New proteoliposome vaccine formulation from N. meningitidis serogroup B, without aluminum hydroxide, retains its antimeningococcal protectogenic potential as well as Th-1 adjuvant capacity

Proteoliposomes purified from the Outer Membrane of Neisseria meningitidis B, have been successfully used as core for adjuvants and vaccine formulations. We have tried to increase their structural definition and to conserve their efficacy and stability avoiding the addition of the aluminum hydroxide to the final formulation. Liposomal particle systems were prepared from components of defined molecular structure, such as a Neisseria meningitidis B protein complex, extracted and purified without forming vesicle structures. Liposomes were prepared from a mixture of dioleoyl phosphatidyl serine and cholesterol, using the classical dehydration-rehydration method. Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM) was used to characterize the liposomes. BALB/c mice were used for animal testing procedures. Analysis of specific IgG response, serum bactericidal activity as well as DTH reaction was carried out. Isolation and purification of mRNA and real-time PCR, was performed to determine the dominating Th lymphokine pattern. The new antimeningococcal formulation without aluminum hydroxide prepared with components of defined molecular structure assembled itself into Neoproteoliposomes (NPL) ranging from 50 to 70 nm in diameter. The extraction and purification of selected membrane proteins to provide the antigen for this new formulation (PD-Tp), as well as the NPL-formulation favors a Th1 response pattern, suggested by the higher percentages of DTH, increased expression of proinflamatory lymphokine mRNAs when administered by intramuscular and intranasal routes. It stimulates a systemic bactericidal antibody response against Neisseria meningitidis B and immunologic memory similar to the Cuban VA-MENGOC-BC(®) vaccine, even at lower dosages and is less reactogenic at the injection site in comparison with the formulation with aluminum hydroxide. This new adjuvant formulation could be applicable to the development of new and improved vaccines against meningococcal disease, and eventually as modulators of the immune response against other diseases

«¿Que cuánto me mide? Pues lo normal, 22 cm». Discrepancia entre cuánto los jóvenes dicen que les mide el pene y cuánto les mide realmente

Son muchos los hombres que creen que su pene no es lo suficientemente grande como para satisfacer a sus parejas o a sí mismos, creencia que acaba dominando y condicionando su vida sexual. Esta creencia es también la causa de que muchos hombres mientan sistemáticamente acerca del tamaño de su pene, exagerando sus verdaderas dimensiones. En esta investigación, 130 jóvenes se sometieron a un procedimiento en el que aparte de evaluar la veracidad con la que informaban acerca del tamaño de su pene, se exploró si esta tendencia pudiera estar relacionada con ciertas variables psicológicas. En efecto, los resultados demuestran una clara tendencia a reportar medidas muy por encima de lo esperable para su edad y raza –sobre todo para la longitud del pene en erección. A su vez, la magnitud con la que los participantes exageran el tamaño del pene se relaciona con ciertas variables de personalidad (neuroticismo, responsabilidad y deseabilidad social). Estos resultados nos ayudan a entender por qué muchos hombres mienten acerca de las dimensiones de su pene.The male is often troubled by concerns that his penis is not large enough to satisfy his partner or himself, belief that dominates and determines sexual life. Also, this belief causes that many men tend to lie about his penis size, exaggerating his real dimensions. A sample of 130 youths underwent an assessment procedure where we estimated precision in their penis size reported and its relationship with certain psychological variables. Data show a clear tendency to report penis measures far above from expected considering his age and race –especially for erect penis length. Furthermore, difference between real size and reported size is related with certain personality dimensions (such as neuroticism, conscientiousness, and social desirability). These results help us to understand why many men lie about his penis sizeEste trabajo ha sido financiado por el proyecto de investigación del Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación PSI 2011-27992/11 i 384 y de la Universitat Jaume I de Castellón P1.1B2012-49

Infidelidad y personalidad. El papel diferencial del género en su relación.

