La importancia en la cuenta leucocitaria y del volumen de la muestra para la decisión de criopreservar células de cordón umbilical

Tesis (Especialista en el Laboratorio de Hematología) U.A.N.L., 2006.

Relación de los niveles de IgE del cordón umbilical y antecedentes familiares atópicos, tabaquismo y factores ambientales [por] María de Jesús Gutiérrez Torrero.

Tesis (Postgrado) U.A.N.L.

Umbilical Cord Blood Banking

The umbilical cord, previously considered as waste and discarded at birth, is a source of haematopoietic stem cells. Current therapeutic uses of umbilical cord blood stem cells and the promise of these cells for the treatment of degenerative diseases in the future have led to the establishment of cord blood banks in many parts of the world. Although umbilical cord blood banking raises many ethical and legal issues, this article focuses on the controversy created by the coexistence of public and private cord blood banks in many countries. Policy statements adopted by professional associations and advisory groups indicate that, based on the current state of medical evidence, childbearing women with no current or potential familial need of stem cell transplantation should be encouraged to donate cord blood to public banks.

Técnica in útero vs ex útero para recolección de sangre de cordón umbilical como fuente de células madres

La técnica de recolección es el primer paso para obtener una muestra de sangre de cordón umbilical de óptima calidad. Dicho proceso es esencial en los eventos que conducen al éxito del trasplante de células madre. Aunque no existe consenso internacional sobre el procedimiento de recolección, dos técnicas son las principales: la técnica in utero y la técnica ex utero. La técnica in utero aporta ventajas en cuanto al volumen sanguíneo y conteo celular. El parto por cesárea, si se realiza por razones obstétricas es benéfico para la recolección con técnica in utero. Es necesaria la realización de estudios que permitan mayor nivel de evidencia.

Coto y huerta escolar.

Desarrollo de un coto y un huerto en el Colegio Público Francisco de Parada de Medina de las Torres (Badajoz), el proyecto que respeta los contenidos y objetivos del currículo pretendía motivar a los alumnos en las materias: Conocimiento del Medio, Lengua, Matemáticas, Educación Ambiental y Educación en Valores.

Coto escolar-huerto escolar.

Proyecto de creación de una granja-huerto que ayude al alumnado a conocer la naturaleza a través de la investigación y la práctica. Los objetivos son: favorecer la aplicación de una pedagogía activa; garantizar la investigación acción en los procesos de aprendizaje; desarrollar la capacidad de observación como elemento de trabajo; dominar las técnicas de la granja-huerta; dotarles de responsabilidades concretas en el mantenimiento de la misma; aprender a trabajar en equipo; y conocer otras realidades cercanas a la granja. Para el desarrollo de la experiencia se distinguen tres fases diferentes. Una primera fase de concienciación y familiarización del alumnado mediante visitas a granjas y huertas de los alrededores e investigación y búsqueda de información y documentación relacionada con el tema. Otra segunda fase de construcción y puesta en marcha en la que se confecciona la alambrada, bebederos y semilleros, se prepara la tierra, se compran semillas, etc. Y por último, la tercera fase donde se empiezan las labores normales en el huerto y granja (siembra y cultivo, riego, recolección; y cuidado, limpieza y alimentación de los animales). El resultado de la experiencia ha sido muy positivo, por lo que se espera continuar en la misma línea el próximo curso.

Mutualidad y Coto Escolar : instituciones complementarias.

Se describen los fines de ambas instituciones. La primera de ellas es una institución de previsión, solidaridad social y formación de la infancia y la juventud, cuyas actividades tienen carácter pedagógico, económico y social. Respecto al Coto Escolar surge como complemento y perfeccionamiento a las actividades de la Mutualidad y, entre otras funciones, adiestra y prepara a los escolares en actividades rurales y sencillas industrias, fomenta el mutualismo, el seguro y la cooperación. Ambas instituciones reciben premios y subvenciones del Instituto Nacional de Previsión y de las Comisiones de Mutualidades y Cotos.

La Mutualidad y el Coto escolar de previsi??n, instituciones complementarias de la escuela

Se identifica y describe lo que es 'Mutualidad' y 'Coto escolar de previsi??n' y lo que supusieron estas figuras para la educaci??n espa??ola. La 'Mutualidad Escolar' era una asociaci??n formada por alumnos, bajo la direcci??n y el est??mulo del maestro, con el fin de sumar los esfuerzos econ??micos, morales e intelectuales de todos en una misma aspiraci??n de asegurar el bien individual para el futuro. Las Mutualidades ten??an unos fines espec??ficos: la formaci??n de dotes infantiles y pensiones de retiro; socorros mutuos de enfermedad y fallecimiento; ahorro de primer grado; obras mutualistas como bolsas de estudio, cantinas escolares, formaci??n de bibliotecas, viajes de instrucci??n, etc. Una Mutualidad solo pod??a prosperar si exist??a un Coto Escolar, que se constitu??a como una asociaci??n vinculada a la escuela, que desarrollaba una actividad cooperadora con el fin de obtener recursos que, por su destino futuro, e inspirado en el inter??s com??n, facilitaba a la escuela la tarea de educar a la juventud dentro de las disciplinas y h??bitos del Mutualismo y la Previsi??n.

