Funding
This study was supported by the clinician-scientist program of Iran’s Ministry of Health and Medical Education and by the Vice-Chancellory for Research of Shiraz University of Medical Sciences (Grants No. SG-98-5, SG-98-94, and SG-96-86). CellTech Pharmed Co. provided the investigators with the stem cells used. The funding bodies played no role in the design of the study and collection, analysis, and interpretation of data and in writing the manuscript.