Cryopreservation protocol for human biliary tree stem/progenitors, hepatic and pancreatic precursors.

Human biliary tree stem/progenitor cells (hBTSCs) are being used for cell therapies of patients with liver cirrhosis. A cryopreservation method was established to optimize sourcing of hBTSCs for these clinical programs and that comprises serum-free Kubota's Medium (KM) supplemented with 10% dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO), 15% human serum albumin (HSA) and 0.1% hyaluronans. Cryopreserved versus freshly isolated hBTSCs were similar in vitro with respect to self-replication, stemness traits, and multipotency. They were able to differentiate to functional hepatocytes,cholangiocytes or pancreatic islets, yielding similar levels of secretion of albumin or of glucose-inducible levels of insulin. Cryopreserved versus freshly isolated hBTSCs were equally able to engraft into immunocompromised mice yielding cells with human-specific gene expression and human albumin levels in murine serum that were higher for cryopreserved than for freshly isolated hBTSCs. The successful cryopreservation of hBTSCs facilitates establishment of hBTSCs cell banking offering logistical advantages for clinical programs for treatment of liver diseases.

Pfeiffer syndrome: literature review of prenatal sonographic findings and genetic diagnosis.

PURPOSE: Pfeiffer syndrome (PS) is an autosomal dominant disorder caused by mutations in FGFR1 and FGFR2 genes. Given its wide range of clinical expression and severity, early prenatal diagnosis is difficult and genetic counseling is desirable. We report a literature review of all prenatal diagnosis of PS and a case report, with a focused description of ultrasound findings. METHODS: After literature search, we selected 14 studies of antenatal diagnosis of PS. Prenatal ultrasound findings, outcome, maternal and obstetrical data and genetic tests were recorded and analyzed. RESULTS: A total of 18 cases including the one we present were selected. Among the most frequent sonographic features, skull shape anomalies were evident in 72.2% of cases, nasal abnormalities in 50%, proptosis and hypertelorism in 44.4% and frontal bossing in 22.2%. Thumbs' anomalies were present in 33.3% of cases and toes' abnormalities in 38.9%. In all cases, postnatal or postmortem examination confirmed the prenatal diagnosis of PS. CONCLUSIONS: We provide a literature review of prenatal diagnosis of PS to identify ultrasound features that may be supportive in the diagnosis of this rare disease, helping in making a differential diagnosis with the other possible craniosynostosis syndromes and in suggesting gene molecular testing.

Dandy-Walker Malformation: is the 'tail sign' the key sign?

OBJECTIVE: The study aims to demonstrate the value of the 'tail sign' in the assessment of Dandy-Walker malformation. METHODS: A total of 31 fetal magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), performed before 24 weeks of gestation after second-line ultrasound examination between May 2013 and September 2014, were examined retrospectively. All MRI examinations were performed using a 1.5 Tesla magnet without maternal sedation. RESULTS: Magnetic resonance imaging diagnosed 15/31 cases of Dandy-Walker malformation, 6/31 of vermian partial caudal agenesis, 2/31 of vermian hypoplasia, 4/31 of vermian malrotation, 2/31 of Walker-Warburg syndrome, 1/31 of Blake pouch cyst and 1/31 of rhombencephalosynapsis. All data were compared with fetopsy results, fetal MRI after the 30th week or postnatal MRI; the follow-up depended on the maternal decision to terminate or continue pregnancy. In our review study, we found the presence of the 'tail sign'; this sign was visible only in Dandy-Walker malformation and Walker-Warburg syndrome. CONCLUSION: The 'tail sign' could be helpful in the difficult differential diagnosis between Dandy-Walker, vermian malrotation, vermian hypoplasia and vermian partial agenesis.

Role of magnetic resonance imaging in the prenatal diagnosis of gastrointestinal fetal anomalies.

PURPOSE: This study was done to evaluate the role of fetal magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in the study of gastrointestinal malformations in comparison to prenatal ultrasound (US). MATERIALS AND METHODS: A prospective (2010-2012) study of 38 fetal MRI scans was performed on 38 fetuses between 24 and 38 weeks of gestation. All the fetuses had a US diagnosis of gastrointestinal anomalies. T2-weighted HASTE, T1-weighted fast gradient echo, TrueFISP and diffusion-weighted images of the fetal abdomen were obtained on a 1.5-Tesla magnet. All fetal MRI diagnoses were compared with postnatal US findings, autopsy or surgical reports. RESULTS: Fetal MRI was able to confirm the sonographic findings in nine of 38 fetuses (23.7%), to provide additional information in 23 of 38 fetuses (60.6%), to exclude the US diagnosis in five cases (5.2%) and to change it in two cases (5.2%). It was not able to characterize a case of gastric duplication and a case of abdominal cystic lymphangioma (5.2%). CONCLUSIONS: Fetal MRI can be used as a complementary imaging modality to US in prenatal evaluation of gastrointestinal anomalies and can be considered a valuable tool not only for confirming or excluding but also for providing additional information to fetal ultrasonographic findings.

Transplantation of human fetal biliary tree stem/progenitor cells into two patients with advanced liver cirrhosis.

BACKGROUND: Efforts to identify cell sources and approaches for cell therapy of liver diseases are ongoing, taking into consideration the limits recognized for adult liver tissue and for other forms of stem cells. In the present study, we described the first procedure of via hepatic artery transplantation of human fetal biliary tree stem cells in patients with advanced cirrhosis. METHODS: The cells were immune-sorted from human fetal biliary tree by protocols in accordance with current good manufacturing practice (cGMP) and extensively characterized. Two patients with advanced liver cirrhosis (Child-Pugh C) have been submitted to the procedure and observed through a 12 months follow-up. RESULTS: The resulting procedure was found absolutely safe. Immuno-suppressants were not required, and the patients did not display any adverse effects correlated with cell transplantation or suggestive of immunological complications. From a clinical point of view, both patients showed biochemical and clinical improvement during the 6 month follow-up and the second patient maintained a stable improvement for 12 months. CONCLUSION: This report represents proof of the concept that the human fetal biliary tree stem cells are a suitable and large source for cell therapy of liver cirrhosis. The isolation procedure can be carried out under cGMP conditions and, finally, the infusion procedure is easy and safe for the patients. This represents the basis for forthcoming controlled clinical trials.

Cholangiocarcinoma: increasing burden of classifications.

Cholangiocarcinoma (CCA) is a very heterogeneous cancer from any point of view, including epidemiology, risk factors, morphology, pathology, molecular pathology, modalities of growth and clinical features. Given this heterogeneity, a uniform classification respecting the epidemiologic, pathologic and clinical needs is currently lacking. In this manuscript we discussed the different proposed classifications of CCA in relation with recent advances in pathophysiology and biology of this cancer.