Stem cell colloquy: conclusion

The stem cell data presented and discussed during the symposium raise the hope that important medical progress can be made in several fields: neuro-degenerative diseases, those linked to cellular deficit, some aspects of aging linked to cellular degeneration, and the treatment of cancers that may harm normal tissues at risk of being infiltrated by malignant cells. Three main types of stem cells are available. (i) Those present in normal adult tissue: contrary to what was believed, some data suggest that certain adult stem cells have a great plasticity (they can differentiate into cells different from those in tissues from which they were taken) and can proliferate in vitro without losing their properties. Nevertheless, their use faces several obstacles: in ill or elderly subjects, then these cells can be limited in number or not multiply well in vitro. In this case, auto-grafting of the cells cannot be used. They must be sought in another subject, and allo-grafting causes difficult and sometimes insoluble problems of immunological tolerance. (ii) Embryonic stem cells from surplus human embryos, obtained by in vitro fertilisation, which the parents decide not to use: these cells have a great potential for proliferation and differentiation, but can also encounter problems of immunological intolerance. (iii) Cells obtained from cell nuclear transfer in oocytes: these cells are well tolerated, since they are genetically and immunologically identical to those of the host. All types of stem cells can be obtained with them. However, they do present problems. For obtaining them, female oocytes are needed, which could lead to their commercialization. Moreover, the first steps for obtaining these cells are identical to those used in reproductive cloning. It therefore appears that each type of cell raises difficult scientific and practical problems. More research is needed to overcome these obstacles and to determine which type of stem cell constitutes the best solution for each type of disease and each patient. There are three main ethical problems: (a) to avoid the commercialization of stem cells and oocytes (this can be managed through strict regulations and the supervision of authorized laboratories); (b) to avoid that human embryos be considered as a mere means to an end (they should only be used after obtaining the informed consent of the parents; the conditions of their use must be well defined and research programs must be authorized); (c) to avoid that research on stem cell therapy using cell nuclear replacement opens the way to reproductive cloning (not only should reproductive cloning be firmly forbidden but authorization for cell nuclear transfer should be limited to a small number of laboratories). Overall, it appears that solutions can be found for administrative and ethical problems. Harmonisation of international regulations would be desirable in this respect, in allowing at the same time each country to be responsible for its regulations. A last ethical rule should be implemented, not to give patients and their families false hopes. The scientific and medical problems are many, and the solutions will be long and difficult to find. Regenerative medicine opens important avenues for research, but medical progress will be slow.     

石蒜愈伤组织的诱导及其继代培养

以石蒜鳞茎为外植体,研究了不同激素组合、鳞茎不同部位和不同生长时期等因素对石蒜愈伤组织诱导的影响及其继代培养。结果表明：MS＋2,4-D 1 mg·L~（-1）＋6-BA 1 mg·L~（-1）激素组合能较好的诱导出石蒜愈伤组织,诱导率达61.13%;外植体的选择是石蒜愈伤组织诱导的关键因素,内层鳞茎诱导愈伤组织的效果最好;在一个生长周期中,9、10月的鳞茎作为外植体诱导愈伤组织最佳;MS＋2,4-D 0.5 mg·L~（-1）＋KT 0.5 mg·L~（-1）是愈伤组织较好的继代培养基,继代周期为24～27 d。     

抗生素对大豆愈伤组织的诱导和生长的影响

用红霉素、头孢唑唑钠、头孢拉定、头孢霉素（国产和进口）等5种抗生素对农杆菌LBA4404进行抑菌试验,以头孢霉素的抑菌效果最好。头孢霉素作为抑菌剂用大于豆遗传转化试验时,在下胚轴浓度以300mg/L,在子叶节以500mg/L。大豆品种对卡那霉素的反应在出愈率上表现相似,在褐化率上表现有些不同。大豆不同外植体对卡那霉素的反应存在较大差异,以真叶反应最敏感,下胚轴反应最迟钝。在以卡那霉素作为抗性选择标记时,选择压力真叶和子叶节以50－100mg/L为好,下胚轴以100－200mg/L为宜。     

Supplementary analysis at the conclusion of a sequential clinical trial

Suppose that a clinical trial has been carried out using a sequential design. Any analysis that neglects the monitoring of the trial is potentially biased, and this holds for analyses of responses not directly used to determine whether the study should be stopped. Although valid methods exist to deal with the responses actually used in the sequential design, little has been written about secondary analyses of further responses. In this paper, two approaches to secondary analyses are explored. One is a conditional approach that avoids the problems of bias, the other an unconditional approach that allows for the sequential nature of the trial. The two methods are illustrated by application to three examples, each concerning a different type of response variable.     

