Characterization of Embryonic Stem (ES) Neuronal Differentiation Combining Atomic Force, Confocal and DIC Microscopy Imaging

The ultimate clinical implementation of embryonic stem cells will require methods and protocols to turn these unspecialized cells into the fully functioning cell types found in a wide variety of tissues and organs. In order to achieve this, it is necessary to clearly understand the signals and cues that direct embryonic stem cell differentiation. This book provides a snapshot of current research on the differentiation of embryonic stem cells to a wide variety of cell types, including neural, cardiac, endothelial, osteogenic, and hepatic cells. In addition, induced pluripotent stem cells and other pluripotent stem cell sources are described. The book will serve as a valuable resource for engineers, scientists, and clinicians as well as students in a wide range of disciplines

Coexistence of osteopoikilosis with seronegative spondyloarthritis and Raynaud's phenomenon: first case report with evaluation of the nailfold capillary bed and literature review.

Osteopoikilosis (OPK) is a rare autosomal dominant bone disorder characterized by numerous hyperostotic areas that tend to localize in periarticular osseous regions. It is usually asymptomatic and is often diagnosed incidentally during X-rays. OPK may be an isolated finding or associated with other pathologies, e.g. skin manifestations, rheumatic and/or skeletal disorders. We report a literature review and, for the first time, the coexistence of OPK with seronegative spondyloarthritis and Raynaud's phenomenon in a 48-year old female. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first case of OPK studied by videocapillaroscopy, demonstrating the absence of specific microvascular abnormalities of nailfold capillaries

Microvascular damage evaluation in systemic sclerosis : the role of nailfold videocapillaroscopy and laser techniques

Microvascular damage and a decrease in peripheral blood perfusion are typical features of systemic sclerosis (SSc) with serious clinical implications, not only for a very early diagnosis, but also for disease progression. Nailfold videocapillaroscopy is a validated and safe imaging technique able to detect peripheral capillary morphology, as well as to classify and to score any nailfold abnormalities into different microangiopathy patterns. Capillaroscopic analysis is now included in the ACR/EULAR classification criteria for SSc. The decrease in peripheral blood perfusion is usually associated with microvascular damage in SSc, which may be studied by different methods. Several of these make use of safe laser technologies. This paper focuses on these new clinical aspects to assess SSc microvascular impairment

Don't forget the jumper's knee in the young sportsman: evaluation of patellar tendinopathy with a high frequency ultrasound probe.

8Patellar tendinopathy, or Jumper's knee, is a painful knee condition caused by inflammation of the patella tendon. This condition is most frequently observed in subjects who play sports that require repetitive regular jumping. Jumper's knee is frequently misdiagnosed as a minor injury and many athletes, like our patient, keep on training and competing and either tend to ignore the injury or attempt to treat it themselves. However, jumper's knee is a serious condition that requires a correct and timely diagnosis, which often necessitates ultrasound investigation in order to start the most appropriate treatment.openopenRuaro B; Cutolo M; Alessandri E; Zaottini F; Picasso R; Pistoia F; Ferrari G; Martinoli C.Ruaro, B; Cutolo, M; Alessandri, E; Zaottini, F; Picasso, R; Pistoia, F; Ferrari, G; Martinoli, C

Resistência de cultivares de brássicas à galha das crucíferas

The club-root caused by Plasmodiophora brassicae Woronin is the most serious disease in brassica and crucifer species, mainly due  to the fast propagation of the pathogen and its survival by using resistance structures. For this reason, the use of resistant cultivars is considered one of the most effective and economical ways to control this disease. This study aimed at examining the resistance to club-root in brassica crops commercialized in the metropolitan region of Curitiba. The experiment was carried out under a totally randomized design, and nineteen cultivars were tested according to the Plasmodiophora brassicae inoculation. Each treatment was composed of ten replicates, with a total of 380 experimental units. At the end of the experiment, incidence and severity was evaluated through a scale of grades. None of the cultivars studied presented resistance to the pathogen. Radish Minowase Long White (“Rábano Minowase”) and Radish Sparkler (“Rabanete Sparkler”) showed the highest tolerance to the disease. On the other hand, Cauliflower Snowball (“Couve-flor Bola de Neve”), Flat Dutch Cabbage  (“Repolho Chato de Quintal”) and Red Kohlrabi (“Couve-rábano Roxa”) presented higher degrees of severity.A Galha das Crucíferas causada por Plasmodiophora brassicae Woronin é a mais séria doença das espécies de brássicas e crucíferas, devido principalmente à rápida disseminação do patógeno e sua sobrevivência por meio de estruturas de resistência. Desta forma, o uso de cultivares resistentes é considerado um dos meios mais eficazes e econômicos de controlar a doença. O trabalho objetivou avaliar a resistência de cultivares de brássicas comercializadas na região metropolitana de Curitiba à Galha das Crucíferas. O experimento foi conduzido em delineamento inteiramente casualizado, foram testados dezenove cultivares em função da inoculação de  P. brassicae. Cada tratamento foi composto por dez repetições, o que totalizou 380 unidades experimentais. Ao final do experimento foram avaliadas a incidência e severidade por meio de escala de notas. Nenhum dos cultivares estudados apresentou resistência ao patógeno. Dentre os cultivares testados, o Nabo comprido (Rábano Minowase) e Rabanete Sparkler apresentaram maior tolerância à doença. Já os cultivares Couve-flor Bola de Neve, Repolho Chato de Quintal e Couve-rábano Roxa apresentaram maior grau de severidade

Avaliação da produção de grãos e massa seca de cinco genótipos de trigo duplo propósito.

