Spinal Cord Injury (SCI) is a common neurological disorder with devastating psychical and psychosocial sequelae. The majority of patients after SCI suffer from permanent disability caused by motor dysfunction, impaired sensation, neuropathic pain, spasticity as well as urinary complications, and a small number of patients experience a complete recovery. Current standard treatment modalities of the SCI aim to prevent secondary injury and provide limited recovery of lost neurological functions. Stem Cell Therapy (SCT) represents an emerging treatment approach using the differentiation, paracrine, and self-renewal capabilities of stem cells to regenerate the injured spinal cord. To date, multipotent stem cells including mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs), neural stem cells (NSCs), and hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) represent the most investigated types of stem cells for the treatment of SCI in preclinical and clinical studies. The microenvironment of SCI has a significant impact on the survival, proliferation, and differentiation of transplanted stem cells. Therefore, a deep understanding of the pathophysiology of SCI and molecular mechanisms through which stem cells act may help improve the treatment efficacy of SCT and find new therapeutic approaches such as stem-cell-derived exosomes, gene-modified stem cells, scaffolds, and nanomaterials. In this literature review, the pathogenesis of SCI and molecular mechanisms of action of multipotent stem cells including MSCs, NSCs, and HSCs are comprehensively described. Moreover, the clinical efficacy of multipotent stem cells in SCI treatment, an optimal protocol of stem cell administration, and recent therapeutic approaches based on or combined with SCT are also discussed.

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Introduction and purpose: Alveolar osteitis, also known as dry socket is a common complication after tooth extraction, especially third molar extraction. Taking into consideration only third molar extractions, the prevalence of dry socket reaches even 45%. The aim of this literature review was to describe current knowledge about etiology, risk factors, treatment, and prevention of dry socket. State of knowledge: The symptoms of alveolar osteitis most frequently are reported between the first and third post-extraction days and they include discomfort, lancing, and intense pain which radiates to the neck and ear. The etiopathogenesis of dry socket remains unclear. However, the currently accepted hypothesis describes a loss of formed after an extraction blood clot from the alveolar socket as the main cause of this pathology. Several factors may increase the risk of dry socket and include smoking, oral hygiene, female gender, oral contraceptive drugs, and anesthesia. In the treatment of alveolar osteitis, irrigation of the socket with chlorhexidine gluconate, iodopovidone, or physiological saline followed by filling the socket with intra-alveolar dressing constitute a current fundamental procedure. Plenty of substances are currently used as an intra-alveolar dressing. Part of them exhibits only pain-decreasing features, whereas some drugs can also stimulate the regeneration of treated tissue. In the prevention, the use of alveolar osteitis warm saline, antibiotics, chlorhexidine, ozone gas, or autologous platelet therapy may be useful maneuvers. Conclusion: This literature review summarizes the current state of knowledge about causes, risk factors, and therapeutic and preventive methods with regard to alveolar osteitis.

Introduction and purpose: ​Rosai-Dorfman Disease (RDD), known also as sinus histiocytosis with massive lymphadenopathy(SHML) is a benign histiocytic proliferative syndrome. The etiology and pathogenesis of RDD remains unclear. Central nervous system involvement is a rare event and concerns approximately 7.8% of RDD cases, whereas intracranial lesions constitute almost 90% of CNS-RDD cases. The aim of this literature review was to summarize current knowledge about the diagnosis and treatment of intracranial manifestation of RDD. We also described possible hypotheses regarding the pathophysiology of this disorder. State of knowledge: ​Even though Rosai-Dorfman disease was thought to be a reactive process, recent evidencedemonstrate the presence of clonality, which means that in this histiocytosis the process that underlies the pathology is neoplastic. Intracranial lesions caused by RDD can be easily misdiagnosed with many diseases such as meningiomas, malignant gliomas or metastatic tumors. The final diagnosis of Rosai-Dorfman disease should be made based on histologic and immunohistochemical examinations. Current therapeutic options for this condition include surgery, radiotherapy, chemotherapy, corticosteroids and immunotherapy. Surgical treatment often constitutes the first-line treatment for intracranial RDD and is the most beneficial treatment option. However, the implementation of adjuvant therapies is very important to avoid the recurrence of lesions, which appear in approximately 14% of subjects after about 10 years from surgery. Conclusion: ​This literature review presents current data about pathophysiology, diagnosis and treatment of intracranial involvement of Rosai-Dorfman disease. Further studies on this topic should focus on exploring etiologic mechanisms underlying on this pathology and comparing available treatment methods.