Dall'ultimo periodo feudale al primo cinquantennio unitario

A Santulussurgiu, solo una parte relativamente modesta del territorio apparteneva durante l'età moderna alla comunità che vi esercitava gratuitamente i tradizionali usi civici detti di ademprivio. Le maggiori estensioni di terreno incolto erano di proprietà del demanio statale e feudale. Su queste, l'attività dei Lussurgesi si svolgeva secondo antichi ritmi dedita al pascolo, allo sfruttamento dei ghiandiferi ed all'utilizzo della legna dei boschi, previo pagamento di tributi di vario genere. Il plurisecolare persistere del sistema feudale aveva anche favorito il fenomeno della comunanza di numerosi terreni tra villaggi confinanti appartenenti in genere alle stesse casate signorili. Sempre più spesso, man mano che la popolazione aumentava e con essa la fame di terra, sorgevano liti e contestazioni tra le comunità limitrofe relativamente alle delimitazioni ed all'uso del territorio che talvolta non erano rispettati. Queste vicende raggiunsero momenti di particolare conflittualità proprio nel corso del XIX secolo

Calcium/Cobalt Alginate Beads as Functional Scaffolds for Cartilage Tissue Engineering

Articular cartilage is a highly organized tissue with complex biomechanical properties. However, injuries to the cartilage usually lead to numerous health concerns and often culminate in disabling symptoms, due to the poor intrinsic capacity of this tissue for self-healing. Although various approaches are proposed for the regeneration of cartilage, its repair still represents an enormous challenge for orthopedic surgeons. The field of tissue engineering currently offers some of the most promising strategies for cartilage restoration, in which assorted biomaterials and cell-based therapies are combined to develop new therapeutic regimens for tissue replacement. The current study describes the in vitro behavior of human adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells (hADSCs) encapsulated within calcium/cobalt (Ca/Co) alginate beads. These novel chondrogenesis-promoting scaffolds take advantage of the synergy between the alginate matrix and Co+2 ions, without employing costly growth factors (e.g., transforming growth factor betas (TGF-βs) or bone morphogenetic proteins (BMPs)) to direct hADSC differentiation into cartilage-producing chondrocytes

The Hypoxia-Mimetic Agent Cobalt Chloride Differently Affects Human Mesenchymal Stem Cells in Their Chondrogenic Potential

Adult stem cells are a promising cell source for cartilage regeneration. They resided in a special microenvironment known as the stem-cell niche, characterized by the presence of low oxygen concentration. Cobalt chloride (CoCl2) imitates hypoxia in vitro by stabilizing hypoxia-inducible factor-alpha (HIF-1α), which is the master regulator in the cellular adaptive response to hypoxia. In this study, the influence of CoCl2 on the chondrogenic potential of human MSCs, isolated from dental pulp, umbilical cord, and adipose tissue, was investigated. Cells were treated with concentrations of CoCl2 ranging from 50 to 400 μM. Cell viability, HIF-1α protein synthesis, and the expression of the chondrogenic markers were analyzed. The results showed that the CoCl2 supplementation had no effect on cell viability, while the upregulation of chondrogenic markers such as SOX9, COL2A1, VCAN, and ACAN was dependent on the cellular source. This study shows that hypoxia, induced by CoCl2 treatment, can differently influence the behavior of MSCs, isolated from different sources, in their chondrogenic potential. These findings should be taken into consideration in the treatment of cartilage repair and regeneration based on stem cell therapies

The hypoxia-mimetic agent cobalt chloride differently affects human mesenchymal stem cells in their chondrogenic potential

Adult stem cells are a promising cell source for cartilage regeneration. They resided in a special microenvironment known as the stem-cell niche, characterized by the presence of low oxygen concentration. Cobalt chloride (CoCl2) imitates hypoxia in vitro by stabilizing hypoxia-inducible factor-alpha (HIF-1\ue1), which is the master regulator in the cellular adaptive response to hypoxia. In this study, the influence of CoCl2 on the chondrogenic potential of human MSCs, isolated from dental pulp, umbilical cord, and adipose tissue, was investigated. Cells were treated with concentrations of CoCl2 ranging from 50 to 400 \uecM. Cell viability, HIF-1\ue1 protein synthesis, and the expression of the chondrogenic markers were analyzed. The results showed that the CoCl2 supplementation had no effect on cell viability, while the upregulation of chondrogenic markers such as SOX9, COL2A1, VCAN, and ACAN was dependent on the cellular source. This study shows that hypoxia, induced by CoCl2 treatment, can differently influence the behavior of MSCs, isolated from different sources, in their chondrogenic potential. These findings should be taken into consideration in the treatment of cartilage repair and regeneration based on stem cell therapies

Arthrocentesis and temporomandibular joint disorders: clinical and radiological results of a prospective study

