64 research outputs found
Mesenchymal stem cells derived from inflamed dental pulpal and gingival tissue: a potential application for bone formation
Background: Chronic periodontal disease is an infectious disease consisting of prolonged inflammation of the
supporting tooth tissue and resulting in bone loss. Guided bone regeneration procedures have become common and
safe treatments in dentistry, and in this context dental stem cells would represent the ideal solution as autologous
cells. In this study, we verified the ability of dental pulp mesenchymal stem cells (DPSCs) and gingival mesenchymal
stem cells (GMSCs) harvested from periodontally affected teeth to produce new mineralized bone tissue in vitro, and
compared this to cells from healthy teeth.
Methods: To characterize DPSCs and GMSCs, we assessed colony-forming assay, immunophenotyping,
mesenchymal/stem cell phenotyping, stem gene profiling by means of flow cytometry, and quantitative
polymerase chain reaction (qPCR). The effects of proinflammatory cytokines on mesenchymal stem cell (MSC)
proliferation and differentiation potential were investigated. We also observed participation of several heat
shock proteins (HSPs) and actin-depolymerizing factors (ADFs) during osteogenic differentiation.
Results: DPSCs and GMSCs were successfully isolated both from periodontally affected dental tissue and controls.
Periodontally affected dental MSCs proliferated faster, and the inflamed environment did not affect MSC marker
expressions. The calcium deposition was higher in periodontally affected MSCs than in the control group.
Proinflammatory cytokines activate a cytoskeleton remodeling, interacting with HSPs including HSP90 and HSPA9,
thioredoxin-1, and ADFs such as as profilin-1, cofilin-1, and vinculin that probably mediate the increased acquisition in
the inflamed environment.
Conclusions: Our findings provide evidence that periodontally affected dental tissue (both pulp and gingiva) can be
used as a source of MSCs with intact stem cell properties. Moreover, we demonstrated that the osteogenic capability
of DPSCs and GMSCs in the test group was not only preserved but increased by the overexpression of several
proinflammatory cytokine-dependent chaperones and stress response proteins
Identification of Novel Wsf1 Mutations in a Sicilian Child with Wolfram Syndrome
Wolfram Syndrome (WS) is a rare hereditary disease with autosomal recessive inheritance with incomplete penetrance. It is characterized by diabetes mellitus associated with progressive optic atrophy. The diagnosis is essentially clinical and mutation analysis is used to confirm the diagnosis. In the present study we describe the clinical and molecular features of a diabetic child carrying two novel WFS1 mutations. The Sicilian proband and his non-affected family were studied. Ophthalmologic examination included: visual acuity determination and funduscopy, optical coherent tomography, retinal fluorangiography, perimetry and electroretinogram. Molecular methods: automatic sequencing of PCR amplified WFS1 gene fragments and qRT-PCR analysis of WFS1 transcripts. 3 WSF1 mutations have been identified in the proband. One allele carries 2 paternally inherited mutations (c.1332 C>G and c.1631C>G) in exon-8, never annotated before, in heterozygosis with one “de novo” classic mutation (c.505 G>A) in exon-5. In addition, we report an unexpected molecular feature: higher WFS1 mRNA levels in the proband compared to the father
Donor age and long-term culture do not negatively influence the stem potential of limbal fibroblast-like stem cells
In regenerative medicine the maintenance of stem cell properties is of crucial importance. Ageing is considered a cause of reduced stemness capability. The limbus is a stem niche of easy access and harbors two stem cell populations: epithelial stem cells and fibroblast-like stem cells. Our aim was to investigate whether donor age and/or long-term culture have any influence on stem cell marker expression and the profiles in the fibroblast-like stem cell population
Traumatic Pseudoaneurysm of the Internal Maxillary Artery: A Rare Life-Threatening Hemorrhage as a Complication of Maxillofacial Fractures
Pseudoaneurysm of the internal maxillary artery due to a traumatic event is a rare condition. Pseudoaneurysms are usually directly produced by arteries break with extravasation of blood. The compressed perivascular tissue forms the wall of aneurysmal sac. Then, this sac gradually expands and can be damaged. It is rare to see pseudoaneurysms of IMA. They are usually associated with fracture of the neck of the mandible. To the best of our knowledge the pseudoaneurysm of the internal maxillary artery related to maxillofacial trauma is an event extremely rare in the literature and if not quickly managed can lead to the patient’s death. This case underlines how the close cooperation between surgeons and radiologists results in a quick diagnosis and management of such pathological events
Imaging the mammary gland and mammary tumours in 3D: optical tissue clearing and immunofluorescence methods
CEREBELLAR STROKE IN ELDERLY PATIENT WITH BASILAR ARTERY AGENESIA: A CASE REPORT
