Stem-Cell-Based Therapy: The Celestial Weapon against Neurological Disorders.

Stem cells are a versatile source for cell therapy. Their use is particularly significant for the treatment of neurological disorders for which no definitive conventional medical treatment is available. Neurological disorders are of diverse etiology and pathogenesis.

Association of Polymorphisms in Antioxidant Enzyme-Encoding Genes with Diabetic Nephropathy in a Group of Saudi Arabian Patients with Type II Diabetes Mellitus.

Introduction: An imbalance between reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation and the defence mechanisms underlying the activity of antioxidant enzymes has been demonstrated as the leading pathology in diabetes mellitus (DM)-related microvascular complications.

Purpose: This study aims to evaluate the association between polymorphisms in antioxidant enzyme-encoding genes: catalase (CAT); manganese superoxide dismutase (Mn-SOD); glutathione S transferase M1 (GSTM1); and GSTT1 glutathione S transferase T1 (GSTT1), and the risk of type II diabetic nephropathy (DN) in the Saudi population.

Patients And Methods: The present study involved 64 type II DM patients with nephropathy and 64 type II diabetes patients without nephropathy from the King Abdulaziz University (KAU) Hospital.

BrainFD: Measuring the Intracranial Brain Volume With Fractal Dimension.

A few methods and tools are available for the quantitative measurement of the brain volume targeting mainly brain volume loss. However, several factors, such as the clinical conditions, the time of the day, the type of MRI machine, the brain volume artifacts, the pseudoatrophy, and the variations among the protocols, produce extreme variations leading to misdiagnosis of brain atrophy. While brain white matter loss is a characteristic lesion during neurodegeneration, the main objective of this study was to create a computational tool for high precision measuring structural brain changes using the fractal dimension (FD) definition.

Knowledge and Patterns of Dietary Supplement Use among Students Attending King Abdulaziz University in Saudi Arabia: A Cross-Sectional Study.

Oral dietary supplements (DSs) include vitamins, minerals, amino acids, energy drinks, and herbal products. The use of DSs is increasing and their manufacturers promote their benefits. Studies have validated some of these benefits, but have also indicated that some DSs can have adverse effects, especially if used without the appropriate supervision.

Association of Serum Omentin-1, Chemerin, and Leptin with Acute Myocardial Infarction and its Risk Factors.

Objective: To determine the association of serum omentin-1, chemerin, and leptin with acute myocardial infarction (AMI) and its risk factors among individuals admitted with AMI to the coronary care unit (CCU).

Methods: The current case-control study was conducted at the CCU of King Abdulaziz University Hospital (KAUH), Jeddah, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA), in 2016-2018. A total of 122 AMI patients admitted to CCU, and 52 BMI and age-matched healthy subjects, between 30 and 65 years of age, were included.

Induction of Osteogenic Differentiation of Mesenchymal Stem Cells by Bioceramic Root Repair Material.

This study aimed to evaluate the osteogenic activity of Endosequence Root Repair Material (ERRM) putty using rat mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs). The extract of set ERRM and ProRoot-mineral trioxide aggregate (MTA) (control) was cocultured with rat MSCs and incubated for one, three, and seven days. The cell viability and proliferation were assessed.

Tissue Engineering of Necrotic Dental Pulp of Immature Teeth with Apical Periodontitis in Dogs: Radiographic and Histological Evaluation.

Aim: To evaluate tissue engineering technology to regenerate pulp-dentin like tissues in pulp canals of immature necrotic permanent teeth with apical periodontitis in dogs.

Study Design: The study was performed on 36 teeth in 12 dogs. The experiment was carried out using split mouth design.

Undergraduate medical research in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries: a descriptive study of the students' perspective.

Objective: There is a lack of research-oriented physicians in several Arab countries and especially in Gulf region countries. In this context, it is important to explore medical students' perceptions and motivations towards research. The aim of the present study was to investigate research attitude, practices, and motivations among medical students from GCC countries.

Prevalence and attitude of university students towards mobile phone use while driving in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.

This study aimed to investigate the prevalence and attitude of university students towards mobile phone use while driving. The present study was conducted at King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. Five hundred and ninety-three participants were recruited for this study.

