Autologous Pancreatic Islet Transplantation in Human Bone Marrow

The liver is the current site of choice for pancreatic islet transplantation, even though it is far from being ideal. We recently have shown in mice that the bone marrow (BM) may be a valid alternative to the liver, and here we report a pilot study to test feasibility and safety of BM as a site for islet transplantation in humans. Four patients who developed diabetes after total pancreatectomy were candidates for the autologous transplantation of pancreatic islet. Because the patients had contraindications for intraportal infusion, islets were infused in the BM. In all recipients, islets engrafted successfully as shown by measurable posttransplantation C-peptide levels and histopathological evidence of insulin-producing cells or molecular markers of endocrine tissue in BM biopsy samples analyzed during follow-up. Thus far, we have recorded no adverse events related to the infusion procedure or the presence of islets in the BM. Islet function was sustained for the maximum follow-up of 944 days. The encouraging results of this pilot study provide new perspectives in identifying alternative sites for islet infusion in patients with type 1 diabetes. Moreover, this is the first unequivocal example of successful engraftment of endocrine tissue in the BM in humans.

Autologous Pancreatic Islet Transplantation in Human Bone Marrow. Diabetes 2013;62:3523-3531

Effects of a Single Bout of Interval Hypoxia on Cardiorespiratory Control and Blood Glucose in Patients With Type 2 Diabetes

Hypoxia may cause functional autonomic imbalance in diabetes. Intermittent hypoxia (IH), a technique improving the adaptation to hypoxia, might improve cardiorespiratory reflexes and, ultimately, blood glucose concentrations in patients with type 2 diabetes. We tested whether a single bout of IH could initiate a long-lasting response potentially leading to better adaptation to hypoxia.

Análisis sensorial de huevos de gallina (Gallus gallus domesticus) orgánicos y convencionales

El objetivo de este estudio fue evaluar el color instrumental y análisis sensorial de cuatro marcas de huevos, orgánicos (A y B) y convencionales (C y D). El análisis de color de la cáscara y la yema se realizó con un colorímetro Minolta® y el análisis sensorial fue utilizado para comprobar la diferencia y la preferencia entre las muestras. Se utilizaron treinta catadores. Los datos de color instrumental fueron sometidos al análisis de varianza, y para detectar diferencias entre las medias se aplicó la prueba de Tukey (p≤0,05). Los datos de ordenación fueron sometidos a la prueba tipo Friedman y a comparaciones múltiples entre los escores. Para el color instrumental de la yema del huevo, tanto para luminosidad como croma, la muestra C se diferenció de las otras muestras. En el ensayo sensorial apareció una diferencia significativa sólo para el color de la yema, donde la muestra C apareció más oscura que las otras. Para aroma y sabor hubo una diferencia significativa entre las muestras. Las diferencias presentadas por las muestras de color instrumental y el color percibido por el análisis sensorial no afecta a la preferencia sensorial y la intención de compra entre huevos convencionales y orgánicos estudiados.

Las mujeres de Hamas: ¿silencio subalterno o voces participativas?

Synthesis of Zeolite from Glass

Identification of public areas with potential toxocariasis transmission risk using Geographical Information Systems

Geographic information system (GIS) or Health geography is a geographical identification of the spatial variation of contagion disease and zoonosis risk in certain conditions.

Bat flies (Diptera: Streblidae, Nycteribiidae) and mites (Acari) associated with bats (Mammalia: Chiroptera) in a high-altitude region in southern Minas Gerais, Brazil

A total of 71 bat flies belonging to families Nycteribiidae and Streblidae, and 37 mites were collected on 12 species of bats (Phyllostomidae and Vespertilionidae) from the Chapada do Abanador (Minas Gerais, Brazil), between July 2009 and April 2010. Two new occurrences of ectoparasites were recorded on Histiotus velatus (bat fly Basilia producta) and on Carollia perspicillata (mite Parichoronyssus bakeri). Five new occurrences were recorded for the state of Minas Gerais, increasing the range for bat flies Anatrichobius passosi, Paraeuctenodes similis, Basilia juquiensis, Basilia producta and for mite Periglischrus vargasi. Moreover, two new species of mites were recorded for Brazil (P. bakeri and Macronyssus aff. leislerianus). With regard to infracommunities, the most frequent association was between Anastrebla modestini and Exastinion clovisi on bat Anoura geoffroyi. This study contributed to characterize the fauna of bat ectoparasites in representative but poorly-sampled environments of the Atlantic Forest, the campos de altitude (high altitude grasslands) and cloud forests of southern Minas Gerais.

Integrating mobile bed numerical modelling into reservoir planning operations: the case study of the hydroelectric plant in Isola Serafini (Italy)

This work aims at integrating the understanding of the river geomorphic dynamic into the planning of reservoir operation rules.\udThe case study is a 112 km long reach of the Po river in Italy, from Piacenza to Boretto. The Isola Serafini (IS) gate has served a large run-of-the-river hydroelectricity plant since 1962. The dam blocks a relevant amount of sediments and is the cause, together with intense sand mining, for the river bed incision immediately downstream that has made several navigation and irrigation devices unusable during low flow periods, leading to expensive and recurrent works to restore their functionality.\udThe operational rule of the IS gate was modelled using 4 parameters and a number of experiments were simulated adopting alternative operating policies over a 10- year period. A 1D hydraulic numerical model with mobile bed has been used to estimate bed degradation trends.\udThe results show that there is space for a meaningful trade-off between the conflicting objectives of hydropower production and reduction of river bed degradation. The analysis provides operative rules able to effectively tackle river bed incision with moderate loss in hydropower production

Concerns of cancer patients receiving outpatient chemotherapy and positive aspects of treatment