Tehran University Medical Journal
Year:2016 | Volume:74 | Issue:2|Papers Count:13

Stem cells are undifferentiated and multi pluripotent cells which can differentiate into a variety of mature cells and tissues such as nervous tissue, muscle tissue, epithelial tissue, skeletal tissue and etc. Stem cells from all different source have three unique features: 1) Proliferative capability: Stem cells are capable of self dividing and self renewing for long periods or more than six months at least that called immortalization.2) Undifferentiated nature: It’s considered as one of the essential characteristics of stem cell, so it doesn' t have any tissue-specific construction.3) Differentiation to the different cells from all organs: This ability can Induced by tissue specific transcription factors.Because of that, they are so important in prevention and treatment of human disease.Depending on the sources from which they derive, they have different types which can be used to produce special cells and tissues. The most significant types of stem cells are; embryonic stem cells (ESCs) which are derived from embryos, adult stem cells (ASCs) which are derived from differentiated cells in a specific tissue, induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSs) which are produced from adult differentiated cells that have been genetically reprogrammed to act resemble to an embryonic stem cell and cord blood stem cells which contains haematopoietic stem cells and derived from the umbilical cord after gestation. By providing a medium containing of special growth factor, it is possible to orientated stem cell differentiation pathway and gained certain cells from them. The important uses of stem cells includes damaged heart tissue cells improvements and bone tissue repairing, cancer treatment, damaged neurological and spinal tissue repairing, improving burns and injuries and the treatment of diabetes, infertility and spermatogenesis dysfunction. Furthermore, the application of them in gene therapy is an important issue in the modern medicine science due to the role of them in transferring gene into different cells. Today, this method have had considerable progress in the treatment of many disease. In this review study, some aspect of stem cells like types and characteristic, origin, derivation techniques, storage conditions and differentiation to target tissues, current clinical usage and their therapeutic capabilities will be discussed.

Background: Lots of vitamin D functions are mediated by its steroid family receptor (VDR). Vitamin D role in infertility is reported by significant fertility reduction in many male laboratory animals with vitamin D deficiency. The reason for reduced fertility in male VDR-null mouse model has been reported to be reduced sperm count and sperm motility. Vitamin D has effects on sperm motility, sperm-ovum coupling, and acrosome reaction stimulation. As VDR is expressed in human male reproductive system, the aim of the current study was to investigate the role of rs2228570 polymorphism of VDR gene in male infertility.Methods: Investigation was done as a case-control study on infertile azoospermic or oligospermic men referring to Avicenna Research Institute from March 2014 to April 2015. Rs2228570 single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) located in exon 1 of VDR gene was chosen according to its role on protein function. Blood sampling was done on cases and control groups and after DNA extraction the polymerase chain reactionrestriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) reaction was designed and performed on 100 normal cases, 100 azoospermic and 100 oigospermic control samples.Distribution of quantitative age variable was done using Student’s t-test and qualitative variables (genotype and allelic frequencies) was done using SPSS, ver.22 (Chicago, IL, USA).Results: Chi-square test didn’t show significant difference between two case groups and controls (Azoosperm and control P=0.5 and oligosperm and control P=0.09). Comparing CC genotype frequency with TT and CT genotypes (azoosperm and control P=0.48 OR=0.77, oligosperm and control, P=0.17 OR=0.77) and in comparing between TT genotype with CT and CC genotypes (azoosperm and control P=0.49 OR=3.03, oligosperm and control P=0.19 OR=7.21) the difference between these groups was not significant and didn’t increase the probability of disease and didn’t show protective role against it.Conclusion: According to the findings, the association between rs2228570 polymorphism of vitamin D receptor gene and infertility was not significant and investigation of other polymorphisms might show a relationship with male infertility.

