23 research outputs found

    Perinatal protein deprivation facilitates accumbal ERK phosphorylation in cocaine-sensitized adult rats

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    In previous studies we described that perinatal protein deprivation facilitates the development and expression of behavioral sensitization to cocaine. In this research, we explored whether the increased reactivity observed in deprived (D) versus control (C) rats is also evident during drug-free withdrawal periods. Considering that activation of the extracellular signal-regulated protein kinase (ERK) is suggested to be involved in cocaine-induced behavioral sensitization, we study the effects of perinatal protein deprivation on phosphorylated ERK2 (pERK2) protein levels in the NAc (core and shell) during different drug-free withdrawal periods. To induce behavioral sensitization, C- and D-rats received a daily injection of cocaine (5-10. mg/kg, i.p.) for 7 days and locomotor activity was performed on days 1 and 7. Cocaine-sensitized animals were left drug-free and pERK2 was assessed on withdrawal days (WD) 1, 4, 7 and 21. In the NAc core, cocaine induced ERK signaling pathway activation in a dose-dependent manner, and only D-rats showed a significant increase in pERK2 protein levels with the lowest dose of cocaine (5. mg/kg). Moreover, sensitized C-rats with 10. mg/kg showed an increase in pERK2 levels from WD7 while D-rats showed this activation on WD4, which remained increased on WD7 and 21. In contrast, in the NAc shell, only sensitized D-rats with cocaine 10. mg/kg showed ERK2 activation on WD21. These results suggest that perinatal protein deprivation facilitates the molecular processes involved in neuronal plasticity occurring during withdrawal.Fil: Velazquez, Evelin Edith. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Córdoba. Instituto de Farmacología Experimental de Córdoba. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Ciencias Químicas. Instituto de Farmacología Experimental de Córdoba; ArgentinaFil: Valdomero, Analía. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Córdoba. Instituto de Farmacología Experimental de Córdoba. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Ciencias Químicas. Instituto de Farmacología Experimental de Córdoba; ArgentinaFil: Maldonado, Noelia Martina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Córdoba. Instituto de Farmacología Experimental de Córdoba. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Ciencias Químicas. Instituto de Farmacología Experimental de Córdoba; ArgentinaFil: Orsingher, Otto Alberto. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Córdoba. Instituto de Farmacología Experimental de Córdoba. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Ciencias Químicas. Instituto de Farmacología Experimental de Córdoba; ArgentinaFil: Cuadra, Gabriel R.. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Córdoba. Instituto de Farmacología Experimental de Córdoba. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Ciencias Químicas. Instituto de Farmacología Experimental de Córdoba; Argentin

    Assessment of potential thrombogenicity in an animal model of a triple viral inactivated Factor IX Concentrate Manufactured in Argentina

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    The risk of thromboembolism with FIX replacement therapy remains a concern for hemophilic B patients. Previous studies from our laboratory demonstrated that the activated factor content of the FIX Plasma Derived (FIXpd) manufactured at UNC-Hemoderivados was negligible by in vitro assay. Despite this, we considered it important to conduct studies to assess the potential thrombogenic risk of our FIXpd concentrates using a modified stasis animal model. FIXpd were inject doses of 100 or 200 IU F IX kg-1 and some samples were supplemented with heparin (<0.5 of heparin/ IU FIX). Eight rats were tested at each dose level in the presence or absence of heparin, considering those samples with a thrombogenicity ≥2.0 as of potential thrombogenic risk. The mean scores ± SD 100 and 200 IU kg-1 in the presence or absence of heparin were 0.25±0.06 and 2.25±0.45 and 1.19±0.26 and 2.81±0.40, respectively. At both doses tested of FIXpd in the absence of heparin, there was no significant difference in mean scores (P<0.05). The encouraging data obtained from these animal experiments and results from in vitro tests, support the low thrombotic risk associated with the FIXpd concentrate manufactured in UNC Hemoderivados.Fil: Martinez, M. C.. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba; ArgentinaFil: Rodriguez, R.. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba; ArgentinaFil: Marinsaldi, Melisa Anahi. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Ciencias Agropecuarias; ArgentinaFil: Rodriguez, G. R.. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba; ArgentinaFil: Guglielmone, Hugo. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba; ArgentinaFil: Bernardi, M. E.. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba; ArgentinaFil: Valdomero, Analía. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Córdoba. Instituto de Farmacología Experimental de Córdoba. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Ciencias Químicas. Instituto de Farmacología Experimental de Córdoba; ArgentinaFil: Cuadra, Gabriel R.. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Córdoba. Instituto de Farmacología Experimental de Córdoba. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Ciencias Químicas. Instituto de Farmacología Experimental de Córdoba; Argentin

