Seasonal Characterization of the Aerobiome in Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplant Rooms: Potential Risk for Immunosuppressed Patients.

Infections pose a risk for patients undergoing hematopoietic stem cell (HSC) transplants due to their immunosuppression, making them susceptible to opportunistic infections. Therefore, understanding the composition of the aerobiome in this area is vital. The aim of this study was to characterize the aerobiome in an HSC transplant area, evaluating the impact of infrastructure and health personnel operations on air contamination.

The Kynurenine Pathway, Aryl Hydrocarbon Receptor, and Alzheimer's Disease.

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the leading cause of dementia, mainly affecting elderly individuals. AD is characterized by β-amyloid plaques, abnormal tau tangles, neuronal loss, and metabolic disruptions. Recent studies have revealed the involvement of the kynurenine (KP) pathway and the aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) in AD development.

Establishment of induced pluripotent stem cell lines derived from Parkinson's disease Mexican patients: A sporadic (UNAMi002-A) and a familial (UNAMi003-A) case carrying a mutation in PINK1.

Parkinson's disease (PD) is characterized by the progressive loss of dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra pars compacta, which results in a prominent reduction of striatal dopamine levels leading to motor alterations. The mechanisms underlying neurodegeneration in PD remain unknown. Here, we generated an induced pluripotent stem cell line from dermal fibroblasts of a Mexican patient diagnosed with sporadic PD (UNAMi002-A) and another cell line from dermal fibroblasts of a patient carrying the point mutation c.

In situ and in vitro evaluation of two antiseptics for blood bank based on chlorhexidine gluconate/isopropyl alcohol and povidone-iodine.

Background: Poor disinfection is the main cause of blood contamination, so its elimination is key to limiting the entry of bacteria into the collection system. With the advancement of antiseptic technology, antiseptics with sterile, disposable applicators are now available.

Aim: To evaluate in situ two antiseptics (with and without applicators) for blood banks and to demonstrate in vitro antiseptic activity on bacterial biofilms of importance in transfusion medicine.

Thinking outside the black box: are the brain endothelial cells the new main target in Alzheimer's disease?

The blood-brain barrier is the interface through which the brain interacts with the milieu and consists mainly of a sophisticated network of brain endothelial cells that forms blood vessels and selectively moves molecules inside and outside the brain through multiple mechanisms of transport. Although brain endothelial cell function is crucial for brain homeostasis, their role in neurodegenerative diseases has historically not been considered with the same importance as other brain cells such as microglia, astroglia, neurons, or even molecules such as amyloid beta, Tau, or alpha-synuclein. Alzheimer's disease is the most common neurodegenerative disease, and brain endothelial cell dysfunction has been reported by several groups.

Generation of a human induced pluripotent stem cell line (UNAMi001-A) from a Mexican patient with sporadic Parkinson's disease.

Parkinson's disease (PD) is a neurodegenerative disease caused by progressive loss of dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra pars compacta, which results in motor alterations. The exact mechanisms underlying the dopaminergic neurodegeneration in PD are still unknown. Here, we generated a human induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC) line from dermal fibroblasts of a Mexican patient diagnosed with sporadic PD.

The Impairment of Blood-Brain Barrier in Alzheimer's Disease: Challenges and Opportunities with Stem Cells.

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the most common neurodegenerative disorder and its prevalence is increasing. Nowadays, very few drugs effectively reduce AD symptoms and thus, a better understanding of its pathophysiology is vital to design new effective schemes. Presymptomatic neuronal damage caused by the accumulation of Amyloid β peptide and Tau protein abnormalities remains a challenge, despite recent efforts in drug development.

Disinfection efficacy of ozone on ESKAPE bacteria biofilms: Potential use in difficult-to-access medical devices.

Background: Medical devices can be reservoirs of multidrug-resistant bacteria that may be involved in the acquisition of infections since bacteria with the ability to form biofilms that are difficult to eradicate, mainly in mechanical ventilators. The aim of this work was to evaluate the efficacy of O against biofilms of bacteria ESKAPE group through disinfection studies.

Methods: The formation of biofilms of ESKAPE group bacteria was induced in vitro.

Cryopreservation of Gametes and Embryos and Their Molecular Changes.

The process of freezing cells or tissues and depositing them in liquid nitrogen at -196 °C is called cryopreservation. Sub-zero temperature is not a physiological condition for cells and water ice crystals represent the main problem since they induce cell death, principally in large cells like oocytes, which have a meiotic spindle that degenerates during this process. Significantly, cryopreservation represents an option for fertility preservation in patients who develop gonadal failure for any condition and those who want to freeze their germ cells for later use.

Dynamic landscape of chromatin accessibility and transcriptomic changes during differentiation of human embryonic stem cells into dopaminergic neurons.

Chromatin architecture influences transcription by modulating the physical access of regulatory factors to DNA, playing fundamental roles in cell identity. Studies on dopaminergic differentiation have identified coding genes, but the relationship with non-coding genes or chromatin accessibility remains elusive. Using RNA-Seq and ATAC-Seq we profiled differentially expressed transcripts and open chromatin regions during early dopaminergic neuron differentiation.

FAM20C Overview: Classic and Novel Targets, Pathogenic Variants and Raine Syndrome Phenotypes.

is a gene coding for a protein kinase that targets S-X-E/pS motifs on different phosphoproteins belonging to diverse tissues. Pathogenic variants of are responsible for Raine syndrome (RS), initially described as a lethal and congenital osteosclerotic dysplasia characterized by generalized atherosclerosis with periosteal bone formation, characteristic facial dysmorphisms and intracerebral calcifications. The aim of this review is to give an overview of targets and variants of FAM20C as well as RS aspects.

