Cell therapies for glioblastoma

Malignant gliomas, including the most devastating type, glioblastoma multiforme (GBM), are characterised by their local growth and aggressive infiltration of the normal brain. GBMs result in a profound disability, leading to death in almost all cases. There has been little improvement in outcome despite intensive clinical and laboratory research during recent decades. Interestingly, many researchers have been successful in treating GBM models in animals, but the success has been limited when new treatment principles have been translated into the clinic. One reason for this failure is the lack of appropriate animal models that reflect the behaviour of human GBMs. Therapeutic progress has also been hindered by the limited delivery of effective therapeutic compounds to an extremely heterogenic tumour cell population. This article discusses the present use and limitations of preclinical animal models to study glioma growth and progression. In addition, it focuses on the potential use of cell-based therapies for the treatment of GBMs. This includes aspects of gene therapy, stem cell therapy and immunotherapy. Several of these treatment modalities use the principle of transplanting cells or compounds that either directly or indirectly show therapeutic efficacy. Many of these principles depend on an increased biological knowledge of gliomas. The development of new therapeutic principles based on such knowledge may finally provide glioma patients with an improved survival.     

Splenic rupture following lenograstim in post-autologous stem cell transplantation treated with emergency open splenectomy: a case report and literature review

Granulocyte-colony stimulating factors (G-CSFs) are the cornerstone of peripheral blood stem cell mobilization and apheresis. However, splenic rupture following G-CSF treatment represents a serious and potentially fatal adverse event. Here, we report the case of a patient in their late 50s with severe pancytopenia post-autologous stem cell transplantation reinfusion suffering from splenic rupture after treatment with lenograstim. We also reviewed the literature describing cases of splenic rupture during G-CSF administration.     

Selective adhesive luting: A novel technique for improving adhesion achieved by universal resin cements

Objective

We aimed to introduce the concept of “Selective adhesive luting—SAL” which is explained through clinical steps and supported by preliminary laboratory evidence.

Clinical Considerations

Cementation with rubber dam is difficult to perform in case of short abutment teeth and/or subgingival crown margins. By means of universal resin cements/universal adhesive systems, which can be employed in self-adhesive as well as adhesive luting procedures, this paper presents a novel technique allowing clinicians to perform reliable cementation where rubber dam isolation is difficult. The SAL technique entails the application of a universal adhesive system only on easily accessible abutment surfaces, enabling simultaneous adhesive and self-adhesive luting in different portions of the abutment. The SAL clinical workflow is explained through prosthodontic rehabilitation of maxillary right central incisor affected by microdontia and restored with a lithium-disilicate crown. Furthermore, our laboratory microshear bond strength study supports the rationale behind SAL application demonstrating higher bond strength even when the adhesive resin is placed only on one portion of the cementation substrate.

Clinical Significance

This article advocates the application of SAL technique in clinical situations where effective adhesive luting is uncertain, since it can improve the adhesion between the tooth and universal resin cements.