Fibrin biopolymer as scaffold candidate to treat bone defects in rats

Bone tissue repair remains a challenge in tissue engineering. Currently, new materials are being applied and often integrated with live cells and biological scaffolds. The fibrin biopolymer (FBP) proposed in this study has hemostatic, sealant, adhesive, scaffolding and drug-delivery properties. The regenerative potential of an association of FBP, biphasic calcium phosphate (BCP) and mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) was evaluated in defects of rat femurs. Methods: Adult male Wistar rats were submitted to a 5-mm defect in the femur. This was filled with the following materials and/or associations: BPC; FBP and BCP; FBP and MSCs; and BCP, FBP and MSCs. Bone defect without filling was defined as the control group. Thirty and sixty days after the procedure, animals were euthanatized and subjected to computed tomography, scanning electron microscopy and qualitative and quantitative histological analysis. Results: It was shown that FBP is a suitable scaffold for bone defects due to the formation of a stable clot that facilitates the handling and optimizes the surgical procedures, allowing also cell adhesion and proliferation. The association between the materials was biocompatible. Progressive deposition of bone matrix was higher in the group treated with FBP and MSCs. Differentiation of mesenchymal stem cells into osteogenic lineage was not necessary to stimulate bone formation. Conclusions: FBP proved to be an excellent scaffold candidate for bone repair therapies due to application ease and biocompatibility with synthetic calcium-based materials. The satisfactory results obtained by the association of FBP with MSCs may provide a more effective and less costly new approach for bone tissue engineering.(AU)

Combination of heterologous fibrin sealant and bioengineered human embryonic stem cells to improve regeneration following autogenous sciatic nerve grafting repair

Background Peripheral nerve injury is a worldwide clinical problem, and the preferred surgical method for treating it is the end-to-end neurorrhaphy. When it is not possible due to a large nerve gap, autologous nerve grafting is used. However, these surgical techniques result in nerve regeneration at highly variable degrees. It is thus very important to seek complementary techniques to improve motor and sensory recovery. One promising approach could be cell therapy. Transplantation therapy with human embryonic stem cells (hESCs) is appealing because these cells are pluripotent and can differentiate into specialized cell types and have self-renewal ability. Therefore, the main objective of this study was to find conditions under which functional recovery is improved after sciatic nerve neurorrhaphy. We assumed that hESC, either alone or in combination with heterologous fibrin sealant scaffold, could be used to support regeneration in a mouse model of sciatic nerve injury and repair via autografting with end-to-end neurorrhaphy. Methods Five millimeters of the sciatic nerve of C57BL/6 J mice were transected off and rotated 180 degrees to simulate an injury, and then stumps were sutured. Next, we applied heterologous fibrin sealant and/or human embryonic stem cells genetically altered to overexpress fibroblast growth factor 2 (FGF2) at the site of the injury. The study was designed to include six experimental groups comprising neurorrhaphy (N), neurorrhaphy + heterologous fibrin sealant (N + F), neurorrhaphy + heterologous fibrin sealant + doxycycline (N + F + D), neurorrhaphy + heterologous fibrin sealant + wild-type hESC (N + F + W), neurorrhaphy + heterologous fibrin sealant + hESC off (N + F +T), and neurorrhaphy + heterologous fibrin sealant + hESC on via doxycycline (N + F + D + T). We evaluated the recovery rate using Catwalk and von Frey functional recovery tests, as well as immunohistochemistry analysis. Results The experiments indicated...

Combination of heterologous fibrin sealant and bioengineered human embryonic stem cells to improve regeneration following autogenous sciatic nerve grafting repair

