Intra-abdominal Adiposity In Preterm Infants: An Explorative Study

Objective: The aim of the present study was to compare the total body fat mass and the intra-abdominal adipose tissue between preterm infants assessed at term corrected age and full-term newborns. Methods: An observational explorative study was conducted. 25 preterm and 10 full term infants were evaluated at 0-1 month of corrected and postnatal age, respectively. The total body fat mass was assessed by means of an air displacement plethysmography system (Pea Pod COSMED, USA) and the intra-abdominal adipose tissue by means of magnetic resonance imaging (software program SliceOMatic, Version 4.3,Tomovision, Canada). Results: Total body fat mass (g) of preterm and term infants was 633 (±183) and 538 (±203) respectively while intra-abdominal fat mass (g) was 14.2 (±4.9) and 19.9 (±11.4). Conclusions: Preterm infants, although exhibiting a total body fat mass higher than full term infants, do not show an increased intra-abdominal adipose tissue

VCAM-1 expression on dystrophic muscle vessels has a critical role in the recruitment of human blood-derived CD133+ stem cells after intra-arterial transplantation.

Recently our group demonstrated the myogenic capacity of human CD133(+) cells isolated from peripheral blood when delivered in vivo through the arterial circulation into the muscle of dystrophic scid/mdx mice. CD133(+) stem cells express the adhesion molecules CD44, LFA-1, PSGL-1, alpha4-integrins, L-selectin, and chemokine receptor CCR7. Moreover these cells adhere in vitro to VCAM-1 spontaneously and after stimulation with CCL19. Importantly, after muscle exercise, we found that the expression of VCAM-1 is strongly up-regulated in dystrophic muscle vessels, whereas the number of rolling and firmly adhered CD133(+) stem cells significantly increased. Moreover, human dystrophin expression was significantly increased when muscle exercise was performed 24 hours before the intra-arterial injection of human CD133(+) cells. Finally, treatment of exercised dystrophic mice with anti-VCAM-1 antibodies led to a dramatic blockade of CD133(+) stem cell migration into the dystrophic muscle. Our results show for the first time that the expression of VCAM-1 on dystrophic muscle vessels induced by exercise controls muscle homing of human CD133(+) stem cells, opening new perspectives for a potential therapy of muscular dystrophy based on the intra-arterial delivery of CD133(+) stem cells

Acquired acral lipodystrophy in a 6-year-old girl

We report a case of partial lipodystrophy in a 6-year-old girl with normal lipid and glucose metabolism and no family history for similar disorders. The clinical presentation, the laboratory investigations and the natural history in our patient do not match the diagnostic criteria for any of the established lipodystrophy subsets

Synovial cyst in juvenile idiopathic arthritis

Small synovial cysts are a common manifestation of juvenile idiopathic arthritis; large brachial cysts, however, are a rare sign of the disease and they must be differentiated from other soft tissue swelling which are not related to articular involvement. We describe the case of three children with juvenile idiopathic arthritis who came to our attention with large synovial cysts. Ultrasonographic examination and MRI were performed in all cases, showing the real nature of the swelling and the connection to the joint. In all cases, swelling reduced and then disappeared with control of disease activity; in two cases, they reappeared in coincidence with a severe relapse of juvenile idiopathic arthritis. Brachial swellings represent a diagnostic challenge because they can be the clinical expression of a variety of diseases. In children with juvenile idiopathic arthritis who present with a sudden swelling of the upper arm, synovial cysts must be considered in the diagnostic workout, because they are a possible rare manifestation of juvenile idiopathic arthritis