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Background: Numerous studies have focused on skin damage, the most prevalent physical injury, aiming to improve wound healing. The exploration of biomaterials, specifically eggshell membranes (ESMs), is undertaken to accelerate the recovery of skin injuries. The membrane must be separated from the shell to make this biomaterial usable. Hence, this investigation aimed to identify more about the methods for membrane isolation and determine the most efficient one for usage as a biomaterial. Methods and materials: For this purpose, ESM was removed from eggs using different protocols (with sodium carbonate, acetic acid, HCl, calcium carbonate, and using forceps for separation). Consequently, we have examined the membranes' mechanical and morphological qualities. Results: According to the analysis of microscopic surface morphology, the membranes have appropriate porosity. MTT assay also revealed that the membranes have no cytotoxic effect on 3T3 cells. The results indicated that the ESM had acquired acceptable coagulation and was compatible with blood. Based on the obtained results, Provacol 4 (0.5‐mol HCl and neutralized with 0.1‐mol NaOH) was better than other methods of extraction and eggshell separation because it was more cell‐compatible and more compatible with blood. Conclusion: This study demonstrates that ESMs can be used as a suitable biomaterial in medical applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Skin injuries have long been recognized as a prevalent type of physical injury. As a result, numerous research studies have been performed to discover an effective mechanism for wound healing. Therefore, tissue engineering of skin has developed as a potential solution for traditional methods of treating skin injuries. Methods and materials: Alginate/Chitosan hydrogel was mixed with 1, 10, 100, and 150 µM Obestatin, and evaluated the morphology, cumulative release, hemocompatibility and cytocompatibility, water absorption, cell viability, weight loss, and antibacterial characteristics of three‐dimensional (3D) alginate (Alg) and chitosan (Cs) hydrogels during the process of wound curing. Various concentrations of Obestatin (Obes) were utilized for this purpose. Finally, the hydrogels that were made were tested on a full‐thickness dermal wound in a Wistar rat model. The curative effects were determined by analyzing RNA expression and examining tissue stained with Masson's trichrome (MT) and hematoxylin‐eosin (H&E). Results: The biodegradability of this hydrogel was verified using weight loss testing, which demonstrated a reduction of around 90% after a period of 3 days. Furthermore, the MTT assay demonstrated that hydrogels have a beneficial effect on cell proliferation without inducing any harmful effects. Furthermore, the hydrogels produced demonstrated higher wound closure in vivo compared to the wounds treated with gauze (negative control group). Among the hydrogel groups, the chitosan/alginate/obestatin 100 µM group exhibited the apical percentage of wound closure, gene expression, and secondary epithelialization, but in 150 µM concentrations, we saw a lower rate of cell growth and proliferation and increase in hemolysis. In addition, RT‐PCR analysis demonstrated that a concentration of 100 µM obestatin resulted in an upregulation in the expression of mRNA for vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), collagen type I & type III, and transforming growth factor‐beta (TGF‐β). Conclusion: The present study suggests that 3D Alg/Cs hydrogels with a concentration of 100 µM obestatin have the potential for clinical application in the treatment of skin injuries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective. In the testicular tissue stroma, matrix proteins such as laminin and fibronectin play a critical role in transmitting signals under normal and stressful conditions to Leydig cells. Heat stress is considered one of the stressful conditions in the testicular tissue. This study has investigated the protective effects of chrysin on the distribution of laminin and fibronectin around Leydig cells under heat stress. Methods. Rats were divided into four groups, including sham (A), heat stress (B), heat stress with chrysin treatment (50 mg/kg) (C), and heat stress with chrysin treatment (75 mg/kg) (D). At the end of the treatment period, on the 21st day, testosterone serum levels were evaluated, and the testes were also assessed to determine the changes in gene expression and distribution of laminin, fibronectin, and caspase-3 proteins. Results. Exposure to heat stress in Group B resulted in increased levels of caspase-3, decreased activity, height, and diameter of seminiferous tubules, and altered distribution of laminin and fibronectin proteins around the Leydig cells when compared to the sham group (p < 0.05). Treatment with chrysin 75 resulted in a significant decrease in caspase-3 levels, improved testosterone levels, and increased distribution of laminin and fibronectin around Leydig cells compared to group B (p < 0.05). In addition, the group treated with chrysin 75 showed improved seminiferous histological activity markers in comparison to group B (p < 0.05). Conclusion. Following heat stress, concurrent with disrupted steroidogenesis, an evident change happens in the distribution pattern of the extracellular matrix (ECM) proteins of the testis, which may indicate the transmission of stress signals from the ECM to the Leydig cells. Treatment of chrysin in 75 mg/kg dose can reduce the damage caused by heat stress on the ECM and Leydig cells. