Regulatory insight into the European human pluripotent stem cell registry.

The European pluripotent stem cell registry aims at listing qualified pluripotent stem cell (PSC) lines that are available globally together with relevant information for each cell line. Specific emphasis is being put on documenting ethical procurement of the cells and providing evidence of pluripotency. The report discusses the tasks and challenges for a global PSC registry as an instrument to develop collaboration, to access cells from diverse resources and banks, and to implement standards, and as a means to follow up usage of cells and support adherence to regulatory and scientific standards and transparency for stakeholders.

Monitoring antibacterial permeabilization in real time using time-resolved flow cytometry.

Despite the intensive study of antibiotic-induced bacterial permeabilization, its kinetics and molecular mechanism remain largely elusive. A new methodology that extends the concept of the live-dead assay in flow cytometry to real time-resolved detection was used to overcome these limitations. The antimicrobial activity of pepR was monitored in time-resolved flow cytometry for three bacterial strains: Escherichia coli (ATCC 25922), E.

Transcriptional expression study in the central nervous system of rats: what gene should be used as internal control?

Objective: A growing number of published articles report the expression of specific genes with different behavior patterns in rats. The levels of messenger ribonucleic acid transcripts are usually analyzed by reverse transcription followed by polymerase chain reaction and quantified after normalization with an internal control or reference gene (housekeeping gene). Nevertheless, housekeeping genes exhibit different expression in the central nervous system, depending on the physiological conditions and the area of the brain to be studied.

Reuse of refinery's tertiary-treated wastewater in cooling towers: microbiological monitoring.

The study was planned to quantify the distribution of bacteria between bulk water and biofilm formed on different materials in an industrial scale cooling tower system of an oil refinery operating with clarified and chlorinated freshwater (CCW) or chlorinated tertiary effluent (TRW) as makeup water. The sessile and planktonic heterotrophic bacteria and Pseudomonas aeruginosa densities were significantly higher in the cooling tower supplied with clarified and chlorinated freshwater (CTCW) (p < 0.05).

Laboratory surveillance of dengue in Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil, from 2007 to 2013.

Background: According to official records, dengue was introduced in Brazil in the 80's; since then several epidemics have occurred. Meanwhile, in Rio Grande do Sul (RS, Southern Brazil) the first autochthonous case occurred only in 2007.

Methodology And Principal Findings: In this study we report laboratory surveillance of dengue cases and seasonality of positive cases, describe serotypes and characterize the epidemiological pattern of dengue in RS from 2007 to 2013.

Antineoplastic drugs contamination of workplace surfaces in two Portuguese hospitals.

Despite the classification as known or suspected human carcinogens, by the International Agency for Research on Cancer, the antineoplastic drugs are extensively used in cancer treatment due to their specificity and efficacy. As human carcinogens, these drugs represent a serious threat to the healthcare workers involved in their preparation and administration. This work aims to contribute to better characterize the occupational exposure of healthcare professionals to antineoplastic drugs, by assessing workplace surfaces contamination of pharmacy and administration units of two Portuguese hospitals.

Current issues in medically assisted reproduction and genetics in Europe: research, clinical practice, ethics, legal issues and policy.

Study Question: How has the interface between genetics and assisted reproduction technology (ART) evolved since 2005?

Summary Answer: The interface between ART and genetics has become more entwined as we increase our understanding about the genetics of infertility and we are able to perform more comprehensive genetic testing.

What Is Known Already: In March 2005, a group of experts from the European Society of Human Genetics and European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology met to discuss the interface between genetics and ART and published an extended background paper, recommendations and two Editorials.

Study Design, Size, Duration: An interdisciplinary workshop was held, involving representatives of both professional societies and experts from the European Union Eurogentest2 Coordination Action Project.

Examination of the ligand-binding and enzymatic properties of a bilin-binding protein from the poisonous caterpillar Lonomia obliqua.

