Do Mesenchymal Stem Cells Influence Keloid Recurrence?

Introduction: Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) have been postulated by a number of authors to be the precursor cells of fibroblasts and myofibroblasts in keloids. They have been seen as a regenerative pool that ensures a steady supply of cells. The objective of our study was to determine MSCs in keloids and normal skin as a determinant of keloid recurrence.

Teenagers' Awareness of Peers' Substance and Drug Use in Kuwait.

Background: Teenage substance use is a global challenge, and youths residing in Kuwait are not immune from it. Tobacco products are licit; however, alcohol and other mood-altering illicit substance are prohibited with severe penalties including imprisonment. Youths residing in Kuwait are being initiated into the use of mood-altering substances like tobacco at an early age, and it is postulated that, as they grow older, they may progress into using alcohol and other prohibited illicit drugs.

Unexpected premalignant gynecological lesions in women undergoing vaginal hysterectomy for utero-vaginal prolapse.

Aim Of The Study: Aim of the study was to estimate the incidence of unexpected premalignant gynecological lesions in women undergoing vaginal hysterectomy for utero-vaginal prolapse.

Material And Methods: Eighty women with asymptomatic utero-vaginal prolapse were included in this prospective study for vaginal hysterectomy after preoperative preparation and after written informed consent. Women included in this study were screened preoperatively by high vaginal swab, Pap smear, endometrial biopsy and trans-vaginal ultrasound.

Molecular basis for the effects of zinc deficiency on spermatogenesis: An experimental study in the Sprague-dawley rat model.

Introduction: The objective of this study is to investigate the molecular mechanisms underlying the effects of zinc deficiency on spermatogenesis in the Sprague-Dawley (SD) rat.

Materials And Methods: Three groups of eight adult male SD rats were maintained for 4 weeks on a normal diet as control, zinc deficient diet and zinc deficient diet with zinc supplementation of 28 mg zinc/kg body weight respectively. Using standard techniques, the following parameters were compared between the three groups of experimental animals at the end of 4 weeks: (a) Serum zinc, magnesium (Mg), copper (Cu), selenium (Se) and cadmium (Cd), (b) serum sex hormones, malondialdehyde (MDA), superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione peroxidase (GPX), (c) interleukin-4 (IL-4), tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), Bcl-2, Bax and caspase-3 expression in the testes, (d) assessment of apoptosis of testicular cells using electron microscopy and (e) testicular volume and histology using the orchidometer and Johnsen score, respectively.

Sperm parameters: paradigmatic index of good health and longevity.

Since the discovery of spermatozoon by Anton van Leeuwenhoek in 1677, there has been an ever increasing understanding of its role in reproduction. Many factors adversely affect sperm quality, including varicocele, accessory gland infection, immunological factors, congenital abnormalities, and iatrogenic systemic and endocrine causes, such as diabetes mellitus, obesity, metabolic syndrome, and smoking. The mechanisms responsible for the association between poor sperm parameters and ill health may include oxidative stress, low-grade inflammation, low testosterone, and low sex-hormone-binding globulin.

Trace elements and cell-mediated immunity in gestational and pre-gestational diabetes mellitus at third trimester of pregnancy.

The Aim Of The Study: To evaluate the correlations between Zn2+, Cu2+, Mg2+, Se2+ and Cr3+ and alteration in T cell subsets during diabetic and normal pregnancy.

Methods: The study involved 63 women with gestational diabetes mellitus (GD) and 16 pregnant women with Type 2 diabetes and 48 healthy, non-pregnant women were included as controls. Ten ml of whole venous blood from each participant was analyzed for electrolytes by atomic absorption; total antioxidant activity, individual enzymatic antioxidants by spectrophotometry; and lymphocyte sub-populations by flow cytometry.

Premenstrual dysphoric disorder: prevalence and effects on nursing students' academic performance and clinical training in Kuwait.