Introducción: La investigación ha relacionado ampliamente la infidelidad con ciertos perfiles de personalidad. Pese a ello, son insuficientes los estudios que abordan el papel que juega el género dentro de esa relación. Método: En el presente estudio se administró la Encuesta sobre el Sida (Ballester, Gil y Giménez, 2007) y el neo-pi-r (Costa y McCrae, 1992) a 100 estudiantes universitarios (50 % mujeres) con el objetivo de analizar la existencia de diferencias de personalidad entre las personas que han cometido una infidelidad con respecto a las que no, desde una perspectiva de género. Resultados: Los resultados indican que si bien existen diferencias de personalidad entre los que sí afirmaron haber cometido una infidelidad y los que no, aparecen perfiles diferenciales en función del género. Por una parte, los hombres infieles alcanzan puntuaciones estadísticamente significativamente mayores en la dimensión de extraversión y más concretamente en la faceta de cordialidad relacionándolo con una mayor tendencia a establecer vínculos íntimos. Por otra parte, en el caso de las mujeres infieles son las bajas puntuaciones en responsabilidad, específicamente en la faceta de competencia las que logran la significación relacionándolo con una peor percepción de las propias capacidades. Discusión: Con todo ello, el género aparece como un factor importante implicado en las diferencias de personalidad existentes entre personas que han cometido infidelidades y las que no, debido a la existencia de un doble estándar consecuencia del proceso de sociabilización diferencial que se da entre hombres y mujeres.Introduction: Even though past research has studied the link between infidelity and personality, there are few studies about how gender differences may play a role in this relationship. Method: The study aimed to assess, from a gender view, the personality differences between people who have taken part in an infidelity and those who have never been involved in an infidelity. A total of 100 university students (50 % women) completed the aids Questionnaire (Ballester, Gil & Giménez, 2007) and the neo-pi-r Inventory (Costa & Mc- Crae, 1992). Results: Results indicated that there are personality differences between participants who reported an infidelity and people who did not have a history of infidelity and, moreover, gender has an influence in these differences. On the one hand, unfaithful or cheating men achieved greatest statistically significant scores at extraversion, specifically on warmth, so they tend to create affective bonds easily. On the other hand, unfaithful women achieved lowest scores at conscientiousness, in particular at competence; therefore they maintain a worse assessment of their own abilities. Discussion: These findings suggest that gender is an influential factor involved in personality differences between faithful people and unfaithful people owing to the existence of a gender double-standard as a result of the differential socialization process given to women and men

Simulador gastrointestinal dinámico (simgi®): Una herramienta potencialmente útil en nutrición clínica

The human gastrointestinal tract harbours the most complex and abundant community of the human body, the colon being where the highest microbial concentration is found (10 12 cell/g). The intestinal microbiota exerts metabolic, trophic and protective functions which are important in the maintenance of the host health. Over recent decades, numerous studies have attempted to provide scientific evidence about the environmental factors that can impact on human health through the modulation of the intestinal microbiota composition. However, this approach is changing, and a new focus on assessing changes at functional level is being developed. If we apply this dual approach to the role played by the diet, it is obvious the need of dynamic gastrointestinal simulation models such as simgi®, that allow to evaluate the transformations undergone by food and/or food ingredients during their transit through the gastrointestinal tract, as well as to determine potential changes in the composition and functionality of the intestinal microbiota after food ingestion. So far the studies using the simgi® have confirmed its potential applications in the area of food as a prior step to its application in clinical nutrition to prevent and/or treat diseases associated with intestinal dysbiosis and metabolic disorders. Likewise, this review includes feasible perspectives of the use of simgi® in clinical research concerning to diseases related to the intestinal microbiota.Dentro de la microbiota humana, el tracto gastrointestinal alberga el ecosistema más complejo y abundante del cuerpo humano, siendo el colon donde se encuentra la concentración más alta de microorganismos (1012 cel/g). La microbiota intestinal desempeñaa funciones metabólicas, tróficas y de protección que son de gran importancia para el hospedador. Durante las últimas décadas, son numerosos los estudios que han tratado de aportar evidencias científicas acerca de los factores que, a través de cambios en la composición de la microbiota intestinal, influyen en la salud humana. Sin embargo, esta aproximación está cambiando, y son cada vez más los expertos que apuestan por evaluar cambios a nivel de funcionalidad de la microbiota. Si aplicamos este enfoque dual al papel desempeñado por la dieta, resulta obvia la necesidad de disponer de modelos dinámicos de simulación gastrointestinal, como es el simgiR, que permitan evaluar las transformaciones que sufren los alimentos y/o ingredientes alimentarios durante el tránsito por el tracto gastrointestinal, así como para determinar los posibles cambios en la composición y funcionalidad de la microbiota intestinal derivados de la ingesta de alimentos. Los estudios llevados a cabo hasta el momento con el simgiR constatan sus potenciales aplicaciones en el área de los alimentos como paso previo a su aplicación en nutrición clínica, para prevenir y/o tratar enfermedades asociadas a disbiosis intestinal, así como trastornos metabólicos. Asimismo, esta revisión recoge posibles perspectivas de utilización del simgiR en la investigación clínica relativa a enfermedades vinculadas con disfunciones de la microbiota intestinalEste trabajo ha sido realizado gracias a la financiación del MINECO (proyecto AGL2015- 64522-C2-R) y la Comunidad de Madrid (Programa ALIBIRD-CM S2013/ABI-2728-CM). Alba Tamargo es beneficiaria de un contrato en el Programa de Garantía Juvenil-CSIC financiado gracias al Fondo Social Europeo. Irene Gil Sánchez es beneficiaria de una beca FPU del MECD (FPU14/0576