The bilin-binding proteins (BBP) from lepidopteran insects are members of the lipocalin family of proteins and play a special role in pigmentation through the binding of biliverdin IXγ. Lopap, a BBP-like protein from the venom of the toxic caterpillar Lonomia obliqua has been reported to act as a serine protease that activates the coagulation proenzyme prothrombin. Here we show that BBPLo, a variant of lopap from the same organism binds biliverdin IXγ, forming a complex that is spectrally identical with previously described BBP proteins.

Live birth using vitrified--warmed oocytes in invasive ovarian cancer: case report and literature review.

This article reports the live birth of a healthy newborn using vitrified-warmed oocytes in a young patient with invasive mucinous ovarian carcinoma (stage Ic). Diagnosis was performed after a laparoscopic left adnexectomy. She underwent two cycles of ovarian stimulation, and 14 oocytes were vitrified before fertility-sparing surgery with uterus preservation went ahead.

Cell-penetrating peptides: A tool for effective delivery in gene-targeted therapies.

The current landscapes of novel therapeutic approaches rely mostly on gene-targeted technologies, enabling to fight rare genomic diseases, from infections to cancer and hereditary diseases. Although, reaching the action-site for this novel treatments requires to deliver nucleic acids, or other macromolecules into cells, which may pose difficult tasks to pharmaceutical companies. To overcome this technological limitation, a wide variety of vectors have been developed in the past decades and have proven to be successful in delivering various therapeutics.

Image diagnosis: Sudden paraplegia in abdominal aortic thrombosis.

A 79-year-old woman with a medical history of hypertension and cardiac surgery for mitral valve repair was seen in the Emergency Department after falling to the floor in her bedroom. Acute abdominal aortic occlusion is an uncommon condition frequently resulting from saddle embolism or thrombus of an atherosclerotic plaque. Sudden neurologic symptoms can occur.

Intracellular nucleic acid delivery by the supercharged dengue virus capsid protein.

Supercharged proteins are a recently identified class of proteins that have the ability to efficiently deliver functional macromolecules into mammalian cells. They were first developed as bioengineering products, but were later found in the human proteome. In this work, we show that this class of proteins with unusually high net positive charge is frequently found among viral structural proteins, more specifically among capsid proteins.

Melting curve analysis for the screening of hepatitis B virus genotypes A, D and F in patients from a general hospital in southern Brazil.

Context: Hepatitis B virus (HBV) can cause fulminant hepatitis, cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma, and is one of the most common causes of acute and chronic liver failure. The genetic variants of HBV can be decisive for the evolution of these diseases as well as for the election of therapy.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to evaluate and standardize an in house methodology based on the analysis of the melting curve polymerase chain reaction (PCR) of real-time (qPCR) to screen for genotypes A, D and F of HBV in patients from a hospital in Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil.

Nucleic acid delivery by cell penetrating peptides derived from dengue virus capsid protein: design and mechanism of action.

Cell penetrating peptides (CPPs) can be used as drug delivery systems for different therapeutic molecules. In this work two novel CPPs, pepR and pepM, designed from two domains of the dengue virus (DENV) capsid protein, were studied for their ability to deliver nucleic acids into cells as non-covalently bound cargo. Translocation studies were performed by confocal microscopy in HepG2, BHK and HEK cell lineages, astrocytes and peripheral blood mononuclear cells.

Current issues in medically assisted reproduction and genetics in Europe: research, clinical practice, ethics, legal issues and policy. European Society of Human Genetics and European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology.

In March 2005, a group of experts from the European Society of Human Genetics and European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology met to discuss the interface between genetics and assisted reproductive technology (ART), and published an extended background paper, recommendations and two Editorials. Seven years later, in March 2012, a follow-up interdisciplinary workshop was held, involving representatives of both professional societies, including experts from the European Union Eurogentest2 Coordination Action Project. The main goal of this meeting was to discuss developments at the interface between clinical genetics and ARTs.