Resumo: O trigo duplo propósito é uma alternativa para atender a necessidade de forragem no vazio forrageiro outonal e ainda proporcionar a colheita de grãos. Objetivou-se avaliar a produtividade de matéria seca e grãos de cinco genótipos de trigo duplo propósito na região das Missões-RS. Utilizou-se parcelas de 5m2 e espaçamento entre linhas de 0,0017m, sendo semeadas as cultivares BRS Pastoreio e BRS Tarumã e as linhagens PF150088, PF170297 e PF170306, indicadas e disponibilizadas pela Embrapa Trigo. O delineamento experimental foi blocos ao acaso com três tratamentos (sem corte, um corte e dois cortes) e três repetições. Avaliou-se a produção de matéria seca e grãos. A BRS Pastoreio em ausência de corte foi a maior produtora de grãos. Nos demais tratamentos os genótipos não diferiram, em relação a produção de grãos, nem matéria seca. Logo, as linhagens adaptam-se ao manejo de duplo propósito, sendo importante dar continuidade aos ensaios de avaliação

Prospective capillaroscopy-based study on transition from primary to secondary Raynaud's phenomenon: preliminary results

The objective of this prospective study was to investigate the transition from primary (PRP) to secondary (SRP) Raynaud's phenomenon (RP), in a large cohort of patients affected by isolated RP. A total of 2065 patients with RP were investigated by clinical interview, laboratory examinations, and nailfold videocapillaroscopy (NVC). Patients with negative NVC at first visit were yearly followed to monitor either the appearance of specific morphological alterations at NVC, or clinical manifestations of an underlying disease. Capillary abnormalities at NVC were scored, as well as the qualitative patterns of microangiopathy (Early, Active and Late). NVC was found negative at first visit in 1500 subjects; among them, 412 patients were evaluable and they were followed for a mean time of 5±4 years (range 2-13 years). Sixty-eight patients (16%) achieved a diagnosis of SRP during follow-up, showing normal or not specific capillary alterations at NVC 4% of patients (the diagnosis was undifferentiated connective tissue diseases), Early scleroderma-pattern 57%, Active scleroderma-pattern 7%, Late scleroderma-pattern 12%, and scleroderma-like pattern 18% of patients. The time of transition from normal/not specific capillary alterations to Early scleroderma-pattern was 4.4±3.8 years. Enlarged capillaries (diameter between 20 and 50 microns) and mild reduction of capillary density were found the more frequent markers at first NVC visit in patients who progressed to a scleroderma pattern (P=0.01). This study demonstrates in a large cohort, that almost 16% of patients initially diagnosed as affected by RP with negative NVC may transit to SRP during a mean follow-up of 4.4 years. PRP patients showing major notspecific alterations of nailfold capillaries at first NVC should be strictly monitored at least once a year since at higher risk of transition to SRP

Avaliação de linhagens e cultivares de trigo duplo propósito.

Resumo: O trigo duplo propósito é uma alternativa de diversificação produtiva, fornecendo forragem aos bovinos durante o vazio forrageiro outonal e gerando receita com a colheita de grãos. Objetivou-se realizar a avaliação da produção de matéria seca e grãos de cinco genótipos de trigo duplo propósito. Sendo, as cultivares BRS Pastoreio e BRS Tarumã e as linhagens, PF180161, PF180168 e PF180169. As parcelas experimentais foram de 5 m² com espaçamento entre linhas de 0,017m, dispostos em blocos ao acaso, com três repetições e três tratamentos (sem corte, um corte e dois cortes). Avaliou-se a produção de matéria seca e grãos. Os genótipos não diferiram em relação a produção de matéria seca. À produção de grãos da BRS Pastoreio, PF180161 e PF180169 foram superiores, sendo seguida da PF180168 e BRS Tarumã, respectivamente, no tratamento sem corte; nos demais tratamentos não diferiram. Portanto, ambos os genótipos atendem a proposta de dupla aptidão satisfatoriamente

Ptch2/Gas1 and Ptch1/Boc differentially regulate Hedgehog signalling in murine primordial germ cell migration.

Gas1 and Boc/Cdon act as co-receptors in the vertebrate Hedgehog signalling pathway, but the nature of their interaction with the primary Ptch1/2 receptors remains unclear. Here we demonstrate, using primordial germ cell migration in mouse as a developmental model, that specific hetero-complexes of Ptch2/Gas1 and Ptch1/Boc mediate the process of Smo de-repression with different kinetics, through distinct modes of Hedgehog ligand reception. Moreover, Ptch2-mediated Hedgehog signalling induces the phosphorylation of Creb and Src proteins in parallel to Gli induction, identifying a previously unknown Ptch2-specific signal pathway. We propose that although Ptch1 and Ptch2 functionally overlap in the sequestration of Smo, the spatiotemporal expression of Boc and Gas1 may determine the outcome of Hedgehog signalling through compartmentalisation and modulation of Smo-downstream signalling. Our study identifies the existence of a divergent Hedgehog signal pathway mediated by Ptch2 and provides a mechanism for differential interpretation of Hedgehog signalling in the germ cell niche

Searching for plasticity in dissociated cortical cultures on multi-electrode arrays

We attempted to induce functional plasticity in dense cultures of cortical cells using stimulation through extracellular electrodes embedded in the culture dish substrate (multi-electrode arrays, or MEAs). We looked for plasticity expressed in changes in spontaneous burst patterns, and in array-wide response patterns to electrical stimuli, following several induction protocols related to those used in the literature, as well as some novel ones. Experiments were performed with spontaneous culture-wide bursting suppressed by either distributed electrical stimulation or by elevated extracellular magnesium concentrations as well as with spontaneous bursting untreated. Changes concomitant with induction were no larger in magnitude than changes that occurred spontaneously, except in one novel protocol in which spontaneous bursts were quieted using distributed electrical stimulation