Abdulwahab Noorwali

Human Umbilical Cord Stem Cell Xenografts Improve Cognitive Decline and Reduce the Amyloid Burden in a Mouse Model of Alzheimer's Disease.

INTRODUCTION Alzheimers disease (AD) is the most common cause of dementia. The search for new treatments is made more urgent given its increasing prevalence resulting from the aging of the global population. Over the past 20 years, stem cell technologies have become an increasingly attractive option to both study and potentially treat neurodegenerative diseases. Several investigators reported a beneficial effect of different types of stem or progenitor cells on the pathology and cognitive function in AD models. Mouse models are one of the most important research tools for finding new treatment for AD. We aimed to explore the possible therapeutic potential of human umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cell xenografts in a transgenic (Tg) mouse model of AD. METHODS APP/PS1 Tg AD model mice received human umbilical cord stem cells, directly injected into the carotid artery. To test the efficacy of the umbilical cord stem cells in this AD model, behavioral tasks (sensorimotor and cognitive tests) and immunohistochemical quantitation of the pathology was performed. RESULTS Treatment of the APP/PS1 AD model mice, with human umbilical cord stem cells, produced a reduction of the amyloid beta burden in the cortex and the hippocampus which correlated with a reduction of the cognitive loss. CONCLUSION Human umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells appear to reduce AD pathology in a transgenic mouse model as documented by a reduction of the amyloid plaque burden compared to controls. This amelioration of pathology correlates with improvements on cognitive and sensorimotor tasks.

Effect of anthelmintic drug in pregnancy

Pyrantal pamoate’s anthelmintic activity is due to its action as a neuromuscular blocking agent. It is generally well tolerated. Transient rises in SGOT levels have been reported in the drug-treated patients. Decreased levels of serum alkaline phosphatase post treatment were found in young dogs. The present study was performed to investigate the possible toxic effects of pyrantal pamoate in pregnant mice progenies. The drug was given in different doses to these mothers in the first, second and third trimester. Serum alkaline phosphatase, SGOT and SGPT of one or two month old offspring were monitored. SGOT levels showed an increase in some doses in one and two month old offspring where alkaline phosphatase showed a decrease in some doses in one and two month old offspring. The latter effect may be due to osteob-lastic alkaline phosphatase inhibition. The effect on SGOT levels, however, was difficult to explain, but may be due to a toxic effect on liver cells or cardiac muscles.

Mesenchymal stem cell therapy of hepatocellular carcinoma in rats: Detection of cell homing and tumor mass by magnetic resonance imaging using iron oxide nanoparticles

BACKGROUND Bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are reported to improve hepatic fibrosis, and may impact the signaling mechanisms leading to the induction of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in animal models of liver cirrhosis. OBJECTIVES The aim of this study was to clarify and explain the therapeutic role played by MSCs in hepatic cirrhosis and HCC by tracking them using nanoparticles. MATERIAL AND METHODS Liver cirrhosis and HCC were established in rats with the use of carbon tetrachloride and diethylnitrosamine injection. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) was used to track nanoparticlelabeled MSCs in the intact animal following injection and to monitor the changes in the hepatic parenchyma. RESULTS Labeling of MSCs with iron oxide nanoparticles did not adversely affect their viability and proliferation. MRI indicated a significant reduction in tumor mass in the labeled MSCs group compared to the control group. Histopathologic examination of the liver, following MSCs treatment, showed an apparently normal looking liver with no evidence of neoplastic cellular changes. The biochemical results support these findings. CONCLUSIONS This work documents that MSCs could be labeled with nanoparticles and traced in normal and cirrhotic liver and in liver with HCC in animals using MRI. MRI monitors the homing and localization of MSCs in the liver. MSCs infusion in animal models of cirrhosis and carcinoma may prove to be useful in limiting the cirrhotic process. Also, it may have a possible therapeutic potential on the carcinogenic process.

Prenatal effect of pyrantel pamoate on several hematological parameter of offsprings in mice

In attempt to develop a drug delivery system using serum albumin microspheres, bovine serum albumin microspheres containing antitumar agent, cytarabine, were prepared. The shape, surface characteristics, size distribution, behavior of in vivo distribution, drug release behavior, and degradation of albumin microspheres in animal liver tissue homogenate and proteolytic enzyme were investigated.The shape of albumin microspheres was spherical and the surface was smooth and compact. The size distribution of the albumin microspheres was effected by dispertion forces during emulsification and albumin concentration. Distribution of albumin microspheres after imtravenous administration in rabbit was achieved immediately.In vitro, albumin microsphere matrix was so hard that it retained most of cytarabine except initial burst during the first 10 minutes, and the level of drug release during the initial burst was affected by heating temperature, drug/albumin concentration ratio and size distribution. After drug release test, the morphology of albumin microspheres was not changed. Albumin microsphere matrix was degraded by the animal liver tissue homogenate and proteolytic enzyme. The degree of degradation was affected by heating temperature.