Decreased neuroinflammation correlates to higher vagus nerve activity fluctuations in near-term ovine fetuses: a case for the afferent cholinergic anti-inflammatory pathway?

Motor Nucleus of Vagus---Location. Methods supplementary material: Neuroanatomical approach to locating vagal motor nucleus in fetal sheep brain (PDF 1716 kb

Engineered neural tissue for peripheral nerve repair

A new combination of tissue engineering techniques provides a simple and effective method for building aligned cellular biomaterials. Self-alignment of Schwann cells within a tethered type-1 collagen matrix, followed by removal of interstitial fluid produces a stable tissue-like biomaterial that recreates the aligned cellular and extracellular matrix architecture associated with nerve grafts. Sheets of this engineered neural tissue supported and directed neuronal growth in a co-culture model, and initial in vivo tests showed that a device containing rods of rolled-up sheets could support neuronal growth during rat sciatic nerve repair (5 mm gap). Further testing of this device for repair of a critical-sized 15 mm gap showed that, at 8 weeks, engineered neural tissue had supported robust neuronal regeneration across the gap. This is, therefore, a useful new approach for generating anisotropic engineered tissues, and it can be used with Schwann cells to fabricate artificial neural tissue for peripheral nerve repair

Paleoseismology of the southwestern Morelia-Acambay fault system, central Mexico

El sistema de fallas Morelia–Acambay (MAFS) consiste en una serie de fallas normales de dirección E–W y NE–SW que cortan la parte central del Cinturón Volcánico Transmexicano. El sistema de fallas se asocia a la formación de las depresiones lacustres de Chapala, Zacapu, Cuitzeo, Maravatio y Acambay. Las fallas E–W de MAFS aparecieron hace 7–9 millones de años durante Mioceno temprano. Las fallas NNW–SSE son más viejas y se han reactivado en el tiempo, desplazando y controlando a las depresiones lacustres E–W. Se estimaron las magnitudes sísmicas de las estructuras E–W de la región de Morelia–Cuitzeo asumiendo una ruptura cosismica. Cartografía, geología estructural y paleosismología sugieren que las estructuras de MAFS en la región de Morelia–Cuitzeo han estado activas durante el Holoceno, controlando los terremotos históricos que afectan a paleosuelos con cerámica de las culturas Pirinda–Purepecha. Estos terremotos históricos también están registrados en las fallas E–W del campo geotérmico de Los Azufres. En la región de Pátzcuaro, las estructuras E–W de MAFS también se ligan a sismos fuertes ocurridos durante épocas prehistóricas e históricas. Por ejemplo, la secuencia lacustre de Jarácuaro, en el sector meridional del lago Pátzcuaro ha registrado por lo menos tres sismos importantes (Período de PostClassic, 1845 y 1858). El sismo de 1858 (Magnitud estimada de ~7.3) generó un tsunami de 2 m de altura descrito en los archivos históricos. Un sismo similar en la actualidad devastaría esta zona del estado de Michoacán, la cual está ocupada por las poblaciones de más alta densidad. De hecho, el 17 de octubre de 2007 mientras que este articulo era escrito, ocurrieron tres sismos en la ciudad de Morelia que fueron ligados a la falla normal derecha de la Central o de La Paloma. Este hecho corroboraba la sismicidad potencial de las fallas E–W y NE–SW del TMBV. doi: https://doi.org/10.22201/igeof.00167169p.2009.48.3.2

Engineered composite tissue as a bioartificial limb graft

The loss of an extremity is a disastrous injury with tremendous impact on a patient’s life. Current mechanical prostheses are technically highly sophisticated, but only partially replace physiologic function and aesthetic appearance. As a biologic alternative, approximately 70 patients have undergone allogeneic hand transplantation to date worldwide. While outcomes are favorable, risks and side effects of transplantation and long-term immunosuppression pose a significant ethical dilemma. An autologous, bio-artificial graft based on native extracellular matrix and patient derived cells could be produced on demand and would not require immunosuppression after transplantation. To create such a graft, we decellularized rat and primate forearms by detergent perfusion and yielded acellular scaffolds with preserved composite architecture. We then repopulated muscle and vasculature with cells of appropriate phenotypes, and matured the composite tissue in a perfusion bioreactor under electrical stimulation in vitro. After confirmation of composite tissue formation, we transplanted the resulting bio-composite grafts to confirm perfusion in vivo