Amniotic fluid and umbilical cord plasma corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF), CRF-binding protein, adrenocorticotropin, and cortisol concentrations in intraamniotic infection and inflammation at term

Context: Pregnant tissues express corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF), a peptide modulating fetal and placental ACTH and cortisol secretion. These actions are modulated by the locally expressed CRF-binding protein (CRF-BP). Objective: The objective of the study was to determine whether CRF, CRF-BP, ACTH, and cortisol concentrations change in amniotic fluid and umbilical cord plasma in the presence of intraamniotic infection/inflammation (IAI) in women with spontaneous labor at term. Design: This was a cross-sectional study. Setting: The study was conducted at a tertiary referral center for obstetric care. Patients: Patients included women in active labor at term with (n = 39) and without (controls; n = 78) IAI. Main Outcome Measures: Amniotic fluid and umbilical cord plasma concentrations of CRF, CRF-BP, ACTH, and cortisol measured by RIA and immunoradiometric assays were measured. Results: In patients with IAI, amniotic fluid CRF (0.97 +/- 0.18 ng/ml) and CRF-BP (33.06 +/- 5.54 nmol/liter) concentrations were significantly (P < 0.001) higher than in controls (CRF: 0.32 +/- 0.04 ng/ml; CRF-BP: 14.69 +/- 2.79 ml). The umbilical cord plasma CRF and CRF-BP concentrations were significantly (P < 0.001 for all) higher in women with IAI than in controls (CRF: 2.96 +/- 0.35 ng/ml vs. 0.38 +/- 0.18 ng/ml; CRF-BP: 152.12 +/- 5.94 nmol/liter vs. 106.9 +/- 5.97 nmol/liter). In contrast, amniotic fluid and umbilical cord plasma ACTH and cortisol concentrations did not differ between groups. Conclusions: Amniotic fluid and umbilical cord plasma CRF and CRF-BP concentrations are increased in women with spontaneous labor at term and IAI. CRF-BP may modulate CRF actions on ACTH and cortisol secretion, playing a pivotal role in limiting the inflammatory process and thus avoiding an overactivation of the fetal/placental hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal axis at birth.

Multipotent stem cells from umbilical cord: Cord is richer than blood!

The identification of mesenchymal stem cell ( MSC) sources that are easily obtainable is of utmost importance. Several studies have shown that MSCs could be isolated from umbilical cord (UC) units. However, the presence of MSCs in umbilical cord blood (UCB) is controversial. A possible explanation for the low efficiency of MSCs from UCB is the use of different culture conditions by independent studies. Here, we compared the efficiency in obtaining MSCs from unrelated paired UCB and UC samples harvested from the same donors. Samples were processed simultaneously, under the same culture conditions. Although MSCs from blood were obtained from only 1 of the 10 samples, we were able to isolate large amounts of multi-potent MSCs from all UC samples, which were able to originate different cell lineages. Since the routine procedure in UC banks has been to store the blood and discard other tissues, such as the cord and/or placenta, we believe our results are of immediate clinical value. Furthermore, the possibility of originating different cell lines from the UC of neonates born with genetic defects may provide new cellular research models for understanding human malformations and genetic disorders, as well as the possibility of testing the effects of different therapeutic drugs.

Gene Expression Profile of Mesenchymal Stem Cells from Paired Umbilical Cord Units: Cord is Different from Blood

Mesenchymal stem cells (MSC) are multipotent cells which can be obtained from several adult and fetal tissues including human umbilical cord units. We have recently shown that umbilical cord tissue (UC) is richer in MSC than umbilical cord blood (UCB) but their origin and characteristics in blood as compared to the cord remains unknown. Here we compared, for the first time, the exonic protein-coding and intronic noncoding RNA (ncRNA) expression profiles of MSC from match-paired UC and UCB samples, harvested from the same donors, processed simultaneously and under the same culture conditions. The patterns of intronic ncRNA expression in MSC from UC and UCB paired units were highly similar, indicative of their common donor origin. The respective exonic protein-coding transcript expression profiles, however, were significantly different. Hierarchical clustering based on protein-coding expression similarities grouped MSC according to their tissue location rather than original donor. Genes related to systems development, osteogenesis and immune system were expressed at higher levels in UCB, whereas genes related to cell adhesion, morphogenesis, secretion, angiogenesis and neurogenesis were more expressed in UC cells. These molecular differences verified in tissue-specific MSC gene expression may reflect functional activities influenced by distinct niches and should be considered when developing clinical protocols involving MSC from different sources. In addition, these findings reinforce our previous suggestion on the importance of banking the whole umbilical cord unit for research or future therapeutic use.

Expression of Pancreatic Endocrine Markers by Mesenchymal Stem Cells From Human Umbilical Cord Vein

Background. Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) from human umbilical cord vein have great potential for use in cell therapy because of their ease of isolation, expansion, and differentiation, in addition to their relative acceptance from the ethical point of view. Obtaining the umbilical cord at birth does not present any risk to either mother or child. Objective. To isolate and promote in vitro expansion and differentiation of MSCs from human umbilical cord vein into cells with a pancreatic endocrine phenotype. Methods. Mesenchymal stem cells obtained from human umbilical cord vein via collagenase digestion were characterized at cytochemistry and fluorescent-activated cell sorting, and expanded in vitro. Differentiation of MSCs into an endocrine phenotype was induced using high-glucose (23 mmol/L) medium containing nicotinamide, exendin-4, and 2-mercaptoethanol. Expression of insulin, somatostatin, glucagon, and pancreatic and duodenal homeobox 1 was analyzed using immunofluorescence. Results. Cells isolated from the umbilical cord vein were MSCs as confirmed at cytochemistry and fluorescent-activated cell sorting. Expression of somatostatin, glucagon, and pancreatic and duodenal homeobox 1 by differentiated cells was demonstrated using immunofluorescence. Insulin was not expressed. Conclusions. The MSC differentiation protocol used in the present study induced expression of some endocrine markers. Insulin was not produced by these cells, probably because of incomplete induction of differentiation.