Mesenchymal Stromal Cells Laden in Hydrogels for Osteoarthritis Cartilage Regeneration: A Systematic Review from In Vitro Studies to Clinical Applications.

This systematic review is focused on the main characteristics of the hydrogels used for embedding the mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) in in vitro/ex vivo studies, in vivo OA models and clinical trials for favoring cartilage regeneration in osteoarthritis (OA). PubMED and Embase databases were used to select the papers that were submitted to a public reference manager Rayyan Systematic Review Screening Software. A total of 42 studies were considered eligible: 25 articles concerned in vitro studies, 2 in vitro and ex vivo ones, 5 in vitro and in vivo ones, 8 in vivo ones and 2 clinical trials.

Frontal Fibrosing Alopecia Associated with Lichen Planus Pigmentosus: Not Only in Dark Phototypes.

The association between frontal fibrosing alopecia and lichen planus pigmetosus was first described in African women. Later, most reports about this association involved dark-skinned patients. Here, we describe 5 cases of frontal fibrosing alopecia associated with lichen planus pigmentosus in light-skinned women from Argentina.

A new rational hypothesis for the pharmacophore of the active metabolite of leflunomide, a potent immunosuppressive drug.

Leflunomide is one of the most promising disease-modifying antirheumatic drug now in clinical trials for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis. Metabolic studies have indicated that leflunomide is rapidly processed in vivo to an active metabolite, A771726 (2). To identify the chemical characteristics necessary for the immunosuppressive activity of 2, configurational and conformational studies were carried out on the latter and its inactive analogues (ethyl 3-hydroxy-2-((4-(trifluoromethyl)phenyl)carbamoyl)but-2-enoate, 3a, and 3-hydroxy-2-nitro-N-(4-(trifluoromethyl)phenyl)but-2-enamide, 3b).

Use of type I and type IV hypersensitivity responses to define the immunopharmacological profile of drugs.

Administration of antigen suspended in incomplete Freund's adjuvant supplemented with either heat-killed Mycobacterium tuberculosis (complete Freund's adjuvant, CFA) or Bordetella pertussis toxin sensitizes animals so that subsequent antigen challenge leads to delayed-type (DTH) or immediate type hypersensitivity (ITH) responses, named type IV and type I, respectively. Appropriate timing of administration of drugs with respect to immunization or antigen challenge allowed to detect predominantly immunosuppressive, antiinflammatory or antianaphylactic activities. Among the reference drugs tested, only cyclosporin A (CsA) and dexamethasone (Dex) markedly inhibited DTH reaction, due to their immunosuppressive and antiinflammatory activities, respectively, whereas leflunomide and indomethacin resulted less potent.

Androstane derivative devoid of anabolic-virilizing effects and endowed with an antiglucocorticoid activity.

2-Carbodecyloxy-17 alpha-methylandrosta-1,4-dien-11 beta,17 beta-dihydroxy-3-one (decylroxibolone, BR 917) is a new androstane derivative, esterified with decyl alcohol, carrying a methyl group in the 17 position, a hydroxyl group in the 11 beta position and a carboxyl group in position 2. Unlike norandrostenolone decanoate, decylroxibolone did not cause any weight increase of the levator ani muscle and of the seminal vesicles in castrated rats, nevertheless exerting a marked antiglucocorticoid activity. This new steroid agent can consequently act positively on the nitrogen metabolism, being concurrently devoid of undesired virilizing anabolic effect.

Novel pyrimidine and 1,3,5-triazine hypolipidemic agents.

New compounds were synthesized by changing the substituents of a trisubstituted pyrimidine, i.e., [[4-chloro-6-[(2,3-dimethylphenyl)amino]-2-pyrimidinyl]thio] acetic acid, a potent hypolipidemic agent, impaired, however, by a marked hepatomegaly-inducing effect.

Clofibrate, pirinixil (BR 931) and WY-14,643 do not affect body cholesterol in Sprague-Dawley rats.

Cholesterol levels in plasma and different tissues were determined in Sprague-Dawley male rats, on standard and cholesterol-cholic acid enriched diets, after short term treatment with the absorbable hypolipidemic agents, clofibrate, WY-14,643 and Pirinixil (BR 931). The objective of the study was to evaluate the mode of action of these drugs in decreasing plasma cholesterol, be it by increased tissue mobilization, or by redistribution from plasma to tissues. After one or two weeks on a standard diet, none of the three agents significantly affected total body cholesterol stores.

Pharmacological profile of BR-931, a new hypolipidemic agent that increases high-density lipoproteins.

BR-931 [4-chloro-6-(2,3-xylidino)-2-pyrimidinylthio-(N-beta-hydroxyethyl)-acetamide], a new hypolipidemic agent of low toxicity, was evaluated in several tests of lipolysis and hyperlipidemia in rats, and in the cholesterol-induced atherosclerosis in rabbits. Significant hypolipidemic activity was observed in rats with doses of the agent at 12.5--50 mg/kg.

Urinary metabolites of 2-formyl-17 alpha-methylandrosta-1,4-diene-11alpha, 17beta-dihydroxy-3-one in the rat.

The principal urinary metabolites of 2-formyl-17alpha-methylandrosta-1,4-diene-11alpha,17beta-dihydroxy-3-one (for myldienolone) are 2-carboxy- and 2-hydroxymethyl-17 alpha-methylandrosta-11alpha,17beta-dihydroxy-3-one, whose structures were confirmed by comparing them with synthesized samples.

[Antiedema activity of a non-steroid physiological anti-inflammatory agent (author's transl)].

The antiedema activity of experimental Lysoartrosi, a biological preparation, was demonstrated against edemas induced by carrageenin, formalin, dextran, serotonin, egg albumin and kaolin. Lysoartrosi, containing a mixture of polypeptides, is thus, the only preparation which is active against such a wide spectrum of inflammatory agents.

Histopathological and pharmacological studies on the action of a new anti-inflammatory agent (BR 700).

The effect of a new anti-inflammatory agent, 2-phenyl-4-p-chlorophenyl-thiazol-5-ylacetic acid (BR 700) on the development of cover slip granuloma was studied. The drug decreased macrophage emigration and delayed some characteristic processes of the mononuclear cells.