Mouse Embryonic Stem Cells Expressing GDNF Show Enhanced Dopaminergic Differentiation and Promote Behavioral Recovery After Grafting in Parkinsonian Rats.

Parkinson's disease (PD) is characterized by the progressive loss of midbrain dopaminergic neurons (DaNs) of the and the decrease of dopamine in the brain. Grafting DaN differentiated from embryonic stem cells (ESCs) has been proposed as an alternative therapy for current pharmacological treatments. Intrastriatal grafting of such DaNs differentiated from mouse or human ESCs improves motor performance, restores DA release, and suppresses dopamine receptor super-sensitivity.

Human Keratinocytes Adopt Neuronal Fates After Transplantation in the Developing Rat Brain.

Human skin contains keratinocytes in the epidermis. Such cells share their ectodermal origin with the central nervous system (CNS). Recent studies have demonstrated that terminally differentiated somatic cells can adopt a pluripotent state, or can directly convert its phenotype to neurons, after ectopic expression of transcription factors.

bactericidal activity of a carbohydrate polymer with zinc oxide for the treatment of chronic wounds.

Biological adhesives and effective topical therapeutic agents that improve wound healing are urgently required for the treatment of chronic ulcers. A biodegradable adhesive based on a carbohydrate polymer with zinc oxide (CPZO) was shown to possess anti-inflammatory activity and enhance wound healing, but its bactericidal activity was unknown. To investigate the bactericidal activity of CPZO against bacteria commonly present as infectious agents in chronic wounds.

Two Novel Variants in A Family with Raine Syndrome.

Two siblings from a Mexican family who carried lethal Raine syndrome are presented. A newborn term male (case 1) and his 21 gestational week brother (case 2), with a similar osteosclerotic pattern: generalized osteosclerosis, which is more evident in facial bones and cranial base. Prenatal findings at 21 weeks and histopathological features for case 2 are described.

Histamine Modulates Midbrain Dopamine Neuron Differentiation Through the Regulation of Epigenetic Marks.

During midbrain development, dopamine neuron differentiation occurs before birth. Epigenetic processes such as DNA methylation and demethylation as well as post-translational modification of histones occur during neurogenesis. Here, we administered histamine (HA) into the brain of E12 embryos and observed significant lower immunoreactivity of Lmx1a+ and Tyrosine Hydroxylase (TH)+ cells, with parallel decreases in the expression of early (, and late () midbrain dopaminergic (mDA) genes.

Seed Extracts Attenuate Angiogenesis in a Corneal Chemical Burn Model.

Severe corneal inflammation produces opacity or even perforation, scarring, and angiogenesis, resulting in blindness. In this study, we used the cornea to examine the effect of new anti-angiogenic chemopreventive agents. We researched the anti-angiogenic effect of two extracts, methanol (Met) and hexane (Hex), from the seed of , on inflamed corneas.

Hoxa9 and EGFP reporter expression in human Embryonic Stem Cells (hESC) as useful tools for studying human development.

HoxA9 is an evolutionarily conserved homeobox gene implicated in embryo development. To study the roles of Hoxa9 during human development we generated a transgenic H9 (hESC) line that overexpresses HoxA9 and the Enhanced Green Fluorescent Protein (EGFP), and a control H9 with a stable expression of the EGFP. The resulting H9-HoxA9-EGFP and H9-EGFP cell lines allow an efficient visualization of hESCs by fluorescent microscopy, quantification by flow cytometry and cell differentiation tracking.

Semaphorin 3C Released from a Biocompatible Hydrogel Guides and Promotes Axonal Growth of Rodent and Human Dopaminergic Neurons.

Cell therapy in experimental models of Parkinson's disease replaces the lost dopamine neurons (DAN), but we still need improved methods to guide dopaminergic axons (DAx) of grafted neurons to make proper connections. The protein Semaphorin 3C (Sema3C) attracts DAN axons and enhances their growth. In this work, we show that the hydrogel PuraMatrix, a self-assembling peptide-based matrix, incorporates Sema3C and releases it steadily during 4 weeks.

A soluble form of GAS1 inhibits tumor growth and angiogenesis in a triple negative breast cancer model.

We previously demonstrated the capacity of GAS1 (Growth Arrest Specific 1) to inhibit the growth of gliomas by blocking the GDNF-RET signaling pathway. Here, we show that a soluble form of GAS1 (tGAS1), decreases the number of viable MDA MB 231 human breast cancer cells, acting in both autocrine and paracrine manners when secreted from producing cells. Moreover, tGAS1 inhibits the growth of tumors implanted in female nu/nu mice through a RET-independent mechanism which involves interfering with the Artemin (ARTN)-GFRα3-(GDNF Family Receptor alpha 3) mediated intracellular signaling and the activation of ERK.

Neural stem cells producing an inducible and soluble form of Gas1 target and inhibit intracranial glioma growth.

Background Aims: Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is the most common and lethal primary brain tumor and current treatments have not improved its prognosis. Therefore, new strategies and therapeutic agents should be investigated. Growth arrest specific-1 (Gas1) is a protein that induces cell arrest and apoptosis of gliomas and a soluble form, tGas1, increases these effects acting in both autocrine and paracrine manners.

Transmigration of neural stem cells across the blood brain barrier induced by glioma cells.

Transit of human neural stem cells, ReNcell CX, through the blood brain barrier (BBB) was evaluated in an in vitro model of BBB and in nude mice. The BBB model was based on rat brain microvascular endothelial cells (RBMECs) cultured on Millicell inserts bathed from the basolateral side with conditioned media (CM) from astrocytes or glioma C6 cells. Glioma C6 CM induced a significant transendothelial migration of ReNcells CX in comparison to astrocyte CM.