Background: Platelet adhesion typically occurs by the critical role of GPIb-V-IX in capturing free-flowing platelets to the injured vessel wall where its rapid binding kinetics enables platelet tethering even under conditions of high shear through the interaction of the major ligand-binding subunit of GPIb-V-IX, GPIbα with subendothelial-bound vWF. During storage, platelet undesired activation may lead to platelet storage lesion (PSL) which changes the expression levels of platelet functional receptors including GPIbα. This study investigates the levels of expression and ectodomain shedding of platelet adhesive receptor GPIba during the storage of platelet rich plasma (PRP) concentrates (PRP- PCs).Methods: Five PRP-platelet concentrates were obtained from Iranian Blood Transfusion Organization (IBTO). The GPIba expressions of platelets were analyzed on day 1, 3 and 5 after storage using flowcytometry. To examine the ectodomain shedding of this receptor the microparticle free supernatants obtained from stored platelets were subjected to western blot analysis. For control study, blood specimens was drawn from healthy consenting individuals and resting platelets were isolated while resuspended in Tyrode buffer.Results: Our results indicated a continuous decrease of GPIba expression during storage where the expression from fist day (Mean fluorescence intensity=86±5.9) was significantly reduced compared to that of fifth day (mean fluorescence intensity=61±7.7) after storage (P=0.0094). Conversely, shed GPIba (Glycocalicin) demonstrated continuous elevation during five-day storage (P=0.0098). According to the results the shedding levels for the first day were increased from 0.31±0.3 to 1.5±0.4 by the day 5 after storage.Conclusion: Our study has demonstrated significant loss of platelet GPIba during storage mostly due to receptor ectodomain shedding that leads to significant increase of soluble GPIba in stored platelets. Considering the high levels of shed GPIba in long stored platelets whether the transfusion of such products might be associated with defective adhesive function of platelets or possible proinflammatory effects could be of interests for future investigation.

Background: Metformin has been suggested as anti-cancer in retrospective studies. We design a prospective controlled study about metformin efficacy in the window time between biopsy and definite surgery with changes of Ki-67 as the primary endpoint.Methods: The primary cohort had composed of 50 pathologically diagnosed invasive breast cancers, accrued in Medical Oncology Department of Iran Cancer Institute from February to November 2014. Patients neither had indication of neoadjuvant chemotherapy, nor involved with diabetes mellitus. They followed during the time period of biopsy and definitive surgery with taking tests on pathology specimens for ER, PgR, HER-2/neu and Ki-67 index. We checked fasting insulin and glucose level as well as quality of life and adverse effects in both times in the intervention group. Metformin (1500 mg/day) was prescribed to intervention group from pathology report to the night before surgery.Results: From 45 patients, 25 had been received metformin for median time of 2.8 weeks. Controlled group included 20 patients who followed in the window time. There were no statistically significant differences between two groups regarding baseline clinical and tumor characteristics such as age, stage, grade, ER, PgR, HER2 status, time and type of surgery. However, immunohistochemistry study showed decrease of median Ki-67 from 35.14 to 29.6% in the intervention group and increase from 24.5 to 30.6 in the control group. Both of these results were statistically significant. Patients tolerated metformin very well, but mild gastrointestinal symptoms were seen in 30% of cases. There was a correlation between metabolic factor of HOMA score (fasting insulin level fasting blood sugar/405) and changes in Ki-67.Conclusion: In the present study metformin prescription in the short period of time between Biopsy and definite surgery had shown inhibition of breast cancer cell growth.We found relationship between metformin anti-proliferative effect and glucose and insulin metabolism. To find direct apoptotic stimulation of metformin and long-term results of this drug further studies in the adjuvant settings with cooperation of pharmacokinetic groups are recommended.

Background: Anemia disease is the most common hematological disorder which most often occurs in women. Knowledge discovery from large volumes of data associated with records of the disease can improve medical services quality by data mining The goal of this study was to determining and evaluating the status of anemia using data mining algorithms.Methods: In this applied study, laboratory and clinical data of the patients with anemia were studied in the population of women. The data have been gathered during a year in the laboratory of Imam Hossein and Shohada-ye Haft-e Tir Hospitals which contains 690 records and 15 laboratory and clinical features of anemia. To discover hidden relationships and structures using k-medoids algorithm the patients were clustered. The Silhouette index was used to determine clustering quality.Results: The features of red blood cell (RBC), mean corpuscular hemoglobin (MCH), ferritin, gastrointestinal cancer (GI cancer), gastrointestinal surgery (GI surgery) and gastrointestinal infection (GI infection) by clustering have been determined as the most important patients’ features. These patients according to their features have been segmented to three clusters. First, the patients were clustered according to all features. The results showed that clustering with all features is not suitable because of weak structure of clustering. Then, each time the clustering was performed with different number of features. The silhouette index average is 80 percent that shows clustering quality.Therefore clustering is acceptable and has a strong structure.Conclusion: The results showed that clustering with all features is not suitable because of weak structure. Then, each time the clustering was performed with different number of features. The first cluster contains mild iron deficiency anemia, the second cluster contains severe iron deficiency anemia patients and the third cluster contains patients with other anemia cause.

