Understanding the Role of Mono and Ternary Alkali Metal Salts on CO2 Uptake of MgO Sorbents.

CO2 uptake by MgO-based sorbents at intermediate temperatures is attractive for pre- and post-combustion CO2 capture applications. However, besides the high CO2 uptake potential of these materials (1.1 g CO2 g-1 sorbent), in practice, the realistic CO2 capture is far from that of the theorical values. In this work, the sol-gel method was used to synthetize unsupported and supported MgO sorbents (10% Ca- or 10% Ce- support, mol) that were impregnated with different fractions (15, 25, and 35; % mol) of a NaNO3 single salt or a ternary alkali salt (NaNO3, LiNO3 and KNO3 (18/30/52; % mol)). To understand the role of alkali metal salts (AMSs) in the MgO sorbents' performance, the working and decomposition temperature ranges of AMS under different atmospheres (CO2 and air) were evaluated. The findings show that the CO2 uptake temperature range and maximum uptake (20-500 °C, CO2 atmosphere) of sorbents are correlated. The cyclic CO2 uptake of the most promising sorbents was tested along five carbonation-calcination cycles. For the first and fifth cycles, respectively, the 15 (Na, K, Li)-MgO sorbents showed the highest carrying capacity, i.e., 460-330 mg CO2 g-1 sorbent, while for the 15 (Na, K, Li)-MgO-Ca sorbents, it was 375-275 mg CO2 g-1. However, after the first cycle, the carbonation occurred faster for the 15 (Na, K, Li)-MgO-Ca sorbents, meaning that it can be a path to overpassing carbonation kinetics limitations of the MgO sorbent, making it viable for industrial applications.

The chloroplast protein HCF164 is predicted to be associated with Coffea SH9 resistance factor against Hemileia vastatrix.

To explore the connection between chloroplast and coffee resistance factors, designated as SH1 to SH9, whole genomic DNA of 42 coffee genotypes was sequenced, and entire chloroplast genomes were de novo assembled. The chloroplast phylogenetic haplotype network clustered individuals per species instead of SH factors. However, for the first time, it allowed the molecular validation of Coffea arabica as the maternal parent of the spontaneous hybrid "Híbrido de Timor". Individual reads were also aligned on the C. arabica reference genome to relate SH factors with chloroplast metabolism, and an in-silico analysis of selected nuclear-encoded chloroplast proteins (132 proteins) was performed. The nuclear-encoded thioredoxin-like membrane protein HCF164 enabled the discrimination of individuals with and without the SH9 factor, due to specific DNA variants linked to chromosome 7c (from C. canephora-derived sub-genome). The absence of both the thioredoxin domain and redox-active disulphide center in the HCF164 protein, observed in SH9 individuals, raises the possibility of potential implications on redox regulation. For the first time, the identification of specific DNA variants of chloroplast proteins allows discriminating individuals according to the SH profile. This study introduces an unexplored strategy for identifying protein/genes associated with SH factors and candidate targets of H. vastatrix effectors, thereby creating new perspectives for coffee breeding programs.

Metabolic Background, Not Photosynthetic Physiology, Determines Drought and Drought Recovery Responses in C3 and C2 Moricandias.

Distinct photosynthetic physiologies are found within the Moricandia genus, both C3-type and C2-type representatives being known. As C2-physiology is an adaptation to drier environments, a study of physiology, biochemistry and transcriptomics was conducted to investigate whether plants with C2-physiology are more tolerant of low water availability and recover better from drought. Our data on Moricandia moricandioides (Mmo, C3), M. arvensis (Mav, C2) and M. suffruticosa (Msu, C2) show that C3 and C2-type Moricandias are metabolically distinct under all conditions tested (well-watered, severe drought, early drought recovery). Photosynthetic activity was found to be largely dependent upon the stomatal opening. The C2-type M. arvensis was able to secure 25-50% of photosynthesis under severe drought as compared to the C3-type M. moricandioides. Nevertheless, the C2-physiology does not seem to play a central role in M. arvensis drought responses and drought recovery. Instead, our biochemical data indicated metabolic differences in carbon and redox-related metabolism under the examined conditions. The cell wall dynamics and glucosinolate metabolism regulations were found to be major discriminators between M. arvensis and M. moricandioides at the transcription level.