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Diabetic neuropathy is a well-known complication of diabetes. Recently, hyperglycemia-induced toxicity has been confirmed to participates in multiple cellular pathways typical for neural deterioration. Nicotinamide phosphoribosyltransferase/pre-b cell colony-enhancing factor (Nampt/PBEF)/visfatin is a novel endogenous ligand that some studies have shown its neuroprotective effects on neurodegenerative disease. Therefore, we hypothesized that visfatin may prevent high glucose (HG)-induced neurotoxicity by inhibiting apoptosis, autophagy, and reactive oxygen species (ROS) responses properly. Methods: In this study, pheochromocytoma cell line 12 (PC12) cells were exposed to both HG concentrations (50, 75, 100, 125, 150 mM) and visfatin (50, 100, 150 ng/mL) at different time -points to determine the optimum time and dose of glucose and visfatin. To investigate the effects of visfatin on HG-induced damage in the PC12 diabetic neuropathy model, we examined ROS response, apoptosis, and autophagy using ROS detection kit, flow cytometry, and real-time PCR/Western blot, respectively. Results: We determined that HG concentration significantly increased the ROS level and apoptosis of diabetic PC12 cells. However, visfatin treatment significantly decreased the ROS production (P<0.05) and apoptosis of diabetic PC12 cells (P<0.0001). Beclin-1 messenger ribonucleic acid (mRNA) level (P<0.05) and light chain 3 (Lc3)-II protein level (P<0.05) showed that the autophagy pathway is impaired by HG concentrations. Conclusion: We concluded that visfatin can sufficiently decrease neural damage caused by ROS production and apoptosis under HG-induced toxicity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Since osteoarthritis is the most common musculoskeletal inflammation that causes people to be unable to move with age, a proper diet can be effective in treating it. Therefore, understanding the impact of nonpharmacological nutritional supplements may provide guidelines for the prevention of this disease thereby reducing the costs of medical care. The purpose of this study was to review the effect of various non-pharmacological dietary supplements containing nutrients and micronutrients in the prevention and treatment of osteoarthritis. Taking these non-pharmacological nutritional supplements over a short to medium term reduced pain and inflammation, and improved patients' quality of life. However, their impact was low to moderate. To achieve the best treatment results in patients with osteoarthritis, it is recommended that these dietary supplements be taken along with medication and adopt a healthier lifestyle. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Autophagy is a vital process that maintains cellular homeostasis by joining lysosomes and providing energy production substrates. In testicular tissue, Sertoli cells play functional roles in spermatogenesis and steroidogenesis. It is well known that autophagy physiologically occurs in the Sertoli cells. Under pathological conditions, such as testicular torsion, autophagy can be activated under high‐stress stimuli. It is worth noting that Sertoli cells receive autophagy‐induced signals through some extracellular matrix proteins, e.g. laminin and fibronectin. The present study aims to evaluate Sertoli cells' autophagy‐associated extracellular matrix proteins' alteration following testicular torsion in rat model. The animals were divided into two groups as sham and testicular torsion/detorsion groups. In the testicular torsion/detorsion group, testicular torsion was maintained for 6 hr, followed by detorsion for 14 days. The obtained results revealed that testicular torsion‐induced oxidative stress leads to increased autophagy in Sertoli cells as well as the whole testicular tissue. Moreover, extracellular matrix proteins including laminin and fibronectin act as autophagy‐regulating proteins, in which their expression levels are reduced and increased respectively. In addition, the level of caspase‐3, as an autophagy inhibitory protein, did not increase significantly in the cytoplasm of Sertoli cells as opposed to whole testicular tissue, indicating that autophagy is active after testicular torsion in these cells. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Some of the trauma patients (about 3%) suffer from peripheral nerve injuries and unfortunately, it is still a significant clinical problem to regenerate and functional recovery of them. These days, peripheral nerve damages have been treated with various methods and materials. The goal of the present study is to evaluate the effect of various amounts of 4-Methylcatechol (4-MC) on peripheral nerve regeneration. For this target, alginate/chitosan hydrogel was used to deliver different percentages (0.1%, 1%, and 10% (w/v)) of 4-MC to the sciatic nerve-injured sites in a rat model. Before that, the properties of hydrogels were assessed and after injecting, different functional analyses were used to evaluate the efficacy of fabricated hydrogels on peripheral nerve regeneration. Our results exhibited that the pore size of hydrogels was appropriate for cell proliferation (26–42 µm). Biodegradability of hydrogels was about 70% after 7 days and hemocompatibility of hydrogels was also confirmed. The MTT assay showed that the hydrogels not only do not have toxicity effects but also can improve the proliferation rate of PC12 cells. The functional results showed that 4-MC especially the group contained 10% of 4-MC enhance sciatic nerve regeneration. It could be concluded that fabricated hydrogels can use as suitable materials for peripheral