    Epidemiological trends of HIV/HCV coinfection in Spain, 2015-2019

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    Altres ajuts: Spanish AIDS Research Network; European Funding for Regional Development (FEDER).Objectives: We assessed the prevalence of anti-hepatitis C virus (HCV) antibodies and active HCV infection (HCV-RNA-positive) in people living with HIV (PLWH) in Spain in 2019 and compared the results with those of four similar studies performed during 2015-2018. Methods: The study was performed in 41 centres. Sample size was estimated for an accuracy of 1%. Patients were selected by random sampling with proportional allocation. Results: The reference population comprised 41 973 PLWH, and the sample size was 1325. HCV serostatus was known in 1316 PLWH (99.3%), of whom 376 (28.6%) were HCV antibody (Ab)-positive (78.7% were prior injection drug users); 29 were HCV-RNA-positive (2.2%). Of the 29 HCV-RNA-positive PLWH, infection was chronic in 24, it was acute/recent in one, and it was of unknown duration in four. Cirrhosis was present in 71 (5.4%) PLWH overall, three (10.3%) HCV-RNA-positive patients and 68 (23.4%) of those who cleared HCV after anti-HCV therapy (p = 0.04). The prevalence of anti-HCV antibodies decreased steadily from 37.7% in 2015 to 28.6% in 2019 (p < 0.001); the prevalence of active HCV infection decreased from 22.1% in 2015 to 2.2% in 2019 (p < 0.001). Uptake of anti-HCV treatment increased from 53.9% in 2015 to 95.0% in 2019 (p < 0.001). Conclusions: In Spain, the prevalence of active HCV infection among PLWH at the end of 2019 was 2.2%, i.e. 90.0% lower than in 2015. Increased exposure to DAAs was probably the main reason for this sharp reduction. Despite the high coverage of treatment with direct-acting antiviral agents, HCV-related cirrhosis remains significant in this population

    Impact of COVID-19 on cardiovascular testing in the United States versus the rest of the world

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    Objectives: This study sought to quantify and compare the decline in volumes of cardiovascular procedures between the United States and non-US institutions during the early phase of the coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. Background: The COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted the care of many non-COVID-19 illnesses. Reductions in diagnostic cardiovascular testing around the world have led to concerns over the implications of reduced testing for cardiovascular disease (CVD) morbidity and mortality. Methods: Data were submitted to the INCAPS-COVID (International Atomic Energy Agency Non-Invasive Cardiology Protocols Study of COVID-19), a multinational registry comprising 909 institutions in 108 countries (including 155 facilities in 40 U.S. states), assessing the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on volumes of diagnostic cardiovascular procedures. Data were obtained for April 2020 and compared with volumes of baseline procedures from March 2019. We compared laboratory characteristics, practices, and procedure volumes between U.S. and non-U.S. facilities and between U.S. geographic regions and identified factors associated with volume reduction in the United States. Results: Reductions in the volumes of procedures in the United States were similar to those in non-U.S. facilities (68% vs. 63%, respectively; p = 0.237), although U.S. facilities reported greater reductions in invasive coronary angiography (69% vs. 53%, respectively; p < 0.001). Significantly more U.S. facilities reported increased use of telehealth and patient screening measures than non-U.S. facilities, such as temperature checks, symptom screenings, and COVID-19 testing. Reductions in volumes of procedures differed between U.S. regions, with larger declines observed in the Northeast (76%) and Midwest (74%) than in the South (62%) and West (44%). Prevalence of COVID-19, staff redeployments, outpatient centers, and urban centers were associated with greater reductions in volume in U.S. facilities in a multivariable analysis. Conclusions: We observed marked reductions in U.S. cardiovascular testing in the early phase of the pandemic and significant variability between U.S. regions. The association between reductions of volumes and COVID-19 prevalence in the United States highlighted the need for proactive efforts to maintain access to cardiovascular testing in areas most affected by outbreaks of COVID-19 infection

