Human ES-cell-derived cardiomyocytes electrically couple and suppress arrhythmias in injured hearts.

Transplantation studies in mice and rats have shown that human embryonic-stem-cell-derived cardiomyocytes (hESC-CMs) can improve the function of infarcted hearts, but two critical issues related to their electrophysiological behaviour in vivo remain unresolved. First, the risk of arrhythmias following hESC-CM transplantation in injured hearts has not been determined. Second, the electromechanical integration of hESC-CMs in injured hearts has not been demonstrated, so it is unclear whether these cells improve contractile function directly through addition of new force-generating units. Here we use a guinea-pig model to show that hESC-CM grafts in injured hearts protect against arrhythmias and can contract synchronously with host muscle. Injured hearts with hESC-CM grafts show improved mechanical function and a significantly reduced incidence of both spontaneous and induced ventricular tachycardia. To assess the activity of hESC-CM grafts in vivo, we transplanted hESC-CMs expressing the genetically encoded calcium sensor, GCaMP3 (refs 4, 5). By correlating the GCaMP3 fluorescent signal with the host ECG, we found that grafts in uninjured hearts have consistent 1:1 host­graft coupling. Grafts in injured hearts are more heterogeneous and typically include both coupled and uncoupled regions. Thus, human myocardial grafts meet physiological criteria for true heart regeneration, providing support for the continued development of hESC-based cardiac therapies for both mechanical and electrical repair.

Selective inhibition of the late sodium current has no adverse effect on electrophysiological or contractile function of the normal heart.

Inhibition of cardiac late Na(+) current (I(Na,L)) decreases sodium-dependent calcium overload in diseased hearts. Because INa,L is small in the absence of disease, its inhibition is not expected to significantly alter function of the normal heart. To test this hypothesis, we determined the effects of GS-458967 (GS967), a novel selective inhibitor of I(Na,L) (IC(50) = 0.13 µM), on cardiac function and hemodynamics. The bradycardic agent ivabradine and the Na(+) channel blocker flecainide were used for comparison. A single per os administration of GS967 (5 mg/kg) had no effect on blood pressure or heart rate (HR) in unanesthetized rats. In anesthetized rats, GS967 (0.6 ± 0.1 µM plasma concentration) had no significant effect on HR, PR or QRS electrocardiogram intervals, or contraction. Flecainide (8 mg/kg) slowed HR by 23% ± 3% (P < 0.001), prolonged the PR and QRS intervals by 42% ± 8% and 64% ± 12% (P < 0.001), and had a significant negative inotropic effect. Ivabradine (3 mg/kg) slowed HR by 36% ± 6% (P < 0.001). In rat and rabbit isolated perfused hearts, GS967 (0.1-3 µM) had no significant effects on HR, QRS interval, or contractile function. The results show that selective inhibition of cardiac I(Na,L) is not associated with chronotropic, dromotropic, inotropic, or hemodynamic changes.

Morphological diversification and functional maturation of human astrocytes in glia-enriched cortical organoid transplanted in mouse brain.

Astrocytes, the most abundant glial cell type in the brain, are underrepresented in traditional cortical organoid models due to the delayed onset of cortical gliogenesis. Here we introduce a new glia-enriched cortical organoid model that exhibits accelerated astrogliogenesis. We demonstrated that induction of a gliogenic switch in a subset of progenitors enabled the rapid derivation of astroglial cells, which account for 25-31% of the cell population within 8-10 weeks of differentiation. Intracerebral transplantation of these organoids reliably generated a diverse repertoire of cortical neurons and anatomical subclasses of human astrocytes. Spatial transcriptome profiling identified layer-specific expression patterns among distinct subclasses of astrocytes within organoid transplants. Using an in vivo acute neuroinflammation model, we identified a subpopulation of astrocytes that rapidly activates pro-inflammatory pathways upon cytokine stimulation. Additionally, we demonstrated that CD38 signaling has a crucial role in mediating metabolic and mitochondrial stress in reactive astrocytes. This model provides a robust platform for investigating human astrocyte function.

Efficacy of cognitive training on executive functions in healthy older adults: a systematic review with meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.

OBJECTIVE: Systematically review randomized controlled trials on the efficacy of cognitive training on executive functions in healthy older people. MEASURES: The outcome measures were related to inhibitory control, working memory, and cognitive flexibility. RESULTS: Thirty-one trials were included in the systematic review and thirteen trials in the meta-analysis. In the overall analysis, the cognitive training enhanced inhibitory control when measured by the Stroop task (p < .001, d = 1.64) and working memory when measured by the Corsi Block task (p = .002, d = .16). A marginal significance was found for working memory in the Digit Span task - Forward (p = .06, d = .92). However, cognitive training did not enhance inhibitory control when measured by the Go/No-Go task (p = .76, d = .59), working memory when measured by the Digit Span - Backward (p = .72, d = .95) and N-Back (p = .10, d = .26) tasks, and cognitive flexibility when measured by Trail Making - Part B (p = .08, d = .27) and Semantic Fluency (p = .49, d = .06) tasks. CONCLUSION: Mixed evidence was found for inhibitory control and working memory; cognitive flexibility showed no evidence of improvement.

Synthetic matrices to serve as niches for muscle cell transplantation.

Poor cell retention and limited cell survival after grafting are major limitations of cell therapy. Recent studies showed that the use of matrices as vehicles at the time of cell injection can significantly improve cell engraftment by providing an appropriate structure and physical support for the injected cells. Properly designed matrices can also promote the organization of the cells into a functioning cardiac-like tissue and enhance integration between the host and the engrafted tissue. Furthermore, the use of an injectable biomaterial provides an opportunity to release in situ bioactive molecules that can further enhance the beneficial effects of cell transplantation. In this article we review a large variety of biologically derived synthetic and hybrid materials that have been tested as matrices for cardiac repair. We summarize the optimal parameters required for an ideal matrix including biocompatibility, injectability, degradation rate, and mechanical properties. Using an in vivo subcutaneous grafting model, we also provide novel data involving a side-by-side comparison of six synthetic matrices derived from maltodextrin. By systematically varying polymer molecular weight, cross-link density, and availability of cell adhesion motifs, a synthetic matrix was identified that supported skeletal myotube formation similar to Matrigel™. Our results emphasize not only the need to have a range of tunable matrices for cardiac cell therapy but also the importance of further characterizing the physical properties required for an ideal injectable matrix.

Reaching into the toolbox: Stem cell models to study neuropsychiatric disorders.

Recent advances in genetics, molecular biology, and stem cell biology have accelerated our understanding of neuropsychiatric disorders, like autism spectrum disorder (ASD), major depressive disorder (MDD), bipolar disorder (BD), and schizophrenia (SZ). This progress highlights the incredible complexity of both the human brain and mental illnesses from the biochemical to the cellular level. Contributing to the complexity of neuropsychiatric disorders are their polygenic nature, cellular and brain region interconnectivity, and dysregulation of human-specific neurodevelopmental processes. Here, we discuss available tools, including CRISPR-Cas9, and the applications of these tools to develop cell-based two-dimensional (2D) models and 3D brain organoid models that better represent and unravel the intricacies of neuropsychiatric disorder pathophysiology.

Unraveling Human Brain Development and Evolution Using Organoid Models.

Brain organoids are proving to be physiologically relevant models for studying human brain development in terms of temporal transcriptional signature recapitulation, dynamic cytoarchitectural development, and functional electrophysiological maturation. Several studies have employed brain organoid technologies to elucidate human-specific processes of brain development, gene expression, and cellular maturation by comparing human-derived brain organoids to those of non-human primates (NHPs). Brain organoids have been established from a variety of NHP pluripotent stem cell (PSC) lines and many protocols are now available for generating brain organoids capable of reproducibly representing specific brain region identities. Innumerous combinations of brain region specific organoids derived from different human and NHP PSCs, with CRISPR-Cas9 gene editing techniques and strategies to promote advanced stages of maturation, will successfully establish complex brain model systems for the accurate representation and elucidation of human brain development. Identified human-specific processes of brain development are likely vulnerable to dysregulation and could result in the identification of therapeutic targets or disease prevention strategies. Here, we discuss the potential of brain organoids to successfully model human-specific processes of brain development and explore current strategies for pinpointing these differences.

Cardiac cell therapy: overexpression of connexin43 in skeletal myoblasts and prevention of ventricular arrhythmias.

Cell-based therapies have great potential for the treatment of cardiovascular diseases. Recently, using a transgenic mouse model Roell et al. reported that cardiac engraftment of connexin43 (Cx43)-overexpressing myoblasts in vivo prevents post-infarct arrhythmia, a common cause of death in patients following heart attack. We carried out a similar study but in a clinically relevant context via transplantation of autologous connexin43-overexpressing myoblasts in infarcted rats. Seven days after coronary ligation, rats were randomized into three groups: a control group injected with myoblasts, a null group injected with myoblasts transduced with an empty lentivirus vector (null) and a Cx43 group injected with myoblasts transduced with a lentivirus vector encoding connexin43. In contrast to Roell's report, arrhythmia occurrence was not statistically different between groups (58%, 64% and 48% for the control (n= 12), null (n= 14) and Cx43 (n= 23) groups, respectively, P= 0.92). Using ex vivo intramural monophasic action potential recordings synchronous electrical activity was observed between connexin43-overexpressing myoblasts and host cardiomyocytes, whereas such synchrony did not occur in the null-transduced group. This suggests that ex vivo connexin43 gene transfer and expression in myoblasts improved intercellular electrical coupling between myoblasts and cardiomyocytes. However, in our model such electrical coupling was not sufficient to decrease arrhythmia induction. Therefore, we would suggest a note of caution on the use of combined Cx43 gene and cell therapy to prevent post-infarct arrhythmias in heart failure patients.

An in vivo model of functional and vascularized human brain organoids.

Differentiation of human pluripotent stem cells to small brain-like structures known as brain organoids offers an unprecedented opportunity to model human brain development and disease. To provide a vascularized and functional in vivo model of brain organoids, we established a method for transplanting human brain organoids into the adult mouse brain. Organoid grafts showed progressive neuronal differentiation and maturation, gliogenesis, integration of microglia, and growth of axons to multiple regions of the host brain. In vivo two-photon imaging demonstrated functional neuronal networks and blood vessels in the grafts. Finally, in vivo extracellular recording combined with optogenetics revealed intragraft neuronal activity and suggested graft-to-host functional synaptic connectivity. This combination of human neural organoids and an in vivo physiological environment in the animal brain may facilitate disease modeling under physiological conditions.

Autologous myoblast transplantation after myocardial infarction increases the inducibility of ventricular arrhythmias.

BACKGROUND: Small scale clinical trials suggested the feasibility and the efficacy of autologous myoblast transplantation to improve ventricular function after myocardial infarction. However, these trials were hampered by unexpected episodes of life-threatening ventricular tachyarrhythmias (VT). We investigated cardiac electrical stability after myoblast transplantation to the myocardium. METHODS AND RESULTS: Seven days after coronary ligation, Wistar rats were randomized into 3 groups: a control group receiving no further treatment, a vehicle group injected with culture medium into the infarcted myocardium, and a myoblast group injected with autologous myoblasts. Holter monitoring did not discriminate the myoblast from the vehicle groups. Programmed Electrical Stimulation (PES) was performed to evaluate further a cardiac substrate for arrhythmia susceptibility. The occurrence of sustained VT during PES was similar in control and vehicle groups (5/17 and 4/19 rats, respectively; p=0.50). In contrast, 13/20 rats (65%) from the myoblast group showed at least one episode of sustained VT during PES (p<0.05 and p<0.005 versus control and vehicle groups). As a further control group, rats injected with autologous bone marrow mononuclear cells into the infarcted myocardium did not show increased susceptibility to PES. CONCLUSIONS: In an infarcted rat model, myoblast transplantation but not bone marrow mononuclear cells or myocardial injection per se induces electrical ventricular instability. Because ventricular arrhythmias are life-threatening disorders, we suggest that such preclinical evaluation should be conducted for any new source of cells to be injected into the myocardium.

Negatively charged self-assembling DNA/poloxamine nanospheres for in vivo gene transfer.

Over the past decade, numerous nonviral cationic vectors have been synthesized. They share a high density of positive charges and efficiency for gene transfer in vitro. However, their positively charged surface causes instability in body fluids and cytotoxicity, thereby limiting their efficacy in vivo. Therefore, there is a need for developing alternative molecular structures. We have examined tetrabranched amphiphilic block copolymers consisting of four polyethyleneoxide/polypropyleneoxide blocks centered on an ethylenediamine moiety. Cryo-electron microscopy, ethidium bromide fluorescence and light and X-ray scattering experiments performed on vector-DNA complexes showed that the dense core of the nanosphere consisted of condensed DNA interacting with poloxamine molecules through electrostatic, hydrogen bonding and hydrophobic interactions, with DNA molecules also being exposed at the surface. The supramolecular organization of block copolymer/DNA nanospheres induced the formation of negatively charged particles. These particles were stable in a solution that had a physiological ionic composition and were resistant to decomplexation by heparin. The new nanostructured material, the structure of which clearly contrasted with that of lipoplexes and polyplexes, efficiently transferred reporter and therapeutic genes in skeletal and heart muscle in vivo. Negatively charged supramolecular assemblies hold promise as therapeutic gene carriers for skeletal and heart muscle-related diseases and expression of therapeutic proteins for local or systemic uses.

Placenta percreta com invasão de bexiga: um relato de caso / Percretal placenta with bladder invasion: a case report

O acretismo placentário consiste na aderência anormal da placenta na parede uterina. Ao aderir-se diretamente ao miométrio, denomina-se placenta acreta; ao estender-se mais profundamente, placenta increta, e ao invadir a serosa uterina ou órgãos adjacentes, percreta. O fator de risco mais frequente constitui cesarianas anteriores. Paciente 27 anos, G3P1CA1 (cesariana há 8 anos/ parto prematuro 25 sem há 4 anos), IG: 25sem3d; com alteração da vitalidade fetal e placenta prévia com sinais de acretismo (sugerindo placenta percreta). Foi indicada a interrupção da gestação com 27 semanas e 1 dia. No período intraoperatório foi evidenciada, por meio de ultrassom, presença de acretismo placentário com invasão miometrial e invasão de serosa vesical sendo posteriormente realizado a histerectomia subtotal e rafia das lacerações da mucosa vesical. A placenta percreta é mais frequente em grávidas com placenta prévia no local da cicatriz de cesariana e o órgão mais frequentemente acometido é a bexiga; estando associada a maior morbimortalidade materna. O diagnóstico definitivo é anatomopatológico, porém é presumível durante a cirurgia abdominal com a visualização da invasão placentária, devendo ser confirmado por Histopatologia.

Placental accretism consists of abnormal placental adherence to the uterine wall. When adhering directly to the myometrium it is called placenta accreta; when extending more deeply, placenta increta; and when invading the uterine serosa or adjacent organs, percrete. The most frequent risk factor is previous cesarean sections. The patient is 27 years old with altered fetal vitality and placenta previa with signs of accreation (suggesting percretal placenta). Pregnancy termination at 27 weeks and one day was indicated. In the intraoperative period, the presence of placental accretion with myometrial invasion and bladder serous invasion was evidenced by ultrasound, with subtotal hysterectomy and raffia of lacerations of the bladder afterwards. The percretal placenta is more frequent in pregnant women with placenta previa at the site of the scar of a cesarean section and the organ most frequently affected is the bladder; being associated with higher maternal morbidity and mortality. The definitive diagnosis is anatomopathological, but it is presumed during abdominal surgery with the visualization of the placental invasion and must be confirmed by Histopathology

Comparison of Human Embryonic Stem Cell-Derived Cardiomyocytes, Cardiovascular Progenitors, and Bone Marrow Mononuclear Cells for Cardiac Repair.

Cardiomyocytes derived from human embryonic stem cells (hESC-CMs) can improve the contractility of injured hearts.We hypothesized that mesodermal cardiovascular progenitors (hESC-CVPs), capable of generating vascular cells in addition to cardiomyocytes, would provide superior repair by contributing to multiple components of myocardium. We performed a head-to-head comparison of hESC-CMs and hESC-CVPs and compared these with the most commonly used clinical cell type, human bone marrow mononuclear cells (hBMMNCs). In a nude rat model of myocardial infarction, hESC-CMs and hESC-CVPs generated comparable grafts. Both similarly improved systolic function and ventricular dilation. Furthermore, only rare human vessels formed from hESC-CVPs. hBM-MNCs attenuated ventricular dilation and enhanced host vascularization without engrafting long-term or improving contractility. Thus, hESC-CMs and CVPs show similar efficacy for cardiac repair, and both are more efficient than hBM-MNCs. However, hESC-CVPs do not form larger grafts or more significant numbers of human vessels in the infarcted heart.

Electrical Integration of Human Embryonic Stem Cell-Derived Cardiomyocytes in a Guinea Pig Chronic Infarct Model.

BACKGROUND: Human embryonic stem cell-derived cardiomyocytes (hESC-CMs) were recently shown to be capable of electromechanical integration following direct injection into intact or recently injured guinea pig hearts, and hESC-CM transplantation in recently injured hearts correlated with improvements in contractile function and a reduction in the incidence of arrhythmias. The present study was aimed at determining the ability of hESC-CMs to integrate and modulate electrical stability following transplantation in a chronic model of cardiac injury. METHODS AND RESULTS: At 28 days following cardiac cryoinjury, guinea pigs underwent intracardiac injection of hESC-CMs, noncardiac hESC derivatives (non-CMs), or vehicle. Histology confirmed partial remuscularization of the infarct zone in hESC-CM recipients while non-CM recipients showed heterogeneous xenografts. The 3 experimental groups showed no significant difference in the left ventricular dimensions or fractional shortening by echocardiography or in the incidence of spontaneous arrhythmias by telemetric monitoring. Although recipients of hESC-CMs and vehicle showed a similar incidence of arrhythmias induced by programmed electrical stimulation at 4 weeks posttransplantation, non-CM recipients proved to be highly inducible, with a ∼3-fold greater incidence of induced arrhythmias. In parallel studies, we investigated the ability of hESC-CMs to couple with host myocardium in chronically injured hearts by the intravital imaging of hESC-CM grafts that stably expressed a fluorescent reporter of graft activation, the genetically encoded calcium sensor GCaMP3. In this work, we found that only ∼38% (5 of 13) of recipients of GCaMP3+ hESC-CMs showed fluorescent transients that were coupled to the host electrocardiogram. CONCLUSIONS: Human embryonic stem cell-derived cardiomyocytes engraft in chronically injured hearts without increasing the incidence of arrhythmias, but their electromechanical integration is more limited than previously reported following their transplantation in a subacute injury model. Moreover, non-CM grafts may promote arrhythmias under certain conditions, a finding that underscores the need for input preparations of high cardiac purity.

Psicologia e concepções de formação generalista / Psychology and generalist training concepts / Psicología y conceptos de formación generalista

A formação generalista representa um consenso nos debates de formação em Psicologia, entretanto, o termo revela sentidos diferentes, conforme o período da história da Psicologia e a partir das reformas curriculares. Diante disso, o presente estudo investigou as concepções a respeito da formação generalista em três cursos de Psicologia de instituições de ensino superior da cidade de Natal-RN. Analisou-se o Projeto Pedagógico dos três cursos e foram realizadas entrevistas com os coordenadores e um docente que participou da implementação de cada projeto. Como resultado, foram identificadas três concepções de generalismo, presentes em todos os cursos: a) abranger a diversidade teórico-metodológica e de campos profissionais da Psicologia, mas de maneira integrada, por meio da formação para a pesquisa e do debate interdisciplinar para a compreensão da realidade; b) preparar para atividades profissionais e acadêmicas voltadas para variados espaços, permitindo ao futuro profissional se adequar às oportunidades do mercado; c) evitar a especialização precoce em uma das áreas da Psicologia. A despeito de tais concepções, os cursos enfrentam o pouco investimento em pesquisa, a superficialidade no ensino filosófico e epistemológico e a predominância da Psicologia clínica. Assim, a formação atual, ainda centralizada no preparo para o mercado, é entrave à formação generalista do aluno e a diversificação do currículo.

Generalist training represents a consensus in Psychology graduation debates, however, the term reveals different meanings according to the period of the history of Psychology and the curricular reforms. Thus, the present study investigates different conceptions regarding generalist training in three higher education Psychology courses in the city of Natal-RN. The Pedagogical Projects of three courses were evaluated and interviews were conducted with the coordinators and a professor, in each course, who participated in the implementation of each Pedagogical Project. As result, three main conceptions of generalism present in all courses were systematized: a) to involve the theoretical and methodological diversity and also the professional fields of psychology, in an integrated way, by training for research and the interdisciplinary debate for the understanding of reality; b) Another conception also related to this is the preparation for general activities that lead to broad competencies, which are applied to the different areas and offer the future psychologists the best adaptation to the professional market opportunities; c) Another conception evaluated was the one on which the generalist training must avoid an early formation in a specific field of Psychology. In spite of such conceptions, the courses face low investment in research, superficiality in the philosophical and epistemological teaching and predominance of clinical Psychology. Thus, the current formation, still centralized in the preparation for the market, intercepts the generalist training and the diversification of the curriculum.

La formación generalista representa un consenso en los debates sobre la formación en Psicología, sin embargo el termo revela diferentes sentidos de acuerdo con el período de la historia de la Psicología y a partir de las reformas curriculares. El presente estudio investigó concepciones sobre la formación generalista en tres cursos de Psicología pertenecientes a instituciones de educación superior de la ciudad de Natal-RN. Los Proyectos Pedagógicos de cada curso fueron analizados y fueran realizadas entrevistas con los coordinadores y un profesor participante de la ejecución del proyecto en cada institución. Como resultado, tres concepciones principales de generalismo, presentes en todos los cursos, fueron sistematizadas: a) abarcar la diversidad teórico metodológica y de campos profesionales de la Psicología, pero de modo integrado, por medio de la formación para la investigación y el debate interdisciplinario para la comprensión de la realidad; b) la preparación para las actividades profesionales y académicas orientadas hacia diferentes espacios, permitiendo al futuro profesional adecuarse a las oportunidades del mercado; c) la tercera consiste en evitar la especialización prematura en apenas un campo de la Psicología. A pesar de tales concepciones, los cursos sufren con poca inversión en el campo de la investigación, superficialidad en la educación filosófica y epistemológica, así como con la predominancia de la Psicología clínica. De esta manera, la formación actual, todavía centralizada en la preparación para el mercado, dificulta la formación generalista del alumno y la diversificación del currículo.

Chemical composition and seasonal variation of the volatile oils from Trembleya phlogiformis leaves

ABSTRACT Trembleya phlogiformis DC., Melastomataceae, is a shrub whose leaves are used as a dye for dyeing wool and cotton. The present article aimed to carry out the morphological description of the species, to study the chemical composition of volatile oils from the leaves and flowers and the seasonal variability from the leaves during a year. Macroscopic characterization was carried out with the naked eye and with a stereoscopic microscope. Volatile oils were isolated by hydrodistillation in Clevenger apparatus and analyzed by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry. The major components of the volatile oil of T. phlogiformis flowers were: n-heneicosane (33.5%), phytol (12.3%), n-tricosane (8.4%) and linoleic acid (6.1%). It was verified the existence of a large chemical variability of the volatile oils from the leaves of T. phlogiformis over the months, with the majority compound (oleic alcohol, ranging from 5.7 to 26.8%) present in all samples. A combination of Cluster Analysis and Principal Component Analysis showed the existence of three main clusters, probably related to the seasons. The results suggested that the volatile oils of T. phlogiformis leaves possess high chemical variability, probably related to variation associated with rainfall and the variation in the behavior of specimens throughout the year. This research provides insights for future studies on the volatile oils obtained from the T. phlogiformis leaves and flowers, mainly related to biological markers of applications monitored in the leaves and flowers of this species.