Background: Surgery and pain increases cortisol levels with inducing hormonal responses.By reducing stress, adverse effects of cortisol can be controlled and accelerated the healing process. Religious practices like listening to Quran have important roles in reducing anxiety. Moreover, the level of cortisol hormone of the blood is one of the best indicators of the stress level. The aim of this study was to investigating the effect of listening to Quran on the plasma cortisol level of the umbilical cord in cesarean with spinal anesthesia.Methods: A clinical trial study was designed and conducted on sixty primigravid mothers who were hospitalized to deliver their first baby by elective caesarian operation, 30 of them were selected as intervention group and 30 of them were selected as control group. For the subjects of the intervention group, the personal information questionnaires were completed and their vital signs were recorded. Also, their blood was sampled for measuring cortisol level. Then they listened to Quran. After spinal anesthesia, vital signs were recorded and the blood of umbilical cord was sampled for measuring the cortisol level. For the subjects of the control group, all the steps were done except listening to Quran. Two groups were statistically homogenous in the variables of age, gestational age, systolic blood pressure and diastolic blood pressure, pulse rate and cortisol levels before the intervention. The mean and SD cortisol in intervention group before and after listening to the Quran were 39.08±10.71 versus 41.10±5.05.Results: The reduction of cortisol level of the intervention group (who listened to Quran) was significantly greater than of the control group P=0.035. Systolic blood pressure of the intervention group in the operating ward had statistically significant reduction relation to the systolic blood pressure before operation P=0.043. However systolic blood pressure of the control group in the operating ward had not statistically significant reduction relation to the systolic blood pressure before operation P=0.357. Listening to Quran has no effect on diastolic blood pressure and pulse rate.Conclusion: Listening to Quran before caesarean affects the change of plasma cortisol level and the systolic blood pressure.

Background: Cartilage grafting is used in rhinoplasty and reconstructive surgeries. Autologous rib and nasal septum cartilage (auto graft) is the preferred source of graft material in rhinoplasty, however, homologous cartilage (allograft) has been extensively used to correct the nasal framework in nasal deformities. Autologous cartilage graft usage is restricted with complication of operation and limiting availability of tissue for extensive deformities. Alternatively, preserved costal cartilage allograft represents a readily available and easily contoured material. The current study was a formal systematic review of complications associated with autologous versus homologous cartilage grafting in rhinoplasty patients.Methods: In this cohort retrospective study, a total of 124 patients undergone primary or revision rhinoplasty using homologous or autologus grafts with postoperative followup ranging from 6 to 60 months were studied. The types of grafts and complications related to the grafts were evaluated. This included evaluation for warping, infection, resorption, mobility and fracture.Results: The total complications related to the cartilage grafts were 7 cases, which included 1 warped in auto graft group, three cases of graft displacement (two in allograft group and one in auto graft group) and three fractures in allograft group. No infection and resorption was recorded. Complication rate (confidence interval 0.95) in autologous and homologous group were 1.25 (0.4-3.88) and 2.08 (0.78-5.55) in 1000 months follow up. There was no statistically significant difference between autologous and homologous group complications. Onset of complication in autologous and homologous group were 51.23 (49.27-53.19) and 58.7 (54.51-62.91) month respectively (P=0.81).Conclusion: The allograft cartilage has the advantage of avoiding donor-site scar.Moreover, it provides the same benefits as autologous costal cartilage with comparable complication rate. Therefore, it can be a reliable alternative material for rhinoplasty surgeries. A longer follow-up may be necessary to confirm the structural stability of the allograft cartilage grafts.

