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Bone graft transplantation is a risky procedure mainly due to postoperative complications. Tissue engineering is an alternative to regenerating bone tissue by seeding mesenchymal stem cells into 3D scaffolds by osteoinductive signaling. Poly(ε-caprolactone) (PCL) is one of the most used biopolymers for fabricating scaffolds for bone tissue engineering. PCL is enriched with hydroxyapatite (HA) to promote the production of the bone-mineralized matrix. Moreover, the application of pulsed electromagnetic fields (PEMFs) on scaffolds loaded with HA can significantly benefit collagen and HA networks favoring the interaction between organic and mineral phases of bones. In this context, we investigated, for the first time, the effect exerted by a PEMF exposure on the osteogenic differentiation of human adipose stem cells (hASCs) seeded onto 3D printed PCL-HA scaffolds and cultured in growth and osteogenic medium (OM). After 21 days of culture, the results showed excellent colonization of scaffolds and the deposition of extracellular matrix (ECM) secreted by hASCs. Immunofluorescence staining confirmed the deposition of collagen type I and osteopontin both on scaffolds. Gene expression analysis indicated that both HA crystal and PEMF treatment were able to trigger osteogenic differentiation, as documented by the increase of osteogenic markers. These results suggest that HA, osteogenic factors, and PEMFs converge on the same signaling pathways as there are no additive effects and no change in protein synthesis between scaffolds with HA or treated with PEMFs for cells cultured in OM. The proposed study lays the foundations for exploring new approaches in bone graft transplantation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: The term 'chronic inflammatory arthritis' (IA) can be used to define a group of heterogeneous diseases in which inflammation of the synovium is the common feature while having different pathogenesis and clinical outcomes. This condition can be found in osteoarthritis (OA), rheumatoid arthritis (RA), and hemophilic arthropathy (HA)., Aim: The objective is to try to highlight similarities and differences in the three pathological conditions and understand both molecular and physiological mechanisms., Method: We have carried out a systematic review of the available literature following the guidelines Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analysis (PRISMA)., Results: By comparing the data in the literature on OA, RA, and HA we have shown that the three pathologies differ in initial etiology but they motivate the same molecular pathways., Conclusion: In this review we highlighted the similarities and differences between these diseases, creating ideas for future studies both in vivo and in vitro to develop new therapeutic agents and suggest possible biomarkers to follow the evolution and severity of the disease., (© 2024 The Author(s). Haemophilia published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)

Introduction : Osteoarthritis is a degenerative condition of the cartilage, often common among the population and occurs frequently with aging. Many factors are decisive for the development of its pathogenesis such as age, obesity, trauma, mechanical load, and modification of synovial biology. The main features of osteoarthritis are chondrocytes and cartilage matrix loss, which lead to pain, loss of function of the whole joint, and disability, representing a relevant health problem. Recently, a new therapeutic approach based on cell therapy has been studying the regenerative ability of mesenchymal stem cells for osteoarthritic chondrocytes. Aim : This in vitro study clarifies the regenerative effects of multipotent adipose-derived stem cells and the pluripotent amniotic epithelial stem cells on arthrosis chondrocytes by performing co-culture experiments. Methods : We studied the regenerative potential of secretome (soluble factors and extracellular vesicles), mesenchymal stem cells, and the adipose stromal vascular fraction. The regenerative effects were evaluated by gene and protein expression analysis of articular cartilage-specific genes and proteins like col2a1 , acan , and sox9 . Results : Mesenchymal stem cells, secretome, and adipose stromal vascular fractions influenced the cartilage genes and protein expression. Conclusions : The results indicate that the treatment with mesenchymal stem cells could be the best biological approach for cartilage regenerative medicine.

