Immunomodulatory effect of MSC on B cells is independent of secreted extracellular vesicles

Altres ajuts: this work was supported in part by Fundació La Marató de TV3 (201516-10, 201502-30). MM-T is sponsored by the PERIS (SLT002/16/00234) from the Generalitat de Catalunya; FB is a researcher from Fundació Institut de Recerca en Ciències de la Salut Germans Trias i Pujol, supported by the Health Department of the Catalan Government (Direcció General de Recerca i Innovació, Department Salut, Generalitat de Catalunya) and MF is funded by the Catalan Health Department (Generalitat de Catalunya) contract PERIS (SLT002/16/00069).Mesenchymal stem or stromal cells (MSC) have proven immunomodulatory properties toward B cell activation and induce regulatory B cells (Breg), through a dual mechanism of action that relies both on cell contact and secreted factors. One of them are MSC-derived extracellular vesicles (EVs), membrane nanovesicles that mediate cell communication and typically reflect the phenotype of the cell of origin. MSC-EVs could resemble MSC functions, and are being contemplated as an improved alternative to the MSC-based immunomodulatory therapy. In the present work, we focused on the factors secreted by MSC and aimed to elucidate the putative role of MSC-EVs in the immunomodulation of B cells. EVs and soluble protein-enriched fractions (PF) were isolated from MSC-conditioned medium (CM) using size-exclusion chromatography (SEC) and their capacity to modulate B cell activation, induction of Breg and B cell proliferation was compared to that of the whole MSCs. Co-culture with MSC or unfractionated CM induced naïve and CD24hiCD38hi, IL-10 producing (Breg) phenotypes on B cells while not affecting proliferation. MSC-PF had a comparable effect to MSCs, inducing a naïve phenotype, and even though they did not induce the shift toward a CD24hiCD38hi population, MSC-PF fostered IL-10 production by B cells. Conversely, MSC-EVs failed to promote naïve B cells and to reduce memory B cells. MSC-EVs induced CD24hiCD38hi B cells to a similar extent of that of MSC, but not bona fide Bregs since they did not produce IL-10. Our results show that B cell modulation by MSC is partially mediated by soluble factors other than EVs

Improving the Management and Follow-up of Atopic Dermatitis: A Delphi Process Report of Consensus Between Hospital Dermatologists and Pharmacists

[spa] El control de la dermatitis atópica (DA), una de las dermatosis más frecuentes, es en muchas ocasiones un reto terapéutico. En el presente estudio se ha utilizado la metodología Delphi con el objetivo de poner en común las perspectivas del dermatólogo y del farmacéutico hospitalario ante el manejo de la DA y establecer una serie de recomendaciones de actuación adaptadas a las diferentes situaciones que plantea la enfermedad. El cuestionario Delphi ha sido definido por un comité científico y se ha dividido en 2 bloques: (1) valoración de la respuesta al tratamiento del paciente con DA y (2) cooperación entre Dermatología y Farmacia Hospitalaria (FH). Como resultado del estudio, se ha alcanzado un consenso total del 86%. Se concluye que el dermatólogo y el farmacéutico hospitalario deben tener una buena comunicación y trabajar coordinados para conseguir optimizar el manejo del paciente con DA y su respuesta al tratamiento.[eng] Managing atopic dermatitis, one of the most common dermatologic conditions, is often challenging. To establish consensus on recommendations for responding to various situations that arise when treating atopic dermatitis, a group of hospital pharmacists and dermatologists used the Delphi process. A scientific committee developed a Delphi survey with 2 blocks of questions to explore the group's views on 1) evaluating response to treatment in the patient with atopic dermatitis and 2) cooperation between the dermatology department and the hospital pharmacy service. The experts achieved an overall rate of consensus of 86% during the process. Conclusions were that dermatologists and hospital pharmacists must maintain good communication and coordinate their interventions to optimize the management of atopic dermatitis and patients' responses to treatment

Size-Exclusion Chromatography-based isolation minimally alters Extracellular Vesicles' characteristics compared to precipitating agents

