Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) have been isolated from a variety of tissues using different methods. Active research have confirmed that the most accessible site to collect them is the adipose tissue; which has a significantly higher concentration of MSCs. Moreover; harvesting from adipose tissue is less invasive; there are no ethical limitations and a lower risk of severe complications. These adipose-derived stem cells (ASCs) are also able to increase at higher rates and showing telomerase activity, which acts by maintaining the DNA stability during cell divisions. Adipose-derived stem cells secret molecules that show important function in other cells vitality and mechanisms associated with the immune system, central nervous system, the heart and several muscles. They release cytokines involved in pro/anti-inflammatory, angiogenic and hematopoietic processes. Adipose-derived stem cells also have immunosuppressive properties and have been reported to be “immune privileged” since they show negative or low expression of human leukocyte antigens. Translational medicine and basic research projects can take advantage of bioprinting. This technology allows precise control for both scaffolds and cells. The properties of cell adhesion, migration, maturation, proliferation, mimicry of cell microenvironment, and differentiation should be promoted by the printed biomaterial used in tissue engineering. Self-renewal and potency are presented by MSCs, which implies in an open-source for 3D bioprinting and regenerative medicine. Considering these features and necessities, ASCs can be applied in the designing of tissue engineering products. Understanding the heterogeneity of ASCs and optimizing their properties can contribute to making the best therapeutic use of these cells and opening new paths to make tissue engineering even more useful.

Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) affects around 936 million individuals worldwide, making it the most prevalent breathing‐related sleep disorder. The aim was to estimate the prevalence of OSA in São Paulo, Brazil, based on data from the São Paulo Epidemiologic Sleep Study (EPISONO) 4th edition. This was a cross‐sectional study with a probabilistic sample obtained through a 4‐stage cluster sampling method aiming to represent the population according to age (20–80 years), gender and socio‐economic condition. Participants underwent in‐lab full‐night polysomnography and completed sleep‐related questionnaires. The diagnosis of OSA followed the most recent guidelines of the American Academy of Sleep Medicine. Prevalences were calculated and a multivariable logistic regression evaluated risk factors associated with OSA. The total sample included 769 individuals (452 women). The general adjusted prevalence of OSA was 37.12%, being higher in men (44.88%) than women (30.79%). Greater prevalence was observed in advanced age groups. Moderate and severe OSA affected 11.5% and 7.9% of the participants, respectively. Ageing, body mass index and being male were associated with a higher risk of OSA, especially in moderate‐to‐severe cases. The 4th edition of EPISONO found that more than one‐third of the population had OSA, reaching 45% in males. These results underscore the need for public health actions based on scalable prevention strategies and equitable access to OSA therapies.

Background: There is growing interest in the relationship between sleep disorders and erectile dysfunction. We present the results from a 2015 follow‐up study in relation to the 2007 edition of Epidemiologic Sleep Study (EPISONO), a population‐based sleep study conducted in São Paulo, Brazil, and from the 4th edition of EPISONO (2018), with respect to the incidence and prevalence of erectile dysfunction, and the associated risk factors. We hypothesized that the presence of erectile dysfunction would be associated with total testosterone levels and obstructive sleep apnea in both longitudinal and cross‐sectional analyses. Method: The participants underwent polysomnography, and testosterone assays were performed. They also completed a range of health questionnaires. The sample comprised men aged 20‒80 years. In the longitudinal analysis, incidence the ( N = 256) and prevalence ( N = 300) of erectile dysfunction were calculated, and a generalized estimating equation model was constructed. For the analysis of the data from 2018, prevalence ( N = 314), binomial logistic regression, and mediation‐moderation models were calculated. Results: An overall incidence of 10.55% of erectile dysfunction was found in the follow‐up, which was higher in men older than 50 years. In the longitudinal model, older age (odds ratio = 1.09), more depression symptoms (odds ratio = 1.05), and low total testosterone concentration (odds ratio = 2.69) were significant predictors of erectile dysfunction. Psychological well‐being (World Health Organization Quality of Life) was a predictor of lowered odds of having erectile dysfunction (odds ratio = 0.87). In EPISONO 2018, a 20.06% general prevalence of erectile dysfunction was identified, and this prevalence was higher in age groups over 50 years. The odds of having erectile dysfunction were increased by age (odds ratio = 1.07), and the psychological domain of World Health Organization Quality of Life was associated with lowered odds of having erectile dysfunction (odds ratio = 0.65). Mediation models revealed a statistically significant mediation of apnea‒hypopnea index between the effect of age on total testosterone. The model that included age as the independent variable, apnea‒hypopnea index as a mediator and erectile dysfunction as the outcome resulted in significant effects of age but not apnea‒hypopnea index. Conclusions: This study highlights the importance of aging, psychological quality of life, testosterone concentration, and depressive symptoms in the context of erectile dysfunction. An association between obstructive sleep apnea and erectile dysfunction was observed, but it was not independent of age. The longitudinal results emphasize that, besides aging, these are modifiable factors that can be the subject of interventions to mitigate the development of erectile dysfunction over time.

The COVID-19 pandemic has already reaped thousands of lives, although many scientific studies already showed the possibility of this scenario. Currently, further attention is provided to patients depicting comorbidities such as respiratory or immunocompromised diseases, hypertension, and diabetes, as these individuals show a worse prognosis. Cell therapies using stem cells and/or defense cells, combined or not with traditional treatment, could be an outstanding strategy for COVID-19 management since these treatments can act by modulating the immune system, reducing proliferation, and favoring the complete elimination of the virus. In this review, we highlight the main molecular characteristics of this novel coronavirus, as well as the main pathognomonic signs of COVID-19. Furthermore, possible cell therapies are pointed out to show alternative treatments against COVID-19 and its sequels.

Studies have highlighted the possible association between obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) and an increased risk of cancer, especially prostate cancer. However, the extent to which genes that are found in both conditions contribute to their comorbidity is unclear. The aim of this study was to identify risk genes present in both conditions. Genes common to both conditions were identified and the statistical significance of the overlap was assessed. Pathway enrichment and protein-protein interaction analyses were performed on the intersecting gene set. There were 68 common genes, more than would be expected by random effects. This intersect list was associated mainly with hypoxia, apoptosis, oxidative stress, and cell cycle proliferation, or cell damage. A 17-node protein interaction network highlighted key proteins involved in these enriched pathways. The results of the analysis indicated a common molecular etiology underlying this comorbidity. Proliferation, apoptosis, and hypoxia pathways were significantly enriched among the overlapping genes, suggesting their role in pathophysiological processes.