Peripheral nerve injury is a worldwide clinical problem, and the preferred surgical method for treating it is the end-to-end neurorrhaphy. When it is not possible due to a large nerve gap, autologous nerve grafting is used. However, these surgical techniques result in nerve regeneration at highly variable degrees. It is thus very important to seek complementary techniques to improve motor and sensory recovery. One promising approach could be cell therapy. Transplantation therapy with human embryonic stem cells (hESCs) is appealing because these cells are pluripotent and can differentiate into specialized cell types and have self-renewal ability. Therefore, the main objective of this study was to find conditions under which functional recovery is improved after sciatic nerve neurorrhaphy. We assumed that hESC, either alone or in combination with heterologous fibrin sealant scaffold, could be used to support regeneration in a mouse model of sciatic nerve injury and repair via autografting with end-to-end neurorrhaphy. Methods Five millimeters of the sciatic nerve of C57BL/6 J mice were transected off and rotated 180 degrees to simulate an injury, and then stumps were sutured. Next, we applied heterologous fibrin sealant and/or human embryonic stem cells genetically altered to overexpress fibroblast growth factor 2 (FGF2) at the site of the injury. The study was designed to include six experimental groups comprising neurorrhaphy (N), neurorrhaphy + heterologous fibrin sealant (N + F), neurorrhaphy + heterologous fibrin sealant + doxycycline (N + F + D), neurorrhaphy + heterologous fibrin sealant + wild-type hESC (N + F + W), neurorrhaphy + heterologous fibrin sealant + hESC off (N + F +T), and neurorrhaphy + heterologous fibrin sealant + hESC on via doxycycline (N + F + D + T). We evaluated the recovery rate using Catwalk and von Frey functional recovery tests, as well as immunohistochemistry analysis. Results The experiments indicated that sensory function improved when transgenic hESCs were used. The regeneration of sensory fibers indeed led to increased reflexes, upon stimulation of the paw ipsilateral to the lesion, as seen by von-Frey evaluation, which was supported by immunohistochemistry. Conclusions Overall, the present data demonstrated that transgenic embryonic stem cells, engineered to overexpress FGF-2 in an inducible fashion, could be employed to support regeneration aiming at the recovery of both motor and sensory functions.(AU)

Multiple uses of fibrin sealant for nervous system treatment following injury and disease

Lesions to the nervous system often produce hemorrhage and tissue loss that are difficult, if not impossible, to repair. Therefore, scar formation, inflammation and cavitation take place, expanding the lesion epicenter. This significantly worsens the patient conditions and impairment, increasing neuronal loss and glial reaction, which in turn further decreases the chances of a positive outcome. The possibility of using hemostatic substances that also function as a scaffold, such as the fibrin sealant, reduces surgical time and improve postoperative recovery. To date, several studies have demonstrated that human blood derived fibrin sealant produces positive effects in different interventions, becoming an efficient alternative to suturing. To provide an alternative to homologous fibrin sealants, the Center for the Study of Venoms and Venomous Animals (CEVAP, Brazil) has proposed a new bioproduct composed of certified animal components, including a thrombin-like enzyme obtained from snake venom and bubaline fibrinogen. Thus, the present review brings up to date literature assessment on the use of fibrin sealant for nervous system repair and positions the new heterologous bioproduct from CEVAP as an alternative to the commercial counterparts. In this way, clinical and pre-clinical data are discussed in different topics, ranging from central nervous system to peripheral nervous system applications, specifying positive results as well as future enhancements that are necessary for improving the use of fibrin sealant therapy.(AU)

Multiple uses of fibrin sealant for nervous system treatment following injury and disease

Abstract Lesions to the nervous system often produce hemorrhage and tissue loss that are difficult, if not impossible, to repair. Therefore, scar formation, inflammation and cavitation take place, expanding the lesion epicenter. This significantly worsens the patient conditions and impairment, increasing neuronal loss and glial reaction, which in turn further decreases the chances of a positive outcome. The possibility of using hemostatic substances that also function as a scaffold, such as the fibrin sealant, reduces surgical time and improve postoperative recovery. To date, several studies have demonstrated that human blood derived fibrin sealant produces positive effects in different interventions, becoming an efficient alternative to suturing. To provide an alternative to homologous fibrin sealants, the Center for the Study of Venoms and Venomous Animals (CEVAP, Brazil) has proposed a new bioproduct composed of certified animal components, including a thrombin-like enzyme obtained from snake venom and bubaline fibrinogen. Thus, the present review brings up to date literature assessment on the use of fibrin sealant for nervous system repair and positions the new heterologous bioproduct from CEVAP as an alternative to the commercial counterparts. In this way, clinical and pre-clinical data are discussed in different topics, ranging from central nervous system to peripheral nervous system applications, specifying positive results as well as future enhancements that are necessary for improving the use of fibrin sealant therapy.

