Fast-Degradable Microbeads Encapsulating Human Umbilical Cord Stem Cells in Alginate for Muscle Tissue Engineering

Human umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells (hUCMSCs) are inexhaustible and can be obtained without an invasive surgery. To date, there has been no report on seeding hUCMSCs in three-dimensional scaffolds for muscle tissue engineering. The objectives of this study were to (1) investigate hUCMSC seeding in a scaffold for muscle engineering and (2) develop a novel construct consisting of hUCMSC-encapsulating and fast-degradable microbeads inside a hydrogel matrix. The rationale was that the hydrogel matrix would maintain the defect volume, while the microbeads would degrade to release the cells and concomitantly create macropores in the matrix. hUCMSCs were encapsulated in alginate-fibrin microbeads, which were packed in an Arg-Gly-Asp (RGD)-modified alginate matrix (AM). This construct is referred to as hUCMSC-microbead-AM. The control consisted of the usual cell encapsulation in AM without microbeads (referred to as hUCMSC-AM). In the hUCMSC-AM construct, the hUCMSCs showed as round dots with no spreading at 1–14 days. In contrast, cells in the hUCMSC-microbead-AM construct had a healthy spreading and elongated morphology. The microbeads successfully degraded and released the cells at 8 days. Myogenic expressions for hUCMSC-microbead-AM were more than threefold those of hUCMSC-AM (p<0.05). Immunofluorescence for myogenic markers was much stronger for hUCMSC-microbead-AM than hUCMSC-AM. Muscle creatine kinase of hUCMSC-microbead-AM at 14 days was twofold that of hUCMSC-AM (p<0.05). In conclusion, hUCMSC encapsulation in novel fast-degradable microbeads inside a hydrogel matrix was investigated for muscle engineering. Compared to the usual method of seeding cells in a hydrogel matrix, hUCMSC-microbead-AM construct had greatly improved cell viability and myogenic differentiation, and hence, is promising to enhance muscle regeneration

Enamel remineralization via poly(amido amine) and adhesive resin containing calcium phosphate nanoparticles

Objectives:The objective of this study was to investigate enamel remineralization using salivary statherin pro-tein-inspired poly(amidoamine) dendrimer (SN15-PAMAM) and adhesive containing nanoparticles of amor-phous calcium phosphate (NACP) in a cyclic artificial saliva/demineralizing solution for thefirst time.Methods:The enamel shear bond strengths of NACP adhesives were measured compared to commercial adhesive(Scotchbond Multi-Purpose, 3 M). Adhesive disks containing NACP were tested for calcium (Ca) and phosphorus(P) ions release. Four groups were tested: (1) enamel control, (2) enamel with NACP, (3) enamel with SN15-PAMAM, and (4) enamel with SN15-PAMAM + NACP. The specimens were treated with cyclic artificial saliva/demineralizing solution for 28 days. The remineralized enamel specimens were examined by surface and cross-sectional hardness test.Results:NACP adhesive yielded a similar shear bond strength to commercial control (Scotchbond Multi-Purpose,3 M). NACP adhesive released high levels of Ca and P ions. At 28 days, the enamel hardness of SN15-PAMAM +NACP group was 2.89 ± 0.13 GPa, significantly higher than that of control group (1.46 ± 0.10 GPa) (p< 0.05).SN15-PAMAM + NACP increased the enamel cross-sectional hardness at 28 days; at 25μm, enamel cross-sectional hardness was 90 % higher than that of control group (p< 0.05).Significance:The novel SN15-PAMAM + NACP adhesive method could achieve 90 % higher enamel reminer-alization of the artificial caries than the control under acid challenge for thefirst time. This method is promisingfor use after tooth cavity preparation, or as a coating on enamel with white spot lesions (WSLs) for prevention, toreduce secondary caries, prevent caries procession and protect tooth structures

Novel colorectal endoscopic in vivo imaging and resection practice: a short practice guide for interventional endoscopists

Colorectal cancer remains a leading cause of cancer death in the UK. With the advent of screening programmes and developing techniques designed to treat and stage colorectal neoplasia, there is increasing pressure on the colonoscopist to keep up to date with the latest practices in this area. This review looks at the basic principles behind endoscopic mucosal resection and forward to the potential endoscopic tools, including high-magnification chromoscopic colonoscopy, high-frequency miniprobe ultrasound and confocal laser scanning endomicroscopic colonoscopy, that may soon become part of routine colorectal cancer management

Análisis de niveles de resiliencia en escolares antioqueños expuestos a problemáticas de violencias: propuesta pedagógica para la implementación de la cátedra de la paz

Este trabajo tiene como investigar, evaluar los niveles de resiliencia en los escolares de una de las instituciones públicas del municipio, una institución de inclusión donde se recibe a los estudiantes expulsados de las demás instituciones municipales, realidades atravesadas por el dolor, la guerra, la pobreza y la esperanza agónica. Analizar los niveles de resiliencia de los estudiantes grado de décimo y once y su relación con el contexto de violencia al que están expuestos los adolescentes, permitir a través de este análisis, presentar a la comunidad académica y social una estrategia pedagógica para ser desarrollada a través de la cátedra de la paz, que favorezca la convivencia y la construcción de paz desde el colegio.Magister en EducaciónMaestrí

