Background and Objectives: Acute kidney injury (AKI) represents a major clinical problem with high mortality and limited treatment protocols. This study was planned to evaluate the therapeutic effectiveness of bone marrow -derived mesenchymal stem cells (BM-MSCs) in a rat model of ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) AKI. Methods and Results: This study was carried out on thirty adult male albino rats. Animals were divided equally into three groups. Group I (control sham-operated group) (n=10), were subdivided equally into two subgroups; Ia and Ib. The experimental group (n=20) were all subjected to I/R injury by clamping both renal pedicles for 40 minutes. Half of the I/R animals did not receive MSC therapy (group II) [non-MSC treated group]. The other half of the I/R animals received single intravenous injection of PKH26 labelled BM-MSCs immediately after removal of the clamps and visual confirmation of reflow (group III) [MSC treated group]. Animals were sacrificed 24 hrs (subgroups IIa & IIIa) and 72 hrs (subgroups IIb & IIIb) after intervention. Serological measurements included serum urea and creatinine. Kidney specimens were processed for H&E, PAS and PCNA. Mean % of renal corpuscles with affected glomeruli, mean % of affected tubules, mean area % of PAS-positive reaction and mean area % of PCNA immunoreactivity were measured by histomorphometric studies and statistically compared. MSCs-treated group exhibited protection against renal injury serologically and histologically. Conclusions: Results of the present study suggest a potential reno-protective capacity of MSCs which could be of considerable therapeutic promise for cell-based management of clinical AKI.

Background: Ulcerative colitis (UC) is a bowel inflammatory illness, which shows remission and deterioration episodes of abdominal pain and bloody diarrhea. Nowadays, treatment options are not satisfactory other than their various complications. Adipose tissue derived mesenchymal stem cell microvesicles (MSC-MVs) are considered an emerging promising alternative therapeutic agent. Aim of the work: Evaluation of the therapeutic potential of MSC-MVs on acetic acid (AA) induced UC in addition to the potential role of its RNA content. Materials and Methods: Forty adult male albino rats were equally divided to 4 groups: group I (control), group II (colitis), group III (MVs treated) and group IV (RNase-MVs treated). Colitis was induced by intracolonic AA enema for groups II, III and IV. On day three after enema a single intravenous injection with either PBS, MSC-MVs or RNase treated MSC-MVs was administered to groups II, III and IV, respectively. Seven days later, colon specimens were harvested and cut equally into two parts. The proximal parts were used for biochemical study to measure myeloperoxidase enzyme (MPO) levels. The distal parts were processed for H&E, Alcian blue, iNOS and COX-2 immunohistochemistry. Morphometric and statistical analysis were done. Results: Group III showed improved histological features of UC and marked increase in the mean area percent and optical density of mucin. Also, it showed significant decrease in iNOS and COX-2 immunoreaction and MPO levels. Conclusion: MSC-MVs administration improved UC features. RNA content of the vesicles proved to have a crucial role in such protective effects. Consequently, MSC-MVs could be a promising tool in UC treatment.

Background and Aim of Work: Peripheral nerve injuries are frequently confronted in clinical practice due to several reasons such as surgery or accidental trauma. They are often associated with poor nerve regeneration and inadequate functional recovery. Therefore, this study was planned to evaluate and compare the possible effect of erythropoietin (EPO) versus curcumin on crush injury of the sciatic nerve in rat model. Material and Methods: Seventy-eight adult male albino rats were randomly allocated into 5 groups: control sham operated, sciatic nerve injury (SNI), untreated, SNI+EPO and SNI+curcumin. SNI was induced via clamping the right sciatic nerve with a sterile tissue forceps for one minute. After 24hrs, SNI+EPO group was injected intraperitoneally with EPO (5000IU/ kg) daily for two weeks. SNI+curcumin group was given curcumin (40mg/kg) daily orally for two months. The compound muscle action potential (CMAP) amplitudes were recorded at the end of each experimental period. Sciatic nerve specimens were then processed for hematoxylin and eosin, osmic acid stain, toluidine blue stain and immunohistochemical staining for neurofilament (NF). Number and diameter of nerve fibers, ratio of the myelin area to the nerve fiber area as well as area percent and optical density of NF were measured and statistically analyzed. Results: Both EPO and curcumin treated groups exhibited improvement in the histological structure of the sciatic nerve as well as significant increase in CMAP. Also, morphometric measurements including; number and diameter of nerve fibers, ratio of the myelin area to the nerve fiber area as well as area percent and optical density of NF were significantly increased compared to both SNI and untreated groups. However, all measured parameters were significantly higher with EPO as compared to curcumin. Conclusion: EPO promotes structural and functional recovery and enhances regeneration of crushed sciatic nerve better than curcumin.

Introduction: Psoriasis is an autoimmune skin disorder that is symptomized by erythema and scaling. Recently, imiquimod (IMQ) has been used to induce skin inflammation in mice to create a psoriasis model. Aim of the Work: To assess the possible preventive potential of acarbose on psoriasis-like skin inflammation induced by IMQ in adult male mice, and to compare it to calcipotriol/betamethasone applied on the same psoriasis mouse model. Materials and Methods: Thirty four BALB/c mice were classified as the following groups: I(Control), II(IMQ): IMQ-model with topically applied Aldara cream, ІII(Acarbose): IMQ-model treated with Glucobay orally, ІV(Calcipotriol/Betamethasone): IMQ-model treated with Calcipoheal-Cort ointment and V(Acarbose+Calcipotriol/Betamethasone): IMQ-model treated with both Glucobay and Calcipoheal-Cort combined. Haematoxylin & Eosin stain and S100 immunohistochemical staining were performed along with electron microscopic study of skin sections. Mean epidermal thickness and mean number of S100 immuno-positive keratinocytes were measured and measurements were statistically analyzed. Results: Group II mice showed psoriasis-like signs of skin inflammation. Groups III and IV mice showed less signs of inflammation which were markedly attenuated by combination of both of the treatments. Group II demonstrated significant acanthosis and abundant infiltrates of inflammatory cells in the dermis and significantly numerous S100 immuno-positive keratinocytes. Groups III and IV showed significant improvement of these changes which were markedly diminished in group V as it showed almost normal histological structure. Conclusion: Acarbose had an overall beneficial effect on psoriasis-mimicking mouse model triggered by IMQ, almost comparable to that demonstrated by calcipotriol/betamethasone. However, combination of both treatments exerted a more powerful therapeutic effect.