Embrioteca: espacio para la investigación científica y la docencia en la universidad médica villaclareña / Embrioteca: space for scientific research and teaching at the medical university of Villa Clara

Las embriotecas humanas son valiosas colecciones de material embrionario humano que honran las instituciones que las poseen. Entre las más citadas actualmente están prestigiosas embriotecas en España, Estados Unidos y Argentina. Resultan de un laborioso trabajo de recolección y procesamiento de delicadas muestras embrionarias con potencialidades de uso docente e investigativo. Han sido múltiples las aportaciones al conocimiento científico a partir del estudio de sus series, además del inestimable valor didáctico de las imágenes que atesoran. La Universidad de Ciencias Médicas de Villa Clara presenta la modesta colección que posee, abierta a nuevas contribuciones y a los interesados en su consulta. El objetivo de esta revisión es exponer su relevancia científica y docente en un contexto de revisión histórica y actualidad.

Human embryos are valuable collections of human embryonic material that honor the institutions that own them. Among the most cited are currently prestigious embryos in Spain, the United States and Argentina. They result from a laborious work of collection and processing of delicate embryonic samples with potential for teaching and research use. There have been many contributions to scientific knowledge from the study of their series, in addition to the invaluable didactic value of the images they treasure. The University of Medical Sciences of Villa Clara presents the modest collection that it has, open to new contributions and to those interested in its consultation. The objective of this review is to expose its scientific and teaching relevance in a context of historical review and current affairs.

Topography of the inferior alveolar nerve in human embryos and fetuses: an histomorphological study

The aim of this study is to establish the position of the inferior alveolar nerve in relation to the Meckel's cartilage, the anlage of the mandibular body and primordia of the teeth, and also to trace the change in nerve trunk structure in the human prenatal ontogenesis. serial sections (20µm) from thirty-two 6-12 weeks-old entire human embryos and serial sections (10µm) of six mandibles of 13-20 weeks-old human fetuses without developmental abnormalities were studied. histological sections were impregnated with silver nitrate according to Bilshovsky-Buke and stained with hematoxylin and eosin. during embryonic development, the number of branches of the inferior alveolar nerve increases and its fascicular structure changes. in conclusion, the architecture of intraosseous canals in the body of the mandible, as well as the location of the foramina, is predetermined by the course and pattern of the vessel/nerve branching in the mandibular arch, even before the formation of bony trabeculae. particularly, the formation of the incisive canal of the mandible can be explained by the presence of the incisive nerve as the extension of the inferior alveolar nerve. It has also been established that Meckel's cartilage does not participate in mandibular canal morphogenesis.

Relationship between mitochondrial DNA copy number, membrane potential of human embryo and embryo morphology / 中华妇产科杂志

Objective To explore the relationship between the embryo with the different morphological types in the third day and its mitochondrial copy number,the membrane potential.Methods Totally 117 embryos with poor development after normal fertilization and were not suitable transferred in the fresh cycle and 106 frozen embryos that were discarded voluntarily by infertility patients with in vitro fertilization-embryo transfer after successful pregnancy were selected.According to evaluation of international standard in embryos,all cleavage stage embryos were divided into class Ⅰ frozen embryo group (n=64),class Ⅱ frozen embryo group (n=42) and class Ⅲ fresh embryonic group (not transplanted embryos;n=117).Real-time PCR and confocal microscopy methods were used to detect mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) copy number and the mitochondrial membrane potential of a single embryo.The differences between embryo quality and mtDNA copy number and membrane potential of each group were compared.Results The copy number of mtDNA and the mitochondrial membrane potential in class Ⅲ fresh embryonic group [(1.7± 1.0)× 105 copy/μl,1.56±0.32] were significantly lower than those in class Ⅰ frozen embryo group [(3.4±1.7)×105 copy/μl,2.66±0.21]and class Ⅱ frozen embryo group [(2.6± 1.2)× 105 copy/μl,1.80±0.32;all P＜0.05].The copy number of mtDNA and the mitochondrial membrane potential in class Ⅰ frozen embryo group were significantly higher than those in class Ⅱ frozen embryo group (both P＜0.05).Conclusion The mtDNA copy number and the mitochondrial membrane potential of embryos of the better quality embryo are higher.