Extracellular vesicles (EVs) have become an attractive field among the scientific community. Yet, a major challenge is to define a consensus method for EVs isolation. Ultracentrifugation has been the most widely used methodology but rapid methods, including Size Exclusion Chromatography (SEC) and/or precipitating agents such as Polyethylene glycol (PEG) or PRotein Organic Solvent PRecipitation (PROSPR) have emerged. To evaluate the impact of these different methods on the resulting EV preparations, plasma EVs were isolated using SEC, PEG and PROSPR, and their total protein content, NTA and Cryo-electron microscopy profiles, and EV-markers were compared. Also, their effect on recipient cells was tested. Low protein content and Cryo-EM analysis showed that SEC removed most of the overabundant soluble plasma proteins, which were not removed using PEG and partially by PROSPR. Moreover, only SEC allowed the detection of the EV-markers CD9, CD63 and CD81, LGALS3BP and CD5L, suggesting a putative interference of the precipitating agents in the structure/composition of the EVs. Furthermore, PEG and PROSPR-based EV isolation resulted in reduced cell viability in vitro. These results stress that appropriate EV-isolation method should be considered depending on the forthcoming application of the purified EVs

Cocaína, violencia y género desde el punto de vista de los profesionales

Objetivo: El presente estudio pretende conocer los comportamientos violentos de hombres y mujeres consumidores de cocaína desde la perspectiva de los profesionales del área de drogodependencias y la violencia.Metodología: Se utilizó metodología cualitativa, concretamente se realizaron entrevistas semiestructuradas a una muestra representativa de profesionales de Unidades de Conductas Adictivas (UCA) y de Centros Mujer 24 Horas (CM24H) de la Comunitat Valenciana. El análisis de los datos, a excepción de las preguntas cerradas que se analizaron estadísticamente, se realizó siguiendo la Grounded Theory, lo que implica un método de comparaciones constantes que intenta generar teoría a partir de los datos empíricos y ofrece la posibilidad de comprensión del fenómeno desde el interior del mismo.Resultados: En opinión de los profesionales los hombres manifiestan más violencia de tipo físico que las mujeres, siendo más probable que éstas manifiesten su violencia verbalmente. Las conductas violentas suelen ir dirigidas hacia la pareja en el caso de los hombres y en el caso de las mujeres hacia sus hijos. Los hombres cocainómanos tienen más redes de apoyo en el proceso de tratamiento, normalmente reciben soporte de su pareja, no ocurriendo así en el caso de las mujeres cocainómanas que normalmente comienzan el tratamiento por voluntad propia y son apoyadas por algún miembro de su familia, que normalmente suele ser una mujer. Es habitual la existencia de violencia durante el proceso de tratamiento, pues las mujeres que se encuentran incluidas en estos programas de tratamiento suelen ser víctimas de violencia.Discusión: La relación entre consumo de cocaína y violencia es muy compleja, en este estudio se indica que las conductas violentas entre consumidores de cocaína pueden variar según género. Es importante continuar la tarea investigadora para profundizar en estas diferencias y mejorar así la calidad de los programas asistenciales dirigidos a esta población

Spleen-Dependent Immune Protection Elicited by CpG Adjuvanted Reticulocyte-Derived Exosomes from Malaria Infection Is Associated with Changes in T cell Subsets' Distribution

Added corrigendum published in 2017-01-17 https://doi.org/10.3389/fcell.2016.00153Reticulocyte-derived exosomes (rex) are 30-100 nm membrane vesicles of endocytic origin released during the maturation of reticulocytes to erythrocytes upon fusion of multivesicular bodies with the plasma membrane. Combination of CpG-ODN with rex obtained from BALB/c mice infected with the reticulocyte-prone non-lethal P. yoelii 17X malaria strain (rexPy), had been shown to induce survival and long lasting protection. Here, we show that splenectomized mice are not protected upon rexPy+CpG inmunizations and that protection is restored upon passive transfer of splenocytes obtained from animals immunized with rexPy+CpG. Notably, rexPy immunization of mice induced changes in PD1- memory T cells with effector phenotype. Proteomics analysis of rexPy confirmed their reticulocyte origin and demonstrated the presence of parasite antigens. Our studies thus prove, for what we believe is the first time, that rex from reticulocyte-prone malarial infections are associated with splenic long-lasting memory responses. To try extrapolating these data to human infections, in vitro experiments with spleen cells of human transplantation donors were performed. Plasma-derived exosomes from vivax malaria patients (exPv) were actively uptaken by human splenocytes and stimulated spleen cells leading to changes in T cell subsets

