Homeostatic Plasticity and Therapeutic Approaches in Neurodegeneration

The synapses transmit signals between neurons in an ever-changing fashion. Changes of synaptic transmission arise from numerous mechanisms known as synaptic plasticity. The importance and complexity of the synapse has fueled research into the molecular mechanisms underlying synaptogenesis, synaptic transmission, and plasticity. Particularly, homeostatic plasticity refers to the local changes in synaptic activation to generate local synaptic adaptations and network-wide changes in activity to generate adjustments between excitation and inhibition. This review chapter will focus on synaptic phenomena and mechanisms that are likely to contribute to network homeostasis. In addition, it will be discussed a putative modulation of the signaling mechanisms serving a homeostatic function as a viable therapeutic approach for disease modification in neurological and neurodegenerative disorders. To sum up, the main role of the following players in homeostatic plasticity will be analyzed, based on what a growing body of evidence has suggested recently: BDNF-mediated TrkB system activation; adenosine modulation system; nitric oxide/soluble GC/cGMP signaling; astrocyte involvement—astroglial CB1 receptors; the microtubule-associated neuronal protein Tau; the signaling pathway of the Wnt protein family; extracellular vesicles in the intercellular communication; and estrogen involvement in non-reproductive functions

Habilidades sociales y alumnos TEA. Intervención educativa mediante cuentos

El objetivo del trabajo es favorecer el desarrollo de habilidades sociales en el alumnado con TEA dentro de un aula ordinaria de la etapa de Educación Primaria mediante el trabajo con cuentos. Para ello, da por un lado una visión global del TEA a partir de la explicación de sus características definitorias y modelos explicativos. Por otro, expone aspectos relativos a la intervención, entre ellos las necesidades educativas especiales, los principios generales para la respuesta educativa y las estrategias metodológicas. Además, recoge aspectos vinculados con las habilidades sociales en los alumnos con TEA, su desarrollo y los cuentos como método con el que desarrollarlas. Finalmente, tratando de hacer un trabajo práctico y funcional además de formativo, se plantea un programa de desarrollo de habilidades sociales mediante cuentos orientado especialmente a dar respuesta a las necesidades educativas especiales de un niño con TEA en un aula de 1º de primaria. Se concluye que la implementación del programa puede conllevar notables beneficios no solo en el alumno con TEA, sino también en el resto de niños y niñas del aula. Por ello, se considera de gran interés su puesta en práctica

A Nori but not a Konbu, dietary supplement decreases the cholesterolaemia, liver fat infiltration and mineral bioavailability in hypercholesterolaemic growing Wistar rats

The nutritional consequences of algae consumption in young populations consuming hypercholesterolaemic diets have hardly been investigated. This study tests the effect of algae supplementation of cholesterol-enriched balanced diets on growth, dietary efficiency ratio, mineral intake and absorption, organ weight and structure and cholesterolaemia in growing Wistar rats. Three groups of ten rats each were fed for 3 weeks with experimental diets containing 93% casein-soyabean oil base with 2.4% cholesterol-raising agent and 7% supplement. The control group received cellulose (35%), group 2 consumed Nori (33.8% fibre) and group 3 consumed Konbu (36.1% fibre). Food intake and body weight gain were not significantly affected. Algae groups presented significantly higher dietary efficiency ratio values than control rats. Apparent absorption of several minerals appeared significantly affected, mainly in Nori-fed rats, with a significant decrease in the ratio of Zn and Cu intakes and apparent absorption. Nori diet significantly decreased plasma cholesterol. Algae supplement did not significantly affect organ size and structure. Control and Konbu rats showed severe liver fat infiltration, while Nori rats exhibited a significantly lower degree of lipid-like hepatocyte vacuolization but light to moderate leukocyte infiltration. Light to moderate scaling off of the epithelium and moderate submucosa oedema was observed in all groups. Although long-term studies are needed to check the possible extrapolation of these data to human subjects, it can be concluded that a Nori, but not a Konbu, dietary supplement reverses the negative effect of dietary cholesterol intake and also appears to be related to mineral availability in growing subjects. © 2007 The Authors.This work was granted by the Spanish Ministerio de Investigación y Ciencia, Project AGL 2005-07204-C02-C1/ALI.Peer Reviewe

