Acute reversible inactivation of the bed nucleus of stria terminalis induces antidepressant-like effect in the rat forced swimming test

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>The bed nucleus of stria terminalis (BNST) is a limbic forebrain structure involved in hypothalamo-pituitary-adrenal axis regulation and stress adaptation. Inappropriate adaptation to stress is thought to compromise the organism's coping mechanisms, which have been implicated in the neurobiology of depression. However, the studies aimed at investigating BNST involvement in depression pathophysiology have yielded contradictory results. Therefore, the objective of the present study was to investigate the effects of temporary acute inactivation of synaptic transmission in the BNST by local microinjection of cobalt chloride (CoCl₂) in rats subjected to the forced swimming test (FST).</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Rats implanted with cannulae aimed at the BNST were submitted to 15 min of forced swimming (pretest). Twenty-four hours later immobility time was registered in a new 5 min forced swimming session (test). Independent groups of rats received bilateral microinjections of CoCl₂(1 mM/100 nL) before or immediately after pretest or before the test session. Additional groups received the same treatment and were submitted to the open field test to control for unspecific effects on locomotor behavior.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>CoCl₂injection into the BNST before either the pretest or test sessions reduced immobility in the FST, suggesting an antidepressant-like effect. No significant effect of CoCl₂was observed when it was injected into the BNST immediately after pretest. In addition, no effect of BNST inactivation was observed in the open field test.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>These results suggest that acute reversible inactivation of synaptic transmission in the BNST facilitates adaptation to stress and induces antidepressant-like effects.</p

The construction of infant and primary school teachers’ identity during their initial professional development and first years of work (Identidoc). Summary, main results and contributions

Podeu consultar el simposi sencer a: http://hdl.handle.net/2445/50680Podeu consultar la versió en català de la comunicació a: http://hdl.handle.net/2445/50728Educators who are currently beginning their professional career at any level of the educational system and who will likely have to work during the next thirty to forty years will be taking part in the education of individuals who, with the permission of prophets and doomsayers, will live part of their lives in the 22nd century. That long but simple statement causes a bit of vertigo as well as a good amount of reflection on the part of we educators who were trained in the 20th century, are working in the 21st century, and are responsible for preparing people to build a tomorrow that is already today (Millán and Sancho, 1995). This is the starting point of our research groups’ interest in exploring how men and women who have graduated from teacher education programs with specializations in infant and primary education learn to be teachers, and how they establish and position themselves as teachers during their university studies and the first years of their professional life..

Design de pratos regionais prontos para comer otimizados em seu perfil nutricional

In recent years, gastronomy has shown an interest in research around&nbsp;new technologies, as an alternative to modify sensorial attributes, highlighting the flavor and aroma of food and, thus, to improve the acceptability of products of low consumption in the diet. Added to this challenge is the possibility of incorporating added value into foods produced in the region by adding nutritious or physiologically active compounds that provide specific benefits to the consumer. In this sense, this work aimed to design dishes ready for consumption using vacuum impregnation and cooking techniques sous vide and cook vide through a culinary device, developing culinary preparations according to nutritional recommendations and consumer acceptance. To characterize the products, physical-chemical parameters (pH, humidity, color, texture and shelf life) and sensory tests (preference and CATA) were used. V-range foods were obtained as a result, ready to be consumed, after easy conditioning. As a conclusion,&nbsp;the impregnation and cooking techniques are a good option for the development of this type of food with the incorporation of antioxidants (polyphenols), micronutrients (iron and vitamin C), highlighting the organoleptic characteristics.En los últimos años, la gastronomía ha comenzado a involucrarse en la investigación de nuevas tecnologías, como alternativa para modificar atributos sensoriales, resaltando el sabor y aroma de los alimentos y, de este modo, mejorar la aceptabilidad de productos de escaso consumo en la dieta. A este desafío, se suma la posibilidad de incorporar valor agregado a alimentos producidos en la región mediante el agregado de compuestos nutritivos o fisiológicamente activos que aporten beneficios específicos para el consumidor. En tal sentido, este trabajo tuvo como objetivo diseñar platos listos para el consumo utilizando la impregnación al vacío y las técnicas de cocción sous vide y cook vide mediante un equipo culinario, desarrollando preparaciones culinarias conforme a las recomendaciones nutricionales y la aceptación por parte del consumidor. Para caracterizar los productos, se emplearon parámetros físico-químicos (pH, humedad, color, textura y vida útil) y pruebas sensoriales (preferencia y CATA). Se obtuvo como resultado alimentos de V gama, listos para consumir, tras un fácil acondicionamiento. Se concluye que, las técnicas de impregnación y cocción empleadas resultan una buena opción para el desarrollo de este tipo de alimentos con la incorporación de antioxidantes (polifenoles), micronutrientes (hierro y vitamina C), resaltando las características organolépticas.Nos últimos anos, a gastronomia começou a se envolver na investigação de novas tecnologias, como uma alternativa para modificar os atributos sensoriais, destacando o sabor e o aroma dos alimentos e, assim, para melhorar a aceitabilidade dos produtos de baixo consumo na dieta. Adicionada a este desafio é a possibilidade de incorporar valor agregado aos alimentos produzidos na região, adicionando compostos nutritivos ou fisiologicamente ativos que proporcionam benefícios específicos ao consumidor. Nesse sentido, este trabalho teve como objetivo projetar pratos prontos para consumo usando impregnação a vácuo e técnicas de cozimento sob vide e cozinhar por meio de um aparelho culinário, desenvolvendo preparações culinárias de acordo com as recomendações nutricionais e a aceitação pelo consumidor. Para caracterizar os produtos, foram utilizados parâmetros físico-químicos (pH, umidade, cor, textura e prateleira) e testes sensoriais (preferência e CATA). Os alimentos de gama V foram obtidos como resultado, prontos para serem consumidos, após um fácil condicionamento. Conclui-se que as técnicas de impregnação e culinária são uma boa opção para o desenvolvimento deste tipo de alimentos com a incorporação de antioxidantes (polifenóis), micronutrientes (ferro e vitamina C), destacando as características organolépticas