Quantitative Analysis Procedure for Building Materials in Historic Buildings by Applying Infrared Thermography

[EN] Historic buildings have a great cultural and architectural value. It is necessary to analyze their state of conservation, but sometimes it is difficult to perform laboratory tests without damaging this heritage. In the field of architecture, infrared thermography is usually used to provide descriptive information about the surface temperature of building materials. This current research presents a methodology widely applicable to historic buildings. As an example of application, the study is focused in the Seminary-School of Corpus Christi of Valencia (Spain), a very outstanding building from the 16th Century. This research presents an analytical study to be able to differentiate the temperature distribution of all pixels of a thermographic image. Thermal images are a matrix of data and their study helps us in decision-making based on objective data.Lerma Elvira, C.; Mas Tomas, MDLA.; Gil Benso, E.; Vercher Sanchis, JM.; Torner-Feltrer, MEM. (2018). Quantitative Analysis Procedure for Building Materials in Historic Buildings by Applying Infrared Thermography. Russian Journal of Nondestructive Testing. 54(8):601-609. https://doi.org/10.1134/S1061830918080065S601609548Avdelidis, N.P. and Moropoulou, A., Applications of infrared thermography for the investigation of historic structures, J. Cult. Heritage, 2004, no. 5, pp. 119–127. doi 10.1016/j.culher.2003.07.002Barreira, E. and Freitas, V., Evaluation of building materials using infrared thermography, Constr. Build. Mater., 2007, vol. 21, pp. 218–224. doi 10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2005.06.049Bauer, E., Pavón, E., Barreira, E., and Kraus, E., Analysis of building façade defects using infrared thermography: Laboratory studies, J. Build. Eng., 2016, no. 6, pp. 93–104. doi /doi 10.1016/j.jobe.2016.02.012Binda, L., Cardani, G., and Zanzi, L., Nondestructive testing evaluation of drying process in flooded full-scale masonry walls, J. Perform. Constr. Facil., 2010, pp. 473–483. doi 10.1061/(ASCE)CF.1943-5509.0000097Cañas, I., Martín, S., and González, I., Thermal-physical aspects of materials used for the construction of rural buildings in Soria (Spain), Construct. Build. Mater., 2005, vol. 19, pp. 197–211. doi 10.1016/j.conbuildmat. 2004.05.016Carlomagno, G.M., Maio, R., Fedi, M., Meola, C., Integration of infrared thermography and high-frequency electromagnetic methods in archaeological surveys, J. Geophys. Eng., 2011, vol. 8, pp. 93–105. doi 10.1088/1742-2132/8/3/S09Cerdeira, F., Vázquez, ME, Collado, J., and Granada, E., Applicability of infrared thermography to the study of the behavior of Stone panels as building envelopes, Energy Build., 2011, vol. 43, pp. 1845–1851. doi 10.1016/j.enbuild.2011.03.029EN 13187:1998. Thermal performance of buildings. Qualitative detection of thermal irregularities in building envelopes. Infrared method (ISO 6781:1983 modified).Galarza Tortajada, M., La tapia valenciana: una técnica constructiva poco conocida, Proc. First Natl. Congr. Construct. Hist., Madrid, 1996.Grinzato, E., Bison, P.G., and Marinetti, S., Monitoring of ancient buildings by the thermal method, J. Cult. Heritage, 2002, vol. 3, pp. 21–29. doi 10.1016/S1296-2074(02)01159-7Ibarra-Castanedo C., Sfarra, S., Ambrosini, D., Paoletti, D., Bendada, A, and Maldague, X., Diagnostics of panel paintings using holographic interferometry and pulsed thermography, Quant. Infrared Thermogr. J., 2010, vol. 7, no. 1. doi 10.3166/qirt.7.85-114Lagüela, S., Martínez, J., Armesto, J., and Arias, P., Energy efficiency studies through 3D laser scanning and thermographic technologies, Energy Build., 2011, vol. 43, pp. 1216–1221. doi 10.1016/j.enbuild.2010.12.031Lerma, C., Mas, Á., Gil, E., and Galiana, M., An analytical procedure for the study of the documented construction process of the Seminary-School of Corpus Christi in Valencia (Spain), Inf. Constr., 2014, vol. 66 (533), e007. doi 10.3989/ic.12.117Lerma, C., Mas, A., Gil, E., Vercher, J., and Penalver, M.J., Pathology of building materials in historic buildings. Relationship between laboratory testing and infrared thermography, Mater. Constr., 2014, vol. 64 (313), e009. doi 10.3989/mc.2013.06612Lerma, J.L., Cabrelles, M., and Portalés, C., Multitemporal thermal analysis to detect moisture on a building façade, Construct. Build. Mater., 2011, vol. 25, pp. 2190–2197. doi 10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2010.10.007Madruga, F.J., Ibarra-Castanedo, C., Conde, O., López-Higuera, J.M., and Maldague, X., Infrared thermography processing based on higher-order statistics, NDT&E Int., 2010, vol. 43, pp. 661–666. doi 10.1016/j.ndteint.2010.07.002Meola, C., Infrared thermography of masonry structures, Infrared Phys. Technol., 2007, vol. 49, no. 3, pp. 228–33. doi 10.1016/j.infraredPosta, J., Dolejs, J., Non-destructive assessment of timber elements with an emphasis on radiometry., Intern. J. Arch. Herit., 2015, vol. 9, no.6.Válek, J., Kruschwitz, S., Wöstmann, J., Kind, T., Valach, J., Köpp, C., and Lesák, J., Nondestructive investigation of wet building material: Multimethodological approach, J. of performance of Constructed Facilities, pp. 462–472. doi 10.1061/(ASCE)CF.1943-5509.000005