Inclusión y alumnos con TEA. Propuestas prácticas para la respuesta educativa

El objetivo principal del trabajo es tratar de presentar a los maestros de infantil los conocimientos necesarios para responder adecuadamente al alumnado con TEA en un aula ordinaria e inclusiva de la etapa. Para ello, da por un lado una visión global del TEA a partir de la explicación de su historia, las características definitorias del trastorno en la actualidad y sus modelos explicativos. Por otro, expone todos aquellos aspectos relativos a la intervención, entre ellos las necesidades educativas especiales, los principios generales de intervención, las claves principales para la propuesta educativa y las estrategias metodológicas. Tratando de hacer un trabajo práctico y funcional además de formativo, se diseña una programación de aula en la que se incluye a un alumno con TEA en un aula ordinaria de 1º infantil. La programación se concreta en la elaboración de una Unidad Didáctica orientada especialmente a dar respuesta a las necesidades educativas especiales del niño con TEA relativas a la interacción social. Se concluye, que los notables beneficios que la implementación de la UD está teniendo en el niño conllevan la necesidad de valorar la posibilidad de cambiar su escolarización especial por una en un entorno natural como es el aula ordinaria

Whole Alga, Algal Extracts, and Compounds as Ingredients of Functional Foods: Composition and Action Mechanism Relationships in the Prevention and Treatment of Type-2 Diabetes Mellitus

Type-2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is a major systemic disease which involves impaired pancreatic function and currently affects half a billion people worldwide. Diet is considered the cornerstone to reduce incidence and prevalence of this disease. Algae contains fiber, polyphenols, ω-3 PUFAs, and bioactive molecules with potential antidiabetic activity. This review delves into the applications of algae and their components in T2DM, as well as to ascertain the mechanism involved (e.g., glucose absorption, lipids metabolism, antioxidant properties, etc.). PubMed, and Google Scholar databases were used. Papers in which whole alga, algal extracts, or their isolated compounds were studied in in vitro conditions, T2DM experimental models, and humans were selected and discussed. This review also focuses on meat matrices or protein concentrate-based products in which different types of alga were included, aimed to modulate carbohydrate digestion and absorption, blood glucose, gastrointestinal neurohormones secretion, glycosylation products, and insulin resistance. As microbiota dysbiosis in T2DM and metabolic alterations in different organs are related, the review also delves on the effects of several bioactive algal compounds on the colon/microbiota-liver-pancreas-brain axis. As the responses to therapeutic diets vary dramatically among individuals due to genetic components, it seems a priority to identify major gene polymorphisms affecting potential positive effects of algal compounds on T2DM treatment.Depto. de Farmacología, Farmacognosia y BotánicaFac. de FarmaciaTRUESpanish Ministry of Education, Culture and Sports (FPU15/02759). Adrián Macho-González received a predoctoral fellowshippu

Errores de medicación en quimioterapia antes y después de la implantación de un sistema de prescripción electrónica asistida

Purpose: To identify, quantify and compare  medication errors (ME) of antineoplastic agents produced with manual prescriptions and with electronically assisted prescriptions (EAP).Methods: An observational, descriptive, prospective study in a haematological hospitalisation unit. Antineoplastic agents ME  were determined before and after implementation of EAP. Results: 184 ME and 53 identification errors were detected. A RRR of 92,03% and an AAR of 40,02% were obtained. Non-prescription medication errors, higher dose errors, wrong preparation or  handling errors, administration route errors and rate of administration errors  were significantly lower with EAP.Conclusions: Antineoplastic agents ME have decreased since computerising the prescription process. The decresase of omission errors, dosage-related  errors and  those related to the stability of the mixtures stands out.Objetivos: Identificar, cuantificar y comparar los errores de medicación (EM) de antineoplásicos que se producen con un sistema de prescripción manual y con un sistema de prescripción electrónica asistida (PEA). Método: Estudio observacional, descriptivo, prospectivo, realizado en pacientes ingresados en una unidad de Hematología. Se analizaron los EM producidos antes y después de la implantación de la PEA.  Resultados: Se detectaron 184 EM y 53 de identificación de pacientes. La RRR fue del 92,03% y la RAR del 40,02%. Las  disminuciones de los errores en las categorías de falta de prescripción de un medicamento necesario, dosis mayor, error de preparación/manipulación, vía de administración y velocidad de administración fueron estadísticamente significativas.Conclusiones: La PEA de antineoplásicos disminuye el número de EM. Evita errores derivados de la omisión de información y disminuye los relacionados con la dosis y  la estabilidad de las mezclas