IMPACTO-MR: um estudo brasileiro de plataforma nacional para avaliar infecções e multirresistência em unidades de terapia intensiva / IMPACTO-MR: a Brazilian nationwide platform study to assess infections and multidrug resistance in intensive care units

RESUMO Objetivo: Descrever o IMPACTO-MR, um estudo brasileiro de plataforma nacional em unidades de terapia intensiva focado no impacto das infecções por bactérias multirresistentes relacionadas à assistência à saúde. Métodos: Descrevemos a plataforma IMPACTO-MR, seu desenvolvimento, critérios para seleção das unidades de terapia intensiva, caracterização da coleta de dados, objetivos e projetos de pesquisa futuros a serem realizados na plataforma. Resultados: Os dados principais foram coletados por meio do Epimed Monitor System® e consistiram em dados demográficos, dados de comorbidades, estado funcional, escores clínicos, diagnóstico de internação e diagnósticos secundários, dados laboratoriais, clínicos e microbiológicos e suporte de órgãos durante a internação na unidade de terapia intensiva, entre outros. De outubro de 2019 a dezembro de 2020, 33.983 pacientes de 51 unidades de terapia intensiva foram incluídos no banco de dados principal. Conclusão: A plataforma IMPACTO-MR é um banco de dados clínico brasileiro de unidades de terapia intensiva focado na pesquisa do impacto das infecções por bactérias multirresistentes relacionadas à assistência à saúde. Essa plataforma fornece dados para o desenvolvimento e pesquisa de unidades de terapia intensiva individuais e ensaios clínicos observacionais e prospectivos multicêntricos.

ABSTRACT Objective: To describe the IMPACTO-MR, a Brazilian nationwide intensive care unit platform study focused on the impact of health care-associated infections due to multidrug-resistant bacteria. Methods: We described the IMPACTO-MR platform, its development, criteria for intensive care unit selection, characterization of core data collection, objectives, and future research projects to be held within the platform. Results: The core data were collected using the Epimed Monitor System® and consisted of demographic data, comorbidity data, functional status, clinical scores, admission diagnosis and secondary diagnoses, laboratory, clinical, and microbiological data, and organ support during intensive care unit stay, among others. From October 2019 to December 2020, 33,983 patients from 51 intensive care units were included in the core database. Conclusion: The IMPACTO-MR platform is a nationwide Brazilian intensive care unit clinical database focused on researching the impact of health care-associated infections due to multidrug-resistant bacteria. This platform provides data for individual intensive care unit development and research and multicenter observational and prospective trials.

Biperiden for prevention of post-traumatic epilepsy: A protocol of a double-blinded placebo-controlled randomized clinical trial (BIPERIDEN trial).

BACKGROUND: Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is one of the most important causes of acquired structural epilepsy, post-traumatic epilepsy (PTE), however, efficient preventative measures and treatment are still not available to patients. Preclinical studies indicated biperiden, an anticholinergic drug, as a potential drug to modify the epileptogenic process. The main objective of this clinical trial is to evaluate the efficacy of biperiden as an antiepileptogenic agent in patients that suffered TBI. METHODS: This prospective multicenter (n = 10) interventional study will include 312 adult patients admitted to emergency care units with a diagnosis of moderate or severe TBI. Following inclusion and exclusion criteria, patients will be randomized, using block randomization, to receive double-blind treatment with placebo or biperiden for 10 days. Follow-up will occur at specific time windows up to 2 years. Main outcomes are incidence of PTE after TBI and occurrence of severe adverse events. Other outcomes include exploratory investigation of factors that might have benefits for the treatment or might influence its results, such as genetic background, clinical progression, electroencephalographic abnormalities, health-related quality of life and neuropsychological status. Analyses will be conducted following the safety, intention-to-treat and efficacy concepts. DISCUSSION: We hypothesize that biperiden treatment will be effective to prevent or mitigate the development of post-traumatic epilepsy in TBI patients. Other health measures from this population also may benefit from treatment with biperiden. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT04945213. Registered on June 30, 2021.

