Calcium chloride declotted human platelet lysate promotes the expansion of mesenchymal stromal cells and allows manufacturing of immunomodulatory active extracellular vesicle products.

Background: Mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) exert immunomodulatory effects, primarily through released extracellular vesicles (EVs). For the clinical-grade manufacturing of MSC-EV products culture conditions need to support MSC expansion and allow the manufacturing of potent MSC-EV products. Traditionally, MSCs are expanded in fetal bovine serum-supplemented media.

Blood loss from transverse versus longitudinal uterine incision in abdominal myomectomy: a randomized controlled trial.

Background: It is unclear whether transverse uterine incision is non-inferior to longitudinal incision during myomectomy with regard to bleeding. Our aim was to compare between transverse and longitudinal uterine incisions in myomectomy.

Methods: A parallel randomized controlled single-blinded study in a university affiliated hospital, in the period between January 2017 and April 2018, in which 52 women candidates for abdominal myomectomy were randomized into transverse uterine incision or longitudinal uterine incision groups (26 in each group).

From 3D to 3D: isolation of mesenchymal stem/stromal cells into a three-dimensional human platelet lysate matrix.

Background: Mesenchymal stem/stromal cells (MSCs) are considered an important candidate in cell therapy and tissue engineering approaches. The culture of stem cells in a 3D environment is known to better resemble the in vivo situation and to promote therapeutically relevant effects in isolated cells. Therefore, the aim of this study was to develop an approach for the direct isolation of MSCs from adipose tissue into a 3D environment, avoiding contact to a 2D plastic surface.

Rectal vs. sublingual misoprostol before cesarean section: double-blind, three-arm, randomized clinical trial.

Purpose: The commonest surgical procedure for women is cesarean delivery. Postpartum hemorrhage and intra-operative blood during cesarean delivery is a major concern to all obstetricians. This study was conducted to assess the efficacy of the adjuvant use of misoprostol and oxytocin in decreasing intra-operative blood loss in cesarean delivery.

Ovarian Reserve Following Laparoscopic Ovarian Cystectomy vs Cyst Deroofing for Endometriomas.

Study Objective: Because laparoscopic ovarian cystectomy of endometriomas is known to adversely impact patient ovarian reserve, the search for other techniques of surgical management is ongoing. The present study was undertaken to evaluate laparoscopic cyst deroofing as a feasible alternative.

Study Design: Prospective, randomized clinical trial (Canadian Task Force classification I).

Significance of assay of nucleated RBCs in umbilical cord blood in neonates with meconium-stained amniotic fluid.

Background: Approximately 8-15% of all infants are born with evidence of meconium-stained amniotic fluid (MSAF). MSAF is a potentially serious sign of fetal compromise and may indicate fetal hypoxia Objectives and aim of the work: The present study was designed to evaluate the relationship between meconium stained amniotic fluid and fetal nucleated red blood cell counts. As well, we aim to evaluate the relationship between the presence of meconium in amniotic fluid and Apgar scores in neonates.

Assessment of hysteroscopic role in management of women with recurrent pregnancy loss.

Objectives: To assess the hysteroscopic value in the management of intrauterine lesion in women with recurrent pregnancy loss.

Methods: This study was done in Ain Shams Maternity Hospital after the approval of the research Ethics Committee, during the period between August 2014 and December 2015 where 200 nonpregnant women with a history of three or more consecutive unexplained first and second trimester miscarriages before 20 weeks were recruited from recurrent miscarriage clinic. A written informed consent was obtained from all women before participation.

Epigenetic biomarker to support classification into pluripotent and non-pluripotent cells.

Quality control of human induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) can be performed by several methods. These methods are usually relatively labor-intensive, difficult to standardize, or they do not facilitate reliable quantification. Here, we describe a biomarker to distinguish between pluripotent and non-pluripotent cells based on DNA methylation (DNAm) levels at only three specific CpG sites.

Prevalence and type distribution of human papillomavirus among women older than 18 years in Egypt: a multicenter, observational study.

Objectives: Persistent infection with high-risk (HR) human papillomavirus (HPV) is associated with premalignant lesions and cervical cancer, the third most common cancer amongst women globally and the second most frequent in Egypt. We studied the prevalence and type distribution of HPV and documented HPV infection awareness and health-related behaviours for HPV infection.

Methods: This was a multicenter, hospital-based observational study of women ≥18 years of age who attended for a gynaecological examination during October 2010-August 2011.

Epigenetic rejuvenation of mesenchymal stromal cells derived from induced pluripotent stem cells.

Standardization of mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) remains a major obstacle in regenerative medicine. Starting material and culture expansion affect cell preparations and render comparison between studies difficult. In contrast, induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) assimilate toward a ground state and may therefore give rise to more standardized cell preparations.

The bidirectional tumor--mesenchymal stromal cell interaction promotes the progression of head and neck cancer.

Introduction: Mesenchymal stromal cells (MSC) are an integral cellular component of the tumor microenvironment. Nevertheless, very little is known about MSC originating from human malignant tissue and modulation of these cells by tumor-derived factors. The aim of this study was to isolate and characterize MSC from head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) and to investigate their interaction with tumor cells.