Mesenchymal stem cell therapy of hepatocellular carcinoma in rats: Detection of cell homing and tumor mass by magnetic resonance imaging using iron oxide nanoparticles.

Background: Bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are reported to improve hepatic fibrosis, and may impact the signaling mechanisms leading to the induction of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in animal models of liver cirrhosis.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to clarify and explain the therapeutic role played by MSCs in hepatic cirrhosis and HCC by tracking them using nanoparticles.

Material And Methods: Liver cirrhosis and HCC were established in rats with the use of carbon tetrachloride and diethylnitrosamine injection.

Human Umbilical Cord Stem Cell Xenografts Improve Cognitive Decline and Reduce the Amyloid Burden in a Mouse Model of Alzheimer's Disease.

Introduction: Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the most common cause of dementia. The search for new treatments is made more urgent given its increasing prevalence resulting from the aging of the global population. Over the past 20 years, stem cell technologies have become an increasingly attractive option to both study and potentially treat neurodegenerative diseases.

Clinical significance of vascular endothelial growth factor in hepatitis C related hepatocellular carcinoma in Egyptian patients.

Background And Aims: Several angiogenic factors are involved in the development and progression of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), a hypervascular tumor. Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is a primary driving force for angiogenesis, and its overexpression has been reported in HCC. However, the significance of plasma and tissue VEGF levels in HCC in Egyptian patients with chronic hepatitis C (CHC) infection is understudied.

Updates in the pathophysiological mechanisms of Parkinson's disease: Emerging role of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells.

Aim: To explore the approaches exerted by mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) to improve Parkinson's disease (PD) pathophysiology.

Methods: MSCs were harvested from bone marrow of femoral bones of male rats, grown and propagated in culture. Twenty four ovariectomized animals were classified into 3 groups: Group (1) was control, Groups (2) and (3) were subcutaneously administered with rotenone for 14 d after one month of ovariectomy for induction of PD.

Potential of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells in management of Alzheimer's disease in female rats.

Alzheimer's disease (AD) has been called the disease of the century with significant clinical and socioeconomic impacts. Pharmacological treatment has limited efficacy and only provides symptomatic relief without long-term cure. Accordingly, there is an urgent need to develop novel and effective medications for AD.

Bridging defects in chronic spinal cord injury using peripheral nerve grafts combined with a chitosan-laminin scaffold and enhancing regeneration through them by co-transplantation with bone-marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells: case series of 14 patients.

Objective: To investigate the effect of bridging defects in chronic spinal cord injury using peripheral nerve grafts combined with a chitosan-laminin scaffold and enhancing regeneration through them by co-transplantation with bone-marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells.

Methods: In 14 patients with chronic paraplegia caused by spinal cord injury, cord defects were grafted and stem cells injected into the whole construct and contained using a chitosan-laminin paste. Patients were evaluated using the International Standards for Classification of Spinal Cord Injuries.

The therapeutic effects of bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells and simvastatin in a rat model of liver fibrosis.

Liver fibrosis is the excessive accumulation of extracellular matrix (ECM) proteins including collagen that occurs in most types of chronic liver diseases. Studies concerning the capacity of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) and simvasatain (SIMV) to repair fibrotic tissues through reducing inflammation, collagen deposition, are still controversial. This study aimed to investigate the therapeutic efficacy of bone marrow (BM)-derived MSCs and SIMV on carbon tetrachloride (CCl4)-induced liver fibrosis in rats.

Therapeutic applications of mesenchymal stroma cells in pediatric diseases: current aspects and future perspectives.

Mesenchymal stem cells or stroma cells (MSCs) were recently proven to play various therapeutic roles when used in clinical trials to control various inflammatory, neoplastic and immunologic diseases in children. Clinical trials show some promising results, particularly in diseases where conventional therapy is still ineffective. However, experimental studies sometimes show conflicting results.

Novel water-soluble curcumin derivative mediating erectile signaling.

Introduction: Curcumin is an inducer of heme oxygenase enzyme-1 (HO-1) that is involved in erectile signaling via elevating cyclic guanosine monophosphate (cGMP)levels.

