Journal of Advanced Medical Sciences and Applied Technologies
Volume:3 Issue: 2, Jul 2017

Stem cells are undifferentiated cells capable of creating different types of cell in the body. Stem cell proliferation often is performed in the culture medium supplemented with Fetal Bovine Serum (FBS). Unknown compounds in the FBS, risk of contamination and disease transmission encourages the researches toward finding an alternative to FBS. Several factors are involved in the Mesenchymal Stem Cells (MSCs) precocious death in the transplanted tissue environment. Oxidative Stress (OS) is one of the main causes of stem cell apoptosis in the initial days after transplantation. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of Human Serum (HS) on the viability and oxidative related enzymes in human Adipose tissue-Derived Stem Cells (ADSCs) under oxidative stress in comparison with FBS. Materials & Methods: Human serum were obtained from blood of a healthy donor persons, in respective intervals during few days. The ADSCs were isolated from lipolysis operation samples and their cuture media were supplemented with FBS or HS and different concentrations of H2O2 as the oxidative agent. The results showed that cell proliferation and viability of ADSCs under oxidative stress condition was significantly higher in the culture medium supplemented with HS in comparison with FBS supplemented medium (P<0.05). This study showed that FBS could be replaced by HS in MSC culture medium with improved effects on cell proliferation and oxidative related enzyme activity under oxidative Stress condition.

Although social deficits are the main features of autism, children in autism spectrum disorder often too display difficulties with posture, coordination and motor planning. As such, poor motor skills are believed to be associated with greater difficulties in social communication. Some recent studies show that music can improve the sensory processing and motor functions by affecting brain connectivity. The present study aims to examine the effect of movement activities in synchronization with music on motor proficiency of 7 to 14 years old children with low functioning autism. Materials & Methods: A double-blind randomized controlled trial design was used in this study. Twenty two subjects participated in the study and assigned into experimental and control groups randomly. The interventions consisted of movement activities with music for experimental group and without music for control group. Motor proficiency of subjects such as balance performance, bilateral coordination and upper limb coordination were assessed by trained independent evaluator before the treatment and also after 12th and 24th therapeutic sessions using 3 subtests of Bruininks- Oseretsky Test of Motor Proficiency (BOTMP). The effect of interventions in two groups were compared by repeated measures ANOVA. The results indicated that both interventions improved motor performance in the participants but the effects of interventions on balance performance (P<0.001), bilateral coordination (P<0.05) and upper limb coordination (P<0.001) were significantly different between the two groups. Movement therapy is beneficial for children with autism, but movement activities in synchronization with music can accelerate improvements in motor proficiency of these children.

It is important to recognize and diagnose various forms of ovulatory failure that contribute to infertility. Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) is one such failure characterized by the formation of numerous follicles in the ovary. This disorder seriously affects women's health and it is diagnosed by ultrasound imaging which gives important information on the number of follicles and their size. Materials & Methods: These follicles are fluid filled structures that exhibit echo texture. Texture features of the follicle wall for both normal and PCOS dominant follicles are evaluated over a period of seven days before ovulation. By considering these features, follicle growth rate is investigated in normal and PCOS. The results supported the hypothesis that quantitative changes in echo texture are reflecting the changes in the physiologic status of the normal ovary.

Adipose tissue as an appropriate source of Mesenchymal Stem Cells (MSCs) has the potential to differentiate into multiple lineages. Glycoconjugates content of the MSCs can be considered as biomarkers in self-renewal, pluripotency and differentiation processes. In this study, the lectin profile of MSCs isolated from adipose tissue was detected and according to that, a subpopulation was determined. Materials & Methods: MSCs were isolated from adipose tissue by explanting of the tissue pieces. The FITC-conjugated lectins, WGA, UEA, PNA, BSA and PWM were used to detect the terminal sugar residues. The cells were then counterstained with DAPI. The intensity of the reaction was evaluated by ImageJ software. The cells were also stained with PAS method. MSCs were reacted with all lectins with different intensity of the reactions. The cells reacted with WGA, UEA, and BSA “strongly” and with PWM “moderately” and with PNA with “weak” intensity. The morphological analysis of the isolated MSCs revealed the existence of the two different cell types in the cultures. Two types of cells were detected according to nucleus size and lectin reactivity. The cells with large nuclei constitute 20.62% of the total cells and stained significant more intensity by UEA and less intense with PWM (both P=0.014) and PNA (P=0.044). Flow cytometry with CD34 shows that these large cells were not endothelial cells. The MSCs derived from adipose tissue seem to be a heterogeneous populations and lectin profile of the cells showed that they are different in the expression of the glycoconjugates.