nerve regeneration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The adoptive transfer of genetically engineered T cells modified to express a chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) has shown remarkable activity and induces long‐term remissions in patients with advanced hematologic malignancies. To date, little is known about predictive indicators of therapeutic efficacy or serious toxicity after CAR T‐cell therapy in clinical practice. Biomarkers are not only potentially able to inform physicians and researchers of immunotherapy targets in particular but could also be used to monitor the effectiveness of treatments and to predict incidence of side effects in some circumstances. Identification of new biomarkers can therefore not only contribute to the development of new therapeutic and prognostic strategies for CAR T‐cell therapy for cancer but also help to generate improved clinical practices for early recognition and minimization of adverse effects while preserving the antitumor activity of the CAR T cells. Herein, we will consider a variety of predictive and therapeutic biomarkers in CAR T‐cell therapy and the state of current understanding of their clinical utility. The incorporation of biomarker studies in CAR T‐cell clinical trials and practice will help to realize the potential clinical benefit of biomarker‐guided therapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the current study, tetracycline hydrochloride (TCH), an antibiotic against most of the medically relevant bacteria, was incorporated into poly (ε-caprolactone)/poly lactic acid solution in order to develop a composite scaffold with both antibacterial and osteoinductive properties for the repair of infected bone defects. The composite scaffolds were produced from poly (ε-caprolactone) (PCL) and poly lactic acid (PLA) solution (1:1 (w/w)) incorporated with 3, 5, and 10% (w/w) of TCH by thermally induced phase separation technique. The scaffolds were evaluated regarding their morphology, wettability, porosity, degradation, mechanical properties, and cellular response. The scaffold containing 10% of TCH (PCL/PLA/TCH10%) was chosen as the optimum scaffold for further investigation in a rat femoral defect model. The study showed that after eight weeks, the bone formation was relatively higher in PCL/PLA/TCH10%-treated group with completely filled defect when compared with control (PCL/PLA scaffold without TCH). Histopathological evaluation showed that the defect in PCL/PLA/TCH10%-treated group was fully replaced by new bone and connective tissue. Our results provide evidence supporting the possible applicability of TCH-containing scaffolds for successful bone regeneration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Exosomes are biological nanocarriers which could be involved in a variety of basic physiological events. They exert their effects via targeting their cargos (i.e., DNAs, messenger RNAs, microRNAs [miRNAs], and proteins) to host cells, which led to change behaviors of recipient cells. One of the important aspects of exosomes is the roles of them in disease conditions. Increasing evidence indicated that exosomes are one of the main players in Alzheimer's disease (AD) pathogenesis. Hence, it seems that these nanocarriers could be used as diagnostic and therapeutic biomarkers in AD treatment. Another important player in AD pathogenesis is miRNA. MiRNAs are short noncoding RNAs which exert their effects as epigenetic regulators. These molecules involved in different stages of AD. Therefore, miRNAs could be used as prognostic, diagnostic, and therapeutic biomarkers in AD. Here, we summarized various roles of exosomes and application of them in AD pathogenesis. Moreover, we highlighted the utilization of miRNAs as a therapeutic option in AD therapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, taurine (2-aminoethane sulfonic acid), an amino acid found in large amounts in most mammalian tissues, was incorporated with poly (ε-caprolactone) and gelatin in order to develop a drug-loaded composite wound dressing material. The composite mats from poly (ε-caprolactone)/gelatin (1:1 (w/w)) solution incorporated with 3%, 5%, and 10% (w/w) of taurine were produced by electrospinning. The electrospun mats were evaluated regarding their morphology, wettability, water uptake capacity, water vapor transmission rate, tensile strength, and cellular response with L929 cell line. The mat containing 5% of taurine was chosen as the optimum dressing for in vivo study on the full-thickness excisional wounds of Wistar rats. The results showed that after 2 weeks, the wounds treated with the taurine-loaded dressing achieved a significant closure to nearly 92% compared with the sterile gauze, as control, which showed nearly 68% of wound closure. The histological examination of the wounds revealed that the wounds treated with the taurine-loaded dressing had densely packed collagen fibers with parallel alignment. Whereas, the sterile gauze–treated wounds had loosely packed collagen fibers with an irregular arrangement. Our results provided evidence supporting the possible applicability of the taurine-loaded wound dressings for successful wound treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Current study was conducted because of a social demand to treat and prevent rising cognitive damages following oxidative stress occur due to several reasons including reduced blood supply to the brain following cerebral ischemic lesions and cardiovascular diseases. Methods: In present study male albino rats were divided into test and control groups. In the test group saffron extract was administered daily for seven days and the other group received normal saline at the same time. Then by performing surgery, in one half of rats in each group, two common carotid arteries were ligated. The ligation reduced blood flow and made lesion in the brain. After surgery, all rats in the test group, were retaken medication for 4 days followed by assessment using behavioral morris water maze task. Results: Test analysis showed there was a significant difference between treated and control group. Moreover, saffron extract attenuated brain hypoperfusion induced learning disorder. Conclusion: The results of this study showed that saffron extract treatments decreased rat cognitive defects caused by reduced brain blood flow following appearance of free oxygen radicals and oxidative damage in hippocampus area. