Impact of oxidative stress SNPs on sperm DNA damage and male infertility in a south-east Iranian population.

Aim: We examined four single nucleotide polymorphisms in four antioxidant genes (PON1 , CAT , GPx1 and SOD2 ) in 100 infertility cases and 100 controls from an Iranian population-based case-control study to confirm the assumption that polymorphisms in oxidative stress genes increase the risk of sperm DNA damage and idiopathic male infertility.

Methods: Restriction fragment length polymorphism and tetra-primer amplification refractory mutation system PCR were used to identify genotypes. Sperm DNA damage was assessed using the Sperm Chromatin Dispersion test (Halo Sperm), and the total antioxidant capacity of seminal fluid was determined using the FRAP assay.

Transplantation of differentiated umbilical cord mesenchymal cells under kidney capsule for control of type I diabetes in rat.

Nowadays, stem cells have been introduced as an appropriate source of regenerative medicine for treatment of type I diabetes. Human umbilical cord matrix-derived mesenchymal cells (hUCMC) have successfully been differentiated into insulin producing cells. The isolated hUCM cells were characterized by the expression of stem cell surface markers and by differentiation into adipocytes and osteocytes.

Vascular endothelial growth factor production is regulated by gene polymorphisms.

Background: Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) has a key role in angiogenesis and in transplantation. The level of VEGF is related to the differences in the DNA sequence of its promoter region.

Objectives: In this study, the association between the combination of VEGF -1154 G and -2578 C alleles and VEGF production by LPS-stimulated PBMCs was investigated.