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Mobini S, Song YH, McCrary MW, Schmidt CE. Advances in ex vivo models and lab-on-a-chip devices for neural tissue engineering. Biomaterials 2019; 198:146-166. [PMID: 29880219 PMCID: PMC6957334 DOI: 10.1016/j.biomaterials.2018.05.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/07/2018] [Revised: 04/25/2018] [Accepted: 05/07/2018] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
The technologies related to ex vivo models and lab-on-a-chip devices for studying the regeneration of brain, spinal cord, and peripheral nerve tissues are essential tools for neural tissue engineering and regenerative medicine research. The need for ex vivo systems, lab-on-a-chip technologies and disease models for neural tissue engineering applications are emerging to overcome the shortages and drawbacks of traditional in vitro systems and animal models. Ex vivo models have evolved from traditional 2D cell culture models to 3D tissue-engineered scaffold systems, bioreactors, and recently organoid test beds. In addition to ex vivo model systems, we discuss lab-on-a-chip devices and technologies specifically for neural tissue engineering applications. Finally, we review current commercial products that mimic diseased and normal neural tissues, and discuss the future directions in this field.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sahba Mobini
- J. Crayton Pruitt Family Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
| | - Young Hye Song
- J. Crayton Pruitt Family Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
| | - Michaela W McCrary
- J. Crayton Pruitt Family Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
| | - Christine E Schmidt
- J. Crayton Pruitt Family Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA.
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2
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CNS repurposing - Potential new uses for old drugs: Examples of screens for Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease and spasticity. Neuropharmacology 2018; 147:4-10. [PMID: 30165077 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuropharm.2018.08.027] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2018] [Revised: 07/10/2018] [Accepted: 08/23/2018] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
Drug repurposing is recently gaining increasing attention, not just from pharmaceutical companies but also from government agencies in an attempt to generate new medications to address increasing unmet medical needs in a cost effective and expedite manner. There are several approaches to identify novel indications for known drugs. Many are based on rational selection e.g. the known or a new mechanism of action of a drug. This review will focus rather on phenotypic or high content screening of compounds in models that are believed to be predictive of effectiveness of compounds irrespective of their mechanism of action. Three short cases studies of screens for Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease and spasticity will be given as examples. This article is part of the Special Issue entitled 'Drug Repurposing: old molecules, new ways to fast track drug discovery and development for CNS disorders'.
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Huang Y, Jiang Y, Wu Q, Wu X, An X, Chubykin AA, Cheng JX, Xu XM, Yang C. Nanoladders Facilitate Directional Axonal Outgrowth and Regeneration. ACS Biomater Sci Eng 2018; 4:1037-1045. [DOI: 10.1021/acsbiomaterials.7b00981] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/31/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Yimin Huang
- Department of Chemistry, Boston University, 590 Commonwealth Avenue, Boston, Massachusetts 02215, United States
| | - Ying Jiang
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Boston University, 44 Cummington Mall, Boston, Massachusetts 02215, United States
| | - Qiuyu Wu
- Department of Biological Sciences, Purdue University, 915 W. State Street, West Lafayette, Indiana 47907, United States
| | - Xiangbing Wu
- Stark Neurosciences Research Institute, Indiana University School of Medicine, 320 W. 15th Street, Indianapolis, Indiana 46202, United States
| | - Xingda An
- Department of Chemistry, Boston University, 590 Commonwealth Avenue, Boston, Massachusetts 02215, United States
| | - Alexander A. Chubykin
- Department of Biological Sciences, Purdue University, 915 W. State Street, West Lafayette, Indiana 47907, United States
| | - Ji-Xin Cheng
- Department of Chemistry, Boston University, 590 Commonwealth Avenue, Boston, Massachusetts 02215, United States
- Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Boston University, 8 St Mary’s Street, Boston, Massachusetts 02215, United States
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Boston University, 44 Cummington Mall, Boston, Massachusetts 02215, United States
| | - Xiao-Ming Xu
- Stark Neurosciences Research Institute, Indiana University School of Medicine, 320 W. 15th Street, Indianapolis, Indiana 46202, United States
| | - Chen Yang
- Department of Chemistry, Boston University, 590 Commonwealth Avenue, Boston, Massachusetts 02215, United States
- Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Boston University, 8 St Mary’s Street, Boston, Massachusetts 02215, United States
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Tscherter A, Heidemann M, Kleinlogel S, Streit J. Embryonic Cell Grafts in a Culture Model of Spinal Cord Lesion: Neuronal Relay Formation Is Essential for Functional Regeneration. Front Cell Neurosci 2016; 10:220. [PMID: 27708562 PMCID: PMC5030212 DOI: 10.3389/fncel.2016.00220] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/29/2016] [Accepted: 09/08/2016] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Presently there exists no cure for spinal cord injury (SCI). However, transplantation of embryonic tissue into spinal cord (SC) lesions resulted in axon outgrowth across the lesion site and some functional recovery, fostering hope for future stem cell therapies. Although in vivo evidence for functional recovery is given, the exact cellular mechanism of the graft support remains elusive: either the grafted cells provide a permissive environment for the host tissue to regenerate itself or the grafts actually integrate functionally into the host neuronal network reconnecting the separated SC circuits. We tested the two hypotheses in an in vitro SC lesion model that is based on propagation of activity between two rat organotypic SC slices in culture. Transplantation of dissociated cells from E14 rat SC or forebrain (FB) re-established the relay of activity over the lesion site and thus, provoked functional regeneration. Combining patch-clamp recordings from transplanted cells with network activity measurements from the host tissue on multi-electrode arrays (MEAs) we here show that neurons differentiate from the grafted cells and integrate into the host circuits. Optogenetic silencing of neurons developed from transplanted embryonic mouse FB cells provides clear evidence that they replace the lost neuronal connections to relay and synchronize activity between the separated SC circuits. In contrast, transplantation of neurospheres (NS) induced neither the differentiation of mature neurons from the grafts nor an improvement of functional regeneration. Together these findings suggest, that the formation of neuronal relays from grafted embryonic cells is essential to re-connect segregated SC circuits.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anne Tscherter
- Department of Physiology, University of Bern Bern, Switzerland
| | | | | | - Jürg Streit
- Department of Physiology, University of Bern Bern, Switzerland
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Usmani S, Aurand ER, Medelin M, Fabbro A, Scaini D, Laishram J, Rosselli FB, Ansuini A, Zoccolan D, Scarselli M, De Crescenzi M, Bosi S, Prato M, Ballerini L. 3D meshes of carbon nanotubes guide functional reconnection of segregated spinal explants. SCIENCE ADVANCES 2016; 2:e1600087. [PMID: 27453939 PMCID: PMC4956187 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.1600087] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/18/2016] [Accepted: 06/22/2016] [Indexed: 05/15/2023]
Abstract
In modern neuroscience, significant progress in developing structural scaffolds integrated with the brain is provided by the increasing use of nanomaterials. We show that a multiwalled carbon nanotube self-standing framework, consisting of a three-dimensional (3D) mesh of interconnected, conductive, pure carbon nanotubes, can guide the formation of neural webs in vitro where the spontaneous regrowth of neurite bundles is molded into a dense random net. This morphology of the fiber regrowth shaped by the 3D structure supports the successful reconnection of segregated spinal cord segments. We further observed in vivo the adaptability of these 3D devices in a healthy physiological environment. Our study shows that 3D artificial scaffolds may drive local rewiring in vitro and hold great potential for the development of future in vivo interfaces.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sadaf Usmani
- International School for Advanced Studies (SISSA/ISAS), Trieste 34136, Italy
| | - Emily Rose Aurand
- Department of Life Sciences, University of Trieste, Trieste 34127, Italy
| | - Manuela Medelin