We report a case of a 76-year-old woman admitted to our institution with sudden onset of dizziness and vertigo followed by vomiting and blurred vision. Her medical history was remarkable for hypertension, diabetes, and ischemic stroke in the territory of the left cerebral median artery. Her symptoms were suggestive of a cerebellar stroke. Computed tomography brain scan and neck vessel ultrasounds produced normal findings. A 24-hour blood pressure monitoring showed a reverse dipping pattern. Magnetic resonance imaging examination was performed, showing a hyperintense ischemic focus involving pons and left middle cerebellar peduncle, on T2-weighted images. On Time-of-flight (TOF)-3-dimensional magnetic resonance angiography, there was a marked reduction of basilar artery signal. The digital subtraction angiography showed a vertebrobasilar system anomaly. The right vertebral artery was hypoplastic with few thin terminal spinal branches. The left vertebral artery was vicarious to the right one in intracranial tract. V3 to V4 tract showed multiple atherosclerotic wall irregularities. The basilar common trunk was absent. An abnormal posterior inferior cerebellar artery replaced the anterior inferior cerebellar artery and superior cerebellar artery. Right posterior inferior cerebellar artery, anterior inferior cerebellar artery, and superior cerebellar artery arose from ipsilateral V4 tract. This case is the first description of pure basilar agenesia. The symptoms might be related to temporary decrement of the flow in the left vertebral artery. Furthermore, the reverse dipping pattern together with the aging, hypertension, and diabetes had probably contributed to a hemodynamic malfunction of the cerebral vascular system
Multicentric Experience with an Intermediate Aspiration Catheter for Distal M2 Ischemic Stroke
Background: To assess technical and clinical outcomes of an intermediate bore aspiration
catheter (AXS Catalyst 5; Stryker) as front-line therapy for M2-M3 acute
occlusions. Methods: A multicentric, retrospective data collection of patients with
symptomatic M2-M3 ischemic stroke, treated with direct aspiration first-pass technique
was obtained. Time to recanalization, first attempt recanalization, and number
of attempts were recorded. Successful recanalization was defined as a modified
thrombolysis in cerebral infarction score 2b; incidence of procedure-related complications
was recorded. National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale at discharge and
modified Rankin Scale score at 90 days were evaluated by a dedicated neurologist.
Results: A total of 44 acute occlusions of distal M2-M3 segment were treated with a
direct aspiration first-pass technique using CAT 5 (mean age 68,4 years). Median
NIHSS at baseline was 10. Overall modified thrombolysis in cerebral infarction
score 2b was obtained in 90,9% of patients with mean time to recanalization of
49,7 minutes and a mean of 1.6 attempts. First-attempt recanalization with CAT 5
was obtained in 52,3% of patients with a mean time to recanalization of 29.2 min. A
stent retriever with proximal aspiration was incorporated as a rescue device in 3
cases. No major complications was detected. The median National Institutes of
Health Stroke Scale score at discharge was 4. At 90 days, a modified Rankin Scale
score of 0-2 was achieved in 70,5% of patients. Conclusions: ADAPT technique with
the intermediate aspiration catheter CAT 5 system achieves successful revascularization
and functional independence for patients with acute ischemic stroke secondary
to distal M2 occlusions
Necrosis score, surgical time, and transfused blood volume in patients treated with preoperative embolization of intracranial meningiomas. Analysis of a single-centre experience and a review of literature
Several authors have demonstrated that preoperative embolization of meningiomas reduces blood loss during surgery. However, preoperative embolization is still under debate. Aim of this study is the retrospective evaluation of necrosis score, surgical time, and transfused blood volume, on patients affected by intracranial meningiomas treated with preoperative embolization before surgery, compared with a control group treated only with surgery.Twenty-eight patients with meningiomas were subjected to a preoperative embolization with polyvinyl alcohol (PVA). These patients were divided into two groups: group 1, patients with preoperative embolization performed at least 7 days before surgery; and group 2, patients with preoperative embolization performed less than 7 days before surgery. A statistical evaluation was made by comparing necrosis score, surgical time, and transfused blood volume of these groups. Then, we compared these parameters also with group 3, which included patients with surgically treated meningioma who did not undergo preoperative embolization.Surgery time and transfused blood volume were significantly lower in patients who had been embolized at least 7 days before definitive surgery. Furthermore, large confluent areas of necrosis were significantly more frequent in patients with a larger time span between embolization and surgery.Preoperative embolization with PVA in patients with intracranial meningiomas is safe and effective, as it reduces the volume of transfused blood during surgical operation. However, patients should undergo surgery at least 7 days after embolization, as a shorter time interval has been correlated with a longer surgical time and a higher transfused blood volume
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