Long-term effects of perinatal androgenization on reproductive parameters of male rat offspring androgenization and male rat reproduction.

It is known that during sex differentiation, fetal androgens are critical determinants of the male phenotype. Although testosterone is necessary for normal development of male sexual behavior, perinatal androgen treatment can result in disruption of normal male sexual reproduction. Pregnant Wistar rats were administered either corn oil (vehicle) or testosterone propionate at 0.2 mg/kg from gestational day 12 until the end of lactation and the reproductive function of male offspring was evaluated at 90 (adulthood) and 270 (middle age) days of age. Perinatal androgenization in the rat provoked a reduction in sperm production and reserves in adulthood that did not affect fertility and did not persist at more advanced ages, as shown by the results at post-natal day 270. If perinatal androgenization promotes similar effects in humans of reproductive age, the results of the present work can impact male reproduction health, given the less efficient spermatogenesis and lower sperm reserves in the human epididymis, compared to rodents.

[Mechanical restraint: its use in intensive cares]. / Contención mecánica: su uso en cuidados intensivos.

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the impact of the use of mechanical restraint (MR) or physical restraints in a Critical Care unit and to evaluate the procedure. BASIC PROCEDURES: A descriptive, prospective study. INCLUSION CRITERIA: patients who required MR from March to June 2010. VARIABLES: demographic, clinical presentation, indications, techniques and devices. A statistical analysis with mean, standard deviation and percentages using the program SPSS 14.0. RESULTS: A total of 85 cases were studied: 65.9% male, mean age 64.19 (±17.9), NEMS 29.3 (±8.2). Incidence of MR: 15.6%. Main indication for MR: Risk of serious disruption of treatment processes (80%). Decision nurse (94.1%). Urgent action: (85.9%). Registration procedure: 57.6%. Information to the family: 9.4%. Previous actions: verbal containment (100%), pharmacological (48.2%). CONCLUSIONS: There is a relevant incidence of MR. The principal reason is that of avoiding interruption of the therapeutic process. The nurse makes the initial decision. Necessary information/training of professionals for legal and ethical repercussions is needed.

Isolation and characterization of a murine resident liver stem cell.

Increasing evidence provides support that mammalian liver contains stem/progenitor cells, but their molecular phenotype, embryological derivation, biology and their role in liver cell turnover and regeneration remain to be further clarified. In this study, we report the isolation, characterization and reproducible establishment in line of a resident liver stem cell (RLSC) with immunophenotype and differentiative potentiality distinct from other previously described liver precursor/stem cells. RLSCs, derived from fetal and neonatal murine livers as well as from immortalized hepatocytic MMH lines and established in lines, are Sca+, CD34-, CD45-, alpha-fetoprotein+ and albumin-. This molecular phenotype suggests a non-hematopoietic origin. RLSC transcriptional profile, defined by microArray technology, highlighted the expression of a broad spectrum of 'plasticity-related genes' and 'developmental genes' suggesting a multi-differentiative potentiality. Indeed, RLSCs spontaneously differentiate into hepatocytes and cholangiocytes and, when cultured in appropriate conditions, into mesenchymal and neuro-ectodermal cell lineages such as osteoblasts/osteocytes, chondrocytes, astrocytes and neural cells. RLSC capability to spontaneously differentiate into hepatocytes, the lack of albumin expression and the broad differentiative potentiality locate them in a pre-hepatoblast/liver precursor cells hierarchical position. In conclusion, RLSCs may provide a useful tool to improve liver stem cell knowledge and to assess new therapeutic approaches for liver diseases.

Hydroxychloroquine attenuates cigarette smoke induced autophagic signaling in the mouse ovary.

We previously demonstrated that Cigarette Smoke (CS) induces autophagy in the ovary. Therefore we aimed to determine if chloroquine (CQ) could inhibit CS-induced autophagy in the ovary. Eight week old mice were implanted with CQ pellets; 0, 25, and 50mg CQ/kg. Half of the animals in each group were exposed to room air and the other half were exposed to CS twice daily for 8 weeks. Ovaries were harvested for electron microscopy, gene and protein expression analysis. There was a significant increase in the production of autophagosomes in granulosa cells of mice exposed to CS (p=0.0297). However 25 and 50mg/kg CQ treatment significantly decreased the CS-induced autophagosomes (p=0.0505; p=0.0065) and attenuated the effects of CS on LC3B and BECN1 expression. In summary, this suggests that CQ attenuates CS-induced autophagy in the ovary and that ovarian protection from toxic insult is potentially feasible.