Stimulation of mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) via TLR3 reveals a novel mechanism of autocrine priming.

Mesenchymal stem/stromal cells (MSCs) are emerging as important regulators of innate and adaptive immunity. In this context, both proinflammatory and anti-inflammatory effects have been described for MSCs. The mechanisms mediating this functional plasticity are poorly characterized at present.

Matrix elasticity, replicative senescence and DNA methylation patterns of mesenchymal stem cells.

Matrix elasticity guides differentiation of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) but it is unclear if these effects are only transient - while the cells reside on the substrate - or if they reflect persistent lineage commitment. In this study, MSCs were continuously culture-expanded in parallel either on tissue culture plastic (TCP) or on polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) gels of different elasticity to compare impact on replicative senescence, in vitro differentiation, gene expression, and DNA methylation (DNAm) profiles. The maximal number of cumulative population doublings was not affected by matrix elasticity.

Evaluation of human platelet lysate versus fetal bovine serum for culture of mesenchymal stromal cells.

Culture media for therapeutic cell preparations-such as mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs)-usually comprise serum additives. Traditionally, fetal bovine serum is supplemented in basic research and in most clinical trials. Within the past years, many laboratories adapted their culture conditions to human platelet lysate (hPL), which further stimulates proliferation and expansion of MSCs.

Heparin concentration is critical for cell culture with human platelet lysate.

Background Aims: Culture media for mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) are generally supplemented with fetal bovine serum. Human platelet lysate (hPL) has been proven to be a very effective alternative without the risk of xenogeneic infections or immune reactions. In contrast to fetal bovine serum, hPL comprises plasma, and anticoagulants-usually unfractionated heparin (UFH)-need to be added to prevent gel formation.

To clone or not to clone? Induced pluripotent stem cells can be generated in bulk culture.

Induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) are usually clonally derived. The selection of fully reprogrammed cells generally involves picking of individual colonies with morphology similar to embryonic stem cells (ESCs). Given that fully reprogrammed cells are highly proliferative and escape from cellular senescence, it is conceivable that they outgrow non-pluripotent and partially reprogrammed cells during culture expansion without the need of clonal selection.

Tracking of replicative senescence in mesenchymal stem cells by colony-forming unit frequency.

Long-term culture of mesenchymal stem cells (MSC) has major impact on cellular characteristics and differentiation potential. Numerous clinical trials raise high hopes in regenerative medicine and this necessitates reliable quality control of the cellular products-also with regard to replicative senescence. The maximum number of population doublings before entering the senescent state depends on the cell type, tissue of origin, culture medium as well as cell culture methods.

Comparative functional cell biological analysis of mesenchymal stem cells of the head and neck region: potential impact on wound healing, trauma, and infection.

Background: Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are multipotent mesenchymal progenitor cells, originally identified in bone-marrow. Little is known about MSCs of the head and neck region. We investigated cell biological properties with a potential impact on wound healing of 2 different tissue-resident MSC populations.

Human platelet lysate gel provides a novel three dimensional-matrix for enhanced culture expansion of mesenchymal stromal cells.

Cell culture in regenerative medicine needs to facilitate efficient expansion according to good manufacturing practice requirements. Human platelet lysate (HPL) can be used as a substitute for fetal calf serum without the risk of xenogeneic immune reactions or transmission of bovine pathogens. Heparin needs to be added as anticoagulant before addition of HPL to culture medium; otherwise, HPL-medium forms a gel within 1 h.

Donor age of human platelet lysate affects proliferation and differentiation of mesenchymal stem cells.

The regenerative potential declines upon aging. This might be due to cell-intrinsic changes in stem and progenitor cells or to influences by the microenvironment. Mesenchymal stem cells (MSC) raise high hopes in regenerative medicine.

An additional glucose dehydrogenase from Sulfolobus solfataricus: fine-tuning of sugar degradation?

Within the SulfoSYS (Sulfolobus Systems Biology) project, the effect of temperature on a metabolic network is investigated at the systems level. Sulfolobus solfataricus utilizes an unusual branched ED (Entner-Doudoroff) pathway for sugar degradation that is promiscuous for glucose and galactose. In the course of metabolic pathway reconstruction, a glucose dehydrogenase isoenzyme (GDH-2, SSO3204) was identified.

Tissue-resident mesenchymal stem cells attract peripheral blood neutrophils and enhance their inflammatory activity in response to microbial challenge.

Human MSCs may respond to TLR ligation, and recent research has suggested that many tissues contain tissue-specific MSCs, possibly located in periendothelial and perivascular regions. At present, the functional consequences of these findings are unclear. We hypothesized that tissue-specific MSCs could play an instructional role during early phases of bacterial challenge.

Interferon-gamma and tumor necrosis factor-alpha differentially affect cytokine expression and migration properties of mesenchymal stem cells.

Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are multipotent progenitor cells with the capacity to differentiate into different tissue cell types such as chondrocytes, osteocytes, and adipocytes. In addition, they can home to damaged, in-flamed, and malignant tissues and display immunomodulatory properties. Since tissue-derived factors might modulate these properties, we decided to explore the impact of prototypic tissue-derived inflammatory cytokines such as TNF-alpha and IFN-gamma on immunomodulatory MSCs functions.