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Following acute spinal cord injury (SCI), excessive recruitment of neutrophils can result in inflammation, neural tissue loss and exacerbation of neurological outcomes. Ibrutinib is a bruton's tyrosine kinase inhibitor in innate immune cells such as the neutrophils that diminishes their activation and influx to the site of injury. The present study evaluated the efficacy of ibrutinib administration in the acute phase of SCI on neural tissue preservation and locomotor recovery. Ibrutinib was delivered intravenously at 3.125 mg/kg either immediately, 12 hours after, or both immediately and 12 hours after SCI induction in adult male C57BL/6 mice. Neutrophil influx into the lesion area was evaluated 24 hours following SCI using light microscopy and immunohistochemistry methods. Animals' body weight changes were recorded, and their functional motor recovery was assessed based on the Basso mouse scale during 28 days after treatment. Finally, spinal cord lesion volume was estimated by an unbiased stereological method. While animals' weight in the control group started to increase one week after injury, it stayed unchanged in treatment groups. However, the double injection of ibrutinib led to a significantly lower body weight compared to the control group at 4 weeks post-injury. Mean neutrophil counts per visual field and the lesion volume were significantly decreased in all ibrutinib-treated groups. In addition, ibrutinib significantly improved locomotor functional recovery in all treated groups, especially in immediate and double-injection groups. Neural tissue protection and locomotor functional recovery suggest ibrutinib treatment as a potent immunotherapeutic intervention for traumatic SCI that warrants clinical testing.

The co-occurrence of several anomalies in the hepatobiliary system is uncommon. In the present study, hepatic lobe anomalies occurring in combination with hepatic artery and biliary variations were observed in an adult male cadaver. There are no previous reports in the literature on the coexistence of such anatomical variations. Preoperative diagnosis of such coexisting anomalies is very difficult. Hence, a thorough knowledge of these variations will enable surgeons to select the most appropriate hepatobiliary surgical procedure and postoperative management.

Current cell therapies, despite all of the progress in this field, still faces major ethical, technical and regulatory hurdles. Because these issues possibly stem from the current, restricted, stereotypical view of cell ultrastructure and function, we must think radically about the nature of the cell. In this regard, the author's theory of the cell memory disc offers ‘memory-based therapy’, which, with the help of immune system rejuvenation, nervous system control and microparticle-based biodrugs, may have substantial therapeutic potential. In addition to its potential value in the study and prevention of premature cell aging, age-related diseases and cell death, memory therapy may improve the treatment of diseases that are currently limited by genetic disorders, risk of tumour formation and the availability and immunocompatibility of tissue transplants.

Although rare, inflammation of the appendiceal stump can occur and is still an important clinical entity. There has been a recent increase in interest in stump appendicitis. In this study a case of right lower quadrant pain in an 18-year-old man who underwent an appendicectomy 7 months previously is presented. Recurrent appendicitis was noted in an appendiceal stump during surgery which previously diagnosed by CT and ultrasonography.

Variations in the renal, adrenal and testicular arteries are of clinical significance as well as anatomical and embryological interest. The present case report describes the incidental finding of unilateral multiple renal arteries on the right side with bilateral variant testicular arteries, which had not been reported so far. These variations were observed during routine dissection of the abdominal region in an Iranian cadaver. The upper supplementary renal artery branched from the abdominal aorta and sent superior suprarenal artery to the adrenal gland. The lower supplementary renal artery arose from the main renal artery. Both additional arteries entered the kidney proximal to its hilum. The right testicular artery supplied the right suprarenal gland by an unusual branch. Double testicular arteries were seen on the left side with a relatively high origin from abdominal aorta. The objective of this report is to supplement the knowledge of vascular variations in the renal, suprarenal and testicular arteries that could be quite useful from a clinical point of view.

Variations in the renal, adrenal and testicular arteries are of clinical significance as well as anatomical and embryological interest. The present case report describes the incidental finding of unilateral multiple renal arteries on the right side with bilateral variant testicular arteries, which had not been reported so far. These variations were observed during routine dissection of the abdominal region in an Iranian cadaver. The upper supplementary renal artery branched from the abdominal aorta and sent superior suprarenal artery to the adrenal gland. The lower supplementary renal artery arose from the main renal artery. Both additional arteries entered the kidney proximal to its hilum. The right testicular artery supplied the right suprarenal gland by an unusual branch. Double testicular arteries were seen on the left side with a relatively high origin from abdominal aorta. The objective of this report is to supplement the knowledge of vascular variations in the renal, suprarenal and testicular arteries that could be quite useful from a clinical point of view., Italian Journal of Anatomy and Embryology, Vol 118, No 1 (2013)

