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Del-Puerto F, Rojas LE, Díaz Acosta CC, Franco LX, Cardozo F, Galeano ME, Valenzuela A, Rojas A, Martínez M, Ayala-Lugo A, Mendoza L, Ovando FS, Martínez MF, Chung HJ, Webby R, Nara E, Caniza MA. The Experience of Testing for Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) at a Single Diagnostic Center in Paraguay before the Introduction of Vaccination. Viruses 2023; 15:v15051136. [PMID: 37243222 DOI: 10.3390/v15051136] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/10/2023] [Revised: 05/02/2023] [Accepted: 05/06/2023] [Indexed: 05/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Soon after the declaration of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Institute for Health Sciences Research (IICS) of the National University of Asunción, Paraguay became a testing laboratory (COVID-Lab) for SARS-CoV-2. The COVID-Lab testing performance was assessed from 1 April 2020 to 12 May 2021. The effect of the pandemic on the IICS and how the COVID-Lab contributed to the academic and research activities of the institute were also assessed. IICS researchers and staff adjusted their work schedules to support the COVID-Lab. Of the 13,082 nasopharyngeal/oropharyngeal swabs processed, 2704 (20.7%) tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 by RT-PCR. Of the individuals testing positive, 55.4% were female and 48.3% were aged 21-40 years. Challenges faced by the COVID-Lab were unstable reagent access and insufficient staff; shifting obligations regarding research, academic instruction, and grantsmanship; and the continuous demands from the public for information on COVID-19. The IICS provided essential testing and reported on the progress of the pandemic. IICS researchers gained better laboratory equipment and expertise in molecular SARS-CoV-2 testing but struggled to manage their conflicting educational and additional research obligations during the pandemic, which affected their productivity. Therefore, policies protecting the time and resources of the faculty and staff engaged in pandemic-related work or research are necessary components of healthcare emergency preparedness.
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Affiliation(s)
- Florencia Del-Puerto
- COVID-19 Contingency Technical Committee of the Instituto de Investigaciones en Ciencias de la Salud (IICS) of the Universidad Nacional de Asunción (UNA), San Lorenzo 111241, Paraguay
- Departamento de Biología Molecular y Biotecnología, Instituto de Investigaciones en Ciencias de la Salud, Universidad Nacional de Asunción, San Lorenzo 111241, Paraguay
| | - Leticia E Rojas
- COVID-19 Contingency Technical Committee of the Instituto de Investigaciones en Ciencias de la Salud (IICS) of the Universidad Nacional de Asunción (UNA), San Lorenzo 111241, Paraguay
- Departamento de Biología Molecular y Biotecnología, Instituto de Investigaciones en Ciencias de la Salud, Universidad Nacional de Asunción, San Lorenzo 111241, Paraguay
| | - Chyntia C Díaz Acosta
- COVID-19 Contingency Technical Committee of the Instituto de Investigaciones en Ciencias de la Salud (IICS) of the Universidad Nacional de Asunción (UNA), San Lorenzo 111241, Paraguay
- Departamento de Biología Molecular y Biotecnología, Instituto de Investigaciones en Ciencias de la Salud, Universidad Nacional de Asunción, San Lorenzo 111241, Paraguay
| | - Laura X Franco
- COVID-19 Contingency Technical Committee of the Instituto de Investigaciones en Ciencias de la Salud (IICS) of the Universidad Nacional de Asunción (UNA), San Lorenzo 111241, Paraguay
- Departamento de Biología Molecular y Biotecnología, Instituto de Investigaciones en Ciencias de la Salud, Universidad Nacional de Asunción, San Lorenzo 111241, Paraguay
| | - Fátima Cardozo
- COVID-19 Contingency Technical Committee of the Instituto de Investigaciones en Ciencias de la Salud (IICS) of the Universidad Nacional de Asunción (UNA), San Lorenzo 111241, Paraguay
- Departamento de Salud Pública, Instituto de Investigaciones en Ciencias de la Salud, Universidad Nacional de Asunción, San Lorenzo 111241, Paraguay
| | - María E Galeano
- COVID-19 Contingency Technical Committee of the Instituto de Investigaciones en Ciencias de la Salud (IICS) of the Universidad Nacional de Asunción (UNA), San Lorenzo 111241, Paraguay
- Departamento de Biología Molecular y Biotecnología, Instituto de Investigaciones en Ciencias de la Salud, Universidad Nacional de Asunción, San Lorenzo 111241, Paraguay
