The Tissue Bank at the National Nuclear Research Institute in Mexico

The Instituto Nacional de Investigaciones Nucleares (ININ, The National Nuclear Research Institute) received during 1997-1998 strong support of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), to establish the first and only one tissue bank (BTR ININ tissue bank) in Mexico that uses ionising radiation as sterilising agent. In that time, the BTR staff was trained in different tissue banks in several countries. Basic equipment for tissue processing donated by the IAEA was received in 1998. In July, 1999 the Mexican Health Secretariat gave the Sanitary License No. 1062000001 to the BTR to operate as an official organ and tissue bank. In August, 2001 the ININ and the Hospital Materno Infantil (HMI-ISSEMYM) signed an agreement to collaborate in amnion processing. The hospital is responsible for donor selection, serology tests, tissue procurement and washing, since this hospital is the BTR amnion supplier. The tissues are collected by ININ weekly with complete documentation. The BTR is responsible for processing: cleaning, air drying, packaging, labelling, microbiological control and sterilisation by gamma irradiation. The sterilised tissue is kept under quarantine for 6 months to obtain the results of the donor second serology test. From March to June, 2002 the BTR has processed 347.86 units (50 cm(2) each), is say, 17,393 cm(2). In addition, the pig skin xenograft process has been implemented and a protocol for clinical applications of it is running at the Hospital Central Sur de Alta Especialidad (PEMEX). Also the ININ tissue bank present status and perspectives are described.     

The impact of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) program on radiation and tissue banking in Mexico

Tissue banking started in Mexico in 1948-1949, when two bone banks were established, one at the Infantile Hospital of Mexico and other at the Central Military Hospital. Mexico has benefited for the implementation of the IAEA program since through it has been able to settle down and to consolidate the Tissue Bank at the Instituto Nacional de Investigaciones Nucleares ININ (National Institute for Nuclear Research). This is the only bank in Latin America that has a Quality Management System in force, certified under ISO 9001:2000 since August 1, 2003. The first tissue processed was amnion. The main products of the BTR are amnion and pig skin. Both are biological tissues which their main use is as a wound dressing in patients with burns, scars, diabetic ulcers, epidermolysis bullosa, damaged ocular surface, etc. The General Health Law, published in 1984 and reformed in June 19, 2007, describes the procedure for the disposal of organs, tissues and human cadavers in its fourteenth title and in the Regulation for Sanitary Control. During the period 2001-2005, the ININ Tissue Bank produced 292 sterilised tissues (amnion, 86,668 cm², and frozen pig skin, 164,220 cm², at an estimated cost of 1,012,668 Mexican pesos. Until 2006, one hundred eighty five (185) patients have been treated with the use of sterilised tissues produced by the ININ Tissue Bank. The radiation source used for sterilisation of tissues is an industrial Cobalt-60 irradiator model JS-6500 AECL, which belongs to ININ. This equipment is located in other building, close to the BTR, in the Centro Nuclear de México “Dr. Nabor Carrillo Flores” (Nuclear Center of Mexico). Until 2006, six hospitals use in a routine way the sterilised tissues produced by the ININ Tissue Bank, for the treatment of burns originated by diverse agents like flame, electricity, liquids in boil, chemical reagents, as well as for the reconstruction of the ocular surface. Two of these hospitals treat patients of very low economic incomes, mainly needy individuals, who cannot afford to pay this type of treatments in other hospitals due to their high cost. The results obtained up to now are highly promising.     

围产期干细胞库质量管理体系构建

围产期干细胞库质量管理体系（QMS）建设是保障干细胞产品和服务健康发展的基础工作。本文比较分析美国输血协会（AABB）、细胞疗法认证基金会（FACT）和ISO 9001的标准的架构、内容和侧重点,重点论述围产期干细胞库QMS构建的方法、步骤和参考模式。参照权威机构标准建立和运行QMS,能够保障我国围产期干细胞库标准化、规范化和科学化的建设和管理,提升我国干细胞库能力和信任水平。良好的QMS进一步促进干细胞与精准医疗战略性新兴产业升级,为建设健康中国提供动力。     

Coupled saccharification and fermentation of pre-treated Eucalyptus wood: a simple kinetic model