Callus stimulation in distraction osteogenesis

Distraction osteogenesis has been described as in vivo tissue engineering. The ability to stimulate this process for the repair of bony defects or lengthening of congenitally shortened facial structures is likely to significantly impact the field of craniofacial surgery. The purpose of this study was to determine whether mechanical stimulation of the distracted rabbit mandible would accelerate the maturation of the bony callus when applied during the early consolidation period. Twenty adult New Zealand White rabbits underwent unilateral mandibular osteotomy. A uni-directional internal distractor device (Synthes, Paoli, Pa.) was positioned along a plane perpendicular to the line of osteotomy. After a 7-day latency period, distraction was commenced at a rate of 1.0 mm/day for 12 days in all animals. In a control group of 10 rabbits, a consolidation period of 8 weeks was observed before they were killed. In the experimental group of 10 rabbits, daily alternate compression and distraction of 1 mm (sequential compression and distraction) was performed for 3 weeks followed by a 5-week period of rigid fixation. Each animal received a dose of a fluorescent label at three different time points during the study: at the end of the distraction period, 3 weeks after the completion of the distraction phase, and 3 days before it was killed. All animals were killed 8 weeks after the completion of the distraction phase. Undecalcified histologic analysis and 3-point bending tests to failure were performed on the extracted mandibles. The results of the experimental and control groups were compared.Four animals in the control group and three animals in the experimental group were excluded from the study because of screw loosening resulting in distractor dislodgment or because of infection. On histologic analysis, cortical thickness at the center of the callus was found to be significantly greater in the experimental group compared with the control group when normalized to the contralateral hemimandible (83 percent versus 49 percent, respectively; p < 0.007). The ratio of cortical to cancellous bone in the distracted callus was uniformly found to be greater in the experimental specimens. The mineral apposition rate was calculated by using fluorescence microscopy and found to be significantly greater in the experimental group both during the period of sequential compression and distraction (3.2 microm/day versus 2.1 microm/day, p = 0.02) and after the period of sequential compression and distraction (1.4 microm/day versus 1.1 microm/day, p = 0.006). Mechanical testing revealed no significant differences in bending strength or stiffness between experimental or control groups (p = 0.54 and 0.47, respectively). This study has demonstrated that daily alternating compression and distraction of 1 mm amplitude during the early consolidation period has a stimulatory impact on callus formation with respect to osteoblastic activity, remodeling, and maturation of bone. Optimal timing and amplitude of sequential movement, long-term biomechanical differences, and molecular pathways have yet to be elucidated.     

Starch Metabolism in Shoot-forming Tobacco Callus

Starch, free sugars and protein contents, and the specific activitiesof enzymes of starch metabolism were determined in tobacco calluscultured under shoot-forming and non-shoot-forming conditions.Shoot-forming cultures contained higher levels of starch, freesugars and protein. Shoot-forming cultures had higher specificactivities for starch-synthesising enzymes throughout culture.On the other hand, higher levels of activity for starch-degradingenzymes in shoot-forming tissues were only observed during organizeddevelopment. The role of phosphorylase in the cultured tissuewas not clear.     

黄芩愈伤组织诱导研究(简报)

以黄芩带节茎段为外植体,在含6-BA1．0mg／L和NAA0．2mg／L的MS培养基上培养,可直接分化出芽,分化芽的茎段在相同培养基及培养条件下能够诱导形成愈伤组织。     

Caffeine Formation in Tea Callus Tissue

Callus tissue derived from segments of the stems of the teaplant produced caffeine. The caffeine was found in the tissueand was also present in the growth medium. The amount of caffeinevaried with the duration and conditions of growth of the callus.Theobromine was also produced by the callus. The methylatedpurines appeared during the latter half of the period of therapid phase of growth. It is probable that the caffeine wasformed by those cells nearing the end of growth, maybe whenthe cells were autolysing. Suspensions of cells which were mechanicallybroken in a phosphate buffer at pH 7.2 produced more caffeineduring incubation at 26 ?C. If the autolysates were supplementedwith RNA and methionine the amount of caffeine produced couldbe increased. It is suggested that the caffeine is formed duringthe catabolic breakdown of nucleic acids rather than directlyfrom the pathways of purine synthesis.     