Tissue Engineering and Cell Therapy for Cartilage Repair: Preclinical Evaluation Methods.

A chondral injury is a limiting disease that can affect the quality of life and be an economic burden due to the cost of immediate treatment and loss in work productivity. If left untreated, such an injury may progress to osteoarthritis, a degenerative and debilitating joint disease characterized by pain and functional impairment. Mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs), which have immune-modulatory properties and the ability to differentiate into chondroblasts and osteoblasts, are a predictable source for the treatment of cartilage injuries. This article presents tools to evaluate cartilage restoration by tissue engineering and cell therapy treatment in a translational and preclinical large animal model. In this controlled experimental study with 14 miniature pigs, a scaffold-free tissue engineering construct (TEC) derived from dental pulp and synovial MSCs for cartilage therapy was tested. Total thickness cartilage defects were performed in both posterior knees. The defect was left empty in one of the knees, and the other received the TEC. The tissue repair was morphologically assessed by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) using the three-dimensional double echo steady-state (3D-DESS) sequence, and compositional assessment was carried out based on the T2 mapping technique. The osteochondral specimens were fixed for histopathology, decalcified, subjected to standard histological processing, sectioned, and stained with hematoxylin and eosin. The sections stained for immunohistochemical detection of collagen types were digested with pepsin and chondroitinase and incubated with antibodies against them. The mechanical evaluation involved analysis of Young's modulus of the cartilage samples based on the indentation and maximum compression test. In addition, a finite element model was used to simulate and characterize properties of the osteochondral block. At 6 months after surgery, there were no complications with the animals and the MRI, histological, immunohistochemical, and biomechanical evaluations proved to be effective and qualified to differentiate good quality chondral repair from inadequate repair tissue. The proposed methods were feasible and capable to properly evaluate the defect filled with TEC containing stromal cells after 6 months of follow-up in a large animal model for articular cartilage restoration. Impact Statement Articular chondral injuries are prevalent and represent an economic burden due to the cost of treatment. The engineering of cartilage tissue can promote the repair of chondral injuries and is dependent on selecting appropriate cells and biocompatible frameworks. In this article, methods for evaluation of a scaffold-free cell delivery system made from mesenchymal stromal cells were present in a translational study that allows further clinical safety and efficacy trials.

IMPACTO-MR: a Brazilian nationwide platform study to assess infections and multidrug resistance in intensive care units. / IMPACTO-MR: um estudo brasileiro de plataforma nacional para avaliar infecções e multirresistência em unidades de terapia intensiva.

OBJECTIVE: To describe the IMPACTO-MR, a Brazilian nationwide intensive care unit platform study focused on the impact of health care-associated infections due to multidrug-resistant bacteria. METHODS: We described the IMPACTO-MR platform, its development, criteria for intensive care unit selection, characterization of core data collection, objectives, and future research projects to be held within the platform. RESULTS: The core data were collected using the Epimed Monitor System® and consisted of demographic data, comorbidity data, functional status, clinical scores, admission diagnosis and secondary diagnoses, laboratory, clinical, and microbiological data, and organ support during intensive care unit stay, among others. From October 2019 to December 2020, 33,983 patients from 51 intensive care units were included in the core database. CONCLUSION: The IMPACTO-MR platform is a nationwide Brazilian intensive care unit clinical database focused on researching the impact of health care-associated infections due to multidrug-resistant bacteria. This platform provides data for individual intensive care unit development and research and multicenter observational and prospective trials.

