Infrared Thermography as a Diagnostic Tool for the Assessment of Patients with Symptomatic Peripheral Arterial Disease Undergoing Infrafemoral Endovascular Revascularisations.

Aim: The aim of this study was to evaluate the utility and reliability of temperature foot changes measured by infrared thermography (IRT) for the evaluation of patients with atherosclerotic peripheral arterial disease (PAD) before and after endovascular revascularisation.

Methods: This is an observational prospective study carried out on symptomatic PAD patients. Evaluations consisted of a clinical examination, duplex scan with ankle-brachial index calculation (ABI) and IRT measurements with infrared camera FLIR-ONE connected to a smartphone with android technology.

Incidence, Diagnosis, Treatment, and Outcomes of True Superficial Artery Aneurysms.

Background: True superficial femoral artery aneurysms (SFAAs) do not occur frequently but carry a high risk of limb loss when they are complicated with thrombosis, distal embolization or rupture. Large aneurysms can also exert a mass effect, compressing adjacent veins and nerves. We performed an updated review of the literature with regard to their incidence, diagnosis, treatment, and outcomes over the years.

In Vitro Effects of Low Doses of β-Caryophyllene, Ascorbic Acid and d-Glucosamine on Human Chondrocyte Viability and Inflammation.

β-caryophyllene (BCP), a plant-derived sesquiterpene, has been reported to have anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the effects of BCP in combination with ascorbic acid (AA) and d-glucosamine (GlcN) against macrophage-mediated inflammation on in vitro primary human chondrocytes. Changes in cell viability, intracellular ROS generation, gene expression of pro-inflammatory mediators, metalloproteinases (MMPs), collagen type II and aggrecan were analyzed in primary human chondrocytes exposed to the conditioned medium (CM) of activated U937 monocytes and subsequently treated with BCP alone or in combination with AA and GlcN.

Hyaluronic Acid: Redefining Its Role.

The discovery of several unexpected complex biological roles of hyaluronic acid (HA) has promoted new research impetus for biologists and, the clinical interest in several fields of medicine, such as ophthalmology, articular pathologies, cutaneous repair, skin remodeling, vascular prosthesis, adipose tissue engineering, nerve reconstruction and cancer therapy. In addition, the great potential of HA in medicine has stimulated the interest of pharmaceutical companies which, by means of new technologies can produce HA and several new derivatives in order to increase both the residence time in a variety of human tissues and the anti-inflammatory properties. Minor chemical modifications of the molecule, such as the esterification with benzyl alcohol (Hyaff-11 biomaterials), have made possible the production of water-insoluble polymers that have been manufactured in various forms: membranes, gauzes, nonwoven meshes, gels, tubes.

Effects of intra-articular hyaluronic acid associated to Chitlac (arty-duo®) in a rat knee osteoarthritis model.

Among conventional osteoarthritis (OA) treatments, intra-articular (i.a) viscosupplementation with hyaluronic acid (HA) is used to restore joint viscoelasticity. However, the rapid clearance and elimination of HA may limit its application.

Collagenase From Vibrio alginolyticus Cultures: Experimental Study and Clinical Perspectives.

Purpose The purpose of this study is to examine the activity of collagenase from cultures of Vibrio alginolyticus as in vitro as in biological samples and to evaluate clinical perspectives of this product about the treatment of fibroproliferative diseases like Dupuytren's contracture. Methods The experimental part of the study has been divided in 2 stages. In the first stage, the collagenase has been produced in laboratory, assessing its purity, verifying the in vitro degradation of collagen by the enzyme and measuring the size of the fragments; in the second part, an experimental injection into samples of fibrous cord typical of Dupuytren's disease has been performed in vitro.

Preliminary report of in vitro reconstruction of a vascularized tendonlike structure: a novel application for adipose-derived stem cells.

Introduction: A greater supply of tendinous tissue can be obtained through tissue engineering technology with increasing application of adult stem cells. It is well known that adipose-derived stem cells (ADSCs), found in abundance in adipose tissue, have the same differentiating capacity as mesenchymal stem cells yet have the advantage of being easily isolated. In the present study, we combined the great facility of ADSCs to differentiate with the application of an external mechanical stimulus to successfully create an in vitro reconstructed tendonlike structure with a microcapillary network.