| | - Adriana Valenzuela
- COVID-19 Contingency Technical Committee of the Instituto de Investigaciones en Ciencias de la Salud (IICS) of the Universidad Nacional de Asunción (UNA), San Lorenzo 111241, Paraguay
- Departamento de Salud Pública, Instituto de Investigaciones en Ciencias de la Salud, Universidad Nacional de Asunción, San Lorenzo 111241, Paraguay
| | - Alejandra Rojas
- COVID-19 Contingency Technical Committee of the Instituto de Investigaciones en Ciencias de la Salud (IICS) of the Universidad Nacional de Asunción (UNA), San Lorenzo 111241, Paraguay
- Departamento de Producción, Instituto de Investigaciones en Ciencias de la Salud, Universidad Nacional de Asunción, Dr. Cecilio Báez y Dr. Villamayor, Campus Universitario, San Lorenzo 111241, Paraguay
| | - Magaly Martínez
- COVID-19 Contingency Technical Committee of the Instituto de Investigaciones en Ciencias de la Salud (IICS) of the Universidad Nacional de Asunción (UNA), San Lorenzo 111241, Paraguay
- Departamento de Biología Molecular y Biotecnología, Instituto de Investigaciones en Ciencias de la Salud, Universidad Nacional de Asunción, San Lorenzo 111241, Paraguay
| | - Ana Ayala-Lugo
- COVID-19 Contingency Technical Committee of the Instituto de Investigaciones en Ciencias de la Salud (IICS) of the Universidad Nacional de Asunción (UNA), San Lorenzo 111241, Paraguay
- Departamento de Genética, Instituto de Investigaciones en Ciencias de la Salud, Universidad Nacional de Asunción, Dr. Cecilio Báez y Dr. Villamayor, Campus Universitario, San Lorenzo 111241, Paraguay
| | - Laura Mendoza
- COVID-19 Contingency Technical Committee of the Instituto de Investigaciones en Ciencias de la Salud (IICS) of the Universidad Nacional de Asunción (UNA), San Lorenzo 111241, Paraguay
- Departamento de Salud Pública, Instituto de Investigaciones en Ciencias de la Salud, Universidad Nacional de Asunción, San Lorenzo 111241, Paraguay
| | - Fátima S Ovando
- Departamento de Control de Infecciones, Facultad de Ciencias Médicas, Hospital de Clínicas, Universidad Nacional de Asunción, Campus Universitario, San Lorenzo 111241, Paraguay
| | - Mario F Martínez
- COVID-19 Contingency Technical Committee of the Instituto de Investigaciones en Ciencias de la Salud (IICS) of the Universidad Nacional de Asunción (UNA), San Lorenzo 111241, Paraguay
- Dirección General, Instituto de Investigaciones en Ciencias de la Salud, Universidad Nacional de Asunción, Dr. Cecilio Báez y Dr. Villamayor, Campus Universitario, San Lorenzo 111241, Paraguay
| | - Hyun J Chung
- Department of Global Pediatric Medicine, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN 38105, USA
| | - Richard Webby
- Department of Infectious Diseases, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN 38105, USA
| | - Eva Nara
- COVID-19 Contingency Technical Committee of the Instituto de Investigaciones en Ciencias de la Salud (IICS) of the Universidad Nacional de Asunción (UNA), San Lorenzo 111241, Paraguay
- Departamento de Biología Molecular y Biotecnología, Instituto de Investigaciones en Ciencias de la Salud, Universidad Nacional de Asunción, San Lorenzo 111241, Paraguay
| | - Miguela A Caniza
- Department of Global Pediatric Medicine, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN 38105, USA
- Department of Infectious Diseases, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN 38105, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Tennessee Health Science Center College of Medicine, Memphis, TN 38103, USA
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Acosta-Colman I, Cabrera-Villalba S, Ayala-Lugo A, Jolly V, Vazquez M, Morel Z, Langjahr P, Duarte M, Zarate R, Acosta ME, Avila-Pedretti G, Julià A, Martinez MT, Marsal S. Association of class II HLA alleles with susceptibility to develop immune-mediated diseases in Paraguayan patients. Int J Immunogenet 2023; 50:12-18. [PMID: 36543746 DOI: 10.1111/iji.12609] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/29/2022] [Revised: 11/06/2022] [Accepted: 11/14/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
