Mesenchymal Stem Cells Pretreatment With Stromal-Derived Factor-1 Alpha Augments Cardiac Function and Angiogenesis in Infarcted Myocardium.

Background: Stem cell therapy is among the novel approaches for the treatment of post-myocardial infarction cardiomyopathy. This study aims to compare the effect of stromal-derived factor 1 α (SDF1α), mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) in combination with the lentiviral production of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) on infarct area, vascularization and eventually cardiac function in a rat model of myocardial infarction (MI).

Methods: The influence of SDf1α on MSCs survival was investigated.

Synthesis and characterization of novel Tc-DGC nano-complexes for improvement of heart diagnostic.

In this research, early diagnosis of cardiovascular diseases can reduce their mortality and burden. In our study, we developed a new nano-agent, Tc-Dendrimer Glyco Conjugate (Tc-DGC), and assessed its safety and capability for myocardial viability scan. To develop Tc-DGC, we first synthesized the dendrimer and then, glucose has been conjugated.

The greater effect of high-intensity interval training versus moderate-intensity continuous training on cardioprotection against ischemia-reperfusion injury through Klotho levels and attenuate of myocardial TRPC6 expression.

Background: Myocardial ischemia-reperfusion (IR) injury is a leading cause of death all over the world, so developing practical approaches to promote cardioprotection against IR injury is essential. Exercise training is an effective strategy to improve cardioprotection. Hence, the purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of short-term preconditioning with two types of high-intensity interval training (HIIT) and moderate intensity continuous training (MICT) on klotho and TRPC6 mechanisms in cardioprotection.

Mesenchymal stem cells from human amniotic membrane differentiate into cardiomyocytes and endothelial-like cells without improving cardiac function after surgical administration in rat model of chronic heart failure.

Human amnion-derived mesenchymal stem cells (hAMSCs) have been used in the treatment of acute myocardial infarction. In the current study, we investigated the efficacy of hAMSCs for the treatment of chronic model of myocardial ischemia and heart failure (HF) in rats. Male Wistar rats weighing between 250 to 350 g were randomized into three groups: sham, HF control and HF+hAMSCs.

Gd @CNTs-PEG versus Gadovist®: In Vitro Assay.

Objectives: Carbon nanotubes (CNTs) are allotropes of carbon with a length-to-diameter ratio greater than 10 with the potential uses as medical diagnostic or therapeutic agents. In vitro studies have revealed that gadolinium (Gd) nanoparticle-catalyzed single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) possess superparamagnetic properties, which enable them to be used as contrast agents in magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Our study synthesized Gd-CNT for use as MRI contrast agents.

High-intensity interval training increase GATA4, CITED4 and c-Kit and decreases C/EBPβ in rats after myocardial infarction.

Aim: Myocardial infarction (MI), an important cause of morbidity and mortality, can be followed by left ventricular dysfunction and cardiomyocyte loss. Cardiac repair mechanisms may subsequently improve left ventricular function. Exercise training has been suggested to have cardioprotective effects against MI damage, but detailed knowledge is lacking on the effects of different types and intensities of exercise training on molecular targets of cardiomyocyte regeneration.

Targeting necroptotic cell death pathway by high-intensity interval training (HIIT) decreases development of post-ischemic adverse remodelling after myocardial ischemia / reperfusion injury.

Regulated necrosis (necroptosis) plays a pivotal role in the extent of cardiomyocyte loss and the development of post-ischemic adverse remodelling and cardiac dysfunction following myocardial I/R injury. Although HIIT has been reported to give rise to cardioprotection against MI, but the detailed knowledge of its molecular targets for treatment of MI is still not available. The LAD of Male Wistar rats was occluded to induce MI for 30 min and reperfusion for eight weeks.

Transient Activation of Reprogramming Transcription Factors Using Protein Transduction Facilitates Conversion of Human Fibroblasts Toward Cardiomyocyte-Like Cells.

