Human Multipotent Mesenchymal Stromal Cells from Distinct Sources Show Different In Vivo Potential to Differentiate into Muscle Cells When Injected in Dystrophic Mice

Limb-girdle muscular dystrophies are a heterogeneous group of disorders characterized by progressive degeneration of skeletal muscle caused by the absence or deficiency of muscle proteins. The murine model of Limb-Girdle Muscular Dystrophy 2B, the SJL mice, carries a deletion in the dysferlin gene. Functionally, this mouse model shows discrete muscle weakness, starting at the age of 4–6 weeks. The possibility to restore the expression of the defective protein and improve muscular performance by cell therapy is a promising approach for the future treatment of progressive muscular dystrophies (PMD). We and others have recently shown that human adipose multipotent mesenchymal stromal cells (hASCs) can differentiate into skeletal muscle when in contact with dystrophic muscle cells in vitro and in vivo. Umbilical cord tissue and adipose tissue are known rich sources of multipotent mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs), widely used for cell-based therapy studies. The main objective of the present study is to evaluate if MSCs from these two different sources have the same potential to reach and differentiate in muscle cells in vivo or if this capability is influenced by the niche from where they were obtained. In order to address this question we injected human derived umbilical cord tissue MSCs (hUCT MSCs) into the caudal vein of SJL mice with the same protocol previously used for hASCs; we evaluated the ability of these cells to engraft into recipient dystrophic muscle after systemic delivery, to express human muscle proteins in the dystrophic host and their effect in functional performance. These results are of great interest for future therapeutic application.     

Principal components analysis based control of a multi-dof underactuated prosthetic hand

Background  

Functionality, controllability and cosmetics are the key issues to be addressed in order to accomplish a successful functional substitution of the human hand by means of a prosthesis. Not only the prosthesis should duplicate the human hand in shape, functionality, sensorization, perception and sense of body-belonging, but it should also be controlled as the natural one, in the most intuitive and undemanding way. At present, prosthetic hands are controlled by means of non-invasive interfaces based on electromyography (EMG). Driving a multi degrees of freedom (DoF) hand for achieving hand dexterity implies to selectively modulate many different EMG signals in order to make each joint move independently, and this could require significant cognitive effort to the user.     

Evaluating the effect of a television public service announcement about epilepsy

Public service announcements (PSAs) are non-commercial advertisements aiming to improve knowledge, attitudes and/or behavior. No evaluations of epilepsy PSAs exist. This study sought to evaluate a televised PSA showing first aid for a seizure. A multilevel regression analysis was used to determine the effect of the PSA on epilepsy knowledge and attitudes taking into account school-level clustering as well as individual-level variables, including socioeconomic status, gender, language and familiarity with epilepsy. Of the 803 randomly selected Grade 5 (9-11 years) students, 406 (51%) had seen the epilepsy PSA. Those who saw the PSA scored significantly higher on knowledge (P < 0.001) and had more positive attitudes (P < 0.001) about epilepsy. Those who saw the PSA had even greater knowledge about epilepsy 1 month later, even though the PSA was no longer being televised. Having viewed, the PSA continued to be associated with higher knowledge and more positive attitudes independent of the effects of a school-based epilepsy education program.     

Phage typing in dermatitis cruris pustulosa et atrophicans: does staphylococcal carrier status have a role?

Background Dermatitis cruris pustulosa et atrophicans (DCPA) is a form of chronic folliculitis of the legs with a multifactorial etiopathogenesis, seen primarily in tropical countries. Staphylococcus aureus has been isolated from the pustules in earlier studies, although the organisms isolated have not been further characterized. Materials and methods Patients with DCPA, who attended the Dermatology outpatient clinic at JIPMER, Pondicherry, India, during the study period (December 2006–June 2008) were included. Pus from the lesions as well as swabs from carrier sites (nares, axillae, and gluteal fold) were cultured. Staphylococcus aureus isolates were subjected to phage typing at the National Staphylococcal Phage Typing Center, Department of Microbiology, Maulana Azad Medical College, New Delhi, India. Results Thirty‐seven patients were included in the study. Pus from the folliculitic lesions grew S. aureus in 32 (86.49%) patients. Based on the comparison of antibiotic sensitivity patterns, isolates from pus and carrier sites were found to be similar in 15 patients. Phage typing established the organism to be identical in five of these patients. Conclusions Characterization of S. aureus in DCPA shows that there is no specific phage type that is uniformly responsible for the lesions in most patients. However, in view of the unclear etiology of this condition, the pathogenicity of a staphylococcal carrier state in individual patients needs to be addressed.     

