Mesenchymal stem cell and osteoarthritis: a literature review

The most common disease in the aged population is osteoarthritis [OA] that is resulting in progressive dysfunction following isolated cartilage injuries, subchondral bone remodeling, tissue loss, marginal osteophytes, and loss of joint space. Mesenchymal stem cells [MSCs] are multipotent stem cells; they are able to produce many or all joint tissues. Bone marrow and adipose tissue are rich sources of mesenchymal cells that are useful for the reconstruction of injured tissues such as bone, cartilage, or cardiac muscle. Recently, some studies have been performed on the use of the direct intra-articular injection of mononuclear cells [MNCs] and MSCs as potential therapeutic targets in OA. In this review, the history of MSCs in the treatment of OA are explained. Injection of Bone Marrow Aspirates Concentrate [BMAC] has significantly improved both joint pain and function in radiologic findings; some studies suggested that the injection would be even more effective in early to moderate phases of OA. Injection of MSCs in combination with growth factors may be better solution for the treatment

Atopic dermatitis and the therapeutic methods: a literature review

Atopic dermatitis is an inflammatory skin disease that starts in the early life and usually persists by the end of life in 20% of cases. The disease shows multiple periods of relapse, and significantly affects the patient's quality of life. The etiology of this disease is unknown, yet recent studies have reported incidence of immunological disorders and mutation in the filaggrin gene as the major causes. In some cases, concurrent incidence of infection with these inflammatory lesions reinforces the significance of treatment. Various methods of treatment such as emollients, corticosteroids, and calcineurin inhibitors are applied to manage this disorder. Traditional and complementary approaches may also help to control the disease. This disease is not usually easily controllable, thus requires full awareness of physicians on the underlying prospects of this disease. This review paper deals with the important aspects of the clinical perspectives and presents an integrative therapeutic approach for treating atopic dermatitis

effects of aqueous extract of Alpinia galangal on gastric cancer cells [AGS] and L929 cells in vitro

Although the incidence of gastric cancer is declining during the last half century, this cancer still is the second morbid cancer in the world after lung cancer. The incidence of gastric cancer is 26 per 100,000 in Iran. This study evaluated the effect of Alpinia galangal on AGS cells [human gastric adenocarcinoma epithelial cell line] and L929 cells [as a standard cell line originated from mouse fibroblast cells]. After culturing the cells in Roswell Park Memorial Institute [RPMI] medium, the cells were incubated with different doses of Alpinia galangal [0 [control], 125, 250, 500, 750 and 1000 micro g/ml] in 24, 48 and 72 hour periods and then, cells viability were assessed using MTT based cell proliferation assay. After 24 hours, the percentage of living AGS cells compared to the control group showed no significant decrease at the concentrations of 125 and 250 micro g/ml. But in the rest concentrations were significant [p<0.05]. Only, the percentage of surviving L929 cells at concentration of 125 micro g/ml of the extract was not significant, but these percentages in the other concentrations were significant. After 48 and 72h incubation, in the last three extract concentrations, the percentage of living AGS and L929 cells significantly decreased compared to control cells [p<0.05]. We have demonstrated, using cell culture model, anti-proliferative effect of aqueous extract of Alpinia galangal on human gastric tumor [AGS] and L929 cell lines. This effect was prominent in high concentrations

Osteoblastic cytokine response to gray and white mineral trioxide aggregate

The materials used for root-end filling and perforation repair are in direct contact with live tissues e.g. bone and connective tissue; their effects however, are uncertain. The aim of this ex vivo study was to evaluate the osteoblastic secretory activity adjacent to gray and white mineral trioxide aggregate [MTA] and Intermediate Restorative Material [IRM]. The studied materials were prepared and placed in 24-wells plate. Human MG-63 osteoblasts were introduced to materials after their initial set. The supernatant fluid was collected after 1, 3, and 7 days and the level of interleukin-1beta was measured by ELISA test. A microscopic exam was also performed to assess proliferation and viability of the cells. Kruskal-Wallis and Tukey tests were used for analysis. There were significant higher levels of interleukin-1beta in the gray and white MTA groups compared to IRM group [P<0.05]. The difference in interleukin-1beta secretion level between two mineral trioxide aggregate groups was not significant [P>0.05]. Morphologic appearance of osteoblasts adjacent to gray and white MTA was similar to normal osteoblasts in all observation periods, however cells adjacent to IRM were round, signifying cytotoxicity of the adjacent material. Human osteoblasts' has a favorable biologic response to white and gray MTA compared to IRM

Alternaria in patients with allergic rhinitis

Inhalation of fungal spores is shown to participate in the development of allergic rhinitis symptoms. In this study, relation between presence of Alternaria in the human nasal cavity and allergic rhinitis is assessed. In a case-control study, 58 allergic rhinitis patients were compared with a well-matched control group of fifty healthy volunteers for sensitization to Alternaria [by skin prick test] and detection of Alternaria in their nasal mucous by conventional methods [microscopy with Methylene Blue stain and culture in Sabourad dextrose agar]. Severity of the disease was determined according to the ARIA classification. Pearson chi-square test was applied to compare the proportional difference between the study groups for detection of Alternaria in the nasal cavity, and sensitization to Alternaria. Relation between detection of Alternaria and allergic rhinitis was significant [OR = 18.18 [4.02-82.50]] In addition, sensitization to Alternaria showed a significant relation with the disease [OR = 2.8 [2.1-3.8]]. There was a significant relation between the presence of Alternaria in the nasal cavity and sensitization to Alternaria [OR = 10.4 [3.8-28.3]]. Both sensitization to Alternaria and presence of Alternaria in the nasal cavity did not have a significant relation with the severity of allergic rhinitis. This study suggests Alternaria as a major allergen that its presence in the nasal cavity and subsequent development of sensitization have significant role in the induction of allergic rhinitis

Serum interleukin 8 level as a diagnostic marker in late neonatal sepsis

Late-onset sepsis is responsible for high morbidity and mortality in newborn infants in the world and in particular in developing countries. In this study, we evaluated whether clinical characteristics, laboratory parameters and measurements of serum interleukin-8 [IL-8] are able to discriminate between late neonatal sepsis and normal baby. This was a prospective [case-control] study conducted between March 2007 and April 2008, at the neonatal intensive care unit, Ghaem Hospital, Mashhad, Iran. The study comprised 93 neonates >/= 72 hours of life. The infants were categorized in two groups based on the clinical presentation, and biochemical markers including complete blood count, C-reactive protein [CRP] and blood culture: 1] Control group including 42 infants with routine screening and 2] Case group consisting of 38 infants with definitive infection [positive blood and/or cerebrospinal fluid culture] or clinical sepsis [clinical and laboratory signs of infection without positive blood or CSF culture]. Receiver-operating characteristic curves were used for the determination of thresholds for the infection group versus healthy neonate group. Eighty infants were enrolled in this study. IL-8 and CRP decreased in order of definitive infection, clinical sepsis and healthy subjects respectively [P<0.001]. Sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, negative predictive value for serum levels were 0.95, 0.1, 0.97, 0.1 for IL-8 and 0.83, 0.86, 0.83, 0.69 for CRP respectively [cut-off point for IL-8 >60pg/ml and for CRP>6mg/dl]. IL-8 may be a valid and early predictive marker of neonatal infection. Also, IL-8 is associated with seventy of infection