Estudio de tolerancia local de un candidato vacunal proteoliposómico contra Leptospira SPP en el biomodelo Mesocricetus Auratus (Study of local tolerance of a proteoliposome vaccine candidate against Leptospira SPP in Mesocricetus Auratus as biomodel)

La leptospirosis es una de las zoonosis bacterianas más difundidas en el mundo. En la actualidad existen registradas varias vacunas de células enteras contra Leptospira. Estos productos biofarmacéuticos cuentan entre sus desventajas las reacciones de hipersensibilidad a los componentes de las formulaciones y la alta frecuencia de toxicidad en el sitio de inoculación. En el presente trabajo fue evaluada la tolerancia local en el punto de inoculación generada por una nueva formulación vacunal proteoliposómica contra Leptospira spp. en el biomodelo el Mesocricetus auratus. Para ello los animales (ambos sexos) fueron inoculados dos veces por vía intramuscular, con 21 días entre la primera y la segunda inoculación. Seguidamente se realizaron eutanasias seriadas a los 3 días y luego semanalmente hasta 49 días de la primera inoculación. Los resultados demostraron la ausencia de muertes y de diferencias estadísticas en las variables: peso corporal, consumo de agua y alimentos entre animales inmunizados y controles negativos. Tampoco se detectaron lesiones macroscópicas en órganos y tejidos de importancia toxicológica en los animales inmunizados con el candidato vacunal. Las lesiones locales encontradas obedecen a la respuesta inmunológica generada por esta nueva formulación vacunal. La relevancia inmunológica del biomodelo se comprobó mediante la determinación de anticuerpos IgG en el grupo de animales vacunados. En función de los resultados obtenidos se concluye que el candidato vacunal evaluado no fue potencialmente tóxico al sitio de inoculación al ser administrado por vía intramuscular en el biomodelo Mesocricetus auratus. AbstractLeptospirosis is the bacterial zoonosis more overspread in the world. As a control measure some whole cell vaccines has been developed and registered. These biopharmaceutical products have as principal disadvantages the absence of cross-protection against serovars not included on formulations and reactogenicity at inoculation site. In this paper it is discussed the local toxicity at inoculation site elicited by a proteoliposome vaccine candidate obtained form outer membrane cell wall of Leptospira spp using the Mesocricetus auratus as biomodel. The experimental animals (both sexes) were inoculated with two doses of vaccine candidate (21 days between them) via intramuscular. The results obtained did not show statistical differences among immunized and animal controls for the variables: corporal weight, water and food intake. Neither macroscopic lesions of toxicological importance were observed. The histopathological findings describes are part of immunological response consequence against vaccine candidate. Besides the immunological relevance of the biomodel was check by means of IgG quantification. Agreement with these results, it can conclude that a single dose of the vaccine candidate immunized via intramuscular in Mesocricetus auratus did not show toxic potential at inoculation site

Intrapericardial Delivery of Gelfoam Enables the Targeted Delivery of Periostin Peptide after Myocardial Infarction by Inducing Fibrin Clot Formation

