Biocompatible scaffolds based on collagen and oxidized dextran for endothelial cell survival and function in tissue engineering.

Angiogenesis is a vital step in tissue regeneration. Hence, the current study aimed to prepare oxidized dextran (Odex)/collagen (Col)-hydrogels with laminin (LMN), as an angiogenic extracellular matrix (ECM) component, for promoting human umbilical vein endothelial cell (HUVEC) proliferation and function. Odex/Col scaffolds were constructed at various concentrations and temperatures.

Immune Cell-Derived Extracellular Vesicles in the Face of Pathogenic Infections.

Extracellular Vesicles (EVs) are a collection of vesicles released from cells that play an important role in intercellular communication. Microbial infections are known as one of the major problems in the medical field. Considering the increasing resistance of strains to routine drug treatments, the need for new therapies seems to be more than ever.

The correlation between the cerebroplacental ratio and fetal arterial blood gas in appropriate-for-gestational-age fetuses: A cross-sectional study.

Background: The cerebroplacental ratio (CPR) is an important index for predicting adverse pregnancy outcomes in small-for-gestational-age and appropriate-for-gestational-age fetuses.

Objective: To find out whether there is an association between the CPR level and the blood cord gases analysis in appropriate for gestational age fetuses.

Materials And Methods: This cross-sectional study included 347 pregnant women at the gestational age of 37-40 wk.

The potential of the incorporated collagen microspheres in alginate hydrogel as an engineered three-dimensional microenvironment to attenuate apoptosis in human pancreatic islets.

Background: Tissue engineering is considered as a promising tool for remodeling the native cells microenvironment. In the present study, the effect of alginate hydrogel and collagen microspheres integrated with extracellular matrix components were evaluated in the decrement of apoptosis in human pancreatic islets.

Materials/methods: For three-dimensional culture, the islets were encapsulated in collagen microspheres, containing laminin and collagen IV and embedded in alginate scaffold for one week.

Incorporation of VEGF-and bFGF-loaded alginate oxide particles in acellular collagen-alginate composite hydrogel to promote angiogenesis.

Background: The use of growth factors in tissue engineering is often challenging due to their instability and short half-life. The delivery of growth factors with nanocarriers can eliminate these problems. In the present study, we introduced an alginate oxide particle in acellular collagen-alginate composite hydrogel platform for the immobilization and controlled release of VEGF and bFGF to promote angiogenesis.

Exosomes derived from human mesenchymal stem cells preserve mouse islet survival and insulin secretion function.

Islet cell death and loss of function after isolation and before transplantation is considered a key barrier to successful islet transplantation outcomes. Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) have been used to protect isolated islets owing to their paracrine potential partially through the secretion of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF). The paracrine functions of MSCs are also mediated, at least in part, by the release of extracellular vesicles including exosomes.

The effect of human wharton's jelly-derived mesenchymal stem cells on MC4R, NPY, and LEPR gene expression levels in rats with streptozotocin-induced diabetes.

Objectives: Type 1 diabetes (T1D) is an autoimmune disease resulting from inflammatory destruction of islets β-cells. Nowadays, progress in cell therapy, especially mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) proposes numerous potential remedies for T1D. We aimed to investigate the combination therapeutic effect of these cells with insulin and metformin on neuropeptide Y, melanocortin-4 receptor, and leptin receptor genes expression in TID.

A Novel Cell Therapy Method for Recovering after Brain Stroke in Rats.

Background: Nowadays, stroke leads to a significant part of the adult mortality and morbidity and also it could result in some neurological deficits in the patients' lives. Cell therapy has opened a new approach to treat the brain ischemia and reduce its terrible effects on the patients' lives. There are several articles which show that the cell therapy could be beneficial for treating brain stroke.

The Preventive Effects of Neural Stem Cells and Mesenchymal Stem Cells Intra-ventricular Injection on Brain Stroke in Rats.

Introduction: Stroke is one of the most important causes of disability in developed countries and, unfortunately, there is no effective treatment for this major problem of central nervous system (CNS); cell therapy may be helpful to recover this disease. In some conditions such as cardiac surgeries and neurosurgeries, there are some possibilities of happening brain stroke. Inflammation of CNS plays an important role in stroke pathogenesis, in addition, apoptosis and neural death could be the other reasons of poor neurological out come after stroke.

Combination cell therapy with mesenchymal stem cells and neural stem cells for brain stroke in rats.

Objectives: Brain stroke is the second most important events that lead to disability and morbidity these days. Although, stroke is important, there is no treatment for curing this problem. Nowadays, cell therapy has opened a new window for treating central nervous system disease.

Expression of melanocortin-4 receptor and agouti-related peptide mRNAs in arcuate nucleus during long term malnutrition of female ovariectomized rats.

Objective: Melanocortin-4 receptor (MC4R) and agouti-related peptide (AgRP) are involved in energy homeostasis in the rat. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the expression of MC4R and AgRP mRNAs in arcuate nucleus (ARC) during long term malnutrition of female ovariectomized rats.

Materials And Methods: Ten female ovariectomized rats were divided into two equal groups (n=6) of normal and restricted diet groups.