Hydroxylapatite-collagen hybrid scaffold induces human adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells to osteogenic differentiation in vitro and bone regrowth in patients

Tissue engineering-based bone graft is an emerging viable treatment modality to repair and regenerate tissues damaged as a result of diseases or injuries. The structure and composition of scaffolds should modulate the classical osteogenic pathways in human stem cells. The osteoinductivity properties of the hydroxylapatite-collagen hybrid scaffold named Coll/Pro Osteon 200 were investigated in an in vitro model of human adipose mesenchymal stem cells (hASCs), whereas the clinical evaluation was carried out in maxillofacial patients. Differentially expressed genes (DEGs) induced by the scaffold were analyzed using the Osteogenesis RT2 PCR Array. The osteoinductivity potential of the scaffold was also investigated by studying the alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity, matrix mineralization, osteocalcin (OCN), and CLEC3B expression protein. Fifty patients who underwent zygomatic augmentation and bimaxillary osteotomy were evaluated clinically, radiologically, and histologically during a 3-year follow-up. Among DEGs, osteogenesis-related genes, including BMP1/2, ALP, BGLAP, SP7, RUNX2, SPP1, and EGFR, which play important roles in osteogenesis, were found to be upregulated. The genes to cartilage condensation SOX9, BMPR1B, and osteoclast cells TNFSF11 were detected upregulated at every time point of the investigation. This scaffold has a high osteoinductivity revealed by the matrix mineralization, ALP activity, OCN, and CLEC3B expression proteins. Clinical evaluation evidences that the biomaterial promotes bone regrowth. Histological results of biopsy specimens from patients showed prominent ossification. Experimental data using the Coll/Pro Osteon 200 indicate that clinical evaluation of bone regrowth in patients, after scaffold implantation, was supported by DEGs implicated in skeletal development as shown in "in vitro" experiments with hASCs

Hydroxylapatite-collagen hybrid scaffold induces human adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells to osteogenic differentiation in vitro and bone regrowth in patients

Tissue engineering-based bone graft is an emerging viable treatment modality to repair and regenerate tissues damaged as a result of diseases or injuries. The structure and composition of scaffolds should modulate the classical osteogenic pathways in human stem cells. The osteoinductivity properties of the hydroxylapatite-collagen hybrid scaffold named Coll/Pro Osteon 200 were investigated in an in vitro model of human adipose mesenchymal stem cells (hASCs), whereas the clinical evaluation was carried out in maxillofacial patients. Differentially expressed genes (DEGs) induced by the scaffold were analyzed using the Osteogenesis RT2 PCR Array. The osteoinductivity potential of the scaffold was also investigated by studying the alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity, matrix mineralization, osteocalcin (OCN), and CLEC3B expression protein. Fifty patients who underwent zygomatic augmentation and bimaxillary osteotomy were evaluated clinically, radiologically, and histologically during a 3-year follow-up. Among DEGs, osteogenesis-related genes, including BMP1/2, ALP, BGLAP, SP7, RUNX2, SPP1, and EGFR, which play important roles in osteogenesis, were found to be upregulated. The genes to cartilage condensation SOX9, BMPR1B, and osteoclast cells TNFSF11 were detected upregulated at every time point of the investigation. This scaffold has a high osteoinductivity revealed by the matrix mineralization, ALP activity, OCN, and CLEC3B expression proteins. Clinical evaluation evidences that the biomaterial promotes bone regrowth. Histological results of biopsy specimens from patients showed prominent ossification. Experimental data using the Coll/Pro Osteon 200 indicate that clinical evaluation of bone regrowth in patients, after scaffold implantation, was supported by DEGs implicated in skeletal development as shown in "in vitro" experiments with hASCs

Prevalence of anxiety and depression symptoms in a sample of outpatients with ATTR cardiac amyloidosis

Patients with ATTR cardiac amyloidosis (ATTR-CA) face rare disease that could negatively influence psychological well-being with consequences on the course of the disease and quality of life. However, to date, no study analyzed the prevalence of anxiety and depression in patients with ATTR-CA and which clinical and sociodemographic characteristics are linked with these psychopathological conditions. A total of 109 consecutive patients (83% males) aged 62–90 years with ATTR-CA were recruited. In order to better understand the prevalence of anxiety and depression in ATTR-CA, a control group composed by 33 individuals equaling gender, education, and age were recruited. The level of anxiety and depression was measured using the Italian version of the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS). Sociodemographic and clinic characteristics were registered. Almost half of patients (49%) reported a clinical level of depression or anxiety, or both. ATTR-CA patients reported higher levels of anxiety and depression than control group. Results showed that older patients with ATTR-CA, especially females, with more advanced disease could be more at risk to develop an anxious disorder. Furthermore, being a woman, and presenting with a greater severity of symptoms, would appear to be a risk factor for developing a depressive disorder. Overall, these results highlighted the high presence of anxiety and depression in ATTR-CA patients, suggesting to physicians to pay attention to the psychological well-being of ATTR-CA patients. In fact, a psychological support for patients with high level of psychopathological disease could reduce disease burden and improve quality of life in ATTR-CA population

Microencapsulation and PBO: a tool in resistance management of the green peach aphid

Insecticide resistance can be a serious threat to the application of Integrated Pest Management. The Green Peach-Potato Aphid, Myzus persicae (Sulzer) is a serious pest in peach orchard. Insecticide treatments have selected many populations that have different degrees of insecticide resistance due to different resistance mechanisms. These resistance mechanisms can interfere with many classical insecticide classes, but, fortunately, till now, there is no clear evidence for resistance to neonicotinoids. The severity of this problem is also increased by the reduction of the available active ingredients that can lead to an abuse of a single group of insecticides. Many populations of M. persicae, both in Italy and in Europe, over-express a carboxylesterase (E4/FE4) that reduces in various degrees the efficacy of several insecticides by hydrolysis and/or by sequestering. Recently, many authors have demonstrated that piperonylbutoxide (PBO) can efficiently interfere with esterase activity overcoming insecticide resistance. Several microencapsulated products (in polyurea or cyclodextrin) with PBO and various active ingredients have been tested in laboratory bioassays against a susceptible and against an esterase resistant population of M. persicae. A comparison was done with the commercial formulated products alone or mixed with PBO. The results achieved with the different formulation are discussed in term of increased mortality, application rate as well as offsprings reduction. According to the results, the use of these types of microencapsulation together with PBO could be an interesting tool to be included in resistance management strategies against the green peachpotato aphid