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Background and Objective: Chrysin is a natural and active biological component which is extracted from plants, honey and propolis. Chrysin has anti-inflammatory, anticancer and antioxidant propertis. This study was done to evaluate the effect of chrysin on AGS human gastric cancer cell line. Methods: In this descriptive - analytic study, chrysin was dissolved in dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) and the cytotoxic effects of concentrations of 10, 15, 20, 30, 40 ,50, 60, 70, 80, and 100 µM/ml of chrysin on AGS cells was evaluated. Viability of the cells was determined with MTT assay after 24, 48 and 72 hours and compared to controls. Results: Chrysin inhibited the growth and proliferation of human gastric cancer AGS cell line. The antiproliferative effect of chrysin was dose and time dependent. The IC50 values were determined for 60, 30 and 20 µM, in incubation time of 24, 48 and 72 hour, respectively (P

Background: Salen metal complexes are used successfully in a wide range of asymmet-ric reactions and important in the pharmaceutical and industry. On the toxicity of salen vanadium oxide (VOsalen) on embryo and cell cultures, little information is available. In the present study, the toxic and teratogenic effects of VOsalen was evaluated against chicken embryos as a animal model and liver and fibroblast cell cultures which was derived from the embryo.Methods: The VOsalen compound was synthesized. The compound solution was inject-ed in triplicate examination, in the air sac of the eggs, at third day of incubation. Treat-ed and control eggs, on day 19 of incubation opened and embryos were weighted, then mortality rate was recorded. The liver and fibroblast cell culture were treated by this and survival fraction was recorded.Results: The survived fraction of the embryos depends on the compound concentration. In concentration of 300μM/egg, 36/32% of the embryos survived and the Lethal dose 50% (LD50) was 226/37 μM/egg. Morphological study of the treated embryos showed retarded growth, and skeletal staining showed the deletion of caudal vertebrate. The compound was inhibited liver and fibroblast cells growth with IC50 1047/25 and 1036/82μM respectively. The cytoplasm of treated cells became dense and their interco-nnections were loosed.Conclusion: The VOsalen compound had low toxic effects against the embryos and the cultured cells at the concentrations. Significant cytotoxic effect was not observed in the treated cells. However the proliferative cells were affected significantly in comparison with the cells which their growth was stopped. The effect of VOsalen compound against replication of liver cells were lower than fibroblast cells.