Antimicrobial properties of sclerotiorin, isocHromophilone VI and pencolide, metabolites from a Brazilian cerrado isolate of Penicillium sclerotiorum van Beyma

As a part of a research program that aims to identify antibacterial and antifungal substances from fungus specimen of Brazilian's cerrado soil samples, Penicillium sclerotiorum was identified as a source of secondary metabolites possessing antibiotic activities. This microorganism was cultured in a liquid medium rich in glucose for fifteen days. The resulting ethyl acetate extract was chemically fractionated leading to the isolation of three metabolites pencolide, sclerotiorin and isochromophilone VI. The antimicrobial disc assay activity of these substances towards Candida albicans, Streptomyces pyogenes, Staphylococcus aureus, Salmonella typhimurium and Escherichia coli was performed. Minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of the compounds was determined. All compounds showed distinguished antimicrobial activities.

Como parte de um programa de pesquisa visando a identificação de substâncias antibacterianas e antifúngicas a partir de espécies fúngicas isoladas de solo do cerrado, foi estudado o fungo Penicillium sclerotiorum van Beyma. Este microrganismo foi cultivado em meio líquido rico em glicose e, após extração com acetato de etila, este foi quimicamente fracionado levando ao isolamento de três metabólitos pencolídeo, esclerotiorina e isocromofilona VI. A atividade destas três substâncias, por meio de teste de difusão em discos, contra Candida albicans, Streptomyces pyogenes, Staphylococcus aureus, Salmonella typhimurium e Escherichia coli foi avaliada. A concentração inibitória mínina das substâncias ativas foi determinada.

Phenix: a ousadia do renascimento da subjetividade cidadã / Phoenix: boldness in the rebirth of citizen subjectivy

Este é um projeto de Pesquisa-intervençäo vinculado à Universidade Estadual de Maringá (UEM). Enquanto projeto de Pesquisa-intervençäo (Thiollent, 1981 e Brandäo, 1981 e 1984) pressupöe a práxis como o lócus da produçäo do conhecimento e critério de verdade. A populaçäo com a qual interagimos é atendida pelo Núcleo Social Papa João XXIII, localizado na periferia de Maringá/PR/Brasil. A nossa inserçäo neste agrupamento humano está sustentada na premissa-denúncia de Martín-Baró (1987 e 1989) de que vivemos sobre o "império da desvalorizaçäo da vida humana", forjado pelo autoritarismo socioeconômico do capitalismo e da sociedade de consumo de massas por ele engendrada (Caniato, 1997; Martin & Schumann, 1999 e Beinstein, 1999). Seus reflexos excludentes säo escamoteados pelos discursos demagógicos e ideológicos dos regimes políticos democráticos atuais. Partimos dos ensinamentos de Theodor Adorno (1965) em A Personalidade Autoritária de que tendências preconceituosas, nem sempre conscientizadas pelos indivíduos, däo sustentaçäo subjetiva a formas de organizaçäo conduzentes à barbárie. Trilhando pelos estudos de Adorno, em especial agrupados em suas obras Dialética do Esclarecimento... (1985) e Educaçäo e Emancipaçäo (1995) - interagimos desde outubro de 2000 com a populaçäo do Núcleo Social, atravessando com eles o sofrimento psicossocial decorrente da banalizaçäo da violência (Arendt, 2000), e da injustiça (Dejours, 1999) sociais e de certas formas de inserçäo social marcadas pelo fatalismo e pela alienaçäo psicossocial (Martín-Baró, 1987 e Chauí, 1993). A coordenaçäo e os acadêmicos do Curso de Psicologia da UEM participantes deste projeto interagem, semanalmente, com a populaçäo do Núcleo Social, levantando questöes-demanda que vêm estando vinculadas, principalmente, a sua situaçäo de excluídos. Estas questöes säo estudadas teoricamente pelos integrantes do projeto e voltam a ser discutidas com a populaçäo, näo se perdendo de vista a análise contextual e das condições concretas de vida daqueles indivíduos sob as quais estas demandas de compreensäo emergiram. Nesta oportunidade é ampliado o conhecimento que nós-eles obtivéramos anteriormente e, assim, ocorre sucessivamente em novos encontros. Pudemos constatar nesta convivência com este grupo, a imersäo destes indivíduos nos valores imputados pela sociedade de massa e até certa resistência em estar exercendo a verdadeira cidadania. Como a "consciência do povo daqui é o medo dos homens de lá...",...