Biomedical subjects
C Chillemi
Publications and source records attributed to C Chillemi.
Autologous chondrocyte implantation: cells phenotype and proliferation analysis.
The phenotype and proliferation of human chondrocytes in culture were analyzed before they were implanted as autologous graft in cartilage lesions. During ten autologous chondrocyte implantations in articular cartilage lesions of the knee in ten patients, small amounts of cells to be implanted were collected and analyzed by morphology, cytochemistry (alcian blue, safranin-O), and immunocytochemistry (antibodies anti-S100 protein, anti-collagen types I and II, anti-chondroitin-S). In four cases the cells were also cultured for 3 weeks. At 1, 10, and 20 days of culture cells were incubated with 1 microCi/ml [3H]thymidine for proliferation analysis. In all cases the cells showed the morphological appearance of mature chondrocytes, stained positively for alcian blue and safranin-O, and revealed a strong immunoreaction for S-100 protein, type II collagen, and chondroitin-S but not for type I collagen. Radioisotope assay of chondrocyte proliferation at 1, 10, and 20 days of culture revealed a progressive increase in [3H]thymidine incorporation. These findings indicate that the cells before autologous implantation maintain their differentiated phenotype of mature chondrocytes and proliferate greatly. This analysis is an essential step preceding wider use of this treatment in humans. However, other biological aspects of the autologous chondrocyte graft remain to be elucidated.
DL-penicillamine induced alteration of elastic fibers of periosteum-perichondrium and associated growth inhibition: an experimental study.
Perichondrium-periosteum, being of collagen and elastic fiber, is regarded as a bone growth regulating factor. The aim of the present study was to investigate the role of collagen and elastic fibers on bone growth, by interfering with the fiber assembly in growing chicks upon administration of DL-penicillamine (DL-PNA). Our findings demonstrated that DL-PNA determined relevant modifications in the perichondrium-periosteum, as shown by histochemical, histomorphometrical,biochemical and ultrastructural analysis. This chemical has been shown to inhibit the formation of desmosine cross-links in elastin and to induce an increase of elastin associated microfibrils. On the contrary, the collagen network and the biochemical collagen markers were not affected. These changes resulted in a dramatically reduced growth of long bones in comparison with control. Perichondrial-periosteal regulation of bone growth may be mediated by mechanical and biological factors. This study demonstrates a microstructural change in the perichondrium-periosteum with decreased elastin and increased elastic microfibrils content in penicillamine treated chicks. The mechanism linking changes in the perichondrium-periosteum with altered growth still needs to be elucidated.
Elastic fibers of musculoskeletal tissues in bovine Marfan syndrome: a morphometric study.
Bovine Marfan syndrome has all the major pathognomonic, clinical, and pathological features of the human syndrome. To further explore the alterations characterizing Marfan syndrome, musculoskeletal tissues from affected and healthy cattle were subjected to histochemical and histomorphometric analysis. Our findings demonstrated reduced elastic fiber content in the periosteum, capsule, interosseous ligament, and flexor tendons of the metatarsophalangeal joint of affected cattle. The elastic properties of a tissue are supplied by elastic fibers in the extracellular matrix; therefore, their reduced content in articular tissues suggests that these fibers could be functionally incompetent to withstand normal stress, causing a predisposition to joint laxity and dislocation. Moreover, perichondrial-periosteal membranes, which are made of collagen and elastic fibers, are known to affect the growth process of the long bones. The decrease in the number of elastic fibers in these membranes could result in reduced restraint of skeletal growth and explain some skeletal abnormalities of Marfan syndrome (i.e., dolichostenomelic habitus).
In vitro effects of elastase on periosteum of long bones: an histochemical, immunohistochemical and morphometric study.