    Exogenous GM1 ganglioside increases accumbal BDNF levels in rats

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    Gangliosides are compounds that are abundant throughout the CNS, participating actively in neuroplasticity. We previously described that exogenous GM1 ganglioside pretreatment enhances the rewarding properties of cocaine, evidenced by a lower number of sessions and/or dosage necessary to induce conditioned place preference (CPP). Since GM1 pretreatment did not modify cocaine's pharmacokinetic parameters, we suspected that the increased rewarding effect found might be mediated by BDNF, a neurotrophic factor closely related to cocaine addiction. This study was performed to investigate the possibility that GM1 may induce changes in BDNF levels in the nucleus accumbens (NAc), a core structure in the brain's reward circuitry, of rats submitted to three conditioning sessions with cocaine (10. mg/kg, i.p.). The results demonstrate that GM1 administration, which showed no rewarding effect by itself in the CPP, induced a significant increase of BDNF protein levels in the NAc, which may account for the increased rewarding effect of cocaine shown in the CPP paradigm.Fil: Valdomero, Analía. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Córdoba. Instituto de Farmacología Experimental de Córdoba. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Ciencias Químicas. Instituto de Farmacología Experimental de Córdoba; ArgentinaFil: Perondi, María Cecilia. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Córdoba. Instituto de Farmacología Experimental de Córdoba. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Ciencias Químicas. Instituto de Farmacología Experimental de Córdoba; ArgentinaFil: Orsingher, Otto Alberto. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Córdoba. Instituto de Farmacología Experimental de Córdoba. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Ciencias Químicas. Instituto de Farmacología Experimental de Córdoba; ArgentinaFil: Cuadra, Gabriel R.. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Córdoba. Instituto de Farmacología Experimental de Córdoba. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Ciencias Químicas. Instituto de Farmacología Experimental de Córdoba; Argentin

    GM1 ganglioside enhances the rewarding properties of cocaine in rats

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    GM1 pretreatment enhanced the rewarding properties of cocaine as assessed in the conditioned place preference paradigm. This effect was shown by the lower dosage of cocaine necessary to induce conditioning compared with rats receiving cocaine alone, as well as by the fewer number of sessions necessary to induce place preference. GM1 pretreatment did not modify the plasma level of cocaine, but it induced a significant increase in the brain cocaine level compared with animals receiving cocaine alone. In order to evaluate the possibility that GM1 pretreatment may alter the pharmacokinetic parameters of cocaine, the brain and plasma esterase activities, the plasma bound/free cocaine ratio and the brain blood barrier permeability to i.v. Evans Blue administration were assessed. None of these parameters was modified by the GM1 administration. In addition, GM1 (100μM) did not alter the dopamine transporter inhibition induced by cocaine (10-7-10-5M), as determined by the uptake of [3-H]-dopamine in the microsacs of nucleus accumbens. In conclusion, GM1 pretreatment, which did not have any effect per se, increased the rewarding effect of cocaine, a phenomenon correlated with a significant increase in the brain cocaine levels. The different pharmacokinetic parameters evaluated, as well as the inhibitory effect of cocaine on the dopamine transporter, were not modified by GM1, but it modifies the brain cocaine disposition. Thus, the mechanisms by which GM1 enhanced the rewarding effects of cocaine merit further study. © 2009 Elsevier B.V.Fil: Valdomero, Analía. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Ciencias Químicas. Departamento de Farmacología; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Córdoba; ArgentinaFil: Hansen, Cristian. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Ciencias Químicas. Departamento de Farmacología; ArgentinaFil: Gerez, Nelia Martha. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Medicina. Cátedra de Bioquímica y Biología Molecular; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Córdoba; ArgentinaFil: Cuadra, Gabriel R.. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Ciencias Químicas. Departamento de Farmacología; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Córdoba; ArgentinaFil: Orsingher, Otto Alberto. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Ciencias Químicas. Departamento de Farmacología; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Córdoba; Argentin