Intra-articular blood, iron and hemosiderin, hydroxyl radical cytokines, and neo-angiogenesis cause synovial inflammation, which leads to cartilage and joint damage. Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) inhibits most of the mediators that produce and maintain synovitis. We compile here our work showing the clinical effectiveness of intra-articular PRP injections and their potential role in stopping articular cartilage damage due to bleeding and its possible repair. A total of 116 joints, including knees (63%), elbows (19.8%), and ankles (17.2%), were treated with intra-articular injections of PRP. Moreover, we also show here the number of extracellular DNA traps (ETs) and the PRP effect in the synovial fluid of patients at the time of treatment and six months after. Clinically, it is demonstrated that PRP is effective in reducing bleeding episodes ( p < 0.001) and pain ( p < 0.0001) and improving the hemophilia joint health score (HJHS) ( p < 0.001) at one year of follow-up. Furthermore, our results demonstrate that PRP inhibits ET formation in vitro and reconstitutes the immune system's cellular components in the synovial fluid of patients after treatment. We conclude that PRP can be considered an effective, safe, and easy treatment for hemophilic synovitis.

The high rate of rejection and failure of orthopedic implants is primarily attributed to incomplete osseointegration and stress at the implant-to-bone interface due to significant differences in the mechanical properties of the implant and the surrounding bone. Various surface treatments have been developed to enhance the osteoconductive properties of implants. The aim of this work was the in vitro characterization of titanium alloy modified with a nanocrystalline hydroxyapatite surface layer in relative comparison to unmodified controls. This investigation focused on the behavior of the surface treatment in relation to the physiological environment. Moreover, the osteogenic response of human osteoblasts and adipose stem cells was assessed. Qualitative characterization of cellular interaction was performed via confocal laser scanning microscopy focusing on the cell nuclei and cytoskeletons. Filipodia were assessed using scanning electron microscopy. The results highlight that the HA treatment promotes protein adhesion as well as gene expression of osteoblasts and stem cells, which is relevant for the inorganic and organic components of the extracellular matrix and bone. In particular, cells grown onto HA-modified titanium alloy are able to promote ECM production, leading to a high expression of collagen I and non-collagenous proteins, which are crucial for regulating mineral matrix formation. Moreover, they present an impressive amount of filipodia having long extensions all over the test surface. These findings suggest that the HA surface treatment under investigation effectively enhances the osteoconductive properties of Ti6Al4V ELI.

We previously published that in patients with infantile hemangioma (IH) at the onset (T0) colony forming unit-fibroblasts (CFU-Fs) are present in in vitro cultures from PB. Herein, we characterize these CFU-Fs and investigate their potential role in IH pathogenesis, before and after propranolol therapy. The CFU-F phenotype (by flow cytometry), their differentiation capacity and ability to support angiogenesis (by in vitro cultures) and their gene expression (by RT-PCR) were evaluated. We found that CFU-Fs are actual circulating MSCs (cMSCs). In patients at T0, cMSCs had reduced adipogenic potential, supported the formation of tube-like structures in vitro and showed either inflammatory (IL1β and ESM1 ) or angiogenic ( F3 ) gene expression higher than that of cMSCs from CTRLs. In patients receiving one-year propranolol therapy, the cMSC differentiation in adipocytes improved, while their support in in vitro tube-like formation was lost; no difference was found between patient and CTRL cMSC gene expressions. In conclusion, in patients with IH at T0 the cMSC reduced adipogenic potential, their support in angiogenic activity and the inflammatory/angiogenic gene expression may fuel the tumor growth. One-year propranolol therapy modifies this picture, suggesting cMSCs as one of the drug targets.

