فهرست مطالب fariba zarifi

Cisplatin is a cytotoxic agent in cancer therapy. Nephrotoxicity is considered as a side effect of cisplatin usage. Using rate models, we studied the possible protective impact of corn-silk (CS) extract against cisplatin-induced nephrotoxicity. Thirty-five experimental rats were divided into five groups (n=7 per each group) as follow: C1: Control received distilled water only; C2: received one dose of cisplatin, and CS: received 300 mg/kg/day of CS. Both CS1 and CS2 received 200 and 300 mg/kg/day of the CS extract orally, individually, for eight consecutive days. CS1 and CS2 received a single dose of cisplatin on the first day only. The specific biochemical markers and histopathological alterations were evaluated. According to our results, cisplatin administration could have induced severe degeneration in all parts of the nephron tubules and liver. Pre-treatment with CS exhibited a significant decrease in the malondialdehyde (MDA) levels as compared to the values obtained after treatment with cisplatin alone (P<0.01). Moreover, the CS extract with 200 mg dose showed significant (P<0.01) protection against the cisplatin-induced elevation of blood urea nitrogen. Further, the serum levels of alanine transaminase and aspartate transaminase were higher in the cisplatin-treated groups, when compared to the control group (P<0.05). Furthermore, the hepatic function was also improved in cisplatin-treated animals, which were pre-treated with CS. CS has the potential to attenuate nephrotoxicity and lipid peroxidation induced by cisplatin in rats.

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.

Cutaneous Leishmaniasis is a self-limiting disease caused by protozoan parasites of the genus Leishmania, which affects the skin with full-thickness wounds, which are prone to scar formation even after treatment. Taurine (Tu) is one of the most abundant amino acids that has antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects, which play an important role in the process of wound healing. Herein, we have investigated the effects of Tu on cutaneous Leishmaniasis wounds and L. major promastigotes.

Eighteen mice were induced with Leishmaniasis wounds (with L. Major) on the base of their tails and divided into three groups, T1: Treated with Tu injection, T2: Treated with Tu gel, and C: No treatment. Treatments were carried out every 24 hours for 21 days. The volume densities of the collagen bundles and vessels, vessel’s length density and diameter, and fibroblast populations were estimated by stereological methods. Flow cytometry was used in order to investigate the direct Tu effect on parasites. The Mann-Whitney U test was used and P ≤ 0.05 was considered to be statistically significant.

The numerical density of the fibroblasts, volume density of the collagen bundles, and length densities of the vessels in groups T1 and T2 were significantly higher than in group C (P < 0.05). The fibroblast numerical density of group T1 was higher than that of group T2 (P = 0.02). Incidentally, Tu had no direct effect on L. major parasites according to the flow cytometry analysis.

Tu showed the ability to improve the wound healing process and tissue regeneration although it had no direct anti-leishmaniasis effect.