Experience with the use of Rituximab for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis in a tertiary Hospital in Spain: RITAR study

There is evidence supporting that there are no relevant clinical differences between dosing rituximab 1000 mg or 2000 mg per cycle in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients in clinical trials, and low-dose cycles seem to have a better safety profile. Our objective was to describe the pattern of use of rituximab in real-life practice conditions. Methods: Rituximab for RA in clinical practice (RITAR) study is a retrospective cohort study from 2005 to 2015. Eligibility criteria were RA adults treated with rituximab for active articular disease. Response duration was the main outcome defined as months elapsed from the date of rituximab first infusion to the date of flare. A multivariable analysis was performed to determine the variables associated with response duration. Results: A total of 114 patients and 409 cycles were described, 93.0% seropositive and 80.7% women. Rituximab was mainly used as second-line biological therapy. On demand retreatment was used in 94.6% of cases versus fixed 6 months retreatment in 5.4%. Median response duration to on demand rituximab cycles was 10 months (interquartile range, 7–13). Multivariable analysis showed that age older than 65 years, number of rituximab cycles, seropositivity, and first- or second-line therapy were associated with longer response duration. The dose administered at each cycle was not significantly associated with response duration. Conclusions: Our experience suggests that 1000 mg rituximab single infusion on demand is a reasonable schedule for long-term treatment of those patients with good response after the first cycles, especially in seropositive patients and when it is applied as a first- or second-line biological therap

Could Duodenal Molecular Mechanisms be Involved in the Hypocholesterolemic Effect of Silicon Used as Functional Ingredient in Late‐Stage Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus?

Scope: Hypercholesterolemia increases the risk of mortality in type 2 diabetesmellitus (T2DM), especially in the late-stage. Consumption of bioactivecompounds as functional ingredients would help achieve therapeutic goals forcholesterolemia. Silicon has demonstrated a hypocholesterolemic effect andthe ability to reduce fat digestion. However, it is unclear whether silicon exertssuch effect in late-stage T2DM (LD) and the intestinal mechanisms involved.Methods and results: Three groups of eight rats were included: early-stageT2DM control (ED), LD, and the LD group treated with silicon (LD-Si) oncethe rats were diabetic. Morphological alterations of the duodenal mucosa, andlevels of markers involve in cholesterol absorption and excretion, besidecholesterolemia, and fecal excretion were assayed. Silicon included as afunctional ingredient significantly reduces cholesterolemia in part due to: 1)reducing cholesterol intestinal absorption by decreasing the absorptive areaand Acetyl-Coenzyme A acetyltransferase-2 (ACAT2) levels; and 2) increasingcholesterol excretion to the lumen by induction of the liver X receptor (LXR)and consequent increase of adenosine triphosphate-binding cassettetransporter (ABCG5/8).Conclusions: These results provide insight into the intestinal molecularmechanisms by which silicon reduces cholesterolemia and highlights theefficacy of the consumption of silicon-enriched functional foods in late-stageT2DM

The Nutritional Components of Beer and Its Relationship with Neurodegeneration and Alzheimer’s Disease

The prevalence of degenerative diseases has risen in western countries. Growing evidence suggests that demenia and other cognition affectations are associated with ambient factors including specific nutrients, food ingredients or specific dietary patterns. Mediterranean diet adherence has been associated with various health benefits and decreased risk of many diseases, including neurodegenerative disorders. Beer, as part of this protective diet, contains compounds such as silicon and hops that could play a major role in preventing brain disorders. In this review, different topics regarding Mediterranean diet, beer and the consumption of their main compounds and their relation to neurological health have been addressed. Taking into account published results from our group and other studies, the hypothesis linking aluminum intoxication with dementia and/or Alzheimer’s disease and the potential role of regular beer has also been considered. Beer, in spite of its alcohol content, may have some health benefits; nonetheless, its consumption is not adequate for all subjects. Thus, this review analyzed some promising results of non-alcoholic beer on several mechanisms engaged in neurodegeneration such as inflammation, oxidation, and cholinesterase activity, and their contribution to the behavioral modifications induced by aluminum intoxication. The review ends by giving conclusions and suggesting future topics of research related to moderate beer consumption and/or the consumption of its major compounds as a potential instrument for protecting against neurodegenerative disease progression and the need to develop nutrigenetic and nutrigenomic studies in aged people and animal models