Ossiculoplasty is a surgical operation performed to restore auditory transmission through the reconstruction of the ossicular chain using prosthetics. Tissue bioengineering has assumed a pivotal role in implementing alternatives to conventional ossicular middle ear replacement prostheses, to overcome extrusion while preserving acoustic properties. This in vitro study aims to explore, for the first time in current literature, the feasibility of a biohybrid middle ear prosthesis, composed of titanium surrounded by a bone extracellular matrix as bio-coating. We have hereby studied the adhesion and proliferation of human adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells (hASC) on titanium scaffolds in vitro . Moreover, we identified the osteogenic differentiation of hASC using an immunofluorescence assay to analyze osteoblasts' gene expression profiles (Alp, Runx2, Col1a1, Osx, and Bglap), and we counted the presence of collagen as a marker of hASC's ability to secrete an extracellular matrix. We utilized scanning electron microscopy to evaluate the presence of an extracellular matrix on the scaffolds. Our preliminary data demonstrated the titanium's ability to support human adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cell colonization, proliferation, and osteoblastic differentiation, in order to obtain a biohybrid device. Our experience seems encouraging; thus, we advocate for further in vivo research to corroborate our results regarding bone transplantation.

Titanium middle ear (ME) prostheses are widely used in surgical practice due to their acoustic properties. However, they present a significant drawback shared by all synthetic materials currently in use for ME reconstruction: they can be rejected by the organism of the host. In this study, we aim to review the current literature on titanium partial ossicular replacement prostheses (PORPs) and total ossicular replacement prostheses (TORPs) extrusion and dislocation. Eighty articles were analysed after a full article review based on the inclusion and exclusion criteria. The most common indication for reconstruction was chronic otitis media with cholesteatoma. The average extrusion or dislocation rate was 5.2%, ranging from 0 to 35%. The average improvements in the air-bone gap were 12.1 dB (1.6 dB to 25.1 dB) and 13.8 (-0.5 dB to 22.7 dB) for the PORP and TORP groups, respectively. The data reported on this topic are highly variable, demonstrating that functional outcomes are difficult to predict in clinical practice. We believe that the current limitations could be overcome with technological developments, including bioengineering research focused on promoting prosthesis adaptation to the ME environment.

Low-level laser therapy (LLLT) is a treatment that is increasingly used in orthopedics practices. In vivo and in vitro studies have shown that low-level laser therapy (LLLT) promotes angiogenesis, fracture healing and osteogenic differentiation of stem cells. However, the underlying mechanisms during bone formation remain largely unknown. Factors such as wavelength, energy density, irradiation and frequency of LLLT can influence the cellular mechanisms. Moreover, the effects of LLLT are different according to cell types treated. This review aims to summarize the current knowledge of the molecular pathways activated by LLLT and its effects on the bone healing process. A better understanding of the cellular mechanisms activated by LLLT can improve its clinical application.

Background: Ehlers-Danlos syndrome (EDS) is a phenotypically and genetically heterogeneous group of connective tissue disorders. Currently, diagnosis of EDS is based on a series of clinical and genetic tools. On the other hand, the hypermobile form has not yet been characterized from a genetic point of view: it is considered a part of a continuous spectrum of phenotypes, ranging from isolated non syndromic joint hypermobility, through to the recently defined hypermobility spectrum disorders (HSD). The aim of this study is to characterize the pain symptom that is not considered among the diagnostic criteria but is relevant to what concerns the quality of life of patients with EDS. (2) Methods: A review of the literature was performed on two medical electronic databases (PubMed and Embase) on 20 December 2022. Study selection and data extraction were achieved independently by two authors and the following inclusion criteria were determined a priori: published in the English language and published between 2000 and 2022. (3) Results: There were fifty eligible studies obtained at the end of the search and screen process. Pain is one of the most common symptoms found in Ehlers-Danlos (ED) patients. Different causes seem to be recognized in different phases of the syndrome. (4) Conclusions: Pain is a nonspecific symptom and cannot be considered among the diagnostic criteria, but it is a negative predictive factor in the quality of life of patients with EDS. Therefore, proper evaluation and treatment is mandatory.