Preeclampsia (PE) is associated with impaired decidual leukocyte and plasma cytokine balance compared with normal pregnancy. We aimed to investigate maternal plasma levels of Interferon-gamma (IFN-g), Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha (TNF-a), Transforming Growth Factor-beta (TGF-b), Interleukin-4 (IL4), IL6, IL10, IL17, IL35, suppressor of Cytokine Signalling-3 (SOCS3) and placental bed leukocytes in preeclamptic and healthy pregnants. Materials & Methods: This study was conducted with 40 preeclamptic and 40 normotensive pregnants. Cytokine levels were studied with enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. CD8, CD56 and CD163 antigens were analysed by immunohistochemical study on placental bed biopsies. In preeclamptic women; IFN-g and TGF-b levels were significantly higher and IL-35 levels were significantly lower than those of controls. CD8, CD56 and CD163 positivity of preeclamptic group were not significantly higher than those of controls. CD8 staining showed negative correlation with plasma IL17 levels. CD163 staining showed negative correlation with TNF-a/IL4 ratio. TNF-a/IL4 ratio showed minimal influence on placental bed CD163 staining. Slightly increased placental bed CD8, CD56 and CD163 positive leukocytes and increased plasma IFN-g, TGF-b and decreased plasma IL35 levels of preeclamptic pregnants indicate an aberrant cell mediated immunity in PE. We could not say yet that this condition is whether result or reason. New studies are needed to discuss our results.

In India control of fertility is based on the folk use of numerous Indian Traditional Plants that has been practiced for contraception from many years. Present investigation aims that, to evaluate the contraceptive potential of Achyranthes aspera leaves MeOH extract in male albino mice and has shown promising results of antispermatogenic, antiandrogenic and hypolipidaemic activities. Materials & Methods: MeOH extract of A. aspera leaves at the doses of 25 mg and 50 mg/100 gm body weight was administered orally for 30 days to adult male albino mice. On day 31st, the rats were sacrificed and the testis were removed and weighed for gravimetrical analysis. Organs were processed for biochemical estimation, histological evaluation and histomorphometry for testicular analysis. Treatment with A. aspera leaves extract resulted in decrease the weight of testis 0.925±0.015 significantly (P<0.05). Morphometric analysis like diameter of testis 2554.22±18.545 seminiferous tubules 247.074±8.051 and Leydig cells 7.842±0.248 were decreased significantly (P<0.05) at 50mg/100gm body weight when compare to control. Spermatogenic elements like, spermatogonia, spermatocytes and spermatids in the testis were reduced significantly (P<0.05) as well as Leydig cells count in testis when compared to control. Biochemical analysis resulted as, protein, glycogen, and cholesterol content were decreased significantly (P<0.05) in testis of extracts treated mice, whereas alkaline phosphatase increased and acid phosphatase decreased when compared with that of control. MeOH extract of A. aspera leaves arrest the spermatogenesis and inhibited testicular function in male mice without side effects to act as potential contraceptive.

Intra-Uterine Insemination (IUI) is one of the methods for infertility treatments. The size of the follicles and endometrial thickness are two important factors in pregnancy rate of patients undergoing controlled ovarian stimulation and intrauterine insemination cycles (COH-IUI). The aim of this study was to investigate the success rate of IUI and follicular size and other associated factors in infertile couples. Materials & Methods: The study group was the patients who were undergoing COH-IUI. BMI of all women recorded and ovulation induction was propelled and when there was appropriate endometrial thickness and at least one dominant follicle in trans-vaginal ultrasonography. 36 hours after HCG injection, IUI was performed. Then pregnancy rate between patients who had follicle size fewer than 20 mm and higher than 20 mm was assumed. 159 cases of IUI were performed and pregnancy happened in 22(14.1 %). In non-pregnant group (134 cases), 78 cases had under 20 mm follicles and 47 cases had higher than 20 mm follicles. In pregnant group (22 cases) 10 cases had fewer than 20 mm follicles and 12 cases had higher than 20 mm follicles in the time of HCG injection. Endometrial thickness was 8.01±1.42 mm in patients with follicles more than 20 mm. The success rate in controlled ovarian stimulation and intrauterine insemination cycles closely related to obtaining of optimal size of follicles and endometrial thickness.