Purpose. We evaluated the efficacy of arthrocentesis in the treatment of temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disorders. Material and Methods. In this prospective clinical case series, 30 consecutive patients with TMJ disorders underwent arthrocentesis using saline and sodium hyaluronate injections. Outcome measures were TMJ pain, maximum mouth opening (MMO), joint noises, and anatomical changes in the TMJ architecture. Patients were evaluated using cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) at the beginning of treatment and 60 days after the last arthrocentesis. Pretreatment and posttreatment clinical parameters were compared using paired and unpaired t-tests, and McNemar’s test was used to evaluate CBCT and MRI changes (P < 0.05). Results. At 1-year follow-up examinations, visual analogue scale scores indicated that pain was reduced significantly and mean postoperative MMO was increased significantly. CBCT findings showed no significant change, and MRI showed only slight reductions in inflammatory signs. Conclusions. Within the limitations of this study, we can conclude that arthrocentesis is a simple, minimally invasive procedure with a relatively low risk of complications and significant clinical benefits in patients with TMJ disorders. This trial is registered with NCT01903512 [http://clinicaltrials.gov/show/NCT01903512]

Increased MG-63s invasion potential mediated by HFs

During a malignant transformation, the crosstalk between the stroma and the cancer cells is described as a growing network of physical and paracrine signals, and it seems to have a direct influence on the phenotypic, genetic and epigenetic changes that affect the cells (1). In order to invade and metastasize to distant tissues, cancer cells transform themselves via ECM, induce tumor angiogenesis as well as undergo proliferation, detachment, migration, and invasion through secretion of various tumor derived factors (2). In this study we decided to analyze morphological and molecular aspects due to the coexistence between tumor cells MG-63s and fibroblasts HFs, verifying in particular the ability of MG-63s of invasion and microenvironment modulation. Monolayers of co-cultured cells were morphologically analyzed in time-laps by HR-SEM microscopy and a trans-well migration assay was performed over 24 h, 48 h, 72 h, and 96 h. The expression of several proteins, focusing on those involved in cancer cell invasion, inflammatory responses, and angiogenesis (TNF alpha, IL-6, YKL-40, MMP-1, MMP-9, and VEGF) was validated by Western blotting analysis. The images in time-laps for HR - SEM showed that fibroblasts in contact with MG-63 lost their spatial orientation, while the MG-63 quickly reached the confluence advancing towards HF cells, invading their space and overlying them. The increased MG-63s invasion mediated by the coexistence with HFs was confirmed by invasion assays in transwell co-culture. The protein levels of TNF-alpha, IL-6, YKL-40 and VEGF confirmed that tumor cells can regulate the development of a “tumor-stroma” via the aberrant expression of growth factors in the stromal compartment. Our results showed how tumor-stroma interactions play a significant role in tumor development and progression

A synergic effect of alginate and hypoxia-inducing ions on chondrogenic differentiation in adipose derived mesenchymal stem cells

Cartilage is a highly organized tissue with complex biomechanical properties, but since it has a poor intrinsic capacity of self-healing, injuries at this site usually lead to several problems, often ending in disabling symptoms. Although, different approach- es have been proposed, even now cartilage repair represents a great challenge for orthopaedic surgeons (1, 2). One of the promising approach is given from tissue engineering, employing the combination of biomaterials and cell therapy to develop new therapeutic strategies. In this paper, we describe the behaviour of human adipose derived mesenchymal stem cells encapsulated into Ca/Co alginate beads as potential chondrogenic inducing biomaterial tacking advance on the synergy between alginate matrix and Co+2 ions without employing other expensive growth factors such as TGFbs or BMPs. Cells were cultured up to 3 weeks into alginate beads at different Ca/Co ratio, Calcein/Ethidium assay was performed to evaluate cell viability, light, and transmis- sion electron microscopy were carried out to check the cells behaviour. The expression of chondrogenic markers such as sox9, collagen type II, and versican was investigated by Real Time PCR. The expression of hif1mRNA was investigated to check the capability of Co+2 ions to induce a chemical hypoxia. Results showed an high cell viability at high Ca/Co ratio value of alginate beads. Real Time PCR data reveal a different cells behaviour on chondrogenic marker expression. In conclusion, the synergic effect of alginate and Co+2 ions can represent a valid strategy for chondrogenic differentiation of stem cells

A synergic effect of alginate and hypoxia-inducing ions on chondrogenic differentiation in adipose derived mesenchymal stem cells

Cartilage is a highly organized tissue with complex biomechanical properties, but since it has a poor intrinsic capacity of self-healing, injuries at this site usually lead to several problems, often ending in disabling symptoms. Although, different approach- es have been proposed, even now cartilage repair represents a great challenge for orthopaedic surgeons (1, 2). One of the promising approach is given from tissue engineering, employing the combination of biomaterials and cell therapy to develop new therapeutic strategies. In this paper, we describe the behaviour of human adipose derived mesenchymal stem cells encapsulated into Ca/Co alginate beads as potential chondrogenic inducing biomaterial tacking advance on the synergy between alginate matrix and Co+2 ions without employing other expensive growth factors such as TGFbs or BMPs. Cells were cultured up to 3 weeks into alginate beads at different Ca/Co ratio, Calcein/Ethidium assay was performed to evaluate cell viability, light, and transmis- sion electron microscopy were carried out to check the cells behaviour. The expression of chondrogenic markers such as sox9, collagen type II, and versican was investigated by Real Time PCR. The expression of hif1mRNA was investigated to check the capability of Co+2 ions to induce a chemical hypoxia. Results showed an high cell viability at high Ca/Co ratio value of alginate beads. Real Time PCR data reveal a different cells behaviour on chondrogenic marker expression. In conclusion, the synergic effect of alginate and Co+2 ions can represent a valid strategy for chondrogenic differentiation of stem cells