Successful elimination of non-neural cells and unachievable elimination of glial cells by means of commonly used cell culture manipulations during differentiation of GFAP and SOX2 positive neural progenitors (NHA) to neuronal cells

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Although extensive research has been performed to control differentiation of neural stem cells – still, the response of those cells to diverse cell culture conditions often appears to be random and difficult to predict. To this end, we strived to obtain stabilized protocol of NHA cells differentiation – allowing for an increase in percentage yield of neuronal cells.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Uncommitted GFAP and SOX2 positive neural progenitors – so-called, Normal Human Astrocytes (NHA) were differentiated in different environmental conditions to: only neural cells consisted of neuronal [MAP2+, GFAP-] and glial [GFAP+, MAP2-] population, non-neural cells [CD44+, VIMENTIN+, FIBRONECTIN+, MAP2-, GFAP-, S100β-, SOX2-], or mixture of neural and non-neural cells.</p> <p>In spite of successfully increasing the percentage yield of glial and neuronal <it>vs</it>. non-neural cells by means of environmental changes, we were not able to increase significantly the percentage of neuronal (GABA-ergic and catecholaminergic) over glial cells under several different cell culture testing conditions. Supplementing serum-free medium with several growth factors (SHH, bFGF, GDNF) did not radically change the ratio between neuronal and glial cells – i.e., 1,1:1 in medium without growth factors and 1,4:1 in medium with GDNF, respectively.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>We suggest that biotechnologists attempting to enrich <it>in vitro </it>neural cell cultures in one type of cells – such as that required for transplantology purposes, should consider the strong limiting influence of intrinsic factors upon extracellular factors commonly tested in cell culture conditions.</p

Dental caries prevention in the Dominican Republic. A cross-sectional study of the application of preventive measures among Dominican dental practitioners in the private sector

Prevalence of dental caries is still high in developing countries affecting mainly the low-income population. Knowledge of dental caries prevention among dental practitioners is one of the main aspects for the effectiveness in the provision of preventive measures. The purpose of study is to evaluate the application of preventive measures in regards of knowledge and impediments in dental caries prevention and the provision of oral health care services among Dominican dental practitioners in the private sector. This is a cross-sectional study and data collection is from self-administered surveys to Dominican dental practitioners working for the private sector in the Dominican Republic. 308 Dominican dental practitioners participated in the study between the ages of 23-70. The majority of dentists answered positively to the application of preventive measures and knowledge of dental caries prevention. Patients’ poor oral health and poor knowledge of potential caries were a great concern, as well as the use of fluorides. The study concludes that Dominican dental practitioners have the general knowledge of dental caries prevention and provide the necessary preventive measures to the Dominican population. The study had positive results even the high prevalence of dental caries in the Dominican Republic. Some weaknesses were found for the provision of preventive measures from the private sector and the Ministry of Health, but new oral health trends and policies are taken into account. Keywords: Preventive dentistry, dental caries prevention, dental public health, Dominican Republi

Successful elimination of non-neural cells and unachievable elimination of glial cells by means of commonly used cell culture manipulations during differentiation of GFAP and SOX2 positive neural progenitors (NHA) to neuronal cells-7

.<p><b>Copyright information:</b></p><p>Taken from "Successful elimination of non-neural cells and unachievable elimination of glial cells by means of commonly used cell culture manipulations during differentiation of GFAP and SOX2 positive neural progenitors (NHA) to neuronal cells"</p><p>http://www.biomedcentral.com/1472-6750/8/56</p><p>BMC Biotechnology 2008;8():56-56.</p><p>Published online 19 Jul 2008</p><p>PMCID:PMC2488339.</p><p></p