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Aim: The purpose of the present study was to find inexpensive and non-toxic additives enhancing and accelerating the osteogenesis of mesenchymal stem cells in vitro, which can be used for tissue engineering of bone material., Materials and Methods: Osteogenic differentiation of rat mesenchymal stem cells was carried-out using classic differentiation medium containing or lacking purmorphamine, statins or oxysterols, respectively. Cell proliferation, alkaline phosphatase activity, calcium sedimentation and expression of bone matrix protein genes were measured to monitor differentiation., Results: Purmorphamine substantially suppressed proliferation, enhanced and accelerated alkaline phosphatase activity and calcium sedimentation and increased the expression of osteopontin and osteocalcin in rat mesenchymal stem cells in vitro. A similar osteogenesis-promoting effect was observed for oxysterols but not for the two statins., Conclusion: Purmorphamine and oxysterols promote and accelerate osteogenesis of mesenchymal stem cells in vitro suggesting their potential application for tissue engineering of bone material., (Copyright © 2015 International Institute of Anticancer Research (Dr. John G. Delinassios), All rights reserved.)

Aim: The present study aimed to find bone substitutes to enhance osteogenic differentiation of mesenchymal stem cells in three-dimensional scaffolds in the absence of dexamethasone., Materials and Methods: Seven commercial bone substitutes were added to a three-dimensional fibrin-matrix containing rat mesenchymal stem cells in a biocompatible poly-L-lactic-acid mesh. Cell viability, cytotoxicity and alkaline phosphatase activity were followed for three weeks. Expression of bone markers was examined by qualitative evaluation of corresponding transcripts., Results: Six out of the seven bone derivatives exhibited an osteogenic-enhancing effect., Conclusion: The osteogenic-enhancing effect of the evaluated bone substitutes suggests their potential clinical application for preparation of autologous bone replacement material in three-dimensional carriers., (Copyright © 2014 International Institute of Anticancer Research (Dr. John G. Delinassios), All rights reserved.)

Aim: To explore the feasibility of culturing mesenchymal stem cells in an hydroxyapatite-fibrin matrix held by a mesh scaffold and inducing osteogenic differentiation of these cells. The aim was to obtain bone-material in vitro in a desired form., Materials and Methods: Rat mesenchymal stem cells were mixed with fibrin and nanocrystalline hydroxyapatite in tubular scaffolds constructed from a poly(L-lactic acid) mesh, and cultured under standard and osteogenic differentiating conditions. Cell viability, cytotoxicity and alkaline phosphatase activity were followed for 3 weeks. Living cells and the expression of bone markers were visualized by fluorescence staining and immunofluorescence staining, respectively. Attachment of cells to the scaffold mesh surface was examined by scanning electron microscopy., Results: Cell viability decreased and cytotoxicity increased rapidly during the first day of culture but stabilized gradually afterwards, indicating fast adaptation of the cells in the matrix-scaffold environment. From day 17, cytotoxicity started to decrease, paralleled by an increase in alkaline phosphatase activity, indicating osteogenic differentiation. A large number of living cells were visible in the matrix and on the mesh scaffold. Expression of collagen type I, osteoponin, osteocalcin and core binding factor 1 were evident under osteogenic differentiation conditions., Conclusion: The three-dimensional construction of a fibrin-hydroxyapatite matrix in a biocompatible poly(L-lactic acid) as mesh-scaffold provides a promising carrier for producing bone-material in vitro in a desired form for applications in regenerative medicine., (Copyright © 2014 International Institute of Anticancer Research (Dr. John G. Delinassios), All rights reserved.)

Aim: Keratocystic odontogenic tumors (KCOTs) arise from remnants of epithelial structures associated with the development of teeth and occur predominantly intraosseously. In rare occasions they can appear extraosseously in the gingiva as peripheral counterparts; only 15 cases have been reported to date. Evenmore rare are cases of KCOTs of the buccal soft tissues. The aim of this report is to present a rare case of KCOT affecting the buccal soft tissue as an original site and a review of the literature regarding diagnostic and therapeutic options.

Neurofibromatosis (NF1) is an autosomal dominant tumour predisposition syndrome. A plethora of tumours are described in the literature associated with NF1. These tumours usually develop earlier in life. Some tumours show a close association with NF1, e.g. malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumour and optic nerve glioma, others are only rarely diagnosed in the context of this disease. This report focuses on the diagnosis and therapy of a squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) of the sole of the foot arising in a 67-year-old male patient with NF1. The lesion was initially misdiagnosed as an abscess. Wide excision of the highly differentiated SCC was followed by conditioning of the deep wound by a vacuum dressing. After achievement of bulky granulation tissue covering the defect at the level of the adjacent skin, a full-thickness skin graft was obtained from the abdominal skin and fixed on the defect. Healing of the defect was almost achieved by primary intention; two small lesions healed within weeks. The patient was repeatedly investigated. Five years after primary surgery, the patient had developed a corn on the medial side of the former defect. This lesion was completely excised and the defect was closed by primary intention after creating a small rotation flap. The lesion proved to be inflamed skin of the sole of the foot with no dedifferentiation of the epithelia. NF1 is a complex hereditary disease that displays an abundance of signs and symptoms. SCC may affect individuals with NF1. However, SCC account only for a small number of malignancies in NF1 compared to malignancies arising in connective tissue and brain. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report on an SCC of the sole diagnosed in NF1. Vacuum dressing as an adjunct to surgery allowed reduced reconstructive measures.

Aim: We present the case of a surgically treated 39-year-old man with diagnosis of a giant sublingual internal epidermoid cyst. Usually, such dermoid or epidermoid cysts are caused by aberrant ectodermal tissues or by acquired aberrant epithelial tissues arising from the foetal period, or from trauma or surgery. The incidence of oral dermoid or epidermoid cysts is about 1.6%; most occur at the mouth floor but they nevertheless are very rare., Case Report: The patient presented with a history of progressive swelling of the sublingual region with dysphagia, progressive snoring during sleep and occasional shortness of breath. The suspected clinical diagnosis of a giant sublingual dermoid or epidermoid cyst was supported by the radiological finding after performing magnetic resonance imaging. The cyst was surgically removed under general anaesthesia through an intraoral approach. The immunohistological analysis of the specimen with a monoclonal antibody against podoplanin (D2-40) showed a positive reaction in the basal epithelial layer, exclusively in areas with secondary inflammation, but not in the remaining cyst wall., Conclusion: Sublingually situated extensive epidermoid cysts are rare findings in the oral cavity. In such cases, surgical excision remains the only treatment. We demonstrated that cystic epithelia were normally not immunoreactive for D2-40 but strong immunoreactivity was observed in the basal epithelial cell layer, in areas of ruptured cyst wall associated with secondary inflammatory changes.