Tipos de resistencia de la ganadería familiar en el noroeste uruguayo

Despite the advance of agrarian capitalism over the Pampas pastures, still most family farmers in Uruguay are livestock producers, dedicated to the mixed breeding of cattle and sheep. Within the framework of a more comprehensive investigation about resistance practices of family farming, concepts of Bourdieu's work are used, such as peasant habitus and practical sense, to analyze the resistance strategies of family farmers in northwestern Uruguay. An ethnographic study of sixteen families of livestock farmers, through the "Global Approach of Agricultural Exploitations" and life stories of families, allowed to identify the strategies (economic, educational, inheritance and symbolic), and typify the resistance of these family farmers. It is discussed the role of endogenous and exogenous conditions in the families' objectives and in the practices and strategies generated.A pesar del avance del capitalismo agrario sobre los pastizales pampeanos, aún la mayoría de los agricultores familiares de Uruguay son productores ganaderos, dedicados a la cria mixta de bovinos y ovinos. En el marco de una investigación mayor sobre prácticas de resistencia de la agricultura familiar, se utilizaron conceptos de la obra de Bourdieu, tales como el sentido práctico y el habitus campesino, para analizar las estrategias de resistencia de los agricultores familiares en el noroeste de Uruguay. Un estudio de tipo etnográfico de dieciséis familias ganaderas, a traves del “Enfoque Global de las Explotaciones Agrícolas” y relatos de vida de las familias, permitió identificar las estrategias  (económicas, educativas, sucesorias y simbólicas), y tipificar las resistencias de estos ganaderos familiares. Se discute el papel de las condiciones endógenas y exógenas en los objetivos de las familias y en las prácticas y estrategias generadas

Detrás de la línea de la pobreza: La vida en los barrios pobres de Montevideo

International audience¿Qué experiencia del Estado tiene el segmento más pobre de las clases populares en el país menos desigual de América? Un equipo de sociólogos nos lleva a aquellos barrios a los que se acerca el Estado buscando mejorar la vida. Caminaremos junto a los vecinos, iremos a buscar a los niños a la escuela junto a un abuelo, escucharemos historias de amor y de divorcio, recorreremos la ciudad junto a quien busca algo para vender en los contenedores de la basura. Descargaremos camiones de verdura y escucharemos al obrero de la construcción sin empleo. Miraremos el trabajo en negro de aquel que la ley no protege. Nos aterraremos con la llegada del narcotráfico al barrio. En la cárcel conversaremos de ello con un viejo ladrón de autos. ¿Y qué dicen de ello su mujer y su hija? Iremos con una madre en búsqueda de atención para su hijo discapacitado. Tomaremos mate en casitas que se inundan o que no tienen más que un cuarto. Intentaremos saber qué se hace con el dinero cuando el dinero es poco. Conversaremos con muchachas y muchachos sobre la policía, la escuela y el trabajo. Acompañaremos a los “operadores” del Ministerio de Desarrollo Social y veremos lidiar con ésta situación a trabajadores sociales, médicos, docentes, policías… Verónica Filardo, gran especialista en estudios sobre jóvenes y sobre educación en el Uruguay y Denis Merklen, uno de los más reputados observadores de las clases populares y del Estado social nos invitan aquí a un viaje fascinante de la mano de una escritura deliciosa

Detrás de la línea de la pobreza: La vida en los barrios pobres de Montevideo

International audience¿Qué experiencia del Estado tiene el segmento más pobre de las clases populares en el país menos desigual de América? Un equipo de sociólogos nos lleva a aquellos barrios a los que se acerca el Estado buscando mejorar la vida. Caminaremos junto a los vecinos, iremos a buscar a los niños a la escuela junto a un abuelo, escucharemos historias de amor y de divorcio, recorreremos la ciudad junto a quien busca algo para vender en los contenedores de la basura. Descargaremos camiones de verdura y escucharemos al obrero de la construcción sin empleo. Miraremos el trabajo en negro de aquel que la ley no protege. Nos aterraremos con la llegada del narcotráfico al barrio. En la cárcel conversaremos de ello con un viejo ladrón de autos. ¿Y qué dicen de ello su mujer y su hija? Iremos con una madre en búsqueda de atención para su hijo discapacitado. Tomaremos mate en casitas que se inundan o que no tienen más que un cuarto. Intentaremos saber qué se hace con el dinero cuando el dinero es poco. Conversaremos con muchachas y muchachos sobre la policía, la escuela y el trabajo. Acompañaremos a los “operadores” del Ministerio de Desarrollo Social y veremos lidiar con ésta situación a trabajadores sociales, médicos, docentes, policías… Verónica Filardo, gran especialista en estudios sobre jóvenes y sobre educación en el Uruguay y Denis Merklen, uno de los más reputados observadores de las clases populares y del Estado social nos invitan aquí a un viaje fascinante de la mano de una escritura deliciosa