Coupled saccharification and fermentation of Eucalyptus globulus wood, pre-treated by acid hydrolysis and sodium hypochlorite, was carried out in two column reactors: one for enzymatic hydrolysis of the substrate at 50°C and the other for fermentation of sugars with calcium alginate-immobilized Saccharomyces cerevisiae at 30°C. A buffered solution containing cellulases at pH 4.8 was recycled through both reactors. The maximum yields were about 0.26 g ethanol per g of substrate. The results were reproduced reasonably well using a simple kinetic model consisting of two successive pseudo-first-order reactions.C. Albornoz and D. M. Ferrari are with the Centro de Investigaciones Tecnológicas (CIT), Administración Nacional de Combustibles, Alcohol y Portland (ANCAP), Pando, Canelones, C.P. 91000, Uruguay. S. Blanco and G. Ellenrieder are with Instituto de Investigaciones para la Industria Química (INIQUI), Universidad Nacional de Salta (UNSa), Buenos Aires 177, 4400 Salta, Argentina.     

Coding and traceability in Iran

Transplantation has a long history in Iran. Cornea was the first tissue transplantation in 1935. The Central Eye Bank of Iran was established in 1991 and the Iranian Tissue Bank (ITB) in 1994. Now, there are also some private cell and tissue banks in the country, that produce different tissue grafts such as homograft heart valves, musculoskeletal tissues, soft tissues, cartilages, pericardium, amniotic membrane and some cell based products. There is not a separate legislation for tissue transplantation but the legal framework for tissue donation is based on the “Deceased or Brain dead patient organ transplantation” act (passed on April 6, 2000). For tissue banking there is no regulatory oversight by the national health authority. To increase the level of safety and considering the importance of effective traceability, each tissue bank has its own policy and terminology for coding and documentation without any correlation to others. In some cases tissue banks have implemented ISO based standards (i.e., ISO 9001) as a basic quality management system.     

Ordination and classification of vegetation along an altitudinal gradient in the Venezuelan páramos

By means of ordination and classification techniques, the relationships between climate, soils, human activities and vegetation along an altitudinal gradient of the Venezuelan páramos are analyzed and interpreted. The altitudinal gradient chosen is characterized by decrease of temperature, precipitation, soil fertility, soil water-holding capacity, and plant cover as altitude increases. The ordination results suggest vegetation changes to be primarily related to environmental changes occurring with altitude, and secondly to disturbances caused mainly by grazing. Some results point toward a disjunction in the vegetational gradient occurring at ca. 3 500 m.a.s.l. and separating low and high páramo. This disjunction might have been caused by the glacial history of the páramos and the occurrence of frequent night-frosts.The soil samples were kindly analyzed by the Laboratorio de Edafologia, Centro Nacional de Investigaciones Agropecuarias. Help in plant identification was generously obtained from the specialists of Instituto Botánico, Instituto Nacional de Parques, Caracas.Nomenclature follows Vareschi (1970).Acknowledgements: This work was supported by the Decanato de Investigaciones, Universidad Simón Bolivar. I wish to thank A. Pacheco for help in the field sampling. Dr O. Arenas help was invaluable in the mathematical treatment of the data. Drs A. Vivas and J. M. B. Smith provided useful criticism to an earlier version of this work.     

Quality issues in tissue banking:Quality management systems - A review

The situation in tissue banking changed radically and fundamentally at the beginning of the 1990s. The essential causes are on the one hand, the continually increasing demand for human cells and tissue and other biological material for clinical use and research, and on the other hand, the rapid progress in the medical, technical and natural sciences. Biotechnology in particular, has profited from this. Modern tissue banks could no longer be imagined without its methods.A consequence of these developments and a prerequisite for the fulfilment of the derived requirements is the necessity for national and international cooperation as well as the harmonisation of ethical principles and quality assurance standards and regulations (von Versen (1999) Ann Chir Gynaecol 88: 215-220). The introduction of an all-encompassing Quality Management System (QMS) is a suitable instrument for this purpose.After the presentation of explanations and definitions of quality terminology, this article describes the use of the international standard ISO 9000 as a general QMS, which embraces both the specific methodology as well as the general aspects of Quality Management (research and development, design control, education and training, documentation, traceability, management control, corrective action, etc.) in tissue banking. The individual elements of this system are explained and selected examples are described. The authors look upon this QMS as an indispensable instrument for harmonisation and international cooperation in tissue banking.Finally, the use of such a standard would be a positive sign to the regulatory authorities and the public that tissue banking is making a visible effort to introduce a world-class QMS in its operations.     