- Department of Life Sciences, University of Trieste, Trieste 34127, Italy
| | - Alessandra Fabbro
- Department of Life Sciences, University of Trieste, Trieste 34127, Italy
| | - Denis Scaini
- Department of Life Sciences, University of Trieste, Trieste 34127, Italy
- NanoInnovation Laboratory, ELETTRA Synchrotron Light Source, Trieste 34149, Italy
| | - Jummi Laishram
- Department of Life Sciences, University of Trieste, Trieste 34127, Italy
| | | | - Alessio Ansuini
- International School for Advanced Studies (SISSA/ISAS), Trieste 34136, Italy
| | - Davide Zoccolan
- International School for Advanced Studies (SISSA/ISAS), Trieste 34136, Italy
| | - Manuela Scarselli
- Department of Physics, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Rome 00173, Italy
| | | | - Susanna Bosi
- Department of Chemical and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Trieste, Trieste 34127, Italy
| | - Maurizio Prato
- Department of Chemical and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Trieste, Trieste 34127, Italy
- Carbon Nanobiotechnology Laboratory, CIC biomaGUNE, Paseo de Miramón 182, 20009 Donostia–San Sebastián, Spain
- Ikerbasque, Basque Foundation for Science, 48013 Bilbao, Spain
- Corresponding author. (L.B.); (M.P.)
| | - Laura Ballerini
- International School for Advanced Studies (SISSA/ISAS), Trieste 34136, Italy
- Corresponding author. (L.B.); (M.P.)
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Hahnewald S, Tscherter A, Marconi E, Streit J, Widmer HR, Garnham C, Benav H, Mueller M, Löwenheim H, Roccio M, Senn P. Response profiles of murine spiral ganglion neurons on multi-electrode arrays. J Neural Eng 2015; 13:016011. [PMID: 26656212 DOI: 10.1088/1741-2560/13/1/016011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/03/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Cochlear implants (CIs) have become the gold standard treatment for deafness. These neuroprosthetic devices feature a linear electrode array, surgically inserted into the cochlea, and function by directly stimulating the auditory neurons located within the spiral ganglion, bypassing lost or not-functioning hair cells. Despite their success, some limitations still remain, including poor frequency resolution and high-energy consumption. In both cases, the anatomical gap between the electrode array and the spiral ganglion neurons (SGNs) is believed to be an important limiting factor. The final goal of the study is to characterize response profiles of SGNs growing in intimate contact with an electrode array, in view of designing novel CI devices and stimulation protocols, featuring a gapless interface with auditory neurons. APPROACH We have characterized SGN responses to extracellular stimulation using multi-electrode arrays (MEAs). This setup allows, in our view, to optimize in vitro many of the limiting interface aspects between CIs and SGNs. MAIN RESULTS Early postnatal mouse SGN explants were analyzed after 6-18 days in culture. Different stimulation protocols were compared with the aim to lower the stimulation threshold and the energy needed to elicit a response. In the best case, a four-fold reduction of the energy was obtained by lengthening the biphasic stimulus from 40 μs to 160 μs. Similarly, quasi monophasic pulses were more effective than biphasic pulses and the insertion of an interphase gap moderately improved efficiency. Finally, the stimulation with an external electrode mounted on a micromanipulator showed that the energy needed to elicit a response could be reduced by a factor of five with decreasing its distance from 40 μm to 0 μm from the auditory neurons. SIGNIFICANCE This study is the first to show electrical activity of SGNs on MEAs. Our findings may help to improve stimulation by and to reduce energy consumption of CIs and thereby contribute to the development of fully implantable devices with better auditory resolution in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stefan Hahnewald
- Inner Ear Research Laboratory, University Departments of Clinical Research and Otorhinolaryngology, Head & Neck Surgery, Inselspital, University of Bern, Switzerland. Regenerative Neuroscience Cluster, Department of Clinical Research, University of Bern, Switzerland
