Nucleated red blood cells as a novel indicator of CD34+ cell content in umbilical cord blood.

BACKGROUND: Umbilical cord blood (UCB) has become an important source of transplantable CD34+ hematopoietic progenitor cells. Cord blood banks (CBBs) can increase their efficiency by minimizing the processing of UCB units with low CD34+ content, which have a lower likelihood of transplant utilization. We sought to identify a readily available preprocessing metric that would correlate with CD34+ cell counts, without the cost of additional analysis. STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS: Data were compiled for 131 UCB units processed at the regional CBB. Preprocessing hematologic metrics, including complete blood count and differential, were compared to postprocessing CD34+ cell quantities. The data were divided into six groups of varying preprocessing metrics, then compared for significant differences in postprocessing CD34+ cell quantities to develop a screening guidance. RESULTS: UCB units with nucleated RBC (nRBC) content of 15% or greater were found to have a significant increase in CD34+ cell percentage (p < 0.00001) and total CD34+ cell content (p < 0.0001). Units with preprocessing total nucleated cell count (TNC) of ≥ 1.50 × 109 with nRBC content of 15% or greater, and for TNC ≥ of 2.00 × 109 with nRBC content less than15%, had a significant increase in CD34+ content (p < 0.05 and p < 0.001, respectively). Applied as a screening guideline, these units had an increase in mean CD34+ content from 6.24 × 106 to 9.27 × 106 . Units originally in the bottom and top quartiles of CD34+ content constitute 5% and 53% of processed units meeting these TNC/nRBC criteria, respectively. CONCLUSION: These screening criteria utilizing nRBC provides a guideline that public CBBs may use to increase their efficiency by minimizing the processing of UCB units with lower CD34+ cell content.

Molecular mechanisms that stabilize short term synaptic plasticity during presynaptic homeostatic plasticity.

Presynaptic homeostatic plasticity (PHP) compensates for impaired postsynaptic neurotransmitter receptor function through a rapid, persistent adjustment of neurotransmitter release, an effect that can exceed 200%. An unexplained property of PHP is the preservation of short-term plasticity (STP), thereby stabilizing activity-dependent synaptic information transfer. We demonstrate that the dramatic potentiation of presynaptic release during PHP is achieved while simultaneously maintaining a constant ratio of primed to super-primed synaptic vesicles, thereby preserving STP. Mechanistically, genetic, biochemical and electrophysiological evidence argue that a constant ratio of primed to super-primed synaptic vesicles is achieved by the concerted action of three proteins: Unc18, Syntaxin1A and RIM. Our data support a model based on the regulated availability of Unc18 at the presynaptic active zone, a process that is restrained by Syntaxin1A and facilitated by RIM. As such, regulated vesicle priming/super-priming enables PHP to stabilize both synaptic gain and the activity-dependent transfer of information at a synapse.

Manifestaciones clínicas post vacunación con AstraZeneca en docentes de la Unidad Educativa Emilio LorenzoStehle / Clinical manifestations post vaccination with AstraZeneca in teachers of Emilio Lorenzo Stehle School

RESUMEN Introducción: La vacuna AstraZeneca contra la COVID-19 es un tema coyuntural, por ser una de las vacunas de mayor acceso a nivel mundial para hacer frente a esta enfermedad. Sin embargo, presenta manifestaciones clínicas como cualquier otra vacuna, que van de leves a severas, se presenta de distinta manera en cada persona inoculada y en ciertas ocasiones generan desconfianza por sus efectos adversos a corto plazo. Objetivo: Determinar las manifestaciones clínicas post inoculación con la vacuna AstraZeneca contra la COVID-19. Métodos: Se efectuó un estudio descriptivo, con diseño de corte transversal, con enfoque cuantitativo en la Unidad Educativa Emilio Lorenzo Stehle de Santo Domingo de los Tsáchilas Ecuador, con una población de 23 docentes que participaron con su debido consentimiento informado. Se empleó el instrumento de cuestionario que constó de siete preguntas formuladas de acuerdo a las variables de investigación. Resultados: Las manifestaciones clínicas tras la vacunación con AstraZeneca con mayor incidencia fueron el dolor muscular, dolor de cabeza y fiebre; cabe mencionar que existen personas que no tuvieron ningún signo o síntoma. Además, un punto preocupante en un mínimo porcentaje la severidad de las manifestaciones clínicas que se trataron en su mayoría con paracetamol. Conclusiones: Las manifestaciones fueron de intensidad leve de manera esencial en las docentes de género femenino, los síntomas duraron hasta tres días, se usó el paracetamol para aliviar el malestar.

ABSTRACT Introduction: The AstraZeneca vaccine against COVID-19 is a current issue as it is one of the most widely available vaccines in the world to deal with this disease. However, it presents clinical manifestations, likewise other vaccine, that range from mild to severe, presenting differently in each inoculated person and that, on certain occasions, generate mistrust due to its short-term adverse effects. Objective: To determine the clinical manifestations after inoculation with the AstraZeneca vaccine against COVID-19. Methods: A descriptive study with a cross-sectional design with a quantitative approach was carried out in the Emilio Lorenzo Stehle School in Santo Domingo de los Tsáchilas-Ecuador, with a population of 23 teachers who participated with their informed consent. The data collection instrument was a questionnaire which consisted of seven questions formulated according to the research variables. Results: The clinical manifestations after vaccination with AstraZeneca with the highest incidence were muscle pain, headache and fever. It is worth mentioning that there are people who did not have any symptom. In addition, a point of concern in a minimum percentage is the severity of the clinical manifestations that were mostly treated with paracetamol. Conclusions: The manifestations were of mild intensity, mainly in female teachers, with symptoms lasting up to three days, especially using paracetamol to alleviate discomfort.

Oral health and preterm delivery education: a new role for the pediatric dentist.

A variety of epidemiological, animal and intervention studies support a positive link between preterm delivery and the presence of periodontal disease in the pregnant women. Although the exact mechanism underlying this association is still unclear, evidence is accumulating that oral bacteria, and especially P gingivalis, can invade the placental tissues and trigger inflammatory responses which will result in release of effector molecules involved in preterm delivery. However, the medical profession has yet to assume a role in the education of the pregnant women about her oral health. We believe that the dental profession, including the pediatric dentist, should play an active role in transferring the current knowledge on this subject to the expecting mother in order to minimize the risks of preterm delivery.