Human Embryonic and Rat Adult Stem Cells with Primitive Endoderm-Like Phenotype Can Be Fated to Definitive Endoderm, and Finally Hepatocyte-Like Cells

Stem cell-derived hepatocytes may be an alternative cell source to treat liver diseases or to be used for pharmacological purposes. We developed a protocol that mimics mammalian liver development, to differentiate cells with pluripotent characteristics to hepatocyte-like cells. The protocol supports the stepwise differentiation of human embryonic stem cells (ESC) to cells with characteristics of primitive streak (PS)/mesendoderm (ME)/definitive endoderm (DE), hepatoblasts, and finally cells with phenotypic and functional characteristics of hepatocytes. Remarkably, the same protocol can also differentiate rat multipotent adult progenitor cells (rMAPCs) to hepatocyte-like cells, even though rMAPC are isolated clonally from cultured rat bone marrow (BM) and have characteristics of primitive endoderm cells. A fraction of rMAPCs can be fated to cells expressing genes consistent with a PS/ME/DE phenotype, preceding the acquisition of phenotypic and functional characteristics of hepatocytes. Although the hepatocyte-like progeny derived from both cell types is mixed, between 10–20% of cells are developmentally consistent with late fetal hepatocytes that have attained synthetic, storage and detoxifying functions near those of adult hepatocytes. This differentiation protocol will be useful for generating hepatocyte-like cells from rodent and human stem cells, and to gain insight into the early stages of liver development

Evaluación psicológica integral en estudiantes universitarios

This research evaluates a program called Comprehensive Psychological Assessment in university students. This program is the result of an intervention strategy to promote Integral Training. A descriptive, cross - sectional study was carried out to obtain the results of the implementation of this program. A total of 210 university students participated, 166 in the period of August-December 2013 and 44 in the period of January-July 2014. This comprehensive psychological assessment program made it possible to meet and attend to the psychological needs of students, Stress and sexuality, substance abuse, partner violence and grieving.Esta investigación evalúa un programa llamado Evaluación Psicológica Integral en estudiantes universitarios. Este programa es el resultado de una estrategia de intervención para fomentar la Formación Integral. Se realizó un estudio descriptivo, transversal para obtener los resultados de la implementación de dicho programa. Participaron en total 210 estudiantes universitarios, 166 en el periodo de agosto-diciembre 2013 y 44 en el periodo de enero-julio 2014. Este programa de evaluación psicológica integral permitió conocer y atender las necesidades psicológicas de los estudiantes en los tópicos de manejo del estrés y la sexualidad, abuso de sustancias prohibidas, violencia de pareja y duelo

Celecoxib enhances the detoxification of diethylnitrosamine in rat liver cancer

AIM: To study the effect of celecoxib (CXB) on diethylnitrosamine activation through the regulation of cytochrome P450 in a hepatocarcinogenesis model

CYP1A1, CYP1B1, GSTM1 and GSTT1 genetic variants and breast cancer risk in Mexican women

Objective. To evaluate if variants in the genes CYP1A1 (T3801C and A4889G), CYP1B1 (G119T), GSTM1 (indel) and GSTT1 (indel) are associated with breast cancer (BC) among Mexican women. Materials and methods. 952 incident cases with histologically confirmed BC were matched by age(± 5 years) and zone of residence with 998 healthy population controls. Genetic variants in genes CYP1A1, CYP1B1, GSTM1 and GSTT1were genotyped by allelic discrimination and multiplex PCR. In a subsample of women, 105 markers for ancestry were determined. Results. An increased BC risk, independent of other BC risk factors, was observed among carriers of CYP1B1 G119T genotype (T/T vs. G/G: OR=1.9; 95%CI 1.4-2.5). Conclusion. Our results support the existence of genetic susceptibility for BC conferred by CYP1B1 G119T variant among Mexican women

Application of polysaccharide-based edible coatings to improve the quality of zucchini fruit during postharvest cold storage

The use of edible coatings has surged as a response to the ever-increasing demand for ecologically-friendly methods for maintaining fruit quality during storage. This study analyses the application of different polysaccharide-based coatings, carboxymethylcellulose, chitosan, dextrin and starch, and the use of a plasticizer agent, glycerol, with dextrin shown to be the most effective in maintaining the postharvest quality of zucchini fruit during cold storage. Subsequently, to improve these results, the nutraceutical additives oleuropein and olive oil, were tested in combination with dextrin. Results showed that dextrin coatings reduced weight loss, chilling injury, and oxidative stress in zucchini fruit at low temperature, maintaining fruit quality. The natural additives obtained from the olive tree showed a higher induction of antioxidant enzymes as well as a greater accumulation of ascorbate and total phenolics, with the dextrin coating with olive oil being even more effective in maintaining the chilling injury low until the end of storage, associated to phenolic metabolism. This type of preservation could be implemented for extending postharvest life and enhancing the overall quality of zucchini fruit.Programa Operativo FEDER Andalucía 2014-2020 (Project BAGR-296-UGR20)FPI grants (MEC) (Project AGL2017-82885-C2-2-R): Universidad de Granada / CBU