In vitro culture of embryos and establishment of embryonic stem cell lines / 中国组织工程研究

BACKGROUND:The successful establishment of human embryonic stem cel lines in vitro is of great significance to human embryonic development mechanism and developmental biology, cel and tissue transplantation in the treatment of certain diseases. OBJECTIVE:To summarize the progress of in vitro culture of embryos and establishment of embryonic stem cel lines, to explore the influential factors for in vitro culture of embryos, and the methods of culturing human discarded embryos, isolating inner cel mass and establishing embryonic stem cel lines, as wel as the establishing conditions for embryonic stem cel lines. METHODS:With the key words of“embryo, embryonic stem cel s, coculture, sequential culture”, the first author searched CNKI and SCI databases for literatures concerning in vitro culture and transplantation of embryos and establishment of embryonic stem cel lines published from 2000 to 2014. Systematic evaluation was conducted. Final y, 58 literatures were retained for result analysis. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:The culturing condition for embryos in vitro is the key factor affecting embryo transfer outcomes, including culture medium component and culture system. In previous studies, the component and application of culture medium have changed greatly, and the culture system has altered from single culture to coculture and sequential culture. Ethical issues and embryonic origin restrictions restrict the establishment of human embryonic stem cel lines. Clinical y discarded low-quality embryos can be used as one of the material sources to establish human embryonic stem cel lines, which can effectively lessen the problem of embryo shortage during the establishment of human embryonic stem cel lines and reduce ethical disputes.

Reflexoes sobre a investigacao em embrioes de origem humana: o debate nas organizacoes de etica portuguesas / Reflections on human embryo research: the debate in Portuguese ethics organizations

Analisam-se os argumentos usados pelas organizações de ética portuguesas na regulação da investigação em embriões de origem humana. Recolheram-se documentos produzidos entre 2006 e 2010. Procedeu-se à análise temática de conteúdo, e as estratégias discursivas foram estudadas a partir de uma abordagem semântica da informação. Discutiram-se o estatuto do embrião abstrato (ser humano/pessoa ou artefato biológico/neoestrutura laboratorial) e os critérios que devem nortear as boas práticas e equilibrar expectativas e riscos na investigação em embriões, coexistindo argumentos heterogéneos oriundos da bioética principialista, laica e interventiva. Importa incorporar no debate as perspetivas de quem tem que decidir o destino de embriões concretos.

This article analyzes the arguments used by Portuguese ethics organizations on to the regulation of human embryo research. Documents produced between 2006 and 2010 were collected and, based on thematic content analysis, the discursive strategies were studied from a semantic approach to data. The debate focused the status of abstract embryos (human being/person or biological artifact/laboratory neostructure) and the criteria that should guide best practices and balance expectations and risks on embryo research, in which heterogeneous arguments coexist based on principialist, secular and interventional bioethics. The perspectives of those who must decide the fate of real embryos should be incorporated into the discussion.

A compreensão jurídica, médica e "leiga" do embrião em Portugal: um alinhamento com a biologia? / La comprensión jurídica, médica y "lega" del embrión en Portugal: ¿en línea con la biología? / Legal, medical and lay understanding of embryos in Portugal: alignment with biology?

Pretende-se contribuir para o debate em torno dos processos de circulação de conhecimentos e sentidos entre especialistas e "leigos" no que concerne ao estatuto dos embriões humanos em Portugal. Reflete-se sobre as expectativas e preocupações manifestadas quanto à confiança, qualidade, segurança e eficácia das tecnologias médicas de reprodução assistida. O estudo assenta na realização de entrevistas individuais, com vistas a explorar as complexidades, similitudes e diferenças entre as visões e os valores de juristas, médicos e casais envolvidos em tratamentos de fertilização in vitro. Trata-se de uma análise qualitativa em um estudo de caso. Se os juristas e os médicos enquadram o estatuto dos embriões em categorias de índole biológica, técnica e/ou jurídico-legal, já os casais estabelecem com os mesmos diversas relações ontológicas de índole moral, afetiva e social, pelo que estes podem ser representados como seres éticos face à biologização médico-legal dos embriões.

Our aim is to contribute towards the debate about the processes through which knowledge and meanings regarding the status of human embryos circulate among experts and laymen in Portugal. Expectations and concerns expressed regarding the reliability, quality, safety and efficacy of medical technologies for assisted reproduction were assessed. This study is based on data from individual interviews that sought to explore the complexities, similarities and differences among the views and values of jurists, doctors and couples involved in in vitro fertilization treatments. It consists of a qualitative analysis on a case study. If jurists and doctors frame the status of embryos as categories of a biological, technical and/or legal nature, couples establish between themselves a variety of ontological relationships of a moral, affective and social nature. Through these, they can be represented as ethical beings, thus contrasting with the medical-legal biologization of the embryos.