    Preparation and characterization of polymorphs of the glucocorticoid deflazacort

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    The polymorphism of new and old active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) is of great importance due to performance, stability and processability aspects. The objective of this study was to investigate the polymorphism of deflazacort (DEF), a glucocorticoid discovered >40 years ago, since this phenomenon has not been previously investigated for this API. Using different methods for solid form screening, it was determined for the first time that DEF is able to exist as three forms: a crystalline (DEF-1); a hydrated X-ray amorphous (DEF-t-bw) and an anhydrous amorphous phase (DEF-g) obtained from manually grinding DEF-1. The in vitro and in vivo dissolution rates (DRs) of DEF-1 and DEF-t-bw, which were measured using the rotating disk method in water at 37 °C and the pellet implantation technique in rats, respectively, indicated that DEF-t-bw exhibited slightly faster in vitro and in vivo DRs than those of the crystalline form, but the values were not significantly different. In addition, it was determined that DEF-t-bw devitrifies to DEF-1 by the effect of pressure, humidity and heat. It was concluded that DEF is glucorticoid with low tendency to exhibit different crystalline forms and that DEF-t-bw has no advantages over DEF-1 in terms of solubility, DRs and solid-state stability.Fil: Kassuha, Diego Enrique. Universidad Nacional de Cordoba. Facultad de Ciencias Quimicas; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; ArgentinaFil: Aiassa, Virginia. Universidad Nacional de Cordoba. Facultad de Ciencias Quimicas; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; ArgentinaFil: Bruno, Flavia Paola. Universidad Nacional de Cordoba. Facultad de Ciencias Quimicas; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; ArgentinaFil: Cuadra, Gabriel R.. Universidad Nacional de Cordoba. Facultad de Ciencias Quimicas; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; ArgentinaFil: Sperandeo, Norma Rebeca. Universidad Nacional de Cordoba. Facultad de Ciencias Quimicas; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentin

    Efectos antitrombóticos "in vivo" del tetrasulfato de quercetina aislado de Flaveria bidentis en un modelo experimental de trombosis en ratones

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    El flavonoide tetrasulfato de quercetina (QTS), un producto natural aislado de Flaveria bidentis (L.) Kuntze, demostró previamente "in vitro" que inhibe la agregación plaquetaria y que posee importantes efectos anticoagulantes y profibrinolíticos. Nosotros diseñamos el presente estudio para determinar los efectos antitrombóticos de QTS "in vivo", en un modelo experimental de trombosis en ratones macho C57BL/6 usando un test de tromboembolismo pulmonar agudo.Fil: Guglielmone, Hugo. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Córdoba. Centro de Investigaciones en Bioquímica Clínica e Inmunología; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Ciencias Químicas. Departamento de Bioquímica Clínica; ArgentinaFil: Agnese, Alicia Mariel. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Córdoba. Instituto Multidisciplinario de Biología Vegetal. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas Físicas y Naturales. Instituto Multidisciplinario de Biología Vegetal; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Ciencias Químicas. Departamento de Farmacia. Cátedra de Farmacognosia; ArgentinaFil: Núñez Montoya, Susana Carolina. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Ciencias Químicas. Departamento de Farmacia. Cátedra de Farmacognosia; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Córdoba. Instituto Multidisciplinario de Biología Vegetal. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas Físicas y Naturales. Instituto Multidisciplinario de Biología Vegetal; ArgentinaFil: Cabrera, Jose Luis. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Córdoba. Instituto Multidisciplinario de Biología Vegetal. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas Físicas y Naturales. Instituto Multidisciplinario de Biología Vegetal; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Ciencias Químicas. Departamento de Farmacia. Cátedra de Farmacognosia; ArgentinaFil: Cuadra, Gabriel R.. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Córdoba. Instituto de Farmacología Experimental de Córdoba. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Ciencias Químicas. Instituto de Farmacología Experimental de Córdoba; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Ciencias Químicas. Departamento de Farmacología; ArgentinaIV Reunión conjunta de Sociedades de Biología de la República Argentina: Nuevas Evidencias y Cambios de Paradigmas en Ciencias BiológicasVirtualArgentinaSociedad Argentina de BiologíaSociedad de Biología de CuyoAsociación de Biología de Tucumá
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