Hyaluronic acid induces activation of the κ-opioid receptor.

Introduction: Nociceptive pain is one of the most common types of pain that originates from an injury involving nociceptors. Approximately 60% of the knee joint innervations are classified as nociceptive. The specific biological mechanism underlying the regulation of nociceptors is relevant for the treatment of symptoms affecting the knee joint.

Biocompatibility evaluation of ionic- and photo-crosslinked methacrylated gellan gum hydrogels: in vitro and in vivo study.

In this study, the stability and biocompatibility of methacrylated gellan gum hydrogels, obtained either by ionic- (iGG-MA) or photo-crosslinking (phGG-MA), were evaluated in vitro and in vivo. Size exclusion chromatography analysis of the methacrylated gellan gum (GG-MA) powder revealed that molecular weight is lower as compared to the non-modified material, i.e.

In vitro response of osteoarthritic chondrocytes and fibroblast-like synoviocytes to a 500-730 kDa hyaluronan amide derivative.

The aim of this study was to compare the effects of native hyaluronan (HA) with that of its hexadecylamide derivative (HYADD) on proliferation of fibroblast-like synoviocytes (FLS) and chondrocytes. The production of inflammatory and anti-inflammatory cytokines was also analyzed in FLS cultures. The proliferation of osteoarthritis (OA) chondrocytes was enhanced when cells were treated with 0.

Hyaluronic acid three-dimensional scaffold for surgical revision of retracting scars: a human experimental study.

An observational study was carried out at the Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery Unit of the University of Pavia - Salvatore Maugeri Research and Care Institute, Pavia, Italy, to assess the clinical and histological long-term outcomes of autologous skin grafting of fresh surgical wounds following previous repair with a hyaluronic acid three-dimensional scaffold (Hyalomatrix®). Eleven fresh wounds from surgical release of retracted scars were enrolled in this study. A stable skin-like tissue cover was observed in all of the treated wounds in an average 1 month's time; at the end of this study, after an average of 12 months' time, all of the reconstructed areas were pliable and stable, although an average retraction rate of 51·62% was showed.

ALMS1-deficient fibroblasts over-express extra-cellular matrix components, display cell cycle delay and are resistant to apoptosis.

Alström Syndrome (ALMS) is a rare genetic disorder (483 living cases), characterized by many clinical manifestations, including blindness, obesity, type 2 diabetes and cardiomyopathy. ALMS is caused by mutations in the ALMS1 gene, encoding for a large protein with implicated roles in ciliary function, cellular quiescence and intracellular transport. Patients with ALMS have extensive fibrosis in nearly all tissues resulting in a progressive organ failure which is often the ultimate cause of death.

Temporary coverage of a forehead defect following tumor resection with a hyaluronic acid biological dressing: a case report.

 Coverage of large skin defects, especially following tumor resection and in patients who are not good candidates for procedures requiring general anesthesia, may require a staged procedure. The use of dermal substitutes to cover the defect until autologous grafting can be performed has been described. Hyaluronic acid biological dressings (HABD) also have been used for the temporary coverage of partial- to full-thickness posttraumatic or postsurgical wounds.

Hyaluronic acid biodegradable material for reconstruction of vascular wall: a preliminary study in rats.

The objective of this preliminary study was to develop a reabsorbable vascular patch that did not require in vitro cell or biochemical preconditioning for vascular wall repair. Patches were composed only of hyaluronic acid (HA). Twenty male Wistar rats weighing 250-350 g were used.

Transforming growth factor-β/Smad - signalling pathway and conjunctival remodelling in vernal keratoconjunctivitis.

Background: Vernal keratoconjunctivitis (VKC) is a chronic ocular allergic inflammation characterized by corneal complications and the formation of giant papillae. Sma- and Mad-related proteins (Smad) modulate extracellular matrix gene expression during wound healing, inflammation and tissue remodelling.

