Platelet-derived Growth Factors (GFs) are biologically active peptides that enhance tissue repair mechanisms such as angiogenesis, extracellular matrix remodeling, and cellular effects as stem cells recruitment, chemotaxis, cell proliferation, and differentiation. Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) is used in a variety of clinical applications, based on the premise that higher GF content should promote better healing. Platelet derivatives represent a promising therapeutic modality, offering opportunities for treatment of wounds, ulcers, soft-tissue injuries, and various other applications in cell therapy. PRP can be combined with cell-based therapies such as adipose-derived stem cells, regenerative cell therapy, and transfer factors therapy. This paper describes the biological background of the platelet-derived substances and their potential use in regenerative medicine.

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Female sex workers (FSWs) have been considered a key population for sexually transmitted infections (STIs); therefore, they are periodically screened as a requirement to obtain a work card. However, there is insufficient epidemiological data on STIs among FSWs in Mexico. The detection of Trichomonas vaginalis is limited to microscopic studies and the molecular screening of Human papillomavirus (HPV) is only done to women 35 years of age and older. The objective of this study was to determine the prevalence of T. vaginalis and HPV infections in FSWs in the city of Orizaba, Veracruz, Mexico. Samples from 105 FSWs were obtained by cervical swab and analyzed. The identification of T. vaginalis and HPV was performed by molecular methods. HPV DNA was identified in 5.71% of the samples with the presence of HPV16, HPV18, and HPV58. A percentage of 25.7% samples were positive for T. vaginalis for optical microscopy and 23.8% for PCR. The results of the study indicate the need to incorporate more sensitive methods for the timely diagnosis of STIs as well as comprehensive health promotion programs directed to the most vulnerable groups among FSWs.

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There are three caveolins expressed in mammals, designated Cav-1, Cav-2, and Cav-3. It has been postulated that Cav-1 acts as a scaffold protein for signaling proteins; these include ion channels, enzymes, and other ligand receptors like membrane-associated estrogen receptor (ER)␣ or ER␤. Caveolae-associated membrane proteins are involved in regulating some of the rapid estrogenic effects of 17␤-estradiol. One important system related to the activity of ER␣ and caveolae is the renin-angiotensin system. Angiotensin II (ANG II) has numerous actions in vascular smooth muscle, including modulation of vasomotor tone, cell growth, apoptosis, phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K)/Akt activation, and others. Many proteins associated with caveolae are in close relation with the scaffolding domain of Cav-1 (82-101 amino acid residues). It has been proposed that this peptide may acts as a kinase inhibitor. Therefore, to explore the ability of Cav-1 scaffolding peptide (CSP-1) to regulate ANG II function and analyze the relationship between ER␣ and ANG II type 1 and 2 (AT 1 and AT2) receptors, we decided to study the effects of CSP-1 on ANG II-induced intracellular Ca 2ϩ kinetics and the effect of 17␤-estradiol on this modulation using human smooth muscle cells in culture, intracellular Ca 2ϩ concentration measurements, immuno-and double-immunocytochemistry confocal analysis of receptor expression, immunoblot analysis, and immunocoprecipitation assays to demonstrate coexpression. We hypothesized that CSP-1 inhibits ANG II-mediated increases in intracellular Ca 2ϩ concentrations by interfering with intracellular signaling including the PI3K/Akt pathway. We also hypothesize that AT2 receptors associate with Cav-1. Our results show that there is a close association of AT1, AT2, and ER␣ with Cav-1 in human arterial smooth muscle cells in culture. CSP-1 inhibits ANG II-induced intracellular signaling. estrogen receptors; angiotensin type 1 and 2 receptors; phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase; intracellular signaling; tissue culture; angiotensin receptors CAVEOLAE are electron microscopy-identifiable plasma membrane invaginations (12,20,27). They are mainly formed in enriched cholesterol, sphingolipid, and glycosylphosphatidylinositol zones of the plasma membrane. The main structural protein of caveolae is caveolin (Cav); there are three isoforms expressed in mammal cells (Cav-1, Cav-2, and Cav-3). Adipocytes, endothelial cells, pneumocytes, and fibroblasts have the highest levels of Cav-1 and Cav-2, whereas Cav-3 expression is limited to muscle cell types [cardiac, skeletal, and smooth muscle cells (SMCs)] (28, 37).It has been postulated that Cav-1 acts also as a scaffold protein for signaling proteins. These proteins include G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs), heterotrimeric G proteins, receptor tyrosine kinases, components of the renin-angiotensin system (RAS)-MAPK pathway, Src family tyrosine kinases, PKC isoforms, nitric oxide (NO) synthase, epidermal cell growth factor receptor (ECGF-R), and related receptor tyrosine kinases (8,1...

Pregnancy is a state of vasodilation mediated by nitric oxide (NO). This vasodilation is impaired in women with preeclampsia, and an alteration in the L-arginine-NO pathway may be a causal factor. The production of NO and arginase activity were investigated in plasma and human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) from women with preeclampsia, which were associated with arginase II, eNOS, caveolin, angiotensin 1 and 2 receptor expression (AT1R and AT2R, respectively). The effect of (-)-epicatechin on arginase activity and production of anion superoxide in HUVEC also were investigated. Healthy volunteer non-pregnant (HV), normal pregnant (NP) and preeclamptic (PE) women were recruited for this study. Higher values of nitrite/nitrate (NO(2)/NO(3)) were detected in the plasma from PE women as opposed to HV and NP. Lower arginase activity in PE versus HV or NP women was observed. HUVECs from PE women showed lower values of NO(2)/NO(3), higher activity of arginase and higher expression of AT(1)R and AT(2)R than HUVECS from NP women. Interestingly, arginase activity was associated with AT(2)R stimulation; indeed this activity and the high NADPH (nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate) oxidase activity in HUVECs from PE women can uncouple the production or inactivation of NO. However, we demonstrated that (-)-epicatechin could lead to a decrease in the activity of both enzymes.

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Se incluyó 227 nahuas (77,5% mujeres). Según los lineamientos de la OMS, la proporción de nahuas con sobrepeso fue de 41%, y de obesidad 36,5%; y según la NOM fue de 11,4 y 69,2% respectivamente. En conclusión, la frecuencia de sobrepeso y obesidad en indígenas nahuas es alta. Deben realizarse estudios enfocados a determinar la prevalencia y factores de riesgo y, con ello, desarrollar estrategias de prevención que mejoren la calidad de salud de estas poblaciones.