Melatonin oral supplementation against fibromyalgia-related skeletal muscle alterations

Fibromyalgia is a chronic idiopathic pain syndrome characterized by widespread musculoskeletal pain and a deep range of other symptoms including disordered sleep, paresthesia, depression and anxiety (1). To date, its aetiopathogenesis and pathophysiology are still not understood, but the musculoskeletal, neuroendocrine and central nervous systems appear to play major roles in the development and progression of fibromyalgia (2). Important factors involved in the pathogenic process of fibromyalgia are oxidative stress and inflammation suggesting that antioxidative supplementation might be important in the management and modulation of fibromyalgia. Recent evidences suggest that melatonin may be suitable for this purpose. Melatonin is a small, highly conserved pineal indoleamine and due to its important and well known antioxidant and antinflammatory properties, together with also its analgesic effects, our research group studied the beneficial effects of the melatonin oral supplementation against the pathogenetic process of fibromyalgia. In detail, Sprague Dawley rats were randomly treated with reserpine, to reproduce the pathogenic process of fibromyalgia (3), and/or with melatonin (MelapureTM by Flamma S.p.A.). At the end of the treatments, the animals treated with reserpine showed moderate alteration at hind limb skeletal muscle level with difficult in moving, together with a significant expression of several oxidative stress and inflammatory markers at the gastrocnemius muscle level. Interestingly, melatonin, dose and time dependently, reduced the difficulties in walking and the musculoskeletal oxidative stress and inflammatory processes. In summary, this pilot study suggested that melatonin could be an in vivo effective tool against muscoloskeletal morphofunctional damages and dysfunctions in the management of fibromyalgia-related complications.Sincere thanks to Flamma S.p.A.- Italy (www.flammagroup.com) for courteously providing the melatonin and for the precious economic support to this study

Early spontaneous regression of a hypothalamic/chiasmatic mass in neurofibromatosis type 1 : MR findings

A patient with neurofibromatosis type 1 was found to have an enhancing mass in the hypothalamus and in the anterior optic pathway. A 3-month MR study showed a reduction in the size and enhancement of the mass. At a 9-month MR follow-up the mass disappeared and ceased to enhance. This report shows the unusual behaviour of a hypothalamic/chiasmatic mass confirming that in such asymptomatic cases the conservative management can be considered the treatment of choice

Red LED light in skin regeneration: an in vitro study on human dermal fibroblasts

The use of noncoherent light (light-emitting diodes, LEDs), in particular the Red LED light, represents an innovative approach to tissue regeneration. In dermatological field, experimental studies on its regenerative effect started about ten years ago but the exact mechanism of its action should be better elucidated. Today, a new treatment, named “Dermodinamica” (Elisor, Milan), uses this approach with a wavelength of 630nm to promote skin regeneration. Dermal fibroblast is a primary cell type responsible for synthesis and remodeling of extracellular matrix in human skin. Several studies have reported cytokine-dependent changes in extracellular matrix composition and in particular transforming growth factor (TGF)-beta1 is a fibroblast stimulating cytokine effective on both type I collagen and hyaluronan production. Moreover, ROS-detoxifying enzymes, such as superoxide dismutases (SOD) and heme-oxygenase 1 (HO-1), have an important role in cutaneous wound repair. The aim of the present in vitro preliminary study was to evaluate the effect of Red LED light (Dermodinamica, Elisor, Milan) on normal human dermal fibroblast (NHDF) at 24h from exposition monitoring: cell viability using MTT assay; TGF-beta1 production using ELISA kit; expression of SOD-1 and HO-1 using immunohistochemical technique. Moreover, short (15 min exposition) and prolonged (30 min exposition) treatments were investigated. The results showed a progressive increase in TGF-beta1 release respectively in the short treatment (15 min exposition) and in the prolonged treatment (30 min exposition). Moreover, the ROS-detoxifying enzymes were modulated by this treatment and the cell viability was maintained. These data support the hypothesis of the positive influence of Red LED light in the biological processes involved in skin regeneration

In vitro effects of Red LED Light on human epidermal keratinocytes: a skin regeneration strategy.

The Red LED (light-emitting diode) light is a promising approach for skin regeneration. Even if its mechanism of action is not clearly understood, its regenerative properties have been investigated since about ten years ago. Keratinocytes represent the first and primary target of this technology because of they are involved in epidermal reconstitution. In these experiments, a new treatment, named “Dermodinamica” (Elisor, Milan), with a wavelength of 630nm, has been used. Different factors produced by keratinocytes have a key role in skin regenerative process: transforming growth factor-b1 (TGF-b1) with a crucial role in maintaining skin homeostasis and in re-epithelialization but also the modulation of metalloproteinases (MMP), in particular 1 and 8, during extracellular matrix production. Moreover, ROS-detoxifying enzymes, such as superoxide dismutase 1 (SOD-1) and heme-oxygenase 1 (HO-1), have an important role in cutaneous wound repair. The aim of the present in vitro study was to evaluate the effect of Red LED light (Dermodinamica, Elisor, Milan) on normal human epidermal keratinocytes (NHEK) after 1 day and 3 days of exposition monitoring: cell viability using MTT assay; TGF-1 production using ELISA kit; expression of collagen type I, MMP-1, MMP-8, SOD-1 and HO-1, using immunohistochemical technique; morphological evaluation analyzing semi-fine sections. Moreover, short (15 min exposition) and prolonged (30 min exposition) treatments were investigated. The results showed an increase of cell viability with the short treatment (15 min of exposition) and a modulation of TGF-b1, ROS-detoxifying enzymes, metalloproteinases. Morphological data confirm the induction of cell cycle physiological progression of keratinocytes. These data indicate a positive role of Red LED light in promoting keratinocytes renewal