Bone responses to pulsed electromagnetic fields (PEMFs) have been extensively studied by using devices that expose bone cells to PEMFs to stimulate extracellular matrix (ECM) synthesis for bone and cartilage repair. The aim of this work was to highlight in which bone healing phase PEMFs exert their action. Specifically, we evaluated the effects of PEMFs both on human adipose mesenchymal stem cells (hASCs) and on primary human osteoblasts (hOBs) by testing gene and protein expression of early bone markers (on hASCs) and the synthesis of late bone-specific proteins (on hOBs) as markers of bone remodeling. Our results indicate that PEMFs seem to exert their action on bone formation, acting on osteogenic precursors (hASCs) and inducing the commitment towards the differentiation pathways, unlike mature and terminally differentiated cells (hOBs), which are known to resist homeostasis perturbation more and seem to be much less responsive than mesenchymal stem cells. Understanding the role of PEMFs on bone regenerative processes provides important details for their clinical application.

The enthesis is an extremely specific region, localized at the tendon-bone interface (TBI) and made of a hybrid connection of fibrocartilage with minerals. The direct type of enthesis tissue is commonly subjected to full laceration, due to the stiffness gradient between the soft tissues and hard bone, and this often reoccurs after surgical reconstruction. For this purpose, the present work aimed to design and develop a tubular scaffold based on pullulan (PU) and chitosan (CH) and intended to enhance enthesis repair. The scaffold was designed with a topographical gradient of nanofibers, from random to aligned, and hydroxyapatite (HAP) nanoparticles along the tubular length. In particular, one part of the tubular scaffold was characterized by a structure similar to bone hard tissue, with a random mineralized fiber arrangement; while the other part was characterized by aligned fibers, without HAP doping. The tubular shape of the scaffold was also designed to be extemporarily loaded with chondroitin sulfate (CS), a glycosaminoglycan effective in wound healing, before the surgery. Micro CT analysis revealed that the scaffold was characterized by a continuous gradient, without interruptions from one end to the other. The gradient of the fiber arrangement was observed using SEM analysis, and it was still possible to observe the gradient when the scaffold had been hydrated for 6 days. In vitro studies demonstrated that human adipose stem cells (hASC) were able to grow and differentiate onto the scaffold, expressing the typical ECM production for tendon in the aligned zone, or bone tissue in the random mineralized part. CS resulted in a synergistic effect, favoring cell adhesion/proliferation on the scaffold surface. These results suggest that this tubular scaffold loaded with CS could be a powerful tool to support enthesis repair upon surgery.

An emerging issue for orthopedic surgeons is how to manage patients with active or previous COVID-19 disease, avoiding any major risks for the surgeons and the O.R. personnel. This monocentric prospective observational study aims to assess the prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 viral RT-PCR RNA in cancellous bone samples in patients with active or previous COVID-19 disease. We collected data about 30 consecutive patients from our institution from January 2021 to March 2021 with active or previous COVID-19 disease. The presence of SARS-CoV-2 in the samples was determined using two different PCR-based assays. Eighteen of the thirty patients included in the study had a positive nasopharyngeal swab at the time of surgery. Twelve patients had a negative nasopharyngeal swab with a mean days since negativization of 138 ± 104 days, ranging from 23 to 331 days. Mean days of positivity to the nasal swab were 17 ± 17. Twenty-nine out of thirty (96.7%) samples were negative for the presence of SARS-CoV-2 RNA. In one sample, low SARS-CoV-2 load (Cycle threshold (Ct) 36.6.) was detected but not confirmed using an additional confirmatory assay. The conducted study demonstrates the absence of the viral genome within the analyzed cancellous bone. We think that the use of personal protection equipment (PPE) to only protect from aerosol produced during surgery, both in active and recovered patients, is not strictly necessary. We think that the use of PPE should not be employed by surgeons and the O.R. personnel to protect themselves from aerosols produced from the respiratory tract. Moreover, we think that our results could represent a valid basis for further studies related to the possibility of bone donation in patients that suffered and recovered from COVID-19.

