Spiral Arteries in Second Trimester of Pregnancy: When Is It Possible to Define Expected Physiological Remodeling as Abnormal?

After undergoing remodeling, uterine spiral arteries turn into wide, flexible tubes, with low resistance. If remodeling does not occur, spontaneous abortions, intrauterine growth restriction, and pregnancy-related hypertensive disorders can ensue. Arterial transformation begins at a very early gestational stage; however, second quarter pregnancy histopathological samples have yet to pinpoint the exact moment when abnormal remodeling transpires.

Generation of Organotypic Multicellular Spheres by Magnetic Levitation: Model for the Study of Human Hematopoietic Stem Cells Microenvironment.

Background And Objective: The characteristics of human hematopoietic stem cells are conditioned by the microenvironment of the bone marrow, where they interact with other cell populations, such as mesenchymal stem cells and endothelial cells; however, the study of this microenvironment is complex. The objective of this work was to develop a 3D culture system by magnetic levitation that imitates the microenvironment of human HSC.

Methods And Results: Human bone marrow-mesenchymal stem cells, umbilical cord blood-hematopoietic stem cells and a non-tumoral endothelial cell line (CC2811, Lonza) were used to develop organotypic multicellular spheres by the magnetic levitation method.