Se pretende contribuir para el debate en torno de los procesos de circulación de conocimientos y sentidos entre especialistas y "legos" en lo que concierne al estatuto de los embriones humanos en Portugal. Se reflexiona sobre las expectativas y preocupaciones manifestadas respecto a la confianza, calidad, seguridad y eficacia de las tecnologías médicas de reproducción asistida. El estudio se basa en la realización de entrevistas individuales con la intención de explorar las complejidades, similitudes y diferencias entre las visiones y los valores de juristas, médicos y parejas implicados en tratamientos de fertilización in vitro. Se trata de un análisis cualitativo en un estudio de caso. Si los juristas y los médicos encuadran el estatuto de los embriones en categorías de índole biológica, técnica y / o jurídico-legal, las parejas establecen con ellos diferentes relaciones ontológicas de índole moral, afectiva y social; por lo que pueden ser representadas como seres éticos frente a la consideración médico-legal de los embriones.

Cenário internacional da pesquisa em células-tronco embrionárias / Escenario internacional de la pesquisa en células madre embrionarias / International perspective on embryonic stem cell research

OBJETIVO:Analisar comparativamente regulações governamentais entre países sobre pesquisa em células-tronco embrionárias. MÉTODOS:O estudo foi conduzido entre março e maio de 2008, por meio de busca eletrônica direta nas fontes oficiais sobre documentos legislativos de 25 países selecionados e confirmada, quando necessário, por consulta por e-mail a pesquisadores e autoridades desses países. RESULTADOS: Os resultados mostraram tendência a permitir a prática de pesquisas com células-tronco embrionárias, embora com rígidas restrições éticas. Dentre os países estudados, apenas Itália e Alemanha explicitamente condenam a extração de células-tronco e apenas Itália proíbe seu uso subseqüente. Decisões jurídicas brasileiras recentes são coerentes com o contexto regulatório internacional sobre pesquisa embrionária. CONCLUSÕES: A tendência observada representa a liberdade de pesquisa para a promoção do conhecimento como um bem público, reforçada pela expectativa de potencialidade terapêutica na pesquisa com células-tronco embrionárias para o tratamento e cura de doenças sem qualquer possibilidade de assistência médica.

OBJECTIVE:To comparatively analyze governmental regulations on embryonic stem cell research among countries. METHODS: The study was performed between March and May 2008, using a direct electronic search through official databases of legislative documents from 25 selected countries, confirmed by email consultation with researchers and authorities from these countries, when necessary. RESULTS: Results showed a trend to allow the practice of embryonic stem cell research, though with strict ethical restrictions. Among the countries analyzed, only Italy and Germany explicitly condemned the extraction of stem cells and only Italy prohibits their subsequent use. Recent judicial decisions in Brazil are in accordance with the international regulatory context of embryo research. CONCLUSIONS: The trend observed represents freedom of research to promote knowledge as a public good, emphasized by the expectation of therapeutic potentiality of embryonic stem cell research to treat and cure diseases without any medical care.

OBJETIVO: Analizar comparativamente regulaciones gubernamentales entre países sobre pesquisa en células madre embrionarias. MÉTODOS:El estudio fue conducido entre marzo y mayo de 2008, por medio de búsqueda electrónica directa en las fuentes oficiales sobre documentos legislativos de 25 países seleccionados y confirmada, cuando era necesario, por consulta por e-mail a investigadores y autoridades de esos países. RESULTADOS:Los resultados mostraron tendencia a permitir la práctica de pesquisas con células madre embrionarias, a pesar de que con rígidas restricciones éticas. Entre los países estudiados, apenas Italia y Alemania explícitamente condenan la extracción de células madre coherentes con el contexto regulatorio internacional sobre pesquisa embrionaria. CONCLUSIONES: La tendencia observada representa la libertad de pesquisa para la promoción del conocimiento como un bien público, reforzada por la expectativa de potencialidad terapéutica en la pesquisa con células madre embrionarias para el tratamiento y cura de enfermedades sin cualquier posibilidad de asistencia médica.

