Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells from Human Placental Chorion for Perinatal Tissue Engineering Applications

The reliable derivation of induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) from a noninvasive autologous source at birth would facilitate the study of patient-specific in vitro modeling of congenital diseases and would enhance ongoing efforts aimed at developing novel cell-based treatments for a wide array of fetal and pediatric disorders. Accordingly, we have successfully generated iPSCs from human fetal chorionic somatic cells extracted from term pregnancies by ectopic expression of OCT4, SOX2, KLF4, and cMYC. The isolated parental somatic cells exhibited an immunophenotypic profile consistent with that of chorionic mesenchymal stromal cells (CMSCs). CMSC-iPSCs maintained pluripotency in feeder-free systems for more than 15 passages based on morphology, immunocytochemistry, and gene expression studies and were capable of embryoid body formation with spontaneous trilineage differentiation. CMSC-iPSCs could be selectively differentiated in vitro into various germ layer derivatives, including neural stem cells, beating cardiomyocytes, and definitive endoderm. This study demonstrates the feasibility of term placental chorion as a novel noninvasive alternative to dermal fibroblasts and cord blood for human perinatal iPSC derivation and may provide additional insights regarding the reprogramming capabilities of extra-embryonic tissues as they relate to developmental ontogeny and perinatal tissue engineering applications.Peer Reviewedhttps://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/140245/1/ten.tec.2013.0480.pd

Late recurrence of Burkitt’s lymphoma in the jaw: numb chin syndrome as the only symptom

The Numb Chin Syndrome (NCS) is defined as facial and oral numbness restricted to the mental nerve’s distribution involving the lower lip, skin of the chin, or gingiva of the lower anterior teeth. Hypoesthesia can occur unilaterally or bilaterally. Although this syndrome is rare, its importance is related to the fact that it represents the clinical manifestations of malignant diseases. Breast cancer and non-Hodgkin lymphoma are the most common cause of NCS. The patient, a 58-year-old woman, treated for a Burkitt Lymphoma (BL) nine years ago, described a two-week history of change in sensitivity and pain in the chin region, without relief with the use of analgesics. She had no headache, speech disturbance, dysphagia, visual disturbance, or other neurological symptoms. No surgical intervention has been performed recently. The intraoral examination revealed a healthy oral mucosa and a small area adjacent to the right mental nerve region that was uncomfortable to palpation. No changes were found in the bone trabeculae at cone-beam computed tomography. The contrasted magnetic resonance features made it possible to identify a change in the mandibular body extending to the entire right side, coinciding with the patient’s complaint, indicating a probable mandibular medullary invasion. The patient was submitted to a biopsy to rule out a possible recurrence of BL. The microscopic findings were consistent with the diagnosis of BL. The present report described a very unusual presentation of late recurrent BL nine years after the first treatment, which manifested as an NCS