Genetic polymorphisms in TNF genes and tuberculosis in North Indians

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Pulmonary tuberculosis, the most common clinical form of mycobacterial diseases, is a granulomatous disease of the lungs caused by <it>Mycobaterium tuberculosis</it>. A number of genes have been identified in studies of diverse origins to be important in tuberculosis. Of these, both tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α) and lymphotoxin α (LT-α) play important immunoregulatory roles.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>To investigate the association of <it>TNF </it>polymorphisms with tuberculosis in the Asian Indians, we genotyped five potentially functional promoter polymorphisms in the <it>TNFA </it>gene and a <it>LTA_NcoI </it>polymorphism (+252 position) of the <it>LTA </it>gene in a clinically well-defined cohort of North-Indian patients with tuberculosis (N = 185) and their regional controls (N = 155). Serum TNF-α (sTNF-α) levels were measured and correlated with genotypes and haplotypes.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>The comparison of the allele frequencies for the various loci investigated revealed no significant differences between the tuberculosis patients and controls. Also, when the patients were sub-grouped into minimal, moderately advanced and far advanced disease on the basis of chest radiographs, TST and the presence/absence of cavitary lesions, none of the polymorphisms showed a significant association with any of the patient sub-groups. Although a significant difference was observed in the serum TNF-α levels in the patients and the controls, none of the investigated polymorphisms were found to affect the sTNF-α levels. Interestingly, it was observed that patients with minimal severity were associated with lower log sTNF-α levels when compared to the patients with moderately advanced and far advanced severity. However, none of these differences were found to be statistically significant. Furthermore, when haplotypes were analyzed, no significant difference was observed.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>Thus, our findings exclude the <it>TNF </it>genes as major risk factor for tuberculosis in the North Indians.</p

A multi-targeted approach to suppress tumor-promoting inflammation

Cancers harbor significant genetic heterogeneity and patterns of relapse following many therapies are due to evolved resistance to treatment. While efforts have been made to combine targeted therapies, significant levels of toxicity have stymied efforts to effectively treat cancer with multi-drug combinations using currently approved therapeutics. We discuss the relationship between tumor-promoting inflammation and cancer as part of a larger effort to develop a broad-spectrum therapeutic approach aimed at a wide range of targets to address this heterogeneity. Specifically, macrophage migration inhibitory factor, cyclooxygenase-2, transcription factor nuclear factor-κB, tumor necrosis factor alpha, inducible nitric oxide synthase, protein kinase B, and CXC chemokines are reviewed as important antiinflammatory targets while curcumin, resveratrol, epigallocatechin gallate, genistein, lycopene, and anthocyanins are reviewed as low-cost, low toxicity means by which these targets might all be reached simultaneously. Future translational work will need to assess the resulting synergies of rationally designed antiinflammatory mixtures (employing low-toxicity constituents), and then combine this with similar approaches targeting the most important pathways across the range of cancer hallmark phenotypes

Behavioral and Autonomic Responses to Acute Restraint Stress Are Segregated within the Lateral Septal Area of Rats