Students' perception on learning methods in engineering disciplines

This article is (c) Emerald Group Publishing and permission has been granted for this version to appear here (please insert the web address here). Emerald does not grant permission for this article to be further copied/distributed or hosted elsewhere without the express permission from Emerald Group Publishing Limited.[EN] Purpose - This study explores the preferences for learning methods among the students of seven engineering disciplines in a Spanish technical university. The purpose of this paper is to investigate the students' views and from them contribute to the knowledge of the effectiveness of learning methodologies. Design/methodology/approach - An online anonymous questionnaire survey was adopted to collect students' perceptions. Seven learning methods were compared in seven engineering degrees. The authors sampled 1660 students, and 426 completed responses were analysed. In addition to a descriptive analysis of the results, a multiple correspondence analysis (MCA) was performed using R data processing software. Findings - It was found that project-based learning and problem-based learning were perceived as the more effective ones. MCA identified response patterns between the preference and the efficiency of learning methods showing that students can be classified into two groups according to their preferred level of activeness in learning. Research limitations/implications - The study focusses on a single technical university and not all engineering degrees could be sampled. However, five different engineering fields were studied and no significant differences among them were found. Practical implications - The results add up to the known literature showing that students have different learning needs and consequently they perceive some methods as more effective. Instructors can use this information to strengthen their learning activities. Results also suggest that students can be classified into two groups in relation to their level of activeness in learning. This can also help to enhance general student motivation if two paths with different levels of activeness are planned. Originality/value - No previous studies have compared several learning methods in different engineering fields. Thus, this study contributes to fill this gap and contributes to the body of evidence around learning methodologies from the perspective of students.Vidal Rodriguez, B.; Fenollosa Ribera, ML.; Ribal, J.; Sanchis Kilders, P.; García-Rupérez, J.; Bes-Piá, M.; Blasco-Tamarit, E.... (2022). Students' perception on learning methods in engineering disciplines. Journal of Applied Research in Higher Education. 14(3):946-957. https://doi.org/10.1108/JARHE-01-2021-0041S94695714