Derivation of cardiomyocytes directly from patients' own fibroblasts could offer a new therapeutic approach for those with ischemic heart disease. An essential step toward clinical application is to establish safe conversion of human fibroblasts into a cardiac fate. Here we aimed to efficiently and safely generate cardiomyocytes from human fibroblasts by direct delivery of reprogramming recombinant cell permeant form of reprogramming proteins followed by cardio-inductive signals.

Novel 99mTc-Radiolabeled Anionic Linear Globular PEG-Based Dendrimer-Chlorambucil: Non-Invasive Method for In-Vivo Biodistribution.

Chlorambucil (CBL) is an alkylating agent, which widely use in the treatment of various types of tumors. The main purpose of this study is to evaluate the in-vivo biodistribution of CBL conjugated to the anionic dendrimer, which has a great ability to labeled with Tc through binding to carboxylate terminate groups. Whole body scans were used to analyze the percentage of the injected dose in different times.

Improvement of Heart Failure by Human Amniotic Mesenchymal Stromal Cell Transplantation in Rats.

Recently, stem cells have been considered for the treatment of heart diseases, but no marked improvement has been recorded. This is the first study to examine the functional and histological effects of the transplantation of human amniotic mesenchymal stromal cells (hAMSCs) in rats with heart failure (HF). This study was conducted in the years 2014 and 2015.

Estimation of intraoperative brain shift by combination of stereovision and doppler ultrasound: phantom and animal model study.

Purpose: Combination of various intraoperative imaging modalities potentially can reduce error of brain shift estimation during neurosurgical operations. In the present work, a new combination of surface imaging and Doppler US images is proposed to calculate the displacements of cortical surface and deformation of internal vessels in order to estimate the targeted brain shift using a Finite Element Model (FEM). Registration error in each step and the overall performance of the method are evaluated.

Echocardiographic evaluation of cardiac function in ischemic rats: value of m-mode echocardiography.

Background: Echocardiography is a well-established diagnostic tool for a safe, reproducible and accurate evaluation of cardiac anatomy, hemodynamics and function in clinical practice.

Objectives: We sought to demonstrate the efficacy and feasibility of M-mode echocardiography to evaluate cardiac structure and function in normal and MI-induced adult rats.

Materials And Methods: All animal procedures were approved by the ethics committee of Tehran University of Medical Sciences and the investigation conformed to the "Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals" published by the United States National Institutes of Health.

Dehydroepiandrosterone stimulates nerve growth factor and brain derived neurotrophic factor in cortical neurons.

Due to the increasing cases of neurodegenerative diseases in recent years, the eventual goal of nerve repair is very important. One approach for achieving a neuronal cell induction is by regenerative pharmacology. Nerve growth factor (NGF) and brain derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) are neurotrophins that play roles in neuronal development, differentiation, and protection.

Neurogenesis and increase in differentiated neural cell survival via phosphorylation of Akt1 after fluoxetine treatment of stem cells.

Fluoxetine (FLX) is a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI). Its action is possibly through an increase in neural cell survival. The mechanism of improved survival rate of neurons by FLX may relate to the overexpression of some kinases such as Akt protein.

Outcome improvement of cellular cardiomyoplasty using triple therapy: mesenchymal stem cell+erythropoietin+vascular endothelial growth factor.

To improve cellular cardiomyoplasty efficacy after myocardial infarction (MI), we postulated that combining mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) transplantation with anti-apoptotic and angiogenic effects of erythropoietin (EPO) and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) may provide better prognosis in an infarcted heart 48 rats, underwent left anterior descending artery ligation, were divided into eight groups and treated as follows: Group 1: MSC+EPO+VEGF, Group 2: MSC+EPO, Group 3: MSC+VEGF, Group 4: MSC, Group 5: EPO+VEGF, Group 6: EPO, Group 7: VEGF and Group 8: Control. After MI induction, EPO and VEGF were injected subcutaneously at the dose of 3000 U/kg and 3 µg/kg respectively. MSCs were transplanted one week after MI.