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Primary perianal fistulous pathology represents a painful condition often noticeable in patients affected by Crohn's disease or Ulcerative colitis. It causes difficult defecation and can evolve in perianal abscess that should be urgently ascertained and drained. The present work aims to propose Argentum-Quartz® as valid non-surgical therapeutic treatment in order to reach a more comfortable perianal fistula healing. In fact, our preliminary data allow us to consider Argentum Quartz® ideally employable for treatment of perianal fistulas associated or not with IBDs, representing a reliable sphincter-sparing solution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) from bone marrow are a recent source for tissue engineering. Several studies have shown that low-level laser irradiation has numerous biostimulating effects. The purpose of this trial was to evaluate the effects of Nd:Yag laser irradiation on proliferation and differentiation of MSCs induced into the osteoblastic lineage. MSCs were collected from adult human bone marrow, isolated, and cultured in complete medium (α-MEM). Subsequently, they were treated with osteogenic medium, seeded in three-dimensional collagen scaffolds, and incubated. We used six scaffolds, equally divided into three groups: two of these were irradiated with Nd:Yag laser at different power levels (15 Hz, 100 mJ, 1.5 W, and one with a power level of 15 Hz, 150 mJ, 2.25 W), and one was left untreated (control group). Evaluations with specific staining were performed at 7 and 14 days. After 7 days, proliferation was significantly increased in scaffolds treated with laser, compared with the control scaffold. After 14 days, however, laser irradiation did not appear to have any further effect on cell proliferation. As concerns differentiation, an exponential increase was observed after 14 days of laser irradiation, with respect to the control group. However, this was a pilot study with very limited sample size, we conclude, that low-level laser irradiation might lead to a reduction in healing times and potentially reduces risks of failure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Periodontal disease is a degenerative illness that leads to resorption of the alveolar bone. Mesenchymal stromal cells (MSC) represent a novel tool for the production of biologic constructs for the treatment of degenerative bone diseases. The preparation of MSC differentiated into osteogenic lineage for clinical use requires the fulfillment of strict good manufacturing practice (GMP) procedures. Methods MSC were isolated from BM samples and then cultured under GMP conditions. MSC were characterized phenotypically and for their differentiative potential. Cells were seeded onto collagen scaffolds (Gingistat) and induced to differentiate into osteogenic lineages using clinical grade drugs compared with standard osteogenic supplements. Alizarin Red S stain was used to test the deposition of the mineral matrix. Standard microbiologic analysis was performed to verify the product sterility. Results The resulting MSC were negative for CD33, CD34 and HLA-DR but showed high expression of CD90, CD105 and HLA-ABC (average expressions of 94.3%, 75.8% and 94.2%, respectively). Chondrogenic, osteogenic and adipogenic differentiation potential was demonstrated. The MSC retained their ability to differentiate into osteogenic lineage when seeded onto collagen scaffolds after exposure to a clinical grade medium. Cell numbers and cell viability were adequate for clinical use, and microbiologic assays demonstrated the absence of any contamination. Discussion In the specific context of a degenerative bone disease with limited involvement of skeletal tissue, the combined use of MSC, exposed to an osteogenic clinical grade medium, and biomimetic biodegradable scaffolds offers the possibility of producing adequate numbers of biologic tissue-engineered cell-based constructs for use in clinical trials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Neurogenic Inflammation (NI) is the consequence of amyelinic‐sensitive neuron activation. Recent studies on rats proved that NI could be experimentally induced by topical capsaicin application. The aim of this study is to evaluate the effects of topical capsaicin application on human periodontal mucosa and to assess if NI might have a role in the pathogenesis of periodontal diseases. Methods: 15 patients were examined in our laboratory. NI was experimentally induced in the gingival mucosa close to: (1) the interdental papilla corresponding to the