Deciphering the Significance of Plasma Chemokines as Prognostic Biomarkers in Pegylated IFN-Α-2a /Ribavirin-Treated Chronic Hepatitis C Genotype 4 Patients.

Background: Hepatitis C viral (HCV) infection is a major clinical burden globally. Pegylated IFN-α-2a (PEG-IFN-α-2a) with ribavirin (RIB) therapy induces an array of cellular antiviral responses, including dsRNA kinases (PKR), chemokines, and cytokines to tackle the HCV infection. However, many HCV patients develop resistance to PEG-IFN/RIB therapy rendering the therapy ineffective.

Neuroectodermal stem cells: A remyelinating potential in acute compressed spinal cord injury in rat model.

The outcomes of compressed spinal cord injury (CSCI) necessitate radical treatment. The therapeutic potential of neuroectodermal stem cells (NESCs) in a rat model of CSCI in acute and subacute stages was assessed. White Wistar rat were divided into control, sham-operated, CSCI untreated model, CSCI grafted with NESCs at 1 day after CSCI, and at 7 days after CSCI.

Pleomorphism and drug resistant cancer stem cells are characteristic of aggressive primary meningioma cell lines.

Background: Meningioma tumors arise in arachnoid membranes, and are the most reported central nervous system (CNS) tumors worldwide. Up to 20% of grade I meningioma tumors reoccur and currently predictive cancer stem cells (CSCs) markers for aggressive and drug resistant meningiomas are scarce.

Methods: Meningioma tissues and primary cell lines were investigated using whole transcriptome microarray analysis, immunofluorescence staining of CSCs markers (including CD133, Sox2, Nestin, and Frizzled 9), and drug treatment with cisplatin or etoposide.

Histological, immunohistochemical and ultrastructural study of secondary compressed spinal cord injury in a rat model.

Introduction: Spinal cord injury (SCI) is a life-disrupting condition in which the first few days are the most critical. Secondary conditions remain the main causes of death for people with SCI. The response of different cell types to SCI and their role at different times in the progression of secondary degeneration are not well understood.

HTLV-1 Associated Neurological Disorders.

Human T-cell lymphotropic virus type 1 (HTLV-1) is a retrovirus which is endemic to certain regions of the world and infects around 10-20 million people. HTLV-1 is the etiologic agent of Adult T cell leukemia/lymphoma and HTLV-1 associated neurological disorders including mainly HTLV-1 associated myelopathy/Tropical spastic paraparesis. The involvement of the central nervous diseases occurs among: HTLV-1 infected patients from endemic areas, HIV positive individuals and drug users.

Transcription factors regulating uspA genes in Catharanthus roseus.

RNA-Seq of the Catharanthus roseus SRA database was done in order to detect putative universal stress proteins (USPs) and their possible controlling factors. Previous analysis indicated the existence and characterization of uspA-like genes. In silico analysis of RNA-Seq database in several plant tissues revealed the possible functions and regulations of some uspA-like transcripts whose transcription factors (TFs) that might drive their expression were detected.

Updates on Therapeutics in Clinical Trials for Spinal Cord Injuries: Key Translational Applications of Human Embryonic Stem Cells-Derived Neural Progenitors.

Injuries to the spinal cord often have devastating physiological impacts due to the organ's vital role in neuro-impulse communications between muscles and the brain. Spinal Cord Injuries (SCIs) have recently been estimated to affect up to 80,000 individuals per year worldwide, with most occurring following a traumatic event. Unfortunately, effective treatments standardised globally for patients with SCIs have not yet been established.

Immuno- and gene expression analysis of EGFR and Nestin during mice skin development.

Background: Skin stem cell populations reside in the adult hair follicle, sebaceous gland, dermis and epidermis. However, the origin of most of the stem cell populations found in the adult epidermis is still unknown. Far more unknown is the embryonic origin of other stem cells that populate the other layers of this tissue.

Effects of maternal age on the expression of mesenchymal stem cell markers in the components of human umbilical cord.

Introduction: Although the human umbilical cord (UC) has been previously considered a medical waste, its use as a main source of fetal stem cells for regenerative medicine applications has increased over the past few years. The aim of the study was to assess the impact of the maternal age on the expression of mesenchymal stem cells (MSC) markers CD105 and CD29 in the different areas of human UC.

Material And Methods: In this comparative cross sectional study, one hundred term UCs from five maternal age groups (20-45 years) were collected after delivery from healthy mothers and were processed to assess both immuno- and gene expression of CD105 and CD29 surface antigen markers using immunohistochemical and RT-PCR techniques.

Structural identification of putative USPs in Catharanthus roseus.

Nucleotide sequences of the C. roseus SRA database were assembled and translated in order to detect putative universal stress proteins (USPs). Based on the known conserved USPA domain, 24 Pfam putative USPA proteins in C.

Cancer stem cells: a challenging paradigm for designing targeted drug therapies.

Despite earlier controversies about their role and existence within tumors, cancer stem cells (CSCs) are now emerging as a plausible target for new drug discovery. Research and development (R&D) efforts are being directed against key gene(s) driving initiation, growth, and metastatic pathways in CSCs and the tumor microenvironment (TME). However, the niche signals that enable these pluripotent CSCs to evade radio- and chemotherapy, and to travel to secondary tissues remain enigmatic.

Does the maternal age affect the mesenchymal stem cell markers and gene expression in the human placenta? What is the evidence?

Background: Although the human placenta is considered medical wastes, it has become a main source of stem cells. Due to their easy isolation, ability to resist immune rejection and ability to differentiate into different types of adult cells, placental stem cells are considered superior to other stem cells.

Objectives: This study aimed to assess the impact of the maternal age on the expression of mesenchymal stem cell (MSC) markers CD105 and CD29 in different areas of a term human placenta and to identify the differential expression of these markers in different placental areas.

Detection of a Usp-like gene in Calotropis procera plant from the de novo assembled genome contigs of the high-throughput sequencing dataset.

The wild plant species Calotropis procera (C. procera) has many potential applications and beneficial uses in medicine, industry and ornamental field. It also represents an excellent source of genes for drought and salt tolerance.

Effect of maternal low protein diet during pregnancy on the fetal liver of rats.

Maternal protein restriction plays a critical role in the developmental programming of later disease susceptibility of the fetus. Developmental insults could exert permanent effects on health through alteration of tissue morphology. As the liver has the greatest number of functions among other body organs, this study aimed at evaluating the effects of maternal dietary protein insufficiency on the structure and the proliferative capacity of the liver in rat fetuses.