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The important role of SMAD6 and several microRNAs (miRNAs), such as miR-17-5p, miR-26b-5p, and miR-32-5p, has been demonstrated in controlling the proliferation and differentiation of cardiomyocytes (CMs). Hence, this study was designed to assess the role of these regulatory factors in cardiac cell generation from human endometrium-derived mesenchymal stem cells (hEMSCs).

To induce transdifferentiation into CMs, hEMSCs were treated with a cardiac-inducing medium containing 5-azacytidine and bFGF for 30 days. Immunofluorescence staining and qRT-PCR, respectively, were used to measure the protein levels of SMAD6 and the mRNA expression of SMAD6 and the three miRNAs every six days.

Our findings demonstrated the mesenchymal stem cell properties of hEMSCs and their ability to differentiate into various types of mesenchymal stem cells. The differentiated hEMSCs exhibited morphological features resembling CMs. During the induction period, the number of positive cells for SMAD6 protein and the expression level of miR-26b-5p increased and peaking on days 24 and 30, while the expression levels of miR-17-5p and miR-32-5p decreased. The Pearson correlation coefficients revealed that SMAD6 level is inversely correlated with miR-17-5p and miR-32-5p and directly correlated with miR-26b-5p.

Our results indicate that miR-17-5p, miR-26b-5p, miR-32-5p, and SMAD6 are potentially involved in the molecular signaling pathways of transdifferentiation of hEMSCs to CMs.

Smad4 regulates the expression of the genes required for heart homeostasis. Regarding the central role of microRNAs in cardiac biology, we investigated the expression of the three Smad4-targeting miRNAs, namely miR-18a-5p, miR-19a-3p, and miR-20a-5p, as well as Smad4 during differentiation of human endometrium-derived mesenchymal stem cells (hEMSCs) into cardiomyocytes (CMs).

To evaluate mesenchymal phenotype and multi-lineage differentiation ability of hEMSCs, immunophenotyping by flow cytometry and differentiation into osteoblasts and adipocytes were performed, respectively. For transdifferentiation into CMs, hEMSCs were exposed to a cardiomyogenic medium composed of 5-aza and bFGF for 30 days. The comparison between transcriptional expression levels of Nkx2-5, GATA4, Smad4, TNNT2, TBX5, miR-18a-5p, miR-19a-3p, and miR-20a-5p by qRT-PCR, as well as protein levels of Nkx2-5, Smad4, and cTnT by immunofluorescence staining, was conducted in every 6 days.

In vitro, the mesenchymal stem cell phenotype of hEMSCs and their potency for differentiation into other MSCs were confirmed. Differentiated hEMSCs had morphological characteristics of CMs. The percentage of positive cells for Nkx2-5, Smad4, and cTnT proteins was increased following induction and culminated on the 24th day. Also, mRNA levels of Nkx2-5, GATA4, Smad4, TNNT2, and TBX5 exhibited the same trend. The expression of investigated miRNAs was significantly decreased sequentially. A significant negative correlation between expressions of Smad4 and investigated miRNAs was observed.

Our results indicate that miR-18a-5p, miR-19a-3p, and miR-20a-5p are involved in the cardiac differentiation propensity of hEMSCs potentially by regulation of Smad levels. Although, more mechanistic experiments are required to confirm this idea.

Recently, menstrual blood-derived stem cells as a unique source of stem cells with some features such as ease of access, high ability to proliferate and regenerate, lack of immune system stimulation and no tumorigenesis have raised great hopes for heart disease cell therapy. However, the regulatory mechanisms and role of miRNAs in controlling the differentiation of stem cells into cardiomyocytes are not fully understood. In this study, the level of human miR-26b-5p microRNA were investigated before and after differentiation of endometrial stem cells into heart cardiomyocytes.

Endometrial mesenchymal stem cells were differentiated into cardiomyocyte-like cells for 30 days in the presence of 5-azacitidine and fibroblast growth factor. Then, using bioinformatics studies, human miR-26b-5p microRNA was selected and its expression pattern was performed during days 0, 6, 12, 18, 24 and 30 of differentiation by Real Time qRT PCR

Expression Level of human miR-26b-5p showed an uptrend differentiation between days 0 and 6 and then showed a significant decreasing trend differentiation from day 6 to day 18 and an uptrend again after day 18.

The non-uniformity in the expression of hsa-miR-26b-5p microRNA during the 24-day differentiation induction period indicates the existence of different messaging pathways involved in the differentiation process as well as different phases in the evolution and differentiation of cardiomyocytes. The miRNAs involved in the differentiation process and their possible role in turning off and on these messaging pathways at the beginning or end of a phase seems necessary.

Ankle joint plays an important role in restoring the balance of individuals. Ankle sprain injury effects on balance of affected individuals. The changes in the postural control and activity of the ankle muscle, because of ankle sprain, can put the patients at reinjure risk and lower extremity injuries, especially during dynamic activities. The aim of this study was to investigate the electrical activity of ankle joint stabilizer muscles and postural stability after single-leg jump landing in individuals with ankle sprain.

In this cross-sectional study, 30 non-athletic students were participated. They were divided in two groups of 15 people, in the form of accessible and purposeful. Subjects was asked to land on a force plate with Single-leg, by at least 80% of their maximum jump. The com-cop changes assessment was used as an indicator for postural control evaluation. After jump landing, muscles activity was recorded on the ankle joint by surface electromyography (EMG) device. MATLAB software was used to analyze data, and MANOVA test was performed to compare two groups.

The results showed a significant reduction in EMG of soleus, gastrocnemius, and peroneus longus muscles (p=0.03, p=0.01 and p=0.006 respectively). Tibialis anterior activity significantly increased (p=0.001) in patient group than to healthy group. Postural control was significantly lower in patient group than healthy group, in all directions (p=0.00 and p=0.00 respectively).

Decreased postural control indicates changes in EMG of the stabilizer muscles of this joint in people with ankle sprain injury.

Chronic back pain is one of the problems that most people sufferfrom it. This disease directly affects on walking parameters. Changes in walking parameters increase the amount of pain in these individuals.Accordingly, the aim of this study was to investigate the types of therapeutic interventions on walking parameters in these individuals.

By searching for articles related to kinetics, kinematics and therapeutic exercises on patients with chronic low back pain in validated databases, based on the research criteria, 83 articles were selected as final papers for this overview study.

A review of the studies has shown that a types of physical exercises were effective in improving pain and walking parameters in this disease. But there was a significant difference between the types of physical exercises on land and exercises in water.

Water exercises due to its unique characteristics, such as bloating, immersion and resistance, are a safe and proper environment for these patients to perform therapeutic exercises and improve the walking parameters.