Increased Chondrogenic Potential of Mesenchymal Cells From Adipose Tissue Versus Bone Marrow-Derived Cells in Osteoarthritic In Vitro Models

Primarily, to compare the behavior of human mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) derived from bone marrow (hBMSCs) and adipose tissue (hADSCs) in an osteoarthritic (OA) microenvironment; secondly, to investigate the reaction of these cell types in two alternative in vitro culture systems, obtained by using TNFα and/or IL1β as inflammation mediators, or by using synovial fluid harvested by OA patients (OSF) to simulate the complex inflamed knee microenvironment. 3D micromass cultures of hBMSCs or hADSCs were grown in chondrogenic medium (CTR), in the presence of TNFα and/or IL1β, or synovial fluid from OA patients. After 1 month of culture, the chondrogenic differentiation of micromasses was evaluated by gene expression, matrix composition, and organization. Both hMSCs types formed mature micromasses in CTR, but a better response of hADSCs to the inflammatory environment was documented by micromass area and Bern score evaluations. The addition of OSF elicited a milder reaction than with TNFα and/or IL1β by both cell types, probably due to the presence of both catabolic and protective factors. In particular, SOX9 and ACAN gene expression and GAG synthesis were more abundant in hADSCs than hBMSCs when cultured in OSF. The expression of MMP1 was increased for both hMSCs in inflammatory conditions, but in particular by hBMSCs. hADSCs showed an increased chondrogenic potential in inflammatory culture systems, suggesting a better response of hADSCs in the OA environment, thus underlining the importance of appropriate in vitro models to study MSCs and potential advantages of using these cells for future clinical applications. J. Cell. Physiol. 9999: 1-11, 2016. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc

Leukocyte-Rich versus Leukocyte-Poor Platelet-Rich Plasma for the Treatment of Knee Osteoarthritis: A Double-Blind Randomized Trial

Background: Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) is gaining large interest in clinical practice as a minimally invasive injective treatment for knee osteoarthritis (OA). Different preparation methods are available, and the presence of leukocytes, deemed detrimental in some preclinical studies, is one of the most debated aspects regarding PRP efficacy. Purpose: To compare the safety and effectiveness of leukocyte-rich PRP (LR-PRP) and leukocyte-poor PRP (LP-PRP) for the treatment of knee OA. Study Design: Randomized controlled trial; Level of evidence, 1. Methods: A total of 192 patients with symptomatic knee OA (Kellgren-Lawrence grade 1-3) were randomly allocated to 3 weekly injections of LR-PRP or LP-PRP. LP-PRP was obtained with a filter for leukodepletion. LR-PRP and LP-PRP were divided into aliquots of 5 mL, with a mean platelet concentration of 1146.8 x 10(9)/L and 1074.9 x 10(9)/L and a mean leukocyte concentration of 7991.4 x 10(6)/L and 0.1 x 10(6)/L, respectively. Patients were evaluated at baseline and thereafter at 2, 6, and 12 months for the primary outcome, the International Knee Documentation Committee (IKDC) subjective score; and for secondary outcomes, the Knee injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score (KOOS) subscales, EuroQol-visual analog scale (EQ-VAS), and Tegner score. Results: No differences between groups were observed in terms of absolute values or improvement of the clinical scores across all follow-up intervals. The mean IKDC subjective score at baseline and 12 months improved from 45.6 to 60.7 in the LR-PRP group as compared with 46.8 to 62.9 in the LP-PRP group (P = .626). No severe adverse events were described in either group, although 15 mild adverse events (knee pain or swelling) were reported: 12.2% for LR-PRP and 4.7% for LP-PRP (P = .101). No statistically significant difference was also found between LR-PRP and LP-PRP in terms of failures (7.8% vs 3.5%, P = .331). Conclusion: This double-blind randomized trial showed that 3 intra-articular LR-PRP or LP-PRP injections produced similar clinical improvement in the 12 months of follow-up in patients with symptomatic knee OA. Both treatment groups reported a low number of adverse events, without intergroup differences. The presence of leukocytes did not significantly affect the clinical results of PRP injections. Registration: NCT02923700 (ClinicalTrials.gov identifier)