The crucial facts underlying the low efficiency of cellular reprogramming are poorly understood. Cellular reprogramming occurs in nuclear transfer, induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC) formation, cell fusion, and lineage-switching experiments. Despite these advances, there are three fundamental problems to be addressed: (1) the majority of cells cannot be reprogrammed, (2) the efficiency of reprogramming cells is usually low, and (3) the reprogrammed cells developed from a patient's own cells activate immune responses. These shortcomings present major obstacles for using reprogramming approaches in customised cell therapy. In this Perspective, the author synthesises past and present observations in the field of cellular reprogramming to propose a theoretical picture of the cellular memory disc. The current hypothesis is that all cells undergo an endogenous and exogenous holographic memorisation such that parts of the cellular memory dramatically decrease the efficiency of reprogramming cells, act like a barrier against reprogramming in the majority of cells, and activate immune responses. Accordingly, the focus of this review is mainly to describe the cellular memory disc (CMD). Based on the present theory, cellular memory includes three parts: a reprogramming-resistance memory (RRM), a switch-promoting memory (SPM) and a culture-induced memory (CIM). The cellular memory arises genetically, epigenetically and non-genetically and affects cellular behaviours. [corrected].

In the original version of this paper, Anjamrooz focused on describing the cellular memory disc (CMD) of reprogrammed cells [1]. Based on the CMD theory, cellular memory includes three parts: a reprogramming-resistance memory (RRM), a switch-promoting memory (SPM) and a culture-induced memory (CIM). In the last sentence of the paper’s abstract, the author states that RRM, SPM and CIM arise genetically, epigenetically and non-genetically, respectively. However, based on the paper’s full text, especially the data in table 1, it is clear that the information is incorrect. Hence, in this erratum, the last abstract sentence is corrected to “Based on the present theory, cellular memory includes three parts: a reprogramming-resistance memory (RRM), a switch-promoting memory (SPM) and a culture-induced memory (CIM). The cellular memory arises genetically, epigenetically and non-genetically and affects cellular behaviours.” The original version of this paper was edited by Nature Publishing Group Language Editing prior to publication. The word “respectively,” which changed the meaning of the sentence substantially, was added to the sentence by language editors of NPG Language Editing. However, it is noted in the NPG Language Editing Editorial Certification that the author has the ability to accept or reject editors’ suggestions and changes. The author noticed this error after the paper had been published. Hence, this erratum aims to correct the error.

Knowledge of the renal vascular anatomy may greatly contribute to the success of surgical, invasive and radiological procedures of the retroperitoneal region. Here, morphometric and histological studies of a human cadaveric specimen presented a complex, anomalous pattern of renal veins. Th e left renal vein had an oblique retro-aortic course and received two lumbar veins. It bifurcated near its drainage point into the inferior vena cava. Th e right renal vein received the right testicular vein. In addition, the left kidney was located at a low position. Th e spleen was enlarged. Th e present case is unique and provides information that may help surgeons or angiologists to apply safer interventions.

The complex process of spermatogenesis is regulated by various factors. In the present study, the in vitro effects of epidermal growth factor (EGF), follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) and testosterone on spermatogonial cell colony formation were investigated, and the best colonising factor was chosen for treating cells before transplantation. Sertoli and spermatogonial cells were isolated from neonatal mouse testes. The identity of the cells was confirmed through analysis of morphology, alkaline phosphatase activity, immunoreactivity and transplantation. Co-cultured Sertoli and spermatogonial cells were treated with EGF, FSH and testosterone before colony assay. Results indicated that EGF is the best factor for in vitro colonisation of spermatogonial cells, but transplantation of the EGF-treated group did not show any significant change compared with the control groups. In conclusion, EGF increased in vitro colonisation of spermatogonial cells, but, as a result of differential effects, did not influence transplantation efficiency.

The author’s theory of the cell memory disc (CMD) offers a radical and holistic picture of the cell from both functional and structural perspectives. Despite all of the attention that has been focused on different regenerative strategies, several serious CMD-based obstacles still remain that make current cell therapies inherently unethical, harmful, and largely ineffective from a clinical viewpoint. Accordingly, unless there is a real breakthrough in finding an alternative or complementary approach to overcome these barriers, all of the discussion regarding cell-based therapies may be fruitless. Hence, this paper focuses on the issue of CMD kinetics in an attempt to provide a fresh perspective on regenerative medicine.

Introduction: Transplantation of germ cells restores the male fertility. Nevertheless, a lot of questions remain incompletely resolved. The aim of this study was to evaluate in vitro colonization efficiency of germ cells and sperm production capacity of spermatogonial cells before and after culture by sperm number assay in epididymis of recipient mice. Materials and Methods: We developed a Sertoli cell feeder in a co-culture system with spermatogonial cells and the cells were co-cultured for 2 months. The cells were isolated from mouse neonates. Colony assay was performed during culture using light microscopy. The transplanted cells were traced using BrdU incorporation. Sperm parameters were assessed 2 months after transplantation. Results: Our findings showed that spermatogonial cells created colonies during culture. Transplantation of fresh spermatogonial cells at a concentration of 2×105 cells/ml did not show significant differences. However, after transplantation of 2×105 cells/ml cultured for 2 weeks, the number of epididymal sperms in recipients increased significantly in groups with more fresh cells. Conclusion: Epididymal sperm number in recipient mice can be increased by enrichment of type A spermatogonial cells using an in vitro co-culture system. Other important factors include the source of donor cells and the number of transplanted cells.