Aim: To assess the effect of oral administration of a water-soluble long-acting curcumin derivative on erectile signaling.

Methods: Two hundred and thirty six male white albino rats were divided into four groups; group 1 (N = 20) includes control.

Efficacy of mesenchymal stem cells in suppression of hepatocarcinorigenesis in rats: possible role of Wnt signaling.

Background: The present study was conducted to evaluate the tumor suppressive effects of bone marrow derived mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) in an experimental hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) model in rats and to investigate the possible role of Wnt signaling in hepato-carcinogenesis.

Methods: Ninety rats were included in the study and were divided equally into: Control group, rats which received MSCs only, rats which received MSCs vehicle only, HCC group induced by diethylnitroseamine (DENA) and CCl(4), rats which received MSCs after HCC induction, rats which received MSCs before HCC induction. Histopathological examination and gene expression of Wnt signaling target genes by real time, reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) in rat liver tissue, in addition to serum levels of ALT, AST and alpha fetoprotein were performed in all groups.

The Clinical Use of Human Culture-Expanded Autologous Bone Marrow Mesenchymal Stem Cells Transplanted on Platelet-Rich Fibrin Glue in the Treatment of Articular Cartilage Defects: A Pilot Study and Preliminary Results.

OBJECTIVE: To test the hypothesis that platelet-rich fibrin glue (PR-FG) can be used clinically as a scaffold to deliver autologous culture-expanded bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BM-MSCs) for cartilage repair and to report clinical results 1 y after implantation of MSCs PR-FG. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Autologous BM-MSCs were culture expanded, placed on PR-FG intraoperatively, and then transplanted into 5 full-thickness cartilage defects of femoral condyles of 5 patients and covered with an autologous periosteal flap. Patients were evaluated clinically at 6 and 12 mo by the Lysholm and Revised Hospital for Special Surgery Knee (RHSSK) scores and radiographically by x-rays and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) at the same time points.

Effects of losartan, HO-1 inducers or HO-1 inhibitors on erectile signaling in diabetic rats.

Introduction: Activation of the renin-angiotensin system which is common in diabetes mellitus might affect heme oxygenase (HO-1) gene expression.

Aim: Assessment of the effects of administration of angiotensin II (Ang II) receptor antagonist (losartan) with HO-1 inducer or inhibitor on erectile signaling in diabetic rats.

Materials And Methods: Seventy male rats were divided equally into seven groups; healthy controls, streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats, rats on citrate buffer, diabetic rats on losartan, diabetic rats on HO-1 inducer (cobalt protoporphyrin [CoPP]), diabetic rats on losartan and CoPP, and diabetic rats on losartan and HO-1 inhibitor (stannus mesoporphyrin [SnMP]).

Putative role of carbon monoxide signaling pathway in penile erectile function.

Introduction: Erectile response depends on nitric oxide (NO) generated by NO synthase (NOS) enzyme of the nerves and vascular endothelium in the cavernous tissue. NO activates soluble guanylate cyclase (sGC), leading to the production of cyclic guanosine monophosphate (cGMP). cGMP activates cGMP-dependent protein kinase that activates Ca(2+)/ATPase pump that activates Ca(2+)/K efflux pump extruding Ca(2+) across the plasma membrane with consequent smooth muscle cell relaxation.

Effect of bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells on cardiovascular complications in diabetic rats.

Background: The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) on cardiovascular complications of type 1 diabetes mellitus (DM) in rats.

Material/methods: MSCs were derived from the bone marrow of male albino rats. The MSCs were characterized morphologically and by RT-PCR for CD29 expression.

Role of polyunsaturated fatty acids in the management of Egyptian children with autism.

Objective: Estimation of free polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) in blood and evaluation of behavior of autistic children before and after taking fish oil (Efalex) were performed.

Design And Methods: 30 autistic children (18 males and 12 females) aged 3-11 years and 30 healthy children as control group were included in this study. Tandem mass spectrometry and CARS were used to estimate the free PUFAs from dried blood spot and to evaluate the autistic behavior respectively.