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Obergrussberger A, Stölzle-Feix S, Becker N, Brüggemann A, Fertig N, Möller C. Novel screening techniques for ion channel targeting drugs. Channels (Austin) 2015; 9:367-75. [PMID: 26556400 PMCID: PMC4850050 DOI: 10.1080/19336950.2015.1079675] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Ion channels are integral membrane proteins that regulate the flux of ions across the cell membrane. They are involved in nearly all physiological processes, and malfunction of ion channels has been linked to many diseases. Until recently, high-throughput screening of ion channels was limited to indirect, e.g. fluorescence-based, readout technologies. In the past years, direct label-free biophysical readout technologies by means of electrophysiology have been developed. Planar patch-clamp electrophysiology provides a direct functional label-free readout of ion channel function in medium to high throughput. Further electrophysiology features, including temperature control and higher-throughput instruments, are continually being developed. Electrophysiological screening in a 384-well format has recently become possible. Advances in chip and microfluidic design, as well as in cell preparation and handling, have allowed challenging cell types to be studied by automated patch clamp. Assays measuring action potentials in stem cell-derived cardiomyocytes, relevant for cardiac safety screening, and neuronal cells, as well as a large number of different ion channels, including fast ligand-gated ion channels, have successfully been established by automated patch clamp. Impedance and multi-electrode array measurements are particularly suitable for studying cardiomyocytes and neuronal cells within their physiological network, and to address more complex physiological questions. This article discusses recent advances in electrophysiological technologies available for screening ion channel function and regulation.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | - Clemens Möller
- b Albstadt-Sigmaringen University; Life Sciences Faculty ; Sigmaringen , Germany
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Heidemann M, Streit J, Tscherter A. Investigating Functional Regeneration in Organotypic Spinal Cord Co-cultures Grown on Multi-electrode Arrays. J Vis Exp 2015. [PMID: 26436646 PMCID: PMC4692611 DOI: 10.3791/53121] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Adult higher vertebrates have a limited potential to recover from spinal cord injury. Recently, evidence emerged that propriospinal connections are a promising target for intervention to improve functional regeneration. So far, no in vitro model exists that grants the possibility to examine functional recovery of propriospinal fibers. Therefore, a representative model that is based on two organotypic spinal cord sections of embryonic rat, cultured next to each other on multi-electrode arrays (MEAs) was developed. These slices grow and, within a few days in vitro, fuse along the sides facing each other. The design of the used MEAs permits the performance of lesions with a scalpel blade through this fusion site without inflicting damage on the MEAs. The slices show spontaneous activity, usually organized in network activity bursts, and spatial and temporal activity parameters such as the location of burst origins, speed and direction of their propagation and latencies between bursts can be characterized. Using these features, it is also possible to assess functional connection of the slices by calculating the amount of synchronized bursts between the two sides. Furthermore, the slices can be morphologically analyzed by performing immunohistochemical stainings after the recordings. Several advantages of the used techniques are combined in this model: the slices largely preserve the original tissue architecture with intact local synaptic circuitry, the tissue is easily and repeatedly accessible and neuronal activity can be detected simultaneously and non-invasively in a large number of spots at high temporal resolution. These features allow the investigation of functional regeneration of intraspinal connections in isolation in vitro in a sophisticated and efficient way.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Jürg Streit
- Department of Physiology, University of Bern
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Veeraraghavan P, Nistri A. Modulatory effects by CB1 receptors on rat spinal locomotor networks after sustained application of agonists or antagonists. Neuroscience 2015; 303:16-33. [DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroscience.2015.06.045] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/11/2015] [Revised: 06/19/2015] [Accepted: 06/19/2015] [Indexed: 10/23/2022]
