Reconsidering the 14-day rule in human embryo research: Advice from the Dutch Health Council.

The Dutch Health Council has advised to extend the 14-day rule to 28 days and to subsume integrated stem cell-based embryo models under the same legislative regime as natural embryos. Public discussion is necessary due to the ethical issues that may emerge from studying integrated and non-integrated embryo models.

Assessment of Meat-Type Sheep Welfare Using Animal-Based Measures.

This study aimed to assess the welfare of Tunisian sheep in extensive sheep production systems using animal-based measures of ewe welfare. This study encompasses the first national survey of sheep welfare in which animal-based outcomes were tested. Animal-based welfare measures were derived from previous welfare protocols.

Perceptions of pregnancy preparation in women with a low to intermediate educational attainment: A qualitative study.

Objective: in the promotion of periconceptional health, appropriate attention has to be given to the perceptions of those who are most vulnerable, such as women with a relatively low socioeconomic status based on their educational attainment. The aim of this study was to explore these women's perceptions of pregnancy preparation and the role they attribute to healthcare professionals.

Design: we conducted semi-structured interviews with women with a low to intermediate educational attainment and with a desire to conceive, of which a subgroup had experience with preconception care.

IL-6 Inhibits Upregulation of Membrane-Bound TGF-β 1 on CD4+ T Cells and Blocking IL-6 Enhances Oral Tolerance.

Oral administration of Ag induces regulatory T cells that express latent membrane-bound TGF-β (latency-associated peptide [LAP]) and have been shown to play an important role in the induction of oral tolerance. We developed an in vitro model to study modulation of LAP on CD4 T cells. The combination of anti-CD3 mAb, anti-CD28 mAb, and recombinant IL-2 induced expression of LAP on naive CD4 T cells, independent of Foxp3 or exogenous TGF-β.

Barriers in the Uptake and Delivery of Preconception Care: Exploring the Views of Care Providers.

Objectives To examine health care professionals' views of their role and responsibilities in providing preconception care and identify barriers that affect the delivery and uptake of preconception care. Methods Twenty health care professionals who provide preconception care on a regular basis were interviewed using semi-structured interviews. Results We interviewed twelve community midwives, three General Practitioners, three obstetricians, one cardiologist specialized in congenital heart diseases and one gastroenterologist.

Usefulness of IGF-1 serum levels as diagnostic marker of nasopharyngeal carcinoma.

Background: The role of IGF-1 in promoting cancer has been investigated for many years. The aim of this study is to explore the relationship between rates of IGF-1 and NPC and to evaluate association of IGF-1 with clinical parameters.

Materials And Methods: IGF-1 levels was measured by Elisa test among 82 NPC patients and 60 healthy controls

Results: Our results showed, for the first time, a significant increased levels of IGF-I in NPC by in comparison with healthy controls (p<0.

Identification and characterization of latency-associated peptide-expressing γδ T cells.

γδ T cells are a subset of lymphocytes specialized in protecting the host against pathogens and tumours. Here we describe a subset of regulatory γδ T cells that express the latency-associated peptide (LAP), a membrane-bound TGF-β1. Thymic CD27+IFN-γ+CCR9+α4β7+TCRγδ+ cells migrate to the periphery, particularly to Peyer's patches and small intestine lamina propria, where they upregulate LAP, downregulate IFN-γ via ATF-3 expression and acquire a regulatory phenotype.

High frequency of fetal cells within a primitive stem cell population in maternal blood.

Background: During pregnancy, fetal cells enter the maternal bloodstream resulting in fetal cell microchimerism. The fetal cells persist in the mother for decades and colonize a variety of maternal organs. They are associated with maternal autoimmune diseases and may also participate in tissue repair.

Characterization and clinical application of human CD34+ stem/progenitor cell populations mobilized into the blood by granulocyte colony-stimulating factor.

A phase I study was performed to determine the safety and tolerability of injecting autologous CD34(+) cells into five patients with liver insufficiency. The study was based on the hypothesis that the CD34(+) cell population in granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF)-mobilized blood contains a subpopulation of cells with the potential for regenerating damaged tissue. We separated a candidate CD34(+) stem cell population from the majority of the CD34(+) cells (99%) by adherence to tissue culture plastic.

[Potter's reno-facial syndrome].

Potter's reno-facial syndrome is a rare innate abnormality. We bring 4 observations repertoried at the maternity of military hospital of Tunis over a period of 6 years (1997 - 2002). The purpose of our work is to determine after a review of the literature the echographic and foetopathologic characteristics, and the forecast of this syndrome.

Survival of newly postmitotic motoneurons is transiently independent of exogenous trophic support.

We compared the survival requirements of early- and late-born motoneurons from E5 chicken spinal cord. Density gradient centrifugation followed by immunopanning using SC1 antibody allowed us to purify two size classes of motoneuron. Large motoneurons retained by 6.

Survival in vitro of motoneurons identified or purified by novel antibody-based methods is selectively enhanced by muscle-derived factors.

Motoneurons were identified in vitro by a new method using the SC1 monoclonal antibody. They constituted up to 30% of total neurons in cultures of whole spinal cord from 4.5-day chicken embryos, and survived for at least 5 days in the presence of muscle extract, but not in its absence.