Aims: This study investigated the prevalence of Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder among non-treatment seeking female students at the College of Nursing Kuwait. It also explored the effects of the disorder on their academic performance as shown by their grade point average and rate of absenteeism at clinical training.

Background: Many women worldwide are unaware of this distressing menstrual disorder which affects about 3-8% of women of childbearing age.

Lithium protects against toxic effects of cadmium in the rat testes.

Purpose: To investigate the protective effect of Lithium against the toxic effect of Cadmium in the rat testes.

Methods: Twenty four adult male Sprague-Dawley rats were treated with four different regimens: Cadmium only, Cadmium and lithium, lithium only and controls. Rats were sacrificed after 6 weeks and testicular levels of pro-inflammatory cytokine (IL-4), anti-inflammatory cytokine (TNF-α), Pro-apoptotic protein (Bax) and anti-apoptotic protein (Bcl-2) were measured by ELISA while serum levels of FSH, LH, Prolactin and Testosterone were measured using the Vidas parametric system.

Emotional reaction to diagnosis of infertility in Kuwait and successful clients' perception of nurses' role during treatment.

Background: The unfulfilled desire of millions of infertile couples worldwide to have their own biological children results in emotional distress. This study evaluated the emotional reactions of couples attending a combined infertility clinic in Kuwait and successful clients' perception of nurses.

Methods: Quantitative and qualitative methods were used.

Butyrylcholinesterase activity in women with diabetes mellitus in pregnancy: correlation with antioxidant activity.

A total of: 25 women with gestational diabetes, 25 with type 2 diabetes, 21 with healthy pregnancies and 15 non-pregnant healthy controls were investigated to evaluate the relationship between butyrylcholinesterase activity and antioxidant status in the serum and placenta of diabetic pregnant women. Levels of antioxidant activities were estimated by Randox Kits and malondialdehyde and butyrylcholinesterase by colorimetric methods. Butyrylcholinesterase activity was elevated in the serum and placenta in normal pregnancy vs diabetic cohorts (p < 0.

Factors contributing to gender differences in serum retinol and alpha-tocopherol in infertile couples.

Oxidative stress is detrimental to fertility potential. Retinol and alpha-tocopherol are natural antioxidants that inhibit lipid peroxidation and protect against cell damage induced by oxidative stress. This study evaluated whether gender-related differences in antioxidant status exist among couples with infertility and, if so, to evaluate relevant factors that may contribute to such differences.

Magnesium sulphate therapy in women with pre-eclampsia and eclampsia in Kuwait.

Objective: To evaluate the outcome of the use of MgSO4 therapy in women with severe pre-eclampsia in Kuwait from January 2002 to December 2004.

Subjects And Methods: The study involved 450 women managed at the Maternity Hospital in Kuwait with a blood pressure of 160/110 mm Hg and proteinuria of >0.3-5 g/24 h.

Indications of the mechanisms involved in improved sperm parameters by zinc therapy.

Objective: To determine possible indications of the mechanisms involved in improved sperm parameters by zinc therapy in asthenozoospermic men.

Subjects And Methods: Forty-five men with asthenozoospermia (>or=40% immotile sperm) were randomized into four therapy groups: zinc only: n = 11; zinc + vitamin E: n = 12 and zinc + vitamins E + C: n = 14 for 3 months, and non-therapy control group: n = 8. Semen analysis was done according to WHO guidelines.

Butyrylcholinesterase activity and lymphocyte subpopulations in peripheral blood of Kuwaiti women experiencing recurrent spontaneous abortion.

This study has evaluated the hypothesis that activity of the detoxifying enzyme butyrylcholinesterase (BuChE) correlates with levels of serum anti-cardiolipin antibodies (ACA) and T lymphocytes in peripheral blood of women experiencing recurrent spontaneous abortion (RSA). Peripheral venous blood from 16 non-pregnant, RSA-afflicted women and 8 healthy non-pregnant women was analyzed for frequency of T lymphocyte subpopulations by two-color flow cytometry and for serum BuChE using butyrylthiocholine iodide/spectrophotometry. RSA-afflicted women with high serum ACA, but not those with normal ACA levels, exhibited significantly increased percentages of CD4+CD25+ cells (p<0.