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Skin injuries have long been recognized as a prevalent type of physical injury. As a result, numerous research studies have been performed to discover an effective mechanism for wound healing. Therefore, tissue engineering of skin has developed as a potential solution for traditional methods of treating skin injuries., Methods and Materials: Alginate/Chitosan hydrogel was mixed with 1, 10, 100, and 150 µM Obestatin, and evaluated the morphology, cumulative release, hemocompatibility and cytocompatibility, water absorption, cell viability, weight loss, and antibacterial characteristics of three-dimensional (3D) alginate (Alg) and chitosan (Cs) hydrogels during the process of wound curing. Various concentrations of Obestatin (Obes) were utilized for this purpose. Finally, the hydrogels that were made were tested on a full-thickness dermal wound in a Wistar rat model. The curative effects were determined by analyzing RNA expression and examining tissue stained with Masson's trichrome (MT) and hematoxylin-eosin (H&E)., Results: The biodegradability of this hydrogel was verified using weight loss testing, which demonstrated a reduction of around 90% after a period of 3 days. Furthermore, the MTT assay demonstrated that hydrogels have a beneficial effect on cell proliferation without inducing any harmful effects. Furthermore, the hydrogels produced demonstrated higher wound closure in vivo compared to the wounds treated with gauze (negative control group). Among the hydrogel groups, the chitosan/alginate/obestatin 100 µM group exhibited the apical percentage of wound closure, gene expression, and secondary epithelialization, but in 150 µM concentrations, we saw a lower rate of cell growth and proliferation and increase in hemolysis. In addition, RT-PCR analysis demonstrated that a concentration of 100 µM obestatin resulted in an upregulation in the expression of mRNA for vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), collagen type I & type III, and transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-β)., Conclusion: The present study suggests that 3D Alg/Cs hydrogels with a concentration of 100 µM obestatin have the potential for clinical application in the treatment of skin injuries., (© 2024 The Author(s). Skin Research and Technology published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)

Introduction: The balance between revenue and cost of an organization/system is essential to maintain its survival and quality of services. Emergency departments (ED) are one of the most important parts of health care delivery system. Financial discipline of EDs, by increasing the efficiency and profitability, can directly affect the quality of care and subsequently patient satisfaction. Accordingly, the present study attempts to investigate failure mode and effects analysis (FMEA) method in identifying the problems leading to the loss of ED revenue and offer solutions to help fix these problems., Methods: This prospective cohort study investigated the financial records of ED patients and evaluated the effective errors in reducing the revenue in ED of Imam Hossein hospital, Tehran, Iran, from October 2007 to November 2009. The whole department was divided into one main system and six subsystems, based on FMEA. The study was divided into two phases. In the first phase, the problems leading to the loss of revenue in each subsystem were identified and weighted into four groups using risk priority number (RPN), and the solutions for fixing them were planned. Then, in the second phase, discovered defects in the first phase were fixed according to their priority. Finally, the impact of each solution was compared before and after intervention using the repeated measure ANOVA test., Results: 100 financial records of ED patients were evaluated during the first phase of the study. The average of ED revenue in the six months of the first phase was 73.1±3.65 thousand US dollars/month. 12 types of errors were detected in the predefined subsystems. ED revenue rose from 73.1 to 153.1, 207.06, 240, and 320 thousand US dollars/month after solving first, second, third, and fourth priority problems, respectively (337.75% increase in two years) (p<0.001). 111.0% increase in the ED revenue after solving of first priority problems revealed that they were extremely indispensable in decreasing the revenue (p<0.0001)., Conclusion: The findings of the present study revealed that FMEA could be considered as an efficient model for increasing the revenue of emergency department. According to this model, not recording the services by the nursing unit, and lack of specific identifying code for the patients moving from ED to any other department, were the two first priority problems in decreasing our ED revenue.