REFUGIADOS DA ÁGUA: vulnerabilização e conflitos por acesso à água

This article presents an understanding of how the socio-environmental vulnerabilities of the populations displaced by the San Francisco River Diversion Project have turned them into water refugees. Three Rural Villages (VPR’s) are analyzed. The VPR Salão, located in Sertania/PE, and the VPR Lafayete, in Monteiro/PB, are in the East Canal. The third VPR is Irapuá I in the North Canal and is in the municipality of Piranhas/PB. These areas were affected by this project and had as one of the results the lack of access to potable water for human consume and production. This paper used the methodologies of bibliographical revision, group interviews with local people, and visits to the three VPRs. The authors conclude that the social vulnerabilization of those populations have various sources such as the deterritorialization that made them to loose social, cultural and environmental ties that are common in the rural areas and also the lack of access to drinking water and water for agricultural production, which is a responsibility of the government to provide.Cet article cherche à comprendre comment les processus de vulnérabilité socio-environnementale ont eu des répercussions sur les conflits avec les populations affectées par le déplacement forcé dans les travaux de transposition du fleuve São Francisco, les faisant devenir des réfugiés de l’eau. Trois Villages Productifs Ruraux (VPR) sont analysés, deux dans l’Axe Est – un à Sertânia/PE (VPR Salão) et un autre à Monteiro/PB (VPR Lafayete) – et le troisième dans l’Axe Nord, à São José de Piranhas/ PB (VPR Irapuá I). Ces localités ont été impactées par le projet, l’un des enjeux centraux étant la difficulté d’accès à l’eau pour la consommation humaine et la production par les familles qui y sont transférées. Pour cet article, les méthodologies de revue bibliographique, d’entretiens de groupe, de réunions et de visites de terrain auprès des VPR susmentionnés sont utilisées. Il a été conclu que la vulnérabilité sociale découle des multiples formes de déterritorialisation de ces familles, rompant les liens sociaux, culturels et environnementaux dans les communautés rurales, sans que l’État ne garantisse ses responsabilités avec le déplacement forcé des familles, le démantèlement des zones productives et le manque d’accès à l’eau avec la qualité et la quantité nécessaires à la consommation humaine et à la production agricole.Este artigo busca compreender como os processos de vulnerabilização socioambiental repercutiram nos conflitos com as populações atingidas pelo deslocamento compulsório nas obras da transposição do Rio São Francisco, fazendo com que essas se tornassem refugiadas da água. São analisadas três Vilas Produtivas Rurais (VPR’s), sendo duas do Eixo Leste – uma em Sertânia/PE (VPR Salão) e outra em Monteiro/PB (VPR Lafayete) – e a terceira no Eixo Norte, em São José de Piranhas/PB (VPR Irapuá I). Essas localidades foram afetadas pelo empreendimento, tendo como uma das questões centrais a dificuldade do acesso à água para consumo humano e produção por parte das famílias para lá transferidas. Utilizam-se, para este artigo, as metodologias de revisão bibliográfica, entrevistas em grupo, reuniões e visitas de campo às referidas VPR’s. Concluiu-se que a vulnerabilização social decorre das múltiplas formas de desterritorialização dessas famílias, rompendo vínculos sociais, culturais e ambientais das comunidades rurais, sem garantia do Estado frente às suas responsabilidades com o deslocamento forçado das famílias, o desmantelamento das áreas produtivas e o não acesso à água com a qualidade e a quantidade necessárias para o consumo humano e para a produção agrícola

Cinética das alterações na membrana plasmática relacionadas com a apoptose e necrose em espermatozóides bovinos em diferentes tempos de incubação

O tempo de incubação causa danos nas células espermáticas relacionados a necrose e/ou apoptose. O objetivo deste estudo foi avaliar as mudanças na membrana plasmática relacionadas a apoptose e necrose em espermatozóides bovinos durante 2 horas de incubação. Os espermatozóides foram incubados a 5% (v/v) CO2 em ar por 0, 30, 60, 90 e 120 minutes. Depois de cada periodo, as células espermáticas foram incubadas com as sondas fluorescentes Yo-pro e iodito de propideo (PI) para detectar mudanças na membrana plasmática relacionadas a apoptose e a necrose, respectivamente. Usando Yo-pro/PI assay, três subpopulações diferentes de células espermáticas são detectadas pelo citômetro de fluxo: a) células espermáticas em necrose (PI+ and Yo-pro-/+); b) células espermáticas em apoptose (Yo-pro+ and PI-) e c) células espermáticas vivas (Yo-pro- and PI-). A porcentagem de células vivas (membrana plasmática integra) significativamente diminui durante 2 horas de incubação, por outro lado, a porcentagem de espermatozóides em necrose e apoptose aumentaram durante a incubação. As mudanças na integridade da membrana plasmática foram correlacionadas com o tempo de incubação. Enquanto as células vivas foram correlacionadas negativamente com o aumento do tempo de incubação, necrose e apoptose foram correlacionadas positivamente. Também foi observado que necrose foi o principal dano causado pelo tempo de incubação nas células espermáticas. Conclui-se que o tempo de incubação causa alteração na integridade da membrana plasmática relacionadas a necrose e apoptose nas células espermáticas, sendo que necrose foi observada em maior quantidade em todos os tempos de incubação.Incubation time induce damages in sperm cells by necrosis and/or apoptosis. The aim of this study was the evaluation of changes in plasma membrane related to apoptosis and necrosis in bovine sperm cells through 2 hours of incubation. Sperm cells were incubated at 5% (v/v) CO2 in air for 0, 30, 60, 90 and 120 minutes. After each period, sperm cells were incubated with fluorescent probes Yo-pro and propidium iodide (PI) to detect change in plasma membrane related to apoptosis and necrosis respectively. Using Yo-pro/PI assay, three different subpopulations of sperm cells were detected by flow cytometry: a) necrotic sperm cells (PI+ and Yo-pro-/+); b) apoptotic sperm cells (Yo-pro+ and PI-) and c) living cells (Yo-pro- and PI-). The percentage of live cells (plasma membrane integrity) significantly decreases over 2 hour of incubation, on the other hand, the percentage of necrotic and apoptotic cells increase during incubation. Changes in plasma membrane integrity were correlated to incubation time. While live cells were negatively correlated with the increase of incubation time, necrosis and apoptosis were positively correlated. It was also observed that necrosis was the main damage in sperm cells in all incubation times. In conclusion, incubation time induces changes in plasma membrane integrity related to necrosis and apoptosis, whether necrosis is present in higher quantity in all incubation times

