Therapeutic applications of dental pulp stem cells in regenerating dental,periodontal and oral-related structures

Dental pulp stem cells (DPSCs) have emerged as a promising tool with great potential for use in tissue regeneration and engineering. Some of the main advantages of these cells are their multifaceted differentiation capacity, along with their high proliferation rate, a relative simplicity of extraction and culture that enables obtaining patient-specific cell lines for their use in autologous cell therapy. PubMed, Scopus and Google Scholar databases were searched for relevant articles related to the use of DPSCs in regeneration of dentin-pulp complex (DPC), periodontal tissues, salivary gland and craniomaxillofacial bone defects. Few studies were found regarding the use of DPSCs for regeneration of DPC. Scaffold-based combined with DPSCs isolated from healthy pulps was the strategy used for DPC regeneration. Studies involved subcutaneous implantation of scaffolds loaded with DPSCs pretreated with odontogenic media, or performed on human tooth root model as a root slice. Most of the studies were related to periodontal tissue regeneration which mainly utilized DPSCs/secretome. For periodontal tissues, DPSCs or their secretome were isolated from healthy or inflamed pulps and they were used either for preclinical or clinical studies. Regarding salivary gland regeneration, the submandibular gland was the only model used for the preclinical studies and DPSCs or their secretome were isolated only from healthy pulps and they were used in preclinical studies. Likewise, DPSCs have been studied for craniomaxillofacial bone defects in the form of mandibular, calvarial and craniofacial bone defects where DPSCs were isolated only from healthy pulps for preclinical and clinical studies. From the previous results, we can conclude that DPSCs is promising candidate for dental and oral tissue regeneration.     

Administration of testosterone improves the prothrombotic and antifibrinolytic parameters associated with its deficiency in an orchidectiomized rat model

This study investigated the effect of testosterone deficiency and replacement on platelets function and aggregation, coagulation, and fibrinolysis in young adult healthy male rats. Rats were classified into three groups (n = 6/group) of either “a sham-operated+ vehicle,” “an orchidectomized (ORX)+ vehicle,” and “an ORX+testosterone propionate (0.5 mg/kg, 3X/week, S.C).” All treatments were carried out for 12 weeks. Our results showed that ORX rats had induced platelets aggregation and coagulation and inhibited fibrinolysis. ORX-induced rats had increased ratios of adenosine diphosphate-induced aggregation, shorter bleeding time, clotting time, prothrombin time, and activated partial thromboplastin time and their sera showed increased levels of thromboxane B2 and fibrinogen levels. Concomitantly, their plasma showed increased TPA-1 and decreased tissue plasminogen activator (tPA) levels. At molecular levels, the aorta of ORX-induced rats showed increased aortic mRNA and protein levels of plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1), protein levels of von Willebrand Factor (vWF) and decreased mRNA and protein levels of tPA, and their liver showed increased protein levels of prothrombin and factor VII. Testosterone post-therapy to ORX-induced rats significantly reversed all these hematological and molecular changes. In conclusion, independent of any other risk factors, testosterone deficiency induces platelets aggregation and hypercoagulation and inhibits fibrinolysis, effects that can be reversed by testosterone therapy.     

Increased risk of eating disorders in women with polycystic ovary syndrome: a case-control study

Abstract

Data on eating disorders in women with PCOS is insufficient. The objective of this case study was to examine the hypothesis that women with PCOS exhibit more impaired eating than healthy women. Women diagnosed with PCOS under the 2003 Rotterdam Diagnostic Criteria (n?=?40) were compared with a healthy control group (n?=?40). The groups also were divided into two as normal body weight and overweight/obese. The Eating Disorders Assessment Questionnaire (EDE-Q) and the Three Factor Eating Questionnaire (TFEQ-R21), were completed by all participants in order to evaluate eating behaviors in addition to eating disorders. Among the overweight/obese group, the average total and subscale scores of the EDE-Q as well as the total and sub-factor scores of the TFEQ-R21 were higher in women with PCOS compared to controls (p?<?.05). However, this statistically significant result was not shown among the women with normal weight (p?>?.05). In comparison to the controls, the PCOS women displayed higher values of the tool scores indicating abnormal restraint eating, body shape concern and weight concern subscale scores (p?<?.05). This result suggests that the evaluation of eating disorders should be added to routine screening and the monitoring of women with PCOS.     

Stroke mimics: Clinical characteristics and outcome

Objectives:To study the prevalence and nature of stroke mimics (SM) among Saudi patients who came to the emergency department with a sudden neurological deficit and suspected stroke.Methods:The electronic health records from February 2016 to July 2018 of patients who were admitted to the Stroke Unit at King Abdulaziz Medical City, Ministry of National Guard Health Affairs, Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KAMC-RD) with a suspected stroke were all reviewed. A comparison between SM and stroke was established. Our study identified the predictors of SM by using logistic regression analysis. This study was approved by the local institutional review board.Results:Out of 1, 063 patients, 131 (12.3%) had SM. The most common causes were a peripheral vestibular disorder (27.4%) followed by psychogenic causes (24.4%). Stroke mimics were more common among younger individuals and women. Arterial hypertension, diabetes, and smoking were less likely to be found in SMs. At discharge, individuals with SM were more likely to be independent, had milder deficits, and shorter hospital stays. Predictors of SM were young age, female gender, mild deficit at presentation, and good functional status before the stroke.Conclusion:The incidence of stroke mimics is common among suspected stroke patients. Practicing physicians should consider potential diagnostic errors, particularly in the hyperacute phase of the stroke.

Stroke is one of the most common leading causes of mortality worldwide.1 Annually, the diagnosis of stroke in about 25 million people. Moreover, 6.5 million people die from stroke each year.2 Stroke is a life-threatening condition and requires immediate assessment so that patients can receive time-critical interventions such as tissue plasminogen activator (tPA). Therefore, accurate diagnosis is crucial. Sudden onset of neurological symptoms, or signs localized to brain arterial territories, are cause for suspicion of stroke. In most of these cases, a clinical assessment supported by brain computed tomography (CT) and basic laboratory tests are typically enough to make an accurate diagnosis in an emergency department. However, the misdiagnosis of stroke is relatively common. Stroke mimics (SM) are defined as acute onset of focal neurological symptoms, which later diagnosed with a non-vascular origin.3 In some patients with SM may erroneously receive intravenous thrombolysis therapy.4,5Stroke mimics are common in patients with suspected stroke.3-7 Conditions that mimic stroke include metabolic disorders such as hypoglycemia, hyperglycemia, hypernatremia, hyponatremia, uremia, metabolic encephalopathy, and hyperthyroidism.4,6,7,8 Moreover, migraine, seizure, psychological disorders, demyelinating diseases, and brain tumors may also mimic stroke.4,6-8 The characteristics and statistics about SMs among suspected cases of stroke in Saudi Arabia have not been reported. Yahia et al. reported that 15.9% of patients with suspected stroke were SMs, psychiatric etiology was the commonest.9 In this study, we estimated the prevalence, types, and predictors of SM among Saudi patients.