The experience of infertility in Africa is associated with some cultural beliefs that warrant scientific investigations. However, the quantitative exploration of these beliefs has been problematic because of lack of psychometric instruments to measure beliefs about infertility. The purpose of this study was to develop the Fertility Belief Questionnaire (FBQ) based on the constructs of the Common Sense Model (CSM) and examine the content and construct validity of the FBQ. Materials & Methods: The FBQ was developed based on a revision of an existing revised illness perception questionnaire (Illness Perception Questionnaire-Revised [IPQ-R]). Some items of the IPQ-R were deleted and others were added based on findings of a pilot study, literature review, and suggestions from an expert panel who evaluated the content validity of the FBQ. A Scale Content Validity Index (S-CVI) for each sub-scale of the FBQ was calculated by averaging the I-CVIs for individual items over the total number of expert and lay panel members. To evaluate the construct validity, a confirmatory factor analysis, composite reliability and internal consistency reliability testing were conducted. The final FBQ is made up of a total of 57 items and six sub-scales with good construct validity. Three sub-scales had reliabilities ranging from 0.71 to 0.80 while two sub-scales had reliabilities less than 0.70. The FBQ has shown acceptable psychometric properties that will enable the examination of relationships between beliefs and psychosocial health problems of infertility.

The relation between thrombophilia and infertility has drawn the attention in last few years. Most studies investigating the effect of inherited thrombophilia on infertility studied the relationship between thrombophilia and implantation failure. It was found to be a possible cause of impaired implantation in some subgroups of infertile women. Still thrombophilia screening in general infertile population is unjustified and in fact may lead to increased patient anxiety after a positive test result together with the increased cost. Due to the poor information available concerning the relationship between inherited thrombophilia and infertility, we performed a case–control study in order to evaluate the prevalence of protein C activity in women with unexplained infertility. Materials & Methods: This is a case–control study conducted to evaluate the prevalence of protein C activity in women with unexplained infertility conducted at Ain-Shams University Maternity Hospital. 48 women with unexplained primary infertility and another 48 fertile women of matched age group as their control were recruited from July 2011 to January 2013. Using the BIOPHEN Protein C 2.5 assay, protein C was measured following a specific activation with Protac, an enzyme extracted from snake venom. Activated protein C (APC) then specifically cleaves the specific substrate SaPC-21, releasing para-Nitroaniline (pNA), and its color is measured at 405 nm. 2(4.2%) cases of protein C deficiency were encountered in the unexplained infertility group while none found in the control group. This study failed to find relationship between protein C activity and unexplained infertility compared to normal fertile population. In spite of finding 2 cases with protein C deficiency in the unexplained infertility sample population and none in the control group, this difference failed to reach significance (P=0.495 and P=0.076 respectively). In conclusion, this study failed to find any association between protein C activity and unexplained infertility.

Rate of infertility in overall is around 15-10%. Intra-Uterine Insemination (IUI) is one procedure for infertility treatment. Luteal phase support defect is a main factor in fail of pregnancy. Goal of this study was to evaluate the effect of luteal phase support with progesterone suppository in patients who undergoing IUI cycles. Materials & Methods: 100 infertile couples who were undergoing IUI treatment included in this study. Ovulation induction was done for all patients. When IUI was done, patients were distributed into two groups. The study group (n=50) received progesterone suppository and control group (n=50) doesn’t received any medicine. Then biochemical pregnancy rate, clinical pregnancy rate and abortion rate compared between two study groups. There were no differences in basic characteristics between two groups. Biochemical and clinical pregnancy were parallel in the study and control groups. There were no statistically significant increases in abortion rate between the study groups (P=0.49). Luteal phase support by progesterone suppository does not improve the pregnancy rate of stimulated IUI cycles.