The spontaneous healing of a tendon laceration results in the formation of scar tissue, which has lower functionality than the original tissue. Moreover, chronic non-healing tendon injuries frequently require surgical treatment. Several types of scaffolds have been developed using the tissue engineering approach, to complement surgical procedures and to enhance the healing process at the injured site. In this work, an electrospun hybrid tubular scaffold was designed to mimic tissue fibrous arrangement and extracellular matrix (ECM) composition, and to be extemporaneously loaded into the inner cavity with human platelet lysate (PL), with the aim of leading to complete post-surgery functional regeneration of the tissue for functional regeneration of the osteo-tendon interface. For this purpose, pullulan (P)/chitosan (CH) based polymer solutions were enriched with hydroxyapatite nanoparticles (HP) and electrospun. The nanofibers were collected vertically along the length of the scaffold to mimic the fascicle direction of the tendon tissue. The scaffold obtained showed tendon-like mechanical performance, depending on HP content and tube size. The PL proteins were able to cross the scaffold wall, and in vitro studies have demonstrated that tenocytes and osteoblasts are able to adhere to and proliferate onto the scaffold in the presence of PL; moreover, they were also able to produce either collagen or sialoproteins, respectively-important components of ECM. These results suggest that HP and PL have a synergic effect, endorsing PL-loaded HP-doped aligned tubular scaffolds as an effective strategy to support new tissue formation in tendon-to-bone interface regeneration.

Ehlers-Danlos syndromes (EDS) are an inherited heterogeneous group of connective tissue disorders characterized by an abnormal collagen synthesis affecting skin, ligaments, joints, blood vessels, and other organs. It is one of the oldest known causes of bruising and bleeding, and it was described first by Hippocrates in 400 BC. In the last years, multiple gene variants involved in the pathogenesis of specific EDS subtypes have been identified; moreover, new clinical diagnostic criteria have been established. New classification models have also been studied in order to differentiate overlapping conditions. Moreover, EDS shares many characteristics with other similar disorders. Although distinguishing between these seemingly identical conditions is difficult, it is essential in ensuring proper patient care. Currently, there are many genetic and molecular studies underway to clarify the etiology of some variants of EDS. However, the genetic basis of the hypermobile type of EDS (hEDS) is still unknown. In this review, we focused on the study of two of the most common forms of EDS-classic and hypermobile-by trying to identify possible biomarkers that could be of great help to confirm patients' diagnosis and their follow up.

In this article, we provide an extensive review of the recent literature of the signaling pathways modulated by Pulsed Electromagnetic Fields (PEMFs) and PEMFs clinical application. A review of the literature was performed on two medical electronic databases (PubMed and Embase) from 3 to 5 March 2021. Three authors performed the evaluation of the studies and the data extraction. All studies for this review were selected following these inclusion criteria: studies written in English, studies available in full text and studies published in peer-reviewed journal. Molecular biology, identifying cell membrane receptors and pathways involved in bone healing, and studying PEMFs target of action are giving a solid basis for clinical applications of PEMFs. However, further biology studies and clinical trials with clear and standardized parameters (intensity, frequency, dose, duration, type of coil) are required to clarify the precise dose-response relationship and to understand the real applications in clinical practice of PEMFs.

Spine degenerative conditions are becoming increasingly prevalent, affecting about 5.7% of the population in Europe, resulting in a significant reduction of life's quality. Up to now, many materials have been used in manufacturing cage implants, used as graft substitutes, to achieve immediate and long-term spinal fixation. Particularly, titanium and its alloys are emerging as valuable candidates to develop new types of cages. The aim of this in vitro study was to evaluate the adhesion, proliferation and osteogenic differentiation of adipose derived mesenchymal stem cells (ASCs) seeded on trabecular titanium cages. ASCs adhered, proliferated and produced an abundant extracellular matrix during the 3 weeks of culture. In the presence of osteogenic medium, ASCs differentiated into osteoblast-like cells: the expression of typical bone genes, as well as the alkaline phosphatase activity, was statistically higher than in controls. Furthermore, the dispersive spectrometry microanalysis showed a marked increase of calcium level in cells grown in osteogenic medium. Plus, our preliminary data about osteoinduction suggest that this titanium implant has the potential to induce the ASCs to produce a secretome able to trigger a shift in the ASCs phenotype, possibly towards the osteogenic differentiation, as illustrated by the qRT-PCR and ALP biochemical assay results. The trabecular porous organization of these cages is rather similar to the cancellous bone structure, thus allowing the bone matrix to colonize it efficiently; for these reasons we can conclude that the architecture of this cage may play a role in modulating the osteoinductive capabilities of the implant, thus encouraging its engagement in in vivo studies for the treatment of spinal deformities and diseases.