OBJETIVO: Descrever o IMPACTO-MR, um estudo brasileiro de plataforma nacional em unidades de terapia intensiva focado no impacto das infecções por bactérias multirresistentes relacionadas à assistência à saúde. MÉTODOS: Descrevemos a plataforma IMPACTO-MR, seu desenvolvimento, critérios para seleção das unidades de terapia intensiva, caracterização da coleta de dados, objetivos e projetos de pesquisa futuros a serem realizados na plataforma. RESULTADOS: Os dados principais foram coletados por meio do Epimed Monitor System® e consistiram em dados demográficos, dados de comorbidades, estado funcional, escores clínicos, diagnóstico de internação e diagnósticos secundários, dados laboratoriais, clínicos e microbiológicos e suporte de órgãos durante a internação na unidade de terapia intensiva, entre outros. De outubro de 2019 a dezembro de 2020, 33.983 pacientes de 51 unidades de terapia intensiva foram incluídos no banco de dados principal. CONCLUSÃO: A plataforma IMPACTO-MR é um banco de dados clínico brasileiro de unidades de terapia intensiva focado na pesquisa do impacto das infecções por bactérias multirresistentes relacionadas à assistência à saúde. Essa plataforma fornece dados para o desenvolvimento e pesquisa de unidades de terapia intensiva individuais e ensaios clínicos observacionais e prospectivos multicêntricos.

Transitional Care Management from Emergency Services to Communities: An Action Research Study.

In recent years, nurses have developed projects in the area of hospital to community transition. The objective of the present study was to analyze the transitional care offered to elderly people after they used emergency services and were discharged to return to the community. The action research method was chosen. The participants were nurses, elderly people 70 years old or older, and their caregivers. The study was carried out from October 2018 to August 2019. The data were collected by means of semi-structured interviews with the nurses, analysis of medical records, participatory observation, phone calls to the elderly people and caregivers, and team meetings. The qualitative data were submitted to Bardin's content analysis. Statistical treatment was carried out by applying SPSS version 23.0. The institution's research ethics committee approved the research. Only 31.4% of the sample experienced care continuity after discharge, and the rate of readmission to emergency services during the first 30 days after discharge was 33.4%. The referral letters lacked data on information provided to patients or caregivers, and nurses mentioned difficulties in communication between care levels, as well as obstacles to teamwork; they also mentioned that the lack of health policies and clinical rules to formalize transitional care between the hospital and the community perpetuated non-coordination of care between the two contexts. The low level of literacy of patients and their relatives are mentioned as a cause for not understanding the information regarding seeking primary health care services and handing the discharge letter. It was concluded that there is an urgent need to mobilize health teams toward action in the patients' process of returning home, and this factor must be taken into account in care planning.

Blending Wastes of Marble Powder and Dolomite Sorbents for Calcium-Looping CO2 Capture under Realistic Industrial Calcination Conditions.

The use of wastes of marble powder (WMP) and dolomite as sorbents for CO2 capture is extremely promising to make the Ca-looping (CaL) process a more sustainable and eco-friendly technology. For the downstream utilization of CO2, it is more realistic to produce a concentrated CO2 stream in the calcination step of the CaL process, so more severe conditions are required in the calciner, such as an atmosphere with high concentration of CO2 (>70%), which implies higher calcination temperatures (>900 °C). In this work, experimental CaL tests were carried out in a fixed bed reactor using natural CaO-based sorbent precursors, such as WMP, dolomite and their blend, under mild (800 °C, N2) and realistic (930 °C, 80% CO2) calcination conditions, and the sorbents CO2 carrying capacity along the cycles was compared. A blend of WMP with dolomite was tested as an approach to improve the CO2 carrying capacity of WMP. As regards the realistic calcination under high CO2 concentration at high temperature, there is a strong synergetic effect of inert MgO grains of calcined dolomite in the blended WMP + dolomite sorbent that leads to an improved stability along the cycles when compared with WMP used separately. Hence, it is a promising approach to tailor cheap waste-based blended sorbents with improved carrying capacity and stability along the cycles under realistic calcination conditions.