Background and Objectives: Selenium is a trace element and its nanoparticle has antimicrobial activity and due to their low toxicity and excellent biological performance, it has many biological applications in tissue engineering. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of selenium nanoparticles on stem cell interaction on rat decellularized sciatic nerve scaffolds. Materials and Methods: In this laboratory study, the effect of selenium nanoparticles on stem cell interaction on rat decellularized sciatic nerve scaffold, scaffolds were prepared using Sondell decellularizaton method and stored in PBS solution containing antibiotics. Biomechanical and histological evaluations of scaffolds were examined using the light microscope. In the next step, adipose stem cells were seeded on the scaffold and the viability of the cells on the scaffold in the presence of selenium nanoparticles were measured by MTT (3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyl tetrazolium bromide) assay. Data were analyzed by one-way analysis of variance and Tukey's post hoc test. Results: The tensile test showed that after decellularization, extracellular matrix components such as collagen, laminin, and elastin were retained in the scaffold. Also, DNA content was significantly reduced in the scaffold group (p<0.01). The results of MTT test showed that selenium nanoparticles had no toxicity on stem cells cultured on the scaffold. Conclusion: The biocompatibility of scaffolds and the viability of stem cells treated with selenium nanoparticles were not significantly different from the control group. Therefore, it can be evaluated as a reinforcing factor to increase the efficiency of scaffolds for the use in regeneration of the nerve lesions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Objectives: The use of nanotechnology is rapidly expanding in various fields, especially in the health and pharmaceutical fields. The purpose of this study was to produce biological Zinc Oxide (ZnO) and silver (Ag) nanoparticles (NPs) using extract of milk thistle seeds and to determine their antibacterial properties. Materials and Methods: In this laboratory study, biological NPs were synthesized using aqueous extract of milk thistle, and ZnO NPs were chemically synthesized as well. After investigating the structural properties, the antibacterial effects of the nanomaterials on Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus were studied at the concentrations of 0.8, 0.4, 0.2, 0.1, 0.05 and 0 (control) mg/ml. Results: The size of the biologically synthesized ZnO/Ag NPs was determined (17.5 nm), which was smaller than the chemical NPs (22 nm). Due to smaller size, it could have more bioactivity. Furthermore, the presence of organic compounds in the structure of NPs was confirmed. Both types of NPs showed dose-dependent antibacterial effects. Despite high sensitivity of bacteria to the biological NPs, this difference was statistically significant only at theconcentration of 0.8 mg/ml (p<0.05). Conclusion: The findings showed that biological NPs were more effective on the bacterial growth. This could be due to their smaller size and presence of active plant compounds in their structure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tissue stem cells form a small population of cells (usually much less than 1% within a given tissue), have selfrenewing potential and display significant plasticity. The capacity of stem cells for tissue renewal and damage repair has great potential applications for biotechnology, regenerative medicine and tissue engineering. However, they can pose a serious threat to the host organism if their differentiation potential becomes uncontrolled. Mutations within regulatory pathways can impair stem cell functions so that their high proliferative potential, and frequently their migratory capabilities as well, make these mutated stem cells tumorigenic. These tumorigenic stem/progenitor cell populations are collectively named CSCs. Anticancer drugs kill cancer cells and cause a reduction in tumor mass. Frequently, however, the cancer re-emerges after a few months or even years because the therapy failed to kill the CSCs. Cancer treatments that target CSC through specific markers or signaling pathways critically involved in CSC function could potentially increase the efficacy of current forms of therapy, by reducing the risk of relapse and dissemination. A6 is an 8-amino acid peptide that has been shown to have antiinvasive, anti-migratory, and anti-angiogenic activities. This peptide shares sequence homology with CD44, an adhesion receptor involved in metastasis that is also a marker of cancer stem cells, potentiated the CD44-dependent adhesion of cancer cells to hyaluronic acid and activated CD44-mediated signaling. It seems that the designing peptides with strong stability followed by their heterologous (under vector) expression will provide a clear perspective in cancer treatment [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: For humans, cytotoxic drug therapy to eradicate cancer cells can damage spermatogenesis and lead to infertility. Theoretically, isolation and differentiation of MSC to germ-like cells could provide a source of endogenous germ cells for possible transplantation for patients undergoing chemotherapy in future. Materials and Methods: Pluripotent mesenchymal stem cell (MSC) lines were established from umbilical cord Wharton's jelly. The cells present the high expansion potential of MSC, a typical fibroblast-like morphology and proliferate up to 15 passages without displaying clear changes in morphology. PCR analysis was performed on MSCs at passages 2-5 to further characterize this cell population. The results showed that these cells strongly expressed markers for mesenchymal progenitors such as CD 105 and CD44 and were negative for cell surface markers associated with hematopoietic cells, CD34. MSC formed tadpolelike germ cells after induction with different dosages of retinoic acid and conditioned medium. Results: The present study showed that, mesenchymasl stem cells are fully functional after proliferation and culturing process do not damages the surface properties of these cells. The ability to isolate and culture of MSCs in vitro and to apply transplantation technique may facilitate development of therapeutic strategies for the treatment of infertility in patients who may suffer destruction of germ cells as a result of irradiation or chemotherapy for cancer. Conclusion: Our results may provide a new route for reproductive therapy and a novel in vitro model to investigate the molecular mechanisms that regulate the development of the mammalian germ lineage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Hydatidosis, caused by the Echinococcus tapeworm, typically manifests with hepatic and pulmonary symptoms, but cardiac involvement, especially in pediatric cases, poses a rare challenge. This overview emphasizes the diagnostic complexities and potential complications associated with this uncommon parasitic disease., Case Presentation: A 4-year-old child was presented with epigastric pain after an abdominal impact trauma. Clinical examination revealed tachycardia, fever, and pericardial effusion with an intramyocardial cyst. Hydatid serology confirmed the diagnosis, and subsequent imaging ruled out additional localizations. Treatment involved albendazole, pericardial drainage, and cyst removal, resulting in a favorable outcome., Discussion: Cardiac hydatid cysts, comprising only 0.5--2% of visceral cases, often occur in underdeveloped regions. The authors' case, affecting the right ventricle in a pediatric patient, contributes to the understanding of varied presentations. Diagnosis relies on echocardiography, computed tomography scans, and MRI, with surgery being the mainstay treatment. Symptomatic cases demand prompt intervention due to potential complications., Conclusion: This case underscores the intricate diagnostic journey and management challenges posed by cardiac hydatid cysts, particularly in pediatric populations. Collaboration between medical disciplines is crucial for timely diagnosis and effective treatment, emphasizing the importance of ongoing research in endemic regions., Competing Interests: No conflicts of interest to declare., (Copyright © 2024 The Author(s). Published by Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc.)