Selection and preliminary characterization of a Pseudomonas aeruginosa strain mineralizing selected isomers in a branchedchain dodecylbenzenesulphonate mixture

A bacterium able to grow at the expense of some isomers in a commercial surfactant preparation consisting of branched-chain dodecylbenzenesulphonate was isolated (W51), and it was identified as a Pseudomonas aeruginosa strain. A faster growing derivative was selected (W51D) after enrichment in batch culture under microaerobic conditions, using the surfactant as the sole source of carbon and energy. Strain W51D is the first microorganism reported to degrade at least 70% of a branched-chain alkylbenzenesulphonate mixture and to be resistant to high concentrations of this surfactant. The ability to degrade the surfactant was shown to be transferred by conjugation to other P. aeruginosa strains and to an Escherichia coli strain.G. Soberón-Chávez and J. Campos are with the Instituto de Biotecnologia, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Apdo Postal 510-3, Cuernavaca, Mor. 62250, México.A. Hädour and L. Ramos are with Estación Experimental del Zaidín, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Cientificas, Protesor Albareda 1, Granada 18008, España. J. Ortigoza is with Escuela Nacional de Ciencias Biológicas, Instituto Politécnico Nacional, Apdo. Postal 42-186. México D.F. 11340. México.     

Somatic embryogenesis in avocado (Persea americana Mill.) in vitro

A tissue culture procedure was developed for the regeneration of somatic embryos from callus cultures of the avocado,Persea americana. Immature zygotic embryos, 0.6–0.8 mm long, were used as original explants. Addition of 0.1 mg/l picloram (4-amino-3,5,6-trichloropicolinic acid) to culture medium appeared critical for callus initiation. Development of somatic embryos was accomplished in picloram concentrations of 0.01 to 0.1 ml/l. A few well developed embryos produced green shoots. Attempts to induce a higher incidence of germination were unsuccessful.Investigation was supported by funds from the California Avocado Society, the Instituto Nacional de Investigaciones Agrarias, the Fundation Juan March, the Chancellor's Patent Fund, and the Southern California Phi Beta Kappa Alumni Association. Authors thank H. Quick for the photography and J. Lippert for the illustrations.     

Agricultural development and maize diversity in Mexico

Mexico is within the center of origin of Zea mays and has among the highest levels of maize genetic diversity in the world. This diversity is traced to factors at the regional and farm levels. Loss of crop genetic diversity has been related to economic and agricultural development, although opposed views of this exist for the Mexican case. Agricultural development appears to be affecting virtually all types of farms in Mexico. A case study in Chiapas suggests that the adoption of some improved varieties has enhanced genetic diversity in maize, but one improved type competes with landraces in the most favorable land. The adoption of this improved type is associated with greater access to capital and with lower risk.The research for this project was carried out with the support of the UC/MEXUS program of the University of California and CONACYT. We wish to acknowledge the advice and assistance provided by Esteban Betanzos of the Chiapas office of the Instituto Nacional de Investigaciones Forestales y Agropecuarios, Efraim Hernandez of the Colegio de Postgraduados at Chapingo, Robert Tripp of the Centro Internacional de Mejoramiento de Maiz y Trigo, and to Manuel Parra of the Centro de Investigaciones Ecologicas del Sureste in San Cristobal de las Casas. The authors wish to thank J. Edward Taylor, Andraes Buerkert, Aaron Zazueta, and Daniel Mountjoy for their useful comments on an earlier draft.     

Diabetes-induced alteration in subcellular distribution of poly(A)-rich RNA from skeletal muscle

Summary Skeletal muscle ribosome preparations from diabetic rats have lower polysome content than those from normal animals. The ratio of poly(A) containing RNA between polysomes and postribosomal supernatant has been measured both in normal and diabetic rats. The results suggest that in diabetic animals there is a greater proportion of free poly(A) containing RNA, in postribosomal supernatant.This work was supported by Grants from the Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Cientificas y Técnicas (República Argentina), Universidad Nacional de Buenos Aires, and partly under contract of the Ministére de la Politique Scientifique within the framework of the Association Euratom—University of Brussels—University of Pisa.     