Background: Hemophilia A and B are X-linked congenital bleeding disorders characterized by recurrent hemarthroses leading to specific changes in the synovium and cartilage, which finally result in the destruction of the joint: this process is called hemophilic arthropathy (HA). This review highlights the most prominent molecular biomarkers found in the literature to discuss their potential use in the clinical practice to monitor bleeding, to assess the progression of the HA and the effectiveness of treatments., Methods: A review of the literature was performed on PubMed and Embase, from 3 to 7 August 2020. Study selection and data extraction were achieved independently by two authors and the following inclusion criteria were determined a priori: English language, available full text and articles published in peer-reviewed journal. In addition, further articles were identified by checking the bibliography of relevant articles and searching for the studies cited in all the articles examined., Results: Eligible studies obtained at the end of the search and screen process were seventy-three (73)., Conclusions: Despite the surge of interest in the clinical use of biomarkers, current literature underlines the lack of their standardization and their potential use in the clinical practice preserving the role of physical examination and imaging in early diagnosis.

Human sperm cells express different aquaporins (AQPs), AQP3, 7, 8, 11, which are localized both in the plasma membrane and in intracellular structures. Besides cell volume regulation and end stage of cytoplasm removal during sperm maturation, the role of AQPs extends also to reactive oxygen species (ROS) elimination. Moreover, oxidative stress has been shown to inhibit AQP-mediated H 2 O 2 permeability. A decrease in AQPs functionality is related to a decrease in sperm cells number and motility. Here we investigate the possible effect of human Papillomavirus (HPV) on both expression and function of AQPs in human sperm cells of patients undergoing infertility couple evaluation. Stopped-flow light-scattering experiments demonstrated that HPV infection heavily reduced water permeability of sperm cells in normospermic samples. Confocal immunofluorescence experiments showed a colocalization of HPV L1 protein with AQP8 (Pearson's correlation coefficient of 0.61), confirmed by co-immunoprecipitation experiments. No interaction of HPV with AQP3 and AQP7 was observed. A 3D model simulation of L1 protein and AQP8 interaction was also performed. Present findings may suggest that HPV infection directly inhibits AQP8 functionality and probably makes sperm cells more sensitive to oxidative stress.

Aim of work was to locate a simple, reproducible protocol for uniform seeding and optimal cellularization of biodegradable patch minimizing the risk of structural damages of patch and its contamination in long-term culture. Two seeding procedures are exploited, namely static seeding procedures on biodegradable and biocompatible patches incubated as free floating (floating conditions) or supported by CellCrown TM insert (fixed conditions) and engineered by porcine bone marrow MSCs (p-MSCs). Scaffold prototypes having specific structural features with regard to pore size, pore orientation, porosity, and pore distribution were produced using two different techniques, such as temperature-induced precipitation method and electrospinning technology. The investigation on different prototypes allowed achieving several implementations in terms of cell distribution uniformity, seeding efficiency, and cellularization timing. The cell seeding protocol in stating conditions demonstrated to be the most suitable method, as these conditions successfully improved the cellularization of polymeric patches. Furthermore, the investigation provided interesting information on patches' stability in physiological simulating experimental conditions. Considering the in vitro results, it can be stated that the in vitro protocol proposed for patches cellularization is suitable to achieve homogeneous and complete cellularizations of patch. Moreover, the protocol turned out to be simple, repeatable, and reproducible.