Squamous cell carcinoma complicating epidermolysis bullosa in a 6-year-old girl

Recessive dystrophic epidermolysis bullosa (RDEB) is a rare form of epidermolysis bullosa (EB) that presents with generalized blistering since birth. Squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) is the most common cutaneous malignancy seen in RDEB, starting from second decade onwards. We report a case of SCC complicating RDEB in a 6-year-old girl.     

Silent Double Aortic Arch Coincidentally Found During Cardiac Catheterization in Elderly Man

We describe a case of an elderly man known for coronary artery disease (previous bypass surgery) hospitalized for ischemia in inferior wall. Since the operation, the patient underwent coronary angiographies. Due to the impossibility of selective engagement of left subclavian artery from femoral access, LIMA was always visualized through a right radial approach. Despite the suspicious of abnormal origin of left subclavian artery, aortic angiography was never performed. During the third angiography, the double aortic arch was coincidentally visualized by using a left Amplatz catheter. The diagnosis was confirmed by 64‐slice computed tomography scan.     

Lymphangiomas in children: MR imaging

Seventeen lymphangiomas in 15 patients were imaged with magnetic resonance (MR) to define the nature, extent, and anatomic relationships of these lesions. The MR and pathologic findings were then compared to determine the histologic basis for the signal-intensity characteristics of these lesions. The signal intensity of 13 lesions was similar to or slightly less than that of muscle on T1-weighted images and greater than that of fat on T2-weighted images. This appearance correlated with the presence of ectatic lymphatic channels containing clear fluid on histologic section. Four lymphangiomas had high signal intensity, approximately equal to that of fat, on T1-weighted images, reflecting the presence of clotted blood or small cystic spaces with a higher ratio of fat to fluid. Sixteen of 17 lesions had visible septations on MR images. The authors' experience suggests that most lymphangiomas have a characteristic appearance on MR images. The information obtained with MR imaging can help in providing a preoperative diagnosis, in planning surgical resection, and in defining recurrence.     

Handgrip strength in English schoolchildren

Aims: The aims of this study were to evaluate patterns of handgrip (HG) strength in relation to gender and age in English schoolchildren and to compare this with existing data and produce reference data for this population. Methods: The HG of 7147 English schoolchildren (3773 boys and 3374 girls) aged 10–15.9 years was measured using a portable Takei handgrip dynamometer (Takei Scientific Instruments Co. Ltd, Tokyo, Japan). Centile data were produced using the Generalized Additive Models for Location, Scale and Shape. Z‐scores were generated using existing data for European children. Age and gender interactions were analysed using analysis of covariance. Results: In boys and girls, significant increases in HG were found between every age‐group (p < 0.001). Boys were significantly stronger than girls at every age (p < 0.001) and the boys’ age‐related increase was significantly greater than the girls’ (p < 0.001). Conclusion: This study provides reference data for handgrip strength in English schoolchildren. Handgrip strength in English children is broadly similar to existing European data, after adjusting for mass and stature. These data could be used for clinical or athletic screening of low and high strength in this population.     

Paraffin tissue block radiography: adjunct to breast specimen radiography

Radiography of specimens is an essential step in confirming excision of nonpalpable breast lesions. On occasion, however, the pathologist may not identify the lesion histologically. The authors report five cases in which suspicious microcalcifications were included in the excised tissue but were not identified by the pathologist. In all five, paraffin tissue block radiography enabled identification of the specific blocks containing the microcalcifications. The correct tissue blocks were then sectioned again, and the microcalcifications were identified histopathologically. In one case, the initial diagnosis of intraductal hyperplasia was changed to intraductal carcinoma with focal invasion. When the pathologist cannot identify the calcifications on initial histopathologic sections, this technique may assist in identification of the mammographic abnormality.