Antimicrobial hydrogels for the treatment of infection.

The increasing prevalence of microbial infections, especially those associated with impaired wound healing and biomedical implant failure has spurred the development of new materials having antimicrobial activity. Hydrogels are a class of highly hydrated material finding use in diverse medical applications such as drug delivery, tissue engineering, as wound fillers, and as implant coatings, to name a few. The biocompatible nature of many gels make them a convenient starting platform to develop selectively active antimicrobial materials.

Genomic analysis of pandemic and post-pandemic influenza A pH1N1 viruses isolated in Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil.

During the 2009 influenza A pH1N1 pandemics in Brazil, the state that was most affected was Rio Grande do Sul (RS), with over 3,000 confirmed cases, including 298 deaths. While no cases were confirmed in 2010, 103 infections with 14 deaths by pH1N1 were reported in 2011. Genomic analysis of the circulating viruses is fundamental for understanding viral evolution and supporting vaccine development against these pathogens.

From antimicrobial to anticancer peptides. A review.

Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) are part of the innate immune defense mechanism of many organisms. Although AMPs have been essentially studied and developed as potential alternatives for fighting infectious diseases, their use as anticancer peptides (ACPs) in cancer therapy either alone or in combination with other conventional drugs has been regarded as a therapeutic strategy to explore. As human cancer remains a cause of high morbidity and mortality worldwide, an urgent need of new, selective, and more efficient drugs is evident.

Does culture medium influence offspring birth weight?

Objective: To determine whether the type of medium used to culture human embryos in vitro influences neonatal birth weight after IVF/intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI).

Design: A prospective study and a retrospective study.

Setting: Private assisted reproduction center.

A one-step, versatile synthesis of dibenzo [n.2.2] macrobicyclic compounds via a conformation-directed macrocyclization reaction.

A series of dibenzo [n.2.2] bicyclic compounds (n = 2-20) were prepared in one step and good yields starting from dimethyl anthracene-9,10-dicarboxylate.

Peptides as models for the structure and function of viral capsid proteins: Insights on dengue virus capsid.

The structural organization of viral particles is among the most astonishing examples of molecular self-assembly in nature, involving proteins, nucleic acids, and, sometimes, lipids. Proper assembly is essential to produce well structured infectious virions. A great variety of structural arrangements can be found in viral particles.

Revisiting hydrocarbons source appraisal in sediments exposed to multiple inputs.

The aim of this work was to test the efficiency of statistical methods as compared to the traditional diagnostic ratios to improve hydrocarbon source identification in sediments subjected to multiple inputs. Hydrocarbon determination in Guanabara Bay sediments pointed out high degradation and ubiquitous petrogenic pollution through the presence of high unresolved complex mixture. Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAHs) ratios suggested pervasive contamination derived from combustion in all sediments and failed discriminating samples despite the specificity of sources in different sampling sites.

How does vitrification affect oocyte viability in oocyte donation cycles? A prospective study to compare outcomes achieved with fresh versus vitrified sibling oocytes.

Study Question: How does vitrification affect oocyte viability?

Summary Answer: Vitrification does not affect oocyte viability in oocyte donation cycles.

What Is Known Already: Oocyte vitrification is performed routinely and successfully in IVF and oocyte donation programs.

Study Design, Size, Duration: This is a prospective study performed between June 2009 and February 2012 to compare ongoing pregnancy rates and other indices of viability between fresh and vitrified oocytes.

Decoding distinct membrane interactions of HIV-1 fusion inhibitors using a combined atomic force and fluorescence microscopy approach.

Enfuvirtide and T-1249 are two potent HIV-1 fusion inhibitor peptides. Recent studies indicate that lipids play an important role in the mode of action of those bioactive molecules. Using a combined tandem atomic force microscopy (AFM)-epifluorescence microscopy approach, we studied the interaction of both enfuvirtide and T-1249 with supported lipid bilayers.