Functional cardiac fibroblasts derived from human pluripotent stem cells via second heart field progenitors

Cardiac fibroblasts (CFs) play critical roles in heart development, homeostasis, and disease. The limited availability of human CFs from native heart impedes investigations of CF biology and their role in disease. Human pluripotent stem cells (hPSCs) provide a highly renewable and genetically defined cell source, but efficient methods to generate CFs from hPSCs have not been described. Here, we show differentiation of hPSCs using sequential modulation of Wnt and FGF signaling to generate second heart field progenitors that efficiently give rise to hPSC-CFs. The hPSC-CFs resemble native heart CFs in cell morphology, proliferation, gene expression, fibroblast marker expression, production of extracellular matrix and myofibroblast transformation induced by TGFβ1 and angiotensin II. Furthermore, hPSC-CFs exhibit a more embryonic phenotype when compared to fetal and adult primary human CFs. Co-culture of hPSC-CFs with hPSC-derived cardiomyocytes distinctly alters the electrophysiological properties of the cardiomyocytes compared to co-culture with dermal fibroblasts. The hPSC-CFs provide a powerful cell source for research, drug discovery, precision medicine, and therapeutic applications in cardiac regeneration.J.L.C. received funding from Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior and Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Distrito Federal. The work was funded by NIH R01 HL129798 (T.J.K.); NIH U01 HL134764 (T.J.K.); S10RR025644 (T.J.K.); and the UW Institute for Clinical and Translational Research, grant UL1TR000427, from the Clinical and Translational Science Award of the NCATS/NIH.S

Sobrevivendo ao início da carreira docente e permanecendo nela. Como? Por quê? O que dizem alguns estudos

The essay aims to highlight the fecundity of the Michel de Certeau works to the studies and researches in Education, his, very well know, contribution to the study of the school quotidian in the perspective of the line of research "Qualification of Teachers and Teacher’s Work". At least three scenes of this trajectory personal/professional of Certeau, called the attention, in a close reading, in his work: the first, the inversion of perspective which proposes and turns it possible to see the differences and to note the micro resistances that are the bases of micro freedoms and move borders of domination; the second, his conceptual rigor and his exigent and lucid critic which have as roots, his reflection about history, his philosophical qualification and his interest in epistemology; the third, his compromises in narrating "common practices", "the art of doing" of the practicers, the auspicious and clandestine operations. In this picture, was possible to talk about practices, creations and art at school, bringing the fecundity of his works and the influence of his thoughts in the process of Orientation of Master Dissertations.El ensayo busca poner en evidencia la fecundidad de la obra de Michel de Certeau para los estudios e investigación en Educación, su ya reconocida contribución para el estudio del cotidiano escolar, bajo la perspectiva de la línea de pesquisa "Formación de profesores y trabajo docente". Por lo menos tres escenarios de la trayectoria personal/profesional de Certeau, prendieron la atención en la lectura atenta de su obra: la primera, la inversión de perspectiva que propone y que le posibilita ver diferencias y percibir las micro-resistencias que fundan micro libertades y desplaza fronteras de dominación; la segunda, su rigor conceptual y su crítica exigente y lúcida que tiene como fuentes, su reflexión sobre la historia, su formación filosófica o su interés por la epistemología; tercera, su compromiso en narrar "prácticas corrientes", las "artes del hacer" de los practicantes, las operaciones astuciosas y clandestinas. A partir de ese escenario, fue posible hablar de prácticas, creaciones y artes en la escuela, llevando la fecundidad de su obra, la influencia de su pensamiento, durante el proceso de orientación de Disertaciones de Maestría.Este artigo foi elaborado com base na análise dos resultados de algumas dissertações e teses desenvolvidas em um mesmo Programa de Pós-Graduação em Educação que discutem a temática do "professor iniciante" em escolas públicas de anos iniciais do ensino fundamental.1 Outro traço de união entre os estudos é o fato de terem como participantes professoras que ingressavam na carreira logo após terem concluído a formação inicial (curso de Pedagogia, na maior parte deles) constituindo, assim, a passagem de estudantes a professoras. Há, ainda, em comum o fato de as participantes dos estudos terem permanecido na carreira docente, passado o período considerado pela literatura da área como de início de carreira.2 O artigo evidencia elementos que ressaltam da análise de tais estudos, a respeito das causas do mal-estar que caracteriza esse difícil momento da carreira ao qual há que "sobreviver". Pretende ainda, destacar aspectos que contribuem para o sentimento de "descoberta", graças ao qual as professoras permanecem na carreira, apesar das agruras de seu início