Development of milk drink with whey fermented and acceptability by children and adolescents.

Malnutrition is one of the main trouble relationship children development, it is linking of infectious disease, affect brain development, learning delay and others. The school feeding is an important action to mitigate this, but the acceptability of new and healthy products still a challenge. The goal of this article was to develop a fermented drink, replacing milk to whey, added of mangaba pulp and iron, to improve the nutritional quality of products. Two formulations were developed with a difference in ratio milk and whey. The pH, acidity, nutritional label, microbiology and sensorial assay with target public (children and adolescents) of formulations were evaluated. Highlights the contribution of protein, calcium and iron to daily value of intake recommended of formulations, 8.4%, 15.2% and 44.3%, respectively. The microbiological parameters founded shows that the formulations were developed according to good manufacture practice. The formulation and age showed significant effect in acceptability of judges, but gender did not effect. The increase of whey concentration in formulation improved the acceptability, ranking to 91.5% to children and 73.6% to adolescents. The developed formulations are a great option to novel food products, given the high acceptance of the fermented milk drink by potential consumers and nutritional aport.

Human levator veli palatini muscle: a novel source of mesenchymal stromal cells for use in the rehabilitation of patients with congenital craniofacial malformations.

BACKGROUND: Bone reconstruction in congenital craniofacial differences, which affect about 2-3% of newborns, has long been the focus of intensive research in the field of bone tissue engineering. The possibility of using mesenchymal stromal cells in regenerative medicine protocols has opened a new field of investigation aimed at finding optimal sources of multipotent cells that can be isolated via non-invasive procedures. In this study, we analyzed whether levator veli palatini muscle fragments, which can be readily obtained in non-invasive manner during palatoplasty in cleft palate patients, represent a novel source of MSCs with osteogenic potential. METHODS: We obtained levator veli palatini muscle fragments (3-5 mm3), during surgical repair of cleft palate in 5 unrelated patients. Mesenchymal stromal cells were isolated from the muscle using a pre-plating technique and other standard practices. The multipotent nature of the isolated stromal cells was demonstrated via flow cytometry analysis and by induction along osteogenic, adipogenic, and chondrogenic differentiation pathways. To demonstrate the osteogenic potential of these cells in vivo, they were used to reconstruct a critical-sized full-thickness calvarial defect model in immunocompetent rats. RESULTS: Flow cytometry analysis showed that the isolated stromal cells were positive for mesenchymal stem cell antigens (CD29, CD44, CD73, CD90, and CD105) and negative for hematopoietic (CD34 and CD45) or endothelial cell markers (CD31). The cells successfully underwent osteogenic, chondrogenic, and adipogenic cell differentiation under appropriate cell culture conditions. Calvarial defects treated with CellCeram™ scaffolds seeded with the isolated levator veli palatini muscle cells showed greater bone healing compared to defects treated with acellular scaffolds. CONCLUSION: Cells derived from levator veli palatini muscle have phenotypic characteristics similar to other mesenchymal stromal cells, both in vitro and in vivo. Our findings suggest that these cells may have clinical relevance in the surgical rehabilitation of patients with cleft palate and other craniofacial anomalies characterized by significant bone deficit.

Radiological evaluation of Ra-226, Ra-228 and K-40 in tea samples: A comparative study of effective dose and cancer risk.

Activity concentrations of tea samples were determined using high resolution gamma spectrometry.The values ranged from (421.00 ± 17.00) to (732.00 ± 30.00) Bq.kg -1 for K-40 and from (3.00 ± 0.80) to (27.00 ± 3.00) Bq.kg-1 for Ra-228. The values for Ra-226 were below 27.00 Bq.kg-1. The committed effective dose was estimated at 4.74-78.89 µSv.y-1 for adults and 13.55-445.84 µSv.y-1 for children. The cancer risk was higher for females. However, results showed that the tea consumption do not represent a radiological health risk to the population.

