Neuro-glial differentiation of human bone marrow stem cells in vitro.

Bone marrow (BM) is a rich source of stem cells and may represent a valid alternative to neural or embryonic cells in replacing autologous damaged tissues for neurodegenerative diseases. The purpose of the present study is to identify human adult BM progenitor cells capable of neuro-glial differentiation and to develop effective protocols of trans-differentiation to surmount the hematopoietic commitment in vitro. Heterogeneous cell populations such as whole BM, low-density mononuclear and mesenchymal stem (MSCs), and several immunomagnetically separated cell populations were investigated. Among them, MSCs and CD90+ cells were demonstrated to express neuro-glial transcripts before any treatment. Several culture conditions with the addition of stem cell or astroblast conditioned media, different concentrations of serum, growth factors, and supplements, used alone or in combinations, were demonstrated to alter the cellular morphology in some cell subpopulations. In particular, MSCs and CD90+ cells acquired astrocytic and neuron-like morphologies in specific culture conditions. They expressed several neuro-glial specific markers by RT-PCR and glial fibrillary acid protein by immunocytochemistry after co-culture with astroblasts, both in the absence or presence of cell contact. In addition, floating neurosphere-like clones have been observed when CD90+ cells were grown in neural specific media. In conclusion, among the large variety of human adult BM cell populations analyzed, we demonstrated the in vitro neuro-glial potential of both the MSC and CD90+ subset of cells. Moreover, unidentified soluble factors provided by the conditioned media and cellular contacts in co-culture systems were effective in inducing the neuro-glial phenotype, further supporting the adult BM neural differentiative capability.

A subpopulation of murine bone marrow cells fully differentiates along the myogenic pathway and participates in muscle repair in the mdx dystrophic mouse.

Bone marrow (BM) transplantation in mice suggests the existence of pluripotent cells able to differentiate into skeletal muscle tissue, although sustained myofiber reconstitution has not yet been achieved. We investigated the myogenic potential of mouse BM cells and evaluated whether a BM fraction enriched for cells expressing skeletal muscle markers would ameliorate muscle repair, when compared to whole BM, into the dystrophic mdx mouse. We demonstrate that cells expressing striated-muscle-specific proteins are already present in the BM independently from experimentally forced myogenic conversion. We observed the presence of both markers of early myogenic program such as Pax3, Myf5, MyoD, desmin, and late myogenesis such as myosin heavy chain and alpha-sarcomeric actin. These myogenic cells are more represented in the early nonadherent BM fraction, which generates clones able to fully differentiate into myotubes. Transplantation in mdx mice by intravenous injection of whole BM and a tenfold BM myogenic enriched fraction resulted in BM reconstitution and limited dystrophin restoration. Taken together, these data show that a fraction of BM cells have a definite potential for differentiation along the skeletal muscle pathway and can be recruited by muscle repair mechanisms. They also indicate that factors limiting the degree of muscle recruitment and the host stem cell competition should be assessed in order to evaluate the usefulness of BM-derived myogenic cells into the context of cell-mediated gene therapy of inherited muscle diseases.

[Dupuytren's disease and diabetes mellitus]. / Malattia di Dupuytren e diabete mellito.

The AA. study the relationship between diabetes mellitus and Dupuytren's disease. The examination of 300 patients, after a palmar aponeurectomy intervention, shows a percentage of 14.3%, equivalent to 43 patients.

[Relation between L5 sacralization and hernia of the lumbar disk]. / Studio del rapporto fra sacralizzazione di L5 ed ernia del disco lombare.

The AA. present a study on the relationship between the most common congenital malformation of the lumbosacral passage: the sacralization of L5 and lumbar disc hernia. The examination of 200 cases of lumbar disc hernia shows a sacralization incidence of 11.5%.

[Influence of osteoporosis on the morphology of proximal fractures of the femur]. / Influenza dell'osteoporosi sulla morfologia delle fratture prossimali del femore.

The authors consider 100 cases of fractures of femur proximal third with the purpose to appraise the real relations existing between degree of osteoporosis and morphology of the fractures. The data obtained confirm the strict dependence of these two phenomena on each other.

[Osseous hydatidosis: presentation of a rare localization and review of the bibliography]. / Idatidosi ossea: presentazione di una rara localizzazione e revisione della bibliografia.

The AA. present a rare case of osseus hydatidosis relapsed 27 years after the surgical treatment, located in the tibia and fibula, where the near soft tissue as well as the S.P.E. were involved. A critical revision of the bibliography is presented.

[Parallelism of L5-S1 in the radiological diagnosis of lumbar disk hernia]. / Il parallelismo di L5-S1 nella diagnosi radiologica di ernia discale lombare.

The authors show a study about the measuring of L5-S1 angle in 100 patients with diagnosis of L5-S1 discal prolapse, confirmed by the interoperative report. The value of the angle, in 72% of cases, resulted equal to, or lower than 10, with an aggregate average of 9.45.

[A case of osteomyelitis caused by salmonella in a subject with thalassemia-drepanocytosis]. / Un caso di osteomielite da salmonella in soggetto affetto da talassodrepanocitosi.

The authors show a case of osteomyelitis due to salmonella, they had the opportunity to observe in a patient suffering from thalassemia and sickle-cells disease in heterozygote from. They describe all the clinical and instrumental ascertainments performed and the surgical treatment effected at level of the osteomyelitic focus with subsequent recovery.

[Evaluation of the aftermath of trimalleolar fractures of the tibio-tarsal joint]. / Valutazione dei postumi delle fratture trimalleolari della tibio-tarsica.

The authors have examined the follow-up of 57 cases of trimalleolar fractures treated by internal fixation. Statistics show a good end result. The Authors, moreover, report the frequent presence of synostosis tibio-fibulare distale. This condition, however, has no influence on ankle motion.

[Surgical treatment of humeral epicondylitis]. / Il trattamento chirurgico dell'epicondilite omerale.

The authors show the remote reviewing of 41 patients suffering from tenuis elbow, surgically treated from 1975 up to 1983. The results at the checking appear excellent in 67,4%, good in 20,9%, sufficient in 9,4% and, at last, poor in 2,3%.

[Osteochondritis dissecans: a rare localization]. / Osteocondrite dissecante: una rara localizzazione.

The authors show a non-frequent location of osteochondritis, occasionally diagnosed owing to a trauma. In consideration of the practically inexistent painful symptomatology, no specific therapy was performed. The clinical and radiographic checking was effected after eight months.

[Frieberg-Kohler disease. Long-term review of the surgical treatment in 20 cases]. / La malattia di Frieberg-Kohler. Revisione a distanza del trattamento chirurgico in 20 casi.

The authors show the reviewing of twenty patients suffering from Frieberg-Kohler's disease, surgically treated from 1975 up to 1980. The surgical intervention had been suggested by the important painful symptomatology, resisting to the conservative therapy. At checking, the patients were all satisfied with the results of operation, and could start again with their usual job.