Implementation of a Quality Plan (ISO 9002) In a Regional Tissue Bank

Quality control and standardized preservation methods are essential in the field of transplantation. The International Organization for Standardization (ISO) has established a common set of manufacturing, trade and communications standards that are applicable worldwide and that provide the basis of a quality plan for Tissuebreak Banks.The Sectorial Tissue Banking (STB) of the Regional Blood Transfusion Center (RBTC) of Córdoba (Spain) is a non-profit-making tissue bank, established in 1992 to provide tissues for surgical procedures to the hospitals in a regional area. In 1998, the STB as a part of the RBTC embarked upon the path of becoming ISO-certified: after two years of the implementation of the project, STB attained ISO 9002 certification, thus becoming one of the first tissue banks in Europe to achieve this qualification. In this paper we describe the process of becoming ISO-certified, to demonstrate the positive impact that it has had on our entire organization.The assistance of an outside consultant who provided the necessary information for implementing an ISO quality management system was required. The initial improvement was: a well-defined quality manual to address all elements of the ISO 9002 standard, an improved document control system, detailed standard operating procedures (SOPs) and improved employees training processes. A quality committee team and developed quality indicators were created. The internal quality auditing program was established by the selection of employees from a cross-section of the organization, who were trained in internal auditing processes. A formal corrective action system was developed and implemented to facilitate process improvement. The consultant conducted a pre-certification audit, and one month later the certification audit was performed.In conclusion, the implementation of an ISO quality program in the STB has helped our center to establish a control process in the manufacturing of products and services to meet the expectations of our customers, by providing components and services that comply with the national regulatory standards and requirements.     

True potato seed quality

Summary Environmental influence on physiological factors that determine seed quality is discussed in relation to true potato seed (TPS). This review has been motivated by the need for high quality seed for the proper evaluation of TPS technology. The objectives of tuber production may not be in harmony with those required for the production of high quality TPS. The production of high quality TPS may be influenced by the stronger sink strength ability of fast developing tubers for assimilation of available nutrients. Earliness of tuber formation, which is needed in TPS progenitors, may tend to result in incomplete TPS development. Limiting conditions during seed development decrease the potential of the seed for field establishment. Seed vigor is the most important attribute of seed quality since it is essential for seedling performance under the adverse conditions commonly encountered during field development. The attractiveness of TPS technology for tropical areas, where potato production is limited by low-quality seed tuber availability, is decreased by the lack of seedling vigor and uniformity of seedlings derived from TPS. Current research indicates that considerable genetic improvement of TPS vigor and uniformity is possible. It is suggested that significant immediate improvement of TPS quality would result from agronomic techniques that reflect understanding of the physiological factors that influence the production and maintenance of high quality seed. Research areas needed to develop methodologies for TPS production with optimum expression of genotype are identified.Abbreviations TPS True potato seed - CIP International Potato Center, Lima, Peru - SD Short day - LD Long day - INIA Instituto Nacional de Investigaciones Agropecuarias, Chile - GA Gibberellic acid     

The impact of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) program on radiation and tissue banking in Uruguay: development of tissues quality control and quality management system in the National Multi-Tissue Bank of Uruguay

BNOT was created and regulated in 1977 and started its operation in 1978 according to the Decree No. 86/1977. By the Decree 248/005 is transformed in the National Institute of Donation and Transplantation of Cells, Tissues and Organs (Instituto Nacional de Donación y Trasplante de Células, Tejidos y órganos—INDT). The organisation has been operating within the State University Medical School and the Public Health Secretary and it is the governmental organisation responsible for the regulation, policy and management of donation and transplantation in Uruguay. By the Decree 160/2006 is responsible for human cells and tissues regulation too. The participation of the INDT in the IAEA program facilitated the introduction of the radiation sterilisation technique for the first time in the country. The radiation sterilisation of tissues processed by INDT (ex BNOT), was initially carried out in the 60 Cobalt Industrial Plant in the National Atomic Energy Commission of Argentina and now is carried out in INDT, using a Gamma Cell 220 Excel, which was provided by the IAEA through the national project URU/7/005. The results of the implementation of tissues, quality control and quality management system, are showed.     

Treatment of dairy industry wastewater with an anaerobic filter

Summary Concentrations of up to 10.2 g COD/L were applied to an horizontal anaerobic filter at 40°C, obtaining efficiencies in COD removal of 85%. The contents of the reactor are kept mixed by recycling and at a pH value of 6.9.The addition of alkali to the influent increases the production of biogas reaching a maximum of 250 L of methane per kg of COD removed.Career Investigator of the Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Cientificas y Técnicas (R. Argentina).Fellow of the Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Cientificas y Técnicas (R. Argentina).     

