OBJECTIVES: The use of stem cells is a promising strategy for seizure treatment owing to their unique characteristics. We investigated the role of endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) in a pentylenetetrazole (PTZ)‍-induced rat seizure model. A selected panel of long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs), which maintain an elaborate balance in brain neural regulatory networks as well as the autophagy pathway, was also targeted. METHODS: The impact of intravenously administered EPCs on PTZ-induced kindling in rats was evaluated by measuring the expression of neuronal damage markers, neurotrophic factors, and relevant lncRNA genes. Rat behavior was assessed using Y-maze test and open field test (OFT). RESULTS: EPCs mitigated seizure-associated neurological damage and reversed PTZ-induced working memory and locomotor activity deficits, as evidenced by improved performance in the Y-maze test and OFT. EPC treatment reversed the downregulation of the expression of the lncRNAs Evf2, Pnky, Dlx1, APF, HOTAIR, and FLJ11812. EPCs also boosted vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) expression. The ameliorative effect achieved by EPCs was comparable to that produced by valproate. CONCLUSIONS These findings indicate that EPCs ameliorate kindling epileptic seizures and their associated abnormalities and that the effect of EPCs may be mediated via the upregulation of certain regulatory lncRNAs.
Animals ; Pentylenetetrazole ; RNA, Long Noncoding ; Seizures/therapy* ; Rats ; Male ; Endothelial Progenitor Cells/transplantation* ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Kindling, Neurologic ; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A/metabolism* ; Disease Models, Animal

Many couples experience postpartum period of decreasing sexual satisfaction. Postpartum sexual dysfunction is a very common and relevant clinical problem, with significant adverse effects on women's health. The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of sexual nursing care for the postpartum period on sexual dysfunction and life satisfaction among Egyptian women. A quasi-experimental design was used to study 219 women selected using a purposive sample. The study was conducted in out-patients maternity clinic at Zagazig university hospitals, Sharkia Governorate, Egypt, between the periods from February 2019 to February 2020. Data was collected using three tools. The first: Structured interview questionnaire that consist from three parts, part one: socio demographic characteristics , part two obstetric history and part three sexual history, the second: Female Sexual dysfunction index (FSDI), and the third: Satisfaction with Life Scale (SWLS).Four session about sexual education was done. The Results showed an improvement in sexuality and life satisfaction after application of sexual nursing care for the postpartum period including kegel’s exercise, positioning and distractions techniques post intervention compared to pre intervention. The study concluded that sexual nursing intervention for postpartum period improve sexual functioning and create enjoyable intercourse and there was high positive correlation between sexuality and life satisfaction after implementation of the sexual nursing care intervention. The study recommended to provide counselling /training program about sexual nursing care intervention during postpartum period for nurses working in different health care settings.