Background: Administration of a recombinant peptide of Periostin (rPN) has recently been shown to stimulate cardiomyocyte proliferation and angiogensis after myocardial infarction (MI). However, strategies for targeting the delivery of rPN to the heart are lacking. Intrapericardial administration of drug-eluting hydrogels may provide a clinically viable strategy for increasing myocardial retention, therapeutic efficacy, and bioactivity of rPN and to decrease systemic re-circulation. Methods and Results: We investigated the ability of intrapericardial injections of drug-eluting hydrogels to deliver and prolong the release of rPN to the myocardium in a large animal model of myocardial infarction. Gelfoam is an FDA-approved hemostatic material commonly used in surgery, and is known to stimulate fibrin clot formation. We show that Gelfoam disks loaded with rPN, when implanted within the pericardium or peritoneum of mammals becomes encapsulated within a non-fibrotic fibrin-rich hydrogel, prolonging the in vitro and in vivo release of rPN. Administration into the pericardial cavity of pigs, following a complete occlusion of the left anterior descending artery, leads to greater induction of cardiomyocyte mitosis, increased cardiomyocyte cell cycle activity, and enhanced angiogenesis compared to direct injection of rPN alone. Conclusions: The results of this study suggest that intrapericardial drug delivery of Gelfoam, enhanced by triggered clot formation, can be used to effectively deliver rPN to the myocardium in a clinically relevant model of myocardial infarction. The work presented here should enhance the translational potential of pharmaceutical-based strategies that must be targeted to the myocardium

In Vitro and In Vivo Evaluation of Essential Oil from Artemisia absinthium L. Formulated in Nanocochleates against Cutaneous Leishmaniasis

Background: Leishmaniasis is a zoonotic disease caused by protozoan parasites from Leishmania genus. Currently, there are no effective vaccines available and the available therapies are far from ideal. In particular, the development of new therapeutic strategies to reduce the infection caused by Leishmania amazonensis could be considered desirable. Different plant-derived products have demonstrated antileishmanial activity, including the essential oil (EO) from Artemisia absinthium L. (EO-Aa), Asteraceae. Methods: In the present study, the EO-Aa formulated in nanocochleates (EO-Aa-NC) was investigated in vitro against intracellular amastigotes of L. amazonensis and non-infected macrophages from BALB/c mice. In addition, the EO-Aa-NC was also evaluated in vivo against on experimental cutaneous leishmaniasis, which body weight, lesion progression, and parasite load were determined. Results: EO-Aa-NC displayed IC50 values of 21.5 ± 2.5 μg/mL and 27.7 ± 5.6 μg/mL against intracellular amastigotes of L. amazonensis and non-infected peritoneal macrophage, respectively. In the animal model, the EO-Aa-NC (30 mg/kg/intralesional route/every 4 days 4 times) showed no deaths or weight loss greater than 10%. In parallel, the EO-Aa-NC suppressed the infection in the murine model by approximately 50%, which was statistically superior (p < 0.05) than controls and mice treated with EO-Aa. In comparison with Glucantime®, EO-Aa-NC inhibited the progression of infection as efficiently (p > 0.05) as administration of the reference drug. Conclusions: Encochleation of EO-Aa resulted in a stable, tolerable, and efficacious antileishmanial formulation, facilitating systemic delivery of EO, with increased activity compared to administration of the free EO-Aa. This new formulation shows promising potential to future studies aimed at a new therapeutic strategy to treat leishmaniasis

New proteoliposome vaccine formulation from N. meningitidis serogroup B, without aluminum hydroxide, retains its antimeningococcal protectogenic potential as well as Th-1 adjuvant capacity