Development of a gas chromatography - mass spectrometry method for the determination of carbon disulfide in the atmosphere

[EN] Carbon disulfide (CS2), a relevant reduced sulfur compound in air, is well-known for its malodor and its significant effect on global atmospheric chemistry. Therefore, a reliable method for determining CS2 in atmospheric samples has been developed based on solid-phase sampling and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). Two types of solid-phase sampling supports (Orbo-32 and SKC) and the elution with organic solvents - hexane and toluene - were evaluated for low-volume outdoor sampling. Recovery studies and the standard addition method were carried out to demonstrate the proper determination of CS2 in the absence of the influence of interferences such as ozone, hydrogen sulfide or water - important atmospheric pollutants. The proposed methodology was validated by performing experiments in a high-volume smog chamber and by comparison with two reference optical methods, Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) and Differential Optical Absorption Spectroscopy (DOAS) installed in these facilities. Satisfactory analytical parameters were reported: fast analysis, a correct repeatability of 6±1% and reproducibility of 14±3%, and low detection limits of 0.3-0.9pgm-3. Finally, the method was successfully applied to industrial samples near a pulp factory area, where a high correlation between industrial emissions and reported carbon disulfide concentrations were observed. © 2011 Elsevier B.V.The research leading to these results received funding from the Centro de Investigacion del Medio Ambiente (CIMA), Consejeria de Medio Ambiente, Gobierno de Cantabria. The Instituto Universitario CEAM-UMH is partly supported by Generalitat Valenciana, Fundacion Bancaja, and the projects GRACCIE (Consolider-Ingenio 2010) and FEEDBACKS (Prometeo - Generalitat Valenciana). We also acknowledged the European Community's Seventh Framework Program under the grant agreement no. 228335 (Eurochamp2), the Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation, through INNPLANTA project: PCT-440000-2010-003 and the EUPHORE staff for their support in the chamber experiments. The authors also thank J.T.B. for his contribution.Borrás García, EM.; Ródenas, M.; Dieguez, J.; Pérez-García, M.; Lomba, R.; Lavin, J.; Tortajada-Genaro, LA. (2012). Development of a gas chromatography - mass spectrometry method for the determination of carbon disulfide in the atmosphere. Microchemical Journal. 101:37-42. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.microc.2011.10.002S374210

Local administration of porcine immunomodulatory, chemotactic and angiogenic extracellular vesicles using engineered cardiac scaffolds for myocardial infarction

The administration of extracellular vesicles (EV) from mesenchymal stromal cells (MSC) is a promising cell-free nanotherapy for tissue repair after myocardial infarction (MI). However, the optimal EV delivery strategy remains undetermined. Here, we designed a novel MSC-EV delivery, using 3D scaffolds engineered from decellularised cardiac tissue as a cell-free product for cardiac repair. EV from porcine cardiac adipose tissue-derived MSC (cATMSC) were purified by size exclusion chromatography (SEC), functionally analysed and loaded to scaffolds. cATMSC-EV markedly reduced polyclonal proliferation and pro-inflammatory cytokines production (IFNγ, TNFα, IL12p40) of allogeneic PBMC. Moreover, cATMSC-EV recruited outgrowth endothelial cells (OEC) and allogeneic MSC, and promoted angiogenesis. Fluorescently labelled cATMSC-EV were mixed with peptide hydrogel, and were successfully retained in decellularised scaffolds. Then, cATMSC-EV-embedded pericardial scaffolds were administered in vivo over the ischemic myocardium in a pig model of MI. Six days from implantation, the engineered scaffold efficiently integrated into the post-infarcted myocardium. cATMSC-EV were detected within the construct and MI core, and promoted an increase in vascular density and reduction in macrophage and T cell infiltration within the damaged myocardium. The confined administration of multifunctional MSC-EV within an engineered pericardial scaffold ensures local EV dosage and release, and generates a vascularised bioactive niche for cell recruitment, engraftment and modulation of short-term post-ischemic inflammation