Osteonecrosis as a complication in pediatric patients with acute lymphoblastic leukemia.

Osteonecrosis is a significant adverse effect of treatment administered to children suffering from acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) that may have a negative effect on the quality of life. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the rate of secondary vascular osteonecrosis (ON) in a population of pediatric patients with ALL treated with corticosteroids and cytostatic agents. A retrospective analysis of prospectively collected data of the medical records of 328 patients with ALL identified 4 cases with ON, corresponding to 1.

Rates and reasons for lack of persistence with anti-osteoporotic drugs: analysis of the Campania region database.

Subjects with chronic diseases are more likely to be nonpersistent to pharmacological treatment. Lack of persistence is common among subjects using oral anti-osteoporotic drugs, and leads to increased risk of fragility fracture. The aim of our retrospective study is to analyze the rates and reasons for discontinuation of anti-osteoporotic drugs in the Campania Region.

The contribution of cortical and trabecular tissues to bone strength: insights from denosumab studies.

All materials undergo an aging process which is characterized essentially by changes of the rigidity (stiffness), of the ability to absorb the stresses (toughness) and then ultimately in the mechanical resistance (strength). Both cortical and trabecular bone undergo a continuous process of structural remodeling with the main aim to preserve their biomechanical properties. An imbalance in this process, which promotes bone resorption, results in a quantitative loss of bone tissue and in a qualitative alteration of the skeletal microarchitecture, as you can see in osteoporosis, rheumatoid arthritis or bone metastases.

Differentiation of human umbilical cord-derived mesenchymal stem cells, WJ-MSCs, into chondrogenic cells in the presence of pulsed electromagnetic fields.

During cartilage regeneration, proliferation and differentiation of new chondrocytes are required and towards this goal, in humans electromagnetic stimulation has been used in order to increase the spontaneous regenerative capacity of bone and cartilage tissue. In vivo tissue engineering has pointed out that the absence of an abundant source of cells accelerating the healing process is a limiting factor in the ability to repair articular cartilage. Considering that the umbilical cord is a viable alternative source of mesenchymal stem cells (MSC), our study evaluated the possibility of a combined use of Wharton's jelly - mesenchymal stem cells (WJ-MSCs) and pulsed electromagnetic field (PMEF).

Musculoskeletal problems in pediatric acute leukemia.

Acute leukemia (AL) in children can mimic several orthopedic pathologies at presentation, with a variable delay in the correct diagnosis. This is a major problem, which may result in fractures, loss of mobility, and deformity, with resultant adverse effects on quality of life. Here, we studied the clinical and radiological musculoskeletal manifestations in children with AL.

Differentiation of human osteoprogenitor cells increases after treatment with pulsed electromagnetic fields.

Human mesenchymal stem cells (hMSC) have become an important resource in developing strategies for regenerative medicine and tissue engineering, owing to their ability to renew and their potential for differentiation into cells of various types of tissues. Pulsed electromagnetic field (PEMF) stimulation has been used for several years in the treatment of fracture healing, with clinical beneficial effects, and several studies have demonstrated its capacity to increase bone tissue regeneration. In the present study, stromal cells of human bone marrow (BMSC), obtained from healthy donors, were appropriately expanded and underwent PEMF stimulation eight hours a day for fourteen days.

Rehabilitative treatment in flexible flatfoot: a perspective cohort study.

Paediatric valgus flexible flatfoot is a common childhood paramorphism. Its treatment options consist of rehabilitation, corrective footwear and, if necessary, surgical intervention. The aim of our study was to compare a group of children who followed a rehabilitative programme versus a historical group of children who had been treated with insoles and orthopaedic footwear.

A family with X-linked recessive fusion of metacarpals IV and V.

We describe a family with a distinctive malformation of the hand consisting of the fusion of the 4th and the 5th metacarpal bones. Usually this anomaly is clinically recognizable by an ulnar deviation of the 5th finger; moreover, the 5th metacarpal is usually hypoplastic and the 5th ray is consequently short. There is, however, great variability in expression, so the degree of fusion may range from minimal to complete and also the external aspect of the hand may vary.