Background:: The new double-conical tapered stem is a novel cementless modular system, which is indicated for both primary and revision surgeries. It has been designed with different angles at the proximal (5°) and distal sections (1° 36') in order to obtain optimal fixation by proximal and distal fit and fill of the femoral canal., Aim:: The aim of this prospective study was to evaluate the short-term clinical and radiographic outcomes of primary and revision hip surgery with the new double-conical stem., Methods:: 61 stems were implanted (December 2013 to September 2016) in 42 cases of primary and in 19 cases of revision surgery. The mean age of patients was 64.7 (17-94; standard deviation [SD] 21.9) years., Results:: The mean body mass index of the patients was 24.6 (17-34.6). In 3 cases of developmental dysplasia of the hip we performed femoral shortening osteotomy. The mean follow-up was 26 (8-40) months. 3 patients died due to causes unrelated to surgery. Postoperative complications included 3 hip dislocations, 2 infections and 1 case of stem explant for metastatic tumour. For all other cases, at the last follow-up radiographs showed no loosening, no radiolucent lines nor subsidence. The mean Harris Hip Score significantly improved from 45 (range 35-58) preoperatively to 87 (range 75-94). Leg length discrepancy was found in 10% of cases but never >1 cm., Conclusions:: Radiographic analysis showed the bone-stem contact full at 2 levels of taper. The double-tapered prosthetic stem can therefore be usefully employed both in primary and in revision surgeries.

Adipose tissue comprises both adipose and non-adipose cells such as mesenchymal stem cells. These cells show a surface antigenic profile similar to that of bone-marrow-derived MSC. The cells derived from the dedifferentiation of mature adipocytes (DFAT) are another cell population with characteristics of stemness. The aim of this study is to provide evidence of the stemness, proliferation, and differentiation of human adipose stem cells (hASC) and DFAT obtained from human subcutaneous AT and evaluate their potential use in regenerative medicine. Cell populations were studied by histochemical and molecular biology techniques. Both hASC and DFAT were positive for MSC markers. Their proliferative capacity was similar and both populations were able to differentiate into osteogenic, chondrogenic, and adipogenic lineages. DFAT were able to accumulate lipids and their lipoprotein lipase and adiponectin gene expression were high. Alkaline phosphatase and RUNX2 gene expression were greater in hASC than in DFAT at 14 days but became similar after three weeks. Both cell populations were able to differentiate into chondrocytes, showing positive staining with Alcian Blue and gene expression of SOX9 and ACAN . In conclusion, both hASC and DFAT populations derived from AT have a high differentiation capacity and thus may have applications in regenerative medicine., Competing Interests: The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Some aquaporins (AQPs) have been recently demonstrated to facilitate the diffusion of hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) from the producing cells to the extracellular fluid, and their reactive oxygen species scavenging properties have been defined. Nevertheless, the identification of different AQPs acting as peroxiporins, their functional role in eustress and distress, and the identification of antioxidant compounds able to regulate AQP gating, remain unsolved. This study aims to investigate, in HeLa cells: (1) the expression of different AQPs; (2) the evaluation of naringenin, quercetin, ( R )-aloesaponol III 8-methyl ether, marrubiin, and curcumin antioxidant profiles, via α,α-diphenyl-β-picrylhydrazyl assay; (3) the effect of the compounds on the water permeability in the presence and in the absence of oxidative stress; and (4) the effect of pre- and post-treatment with the compounds on the H₂O₂ content in heat-stressed cells. Results showed that HeLa cells expressed AQP1, 3, 8, and 11 proteins. The oxidative stress reduced the water transport, and both pre- and post-treatment with the natural compounds recovering the water permeability, with the exception of curcumin. Moreover, the pre- and post-treatment with all the compounds reduced the H₂O₂ content of heat-stressed cells. This study confirms that oxidative stress reduced water AQP-mediated permeability, reversed by some chemical antioxidant compounds. Moreover, curcumin was shown to regulate AQP gating. This suggests a novel mechanism to regulate cell signaling and survival during stress, and to manipulate key signaling pathways in cancer and degenerative diseases., Competing Interests: The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Adequate blood supply is essential for prosthesis osteointegration and bone healing as it supplies oxygen, nutrition and progenitor cells. The bone healing process and vascularization depend upon the endothelial cells, which speed up implant osteointegration. Endothelial Progenitor Cells (EPC) are a population of stem cells that can reproduce, migrate and acquire mature endothelial phenotype. Their recruitment occurs in the tissue lesion to enhance neovascularization. Trabecular TitaniumTM (TTTM) is a new biomaterial with very interesting biomechanical characteristics and fast osteointegration. This study has investigated adhesion, proliferation and characteristics of EPC on three types of biomaterial: unmodified trabecular titanium, trabecular titanium coated with the ECM deposited by human mesenchymal stem cells isolated from subcutaneous adipose tissue and decellularized and trabecular titanium coated with type I collagen (control scaffold). MTT assay showed similar percentages of EPCs seeded on the different kinds of scaffold: 67% on TT, 70% on decellularized scaffolds and 82% on collagen-coated scaffolds. There were no statistically significant differences between the three groups. We therefore conclude that TTTM allows EPC adhesion and proliferation and, consequently, by permitting vascularization, it favours prosthesis osteointegration.

