Collagen is the unique, triple helical protein molecule which forms the major part of the extracellular matrix. It is the most abundant protein in the human body, representing 30% of its dry weight and is important to health because it characterizes the structure of skin, connective tissues, tendons, bones and cartilage. As collagen forms building block of body structures, any defect in collagen results in disorders, such as osteogenesis imperfecta, Ehlers-Dalnos syndrome, scurvy, systemic lupus erythematosus, systemic sclerosis, Stickler syndrome, oral submucous fibrosis, Marfan syndrome, epidermolysis bullosa, Alport syndrome. This review discusses the role of collagen in health as well as disease.

Peripheral giant cell granuloma or the so-called “giant cell epulis” is the most common oral giant cell lesion. It normally presents as a soft tissue purplish-red nodule consisting of multinucleated giant cells in a background of mononuclear stromal cells and extravasated red blood cells. This lesion probably does not represent a true neoplasm, but rather may be reactive in nature, believed to be stimulated by local irritation or trauma, but the cause is not certainly known. This article reports a case of peripheral giant cell granuloma arising at the maxillary anterior region in a 22-year-old female patient. The lesion was completely excised to the periosteum level and there is no residual or recurrent swelling or bony defect apparent in the area of biopsy after a follow-up period of 6 months.

No abstract

During the last 4 yr, fine-needle aspiration cytology (FNAC) has been employed in 1,474 patients in 0-15-yr age group at our institute. Of these, 245 patients were found to have malignant disease, including primitive neuroectodermal tumors, hepatoblastoma, nephroblastoma, sarcoma, and epithelial malignancies. Four metastases from medulloblastoma and two each from astrocytoma and meningioma were confirmed without open biopsy. FNAC interpretation was easy when cytologic findings were correlated with relevant clinical and radiologic data.

No abstract

No abstract

Objectives The purpose of present study was to investigate and correlate the histological findings in central giant cell granuloma and peripheral giant cell granuloma of jaws with clinical and radiographic interpretations of the lesion. Material and Methods In present study, data from 14 cases of central giant cell granuloma (CGCG) and 9 cases of peripheral giant cell granuloma (PGCG) were analysed, focusing on demographic, clinical and radiographic features. For each patient, microscopic slides were assessed in terms of histologic features of giant cells i.e. number of giant cells, mean number of nuclei/giant cell, pattern of distribution, size and relative size index of giant cells, percentage fractional surface area (FSA) occupied by giant cells and stromal characteristics. Data collected was subjected to statistical analysis. Fisher-exact test, Pearson’s correlation coefficient, one-way ANOVA test and Student’s t-test were used for analysis. Results No significant difference was found between PGCG and CGCG in relation to all the traits that were evaluated. It was observed that mean number of giant cells and mean FSA was more in aggressive CGCG as compared to non-aggressive CGCG. Conclusions Further studies on large sample size are required to confirm the relationship between histomorphometric features of giant cells and behaviour of giant cell granulomas of jaws.

SummaryOptimal stem cell delivery procedures are critical to the success of the cell therapy approach. Variables such as flow rate, suspension solution, needle diameter, cell density, and tissue mechanics affect tissue penetration, backflow along the needle, and the dispersion and survival of injected cells during delivery. Most cell transplantation centers engaged in human clinical trials use custom‐designed cannula needles, syringes, or catheters, sometimes precluding the use of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)‐guided delivery to target tissue. As a result, stem cell therapies may be hampered because more than 80% of grafted cells do not survive the delivery—for example, to the heart, liver/pancreas, and brain—which translates to poor patient outcomes. We developed a minimally invasive interventional MRI (iMRI) approach for intraoperatively imaging neural stem cell (NSC) delivery procedures. We used NSCs prelabeled with a contrast agent and real‐time magnetic resonance imaging to guide the injection cannula to the target and to track the delivery of the cells into the putamen of baboons. We provide evidence that cell injection into the brain parenchyma follows a novel pulsatile mode of cellular discharge from the delivery catheter despite a constant infusion flow rate. The rate of cell infusion significantly affects the dispersion and viability of grafted cells. We report on our investigational use of a frameless navigation system for image‐guided NSC transplantation using a straight cannula. Through submillimeter accuracy and real‐time imaging, iMRI approaches may improve the safety and efficacy of neural cell transplantation therapies. Stem Cells Translational Medicine 2017;6:877–885