Proteoliposomes purified from the Outer Membrane of Neisseria meningitidis B, have been successfully used as core for adjuvants and vaccine formulations. We have tried to increase their structural definition and to conserve their efficacy and stability avoiding the addition of the aluminum hydroxide to the final formulation. Liposomal particle systems were prepared from components of defined molecular structure, such as a Neisseria meningitidis B protein complex, extracted and purified without forming vesicle structures. Liposomes were prepared from a mixture of dioleoyl phosphatidyl serine and cholesterol, using the classical dehydration-rehydration method. Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM) was used to characterize the liposomes. BALB/c mice were used for animal testing procedures. Analysis of specific IgG response, serum bactericidal activity as well as DTH reaction was carried out. Isolation and purification of mRNA and real-time PCR, was performed to determine the dominating Th lymphokine pattern. The new antimeningococcal formulation without aluminum hydroxide prepared with components of defined molecular structure assembled itself into Neoproteoliposomes (NPL) ranging from 50 to 70 nm in diameter. The extraction and purification of selected membrane proteins to provide the antigen for this new formulation (PD-Tp), as well as the NPL-formulation favors a Th1 response pattern, suggested by the higher percentages of DTH, increased expression of proinflamatory lymphokine mRNAs when administered by intramuscular and intranasal routes. It stimulates a systemic bactericidal antibody response against Neisseria meningitidis B and immunologic memory similar to the Cuban VA-MENGOC-BC (R) vaccine, even at lower dosages and is less reactogenic at the injection site in comparison with the formulation with aluminum hydroxide. This new adjuvant formulation could be applicable to the development of new and improved vaccines against meningococcal disease, and eventually as modulators of the immune response against other diseases.This study was in part supported by the agreements of collaboration between the Madrid Autonomic University, Spain and the Havana University, Cuba.Peer Reviewe

Instrumento de evaluación del trabajo de curso en la asignatura Sangre y Sistema Inmune

Objetivo: describir el instrumento utilizado para evaluar el trabajo de curso, en la Escuela Latinoamericana de Medicina durante el período correspondiente al curso académico 2017-2018 y valorar los resultados de la aplicación del mismo. Materiales y métodos: el instrumento se confeccionó considerando las características de la asignatura y el contexto de la Escuela Latinoamericana de Medicina, a partir de la modificación de otros instrumentos utilizados para igual fin. Los resultados se analizaron teniendo en cuenta las calificaciones de obtenidas por los estudiantes. Resultados: debido al elevado número de profesores que participó en el proceso de evaluación del trabajo de curso, fue indispensable establecer un criterio que garantizó la homogeneidad y justeza del mismo. Por ello, se diseñó y aplicó el instrumento con los indicadores a evaluar en el informe escrito, la exposición oral por equipo y la defensa individual del trabajo. Conclusiones: se logra diseñar un instrumento, que incluye criterios de evaluación a nivel grupal e individual. El mismo permite unificar dichos criterios para ser aplicados por todos los profesores y tribunales participantes en el proceso. Los resultados docentes logrados en la evaluación final son satisfactorios, tanto en promoción como en calida

In Vitro and In Vivo Evaluation of Essential Oil from Artemisia absinthium L. Formulated in Nanocochleates against Cutaneous Leishmaniasis

Background: Leishmaniasis is a zoonotic disease caused by protozoan parasites from Leishmania genus. Currently, there are no effective vaccines available and the available therapies are far from ideal. In particular, the development of new therapeutic strategies to reduce the infection caused by Leishmania amazonensis could be considered desirable. Different plant-derived products have demonstrated antileishmanial activity, including the essential oil (EO) from Artemisia absinthium L. (EO-Aa), Asteraceae. Methods: In the present study, the EO-Aa formulated in nanocochleates (EO-Aa-NC) was investigated in vitro against intracellular amastigotes of L. amazonensis and non-infected macrophages from BALB/c mice. In addition, the EO-Aa-NC was also evaluated in vivo against on experimental cutaneous leishmaniasis, which body weight, lesion progression, and parasite load were determined. Results: EO-Aa-NC displayed IC50 values of 21.5 ± 2.5 μg/mL and 27.7 ± 5.6 μg/mL against intracellular amastigotes of L. amazonensis and non-infected peritoneal macrophage, respectively. In the animal model, the EO-Aa-NC (30 mg/kg/intralesional route/every 4 days 4 times) showed no deaths or weight loss greater than 10%. In parallel, the EO-Aa-NC suppressed the infection in the murine model by approximately 50%, which was statistically superior (p < 0.05) than controls and mice treated with EO-Aa. In comparison with Glucantime®, EO-Aa-NC inhibited the progression of infection as efficiently (p > 0.05) as administration of the reference drug. Conclusions: Encochleation of EO-Aa resulted in a stable, tolerable, and efficacious antileishmanial formulation, facilitating systemic delivery of EO, with increased activity compared to administration of the free EO-Aa. This new formulation shows promising potential to future studies aimed at a new therapeutic strategy to treat leishmaniasis