As políticas sociais nos fundamentos dos projetos pedagógicos dos cursos de Psicologia / Social policies in the fundamentals of the pedagogical projects of Psychology courses / Las políticas sociales en los fundamentos de los proyectos pedagógicos de los cursos de Psicología

A Psicologia aproximou-se das políticas sociais, evocando mudanças para a atuação e formação nesse campo. O objetivo deste artigo é investigar o lugar que as políticas sociais ocupam nos fundamentos teórico-político dos Projetos Pedagógicos dos Cursos (PPCs) de graduação em Psicologia no Brasil. Foram analisados 40 PPCs de instituições públicas e privadas das cinco regiões do Brasil. Analisaram-se os trechos sobre políticas sociais localizados nos textos do PPC relativos a: a) os fundamentos do curso e b) a descrição das práticas profissionais (composta pelas ênfases curriculares e locais de atuação indicados). Como resultados, identificou-se que ao tratarem das políticas sociais, os cursos possuem um foco técnico e prático, preocupando-se, recorrentemente, com a promoção de saúde e compromisso social - configuração identificada nas duas dimensões analisadas. Merece atenção a definição limitada dos dois últimos conceitos, corroborando com a indicação da literatura sobre as restrições do seu uso para direcionar as políticas sociais.

Psychology approached the social, evoking changes to the work and training in this field. The purpose of this article is to investigate the place that social policies take in the theoretical and political foundations of the pedagogical projects of the courses (PPCs) degree in psychology in Brazil. The research analyzed 40 PPCs from public and private institutions of the five regions of Brazil. The sections about social policies located on PPC texts wereanalyzed based on: a) the fundamentals of the course and b) the description of professional practice (comprised of the curricular emphases and indicated performance sites). As a result, it was found that when dealing with social policies, the courses have a technical and practical focus, worrying, recurrently, with the promotion of health and social commitment - identified setting in two dimensions analyzed. The limited definition of the latter two concepts deserves attention, corroborating the statement of the literature on the restrictions of their use to target social policies.

La Psicología se acercó de las políticas sociales, evocando cambios para la actuación y formación en ese campo. El objetivo de este artículo es investigar el lugar que las políticas sociales ocupan en los fundamentos teórico-político de los Proyectos Pedagógicos de los Cursos (PPCs) de graduación en Psicología en Brasil. Se analizaron 40 PPCs de instituciones públicas y privadas de las cinco regiones de Brasil. Se analizaron fragmentos sobre políticas sociales localizados en los textos del PPC relativos a: a) los fundamentos del curso y b) la descripción de las prácticas profesionales (compuesta por los énfasis curriculares y locales de actuaciones indicados). En los resultados, se identificó que, al tratar de las políticas sociales, los cursos poseen un foco técnico y práctico, preocupándose, habitualmente, con la promoción de salud y compromiso social - configuración identificada en las dos dimensiones analizadas. Merece atención la definición limitada de los dos últimos conceptos, corroborando con la indicación de la literatura sobre las restricciones de su uso para direccionar las políticas sociales.

Kinematic variables of table vault on artistic gymnastics / Variáveis cinemáticas do salto sobre a mesa na ginástica artística