Interleukins in preeclampsia.

Background: Preeclampsia is a multisystemic disorder of unknown etiology. Recently, endothelial damage has been implicated in its cause. The objective of this study was to determine the role of interleukins in the etiology of preeclampsia.

Butyrylcholinesterase activity in gestational diabetes: correlation with lymphocyte subpopulations in peripheral blood.

Problem: Inefficient clearance of pregnancy-threatening toxins may contribute to gestational diabetes (GD) and Type II diabetes mellitus (DM) through mechanisms involving immune dysregulation.

Method Of Study: Peripheral venous blood from pregnant Kuwaiti women in third trimester, including 15 GD and 17 DM patients, 14 healthy pregnant (HP) and eight non-pregnant subjects, was analyzed by two-color flow cytometery for number and percentage representation of T lymphocytes. Buterylcholinesterase (BuChE) activity was measured using buterylthiocholine iodide and spectrophotometry.

Allopurinol provides long-term protection for experimentally induced testicular torsion in a rabbit model.

Objective: To assess the effect of five antioxidants on exocrine function of rabbit testes retained in situ for 24 h and 3 months after experimental torsion.

Materials And Methods: The left testes of peripubertal rabbits were clamped for 60 min, after which the clamps were removed and the testes allowed to reperfuse. The right testes served as internal controls.

Evidence for the presence of beta-3-adrenoceptors mediating relaxation in the human oviduct.

Beta1- and beta2-adrenoceptors mediate relaxation in the oviductal smooth muscle. This study examines the existence and function of beta3-adrenoceptors in the human oviduct. Ring segments of the oviduct were set up for isometric tension recording.

Lymphocyte sub-populations in gestational diabetes.

Problem: We hypothesize that the normal immunologic responses by the maternal immune system during pregnancy are not as well-regulated in gestational diabetes (GD) patients as in healthy pregnant women.

Method Of Study: Using two-color flow cytometry we evaluated frequencies of peripheral blood lymphocytes in 20 GD patients being treated with insulin; 43 GD patients treated with dietary therapy but no insulin; 44 women experiencing normal pregnancies; and 48 non-pregnant women.

Results: When compared with healthy pregnant women, both GD cohorts showed higher percentages CD4(+)CD25(+) (P < 0.

Significance of determining the point of reperfusion failure in experimental torsion of testis.

Background: Experimental studies of the use of free radical scavengers in ischemic/reperfusion (I/R) injury following detorsion of the torted testis have yielded conflicting results due to differences in the period of ischemia used. The authors studied I/R injury in the rabbit model, to define the point beyond which there is reperfusion failure.

Methods: Ischemia/reperfusion injury of the testis was created in 3-6-month-old male New Zealand white rabbits by cross-clamping the left spermatic cord for periods of ischemia lasting 0, 15, 30, 60, 90, 120 and 180 min.

Comparative maternal lactate-pyruvate ratios in singleton and twin pregnancies and in babies delivered at term.

The lactate-pyruvate (L/P) ratio was used for assessment of anaerobic metabolism, hypoxia or oxygen debt in uterine contractile muscle during labour and immediately after parturition. The mean blood lactate level was significantly higher in mothers with twin pregnancies (P<0.001) than in singleton pregnancies at term.

Nitric oxide production is not altered in preeclampsia.

Background: Preeclampsia remains a disease of theories as the real aetiology has remained elusive. Altered nitric oxide production has been associated with preeclampsia although conflicting results showing elevation, decrease or no change in nitric oxide levels have emerged from previous studies.

Objective: The aim of the study was to measure the serum levels of nitrate and nitrite in normal pregnancies and pregnancies complicated by pre-eclampsia.