Avaliação Ecológica Rápida de Qualidade de Água e Bioindicadores Bentônicos no Parque Nacional da Serra do Gandarela, Minas Gerais

Durante uma disciplina de pós-graduação, realizamos uma Avaliação Ecológica Rápida sobre qualidade de água e biodiversidade de bioindicadores bentônicos no Parque Nacional (PARNA) da Serra do Gandarela, MG. Os objetivos foram: (a) capacitar profissionais na utilização de metodologias atuais em Rapid Assessment Protocols (RAP) para estudos de diagnóstico e monitoramento de integridade ecológica de ecossistemas aquáticos em regiões de cabeceira de bacias hidrográficas; (b) contribuir ao conhecimento da biodiversidade aquática em corpos d’água no PARNA Serra do Gandarela; (c) fomentar intercâmbio e colaboração entre mestrandos, doutorandos, guarda-parques, visitantes, membros de comitês de bacia, gestores ICMBio, moradores e interessados na conservação de biodiversidade no Quadrilátero Ferrífero; (d) gerar informações de base sobre qualidade de água, biodiversidade de macroinvertebrados bentônicos bioindicadores de qualidade de água no PARNA Serra do Gandarela. Os principais resultados revelam que o PARNA Serra do Gandarela é guardião de riachos de cabeceira em condições de referência, com elevada diversidade de hábitats aquáticos e ótima qualidade de água, onde vivem organismos bentônicos sensíveis, tolerantes e resistentes à poluição. Sendo a Serra do Gandarela responsável pela segurança hídrica de grande parte dos municípios do Quadrilátero Ferrífero de Minas Gerais, é extremamente importante que estes riachos em condições de referência sejam conservados e utilizados em futuros estudos de avaliação de impactos ambientais e programas de monitoramento de condições ecológicas de longo prazo. As condições de alta preservação devem servir como baliza de referência para tomadores de decisão em processos de licenciamento ambiental de empreendimentos potencialmente causadores de impactos ambientais e riscos à biodiversidade

Pervasive gaps in Amazonian ecological research

Biodiversity loss is one of the main challenges of our time,1,2 and attempts to address it require a clear un derstanding of how ecological communities respond to environmental change across time and space.3,4 While the increasing availability of global databases on ecological communities has advanced our knowledge of biodiversity sensitivity to environmental changes,5–7 vast areas of the tropics remain understudied.8–11 In the American tropics, Amazonia stands out as the world’s most diverse rainforest and the primary source of Neotropical biodiversity,12 but it remains among the least known forests in America and is often underrepre sented in biodiversity databases.13–15 To worsen this situation, human-induced modifications16,17 may elim inate pieces of the Amazon’s biodiversity puzzle before we can use them to understand how ecological com munities are responding. To increase generalization and applicability of biodiversity knowledge,18,19 it is thus crucial to reduce biases in ecological research, particularly in regions projected to face the most pronounced environmental changes. We integrate ecological community metadata of 7,694 sampling sites for multiple or ganism groups in a machine learning model framework to map the research probability across the Brazilian Amazonia, while identifying the region’s vulnerability to environmental change. 15%–18% of the most ne glected areas in ecological research are expected to experience severe climate or land use changes by 2050. This means that unless we take immediate action, we will not be able to establish their current status, much less monitor how it is changing and what is being lostinfo:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio