Medicina

Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) is a degenerative disease primarily affecting voluntary muscles with secondary consequences on heart and breathing muscles. DMD is an X-linked recessive disease that results in the loss of dystrophin, a key muscle protein. Inflammation can play different roles in DMD; it can be a secondary response to muscle degeneration, a primary cause of degeneration, or can contribute to the disease progression. Several immunosuppressants have been used with the aim to reduce the inflammation associated with DMD. Most recently, myoblast transplantation has shown the possibility to restore the dystrophin lack in the DMD patient's muscle fibers and this evidence has emphasized the importance of the use of immunosuppressants and the necessity of studying them and their secondary effects. The aim of this review is to analyze the main immunosuppressants drugs starting from the mdx mice experiments and concluding with the most recent human clinical studies.

Abstract Stem cells are a relevant source of information about cellular differentiation, molecular processes and tissue homeostasis, but also one of the most putative biological tools to treat degenerative diseases. This review focuses on human stem cells clinical and experimental applications. Our aim is to take a correct view of the available stem cell subtypes and their rational use in the medical area, with a specific focus on their therapeutic benefits and side effects. We have reviewed the main clinical trials dividing them basing on their clinical applications, and taking into account the ethical issue associated with the stem cell therapy. Methods We have searched Pubmed/Medline for clinical trials, involving the use of human stem cells, using the key words "stem cells" combined with the key words "transplantation", "pathology", "guidelines", "properties" and "risks". All the relevant clinical trials have been included. The results have been divided into different categories, basing on the way stem cells have been employed in different pathological conditions.

Scandinavian folk medicine used shark liver oil for the treatment of cancers and other ailments based on the rarity of tumors in sharks and their ability to resist infections. Shark liver oil is a source of alkylglycerols which have been studied as anti-cancer agents in several clinical trials. Moreover, alkylglycerols have been investigated for the treatment of radiation induced side effects and for their ability to boost the immune system. Several experimental studies have shown the ability of alkylglycerols to open the blood brain barrier to facilitate the access of therapeutic drugs to the central nervous system. This review covers the most important studies of alkylglycerols in both animals and humans.

Background hyaluronic acid (HA), a non-sulphated glycosaminoglycan, is present in synovial fluid, vitreous humour serum and many connective tissues. Pharmaceutical preparations of HA are used in clinical practice for wound healing, joint pain, kerato-conjunctivitis, asthma, mouth care, oesophageal-reflux, and gastritis. Moreover, it is used as a filler to counteract ageing and facial lipoatrophy. Our study aims at investigating the in vitro antiviral activity of a high molecular weight HA. Methods the MTT test was used to rule out the potential toxic effects of HA on the different cell lines used in the antiviral assays. The antiviral activity of HA against Coxsackievirus B5, Herpes Simplex Virus-1, Mumps Virus, Adenovirus-5, Influenza Virus A/H1N1, Human Herpesvirus-6, Porcine Parvovirus, Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome Virus was assessed by virus yield assays. Results the most effective inhibition was observed against Coxsackievirus B5, with 3Log reduction of the virus yield at 4 mg/ml, and a reduction of 3.5Log and 2Log, at 2 mg/ml and 1 mg/ml, respectively: the selectivity index was 16. Mumps virus was highly inhibited too showing a reduction of 1.7Log at 1 mg/ml and 1Log at 4 mg/ml and 2 mg/ml (selectivity index = 12). The selectivity index for Influenza Virus was 12 with the highest inhibition (1Log) observed at 4 mg/ml. Herpes Simplex Virus-1 and Porcine Parvovirus were mildly inhibited, whereas no antiviral activity was observed with respect to Adenovirus-5, Human Herpesvirus-6, Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome Virus. No HA virucidal activity was ever observed against any of the viruses tested. Kinetic experiments showed that both Coxsackievirus B5 and Herpes simplex virus-1 replication were consistently inhibited, not influenced by the time of HA addition, during the virus replication cycle. Conclusions the spectrum of the antiviral activity exhibited by HA against both RNA and DNA viruses, known to have different structures (with or without envelope) and replication strategies, suggests a non specific mechanism of action, probably involving cell membrane-virus interaction steps. The results of the kinetic experiments support this hypothesis.

O b j e c t i v e Growth factors have shown the potential to promote odontoblast-like cell differentiation and induce the formation of reparative dentin. The aims of this pilot study were to develop a regenerative approach to pulp capping using platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) BB and to describe histologically the pulp tissue response. M a t e r i a l s a n d m e t h o d s Two third molars (Site A and Site B) were treated. Class I cavities were prepared and the exposed pulps were capped with cotton pellets embedded in a PDGF solution. Teeth were extracted after 40 days and processed for routine histological examination. The hard bridge formation and the pulp reaction were evaluated. R e s u l t s In Site A, incomplete and thick dentin bridge formation was observed. The pulp tissue close to the remaining exposed pulp was moderately disorganized, with many fibroblasts and few inflammatory cells. In Site B, an incomplete dentin bridge covered part of the defect. The pulp was overall normal, but a limited area showing a clot-like tissue with many fibroblasts and few inflammatory cells close to the dentin bridge interruption was observed. C o n c l u s i o n PDGF-BB did not elicit an inflammatory response and did not induce extensive dentin matrix deposition. It thus appears to be a safe pulp capping agent.

expected, the majority of subjects with PWS were obese, especially in adult life. Nevertheless, it is noteworthy that 26% of patients aged between 6 and 17 were normal weight. A total of 212 subjects had received GH treatment, of which 141 were still receiving therapy, while the remaining 71 had stopped. In children and adolescents (233 cases), 89 subjects had never undergone GH therapy. Eighteen PWS patients had died in the past 20 years. Obesity-related cardiovascular and respiratory diseases were the cause of death, both during childhood and after 18 years of age. Three children died suddenly whilst undergoing GH therapy. Respiratory infection and cardiac illness were the causes of death in two cases. There was no definitive cause of death found in the third case. Overall, there was no increase in number of deaths during GH treatment, suggesting that GH administration in patients with PWS, as a group, does not increase the risk of death. ß

The Body Mass Index (BMI) has been widely used as an indicator of nutritional status. However, its signifi cance isn't limited to clinical assessments, as it also refl ects the social, economic and health conditions of a given population. Literature reports heavy criticism over the use of BMI, particularly the cut-off points characterizing obesity, and highlights the need for studies taking into account the index's sensitivity and specifi city in different populations. The purpose of this study is to examine BMI's sensitivity and specifi city to assess obesity in 1022 male and female individuals divided into two age groups (20 to 30 and 31 to 40). The cut-off points to determine obesity were the following: fat percent (%F) ³ 25% and BMI ³ 28 kg.m-2 for men and (%F) ³ 30% and BMI ³ 27 kg.m-2 for women. The results for both sexes, in general and divided according to age groups (except for the 31-40 age group on males), showed high specifi city and sensitivity to identify obesity. False-negative values, indicating the incidence of non-obese individuals detected by BMI, were low. On the other hand, the false-positive values were high, revealing a trend to overestimate body fat in non-obese individuals with values bordering with the cut-off points characterizing obesity. Such results allow us to conclude that BMI proved valid, at least in the sample for this study.