upper central incisors; (2) the interdental papilla corresponding to the lower left lateral incisor and canine after ipsilateral nerve trunk anaesthesia. The characteristics of gingival microcirculation were observed using computerised videocapillaroscopic techniques. Results: axon‐reflected vasodilatation was observed close to the papilla corresponding to the upper central incisors. An important correlation was observed between capsaicin application and capillary tortuosity. No significant modifications in vascular diameter and tortuosity were observed after capsaicin application close to the interdental papilla corresponding to the lower left lateral incisor and canine. Conclusions: the study shows that NI can be induced in human gingiva, and such evidence could be extremely important in the pathogenesis and treatment of periodontal diseases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bradykinin (BK) is a vasoactive peptide reputed to play an important role in cardiovascular homeostasis. In this study, we describe the cardiovascular changes (mean blood pressure (BP) and heart rate (HR)) induced by the i.v. administration (left jugular vein) of two selective kinin B 2 receptor antagonist, namely icatibant (0.1-1 μmol/kg as a bolus) and MEN11270 (0.1-1 μmol/kg as a bolus or 1 μmol/kg infused in 15 or 60 min), in urethane-anaesthetized or conscious rats with an indwelling catheter implanted in the right carotid artery for BP measurements. In conscious rats, icatibant at 0.1 or 0.3 μmol/kg did not change BP but at 0.1 μmol/kg increased HR at 30 min from administration. MEN11270 at 0.1 or 0.3 μmol/kg induced a dose-related increase in BP and a concomitant bradycardia (significant at 0.3 μmol/kg) lasting for 5 or 30 min, respectively. Icatibant at 1 μmol/kg induced a slight (P < 0.05) increase in BP that resolved in 5 min and a biphasic tachycardia (peaks at 30 and 90 min from administration). MEN11270 at 1 μmol/kg induced a triphasic change in HR (tachycardia in the first 5 min, bradycardia at 30 min, and tachycardia at 90 and 120 min) and a biphasic change in BP (hypotension at 15 min and hypertension at 30 min). The i.v. infusion of MEN11270 (1 μmol/kg in 15 or 60 min) produced hypertension, whereas HR was increased only following the 15-min infusion. In urethane-anaesthetized rats, both icatibant and MEN11270 (0.1 μmol/kg as a bolus) increased BP and the onset for this effect was correlated with the time course of the antagonism of BK-induced hypotension, where the effect of MEN11270 was more rapid than that of icatibant. These results indicate that kinin B[sub2] receptor antagonists can... [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, we describe the in vitro and in vivo activities of a series of cyclic peptide analogues of the selective kinin B[sub2] receptor antagonist MEN11270 on Chinese hamster ovary cells expressing the human B[sub2] receptor (hB[sub2] R), the human isolated umbilical vein (hUV), the isolated guinea pig ileum (gpI), and bradykinin (BK) induced bronchoconstriction (BC) and hypotension in anaesthetized guinea pigs. Substitutions in the backbone of MEN11270 (H-DArg-Arg-Pro-Hyp-Gly-Thi-c(Dab-DTic-Oic-Arg)c(7γ-10α)) aimed to increase the potency in inhibiting bronchospasm versus hypotension following the topical (intratracheal (i.t.)) or systemic (intravenous (i.v.)) application of these antagonists. A series of analogues were left unprotected from N-terminal cleavage by aminopeptidases (MEN12739, MEN13052, MEN13346, and MEN13371): these compounds maintained sizeable affinities for the hB[sub2] R (pK[subi] = 9.4, 9.6, 9.7, and 8.6, respectively) and antagonist activities toward BK in the hUV (pA[sub2] = 7.9, 8.3, 8.2, and 7.5) and gpI assays (pK[subB] = 7.4, 7.8, 7.9, and 7.9), but the inhibition of BK-induced BC and hypotension in vivo was negligible following either i.v. or i.t. administration. Two analogues (MEN12388 and MEN13405) could be potential substrates of angiotensin-converting enzyme: these have good activity in the hB[sub2] R (pK[subi] = 9.5 and 8.9, respectively), hUV (pA[sub2] = 8.2 for MEN12388), and gpI assays (pK[subB] = 8.4 and 8.0) but an in vivo activity 10- to 30-fold lower than the parent compound MEN11270 (pK[subi] = 9.4, pA[sub2] =8.1,pK[subB] = 8.3) when given by either the i.v. or the i.t. route. Other analogues were functionalized with a quaternary ammonium Lys... [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An abstract of the article "Comparative analysis of Hsp10 and Hsp90 in large bowel healthy mucosa and adenocarcinomas," by F. Rappa and colleagues is presented.