Background: The Lateral Septal Area (LSA) is involved with autonomic and behavior responses associated to stress. In rats, acute restraint (RS) is an unavoidable stress situation that causes autonomic (body temperature, mean arterial pressure (MAP) and heart rate (HR) increases) and behavioral (increased anxiety-like behavior) changes in rats. The LSA is one of several brain regions that have been involved in stress responses. The aim of the present study was to investigate if the neurotransmission blockade in the LSA would interfere in the autonomic and behavioral changes induced by RS. Methodology/Principal Findings: Male Wistar rats with bilateral cannulae aimed at the LSA, an intra-abdominal datalogger (for recording internal body temperature), and an implanted catheter into the femoral artery (for recording and cardiovascular parameters) were used. They received bilateral microinjections of the non-selective synapse blocker cobalt chloride (CoCl2, 1 mM / 100 nL) or vehicle 10 min before RS session. The tail temperature was measured by an infrared thermal imager during the session. Twenty-four h after the RS session the rats were tested in the elevated plus maze (EPM). Conclusions/Significance: Inhibition of LSA neurotransmission reduced the MAP and HR increases observed during RS. However, no changes were observed in the decrease in skin temperature and increase in internal body temperature observed during this period. Also, LSA inhibition did not change the anxiogenic effect induced by RS observed 24 h later in the EPM. The present results suggest that LSA neurotransmission is involved in the cardiovascular but not the temperatur

Lo glocal y el turismo. Nuevos paradigmas de interpretación.

El estudio del turismo se realiza desde múltiples escalas y enfoques, este libro aborda muchos temas que es necesario discutir desde diversas perspectivas; es el caso de la reflexión sobre la propia disciplina y sus conceptos, así como los asuntos específicos referidos al impacto territorial, los tipos de turismo, las cuestiones ambientales, el tema de la pobreza, la competitividad, las políticas públicas, el papel de las universidades, las áreas naturales protegidas, la sustentabilidad, la cultura, el desarrollo, la seguridad, todos temas centrales documentados y expuestos con originalidad y dominio del asunto. Lo multiescalar es básico para la comprensión del sistema turístico, sistema formado de procesos globales, regionales y locales. El eje de discusión del libro es lo glocal, esa interacción entre lo nacional y local con lo global

An experimental study of low-level laser therapy in rat Achilles tendon injury

The aim of this controlled animal study was to investigate the effect of low-level laser therapy (LLLT) administered 30 min after injury to the Achilles tendon. The study animals comprised 16 Sprague Dawley male rats divided in two groups. The right Achilles tendons were injured by blunt trauma using a mini guillotine, and were treated with LLLT or placebo LLLT 30 min later. The injury and LLLT procedures were then repeated 15 hours later on the same tendon. One group received active LLLT (λ = 904 nm, 60 mW mean output power, 0.158 W/cm2 for 50 s, energy 3 J) and the other group received placebo LLLT 23 hours after LLLT. Ultrasonographic images were taken to measure the thickness of the right and left Achilles tendons. Animals were then killed, and all Achilles tendons were tested for ultimate tensile strength (UTS). All analyses were performed by blinded observers. There was a significant increase in tendon thickness in the active LLLT group when compared with the placebo group (p < 0.05) and there were no significant differences between the placebo and uninjured left tendons. There were no significant differences in UTS between laser-treated, placebo-treated and uninjured tendons. Laser irradiation of the Achilles tendon at 0.158 W/cm2 for 50 s (3 J) administered within the first 30 min after blunt trauma, and repeated after 15 h, appears to lead to edema of the tendon measured 23 hours after LLLT. The guillotine blunt trauma model seems suitable for inflicting tendon injury and measuring the effects of treatment on edema by ultrasonography and UTS. More studies are needed to further refine this model

Genome of Herbaspirillum seropedicae Strain SmR1, a Specialized Diazotrophic Endophyte of Tropical Grasses

The molecular mechanisms of plant recognition, colonization, and nutrient exchange between diazotrophic endophytes and plants are scarcely known. Herbaspirillum seropedicae is an endophytic bacterium capable of colonizing intercellular spaces of grasses such as rice and sugar cane. The genome of H. seropedicae strain SmR1 was sequenced and annotated by The Paraná State Genome Programme—GENOPAR. The genome is composed of a circular chromosome of 5,513,887 bp and contains a total of 4,804 genes. The genome sequence revealed that H. seropedicae is a highly versatile microorganism with capacity to metabolize a wide range of carbon and nitrogen sources and with possession of four distinct terminal oxidases. The genome contains a multitude of protein secretion systems, including type I, type II, type III, type V, and type VI secretion systems, and type IV pili, suggesting a high potential to interact with host plants. H. seropedicae is able to synthesize indole acetic acid as reflected by the four IAA biosynthetic pathways present. A gene coding for ACC deaminase, which may be involved in modulating the associated plant ethylene-signaling pathway, is also present. Genes for hemagglutinins/hemolysins/adhesins were found and may play a role in plant cell surface adhesion. These features may endow H. seropedicae with the ability to establish an endophytic life-style in a large number of plant species