Background: Kallmann-Morsier syndrome is a rare disease characterized by the association of congenital gonadotropic deficiency and anosmia or hyposmia. The cardiac manifestations associated with this syndrome are little known. Through this case, we will characterize the cardiac involvement of this disease in the light of what is already described in the literature., Case Presentation: We report the case of a young patient who presented with a picture of cardiac decompensation revealing restrictive heart disease. In her exploration, she was found to have primary amenorrhea, leading to the diagnosis of Kallmann syndrome. Medical treatment was optimized for the management of her cardiac decompensation as well as hormonal replacement treatment for her delayed puberty and growth., Conclusions: Cardiac manifestations in Kallmann-Morsier syndrome are few reported in the literature, and restrictive heart disease is uncommon with no cases report till now. This association suggests a possible common genetic origin that should be explored in the future., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE or lupus) is a disease in which the immune system attacks healthy cells and tissues throughout the body. Lupus myocarditis is a life-threatening condition, observed clinically in 3-9 % of patients with SLE. We report the case of a patient followed for multisystem SLE, presenting with de novo heart failure with severe left ventricular dysfunction revealing lupus myocarditis., Competing Interests: Déclaration de liens d'intérêts Les auteurs déclarent n'avoir aucun lien d'intérêt., (Copyright © 2023 Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.)

Atrial myxoma is a rare and benign clinical entity. It remains common in women and mainly affects the left atrium. Its clinical picture is polymorphic. We report the case of a 53-year-old woman who consulted for dyspnea with cardiac failure's picture. The diagnosis of myxoma of the left atrium was made on echocardiography which also objectified the existence of mitral stenosis. The patient underwent surgical excision and mitral valve replacement with good postoperative outcomes., Competing Interests: Déclaration de liens d'intérêts Les auteurs déclarent n'avoir aucun lien d'intérêt., (Copyright © 2023 Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.)

Utilization of acellular scaffolds, extracellular matrix (ECM) without cell content, is growing in tissue engineering, due to their high biocompatibility, bioactivity ad mechanical support. Hence, the purpose of this research was to study the characteristics and biocompatibility of decellularized rat skin scaffolds using the osmotic shock method. First, the skin of male Wistar rats was harvested and cut into 1 × 1 cm 2 pieces. Then, some of the harvested parts were subjected to the decellularization process by applying osmotic shock. Comparison of control and scaffold samples was conducted in order to assure cell elimination and ECM conservation by means of histological evaluations, quantification of biochemical factors, measurement of DNA amount, and photographing the ultrastructure of the samples by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). In order to evaluate stem cell viability and adhesion to the scaffold, adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells (AD-MSCs) were seeded on the acellular scaffolds. Subsequently, MTT test and SEM imaging of the scaffolds containing cultured cells were applied. The findings indicated that in the decellularized scaffolds prepared by osmotic shock method, not only the cell content was removed, but also the ECM components and its ultrastructure were preserved. Also, the 99% viability and adhesion of AD-MSCs cultured on the scaffolds indicate the biocompatibility of the decellularized skin scaffold. In conclusion, decellularized rat skin scaffolds are biocompatible and appropriate scaffolds for future investigations of tissue engineering applications., (© 2023. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Nature B.V.)