Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic autoimmune demyelinating neurodegenerative central nervous system disorder. The aim of the present study was to investigate the prophylactic effect exerted by the one-time intraperitoneal injection of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) 1 × 10 and 14-day intraperitoneal injection of methylprednisolone (MP) 40 mg/kg in an experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE). EAE was induced by intradermal injection of rat spinal cord homogenate with complete Freund's adjuvant in Swiss mice. Results of MSCs and MP-treated mice showed a significantly milder disease and fewer clinical scores compared to control mice. They suppressed tumor necrosis factor-alpha and myeloperoxidase and increased interleukin 10, whereas thiobarbituric acid reactive substances and nitric oxide brain contents were reduced to comparable levels between treatment groups. Brain content of GSH was significantly higher in MSCs-treated mice than control mice. It is evident that MSCs have relevant prophylactic effect in an animal model of MS and might represent a valuable tool for stem cell based therapy in MS.

Alzheimer's disease is the leading cause of dementia in the elderly. Depression is a common psychiatric disorder affecting individuals across life span and often arises in the context of pre-dementia, dementia, and Alzheimer's disease. The present study aimed to investigate the effects of the antidepressant drugs clomipramine (14.2 and 56.9 μmol/kg), fluoxetine (14.5 and 57.8 μmol/kg), and sertraline (14.6 and 58.4 μmol/kg) compared with acetylcholinesterase inhibitor donepezil (12 μmol/kg) on oxidative stress, memory impairment, and depressant-like behavior in a model of Alzheimer's disease induced by prolonged intraperitoneal administration of aluminum chloride (AlCl 3 ) (10 mg/kg/day for 60 days) in rats. Results indicated that the latency to find the hidden platform in Morris water maze (MWM) test increased by 100 %, while the immobility duration in forced swimming test (FST) increased by 51 % in AlCl 3 -treated rats. The administration of AlCl 3 resulted in increased brain malondialdehyde (MDA) by 58.6 % and nitric oxide (nitrite) concentrations by 71.7 %, while reduced glutathione (GSH) decreased by 35.6 % compared with the vehicle-treated group. Catalase and paraoxonase 1 (PON1) activities in the brain decreased by 41.8 and 18.3 %, respectively. Serum acetylcholinesterase (AChE) increased by 47.8 % and brain butyrylcholinesterase (BuChE) decreased by 23.1 % after AlCl 3 treatment. In AlCl 3 -treated rats, memory performance in the MWM test improved following donepezil and the highest dose of clomipramine, fluoxetine, and sertraline. The immobility duration in the FST was decreased by sertraline. Significant decrease in brain MDA occurred after treatment with clomipramine, fluoxetine, and a lower dose of sertraline. Reduced glutathione level increased by donepezil, clomipramine, and 57.8 μmol/kg fluoxetine. The level of nitric oxide decreased by donepezil (42.6 %), clomipramine (45.0 and 62.9 %), fluoxetine (21.9 and 40.9 %), and 14.6 μmol/kg sertraline (28.7 %). Catalase activity was restored by donepezil, fluoxetine, and sertraline and markedly increased by 56.9 μmol/kg clomipramine. Paraoxonase 1 activity was increased by 14.2 μmol/kg clomipramine. BuChE activity was unaltered, but AChE activity was decreased by donepezil, clomipramine, and fluoxetine compared with the AlCl 3 control group. AlCl 3 resulted in neurodegeneration (gliosis), extensive dark neurons with corkscrew dendrites, and degeneration of some Purkinje cell. Following donepezil treatment, no dark neurons were observed, while increased granular cell layer was observed after the administration of a high dose of clomipramine, fluoxetine, or sertraline. The results suggested that in rats treated with AlCl 3 , (i) donepezil, sertraline, clomipramine, and fluoxetine improve memory performance; (ii) sertraline was particularly effective in improving depressive-like behavior in this model and might be of value in the treatment of depressive symptoms associated with Alzheimer's disease; (iii) donepezil, clomipramine, and fluoxetine alleviated oxi...

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Objectives. This research aimed to assess the impact of extracorporeal shock wave therapy (ESWT) on pain severity, functional abilities, and trunk range of motion in patients with lumbar disc prolapse (LDP). Methods. Design of study was randomized clinical study. Forty male patients had disc prolapse at L5–S1 spine segment with chronic pain. Patients have been randomly divided to two equal groups. The patients in study group received extracorporeal shock wave therapy (ESWT) in addition to conventional physical therapy program. Patients in control group were treated with the conventional physical therapy program which composed of electrotherapy using TENS (15 minutes) and exercise program. Visual analogue scale (VAS) was used to evaluate pain. Functional disability was evaluated by Oswestry disability index (ODI). The Back range of motion device (BROM) has been utilized to measure trunk motion (flexion, extension, side bending, external and internal rotation). For all patients prior to and after six weeks of the therapy program, all outcome measures were evaluated. Results. In the research and control groups, there was a substantial reduction in post-treatment VAS and ODI as compared to pre-therapy (p > 0.001). In both groups, there was a substantial increase in post-therapy ROM compared to pre-therapy (p > 0.001). The comparison among the study and post-therapy control groups showed a substantial decrease in the study group’s VAS and ODI relative to the control group (p > 0.001). There was also a substantial increase in the study group’s trunk flexion, extension, and rotation relative to that of the control group (p > 0.01). Conclusion. The ESWT had a significant analgesic effect and improved functional abilities relative to the conventional physiotherapy program in patients with LDP. Also ESWT had substantial enhancements in trunk ROM relative to conventional physiotherapy.

Background Gait disorders which caused by stroke are one of the most common causes of functional disabilities in hemiparetic stroke patients that leads to significant impact on quality of life and financial cost. In this study, we focused on how certain gait metrics in stroke patients were affected by rhythmic auditory stimulation and treadmill training. Results In this randomized controlled experiment, which involved 30 male stroke patients, there was a significant increase in post treatment walking speed, step cycle, step length, percent of time on each foot and ambulation index in both groups. The post treatment improvement in gait parameters was significantly higher in the study group compared to the controls. Conclusions Combination of rhythmic auditory stimulation with treadmill training enhances the gait performance.