Tissue allograft coding and traceability in USM Tissue Bank,Malaysia

In Malaysia, tissue banking activities began in Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM) Tissue Bank in early 1990s. Since then a few other bone banks have been set up in other government hospitals and institutions. However, these banks are not governed by the national authority. In addition there is no requirement set by the national regulatory authority on coding and traceability for donated human tissues for transplantation. Hence, USM Tissue Bank has taken the initiatives to adopt a system that enables the traceability of tissues between the donor, the processed tissue and the recipient based on other international standards for tissue banks. The traceability trail has been effective and the bank is certified compliance to the international standard ISO 9001:2008.     

Echinoderms (Echinodermata) from the Gulf of California, Mexico

A systematic list of the echinoderms of the Gulf of California, based on museum specimens of the Colección Nacional de Equinodermos, Instituto de Ciencias del Mar y Limnologia, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México and the National Museum of Natural History, Smithsonian Institution, Washington, D.C. is presented. A total of 193 echinoderm species is recorded, distributed in 108 genera, 51 families and 19 orders. 12 new records for the Gulf of California are presented: Asteroidea (four), Ophiuroidea (three) and Holothuroidea (five).     

Effect of exogenous application of gibberellic acid on color change and phenylalanine ammonia-lyase, chlorophyllase, and peroxidase activities during ripening of strawberry fruit (Fragaria x ananassa Duch.)

The effect of exogenously applied gibberellic acid (GA₃) on the postharvest color change of strawberry fruit was evaluated through their external color and surface color parameters. A significant delay on color evolution was observed in fruits treated with GA₃. The evolution of activities of phenylalanine ammonia-lyase (PAL), chlorophyllase, and peroxidase was also analyzed. PAL activity increased during strawberry ripening, but in fruits treated with GA₃ the increase in such activity was slower, and, probably as consequence, the development of red color was delayed. Moreover, the activity of chlorophyllase and peroxidase, enzymes possibly involved in chlorophyll metabolism, decreased during strawberry ripening. However, a delay was observed in the decrease of such activities in GA₃-treated fruits.Abbreviations PAL phenylalanine ammonia-lyase - GA₃ gibberellic acid₃ - PVPP polyvinylpolyprrolidone - CEAU chlorophyllase enzymic activity unit - PEAU peroxidase enzymic activity unit - LSD least significant difference. Fellow of the Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET) de la República Argentina. Author for correspondence.Members of the Research Career of the Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET) de la República Argentina.     

Histology and ultrastructure of the neurohypophysis of the south american lungfish,Lepidosiren paradoxa

Summary The neurohypophysis of the South American lungfish Lepidosiren paradoxa has been studied with light and electron microscopy, including the Falck-Hillarp technique for catecholamines. The pars nervosa hypophyseos is a well-marked, dorsally located subdivision of the pituitary gland composed of lobes or follicles, each one constituted of a central core of ependymal cells, a subependymal hilar region made up of nerve fibers and a peripheric palisade zone of nerve endings which contact capillary vessels. Four types of neurosecretory axons can be distinguished under the electron microscope. Type I, the most common, contains spherical elementary granules of high electron density, 1500–1800 Å in diameter. The scarce type II axons contain irregularly-shaped elementary granules. Type III contains only small clear vesicles, 400–600 Å in diameter. Type IV, mostly present in regions of the gland contacting the pars intermedia, contain large granulated vesicles, 900–1000 Å in diameter. The Falck-Hillarp technique revealed axons with a positive reaction for catecholamines at sites corresponding approximately to the location of type IV of the electron microscope.Ependymal cells are of large size, linking the cerebrospinal fluid, the nerve endings and the blood vessels. A conspicuous membrane-bound, spherical dense material, 1400–2000 Å in diameter, is observed in both the apical and vascular processes of these cells. The ependymal processes which traverse the hilar and palisade regions contain structures resembling degenerated neurosecretory axons. These results are discussed in relation with the currently available information on the comparative anatomy of the pars nervosa. The possible functional significance of ependymal cells and of each type of axon are also discussed.This study was aided by the following grants: NIH NS 06953 to Prof. De Robertis, Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas to Prof. Zambrano, Comisión de Investigaciones Científicas de la Provincia de Buenos Aires and Comisión de Investigaciones Cientificas de la Universidad Nacional de la Plata: to Prof. Iturriza.The authors are indebted to Prof. De Robertis for his generosity in granting us his laboratory facilities, and to Dr. F. J. J. Risso and Mr. A. Fernández (Resistencia, Chaco) who provided the specimens used in this study. The able microtechnical assistance of Miss L. Riboldazzi and Mrs. R. Raña and the photographic work of Mr. A. Saenz are much appreciated.Members of the Scientific Career, Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas, Argentina.