These findings indicate that oxidative stress is associated with dry eye and that hyaluronic acid/vitamin B12 eye drops may attenuate oxidative stress and inflammation, improving dry eye symptoms. Further study in controlled clinical trials is warranted.

PDRN seemed to promote proliferation of human pre-adipocytes at both passages, but cell population growth increased in pre-adipocyte at P16, after 9 days as compared to control. Our data suggest that PDRN could act as a pre-adipocyte growth stimulator.

Human adipose-derived stem cells possess a lot of stem cell characteristics, so they may be considered a source of stem cell population. On the basis of that, we have investigated the hepatic potential of adipose-derived stem cells, obtained from liposuction, following two differentiation protocols. In the first procedure, medium was supplemented with epidermal growth factor (EGF), basic fibroblast growth factor, hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) and nicotinamide; the second involved the addition of factors such as dexametasone, EGF, insulin-transferrin-sodium selenite, HGF, dimethyl sulfoxide and oncostatin. In parallel, we carried out our study in the Hep G2 cell line, as human hepatic differentiated in vitro model. Immunocytochemical analysis and RT-PCR were performed using hepatic markers to evaluate cell differentiation. DNA content, MTT test and carboxyl fluorescein succinimidyl ester staining were carried out to evaluate cell proliferation. We reported the evidence of basal hepatic marker in undifferentiated adipose-derived stem cells, which confirmed their multipotency. A strong expression of albumin and α-fetoprotein was observed in hepatic-induced adipose-derived stem cells following both differentiation procedures. Morphological aspects of the two types of hepatic adipose-derived stem cells were alike. Proliferation index suggested that the first differentiation procedure promoted better growth than the second. These preliminary findings suggest adipose-derived stem cells may be induced into hepatic lineage, and the most significant difference between the two standard differentiation procedures concerns proliferation rate. This aspect is to be considered when adipose-derived stem cells are employed in research and clinical studies.

Oxidative stress exerts major role in the pathogenesis of side effects of many antineoplastic drugs, including ototoxicity of cisplatin. In particular, increased levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS) represent one of the molecular mechanisms underlying the apoptosis of different types of hearing cells. Antioxidants and ROS scavengers may thus represent potential therapeutic options to prevent platinum-associated ototoxicity.The aim of this preliminary case-control study was to explore the efficacy of a dietary antioxidant supplement, in order to hamper the occurrences of ototoxicity in patients undergoing cisplatin chemotherapy.As results, a significant protection against cochlear toxic damage was demonstrated in patients who took the antioxidant supplement, which furthermore prevented the occurrence of hearing disorders and tinnitus. These clinical evidences were corroborated by the oxidative status of patients. After cisplatin chemotherapy, the plasma derivatives of reactive oxygen metabolites (d-ROMs) content rapidly increased in control patients, but it was maintained in those under dietary supplementation, likely because of a higher anti-ROMs potential. Indeed, an increment in rapid anti-ROMs was detected in supplemented patients, though no differences were highlighted in terms of slow anti-ROMs.In conclusion, in this preliminary report we demonstrated the feasibility of a dietary antioxidant supplementation in order to prevent the cisplatin induced hearing damage.

A great effort has recently been made to obtain human stem cells able to differentiate into cholinergic neurons, as a number of diseases are associated to the cholinergic neuron loss, degeneration or incorrect function (Alzheimer's disease and motor neuron disease). A stem cell population (i.e. pre-adipocytes) is present in the adipose stromal compartment. Pre-adipocytes, like the mesodermic derivative cells, retain high plasticity and potentiality to convert in vitro from one phenotype into many others, and they can be isolated from adult adipose tissue. Pre-adipocytes committed in vitro to neural differentiation were followed up to the acquisition of neural morphology. Acetylcholinesterase and choline acetyltransferase are expressed from the native cell stage, with different localisations and roles during neural commitment. Western blots show the beginning of a new synthesis of these enzymes at 4 weeks of culture of neurogenic pre-adipocytes, in parallel with neural morphology. The passage of the choline-acetyltransferase immunoreactivity from cytoplasmic to membrane localisation shows the possible onset of catalytic activity and the histochemical reaction confirms the activity of acetylcholinesterase. This explains the possibility of obtaining cholinergic-like phenotype from pre-adipocytes.