Cross talk between adenosine A2A receptors and the Trk receptores for brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) at the rat hippocampus

Tese de doutoramento, Ciências Biomédicas (Neurociências Básicas), Universidade de Lisboa, Faculdade de Medicina, 2009Disponível no document

Meeting of the Portuguese Society for Neurosciences SPN2019

Funding Information: Funding: The authors would like to thank the following organizations for their funding: MD has been supported by Fundação para a Ciência e Tecnologia (FCT) Portugal (PTDC/MED-NEU/31929/2017) and Santa Casa da Misericórdia de Lisboa (MB37-2017). The Almeida Lab has been supported by FCT (JPCOFUND/0004/2015); Alzheimer's Association Research Grant (AARG-19-618007); Maratona da Saúde; iNOVA4Health (UID/Multi/04462/2019), a program financially supported by FCT/Ministério da Educação e Ciência, through national funds and co-funded by FEDER under the PT2020 Partnership Agreement. CG salary has been supported by FCT (CEECIND/00410/2017). SX has been supported by FCT (IF/01227/2015).publishersversionpublishe

From cannabinoids and neurosteroids to statins and the ketogenic diet: new therapeutic avenues in Rett syndrome?

Copyright © 2019 Mouro, Miranda-Lourenço, Sebastião and Diógenes. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) and the copyright owner(s) are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.Rett syndrome (RTT) is an X-linked neurodevelopmental disorder caused mainly by mutations in the MECP2 gene, being one of the leading causes of mental disability in females. Mutations in the MECP2 gene are responsible for 95% of the diagnosed RTT cases and the mechanisms through which these mutations relate with symptomatology are still elusive. Children with RTT present a period of apparent normal development followed by a rapid regression in speech and behavior and a progressive deterioration of motor abilities. Epilepsy is one of the most common symptoms in RTT, occurring in 60 to 80% of RTT cases, being associated with worsening of other symptoms. At this point, no cure for RTT is available and there is a pressing need for the discovery of new drug candidates to treat its severe symptoms. However, despite being a rare disease, in the last decade research in RTT has grown exponentially. New and exciting evidence has been gathered and the etiopathogenesis of this complex, severe and untreatable disease is slowly being unfolded. Advances in gene editing techniques have prompted cure-oriented research in RTT. Nonetheless, at this point, finding a cure is a distant reality, highlighting the importance of further investigating the basic pathological mechanisms of this disease. In this review, we focus our attention in some of the newest evidence on RTT clinical and preclinical research, evaluating their impact in RTT symptomatology control, and pinpointing possible directions for future research.FM was in receipt of a fellowship (IMM/CT/8-2018). The authors would like to thank the following organizations for their funding: AdoRett – LISBOA-01-0145-FEDER-031929; the Association Française du Syndrome de Rett Program “Educação pela Ciência” | Bolsas CHLN/FMUL; GAPIC. Project No. 20190017; Twinning action (SynaNet) from the EU H2020 Programme; and the UID/BIM/50005/2019, project financed by the FCT/Ministério da Ciência, Tecnologia e Ensino Superior (MCTES), through the Fundos do Orçamento de Estado.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Neural stem cells and cannabinoids in the spotlight as potential therapy for epilepsy

© 2020 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland. This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/).Epilepsy is one of the most common brain diseases worldwide, having a huge burden in society. The main hallmark of epilepsy is the occurrence of spontaneous recurrent seizures, having a tremendous impact on the lives of the patients and of their relatives. Currently, the therapeutic strategies are mostly based on the use of antiepileptic drugs, and because several types of epilepsies are of unknown origin, a high percentage of patients are resistant to the available pharmacotherapy, continuing to experience seizures overtime. Therefore, the search for new drugs and therapeutic targets is highly important. One key aspect to be targeted is the aberrant adult hippocampal neurogenesis (AHN) derived from Neural Stem Cells (NSCs). Indeed, targeting seizure-induced AHN may reduce recurrent seizures and shed some light on the mechanisms of disease. The endocannabinoid system is a known modulator of AHN, and due to the known endogenous antiepileptic properties, it is an interesting candidate for the generation of new antiepileptic drugs. However, further studies and clinical trials are required to investigate the putative mechanisms by which cannabinoids can be used to treat epilepsy. In this manuscript, we will review how cannabinoid-induced modulation of NSCs may promote neural plasticity and whether these drugs can be used as putative antiepileptic treatment.This work was supported by IF/01227/2015 and UID/BIM/50005/2019, projeto financiado pela Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia (FCT)/Ministério da Ciência, Tecnologia e Ensino Superior (MCTES) através de Fundos do Orçamento de Estado. D.M.L. (PD/BD/141784/2018) and L.R.-R. (PD/BD/150344/2019) were in receipt of a fellowship from FCT. The authors are in hold of a H2020 Twinning Action from EU (EpiEpiNet).info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