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Pandamooz S, Nabiuni M, Miyan J, Ahmadiani A, Dargahi L. Organotypic Spinal Cord Culture: a Proper Platform for the Functional Screening. Mol Neurobiol 2015; 53:4659-74. [PMID: 26310972 DOI: 10.1007/s12035-015-9403-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/13/2015] [Accepted: 08/17/2015] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Recent improvements in organotypic slice culturing and its accompanying technological innovations have made this biological preparation increasingly useful ex vivo experimental model. Among organotypic slice cultures obtained from various central nervous regions, spinal cord slice culture is an absorbing model that represents several unique advantages over other current in vitro and in vivo models. The culture of developing spinal cord slices, as allows real-time observation of embryonic cells behaviors, is an instrumental platform for developmental investigation. Importantly, due to the ability of ex vivo models to recapitulate different aspects of corresponding in vivo conditions, these models have been subject of various manipulations to derive disease-relevant slice models. Moreover spinal cord slice cultures represent a potential platform for screening of different pharmacological agents and evaluation of cell transplantation and neuroregenerative materials. In this review, we will focus on studies carried out using the ex vivo model of spinal cord slice cultures and main advantages linked to practicality of these slices in both normal and neuropathological diseases and summarize them in different categories based on application.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sareh Pandamooz
- Neuroscience Research Center, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.,Department of Animal Biology, Faculty of Biological Sciences, Kharazmi University, Tehran, Iran
| | - Mohammad Nabiuni
- Department of Animal Biology, Faculty of Biological Sciences, Kharazmi University, Tehran, Iran
| | - Jaleel Miyan
- Neurobiology Research Group, Faculty of Life Sciences, The University of Manchester, Manchester, UK
| | - Abolhassan Ahmadiani
- Neuroscience Research Center, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Leila Dargahi
- NeuroBiology Research Center, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
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Eckle VS, Balk M, Thiermann H, Antkowiak B, Grasshoff C. Botulinum toxin B increases intrinsic muscle activity in organotypic spinal cord-skeletal muscle co-cultures. Toxicol Lett 2015; 244:167-171. [PMID: 26260118 DOI: 10.1016/j.toxlet.2015.08.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/15/2015] [Revised: 07/30/2015] [Accepted: 08/04/2015] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
In organotypic spinal cord-skeletal muscle co-cultures, motoneurons are driven by locomotor commands and induce contractions in surrounding muscle fibres. Using these co-cultures, it has been shown that effects of organophosphorus compounds on neuromuscular synapses can be determined in vitro. In the present study we aimed to extend this in vitro tool for pharmacologic testing of botulinum toxin B. This neurotoxin is widely used for the treatment of dystonia. Besides its effects on the neuromuscular junction, botulinum toxins may also act at centrally located synapses. Incubation with botulinum toxin B (Neurobloc(®)) induced a significant increase in muscular activity after 24, 48 and 72h. Application of the NMDA- and AMPA-receptor antagonists AP5 (20μM) and CNQX (15μM) induced a similar augmentation of muscle activity after 48 and 72h, respectively. Administration of the glycine- and GABA(A)-receptor antagonists strychnine (1μM) and bicuculline (100μM) did not alter intrinsic muscle activity. In contrast, application of a non-depolarizing muscle relaxant rocuronium bromide reduced the muscle activity in a dose-dependent manner. Our findings suggest that glutamatergic synapses in the spinal cord are more sensitive to botulinum toxin B than synaptic contacts between spinal motoneurons and muscle fibres.
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Affiliation(s)
- Veit-Simon Eckle
- Experimental Anesthesiology Section, Department of Anesthesiology and Intensive Care Medicine, Eberhard-Karls-University, Tübingen, Germany.
| | - Monika Balk
- Experimental Anesthesiology Section, Department of Anesthesiology and Intensive Care Medicine, Eberhard-Karls-University, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Horst Thiermann
- Bundeswehr Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Munich, Germany
| | - Bernd Antkowiak
- Experimental Anesthesiology Section, Department of Anesthesiology and Intensive Care Medicine, Eberhard-Karls-University, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Christian Grasshoff
- Experimental Anesthesiology Section, Department of Anesthesiology and Intensive Care Medicine, Eberhard-Karls-University, Tübingen, Germany
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