Synergistic Effect of Human Chorionic Gonadotropin and Granulocyte Colony Stimulating Factor in the Mobilization of HSPCs Improves Overall Survival After PBSCT in a Preclinical Murine Model. Are We Far Enough for Therapy?

Strategies to improve hematopoietic stem and progenitor cell (HSPC) mobilization from the bone marrow can have a pivotal role in addressing iatrogenic bone-marrow insufficiency from chemo(radio)therapy and overcoming peripheral blood stem cell transplantation (PBSCT) limitations such as insufficient mobilization. Granulocyte-colony stimulating factor (G-CSF) represents the standard mobilization strategy for HSPC and has done so for more than three decades since its FDA approval. Its association with non-G-CSF agents is often employed for difficult HSPC mobilization.

Robot-Guided Ultrasonography in Surgical Interventions.

Introduction: The introduction of robotic-guided procedures in surgical techniques has brought an increase in the accuracy and control of resections. Surgery has evolved as a technique since the development of laparoscopy, which has added to the visualisation of the peritoneal cavity from a different perspective. Multi-armed robot associated with real-time intraoperative imaging devices brings important manoeuvrability and dexterity improvements in certain surgical fields.

Stem Cells in the Tumor Immune Microenvironment -Part of the Cure or Part of the Disease? Ontogeny and Dichotomy of Stem and Immune Cells has Led to better Understanding.

Stem cells are at the basis of tissue homeostasis, hematopoiesis and various regenerative processes. Epigenetic changes in their somatically imprinted genes, prolonged exposure to mutagens/carcinogens or alteration of their niche can lead to the development of an enabling environment for tumor growth and progression. The involvement of stem cells in both health and disease becomes even more compelling with ontogeny as embryonic and extraembryonic stem cells which persist into adulthood in well established and specific niche may have distinct implications in tumorigenesis.

Assessment of the frequency of coughing and sneezing triggered by nasopharyngeal swabbing in the pandemic setting.

A variety of medical procedures are classified as aerosol generating. However there is no consensus on whether some procedures such as nasopharyngeal swabbing can generate aerosols. During specimen collection, the contact of the nasopharyngeal swab with the respiratory mucosa often triggers defense reflexes such as sneezing and coughing, which generate airborne particles.

A perspective on the applications of furin inhibitors for the treatment of SARS-CoV-2.

Currently, the world is facing a pandemic of the new coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 that causes COVID-19. Identifying key targets in the viral infection lifecycle is urgently needed for designing therapeutic strategies to combat the virus. Furin is a subtilisin-like proprotein convertase with diverse cellular functions.

Angiogenesis in Regenerative Dentistry: Are We Far Enough for Therapy?

Angiogenesis is a broad spread term of high interest in regenerative medicine and tissue engineering including the dental field. In the last two decades, researchers worldwide struggled to find the best ways to accelerate healing, stimulate soft, and hard tissue remodeling. Stem cells, growth factors, pathways, signals, receptors, genetics are just a few words that describe this area in medicine.

Multiple potential targets of opioids in the treatment of acute respiratory distress syndrome from COVID-19.

COVID-19 can present with a variety of clinical features, ranging from asymptomatic or mild respiratory symptoms to fulminant acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) depending on the host's immune responses and the extent of the associated pathologies. This implies that several measures need to be taken to limit severely impairing symptoms caused by viral-induced pathology in vital organs. Opioids are most exploited for their analgesic effects but their usage in the palliation of dyspnoea, immunomodulation and lysosomotropism may represent potential usages of opioids in COVID-19.

COVID-19 and antimalarials. Have we been doing it wrong all along?

In the context of the current SARS-CoV-2 pandemic, associations of drugs which interfere with specific steps of the viral infectious cycle are currently being exploited as therapeutic strategies since a specific treatment by vaccination is still unavailable. A widespread association of repurposed agents is the combination of the antimalarial drug Hydroxychloroquine and the macrolide antibiotic Azithromycin in the setting of clinical trials. But a closer analysis of their mechanism of action suggests that their concomitant administration may be impractical, and this is supported by experimental data with other agents of the same classes.

Various interferon (IFN)-inducible transmembrane (IFITM) proteins for COVID-19, is there a role for the combination of mycophenolic acid and interferon?

Various interferon (IFN)-inducible transmembrane (IFITM) proteins are known to be expressed in human tissues though only IFITM 1-3 are inducible by IFN. Numerous studies have shown that activation of IFITM3 could suppress infection by influenza and coronaviruses such as the Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus (MERS-CoV). In view of the potential application of IFITM proteins' induction to target SARS-CoV-2 infection that causes COVID-19, this article layout insights into the known antiviral mechanisms and therapeutic agents related to IFITM.

Possible Targets and Therapies of SARS-CoV-2 Infection.

The global spread of the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) that causes COVID-19 has become a source of grave medical and socioeconomic concern to human society. Since its first appearance in the Wuhan region of China in December 2019, the most effective measures of managing the spread of SARS-CoV-2 infection have been social distancing and lockdown of human activity; the level of which has not been seen in our generations. Effective control of the viral infection and COVID-19 will ultimately depend on the development of either a vaccine or therapeutic agents.

Endoplasmic reticulum as a potential therapeutic target for covid-19 infection management?

In December 2019, many pneumonia cases with unidentified sources appeared in Wuhan, Hubei, China, with clinical symptoms like viral pneumonia. Deep sequencing analysis of samples from lower respiratory tract revealed a novel coronavirus, called 2019 novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV). Currently there is a rapid global spread.

Isolation and Characterization of a Fetal-Maternal Microchimeric Stem Cell Population in Maternal Hair Follicles Long after Parturition.

Fetal-maternal microchimerism describes the acquisition of fetal stem cells (FSC) by the mother during pregnancy and their long-term persistence after parturition. FSC may engraft in a variety of maternal tissues especially if there is organ/tissue injury, but their role and mechanism of persistence still remains elusive. Clinical applications due to their pluripotency, immunomodulatory effects and accessibility make them good candidates for ex-vivo manipulation and autologous therapies.

Incognito: Are Microchimeric Fetal Stem Cells that Cross Placental Barrier Real Emissaries of Peace?

Chimerism occurs naturaly throughout gestation and can also occur as a consequence of transfusion and transplantation therapy. It consists of the acquisition and long-term persistence of a genetically distinct population of allogenic cells inside another organism. Previous reports have suggested that feto-maternal microchimerism could exert a beneficial effect on the treatment of hematological and solid tumors in patients treated by PBSCT.