generating different types of neural cells, NSCs are capable of producing cells of other tissues. In this study NSCs were isolated from mouse brain and their capability of differentiation into endothelial cells was evaluated. Neural stem cells [NSCs] were isolated from lateral wall of the lateral ventricle of the adult and fetal mouse brain and cultured in serum-free DMEM-F12 medium in the presence of basic fibroblast growth factor [bFGF], epidermal growth factor [EGF] and B27 supplement. Neurospheres were plated on the fibronectin coated culture slides. DMEM-F12 media supplemented with 10% FBS was used for differentiation of NSCs into endothelial cells. Differentiated cells were evaluated by Immuno-histochemistery, RT-PCR and tube formation assays. The results of this study revealed culture of fetal neural stem cells in fibronectin coated and also DMEM-F12 media containing 10% FRS led to differentiation of NSCs into endothelial cells. When differentiated cells were transferred into extra cellular matrix or matrigel, they produced capillary like structures characteristic of endothelial cells. The results of immuno-histo-chemistry and RT-PCR showed differentiated cells can absorb low density lipoproteins and express CD31, VE, cadherin and Flk-1 genes, and also can adhere to BS-1lectin. Unlike neural stem cells isolated from mouse fetus, the isolated cells from adult mouse brain did not differentiate into endothelial cells.This study reveals neural stem cells isolated from fetal mouse brain and adult mouse brain do not show similar behavior in differentiating into endothelial cells

Gastric pull-up reconstruction for pharyngolaryngoesophagectomy in head and neck cancer and cervical esophageal squamous cell carcinoma

There are many techniques for reconstruction after total pharyngolaryngoesophagectomy. The use of a transposed stomach to restore gastrointestinal continuity, and this combined cervical and abdominal approach for pharyngolaryngoesophagectomy and gastric pull up has become one of the most popular. This retrospective study is a review of 50 consecutive Iranian patients who underwent pharyngolaryngoesophagectomy and gastric pull up in Amir-Alam Hospital affiliated to Tehran University of Medical Sciences, to determine the complication and survival rates. The clinical data of 50 consecutive cases of cervical esophagus carcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma of the hypopharynx treated by pharyngolaryngoesophagectomy and gastric pull-up were analysed. The age, gender, operating room time, operative mortality, major postoperative complications and survival rate were retrieved. Survival time was studied using Kaplan-Meier method. The postoperative complications were wound infection in five patients, pulmonary complications in ten, Stomal stenosis in six, cutaneous fistula in four, Gastric outlet obstruction in three. There were no intraoperative deaths. One month mortality was 10 per cent. The median survival for patients who underwent pharyngolaryngoesophagectomy and gastric pull-up procedures was 21 months and the 5-year survival was 18%

effect of folic acid on plasma zinc concentration in female rats

Considering the relation of teratogenecity with decreased plasma zinc level and expression of hypotheses concerning effect of folic acid on absorption of zinc, this study was designed to deal with the effect of folic acid on plasma zinc concentration in female rats. In this experimental study we assigned 12 albino rats randomly in 2 groups [6 rats in each group]. The rats had been bred in equal environmental and nutritional slates. Control and experimental groups received intra-peritoneal injections of normal saline 4 CC/Kg and folic acid 4 Mg/Kg respectively. All the rats were beheaded and plasma zinc concentration was measured by use of flameless atomic absorption method. Quantitative data presented as Mean +/- SD, were analyzed by means of T-test. Mean plasma zinc levels in the experimental and control groups were 27.90 +/- 2.23, and 42.1 +/- 0,579 respectively [p=0.000] [t=15.14]. These results indicate that intra-peritoneal injection of folic acid decreases plasma zinc concentration in rats. This adverse effect of folic acid may play a role in the development of congenital defects. Therefore we believe that administration of zinc during pregnancy is at least as important as the administration of folic acid, to prevent occurrence of congenial anomalies

Combination therapy with pulse cyclophosphamide plus corticosteroids improves renal outcome in patients with lupus nephritis

The prognosis of SLE is influenced by the onset of glomerulonephritis. Clinical trials in lupus nephritis have demonstrated that cyclophosphamide therapy is the superior regimen in the management of lupus nephritis for preserving renal function. The purpose of this study is to define the outcome of renal function with bolus pulses of cyclophosphamide and steroid according to our protocol and also to determine an appropriate pattern of treatment of lupus nephritis. In this open-label clinical trial, to evaluate the results, the short-term prognosis and the rate of complications of an immunosuppressive regimen with corticosteroids and cyclophosphamide; twenty-five patients with biopsy-proven lupus nephritis were studied. Treatment was structured in 4 phases: 1] Induction with bolus methylprednisolone and cyclophosphamide. 2] Maintenance with oral prednisolone for 4 weeks and monthly cyclophosphamide pulses for 6 months. 3] Tapering with reduction of prednisolone by 10% each month and continuing cyclophosphamide every other month till one year and for the second year every 3 months. 4] Discontinuation with oral prednisolone slowly tapered to the least effective daily dose and cyclophosphamide discontinued after 2 yr of therapy. We defined primary outcome measures according to these criteria: renal function return to normal limits or become stable, regression of systemic and local inflammatory symptoms, urine protein excretion falling below 0.3 gr/ dL or by at least 50%, RBC cast disappearance, C3, C4, Hb, and ESR return to normal limits.Twenty-three patients with lupus nephritis completed our therapeutic protocol. Renal biopsy was performed in 22 cases and indicated type IV in 20 patients [95.2%], and type V in 2 patients. After an average of 4+1.95 months 22 patients achieved remission [95.65%] and only one case remained non-responsive. She became pregnant in her fourth month of therapy. Significant statistical differences were achieved between creatinine, proteinuria, hematuria, leukocyturia, urinary cast, C3, C4, ESR, and Hb before and after therapy [p<0.05]. Plasma creatinine fell from 1.44+0.95 mg/dL to 0.97+0.78 [p<0.004]. Proteinuria fell from 1879.78+1854.46 to 408.34+572.92 mg/24h [p<0.001]. Thirteen episode of relapses were treated again with repeated cycles of Cyclophosphamide and all remitted again.Intensive immunosuppression with steroid and Cyclophosphamide provides excellent results with an acceptable rate of complications in the treatment of lupus nephritis