DESENHO E ARTE NA EDUCAÇÃO INFANTIL E PAPEL AVALIATIVO DO PSICOPEDAGOGO: ESTUDO SISTEMÁTICO DA LITERATURA

Art and drawing are part of the school context, especially in early childhood education, as they are a way of demonstrating feelings and learning achievements. Drawing cannot be understood and practiced only as a seasonal manifestation, but as a teaching method mediated by teachers who seek to establish a learning relationship with meanings and as a possibility of verifying the learning difficulties of some children. In this scenario, the Psychopedagogist is a professional capable of listing reasons for certain difficulties through careful investigation through drawing, succeeding a prognosis imbued with methodologies that aim to fulfill the learning needs. However, the exercise of institutional Psychopedagogy is considered essential and favorably to all actors involved in the promotion of quality education. The objective was to reflect on the important role of Psychopedagogy in the school context, using systematic literature review on drawing and art in the learning process from the evaluative perspective of the institutional psychopedagogist. The bibliographic analysis was used as a method with exploratory and descriptive approaches, considering the period of publications between 2017 and 2021. As a result, reports were observed that encourage the participation of psychopedagogy in education as a complement and importance in the context of learning. It is concluded that the Psychopedagogue has space to work in school organizations and contributes with a broad look at methodological and theoretical propositions in the context of learning.El arte y el dibujo forman parte del contexto escolar, especialmente en la educación infantil, ya que son una forma de demostrar sentimientos y logros de aprendizaje. El dibujo no puede entenderse y practicarse solo como una manifestación estacional, sino como un método de enseñanza mediado por profesores que buscan establecer la relación del aprendizaje con los significados y como posibilidad de verificar las dificultades de aprendizaje por parte de algunos niños. En este escenario, el Psicopedagogo es un profesional capaz de enumerar las razones de ciertas dificultades a través de una cuidadosa investigación a través del dibujo, logrando un pronóstico impregnado de metodologías que apuntan a satisfacer las necesidades de aprendizaje. Sin embargo, el ejercicio de la Psicopedagogía institucional se considera fundamental y favorable para todos los actores involucrados en la promoción de la educación de calidad. El objetivo fue reflexionar sobre el importante papel de la Psicopedagogía en el contexto escolar, utilizando la revisión sistemática de la literatura sobre el dibujo y el arte en el proceso de aprendizaje desde la perspectiva evaluativa del psicopedagogo institucional. El análisis bibliográfico se utilizó como método enfoques exploratorios y descriptivos, considerando el período de publicaciones entre 2017 y 2021. Como resultado, se observaron informes que incentivan la participación de la psicopedagogía en la educación como complemento e importancia el contexto del aprendizaje. Se concluye que el Psicopedagogo tiene espacio para trabajar en las organizaciones escolares y aporta una mirada amplia a las propuestas metodológicas y teóricas en el contexto del aprendizaje.Arte e desenho fazem parte do contexto escolar, sobretudo, na educação infantil por ser uma forma de demonstração de sentimentos e realizações de aprendizagem. O desenho não pode ser entendido e praticado apenas como manifestação sazonal, mas como método de ensino mediado por professores que buscam estabelecer a relação de aprendizagem com significados e, como possibilidade de verificação das dificuldades de aprendizagem por parte de algumas crianças. Neste cenário tem-se o Psicopedagogo como profissional capaz de elencar razões de certas dificuldades por meio de investigação criteriosa através do desenho, sucedendo prognóstico imbuído de metodologias que visem preencher as necessidades de aprendizagem. Contudo, considera-se o exercício do Psicopedagogo institucional essencial e favoravelmente a todos os atores envoltos na promoção de uma educação com qualidade. Objetivou-se refletir sobre o importante papel da Psicopedagogia no contexto escolar, utilizando-se da verificação sistemática da literatura acerca do desenho e arte no processo de aprendizagem sob a perspectiva avaliativa do psicopedagogo institucional. Utilizou-se como método a análise bibliográfica com abordagens de cunho exploratório e descritivo, considerando o período de publicações entre 2017 e 2021. Como resultados observou-se relatos que fomentam a participação da psicopedagogia na educação como complementariedade e importância no contexto da aprendizagem. Conclui-se que o Psicopedagogo tem espaço de atuação nas organizações escolares e contribui com um olhar amplo nas proposições metodológicas e teóricas ao contexto da aprendizagem

Adenosine inhibits human astrocyte proliferation independently of adenosine receptor activation

