Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) has been established as an autologous source for therapeutic angiogenesis. The purpose of this study was to evaluate PRP angiogenic effects compared to platelet-poor plasma (PPP) in vitro and in vivo. The effects of PRP on vascular endothelial growth factor receptor-2 (VEGFR2) and CD34 expression were evaluated using real-time PCR, flow cytometry, western blot, immunocytochemistry and pathological study, as were carried out in both human umbilical endothelial cell culture and rat skin. Our findings indicated significant effect of PRP and PPP on VEGFR2 and CD34 expression by human umbilical vein endothelial cells, which was greater in latter. These effects, however, were confirmed by demonstrating an earlier angiogenic effect of PPP in vivo when compared to PRP. The findings of the present study as the first comparative study of PRP versus PPP are novel. Nevertheless, further studies are needed to clarify the underlying mechanism of these findings to improve the therapeutic effects of PRP and PPP.

A subset of specialized endothelial cells, called tip cells, which guide expanding capillaries toward gradients of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), are responsible for growing of capillaries during angiogenesis. Certain evidence has suggested the involvement of angiogenesis in the pathophysiology of chronic lymphocytic leukemia. Nevertheless, the direct effect of chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) plasma on tip cell formation is yet to be fully determined. We aimed to evaluate whether the endothelial cells are able to form tip cells in the presence of CLL plasma. Human umbilical vein endothelial cells were treated with CLL patient's plasmas. The expression of CD34 and vascular endothelial growth factor receptor-2 (VEGFR2) levels were detected by flow cytometry, qPCR, and immunocytochemical staining techniques. We found that CD34-and VEGFR2positive cells were increased following direct exposure to CLL plasma. Nevertheless, the presence of a higher absolute lymphocyte count and/or Janus kinase (JAK2) mutation could amplify both CD34 and VEGFR2 expression in cell culture. Our findings may suggest CLL plasma as a potential source of growth factors, which might be responsible for tip cell development. Nevertheless, the JAK2 mutation may potentiate this effect.

Background & Aims: Failed pregnancy is a destructive and common experience associated with physical, psychological, and cognitive complications, including a negative self-image, doubts about one's fertility, considering the body to be inefficient, and feeling of failure in playing the feminine role and fulfilling the feminine identity adequately, which are manifested through reduced sexual activity and unwillingness to become pregnant again. In addition, the lack of sexual drive causes communicational tensions between parents. Therefore, a failed pregnancy affects the approach and attitude toward parenting, and since attitude is the foremost factor in the development of reproductive behavior, changing attitudes toward childbearing decreases fertility. Repeated pregnancy positively influences the stress caused by a failed pregnancy despite a sense of doubt and hesitation in the parents. After fetal loss, the majority of women need consultations and follow-ups regarding the causes of the incident, estimated risk of future pregnancy, and prevention of recurrence, while they may not be presented with the opportunity and receive no training, and the lack of awareness leads to concerns about the recurrence of the incident, unwillingness for another pregnancy, and even the attempt to conceive inappropriately. Therefore, the provision of an educational, care, and support program for these women with an emphasis on their experience of a failed pregnancy is paramount. Knowledge-based empowerment interventions promote the knowledge of fertility, self-efficacy, self-esteem, and self-control, thereby improving social communication, reducing negative emotions, and creating the right attitude to life experiences; in relation to failed pregnancies, such interventions have not been performed in Iran. The present study aimed to evaluate the impact of empowerment on women with a history of failed pregnancies. Materials & Methods: This clinical trial was conducted on 80 women with a history of failed pregnancies who were admitted to Shahid Akbarabadi Hospital in Tehran, Iran within the past 3-6 weeks for the termination of pregnancy during January-May 2020. The inclusion criteria were the age of 18-40 years, basic literacy, no medical prohibition for pregnancy, no children, absence of mental disorders, no pregnancy after a failed pregnancy, history of failed pregnancies up to the maximum of two cases, no history of infertility, and intentional failed pregnancy. The exclusion criteria were stressful events during the study, absence in more than one training session, and pregnancy during the study. The names of eligible subjects were extracted from the hospital medical records unit continuously until the completion of the sample size. The women were invited to participate via phone. After obtaining written informed consent from all the subjects, they were assigned to two groups of intervention and control with four random blocks, and each sample was assigned a specific code. In the intervention group, empowerment training was performe...