Adipose tissue-derived stem cells (ADSCs) are mesenchymal cells with the capacity for self-renewal and multipotential differentiation. This multipotentiality allows them to become adipocytes, chondrocytes, myocytes, osteoblasts and neurocytes among other cell lineages. Stem cells and, in particular, adipose tissue-derived cells, play a key role in reconstructive or tissue engineering medicine as they have already proven effective in developing new treatments. The purpose of this work is to review the applications of ADSCs in various areas of regenerative medicine, as well as some of the risks associated with treatment with ADSCs in neoplastic disease.

Comet assays or single cell gel electrophoresis for detection of DNA damage is a test that has been widely utilized to assess the effects of expositions to environmental genotoxicants. The test is also used to evaluate DNA damage related to chronic inflammation or preneoplastic and neoplastic conditions. The cells more frequently assessed in comet assay in humans are the peripheral blood lymphocytes, but there are other cell types that have been considered for that purpose. Among those, buccal cells have received attention for its suitability for comet assay, but there have been Original Research Article

With great enthusiasm, I see that in your magazine Interamerican Journal of Health Sciences, relevance is given to the learning that the field of scientific research provides to the surgical instrumentation training. Science as human activity, creator of knowledge through observation methodologies and experimentation in order to answer questions objectively and systematically, manifests benefits at a global level with the generation of knowledge, the application of these in the development of innovative technologies and in the decision-making with the purpose of solving individual and collective human problems, among others. Scientific practice requires trained personnel to access reference sources and tools that allow critical, consensual and objective reflection in the execution of all stages in the development of an investigation. This is nothing more than a personnel that has learned to learn by itself to obtain evidence that will be useful, reliable and timely to resolve the research questions. There is where remains the main individual benefit of science.