Human Osteoblasts’ Response to Biomaterials for Subchondral Bone Regeneration in Standard and Aggressive Environments

Osteochondral lesions, when not properly treated, may evolve into osteoarthritis (OA), especially in the elderly population, where altered joint function and quality are usual. To date, a collagen/collagen–magnesium–hydroxyapatite (Col/Col-Mg-HAp) scaffold (OC) has demonstrated good clinical results, although suboptimal subchondral bone regeneration still limits its efficacy. This study was aimed at evaluating the in vitro osteogenic potential of this scaffold, functionalized with two different strategies: the addition of Bone Morphogenetic Protein-2 (BMP-2) and the incorporation of strontium (Sr)-ion-enriched amorphous calcium phosphate (Sr-ACP) granules. Human osteoblasts were seeded on the functionalized scaffolds (OC+BMP-2 and OC+Sr-ACP, compared to OC) under stress conditions reproduced with the addition of H2O2 to the culture system, as well as in normal conditions, and evaluated in terms of morphology, metabolic activity, gene expression, and matrix synthesis. The OC+BMP-2 scaffold supported a better osteoblast morphology and stimulated scaffold colonization, cell activity, and extracellular matrix secretion, especially in the stressed culture environment but also in normal culture conditions, with increased expression of genes related to osteoblast differentiation. In conclusion, the incorporation of BMP-2 into the Col/Col-Mg-HAp scaffold also represents an improvement of the osteochondral scaffold in more challenging conditions, supporting further preclinical studies to optimize it for use in clinical practice.Biomaterials & Tissue Biomechanic

Infrapatellar Fat Pad Gene Expression and Protein Production in Patients with and without Osteoarthritis

Osteoarthritis (OA) is one of the most common joint disorders. Evidence suggests that the infrapatellar fat pad (IFP) is directly involved in OA pathology. However, a comparison between OA versus non-OA IFP is still missing. Thus, the aim of this study was to compare IFP molecular, adipocytes and extracellular matrix characteristics of patients affected by OA, and patients undergoing anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction. We hypothesized that not only inflammation but also changes in adipocytes and extracellular matrix (ECM) composition might be involved in OA pathogenesis. Fifty-three patients were enrolled. IFP biopsies were obtained, evaluating: (a) lymphocytic infiltration and vascularization; (b) adipocytes area and number; (c) adipo-cytokines and extracellular matrix gene expression levels; (d) IL-6 and VEGF protein production; (e) collagen fibers distribution. OA IFP was more inflamed and vascularized compared to ACL IFP. OA IFP adipocytes were larger and numerically lower (1.3-fold) than ACL IFP adipocytes. An increase of gene expression of typical white adipose tissue genes was observed in OA compared to ACL IFP. Collagen-types distribution was different in the OA IFP group compared to controls, possibly explaining the change of the biomechanical characteristics found in OA IFP. Statistical linear models revealed that the adipocyte area correlated with BMI in the OA group. In conclusion, inflammation and fibrotic changes of OA IFP could represent novel therapeutic targets to counteract OA

Age-Dependent Remodeling in Infrapatellar Fat Pad Adipocytes and Extracellular Matrix: A Comparative Study

The infrapatellar fat pad (IFP) is actively involved in knee osteoarthritis (OA). However, a proper description of which developmental modifications occur in the IFP along with age and in absence of joint pathological conditions, is required to adequately describe its actual contribution in OA pathophysiology. Here, two IFP sources were compared: (a) IFP from healthy young patients undergoing anterior-cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction for ACL rupture (n = 24); (b) IFP from elderly cadaver donors (n = 23). After histopathological score assignment to confirm the absence of inflammatory features (i.e., inflammatory infiltrate and increased vascularity), the adipocytes morphology was determined; moreover, extracellular matrix proteins were studied through histology and Second Harmonic Generation approach, to determine collagens content and orientation by Fast Fourier Transform and OrientationJ. The two groups were matched for body mass index. No inflammatory signs were observed, while higher area, perimeter, and equivalent diameter and volume were detected for the adipocytes in the elderly group. Collagen III displayed higher values in the young group and a lower total collagen deposition with aging was identified. However, collagen I/III ratio and the global architecture of the samples were not affected. A higher content in elastic fibers was observed around the adipocytes for the ACL-IFPs and in the septa cadaver donor-IFPs, respectively. Age affects the characteristics of the IFP tissue also in absence of a pathological condition. Variable mechanical stimulation, depending on age-related different mobility, could be speculated to exert a role in tissue remodeling