Longitudinal Tracking of Human Fetal Cells Labeled with Super Paramagnetic Iron Oxide Nanoparticles in the Brain of Mice with Motor Neuron Disease

Stem Cell (SC) therapy is one of the most promising approaches for the treatment of Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS). Here we employed Super Paramagnetic Iron Oxide nanoparticles (SPIOn) and Hoechst 33258 to track human Amniotic Fluid Cells (hAFCs) after transplantation in the lateral ventricles of wobbler (a murine model of ALS) and healthy mice. By in vitro, in vivo and ex vivo approaches we found that: 1) the main physical parameters of SPIOn were maintained over time; 2) hAFCs efficiently internalized SPIOn into the cytoplasm while Hoechst 33258 labeled nuclei; 3) SPIOn internalization did not alter survival, cell cycle, proliferation, metabolism and phenotype of hAFCs; 4) after transplantation hAFCs rapidly spread to the whole ventricular system, but did not migrate into the brain parenchyma; 5) hAFCs survived for a long time in the ventricles of both wobbler and healthy mice; 6) the transplantation of double-labeled hAFCs did not influence mice survival

Monitoring Reversible Tight Junction Modulation with a Current-Driven Organic Electrochemical Transistor

The barrier functionality of a cell layer regulates the passage of nutrients into the blood. Modulating the barrier functionality by external chemical agents like poly-l-lysine (PLL) is crucial for drug delivery. The ability of a cell layer to impede the passage of ions through it and therefore to act as a barrier, can be assessed electrically by measuring the resistance across the cell layer. Here, an organic electrochemical transistor (OECT) is used in a current-driven configuration for the evaluation of reversible modulation of tight junctions in Caco-2 cells over time. Exposure to low and medium concentrations of PLL initiates reversible modulation, whereas a too high concentration induces an irreversible barrier disruption due to nonfunctional tight junction proteins. The results demonstrate the suitability of OECTs to in situ monitor temporal barrier modulation and recovery, which can offer valuable information for drug delivery applications

Chylopericardium after orthotopic heart transplantation

Chylopericardium is an infrequent cause of pericardial effusions after heart surgery and to our knowledge has not been reported after orthotopic transplantation. We report the occurrence of chylopericardium in a heart transplant recipient who was successfully treated with a pericardial window, pericardiocentesis, and a diet rich in medium-chain triglycerides

Environmental Justice and the BP Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill

This Article analyzes the environmental justice implications of the BP Deepwater Horizon oil spill and proposes ways to better address these concerns currently and in the future. It explores the justice problems that have arisen with respect to the spill response, compensation, and employment and workers. The Article argues that these problems result from a mix of inadequate information, failure to incorporate environmental justice into planning, and statutory provisions that favor oil companies and limit protections for vulnerable populations. It proposes ways in which to address these causes in the context of this disaster and more broadly