Three-Dimensional Models for Studying Neurodegenerative and Neurodevelopmental Diseases.

Human brain possesses a unique anatomy and physiology. For centuries, methodological barriers and ethical challenges in accessing human brain tissues have restricted researchers into using 2-D cell culture systems and model organisms as a tool for investigating the mechanisms underlying neurological disorders in humans. However, our understanding regarding the human brain development and diseases has been recently extended due to the generation of 3D brain organoids, grown from human stem cells or induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs). This system evolved into an attractive model of brain diseases as it recapitulates to a great extend the cellular organization and the microenvironment of a human brain. This chapter focuses on the application of brain organoids in modelling several neurodevelopmental and neurodegenerative diseases.

Surrogacy and the ECtHR: Reflections on Paradiso and Campanelli v Italy.

This case note analyses the recent judgment of the European Court of Human Rights in Paradiso and Campanelli v Italy and examines its implications for cross-border surrogacy in Europe. It is argued that this judgment is highly significant, because it sets new standards in terms of the concept of family life under Article 8 of the European Convention on Human Rights. This judgment, it is argued, only appears to bring a halt to the (seemingly) backdoor legitimacy of commercial surrogacy established by the findings of the Second Section and previous judgments of the Court. Finally, this case note critiques the Grand Chamber's findings and examines its likely impact on the problem of cross-border surrogacy.

Intrinsic neural stem cell properties define brain hypersensitivity to genotoxic stress.

Impaired replication has been previously linked to growth retardation and microcephaly; however, why the brain is critically affected compared with other organs remains elusive. Here, we report the differential response between early neural progenitors (neuroepithelial cells [NECs]) and fate-committed neural progenitors (NPs) to replication licensing defects. Our results show that, while NPs can tolerate altered expression of licensing factors, NECs undergo excessive replication stress, identified by impaired replication, increased DNA damage, and defective cell-cycle progression, leading eventually to NEC attrition and microcephaly. NECs that possess a short G1 phase license and activate more origins than NPs, by acquiring higher levels of DNA-bound MCMs. In vivo G1 shortening in NPs induces DNA damage upon impaired licensing, suggesting that G1 length correlates with replication stress hypersensitivity. Our findings propose that NECs possess distinct cell-cycle characteristics to ensure fast proliferation, although these inherent features render them susceptible to genotoxic stress.

Support for Gay and Lesbian Rights Among Students of Helping Professions in Crete, Greece: A Comparison between Social Work and Psychology Students.

This study explores the level of support for gay and lesbian rights among social work and psychology undergraduate students (N = 870). While students were generally supportive of gay and lesbian rights, 43% believed that social workers and psychologists should support gay and lesbian rights only 'when lesbians and gay men do not offend or upset others', while 31.3% agreed that these rights should be supported 'as long as they don't contradict the prevalent religion and values of the society they live in'. Social work students were more supportive of all items compared to psychology students; they were also more supportive regarding professionals' obligation to challenge negative discrimination on the grounds of sexual orientation. Religiosity, gender and having gay and lesbian friends or acquaintances were important correlates of students' level of support for gay and lesbian rights. Findings are discussed in relation to social work and psychology education.