Tissue engineering is a multidisciplinary field that applies the principles of engineering and life-sciences for regeneration of damaged tissues. Stem cells have attracted much interest in tissue engineering as a cell source due to their ability to proliferate in an undifferentiated state for prolonged time and capability of differentiating to different cell types after induction. Scaffolds play an important role in tissue engineering as a substrate that can mimic the native extracellular matrix and the properties of scaffolds have been shown to affect the cell behavior such as the cell attachment, proliferation and differentiation. Here, we focus on the recent reports that investigated the various aspects of scaffolds including the materials used for scaffold fabrication, surface modification of scaffolds, topography and mechanical properties of scaffolds towards stem cells differentiation effect. We will present a more detailed overview on the effect of mechanical properties of scaffolds on stem cells fate.

Background: The effect of opium addiction (OA) on cerebrovascular disease is controversial. The aim of this study was to clarify this relationship in Iranian patients with ischemic stroke. Methods: In a case-control study, 672 patients with ischemic stroke and 293 controls without a previous history of cerebrovascular or cardiovascular diseases were compared. OA as well as other risk factors such as diabetes mellitus (DM), hypertension (HTN), hyperlipidemia, tobacco smoking (TS) were compared between the 2 groups. Results: OA percentage, TS, TS amount (pack/year), HTN and DM history were significantly higher in the case group compared to controls (p < 0.05). After regression analysis between risk factors, a significant difference remained between 2 groups with regards to HTN (OR 4.21, 95% CI 3.05–5.81, p < 0.001), TS (OR 2.33, 95% CI 1.51–3.59, p < 0.001), and OA (OR 2.36, 95% CI 1.16–4.85, p = 0.018). Conclusion: Our study showed OA is a risk factor for stroke. However, a follow-up study with a larger cohort is required to confirm the results.

The complexity of multiple sclerosis (MS) and the incompetence of a large number of promised treatments for MS urge us to plan new and more effective therapeutic approaches that aim to suppress ongoing autoimmune responses and induction of local endogenous regeneration. Emerging data propose that hematopoietic, mesenchymal, and neural stem cells have the potential to restore self-tolerance, provide in situ immunomodulation and neuroprotection, as well as promote regeneration. Thus, in this article, we will first provide an overview of the cell sources for proposed mechanisms that contribute to the beneficial effects of stem cell transplantation, the ideal route and/or timing of stem cell-based therapies for each main stem cell group, and finally, an overview of the current status of stem cell research in clinical trial stages in MS by comparable and healthy therapeutic effects of different stem cell therapies for MS patients.

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Background and Purpose: Professional autonomy in nursing is defined as working in a self-determined environment and making decisions based on professional judgment. This study aimed to evaluate professional autonomy and its association with individual factors in nurses employed at teaching hospitals affiliated to Kerman University of Medical Sciences in the southeast of Iran in 2013. Methods: This was a descriptive analytical study, and required data were collected by quota sampling using self-administered questionnaires, which were completed by 385 nurses at four teaching hospitals in Kerman, Iran. Data analysis was performed using inferential (ANOVA) and descriptive statistics (mean and frequency) in SPSS V.18. Results: In this study, a significant correlation was observed between professional autonomy and age (P>0.001), gender (P=0.04), work experience (P>0.03), education level (P>0.02) and attitude of nurses. Moreover, a positive correlation was found between the mean scores of professional autonomy and nursing experience (r=0.559). Conclusion: According to the results of this study, general attitude of nurses towards professional autonomy was relatively positive. In addition, professional autonomy was observed to increase with higher education level and job satisfaction. Hierarchical team decisionmaking may restrict professional autonomy in nurses. Therefore, it is recommended that nursing skills and professional autonomy of nurses be improved through appropriate methods.