Tipos de ansiedad de parejas tratadas con fecundación asistida frente a la donación hipotética de embriones para investigación en una clínica privada en Lima, Perú / Types of anxiety reported by couples treated with assisted fertilization vis a vis hypothethical embryo donation for research purposes in a private clinic in Lima, Peru

Introducción: La donación de embriones presenta características especiales en el marco latinoamericano, donde no existe la constante de los países desarrollados de tener embriones criopreservados sobrantes. Además, la religiosidad cristiana occidental es un poco mayor. La necesidad de regular desde lo ético y lo jurídico la práctica de la donación de embriones sugiere que se pueden tomar en cuenta las opiniones de los involucrados: los pacientes, los profesionales de la salud, y la sociedad. El objetivo de este estudio es explorar la esfera de los pacientes mediante la búsqueda de tipos de ansiedad frente a la donación hipotética de embriones para investigación. Material y métodos: Con un diseño descriptivo y transversal se realizó una entrevista semiestructurada, individual y grabada, a 32 pacientes en una clínica privada en Lima, Perú, que habían acudido a técnicas complejas de fecundación asistida (FIV e ICSI); al transcrito de la entrevista se le aplicó la escala de ansiedad del método de análisis de la conducta verbal de Gottschalk et al., identificándose el tipo de ansiedad predominante en cada entrevistado. Resultados: Los tipos de ansiedad más comunes frente a la donación de embriones para investigación en este grupo de participantes fueron la ansiedad por sentimiento de culpa, la ansiedad por separación y la ansiedad por vergüenza. Divididos por género, los tipos de ansiedad más comunes para el género masculino fueron la ansiedad por culpa, vergüenza y separación; para el femenino, la ansiedad por culpa, separación y vergüenza.

INTRODUCTION: Embryo donation displays special characteristics within the Latin American context, where spare cryopreserved embryos are not currently available as is the case of industrialized countries. The Catholic church also plays a significant role. The need to regulate ethically and legally the practice of embryo donation suggests that we need to take into account the opinions from the main key players: patients, health professionals, and society. The objective of this study is to explore the patients perceptions vis a vis potential embryo donation for research purposes. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A descriptive, cross-sectional design included a tape recorded semi-structured interview administered to 32 patients attending a private clinic in Lima, Peru. Participants had undergone complex techniques of assisted fertilization (FIV and ICSI). The verbal Gottschalk analytical method was used to identify predominant anxiety manifestations in the interviews. RESULTS: The most common types of anxiety associated with embryo donation for research in this group of participants were guilt, separation anxiety and shame. Divided by gender, the more common types of anxiety reported by men were guilt, shame and separation anxiety. Women reported guilt, separation anxiety and shame.

A Chinese Ethical View on the Moral Status of Researched Human Embryo / 中国医学伦理学

In January 2004,the long expected written regulation of 'Guidelines for research on human embryonic stem cells' was jointly released by the Ministry of Science and Technology and the Ministry of Health,Beijing,China.In 'Ethical Guidelines for Research on Human Embryonic Stem Cells',The Article 5 say: The human embryonic stem cell used for research can derived from ① spared gamete or blastula remaining after In Vitro Fertilization(IVF);②fetal cells after natural or voluntarily selective abortion;③blastula or monosexual split blastula by somatic cell nucleus transfer technique;④germ cells voluntarily donated;The Article 6 say: any blastula obtained by IVF,somatic cell nucleus transfer technique,mono-sexual reproduction technique or genetic modification cannot be cultured in ex vivo for longer than 14 days,since fertilization or nucleus transfer.Such supporting to the embryo researched gotten by the somatic cell nucleus transfer technique,and supporting the human embryonic stem cell research under the condition of the embryo researched within 14 days,is meeting the objections from native country and some foreign countries.In my paper,I argued that an embryo within 14 days is not a person,an embryo is only a human biological life,a human embryo has a certain value,it deserves due to respect,but if there are enough reasons,it can be used.Destructive embryo research should only be approved in exceptional circumstances.To the blastulas or mono-sexual split blastulas by somatic cell nucleus transfer technique,this is an Ethical issue of creating embryos for research.The majority of bioethicists said it is wrong to create and destroy a person for research.I argued that the Moral Status of Researched Human Embryo is not a person,so, Kant' theory is no used here.I further claimed that a 14 days old embryo could be used for research.I quoted a major view of the moral status of the embryo/fetus from the medical science.A 14 days old embryo is a cluster of cells without bones,organs of other traits;they have a consciousness around 20 weeks,so a 14 days old embryo cannot be hurt.