Objective: To investigate the relationship between allergic inflammation and TGF-β/Smad signalling pathway, expression in VKC patients and in primary cultured conjunctival fibroblasts exposed to mediators found previously over-expressed in VKC.

Neural potential of adipose stem cells.

In the last few years, adipose tissue, which has been largely ignored by anatomists and physicians for centuries, has found new brightness thanks to the stem cells contained within. These adipose derived stem cells (ADSC) have the same characteristics of the mesenchymal stem cells (MSC) residing in bone marrow. They have the same cell surface markers and are capable of differentiating into the same cell types, including osteoblasts, chondrocytes, myoblasts, adipocytes, and neuron-like cells.

Nanoscale particle therapies for wounds and ulcers.

'Small is beautiful' - this should be the slogan of nanoscientists. Indeed, working with particles less than 100 nm in size, nanotechnology is on the verge of providing a host of new materials and approaches, revolutionizing applied medicine. The obvious potential of nanotechnology has attracted considerable investment from governments and industry hoping to drive its economic development.

A combining method to enhance the in vitro differentiation of hepatic precursor cells.

The ideal bioartificial liver should be designed to reproduce as nearly as possible in vitro the habitat that hepatic cells find in vivo. In the present work, we investigated the in vitro perfusion condition with a view to improving the hepatic differentiation of pluripotent human liver stem cells (HLSCs) from adult liver. Tissue engineering strategies based on the cocultivation of HLSCs with hepatic stellate cells (ITO) and with several combinations of medium were applied to improve viability and differentiation.

Neural potential of a stem cell population in the adipose and cutaneous tissues.

Objective: A significant amount of recent interest has been focused on the possibility that adult human stem cells are a realistic therapeutic alternative to embryonic stem cells. Multipotent stem cells that have characteristics reminiscent of embryonic neural crest stem cells have been isolated from several postnatal tissues, including skin, gut, dental pulp and the heart, and are potentially useful for research and therapeutic purposes. However, their neurogenic potential, including their ability to produce electrophysiologically active neurons, is largely unexplored.

Weight gain related to treatment with atypical antipsychotics is due to activation of PKC-β.

Atypical antipsychotics (APDs) are currently used in clinical practice for a variety of mental disorders such as schizophrenia, bipolar disorder and severe behavioral disturbances. A well-known disadvantage of using these compounds is a propensity for weight gain, resulting frequently in obesity. The mechanisms underlying pharmacologically induced weight gain are still controversial.

Hyaluronan-based scaffold for in vivo regeneration of the rat vena cava: Preliminary results in an animal model.

The aim of this study was to develop a prosthetic graft that could perform as a small-diameter vascular conduit for vein regeneration. The difficulty of obtaining significant long-term patency and good wall mechanical strength in vivo has been a significant obstacle in achieving small-diameter vein prostheses. Fifteen Male Wistar rats weighing 250-350 g were used.

Hyaluronan benzyl ester as a scaffold for tissue engineering.

Tissue engineering is a multidisciplinary field focused on in vitro reconstruction of mammalian tissues. In order to allow a similar three-dimensional organization of in vitro cultured cells, biocompatible scaffolds are needed. This need has provided immense momentum for research on "smart scaffolds" for use in cell culture.

Isolation method for a stem cell population with neural potential from skin and adipose tissue.

OBJECTIVE: In recent years, research on stem cells has been focused on the development of personalized cell-based therapies. Owing to their homing properties, adult human stem cells are a promising source of autologous cells to be used as therapeutic vehicles. Multiple potential sources for clinically useful stem and progenitor cells have been identified, including autologous and allogenic embryonic, fetal and adult somatic cells from neural, adipose and mesenchymal tissue.

Characteristics of repair tissue in second-look and third-look biopsies from patients treated with engineered cartilage: relationship to symptomatology and time after implantation.

Introduction: The present study established characteristics of tissue regrowth in patients suffering knee lesions treated with grafts of autologous chondrocytes grown on three-dimensional hyaluronic acid biomaterials.

Methods: This multicentred study involved a second-look arthroscopy/biopsy, 5 to 33 months post implant (n = 63). Seven patients allowed a third-look biopsy, three of which were performed 18 months post implant.