Global surveillance of cancer survival 1995-2009: analysis of individual data for 25,676,887 patients from 279 population-based registries in 67 countries (CONCORD-2)

BACKGROUND: Worldwide data for cancer survival are scarce. We aimed to initiate worldwide surveillance of cancer survival by central analysis of population-based registry data, as a metric of the effectiveness of health systems, and to inform global policy on cancer control. METHODS: Individual tumour records were submitted by 279 population-based cancer registries in 67 countries for 25·7 million adults (age 15-99 years) and 75,000 children (age 0-14 years) diagnosed with cancer during 1995-2009 and followed up to Dec 31, 2009, or later. We looked at cancers of the stomach, colon, rectum, liver, lung, breast (women), cervix, ovary, and prostate in adults, and adult and childhood leukaemia. Standardised quality control procedures were applied; errors were corrected by the registry concerned. We estimated 5-year net survival, adjusted for background mortality in every country or region by age (single year), sex, and calendar year, and by race or ethnic origin in some countries. Estimates were age-standardised with the International Cancer Survival Standard weights. FINDINGS: 5-year survival from colon, rectal, and breast cancers has increased steadily in most developed countries. For patients diagnosed during 2005-09, survival for colon and rectal cancer reached 60% or more in 22 countries around the world; for breast cancer, 5-year survival rose to 85% or higher in 17 countries worldwide. Liver and lung cancer remain lethal in all nations: for both cancers, 5-year survival is below 20% everywhere in Europe, in the range 15-19% in North America, and as low as 7-9% in Mongolia and Thailand. Striking rises in 5-year survival from prostate cancer have occurred in many countries: survival rose by 10-20% between 1995-99 and 2005-09 in 22 countries in South America, Asia, and Europe, but survival still varies widely around the world, from less than 60% in Bulgaria and Thailand to 95% or more in Brazil, Puerto Rico, and the USA. For cervical cancer, national estimates of 5-year survival range from less than 50% to more than 70%; regional variations are much wider, and improvements between 1995-99 and 2005-09 have generally been slight. For women diagnosed with ovarian cancer in 2005-09, 5-year survival was 40% or higher only in Ecuador, the USA, and 17 countries in Asia and Europe. 5-year survival for stomach cancer in 2005-09 was high (54-58%) in Japan and South Korea, compared with less than 40% in other countries. By contrast, 5-year survival from adult leukaemia in Japan and South Korea (18-23%) is lower than in most other countries. 5-year survival from childhood acute lymphoblastic leukaemia is less than 60% in several countries, but as high as 90% in Canada and four European countries, which suggests major deficiencies in the management of a largely curable disease. INTERPRETATION: International comparison of survival trends reveals very wide differences that are likely to be attributable to differences in access to early diagnosis and optimum treatment. Continuous worldwide surveillance of cancer survival should become an indispensable source of information for cancer patients and researchers and a stimulus for politicians to improve health policy and health-care systems

Human bone marrow stem cell-encapsulating calcium phosphate scaffolds for bone repair

Larissa . Allées et venues. In: Sorcières : les femmes vivent, n°11, 1978. Espaces et lieux. pp. 10-11

Do Dental Resin Composites Accumulate More Oral Biofilms and Plaque than Amalgam and Glass Ionomer Materials?

A long-time drawback of dental composites is that they accumulate more biofilms and plaques than amalgam and glass ionomer restorative materials. It would be highly desirable to develop a new composite with reduced biofilm growth, while avoiding the non-esthetics of amalgam and low strength of glass ionomer. The objectives of this study were to: (1) develop a protein-repellent composite with reduced biofilms matching amalgam and glass ionomer for the first time; and (2) investigate their protein adsorption, biofilms, and mechanical properties. Five materials were tested: A new composite containing 3% of protein-repellent 2-methacryloyloxyethyl phosphorylcholine (MPC); the composite with 0% MPC as control; commercial composite control; dental amalgam; resin-modified glass ionomer (RMGI). A dental plaque microcosm biofilm model with human saliva as inoculum was used to investigate metabolic activity, colony-forming units (CFU), and lactic acid production. Composite with 3% MPC had flexural strength similar to those with 0% MPC and commercial composite control (p &gt; 0.1), and much greater than RMGI (p &lt; 0.05). Composite with 3% MPC had protein adsorption that was only 1/10 that of control composites (p &lt; 0.05). Composite with 3% MPC had biofilm CFU and lactic acid much lower than control composites (p &lt; 0.05). Biofilm growth, metabolic activity and lactic acid on the new composite with 3% MPC were reduced to the low level of amalgam and RMGI (p &gt; 0.1). In conclusion, a new protein-repellent dental resin composite reduced oral biofilm growth and acid production to the low levels of non-esthetic amalgam and RMGI for the first time. The long-held conclusion that dental composites accumulate more biofilms than amalgam and glass ionomer is no longer true. The novel composite is promising to finally overcome the major biofilm-accumulation drawback of dental composites in order to reduce biofilm acids and secondary caries