Abstract The table vault is an event of male and female Artistics Gymnastics. Although it can be performed in a variety of rotations and body positions in different phases, it can be separated in three groups: handspring, Yurchenko and Tsukahara. It is believed that kinematic variables of vault may vary according to group of vault or gymnast body position, but few studies compares the real differences among the three groups of vaults, comparing and describing the variables in different phases. Vault kinematic variables could be diversifying according to the approach or position of the vaulting, but little has been studied about the biomechanical differences, comparing and describing behaviours at different stages. The aim of this study was to organize critical, objective and to systematize the most relevant kinematic variables to performance on vaulting. A Meta analysis over the basis Pubmed, Sport Discus and Web of Science were performed about this issue. From the selected references, we described and analyzed the kinematics of the table vault. Vault can be characterized in seven phases of analysis. Most of the studies are descriptive, and some do not descript all phases. Differences among vault variables according to group vaults, technical level and gender were analysed only in recent studies. There still gaps of knowledge about kinematic variables of table vault, in order to provide comprehensive information about all possibilities of vaults in this gymnastic event. It is concluded that kinematic variables of table vault depends upon vault group and may be considered to the improvement of technical performance. More researches are needed to approach the coaching interface with biomechanics applicable knowledge.

Resumo O salto sobre a mesa é uma prova da ginástica artística, tanto no setor masculino quanto no setor feminino. Embora existam inúmeras combinações para a realização de um salto, podemos separá-los em três grupos: reversões, Yurchenko e Tsukahara. Acredita-se que as variáveis cinemáticas do salto podem variar de acordo com o tipo de abordagem ou posição corporal do ginasta, porem pouco se têm estudado acerca das reais diferenças entre os três grupos de saltos, comparando-os e descrevendo os comportamentos em diferentes fases. Assim, o objetivo deste estudo foi organizar de maneira crítica, objetiva e sistemática as variáveis cinemáticas mais relevantes para o performance no salto sobre a mesa. Foi realizada uma meta-análise nas bases de dados Pubmed, Sport Discus and Web of Science sobre o assunto. A partir das referências bibliográficas resultantes, foi descrita e analisada a cinemática do salto sobre a mesa. O salto foi caracterizado em sete fases de análise. A maior parte dos estudos é descritiva, e alguns não abordam todas as fases. As diferenças entre as variáveis dos saltos de acordo com os grupos de saltos, nível técnico e gênero foram analisadas somente em estudos mais recentes. Ainda há lacunas na pesquisa sobre as variáveis cinemáticas do salto sobre a mesa, para fornecer informação abrangente sobre as possibilidades de saltos neste aparelho da ginástica artística. Concluiu-se que as variáveis cinemáticas do salto sobre a mesa dependem do tipo de salto e devem ser consideradas para a melhora da performance técnica. Mais pesquisas são necessárias para que uma interface entre o conhecimento da biomecânica e a aplicação prática seja abrangente ao técnico de ginástica.

Cell distribution after intracoronary bone marrow stem cell delivery in damaged and undamaged myocardium: implications for clinical trials.

INTRODUCTION: Early randomized clinical trials of autologous bone marrow cardiac stem cell therapy have reported contradictory results highlighting the need for a better evaluation of protocol designs. This study was designed to quantify and compare whole body and heart cell distribution after intracoronary or peripheral intravenous injection of autologous bone marrow mononuclear cells in a porcine acute myocardial infarction model with late reperfusion. METHODS: Myocardial infarction was induced using balloon inflation in the left coronary artery in domestic pigs. At seven days post-myocardial infarction, 1 x 10(8) autologous bone marrow mononuclear cells were labeled with fluorescent marker and/or 99mTc radiotracer, and delivered using intracoronary or peripheral intravenous injection (leg vein). RESULTS: Scintigraphic analyses and Upsilon-emission radioactivity counting of harvested organs showed a significant cell fraction retained within the heart after intracoronary injection (6 +/- 1.7% of injected radioactivity at 24 hours), whereas following peripheral intravenous cell injection, no cardiac homing was observed at 24 hours and cells were mainly detected within the lungs. Importantly, no difference was observed in the percentage of retained cells within the myocardium in the presence or absence of myocardial infarction. Histological evaluation did not show arterial occlusion in both animal groups and confirmed the presence of bone marrow mononuclear cells within the injected myocardium area. CONCLUSIONS: Intravenous bone marrow mononuclear cell injection was ineffective to target myocardium. Myocardial cell distribution following intracoronary injection did not depend on myocardial infarction presence, a factor that could be useful for cardiac cell therapy in patients with chronic heart failure of non-ischemic origin or with ischemic myocardium without myocardial infarction.