Fatal neurocryptococcosis in a Colombian underage patient.

Cryptococcosis is a life-threatening mycosis reported mainly in human adults with low frequency in children. High mortality rates may occur in cases with late diagnosis therefore, a timely suspicion of this pathology is important. Cryptococcus gattii is the less prevalent species complex predominantly isolated from apparently normal hosts. We report a fatal case of neurocryptococcosis in a Colombian minor without known risk factors, in Barranquilla, Colombia. The patient was hospitalized for neurological assessment with a recent history of intense headache, vomiting, anorexia, loss of consciousness, drowsiness, inability to recognize family members, disorientation, aphasia and anxiety. Despite initiating antifungal treatment after isolation of the fungus from cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), the patient died early due to his deteriorated condition.

The transformational impact of site-specific DNA modifiers on biomedicine and agriculture

The development of genetically modified livestock has been dependent on incremental technological advances such as embryo transfer, homologous recombination, and somatic cell nuclear transfer (SCNT). This development rate has increased exponentially with the advent of targeted gene modifiers such as zinc finger nucleases, TAL-effector nucleases (TALENs) and clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR-Cas). CRISPR-Cas based systems in particular have broad applicability, and have low technical and economic barriers for their implementation. As a result, they are having, and will continue to have, a transformational impact in the field of gene editing in domestic animals. With these advances also comes the responsibility to properly apply this technology so it has a beneficial effect throughout all levels of society.(AU)

The transformational impact of site-specific DNA modifiers on biomedicine and agriculture

The development of genetically modified livestock has been dependent on incremental technological advances such as embryo transfer, homologous recombination, and somatic cell nuclear transfer (SCNT). This development rate has increased exponentially with the advent of targeted gene modifiers such as zinc finger nucleases, TAL-effector nucleases (TALENs) and clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR-Cas). CRISPR-Cas based systems in particular have broad applicability, and have low technical and economic barriers for their implementation. As a result, they are having, and will continue to have, a transformational impact in the field of gene editing in domestic animals. With these advances also comes the responsibility to properly apply this technology so it has a beneficial effect throughout all levels of society.

The transformational impact of site-specific DNA modifiers on biomedicine and agriculture.

The development of genetically modified livestock has been dependent on incremental technological advances such as embryo transfer, homologous recombination, and somatic cell nuclear transfer (SCNT). This development rate has increased exponentially with the advent of targeted gene modifiers such as zinc finger nucleases, TAL-effector nucleases (TALENs) and clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR-Cas). CRISPR-Cas based systems in particular have broad applicability, and have low technical and economic barriers for their implementation. As a result, they are having, and will continue to have, a transformational impact in the field of gene editing in domestic animals. With these advances also comes the responsibility to properly apply this technology so it has a beneficial effect throughout all levels of society.

Characterization of putative haematopoietic cells from bovine yolk sac.

The yolk sac is an extra-embryonic membrane that plays an important role in early embryonic survival. It is the production site for blood cells during embryonic mammalian development and is a likely source of stem cells. The aim of this study was to identify and characterize the putative haematopoietic cells from the yolk sac of bovine embryos at different stages of gestation. The yolk sac regresses according to gestational age and embryos are characterized into groups (I-V) according to the crown-rump measurement. Groups I-III survived in culture longer and exhibited the formation of cell clusters, whereas groups IV and V could not be maintained in culture for an extended period of time. Flow-cytometry analysis revealed that groups I-III had similar characteristics, including high expression levels of the haematopoietic markers CD34, CD90 and CD117. In groups IV and V, decreases were observed in the expression levels of CD117 and CD34. Cells were found to be capable of survival post-cryopreservation and exhibited varying abilities to form colonies in a methylcellulose matrix, depending on gestational age. Cytological analysis revealed the presence of blood cells (lymphocytes and monocytes). Quantitative PCR analysis demonstrated the presence of the haematopoietic progenitor genes GATA3 and LMO2, but not RUNX1. Thus, we have successfully isolated and characterized haematopoietic cells from the bovine embryo yolk sac at varying gestational ages. This study is crucial for the understanding of the development of the haematopoietic system and the embryonic function of this organ. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Application of gene expression profiling to the study of placental and fetal function

Background: One of the key biological principles that differentiate mammals from other phyla is the presence of the placenta. This is a unique and complex tissue that plays an essential role in the development of the fetus and has both short terms effects in terms of reproductive efficiency, and long term effects in terms of adult onset diseases exacerbated by an inadequate fetal environment. Yet in spite of decades of intense study there is still a large number of unanswered questions regarding the function of this organ. This is true for both humans and domestic animals species. Review: In the past, studies focused on placental function and placental/fetal interactions have examined at most a few genes/ proteins at a time; what is commonly referred to as the candidate gene approach. While this approach has been quite successful, and has helped develop the knowledge base that we have at present, it is also limiting in scope. New genomic technologies allow simultaneous analysis of most, if not all, of the genes expressed in placental and fetal tissues. However these technologies also present significant challenges due to the massive amount of information that is generated. This entails not just how to handle the generated data, but also how to properly analyze it and interpret it. Fortunately, a large number of computer algorithms have been, and continued to be, developed that permit not just the identification of which genes are disregulated in the system being studied, but perhaps more importantly, permits the identification of which biological pathways are affected. This in effect convert a list of genes that in most cases defy interpretation, into a more biologically-oriented set of results that provide a better understanding of the system. This knowledge can then be used to design direct biochemical and physiological experiments that, in essence, allow the investigator to move from the gene level to the system level. This review will cover some of the fundamental aspects of gene expression profile data capture, and the different approaches that are used to analyze the data generated, including brief descriptions of some of the most commonly used web-based gene expression profiling analysis programs. In addition, methods for searching and downloading dataset of interest that can help complement your own data will be reviewed. In particular, focus will be placed on how this technology can be utilized to study placental and fetal growth abnormalities in humans, with an emphasis on fetal growth restriction and preeclampsia. Additionally, similar approaches will be described that helped to elucidate the conservation and possible function of imprinted genes in swine. Conclusion: This manuscript describes methods for capturing and analyzing gene expression profiles with an emphasis of how this technology was applied to the study of placental function in humans and swine. In addition, it provides a description of web-based systems that can be used to analyze data generated by your own studies as well as method for searching and downloading data generated by others.

Ginecología en el siglo XXI / Ginecology in the 21th century

Para esta reflexión sobre la Ginecobstetricia en el siglo XXI, he tomado como punto de referencia algunos preceptos del juramento hipocrático. Esto nos ha permitido señalar cambios radicales en el ejercicio de la medicina.