Genetic and nongenetic factors are involved in the pathogenesis of immune-mediated inflammatory diseases (IMIDs). The best-known genetic factor for susceptibility to IMIDs is the human leukocyte antigen (HLA). The aim of the present study was to evaluate the association of HLA class II genes with the risk of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), rheumatoid arthritis (RA), and systemic sclerosis (SSc) in the Paraguayan population. We included 254 patients with IMIDs (101 SLE, 103 RA, and 50 SSc) and 50 healthy controls. The haplotypes of five genes corresponding to HLA class II genes and their relationship to the IMIDs studied were determined. Note that 84.6% were women, with a mean age of 43.4 ± 14 years. Among the associated HLA alleles, we found the previously identified risk factors in other populations like HLA-DRB1*03:01 and HLA-DRB1*14:02 for RA, as well as new ones not previously identified, such as DPA1*02:01 for SLE and, DB1*02:01 for RA and SSc. In the genetic association analysis, already known associations have been replicated, and unpublished associations have been identified in Paraguayan patients with IMIDs. This is the first genetic association study in Paraguayan patients with IMIDs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Isabel Acosta-Colman
- Departamento de Reumatología, Facultad de Ciencias Médicas, Universidad Nacional de Asunción, San Lorenzo, Paraguay
| | - Sonia Cabrera-Villalba
- Departamento de Reumatología, Facultad de Ciencias Médicas, Universidad Nacional de Asunción, San Lorenzo, Paraguay
| | - Ana Ayala-Lugo
- Instituto de Investigación en Ciencias de la Salud, Laboratorio de Genética Molecular, Universidad Nacional de Asunción, San Lorenzo, Paraguay
| | - Valerie Jolly
- Instituto de Investigación en Ciencias de la Salud, Laboratorio de Genética Molecular, Universidad Nacional de Asunción, San Lorenzo, Paraguay
| | - Marcos Vazquez
- Departamento de Reumatología, Facultad de Ciencias Médicas, Universidad Nacional de Asunción, San Lorenzo, Paraguay
| | - Zoilo Morel
- Departamento de Reumatología, Facultad de Ciencias Médicas, Universidad Nacional de Asunción, San Lorenzo, Paraguay
| | - Patricia Langjahr
- Facultad de Ciencias Químicas, Universidad Nacional de Asunción, San Lorenzo, Paraguay
| | - Margarita Duarte
- Departamento de Reumatología, Facultad de Ciencias Médicas, Universidad Nacional de Asunción, San Lorenzo, Paraguay
| | | | - Maria Eugenia Acosta
- Instituto de Investigación en Ciencias de la Salud, Laboratorio de Genética Molecular, Universidad Nacional de Asunción, San Lorenzo, Paraguay
| | - Gabriela Avila-Pedretti
- Departamento de Reumatología, Facultad de Ciencias Médicas, Universidad Nacional de Asunción, San Lorenzo, Paraguay
| | - Antonio Julià
- Group de Recerca en Reumatologia, Institut de Recerca Vall d'Hebron, Barcelona, Spain
| | | | - Sara Marsal
- Group de Recerca en Reumatologia, Institut de Recerca Vall d'Hebron, Barcelona, Spain
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Acosta-Colman I, Vazquez M, Cabrera-Villalba S, Ayala-Lugo A, Acosta ME, Arevalo de Guillen I, Jolie V, Duarte M, Valinotti V, Contreras R, Avila G, Martinez T, Julià A, Marsal S. AB0015 STUDY OF VDR AND VDBP GENES AS CANDIDATE SUSCEPTIBILITY GENES FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF IMMUNE-MEDIATED DISEASES IN THE PARAGUAYAN POPULATION. Ann Rheum Dis 2021. [DOI: 10.1136/annrheumdis-2021-eular.4299] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/04/2022]
Abstract
Background:Immune Mediated Inflammatory Diseases (IMIDs) are complex diseases that are believed to have a strong interaction between the genome and the environment as part of their aetiology. In studies using the candidate gene strategy, genetic variation in a gene where functionality has been associated with the pathophysiology of the disease under study is being analyzed. In the last decade, polymorphisms of the vitamin D receptor (VDR) and VDBP genes have been more emphatically studied in IMIDs in different populations, but the results reported have not yet been conclusive.Objectives:To identify an association between vitamin D receptor (VDR) and vitamin D-binding protein (VDBP) gene polymorphisms, and IMIDs in Paraguayan patients.Methods:Association study of VDR (SNPs rs731236, rs7975232, rs2228570) and VDBP (rs4588) gene polymorphisms with susceptibility to IMIDs in Paraguayan population. A total of 399 patients with IMIDs (i.e. Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE), Scleroderma (ES), Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA), and Cutaneous Psoriasis (CPS) and 100 hypernormal controls (HC) from the same population were included in this study. Genotyping was performed using Taqman real-time PCR-based technology (Life Technologies, USA). Statistical analysis was performed using Rv3.0.1 statistical language software (www.R-project.org). A p value ≤ 0.05 was used for statistical significance.Results:A total of 399 individuals, 100 controls and 299 patients (99 RA, 100 SLE, 50 ES, and 50 PSO) were included. Seventy-six percent were female and 24% were male. The mean age was 43.7±14 years. Four SNPs were genotyped: rs731236, rs7975232, rs2228570, rs4588. The HWE test was not statistically significant for any of the 4 SNPs considered (P>0.05), confirming the quality of genotyping and the absence of technical bias. (Table 1).Table 1.Genotyping of SNPs of the VDR and VDBP gene in Paraguayan population with IMIDs.SNPIMIDMinor AlleleMajor AlleleMAFControlMAFCaseORIC.LIC.Hp allelicP.Geneticrs731236SLEGA0.50.40.640.420.970.0350.08rs731236RAGA0.50.410.690.461.050.0710.12rs731236SSGA0.50.420.710.421.180.180.37rs731236CPSGA0.50.380.60.361.010.0490.042rs2228570SLEAG0.360.381.140.741.740.60.45rs2228570RAAG0.360.310.830.531.280.40.56rs2228570SSAG0.360.361.020.61.7310.057rs2228570CPSAG0.360.391.160.681.960.610.83rs7975232SLECA0.360.320.820.531.260.40.072rs7975232RACA0.360.290.720.461.120.140.064rs7975232SSCA0.360.220.490.270.880.0120.0064rs7975232CPSCA0.360.411.210.722.030.450.016rs4588SLETG0.230.271.240.7720.420.48rs4588RATG0.230.220.930.561.530.810.84rs4588SSTG0.230.210.890.471.650.770.76rs4588CPSTG0.230.291.370.762.430.260.53Conclusion:There is evidence of nominal association between VDR SNPs: rs731236 (in SLE and CPS), and rs7975232 (in SS and CPS) and the presence of IMIDs disease in Paraguayan patients.Disclosure of Interests:None declared
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Ayala-Lugo A, Tavares AMV, Paz AHR, Alegretti A, Miquelito L, Bock H, Giugliani R, Clausell N, Cirne-Lima E, Rohde LE. Age-Dependent Availability and Functionality of Bone Marrow Stem Cells in an Experimental Model of Acute and Chronic Myocardial Infarction. Cell Transplant 2011; 20:407-19. [DOI: 10.3727/096368909x519283] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/13/2023] Open
Abstract
The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of aging and timing of left ventricular ischemic injury on the availability and functionality of stem cells. We studied young and aged male inbred Lewis rats that were used as donors of bone marrow mononuclear cells (BM-MNCs), divided in four experimental groups: controls, sham operated, 48 h post-myocardial infarction (MI), and 28 days post-MI. In vitro studies included flow cytometry analysis, hematopoietic colony-forming capacity, and invasion assays of migration capacity. BM-MNCs from these groups were transplanted in female rats after MI induction. Late engraftment was evaluated by real-time PCR of the SRY chromosome. Percentage of CD34+/CD45+low cells was similar among different experimental groups in young rats, but was significantly higher in aged animals ( p < 0.001), particularly 28 days post-MI. KDR+/CD34+ cells were increased 48 h after MI and decreased 28 days post-MI in young animals, while they were profoundly reduced in the aged group ( p < 0.001). Triple staining for CD44+/CD29+/CD71+ cells was similar in different groups of aged rats, but we observed an intense increase 48 h post-MI in young animals. Colony-forming units and cytokine-induced migration were significantly attenuated 28 days after the MI. Late engraftment in infarcted transplanted female hearts was present, but considerably heterogeneous. Finally, recovery of left ventricular systolic function in transplanted female recipients was significantly influenced by donors' BM-MNCs groups ( p < 0.01). We have demonstrated that aging and timing of myocardial injury are factors that may act synergistically in determining stem cell availability and function. Such interaction should be considered when planning new cell therapy strategies for acute and chronic ischemic heart disease in the clinical arena.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ana Ayala-Lugo
- Embriology and Cell Differentiation Laboratory, Hospital de Clínicas de Porto Alegre, Porto Alegre, Brazil
- Post-Graduate Program of Genetics and Molecular Biology, Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS), Porto Alegre, Brazil
| | - Angela M. V. Tavares
- Cardiovascular Research Laboratory, Hospital de Clínicas de Porto Alegre, Porto Alegre, Brazil
- Cardiovascular Physiology Laboratory, Physiology Departament, Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS), Porto Alegre, Brazil