Brain adenosine concentrations can reach micromolar concentrations in stressful situations such as stroke, neurodegenerative diseases or hypoxic regions of brain tumours. Adenosine can act by receptor-independent mechanism by reversing the reaction catalysed by S-adenosylhomocysteine (SAH) hydrolase, leading to SAH accumulation and inhibition of S-adenosylmethionine (SAM)-dependent methyltransferases. Astrocytes are essential in maintaining brain homeostasis but their pathological activation and uncontrolled proliferation plays a role in neurodegeneration and glioma. Adenosine can affect cell proliferation, but the effect of increased adenosine concentration on proliferation of astrocytes is not clarified and was addressed in present work. Human astrocytes (HA) were treated for 3 days with test drugs. Cell proliferation/viability was assessed by the MTT assay and by cell counting. Cell death was evaluated by assessing lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) release and by western blot analysis of αII-Spectrin cleavage. 30µM-Adenosine caused a 40%±3% (p < .05, n = 5) reduction in cell proliferation/viability, an effect reversed by 2U/ml-adenosine deaminase, but unchanged in the presence of antagonists of any of the adenosine receptors. Adenosine alone did not induce cell death. 100µM-Homocysteine alone caused 16%±3% (p < .05) decrease in HA proliferation. Combined action of adenosine and homocysteine decreased HA proliferation by 76%±4%, an effect higher (p < .05) than the sum of the effect of adenosine and homocysteine alone (56%±5%). The inhibitory effect of adenosine on HA proliferation/viability was mimicked by two adenosine kinase inhibitors and attenuated in the presence of folate (100µM) or SAM (50-100µM). The results suggest that adenosine reduces HA proliferation by a receptor-independent mechanism probably involving reversal of SAH hydrolase-catalysed reaction.info:eu-repo/semantics/acceptedVersio

Elderly with Alzheimer's disease: how they live and notice the attention in the health strategy of the family

Objective: Understand how seniors live with Alzheimer's and their perceptions about the actions of the health strategy of the family (FHS). Methods: Exploratory and descriptive study, conducted with ten seniors who agreed to give information. Two forms were used for the evaluation, the index of Katz and the Mini Mental State Examination. Approved by the Research Ethics Committee of the grape with the opinion nº 608,721. Results: The elderly were mostly female, married and illiterate. Had cognitive impairment and some were independent in practice of daily life activities. There are weaknesses in the adaptation of households, but they notice the efforts of their relatives in the space adjustment. The elderly demonstrated satisfaction regarding the attention on ESF. Conclusion: Infer the importance of improving the condition of life, independence and autonomy of the elderly

A sala de recepção do ambiente socioeducativo de regime fechado na perspectiva da psicologia ambiental

Introduction: The reception process aims to provide technical, psychosocial and medical care during the arrival of the adolescent in a juvenile detention after sentencing. This service is guided by the National System of Socio-Educational Care and follow a policy integrated with joint actions of accountability, education, health and social assistance, in the context of human development of socio-educational measures. Objective: To describe the environmental traces left by adolescents after have completed&nbsp; the reception process&nbsp; in &nbsp;Socio-Educational detention Centers in the State of Ceará. Methods: This is a cross sectional study, with descriptive and qualitative approach. &nbsp;The research was held in the areas where previously the adolescents had completed the reception process. Data were collected by systematic observation using field diary reports and discussions guided by content analysis. Results: The environmental traces were associated with the adolescents' previous and current experiences, through the appropriation practices of the spaces of the Socio-educational Center, configured as a place of permanence, movement or passage in constant articulation with social, cultural, economic, political, historical and psychological factors. Conclusion: In the State of Ceara, the areas of Detention Centers reserved for &nbsp;socio-educational purposes as a long-term space for psychosocial and medical care, violates the basic rights of comprehensive care for adolescents. This reality points to the vulnerability of adolescents when exposed to unhealthy physical structures, and demonstrates the need for studies that deepen the discussions from the perspective of the person-environment inter-relationship.Introdução: A sala de recepção visa atendimento técnico, psicossocial e médico, durante a chegada do adolescente no ambiente Socioeducativo de regime fechado, após sentença. Esse ambiente, guiado pelo Sistema Nacional de Atendimento Socioeducativo, deve assumir uma política integrada com ações conjuntas de responsabilização, educação, saúde e assistência social, no contexto do desenvolvimento humano das medidas socioeducativas. Objetivo: Descrever os vestígios ambientais deixados pelos adolescentes, durante pós-ocupação na sala de recepção, dos Centros Socioeducacionais de internação, no Estado do Ceará. Método: A investigação deteve-se à sala de recepção durante pós-ocupação, através da abordagem descritivo-qualitativa, com corte transversal. Os dados foram coletados pela observação sistemática com utilização do diário de campo e discussão direcionada pela análise de conteúdo. Resultados: Os vestígios ambientais se associaram às experiências anteriores e atuais dos adolescentes, através das práticas de apropriação do espaço, na sala de recepção do Centro Socioeducacional, configurada enquanto um lugar de permanência, movimento ou passagem em constante articulação com os fatores sociais, culturais, econômicos, políticos, históricos e psicológicos. Conclusão: A sala de recepção das medidas socioeducativas, no Estado do Ceará, enquanto um espaço de longa permanência para o atendimento psicossocial e médico, viola os direitos básicos da atenção integral aos adolescentes. Essa realidade, aponta indicativo de vulnerabilidade dos adolescentes ao serem expostos às estruturas físicas insalubres, e tenciona para a necessidade de estudos que aprofundem as discussões &nbsp;na perspectiva da inter-relação pessoa-ambiente