Primary Metabolism Is Distinctly Modulated by Plant Resistance Inducers in Coffea arabica Leaves Infected by Hemileia vastatrix.

Epidemics of coffee leaf rust (CLR) leads to great yield losses and huge depreciation of coffee marketing values, if no control measures are applied. Societal expectations of a more sustainable coffee production are increasingly imposing the replacement of fungicide treatments by alternative solutions. A protection strategy is to take advantage of the plant immune system by eliciting constitutive defenses. Based on such concept, plant resistance inducers (PRIs) have been developed. The Greenforce CuCa formulation, similarly to acibenzolar-S-methyl (ASM), shows promising results in the control of CLR (Hemileia vastatrix) in Coffea arabica cv. Mundo Novo. The molecular mechanisms of PRIs action are poorly understood. In order to contribute to its elucidation a proteomic, physiological (leaf gas-exchange) and biochemical (enzymatic) analyses were performed. Coffee leaves treated with Greenforce CuCa and ASM and inoculation with H. vastatrix were considered. Proteomics revealed that both PRIs lead to metabolic adjustments but, inducing distinct proteins. These proteins were related with photosynthesis, protein metabolism and stress responses. Greenforce CuCa increased photosynthesis and stomatal conductance, while ASM caused a decrease in these parameters. It was further observed that Greenforce CuCa reinforces the redox homeostasis of the leaf, while ASM seems to affect preferentially the secondary metabolism and the stress-related proteins. So, the PRIs prepare the plant to resist CLR but, inducing different defense mechanisms upon pathogen infection. The existence of a link between the primary metabolism and defense responses was evidenced. The identification of components of the plant primary metabolism, essential for plant growth and development that, simultaneously, participate in the plant defense responses can open new perspectives for plant breeding programs.

Deciduous Dental Pulp Stem Cells for Maxillary Alveolar Reconstruction in Cleft Lip and Palate Patients.

BACKGROUND: To reduce morbidity to cleft patients, new approaches have been developed and here, we report for the first time the use of deciduous dental pulp stem cells (DDPSC) associated with a hydroxyapatite-collagen sponge (Bio-Oss Collagen® 250 mg, Geistlich) for closing alveolar defects during secondary dental eruption, further comparing these results to historical controls. METHODS: Six patients, aged 8 to 12, were selected. Autologous DDPSC were isolated from each patient, then associated with the biomaterial and this bone tissue engineered set was used to fill the alveolar defect. Computed tomography was performed to assess both preoperative and 6- and 12-month postoperative outcomes. Overall morbidity was recorded. Historical controls consisted of sixteen patients previously selected and randomly assigned to group one (rhBMP-2) or group two (iliac crest bone graft). RESULTS: DDPSC could be isolated and characterized as mesenchymal stem cells. Progressive alveolar bone union has occurred in all patients. Similarly to group two 75.4%, SD ± 4.0, p > 0.999, but statistically different from group one (59.6%, SD ± 9.9, p > 0.999, but statistically different from group one (59.6%, SD ± 9.9. CONCLUSION: For this selected group of patients, DDPSC therapy resulted in satisfactory bone healing with excellent feasibility and safety, which adds significantly to the prospect of stem cell use in clinical settings. Clinical Question/Level of Evidence. Therapeutic, II. This trial is registered with https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT01932164?term=NCT01932164&rank=1.

Mesenchymal Stem Cells from Human Exfoliated Deciduous Teeth and the Orbicularis Oris Muscle: How Do They Behave When Exposed to a Proinflammatory Stimulus?

Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) have been studied as a promising type of stem cell for use in cell therapies because of their ability to regulate the immune response. Although they are classically isolated from the bone marrow, many studies have sought to isolate MSCs from noninvasive sources. The objective of this study was to evaluate how MSCs isolated from the dental pulp of human exfoliated deciduous teeth (SHED) and fragments of the orbicularis oris muscle (OOMDSCs) behave when treated with an inflammatory IFN-γ stimulus, specifically regarding their proliferative, osteogenic, and immunomodulatory potentials. The results demonstrated that the proliferation of SHED and OOMDSCs was inhibited by the addition of IFN-γ to their culture medium and that treatment with IFN-γ at higher concentrations resulted in a greater inhibition of the proliferation of these cells than treatment with IFN-γ at lower concentrations. SHED and OOMDSCs maintained their osteogenic differentiation potential after stimulation with IFN-γ. Additionally, SHED and OOMDSCs have been shown to have low immunogenicity because they lack expression of HLA-DR and costimulatory molecules such as CD40, CD80, and CD86 before and after IFN-γ treatment. Last, SHED and OOMDSCs expressed the immunoregulatory molecule HLA-G, and the expression of this antigen increased after IFN-γ treatment. In particular, an increase in intracellular HLA-G expression was observed. The results obtained suggest that SHED and OOMDSCs lack immunogenicity and have immunomodulatory properties that are enhanced when they undergo inflammatory stimulation with IFN-γ, which opens new perspectives for the therapeutic use of these cells.

Systematic Review of Human Dental Pulp Stem Cells for Cartilage Regeneration.

Background: Symptomatic cartilage lesions and early osteoarthritis produce significant clinical and economic burdens. Cartilage repair can improve the symptoms and delay arthroplasty. The complete healing of damaged cartilage with the consistent reproduction of normal hyaline cartilage has not yet been achieved. The choice of harvesting site might influence the cells' abilities to modulate immunologic and inflammatory responses. Recently, dental pulp has been shown to contain a stem cell niche consisting of dental pulp stem cells (DPSCs) that maintain their self-renewal capacity due to the active environment in the dental pulp of deciduous teeth. Objective: The aim of this study was to critically review the current literature on the potential and limitations of the use of dental pulp-derived mesenchymal stem cells in cell-based therapies for cartilage regeneration. Methods: An electronic, customized search of scientific articles was conducted using the PubMed/MEDLINE and EMBASE databases from their inception to December 2018. The inclusion criteria were applied, and the articles that described the use of DPSC in cartilage treatment were selected for complete evaluation. The articles were classified according to the scaffold used, experimental model, chondrogenic differentiation features, defect location, cartilage evaluation, and results. After the application of the eligibility criteria, a total of nine studies were selected and fully analyzed. Results: A variety of animal models were used, including mice, rats, rabbits, and miniature pigs, to evaluate the quality and safety of human DPSCs in the repair of cartilage defects. Among the articles, two studies focused on preclinical models of cartilage tissue engineering. Five studies implanted DPSCs in other animal sites. Conclusion: The use of DPSCs is a potential new stem cell therapy for articular cartilage repair. The preclinical evidence discussed in this article provides a solid foundation for future clinical trials. Impact statement Osteoarthritis presents an ever-increasing clinical and socioeconomic burden. While cartilage repair has the potential to improve symptoms and delay joint replacement, complete regeneration of hyaline cartilage has been an elusive goal. Dental pulp has been shown to contain a niche that protects dental pulp stem cells (DPSCs) from the cumulative effects of genetic and environmental factors and maintains their self-renewal capacity due to the active environment. Transplantation and preclinical trials have demonstrated the strong potential of regenerative tissue-engineering protocols using DPSCs.

Is There a Noninvasive Source of MSCs Isolated with GMP Methods with Better Osteogenic Potential?

