Background and Objectives: The rapidly increasing number of diabetic patients across the world drew the attention to develop more effective therapeutic approaches. Recent investigations on newly differentiated insulin producing cells (IPCs) revealed that they could be derived from embryonic, adult mesenchymal and hematopoietic stem cells. This work was planned to evaluate the role of StemEnhance (Aphanizomenon flos-aquae [AFA] plant extract) in mobilizing naturally occurring bone marrow stem cells as well as in improving streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats. Methods and Results: Twenty adult male albino rats were divided into four groups namely the control, the diabetic, the positive control-StemEnhance and the diabetic-StemEnhance groups. After diabetes induction by streptozotocin (STZ), rats received StemEnhance for four weeks. The mean number of blood CD34 immunopositive cells was measured by flowcytometry and random blood sugar was measured weekly. The pancreas was removed from the sacrificed rats and processed for staining with H&E and immunohistochemical staining for CD34+ve and insulin +ve cells. CD34+ve cells increased in the blood after introduction of StemEnhance. CD34+ve cells were observed in the pancreas and the insulin producing cells in the islets of Langerhans were increased from the second to the fourth week of treatment. Blood glucose level improved but it was still higher than the control level after four weeks of StemEnhance treatment. Conclusions: This work points to the significant role of StemEnhance in stem cell mobilization and the improvement of diabetes mellitus.

Background and Objectives: Myelo-suppression is the most common toxicity encountered in the oncology clinic today.This study was planned to investigate the possible protective and therapeutic role of the traditional Chinese Medicinal Herb; Astragalus Membranaceus (AM), on chemotherapy-induced myelosuppression. Methods and Results: This study was carried out on thirty six adult male albino rats. They were divided into: Group I Control Group (n=6) received a vehicle of phosphate buffered saline (PBS) solution. Group II (n=12) were injected I.P. with cyclophosphamide (CY) for 3 days (gIIa n =6) and continued for one more week to receive AM orally (gIIb n=6). Group III (n=6) received CY I.P. together with AM orally for 3 days. Group IV (n=12) received AM orally for one week (gIVa n=6) and continued for extra three days receiving CY I.P. with AM orally (gIVb n=6). Blood samples were analysed for Total Leucocytic Count and Lymphocytic Count. Counting of CD34 +ve cells in bone marrow was performed by flowcytometry. Bone marrow sections were subjected to H&E stain as well as immunohistochemical staining for anti-CD20 antibody. The mean area % of cellular bone marrow regions occupied by developing haemopoietic cells, mean area of fat cells and mean number of CD20 immunopositive B lymphocytes in the bone marrow were measured by histomorphometric studies and statistically compared. AM proved to have a myelo-protective and myelo-therapeutic capacity, evidenced at both laboratory and morphological levels. Conclusions: The greatest myelo-potentiating effect of AM was achieved when supplied before and together with CY therapy.

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Introduction: Chemotherapy may result in temporary or permanent gonadal toxicity in male patients. Loss of fertility potential can be devastating to patients, especially, during the child-bearing period. Aim of Work:The present study was planned to investigate the possible protective effect of melatonin, in a rat model of cisplatin-induced testicular toxicity. Materials and Methods: Forty five adult male albino rats (180-200 grams each) were divided into four groups; Group I Control (n=15) received 0.9% sodium chloride and/or distilled water as a vehicle. Group II (n=10) were injected intraperitoneally (I.P.) with a single dose 7 mg/kg of cisplatin& were sacrificed after 10 days. Group III (n=10) received melatonin daily orally at a dose of 8 mg/kg/day for 10 days. Group IV (n=10); oral melatonin administration started 5 days before the single I.P. injection of cisplatin, followed by continuation of melatonin for further 10 days. Testicular sections were subjected to H&E, immunohistochemical staining for anti-inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and anti-androgen receptor (AR). Results: The study proved the protective effect of melatonin against testicular toxicity, when administered prior to and concomitant with cisplatin therapy; confirming the anti-oxidant potential of melatonin. Conclusion: Our findings provide experimental evidence ensuring the protective effect of melatonin, when administered prior to, and concomitant with the chemotherapeutic agent cisplatin. Meanwhile, melatonin administered alone seemed to induce injury to the testis.

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