ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND & OBJECTIVES: Cultivated limbal stem cell transplantation is being used as a current treatment modality for limbal stem cell deficiency. However, use of allogenic biological material as substrate is associated with risks of transmission of certain diseases and allograft rejection. Therefore development of non-toxic biodegradable synthetic polymers is important. We undertook this study to evaluate the use of a synthetic polymer Mebiol gel as a substrate for the growth of limbal phenotype cells and cornea phenotype cells from limbal explants. METHODS: Human cadaveric limbal explants cells were cultivated on Mebiol gel. The proliferative capacity of cultivated cells was analyzed with thymidine incorporation studies. Immunostaining for presumed limbal stem cell association markers and cornea differentiation markers was performed and confirmed with reverse transcription (RT-PCR). RESULTS: The limbal explants underwent proliferation in vitro. The cultivated cells expressed the presumed limbal stem cell association markers (ABCG2 and p63), the transient amplifying cell markers (connexin 43, integrin alpha9) and the cornea differentiation marker (K3). RT PCR confirmed the immunohistochemical data. INTERPRETATION & CONCLUSION: Our findings showed that the synthetic polymer Mebiol gel was able to support limbal explant proliferation. The cultured cells expressed presumed limbal stem cell association markers, transient amplifying cells and cornea phenotype markers. Mebiol Gel can be used as a scaffold for growing limbal explants.
Subject(s)
ATP-Binding Cassette Transporters/analysis , Cell Culture Techniques/methods , Cell Survival , DNA-Binding Proteins/analysis , Fluorescent Antibody Technique , Gels , Humans , Immunohistochemistry , Integrin alpha Chains/analysis , Limbus Corneae/chemistry , Neoplasm Proteins/analysis , Stem Cells/cytology , Trans-Activators/analysis , Tumor Suppressor Proteins/analysisABSTRACT
Objetivo: Determinar la prevalencia de anticuerpos para leptospiras en personas asintomáticas en las localidadesdedicadas al comercio y la agricultura de la provincia de Coronel Portillo, del departamento de Ucayali. Asimismo determinar la prevalencia de leptospirosis en animales domésticos. Material y Métodos: En este estudio transversal analítico, se tomó muestras de suero de 364 pobladores de 4 localidades, en quienes se evaluó la presencia de anticuerpos totales contra leptospiras en suero por el método de ELISA y la prueba de microaglutinación (MAT). Se realizó el análisis estadístico para ver el grado de asociación entre las características generales de la población y la información recopilada en la encuesta con la positividad para anticuerpos para leptospiras. De la misma manera, se tomó muestras de suero de 374 animales domésticos(canes) a los que se realizó MAT. Resultados: Se enrolaron 364 personas de las cuales 227 (62,4 por ciento) fueron mujeres y 137 (37,6 por ciento) varones, 114 (31,3 por ciento) pobladores tuvieron anticuerpos contra leptospiras y los serovares más frecuentes fueron Bratislava y Georgia según MAT, los probables factores asociados a la positividad a anticuerpos para leptospiras en los pobladores fueron: guardar alimentos en el hogar (OR=2,221), ser agricultor (OR=3,418), ser obrero y agricultor (OR=2,088), eliminar basura en el campo (OR=2,348). En canes, 181 (52,2 por ciento) tuvieron serología positiva a leptospiras. Conclusiones: Existe una alta prevalencia de serología positiva para leptospiras en población general asintomática y condiciones favorables para la presencia de leptospiras en las localidades estudiadas. En estas zonas se recomienda realizar actividades educativas preventivas frecuentes, tomando en cuenta los resultados de este estudio.
Objective: To determine the frequency of antibodies against leptospira in asymptomatic persons in people working in commerce and agriculture in Coronel Portillo province in Ucayali department, Peru. We also aimed at determining the prevalence of leptospirosis in domestic animals. Material and Methods: In this analytic cross-sectional study, serum samples from 364 people in 4 sites were taken, and we measured serum total antibodies against leptospira using an ELISA test and a microagglutination assay. A statistical analysis was performed in order to determine the degree of association between the population general characteristics and the data collected in the survey with being positive for antibodies against leptospira. Simultaneously we took 374 serum samples from domestic animals (dogs), and we performed microagglutination test in these samples. Results: 364 persons were enrolled, and 227 (62.4 percent) female and 137 (37.6 percent) male. 114 (31.3 percent) persons had antibodies against leptospira, and most frequent serovars were Bratislava and Georgia. Factors likely to be associated with having positive antibodies against leptospira in the population studied were: to keep food at the household (OR= 2.221), being a farmer (OR= 3.418), being a manual workers and a farmer (OR= 2.088), and to throw rubbish in the field (OR= 2.348). Amongst dogs, 181 (52.2 percent) has positive serological tests for leptospira. Conclusions: There is a high prevalence of positive serological tests for leptospira in the general asymptomatic population, and there are favorable conditions for the development of Leptospira infections in the sites studied. We recommend to frequently perform educational and preventive activities, taking into account the results from our study.
Subject(s)
Humans , Antibodies , Risk Factors , Leptospira , Leptospirosis , Prevalence , Cross-Sectional StudiesABSTRACT
We found a 4-year-old boy in the screened cohort, who showed a low ceruloplasmin (CP) in urine (17 ng/mg-creatinine) and in blood (0.6 mg/dl), but his urine copper was in the normal range. Furthermore this child was diagnosed as Wilson disease (WD) by genetic analysis. Although no significant correlation was observed between urine and blood levels of CP, it is conceivable that WD may be accompanied by very low concentration of urine CP.