The aim of the study was to determine the in vitro effects of porcine pancreatic elastase on the periosteum of long bones and to what extent the effects are selective for the elastic fibres of the tissue. Twenty-eight new-born chicks' tibiae were incubated for 1 or 3 hours in different experimental conditions (PBS, 30 or 60 units (U)/ml of porcine pancreatic elastase) or immediately formalin fixed. The tibiae were then processed for histo-chemical (Verhoeff and van Gieson stain), immunohistochemical (anti-elastin antibody) and histomorphometric analysis. A decrease of periosteal elastic fibres in all the specimens incubated with elastase in comparison with non incubated specimens was evident. The effect of elastase was easily detectable even at the lower concentration (30 U/ml) and at the shorter time of incubation (1 h). The amount of elastic fibres decreased in accordance with the rise of enzyme levels and incubation time, while periosteal collagen fibre content was not substantially modified by elastase activity. Present data are a prerequisite to evaluate the in vitro and in vivo effects of experimental destruction of periosteal elastic fibres by elastase and to assess the role of these fibres in the growth process of long bones.
[Screening for congenital hypothyroidism. Results of screening of 20,000 newborn infants].
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Regnauld procedure in the surgical treatment of metatarsalgia: interpretation of follow-up X-ray imaging.
In lesser ray metatarsalgia (rays 2 through 5) due to an altered Lelievre's metatarsal formula (depending on the respective lengths of the metatarsals), the resection of metatarsal heads aims at restoring a correct metatarsal support. This being a destructive procedure, metatarsal head resection is best indicated in the treatment of severe forefoot deformities such as those resulting from rheumatoid arthritis. In all metatarsalgias that recognize biomechanical origin, the enclavement procedure, according to Regnauld's original report, should be preferred. The aim of this study is analysis of the radiographic evolution of the metatarsal epiphysis following the Regnauld procedure on the basis of anatomic and pathological events occurring during the attachment process. The procedure was performed on 31 feet and the patients were followed-up for 24 months postoperatively. The enclavement process evolved favorably in all cases. It consists of four anatomic/pathologic phases corresponding to typical radiographic features. While graft consolidation is achieved in 3 to 4 months postoperatively, complete recovery of the metatarsal bony architecture and functional adaptation requires 18 to 24 months.
Muscle involvement in rheumatoid arthritis: an ultrastructural study.
An electron microscopic investigation has been carried out on muscle bioptic samples from patients affected by rheumatoid arthritis (RA). This study was undertaken to seek further ultrastructural alterations affecting striated muscles in RA pathology. Bioptic samples were collected on a total of 30 surgical interventions of hip (10), knee (8), and foot (12). This yielded three muscle types: gluteus maximus, vastus lateralis, and extensor digitorum communis. Muscle samples from 12 patients with no RA stigmata, selected to match RA patients by age and gender, constituted the control group. Tissue samples were prepared both for conventional histochemical methods and according to conventional electron microscopic procedures, including morphometric analysis. Although to a different extent in each sample, in muscles from RA vs. controls the authors observed the simultaneous presence of discrete muscular alterations such as wider separation of myofibrils, myelin figures, dilated sarcotubular system, pleomorphic mitochondria, myofibril flaking, and lipofuscin deposition in the subsarcolemmal region. In addition to a progressive atrophy, the above findings are suggestive of rheumatoid myositis and lend further support to the still poorly documented presence of an idiopathic inflammatory myopathy and inclusion body myositis associated with RA.
Changes of elastic fibers in musculoskeletal tissues of Marfan syndrome: a possible mechanism of joint laxity and skeletal overgrowth.
The aim of the study was to analyze by histochemical, ultrastructural, and morphometric methods the musculoskeletal tissues in three humans affected with Marfan syndrome. Histochemical and morphometric data demonstrated that the content of elastic fibers in the perichondrium, periosteum, and knee capsule of the individuals with Marfan syndrome was dramatically reduced in comparison with control tissues. Ultrastructurally the elastic fibers appeared fragmented and indented, because of the presence of discontinuous aggregates of elastin among randomly dispersed filaments. These abnormalities of the articular capsule argue that these fibers could be functionally incompetent to resist normal stress, predisposing to joint laxity. Moreover, alterations in both perichondrium and periosteum seems to support our previous hypotheses about the control of long-bone growth exerted by elastic fibers.