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.

Blastocystis is an opportunistic parasite causes gastro-intestinal symptoms including irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). This study evaluated the effect of probiotics and silver nanoparticles on Blastocystis hominis in mice and compared between both probiotics (Lactobacillus) and silver nanoparticles as compared to metronidazole. A cross-sectional study was done in which stool samples were collected from patients suffering from IBS.The stool samples were examined microscopically to detect B. hominis and any co-parasitism. All positive stool samples were cultured on Modified Jones' media. BALB/C mice were infected by isolated Blastocystis. The effect of probiotics and silver nanoparticles on blastocystosis was tested in experimentally infected mice. Cysts' mean count in stool of infected mice markedly decreased; with a decrease in serum levels of nitric oxide and glutathione antioxidants compared to drug control one. There was intestinal villi improvement of infected groups treated with probiotics and silver nanoparticles,with mild inflammation and decrease of Blastocystis at the intestinal surface as compared to the infected group metronidazole treated.

Background: Polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCO) is a syndrome of ovarian dysfunction with polycystic ovary morphology and features of hyperandrogenism. Aim of work: This work aimed to compare the histological effects of adipose-derived stem cells (ADSC) to clomiphen on the treatment of letrozole experimentally-induced polycystic ovary in rats. Materials and methods: 50 adult female albino rats were divided into: Group I (control), group ІІ (PCO group) that received Letrozole for 21 days. Then 5 rats from each group were sacrificed to prove PCO. Remaining 20 rats of PCO group were subdivided: Subgroup ІІB (Recovery group), Subgroup ІІC (clomiphene-treated group), Subgroup ІІD (ADSCs-treated group), Subgroup ІІE: (clomiphene + ADSCs treated group), while the control group was subdivided into subgroups IB, IC, ID and IE, that received the solvents for 3 more weeks as in the corresponding subgroups in G II. Ovarian specimens were processed and stained with H and E, Periodic acid Schiff (PAS) reaction, immunohistochemichal stain using Ki 6. Morphometric and statistical analyses were done. Results: PCO group showed dilated ovarian cysts, thinned granulosa layer, cell debris appeared in the follicular cavity. Clomiphen and ADSC improved the ovarian histological architecture where various stages of ovarian follicles were noticed, including corpora lutea and few cysts. Conclusion: Clomiphen effect was found to be comparable with ADSC effect , while combining ADSC + Clomiphen gave the best results.

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Background: Spontaneous bacterial peritonitis (SBP) is a common and potentially lethal complication of decompensated cirrhosis. Hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) is a protein produced by mesenchymal cells, and regulated by different physiological and pathological conditions e.g pregnancy, aging and infections. Objective: This study evaluated ascitic HGF as a local marker in diagnosis of SBP. Methodology: Eighty cirrhotic ascitic patients were divided equally into 40 patients with SBP and 40 without. All involved patients were subjected to assay of ascitic HGF using ELISA technique. Results: Ascitic HGF was significantly related to SBP (P=0.000). The sensitivity and specificity of HGF for differentiating SBP were 80 and 82.5%, respectively, at a cut-off value of 2981.34 pg/ml. There was a significant positive correlation between ascitic HGF and TLC (P=0.018), and transaminases; AST and ALT (P =0.007 and P=0.023 respectively). Conclusion: Ascitic HGF is a reliable minimally invasive biomarker for diagnosis of SBP in cirrhotic patients.