Organic-Polymeric Radial Flow Biorreactor for Liver Models / Biorreactor de flujo radial orgánico-polimérico para modelos de hígado

Abstract An artificial liver support system is based on the functional hepatocytes being cultured inside a bioreactor; this technique has being used as an effective therapy for treating chronic liver diseases in recent times. This work evaluates different parameters such as cell viability and metabolic function of the hepatocytes when cultured on a hybrid scaffold. The scaffold was built using a polypyrrole plasma coated polymer layer seeded with endothelial matrix for efficient three-dimensional hepatocyte growth within a radial flow bioreactor. The flow rate inside the bioreactor was 7 ml / min. The parts for the bioreactor where either built using food-grade steel and/or glass or the scaffolds comprise a Poly (L-lactic acid)-coated polypyrrole iodine layer or not for HepG2 culture. The results show that the Poly (L-lactic acid)-coated scaffolds increased cell proliferation by 30%, protein production by 16% and albumin secretion by 40% compared with the non-coated scaffold. All experiments were performed thrice and data was analysed by ANOVA and Tukey statistic models with a p<0.05. The obtained results demonstrated that radial flow bioreactors in conjunction with hybrid scaffolds improve hepatocytes' physiological and functional properties and could be used as an alternative therapy for patients with liver diseases.

Resumen Un sistema de soporte hepático artificial se basa en utilizar hepatocitos funcionales cultivados en un biorreactor; esta técnica ha demostrado que se puede utilizar como una terapia eficaz para el tratamiento de enfermedades crónicas del hígado en los últimos tiempos. Este trabajo evalúa diferentes parámetros tales como la viabilidad celular y la función metabólica de los hepatocitos cuando se cultivan en un andamio híbrido. El andamio fue construido usando una capa de polímero recubierto de polipirrol plasma, se sembró con un cultivo tridimensional de células endoteliales y de hepatocitos dentro de un biorreactor de flujo radial. La velocidad de flujo en el interior del biorreactor fue de 7 ml / min. Las piezas para el biorreactor fueron construidas con acero de calidad alimentaria y / o vidrio. Los andamios control fueron de ácido L-poliláctico y a estos se les agrego un revestimiento de polipirrol-yodo para el cultivo de HepG2. Los resultados muestran que el ácido L-poliláctico recubierto, aumento la proliferación celular en un 30%, la producción de proteínas en un 16% y la secreción de albúmina por 40% en comparación con el andamio no recubierto. Todos los experimentos se llevaron a cabo tres veces y los datos se analizaron mediante modelos estadísticos ANOVA y Tukey con una p <0.05. Los resultados obtenidos demostraron que los biorreactores de flujo radial conjuntamente con andamios híbridos mejoran las propiedades fisiológicas y funcionales hepatocitos y podrían utilizarse como una terapia alternativa para los pacientes con enfermedades hepáticas crónicas.

¿Para qué sirve y cómo se construye un registro de los estados de ánimo? / What utility and how do you construct a register of different modds?

The register of the different moods not only has a heuristic value in the classic description of the manic depressive syndrome done by Emil Kraepelin, but also has a fundamental roll in investigation as well as in clinical treatment of the bipolar disorder, that way becoming an essential tool in the tasks of psychiatrist and psychologist, in charge of patients with mood syndromes. A register of the mood states permits having a graphic and longitudinal vision of the evolution of the mood episodes of patients. This is fundamental for the control of this syndrome who’s central characteristic is the reoccurrence of episodes and have diverse clinical presentations, can change its course over time and requires complex therapeutic interventions.

Los registros de los estados de ánimo además de tener un valor heurístico en la descripción clásica de la enfermedad maniaco depresiva realizada por Emil Kraepelin, tienen un rol fundamental tanto en la investigación como en la clínica del trastorno bipolar, siendo una herramienta imprescindible en el quehacer clínico del psiquiatra o psicólogo, que está a cargo de pacientes con enfermedades del ánimo. Un registro de los estados del ánimo permite tener una visión gráfica y longitudinal de la evolución de los episodios anímicos del paciente. Esto es fundamental para el control de esta enfermedad cuya característica central es la recurrencia de episodios y que además posee presentaciones clínicas diversas, puede cambiar su curso a lo largo del tiempo y requerir de intervenciones terapéuticas complejas.

Trastornos del ánimo, psicofármacos y tiroides / Mood disorders, psychopharmacology and thyroid hormones

For more than 40 years thyroid hormones and mood disorders have been associated. Some psychiatric symptoms are produced by thyroid illnesses and there is a frequent association of thyroid dysfunction with mood disorders. Therefore, routine thyroid function assessment in patients with mood disorders and the treatment of sub-clinical thyroid dysfunctions is recommended. The usefulness of adding thyroid hormones to antidepressive treatment in euthyroid patients to obtain a potentiation effect has been probed repeatedly. The most common strategy is potentiation with T3, but high doses of T4 have been also used in patients with resistant depression. Thyroid hormones exert their action in the central nervous system through a variety of mechanisms: modulation of gene expression of several groups of proteins, some of them with known physiopathological implications in mood disorders and the influence over serotonin and noradrenergic neurotransmission, known to be one of the modes of action of antidepressants. Finally, it is also important to stress the complex relationship between psychiatric drugs, deiodinases and thyroid hormones, that can potentially help to understand the mechanisms of action of these drugs.

Poblaciones costeras de Chile: marcadores genéticos en cuatro localidades / Coastal Chilean populations: genetic markers in 4 locations

Background: Historical and anthropological data suggest the presence of descendents of Changos, Cuncos, Chonos and Yamanas, South American indian populations, in certain Chilean coastal villages. Aim: To assess the degree of South American indian admixture in Chilean coastal villages using protein markers, to complete the assessment of human biological diversity in Chile. Subjects and methods: AB0, Rh, MNS, Duffy and Kidd blood group systems were assessed in 47, 48, 55 and 24 individuals from Paposo, Carelmapu, Laitec and Ukika respectively. Phenotypic and gene frequencies were calculated. The degree of South American indian admixture was estimated from the AB0*0 allele and Rh*dce haplotypes. Results: High frequencies of AB0*0, Fy*a, Jk*b alleles, Dce and Ms haplotypes were found in all villages, consistent with the pattern expected for South AmericanAboriginal populations. The highest presence of South American indian admixture was present in Laitec with 80 per cent and in Ukika with 74 per cent. The figures for Paposo and Carelmapu were 60 and 65 per cent respectively. Conclusions: Accordin g to South American indian admixture estimates, the genetic isolation of coastal populations is lower than that of inland subjects, suggesting thatsea proximity facilitates gene flow

Agregación plaquetaria en mujeres normomenstruantes / Plaquetaria aggregation in normomenstruantes women

Estudiamos la agregación plaquetaria in vitro en mujeres normomenstruantes (n=16) estimulada por ADP (0,5, 1, 5 micromolar), con los resultados determinamos las influencias hormonales durante el ciclo menstrual en los días 12-21-28 en la agregación plaquetaria, con el fin de establecer variaciones a este nivel. Para ello empleamos una técnica tubidimétrica de Born o Bryan que determina la agregación plaquetaria en base a la transmisión de la luz a través del plasma rico en plaquetas tras la adición de un agente agregante (ADP) cuyo grado de variación es el reflejo del tamaño de agregados plaquetarios formados. Los resultados obtenidos en la presente investigación establecieron que durante el ciclo menstrual normal en la mujer existe variaciones fisiológicas...