BACKGROUND: A new trend in the treatment for alveolar clefts in patients with cleft lip and palate involves the use of bone tissue engineering strategies to reduce or eliminate the morbidity associated with autologous bone grafting. The use of mesenchymal stem cells-autologous cells obtained from tissues such as bone marrow and fat-combined with various biomaterials has been proposed as a viable option for use in cleft patients. However, invasive procedures are necessary to obtain the mesenchymal stem cells from these two sources. To eliminate donor site morbidity, noninvasive stem cell sources such as the umbilical cord, orbicularis oris muscle, and deciduous dental pulp have been studied for use in alveolar cleft bone tissue engineering. In this study, we evaluate the osteogenic potential of these various stem cell types. METHODS: Ten cellular strains obtained from each different source (umbilical cord, orbicularis oris muscle, or deciduous dental pulp) were induced to osteogenic differentiation in vitro, and the bone matrix deposition of each primary culture was quantified. To evaluate whether greater osteogenic potential of the established mesenchymal stem cell strains was associated with an increase in the expression profile of neural crest genes, real-time qPCR was performed on the following genes: SRY-box 9, SRY-box 10, nerve growth factor receptor, transcription factor AP-2 alpha, and paired box 3. RESULTS: The mesenchymal stem cells obtained from deciduous dental pulp and orbicularis oris muscle demonstrated increased osteogenic potential with significantly more extracellular bone matrix deposition when compared to primary cultures obtained from the umbilical cord after twenty-one days in culture (p = 0.007 and p = 0.005, respectively). The paired box 3 gene was more highly expressed in the MSCs obtained from deciduous dental pulp and orbicularis oris muscle than in those obtained from the umbilical cord. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that deciduous dental pulp and orbicularis oris muscle stem cells demonstrate superior osteogenic differentiation potential relative to umbilical cord-derived stem cells and that this increased potential is related to their neural crest origins. Based on these observations, and the distinct translational advantage of incorporating stem cells from noninvasive tissue sources into tissue engineering protocols, greater study of these specific cell lines in the setting of alveolar cleft repair is indicated.

Opportunities and Limitations of Crop Phenotyping in Southern European Countries.

The Mediterranean climate is characterized by hot dry summers and frequent droughts. Mediterranean crops are frequently subjected to high evapotranspiration demands, soil water deficits, high temperatures, and photo-oxidative stress. These conditions will become more severe due to global warming which poses major challenges to the sustainability of the agricultural sector in Mediterranean countries. Selection of crop varieties adapted to future climatic conditions and more tolerant to extreme climatic events is urgently required. Plant phenotyping is a crucial approach to address these challenges. High-throughput plant phenotyping (HTPP) helps to monitor the performance of improved genotypes and is one of the most effective strategies to improve the sustainability of agricultural production. In spite of the remarkable progress in basic knowledge and technology of plant phenotyping, there are still several practical, financial, and political constraints to implement HTPP approaches in field and controlled conditions across the Mediterranean. The European panorama of phenotyping is heterogeneous and integration of phenotyping data across different scales and translation of "phytotron research" to the field, and from model species to crops, remain major challenges. Moreover, solutions specifically tailored to Mediterranean agriculture (e.g., crops and environmental stresses) are in high demand, as the region is vulnerable to climate change and to desertification processes. The specific phenotyping requirements of Mediterranean crops have not yet been fully identified. The high cost of HTPP infrastructures is a major limiting factor, though the limited availability of skilled personnel may also impair its implementation in Mediterranean countries. We propose that the lack of suitable phenotyping infrastructures is hindering the development of new Mediterranean agricultural varieties and will negatively affect future competitiveness of the agricultural sector. We provide an overview of the heterogeneous panorama of phenotyping within Mediterranean countries, describing the state of the art of agricultural production, breeding initiatives, and phenotyping capabilities in five countries: Italy, Greece, Portugal, Spain, and Turkey. We characterize some of the main impediments for development of plant phenotyping in those countries and identify strategies to overcome barriers and maximize the benefits of phenotyping and modeling approaches to Mediterranean agriculture and related sustainability.