Background: Non-surgical rhinoplasty is one of the best choices in mild cases of the saddle nose, and it represents a solution for the aesthetical amelioration of facial deformity; nevertheless, in most critical cases, surgical intervention is still required. This study reports the experience and results of a single facial plastic surgeon (M.G.) using a non-surgical technique for the correction of saddle noses in a large cohort of patients. Methods: This retrospective study assesses all patients injected from January 2017 through October 2023 in private clinics in Milan (Italy), London (UK), and Dubai (UAE). All patients were followed up for 12 months. The harvested adipose tissues were processed with different systems and with or without acoustic wave therapy (AWT). The extracted products have been characterized in terms of cellular yield and cell growth. Ninety-seven patients were injected with adipose-derived products or hyaluronic acid (HA). Patients were followed up for 12 months, and satisfaction data were analyzed. Results: The stem cells obtained from the patients who previously received AWT displayed a statistically higher cell growth ability in comparison with those of the cells derived from patients who did not receive AWT. The evolution of patient satisfaction during the time for each group of treatment was investigated, and cellular treatments show the best maintenance of patient satisfaction over time. Conclusions: Dermgraft and AWT approaches resulted in the highest patient satisfaction for the non-surgical correction of the saddle nose deformity.

The human genome counts hundreds of GPCRs specialized to sense thousands of different extracellular cues, including light, odorants and nutrients in addition to hormones. Primordial GPCRs were likely glucose transporters that became sensors to monitor the abundance of nutrients and direct the cell to switch from aerobic metabolism to fermentation. Human β cells express multiple GPCRs that contribute to regulate glucose homeostasis, cooperating with many others expressed by a variety of cell types and tissues. These GPCRs are intensely studied as pharmacological targets to treat type 2 diabetes in adults. The dramatic rise of type 2 diabetes incidence in pediatric age is likely correlated to the rapidly evolving lifestyle of children and adolescents of the new century. Current pharmacological treatments are based on therapies designed for adults, while youth and puberty are characterized by a different hormonal balance related to glucose metabolism. This review focuses on GPCRs functional traits that are relevant for β cells function, with an emphasis on aspects that could help to differentiate new treatments specifically addressed to young type 2 diabetes patients.

Stem cell therapy has the potential to meet unsolved problems in tissue repair and regeneration, particularly in the neural tissues. However, an optimal source has not yet been found. Growing evidence indicates that positive effects produced in vivo by mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) can be due not only to their plasticity but also to secreted molecules including extracellular vesicles (EVs) and the extracellular matrix (ECM). Trophic effects produced by MSCs may reveal the key to developing effective tissue-repair strategies, including approaches based on brain implants or other implantable neural electrodes. In this sense, MSCs will become increasingly valuable and needed in the future. The placenta is a temporary organ devoted to protecting and supporting the fetus. At the same time, the placenta represents an abundant and extremely convenient source of MSCs. Nonetheless, placenta-derived MSCs (P-MSCs) remain understudied as compared to MSCs isolated from other sources. This review outlines the limited literature describing the neuroregenerative effects of P-MSC-derived biomaterials and advocates for exploiting the potential of this untapped source for human regenerative therapies.

Background and purpose: Diabetes represents one of the major global health issues, and the number of cases is expected to increase dramatically in the coming years. In the new century, many strategies have been developed to meet the urge for new therapies through technological innovations. Innovative pharmacological treatments, such as electronic insulin pumps, represent one of the gold standards for diabetes, even if cell replacement therapy is preferred in the most severe cases. Mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) can be differentiated into insulin-producing cells or islet-like cell clusters. Consequently, understanding the role of the extracellular matrix and three-dimensional (3D) structure in guiding MSC differentiation is crucial for advancing regenerative therapies. Experimental approach: The literature was examined using Google Scholar, PubMed, and Scopus, analyzing the pertinence with the focus of this manuscript. Findings: MSCs derived from birth tissues are characterized by a high level of plasticity and represent the best candidates for regenerative treatments. Together with MSCs, 3D approaches can be integrated to obtain complex structures supporting many biological requirements, namely the possibility of reproducing better physiological conditions, as well as supporting vascular network development. Furthermore, the incorporation of extracellular matrix components like laminin and collagen IV into hydrogels has been shown to enhance the insulin secretion and survival of insulin-producing cells. Conclusions and implications: In this review, we present an overview of the different strategies applied as of today in regenerative medicine, by unraveling the different cellular and matrix characteristics that can be crucial for future and potential diabetes treatment. Ultimately, the convergence of MSC biology with advanced 3D bioprinting and biomaterial science holds significant promise for creating a functional, implantable bioartificial pancreas to treat diabetes.