Assessing the distribution of cancer stem cells in tumorspheres.

Cancer Stem Cells presumably drive tumor growth and resistance to conventional cancer treatments. From a previous computational model, we inferred that these cells are not uniformly distributed in the bulk of a tumorsphere. To confirm this result, we cultivated tumorspheres enriched in stem cells, and performed immunofluorescent detection of the stemness marker SOX2 using confocal microscopy. In this article, we present an image processing method that reconstructs the amount and location of the Cancer Stem Cells in the spheroids. Its advantage is the use of a statistical criterion to classify the cells in Stem and Differentiated, instead of setting an arbitrary threshold. Moreover, the analysis of the experimental images presented in this work agrees with the results from our computational models, thus enforcing the notion that the distribution of Cancer Stem Cells in a tumorsphere is non-homogeneous. Additionally, the method presented here provides a useful tool for analyzing any image in which different kinds of cells are stained with different markers.

[Answers and latencies dichotic digit test normoacoustic majoring in hearing]. / Patrón de repuestas y latencias ern test de dígitos dicóticos en normoacústicos con especialización auditiva.

Neurocognitive assessment by dichotic digit test provides selective stimulation of auditory pathway with contralateral suppression of the ipsilateral showing interhemispheric differences in concurrent tasks. In order to recognize the pattern of responses, recovery order of digits and latencies heard the original test was modified with the addition of a record of an audio track of the responses. The sample includes subjects with a history in hearing specialization linked to the music and listen to comprehensive second language, normoacoustic without otologic diseases or neurological. Sets 20 pairs of dichotic digits with a digital recording for recording the subject's responses was used. The results reveal: right ear advantage in the pattern of correct answers and the order in which the information provided is retrieved. As for the pattern of intrasets latencies an increase to the fourth repeated / digit recovered and more blunder is observed. Declining intratest latencies in the second part of the test suggest positive training. These modifications allow new prospects and existing applications with behavioral tests.