Background: Anembryonic gestation (blighted ovum) is the most common identifiable pathology in the first trimester of pregnancy, always leads to miscarriage. Early pregnancy failures from blighted ovum are often due to chromosomal abnormalities and a poor quality of sperm or egg. Oxidative stresses as a factor of disturbance balance between the production of free radicals and antioxidant defenses is involved in the pathogenesis of many diseases, including mouth and throat cancer and cardiovascular disease. Catalase is one of the defensive systems against damages caused by oxidative stress in human. The aim of this study was to compare the activity of salivary catalase in women with blighted ovum and women with history of normal pregnancy.Methods: This case-control study was performed on 34 patient women with blighted ovum and 34 healthy women as a control group. The study was performed in biochemistry laboratory at the University of Guilan from October 2015 to July 2015.The age range was 20-44 years and 18-45 years in patient and control groups, respectively. Unstimulated saliva samples were collected using spitting method.Catalase activity was measured by evaluating the constant rate of hydrogen peroxide decomposition in patient and control groups.Results: The patient group matched with healthy subjects in average age and having no other diseases history. The biochemical enzymatic assays indicate that the average catalase activities of saliva in patient and control groups were 14.47±3.8 and 16.42±3.48, respectively. Therefore, the catalase activity was significantly reduced in patient group as compared to the control group (P=0.03).Conclusion: The obtained results suggested that oxidative stress plays an important role in the pathogenesis of blighted ovum. Therefore, determination the activity of other antioxidant enzymes, in addition to catalse, may be used as a marker for diagnosis of blighted ovum. More studies with larger studied-population is recommended to confidently comment on the results of this study.

Background: Breast cancer is one of the most prevalent cancers among women and features increasing trends of incidence rates. Worldwide, yearly about 1.67 million of new cases and 522, 000 of deaths from breast cancer are registered. The aim of this study was to determine the risk factors of breast cancer in women and to identify high risk groups.Methods: In a case-control study, 170 women with breast cancer who were registered in cancer registration system from 2011 to 2015 at Dezful City, Iran, were compared with 170 healthy women with confirmation of mammography. After age matching of groups, the needed information about risk factors and demographic information including information, educational level, marital status, family history of breast cancer, age at menarche, parity, oral contraceptive use, age at first pregnancy, menopausal status, and age at menopause, breastfeeding, stress, abortion, alcohol use and smoking, hormone therapy and physical activity was collected by a questionnaire. The analysis of collected data was performed by using odds ratio and logistic regression model and SPSS software, version 16 (SPSS, Inc., Chicago, IL, USA). The statistical significance was set at a two-sided p-value of %5.Results: The results of this study showed that, women with the family history [OR: 6.78 (95% CI: 2.15-21.41)] and women with the stress history [OR: 4.86 (95% CI: 2.46-9.59)] had higher risk of breast canser, while women with the history of having physical activity at least once a week [OR: 0.29 (95% CI: 0.13-0.65)] and women with the history breast feeding for 3 to 4 years [OR: 0.36 (95% CI: 0.16-0.81)] had lower risk of breast cancer.Conclusion: It is recommended that the mentioned risk factors and protective factors be considered in first and second level (screening) of preventive programs.

Background: Coronary artery disease is considered as main factor for patients’ hospitalization.Chest pain is the most common symptoms of patients and its assessment is an important factor in coronary artery disease. So, this study aimed to determine the relationship between the severity of chest pain with physiological indexes in patients with coronary artery disease.Methods: This study was a descriptive-analytical design that performed on 80 patients with that were hospitalized in coronary care unit of Shahid Mofatteh Hospital in Varamin city, Iran, from March to September, 2014. In this study, the relationship between the chest pain severity and blood pressure, pulse rate, respiratory rate, O2 saturation and ST segment alterations were assessed. Finally, the gathered data were analyzed by descriptive and inferential statistics.Results: The mean of chest pain severity was 6.51±2.14 in patients. Patients’ age was between 26 to 85 years old and the mean of age was 60.79±13.79 and there was no significant correlation between age and chest pain severity (P=0.985). Also male and female patients were equal. There was no significant difference between chest pain severity of men and women (P=0.471). The findings of study showed no correlation between chest pain severity and heart rate (r=-0.174 and P=0.122), respiratory rate (r=-0.013 and P=0.909), O2 saturation (r=0.051 and P=0.651), ST segment alterations (r=0.07 and P=0.539). Also, there was no significant difference between chest pain severity and systolic pressure (P=0.353), diastolic blood pressure (P=0.312) and body mass index (P=0.256) among patients.Conclusion: In this study, there were not enough evidences for relation between chest pain and physiological indexes in patients with coronary artery disease. So performing more studies in another settings and conditions recommended.