Advances of hyaluronic acid in stem cell therapy and tissue engineering, including current clinical trials.

Hyaluronic acid (HA), as one of the main components of the extracellular matrix (ECM), plays a significant role in a multitude of biological processes involving cell migration, proliferation, differentiation, wound healing and inflammation. Thanks to its excellent biocompatibility, biodegradability and hygroscopic properties, HA has been used in its natural form for joint lubrication and ocular treatment. The chemical structure of HA can be easily modified by direct reaction with its carboxyl and hydroxyl groups. Recently, HA derivatives have been synthesised with the aim of developing HA-based materials with increased mechanical strength, improved cell interactions and reduced biodegradation and studied for regenerative medicine purposes, including cell therapy and tissue engineering. In this context, the present manuscript reviews HA applications from a basic point of view - including chemical modifications and cellular biology aspects related to clinical translation - and future perspectives of using biofabrication technologies for regenerative medicine. A detailed description of current clinical trials, testing advanced therapies based on combination of stem cells and HA formulations, is included. The final goal was to offer an integral portrait and a deeper comprehension of the current applications of HA from bench to bedside.

Diagnóstico del trastorno límite de la personalidad: concordancia entre el juicio clínico y la entrevista semiestructurada / Borderline personality disorder diagnosis: concordance between clinical and semiestructured interview evaluation

Fundamento y objetivo. Ningún estudio en España ha analizado la diferencia en la frecuencia del diagnóstico realizada a partir del juicio clínico y del uso de la entrevista semiestructurada en el diagnóstico del trastorno límite de la personalidad (TLP). Los objetivos del presente trabajo son: estudiarla concordancia diagnóstica del TLP en pacientes previamente diagnosticados a partir del juicio clínico mediante el uso de la entrevista clínica semiestructurada para el eje II del DSM-IV (SCID-II) y analizar si existen diferencias en la distribución de frecuencias de los trastornos psiquiátricos en función de la observación o no de concordancia diagnóstica. Material y método. En el estudio participaron 146 pacientes derivados al Programa del Trastorno Límite de Personalidad del Servicio de Psiquiatría del Hospital Universitari Vall d’Hebron durante su primer año de funcionamiento. Se realizó un estudio descriptivo de la concordancia diagnóstica del trastorno mediante la utilización de la SCID-II por profesionales con experiencia en su uso en pacientes previamente diagnosticados a partir del juicio clínico. Resultados. No se observó concordancia diagnóstica en el 30% de los pacientes incluidos en el estudio. Los resultados muestran un elevado número de trastornos en todos los pacientes en el momento del diagnóstico. Se observa un mayor número de diagnósticos de trastornos de personalidad (Z= 3,36; p=0,01) y de trastornos de ansiedad (Z=3,04; p=0,002) en el grupo de concordancia diagnóstica que en el grupo de no concordancia diagnóstica. Conclusiones. Mediante el uso de entrevistas semiestructuradas se observa un 30% menos de diagnósticos de TLP que mediante el juicio clínico (AU)

Background and objective. No study in Spain has analyzed the difference in frequencies of the diagnoses made based on clinical evaluation and semistructured interview in borderline personality disorder diagnosis (BPD). This present study aims to analyze diagnostic concordance in BPD patients previous diagnosed based on clinical evaluations using clinical semistructured interviews for DSM-IV axis II (SCID-II), and to analyze if there are differences in the distribution of frequencies of the psychiatry disorders in the diagnostic concordance group and the non-diagnostic concordance one. Material and method. The study was carried out with 146 patients referred to the Borderline Personality Disorder Program of the Psychiatric Department at the Hospital Universitari Vall d’Hebron during its first year of service. A descriptive study was designed to analyze diagnostic concordance between previous BPD clinical evaluation and semistructured interview SCID-II administered by clinical experienced interviewers. Results. Diagnostic concordance was not observed in30% of the final study patients. The results indicated that all the study patients presented a great number of psychiatry disorders. There were significant differences between the diagnostic concordance group and the non-diagnostic concordance one. A higher number of personality disorder (Z=3.36; p=0.01) and anxiety disorder (Z=3.04; p=0.002) was observed in the diagnostic concordance group. Conclusions. BPD was diagnosed 30% less when using semistructured interviews than with clinical evaluations (AU)

[Borderline personality disorder diagnosis: concordance between clinical and semiestructured interview evaluation]. / Diagnóstico del trastorno límite de la personalidad: concordancia entre el juicio clínico y la entrevista semiestructurada.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: No study in Spain has analyzed the difference in frequencies of the diagnoses made based on clinical evaluation and semistructured interview in borderline personality disorder diagnosis (BPD). This present study aims to analyze diagnostic concordance in BPD patients previous diagnosed based on clinical evaluations using clinical semistructured interviews for DSM-IV axis II (SCID-II), and to analyze if there are differences in the distribution of frequencies of the psychiatry disorders in the diagnostic concordance group and the non-diagnostic concordance one. MATERIAL AND METHOD: The study was carried out with 146 patients referred to the Borderline Personality Disorder Program of the Psychiatric Department at the Hospital Universitari Vall d'Hebron during its first year of service. A descriptive study was designed to analyze diagnostic concordance between previous BPD clinical evaluation and semistructured interview SCID-II administered by clinical experienced interviewers. RESULTS: Diagnostic concordance was not observed in 30% of the final study patients. The results indicated that all the study patients presented a great number of psychiatry disorders. There were significant differences between the diagnostic concordance group and the non-diagnostic concordance one. A higher number of personality disorder (Z=3.36; p=0.01) and anxiety disorder (Z=3.04; p=0.002) was observed in the diagnostic concordance group. CONCLUSIONS: BPD was diagnosed 30% less when using semistructured interviews than with clinical evaluations.

Kdp-like system in Salmonella typhimurium LT-2.

Salmonella typhimurium LT-2, as Escherichia coli K12, was able to grow in a potassium concentration-dependent manner, down to a very low concentration (< 5 microM). Its metabolic swelling also was [K+]-dependent. When the cells were subjected to hyperosmotic shock, this ion was uptaken rapidly, probably due to a K(+)-high affinity transport-system, similar to the E. coli Kdp system. The shrinkage in presence of 0.6 M NaCl, however, was more noticeable in S. typhimurium, which expressed a smaller level of intracellular K+ than E. coli. The genetic locus responsible for the ability of S. typhimurium to grow in low [K+], was mapped in nitrosoguanidine mutants and localized around min 18, close to the gal operon. This asseveration was confirmed by experiments of reversion, conjugation, and transduction. The mutants required considerably more [K+] to grow and to swell than the parental strain; in addition, below 1 mM [K+], they showed less internal [K+].