We aimed to demonstrate that DF stem cells from impacted molars and canines can be used to improve bone regeneration on titanium implants surfaces. This study highlights the presence of stem cells in DF, their potential to adhere and differentiate into osteoblasts on different types of titanium surfaces. Isolated cells from the harvested DF tissue from impacted canine/molars, expressed stem cells markers. Differentiation into bone cells was induced in presence or absence of BMP-2 and TGFβ1. The presence of growth factors until 28 days in medium maintained the cells in an earlier stage of differentiation with a lower level of specific bone proteins and a higher expression of alkaline phosphatase (ALP). Influence of titanium implants with different bioactive coatings, hydroxyapatite (TiHA) and with silicatitanate (TiSiO2), and porous Ti6Al7Nb implants as control (TiCtrl), was studied in terms of cell adhesion and viability. Ti HA implants proved to be more favorable for adhesion and proliferation of DF stem cells in first days of cultivation. The influence of titanium coatings and osteogenic differentiation mediums with or without growth factors were evaluated. Additional BMP-2 in the medium did not allow DF stem cells to develop a more mature phenotype, leaving them in a pre-osteogenic stage. The best sustained mineralization process evaluated by immuno-cytochemical staining, scanning electron microscopy and Ca2+ quantification was observed for TiHA implants with a higher expression of ALP, collagen and Ca2+ deposition. Long term culturing (70 days) on titanium surfaces of DF stem cells in standard medium without soluble osteogenic inducers, indicated that HA coating is more favorable, with the acquisition of a more mature osteoblastic phenotype as shown by immunocytochemical staining. These findings demonstrated that even in absence of exogenous osteogenic factors, TiHA implants and in a lesser extent TiCtrl and TiSiO2 implants can induce and sustain osteogenic differentiation of DF stem cells, by their chemical and topographical properties. Our research demonstrated that DF stem cells have a spontaneous tendency for osteogenic differentiation and can be used for improving bone regeneration on titanium implants surfaces.

Background. The antimicrobial activity of the Equisetum arvense L. extract and the mechanisms involved in the in vitro effects on endothelial vascular cells exposed to hyperosmotic stress were evaluated. Methods. Antimicrobial activity was evaluated by disk diffusion method and minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) determination, and oxidative stress, inflammation, and apoptosis, in pretreatment with Equisetum arvense L., caffeic acid, and cathechin, were quantified. Results. The results have shown that Equisetum arvense L. exhibited antibacterial effects only on pathogenic gram‐positive cocci. The modulatory activity of Equisetum arvense L. on endothelial cells exposed to hypertonic medium was different and depended on the concentration used. Low concentrations of tested compounds exerted antioxidant effect and diminished the activity of caspase‐8 and also increased IκB expression while in high doses, Equisetum arvense L. was prooxidant, induced apoptosis, and decreased IL‐6 secretion. Conclusions. These experimental findings suggest that Equisetum arvense L. has antibacterial effects on gram‐positive cocci and, administered in low dose, may be a new therapeutic approach for diseases associated with hypertonic conditions or oxidative stress and apoptosis.

Endometriosis is a common chronic inflammatory condition in which endometrial tissue appears outside the uterine cavity. Because ectopic endometriosis cells express both estrogen and progesterone (P4) receptors, they grow and undergo cyclic proliferation and breakdown similar to the endometrium. This debilitating gynecological disease affects up to 15% of reproductive aged women. Despite many years of research, the etiopathogenesis of endometrial lesions remains unclear. Retrograde transport of the viable menstrual endometrial cells with retained ability for attachment within the pelvic cavity, proliferation, differentiation and subsequent invasion into the surrounding tissue constitutes the rationale for widely accepted implantation theory. Accordingly, the most abundant cells in the endometrium are endometrial stromal cells (EnSCs). These cells constitute a particular population with clonogenic activity that resembles properties of mesenchymal stem/stromal cells (MSCs). Thus, a significant role of stem cell-based dysfunction in formation of the initial endometrial lesions is suspected. There is increasing evidence that the role of epigenetic mechanisms and processes in endometriosis have been underestimated. The importance of excess estrogen exposure and P4 resistance in epigenetic homeostasis failure in the endometrial/endometriotic tissue are crucial. Epigenetic alterations regarding transcription factors of estrogen and P4 signaling pathways in MSCs are robust in endometriotic tissue. Thus, perspectives for the future may include MSCs and EnSCs as the targets of epigenetic therapies in the prevention and treatment of endometriosis. Here, we reviewed the current known changes in the epigenetic background of EnSCs and MSCs due to estrogen/P4 imbalances in the context of etiopathogenesis of endometriosis.