| | - Ana H. R. Paz
- Embriology and Cell Differentiation Laboratory, Hospital de Clínicas de Porto Alegre, Porto Alegre, Brazil
| | - Ana Alegretti
- Embriology and Cell Differentiation Laboratory, Hospital de Clínicas de Porto Alegre, Porto Alegre, Brazil
| | - Ludmila Miquelito
- Embriology and Cell Differentiation Laboratory, Hospital de Clínicas de Porto Alegre, Porto Alegre, Brazil
| | - Hugo Bock
- Post-Graduate Program of Biologic Sciences: Biochemistry, Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS), Porto Alegre, Brazil
| | - Roberto Giugliani
- Medical Genetics Service, Hospital de Clínicas de Porto Alegre, Porto Alegre, Brazil
- Post-Graduate Program of Genetics and Molecular Biology, Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS), Porto Alegre, Brazil
- Post-Graduate Program of Biologic Sciences: Biochemistry, Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS), Porto Alegre, Brazil
- Biosciences Institute, Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS), Porto Alegre, Brazil
| | - Nadine Clausell
- Cardiovascular Research Laboratory, Hospital de Clínicas de Porto Alegre, Porto Alegre, Brazil
- Post-Graduate Program of Cardiology and Cardiovascular Sciences, Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS), Porto Alegre, Brazil
- Medical School, Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS), Porto Alegre, Brazil
| | - Elizabeth Cirne-Lima
- Embriology and Cell Differentiation Laboratory, Hospital de Clínicas de Porto Alegre, Porto Alegre, Brazil
- Veterinary School, Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS), Porto Alegre, Brazil
| | - Luis E. Rohde
- Cardiovascular Research Laboratory, Hospital de Clínicas de Porto Alegre, Porto Alegre, Brazil
- Post-Graduate Program of Cardiology and Cardiovascular Sciences, Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS), Porto Alegre, Brazil
- Medical School, Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS), Porto Alegre, Brazil
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Paz AH, Salton GD, Ayala-Lugo A, Gomes C, Terraciano P, Scalco R, Laurino CCFC, Passos EP, Schneider MR, Meurer L, Cirne-Lima E. Betacellulin overexpression in mesenchymal stem cells induces insulin secretion in vitro and ameliorates streptozotocin-induced hyperglycemia in rats. Stem Cells Dev 2010; 20:223-32. [PMID: 20836700 DOI: 10.1089/scd.2009.0490] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Betacellulin (BTC), a ligand of the epidermal growth factor receptor, has been shown to promote growth and differentiation of pancreatic β-cells and to improve glucose metabolism in experimental diabetic rodent models. Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) have been already proved to be multipotent. Recent work has attributed to rat and human MSCs the potential to differentiate into insulin-secreting cells. Our goal was to transfect rat MSCs with a plasmid containing BTC cDNA to guide MSC differentiation into insulin-producing cells. Prior to induction of cell MSC transfection, MSCs were characterized by flow cytometry and the ability to in vitro differentiate into mesoderm cell types was evaluated. After rat MSC characterization, these cells were electroporated with a plasmid containing BTC cDNA. Transfected cells were cultivated in Dulbecco's modified Eagle medium high glucose (H-DMEM) with 10 mM nicotinamide. Then, the capability of MSC-BTC to produce insulin in vitro and in vivo was evaluated. It was possible to demonstrate by radioimmunoassay analysis that 10(4) MSC-BTC cells produced up to 0.4 ng/mL of insulin, whereas MSCs transfected with the empty vector (negative control) produced no detectable insulin levels. Moreover, MSC-BTC were positive for insulin in immunohistochemistry assay. In parallel, the expression of pancreatic marker genes was demonstrated by molecular analysis of MSC-BTC. Further, when MSC-BTC were transplanted to streptozotocin diabetic rats, BTC-transfected cells ameliorated hyperglycemia from over 500 to about 200 mg/dL at 35 days post-cell transplantation. In this way, our results clearly demonstrate that BTC overabundance enhances glucose-induced insulin secretion in MSCs in vitro as well as in vivo.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ana H Paz
- Laboratorio de Embriologia e Diferenciagao Celular, Centro de Pesquisas UFRGS-HCPA, Porto Alegre, Brazil
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