茶条槭愈伤组织的再生体系建立及其没食子酸含量的测定

通过愈伤组织诱导途径,建立了快速高效的茶条槭再生体系。成熟种子在MS＋1．0mg·L^-1 6-BA的培养基中萌发,以茎段作为外植体,在WPM＋0．002-0．01mg·L^-1 TDZ＋0．1mg·L^-1 6-BAR培养3周诱导形成愈伤组织,诱导频率平均为98．0％。愈伤组织转入WPM＋0．01mg·L^-1 TDZ＋0．1mg·L-^1 6-BA培养基中得到再生芽,分化频率为42．0％,平均每块愈伤产生再生芽10个左右。转到WPM＋0．3mg·L^-1 IBA的培养基上的再生芽均可生根并长成完整植株,小苗移栽成活率达到89．0％。实验还建立了愈伤组织中没食子酸的提取和HPLC检测方法。对深绿色愈伤组织连续培养2个继代后,没食子酸含量达到2．8％。     

Wheat Callus Culture: the Initiation, Growth and Organogenesis of Callus Derived from Various Explant Sources

Callus was obtained from mature excised embryos of wheat, fromnodal and internodal stem segments and from rachis segmentsusing the medium of Murashige and Skoog(1962)(M medium), containing1-0mg l^–1 2,4-D, and from immature embryos using the mediumof Green and Phillips (1975) containing 2 mg l^–1 2,4-D.Callus yield from mature embryos depended upon the cultivarused. No callus could be obtained from leaf segments. Callusderived from mature embryos and nodal stem segments was successfullymaintained by serial sub-culture on the M medium containing2,4-D for up to 3 years although its growth rate declined toa lower level as culture proceeded. Such cultures consistently produced roots when transferred toa medium containing a low level of 2,4-D or no 2,4-D. The presenceof the auxin was essential for continued proliferation of thecallus tissue. Shoot initiation was infrequent, did not occurafter the first few sub-cultures and could not be enhanced byvarious auxin and cytokinin additions to the medium. Callusderived from immature embryos did not have an enhanced potentialfor shoot initiation. Triticum aestivum, wheat, callus culture, organogenesis     

Callus friability and somatic embryogenesis inHevea brasiliensis

The influence of plant growth regulators, sucrose, calcium and various macronutrient media on callus friability and somatic embryogenesis was investigated inHevea brasiliensis Müll. Arg. Friable and embryogenic calli were spontaneously formed in two rubber tree clones (PR 107 and RRIM 600) on the Medium for Hevea (MH), with 3,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (3,4-d), kinetin and sucrose, while compact embryogenic calli were enhanced in three other clones (PB 260, PB 235 and GT1). Callus friability was enhanced in clone PB 260 when the concentration of one growth factor (3,4-d or kinetin) was reduced from 4.5 μLM to 0.45 μM during the first culture, or when high sucrose or calcium levels 351 mM and 12 mM, respectively) were maintained during subcultures. The different macronutrient media did not alter callus texture but only use of MH and Murashige and Skoog (MS) media led to somatic embryogenesis. Friable calli obtained by modifying the auxin/cytokinin balance lost their embryogenic potential. In contrast, those obtained on media with high sucrose or calcium concentrations were mainly composed of embryogenic cells embedded in a mucilaginous matrix. Such calli could be of potential interest for establishing embryogenic cell suspension cultures.     

Callus induction and somatic embryogenesis of Phalaenopsis

Callus induction and plant regeneration through somatic embryogenesis in Phalaenopsis Richard Shaffer `Santa Cruz' were examined. Protocorm-like body (PLB) segments formed calli in Vacin and Went medium with sucrose. The optimal concentration of sucrose was 40 g ⋅ l^–1. Medium containing 200 ml ⋅ l^–1 coconut water together with 40 g ⋅ l^–1 sucrose was effective for callus induction. Gellan gum was suitable than agar as a gelling agent for callus induction. The calli easily formed PLBs after being transferred to a medium without sucrose. Histological observation suggested that the PLBs were somatic embryos. No variation was observed in the flowering plants regenerated through somatic embryogenesis. Received: 11 June 1997 / Revision received: 6 October 1997 / Accepted: 18 October 1997     

Callus and Cell Suspension Cultures of Carnation

Callus cultures of carnation, Dianthus caryophyllus L. ev. G. J. Sim, were grown on a synthetic medium of half strength Murashige and Skoog salts, 3 % sucrose, 100 mg/l of myo-inositol, 0.5 mg/l each of thiamin, HCl, pyridoxin, HCl and nicotinic acid and 10 g/l agar. Optimal concentrations of growth regulators were observed to be 3 × 10^?6M indoleacetic acid (JAA) combined with 3 × 10^?6M benzylaminopurin (BAP) or 10^?6M 2,4-dichlorophenoxy acetic acid (2,4-D) alone. IAA + BAP caused a 100 fold increase in fresh weight over 4 weeks at 25°C. Addition of casein hydrolysate increased growth further. Cell suspension cultures worked best in media containing 2,4-D in which they had a doubling time of about 2 days. Filtered suspensions were successfully plated on agar in petri dishes, but division was never observed in single cells. The cultures initiated roots at higher concentrations of IAA or NAA, but all attempts to induce formation of shoots or em-bryoids gave negative results.