The development of novel biomaterials able to control cell activities and direct their fate is warranted for engineering functional bone tissues. Adding bioactive materials can improve new bone formation and better osseointegration. Three types of titanium (Ti) implants were tested for in vitro biocompatibility in this comparative study: Ti6Al7Nb implants with 25% total porosity used as controls, implants infiltrated using a sol–gel method with hydroxyapatite (Ti HA) and silicatitanate (Ti SiO2). The behavior of human osteoblasts was observed in terms of adhesion, cell growth and differentiation.

Background and objective: The aim of the present study was to establish a new differentiation protocol using cannabidiol (CBD) and vitamin D3 (Vit. D3) for a better and faster osteogenic differentiation of dental tissue derived mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs). Materials and methods: MSCs were harvested from dental follicle (DFSCs), dental pulp (DPSCs), and apical papilla (APSCs) of an impacted third molar of a 17-year old patient. The stem cells were isolated and characterized using flow cytometry; reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR); and osteogenic, chondrogenic, and adipogenic differentiation. The effects of CBD and Vit. D3 on osteogenic differentiation of dental-derived stem cell were evaluated in terms of viability/metabolic activity by alamar test, expression of collagen1A, osteopontin (OP), osteocalcin (OC), and osteonectin genes and by quantification of calcium deposits by alizarin red assay. Results: Stem cell characterization revealed more typical stemness characteristics for DFSCs and DPSCs and atypical morphology and markers expression for APSCs, a phenotype that was confirmed by differences in multipotential ability. The RT-PCR quantification of bone matrix proteins expression revealed a different behavior for each cell type, APSCs having the best response for CBD. DPSCs showed the best osteogenic potential when treated with Vit. D3. Cultivation of DFSC in standard stem cell conditions induced the highest expression of osteogenic genes, suggesting the spontaneous differentiation capacity of these cells. Regarding mineralization, alizarin red assay indicated that DFSCs and APSCs were the most responsive to low doses of CBD and Vit. D3. DPSCs had the lowest mineralization levels, with a slightly better response to Vit. D3. Conclusions: This study provides evidence that DFSCs, DPSCs, and APSCs respond differently to osteoinduction stimuli and that CBD and Vit. D3 can enhance osteogenic differentiation of these types of cells under certain conditions and doses.

We studied whether the serum levels of glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) and of antibodies against the N-methyl-d-aspartate receptor subunit NR2 (NR2 RNMDA ) can discriminate between intracerebral haemorrhage (ICH) and ischaemic stroke (IS) in stroke patients. We prospectively recruited patients with suspected stroke (72 confirmed) and 52 healthy controls. The type of brain lesion (ICH or IS) was established using brain imaging. The levels of GFAP and of antibodies against NR2 RNMDA were measured in blood samples obtained within 12 hrs after stroke onset and 24, 48 and 72 hrs and 1 and 2 weeks later using ELISA immunoassay. Improvement in diagnostic performance was assessed in logistic regression models designed to predict the diagnosis and the type of stroke. GFAP peaks early during haemorrhagic brain lesions (at significantly higher levels), and late in ischaemic events, whereas antibodies against NR2 RNMDA have significantly higher levels during IS at all time-points. Neither of the two biomarkers used on its own could sufficiently discriminate patients, but when they are used in combination they can differentiate at 12 hrs after stroke, between ischaemic and haemorrhagic stroke with a sensitivity and specificity of 94% and 91%, respectively.