Trabecular Titanium (TT) is an innovative highly porous structure that imitates the morphology of trabecular bone with good mechanical properties. Adipose-derived stem cells are a multipotent cell population that can be used in regenerative medicine, in particular, for bone therapeutic applications. The ability of TT to induce the osteogenic differentiation of human adipose derived stem cells (hASCs) in the absence of osteogenic factors was evaluated using molecular biological, biochemical, and immunohistochemical methods. At 7 and 21 days from differentiation, the hASCs grown on TT scaffolds showed similar expressions of alkaline phosphatase (ALP) and Runx-2 both in the presence and in the absence of osteogenic factors, as well as at transcript and protein levels. hASCs cultured on monolayer in the presence of the medium obtained from the wells where hASCs/scaffold constructs were cultured in the absence of osteogenic factors differentiated towards the osteogenic phenotype: their gene and protein expression of ALP and Runx-2 was similar to that of the same cells cultured in the presence of osteogenic factors, and significantly higher than that of the ones cultured in growth medium., (© 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.)

Background Aims: Adoptive T-cell therapy with tumor-specific T cells has emerged as a potentially useful approach for treating patients with advanced malignancies. We have demonstrated previously the feasibility of obtaining large numbers of autologous anti-tumor-specific cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTL) generated by stimulation of patients' peripheral blood mononuclear cells with dendritic cells pulsed with apoptotic tumor cells. Methods. Six patients with progressing metastatic solid tumors (one renal cell carcinoma, two ovarian cancers, two extraosseous peripheral neuroectodermal tumors, one soft tissue sarcoma) not eligible for conventional therapies were treated with adoptive immunotherapy. Anti-tumor CTL, proven to be reactive in vitro against patient tumor cells, but not against normal cells, were infused following lymphodepleting chemotherapy administered to favor T-cell proliferation in vivo., Results: Patients received a median of nine CTL infusions (range 2-19). The median number of CTL administered per infusion was 11 × 10(8) (range 1-55 × 10(8)). No patient experienced acute or late adverse events related to CTL infusion, even when large numbers of cells were given. Post-infusion laboratory investigations demonstrated an increase in the frequency of circulating anti-tumor T-cells and, in patients with a longer follow-up receiving two CTL infusions/year, a stabilization of these values., Conclusions: Our study demonstrates that autologous ex vivo-generated anti-tumor CTL can be administered safely in patients with advanced solid tumors and can improve the immunologic reactivity of recipients against tumor. These preliminary results provide a rationale for evaluating the clinical efficacy of this immunotherapeutic approach in phase I/II studies.