Historical background of regenerative medicine and tissue engineering = A regenerációs medicína és a szövetmérnökség történelmi háttere

The ancient desires of men there were emerging from time to time in the tales of many nations and are emerging actually in the sreenplays of the film industry. Flying, travelling in space, visiting other planets, achieving the eternal youth, becoming invulnerable or even the desire for quick recovery are deeply rooted in men’s fantasies and some of them are turning out step-by-step as a day-to-day reality. Regenerative medicine and tissue engineering are interdisciplinary fields of research that utilize the knowledge of engineers, scientists, and physicians to create tissue-like implants. In the most intensive research on tissue regeneration, there are taken cell samples of the patients’ relevant tissues, which after multiplication on a host artificial matrix are finally replaced to the damaged area for local regeneration. Henceforward, the regenerated tissue regains its original structure and function. The past four decades witnessed the rapid development of these fields, from laboratory experiments throughs animal testing and clinical trials to the administered therapies. Studying the history of original and novel ideas on this field is a key issue in understanding the latest achievements while appreciating the actual results and the future trends respectively. This study outlines a brief summary of the background the early history and the present challenges of regenerative medicine. In this study, I present a brief survey on the background of regenerative medicine and the principles of tissue engineering, followed by discussing the early years of these fields. In the end, I will describe the most relevant questions and scientific challenges that are still to be answered and overcome

Sustainable development goals in ecovillages

In 2015 the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs ) were ratified by 195 countries. To be achieved by 2030, the goals aim to transform our world by leaving no one behind. In 2017 the Global Ecovillage Network (GEN) investigated how 30 ecovillages from 5 continents already contributed to the UN SDGs. The results were presented on the 2018 High-Level Political Forum (HLPF). Based on the GEN research outcomes, we examined 17 international Ecovillages. We aimed to understand how ecovillages relate to the UN SDG framework. The research was done with Ecovillages Around the World subject students. Before the analysis, students became acquainted with the SDGs’ targets and their implications in different communities. The research methods were web-content analysis and self-assessment from the ecovillages’ representatives, and the results were compared. The research proved that studied ecovillages already contribute to most SDGs; still, most do not know or intend to use the SDG framework. The results indicate a communication gap between the global political community and local ecovillages. Both global and local efforts aim to support sustainable development, but there could be vast differences in the interpretation of sustainability. Therefore, there is a significant need to establish communication channels and platforms to support the partnership between stakeholder groups working for sustainability at different levels

Sustainable Development Goals In Ecovillages

In 2015 the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs ) were ratified by 195 countries. To be achieved by 2030, the goals aim to transform our world by leaving no one behind. In 2017 the Global Ecovillage Network (GEN) investigated how 30 ecovillages from 5 continents already contributed to the UN SDGs. The results were presented on the 2018 High-Level Political Forum (HLPF). Based on the GEN research outcomes, we examined 17 international Ecovillages. We aimed to understand how ecovillages relate to the UN SDG framework. The research was done with Ecovillages Around the World subject students. Before the analysis, students became acquainted with the SDGs’ targets and their implications in different communities. The research methods were web-content analysis and self-assessment from the ecovillages’ representatives, and the results were compared. The research proved that studied ecovillages already contribute to most SDGs; still, most do not know or intend to use the SDG framework. The results indicate a communication gap between the global political community and local ecovillages. Both global and local efforts aim to support sustainable development, but there could be vast differences in the interpretation of sustainability. Therefore, there is a significant need to establish communication channels and platforms to support the partnership between stakeholder groups working for sustainability at different levels.&nbsp

Core-Shell Structured PLGA Particles Having Highly Controllable Ketoprofen Drug Release

The non-steroid anti-inflammatory drug ketoprofen (KP) as a model molecule is encapsulated in different poly(lactide-co-glycolide) (PLGA) nanostructured particles, using Tween20 (TWEEN) and Pluronic F127 (PLUR) as stabilizers to demonstrate the design of a biocompatible colloidal carrier particles with highly controllable drug release feature. Based on TEM images the formation of well-defined core-shell structure is highly favorable using nanoprecipitation method. Stabile polymer-based colloids with ~200–210 nm hydrodynamic diameter can be formed by successful optimization of the KP concentration with the right choice of stabilizer. Encapsulation efficiency (EE%) of 14–18% can be achieved. We clearly confirmed that the molecular weight of the stabilizer thus its structure greatly controls the drug release from the PLGA carrier particles. It can be determined that ~20% and ~70% retention is available with the use of PLUR and TWEEN, respectively. This measurable difference can be explained by the fact that the non-ionic PLUR polymer provides a steric stabilization of the carrier particles in the form of a loose shell, while the adsorption of the non-ionic biocompatible TWEEN surfactant results in a more compact and well-ordered shell around the PLGA particles. In addition, the release property can be further tuned by decreasing the hydrophilicity of PLGA by changing the monomer ratio in the range of ~20–60% (PLUR) and 70–90% (TWEEN)

Generation and characterization of a murine model for Hereditary Spastic Paraplegia SPG11

Hereditary spastic paraplegias (HSPs) are clinically and genetically heterogenous group of movement disorders characterised mainly by a progressive spastic gait disorder and weakness of the legs, which results from a length-dependent axonopathy of corticospinal tract fibres. HSP type SPG11 is the most common recessive form and is caused by mutations in the SPG11 gene, which encodes the protein SPATACSIN. The pathophysiology of SPG11 is so far not well understood. In order to study the function of Spatacsin and to elucidate the key events leading to SPG11, Spg11 was disrupted in mice. Lack of Spatacsin in mice indeed causes a progressive gait disorder, which is paralleled by a progressive loss of cortical neurons and Purkinje cells. Degenerating neurons accumulate autofluorescent material. These deposits are associated with the lysosomal protein Lamp1, p62, a receptor for cargo destined to be degraded by autophagy, and with LC3, a marker for autophagosomes, suggesting that the deposits are related to autolysosomes. Distinct lysosomal functions, such as the processing of Cathepsin D and lysosomal pH do not differ between genotypes. Moreover, the levels of Lamp1 both in brain tissue and mouse embryonic fibroblast (MEF) lysates are not altered in knockout mice. Further supporting a defect in autophagic clearance, in knockout MEFs lipidated LC3 levels are increased and p62 levels are elevated in brain lysates. Consistently, the number of autolysosomes is increased while the number of lysosomes is decreased in KO MEFs. Upon starvation, the number of lysosomes decrease, but the lysosome number recovers upon sustained starvation only in wild-tpye MEFs. A depletion of lysosomes was also evident in vivo in Purkinje cells of 2 and 11-month-old knockout mice. These data suggest that owing to the decreased number of lysosomes, available for fusion with autophagosomes in knockout mice, autolysosomal clearance may be impaired which results in the accumulation of un-degraded material and finally causes death of particularly sensitive neurons like cortical motoneurons and Purkinje cells