Dra. Cecilia Grierson, ejemplo luchadora y militante feminista

Fil: Prado, Natalia Jorgelina. Universidad Nacional de Cuyo. Facultad de Ciencias MédicasFil: Diez, Emiliano Raúl. Universidad Nacional de Cuyo. Facultad de Ciencias Médica

Las médicas descalzas : comprometidas y picantes que ocupen las alpargatas rojas para servir al pueblo

Fil: Diez, Emiliano Raúl. Universidad Nacional de Cuyo. Facultad de Ciencias MédicasFil: Prado, Natalia Jorgelina. Universidad Nacional de Cuyo. Facultad de Ciencias Médica

Finger-Montring Configurations Affect Arabic-Number Processing in Left Hemisphere

The influence of finger-strategies on number processing is documented by several findings which suggest that finger-based embodied representations could constitute a potential bridge between the innate number sense and the development of symbolic numerical abilities. Recent studies show evidence of hand muscle activation during passive observation of Arabic digits, as well as priming on the processing of Arabic stimuli if preceded by pictures of culturally-appropriate canonical finger-numeral configurations. However, little is known about how the sensory-motor and visual systems interact in the adulthood cognition and about the particulars of numerical processing grounding in the brain hemispheres. To fill this gap, a cross-modal priming study was designed, in which participants had to identify lateralized Arabic digits (2-3-4) while performing covert canonical or non-canonical finger-numeral configurations with their hemisphere-matching or hemisphere-mismatching hand. Results showed that responses to a visual target (e.g., 3) were faster when participants’ hand was fixed in canonical configuration compared to arbitrary finger position, particularly when bodily-hand information and visual stimuli were projected simultaneously into the left hemisphere. This cross-modal priming effect can be taken as evidence of the numerical cognitive-facilitation supported by integrative processing of multiple sensorial information, and as an indication of specialized hemispheric involvement in the semantic processing of number information

Efectos electrofisiológicos del ácido acetilsalicícico en la injuria por isquemia/preperfusión

La reperfusión, luego de un período de isquemia miocárdica breve, puede desencadenar un daño paradojal, dentro del cual, se destacan las arritmias ventriculares. Existen estudios que reportan un efecto beneficioso del ácido acetilsalicílico (AAS) a nivel cardiovascular, pero se desconocen los efectos electrofisiológicos en el proceso de injuria por isquemia/reperfusión. El objetivo de este estudio es evaluar las propiedades electrofisiológicas del AAS, en especial si puede evitar las arritmias de reperfusión (AR) en forma independiente de su efecto antiplaquetario. Se trabajó con corazones aislados de rata Sprague Dawley según la técnica de Langendorff sometidos a 10 minutos de isquemia regional. Se realizaron 3 series esperimentales: 1) control (C, n=10); 2), corazones perfundidos durante todo el protocolo con AAS 0.14 mM (AAS, n=10) y 3) corazones que recibieron la misma dosis de AAS sólo en los 3 primeros minutos de la reperfusión (AASR, n=9). Se analizaron la incidencia y severidad de las AR y su relación con el ECG y los potenciales de acción registrados simultáneamente. El 82% del grupo control presentó AR sostenidas, el 30 % con AAS y el 22% con AASR (ambas p<0.05 por χ2). En la reperfusión se observó que luego de los primeros tres minutos la duración del potencial de acción (DPA) fue mayor en el grupo AASR (81,5 ± 23,1) que en el grupo AAS (55,2 ± 10,0) p<0.05 por ANOVA I. Por lo tanto, la menor incidencia de AR en los grupos tratados podría asociarse al efecto de la aspirina sobre la DPA y que la droga estudiada tendría efectos sobre esta variable sólo al momento de reperfusión.Ventricular fibrillation may occur within seconds after restoration of blood flow to myocardium turned ischemic by a period of coronary occlusion (reperfusion). The mechanisms of the beneficial cardiovascular effects of acetylsalicylic acid (ASA, aspirin) therapy are not completely understood. In this study, we tested the hypothesis that ASA treatment could reduce reperfusion arrhythmias acting during ischemia and/or during early reperfusion by an antiplatelet independent mechanism. We evaluate the effects of ASA 0.14mM perfused from the beginning of the experiment (ASA) or only for 3 min after 10 min of regional ischemia in isolated rat hearts (ASAR). ECG and membrane potential were synchronously recorded. ASA did not change any electrophysiological properties until reperfusion. Both treatments reduce reperfusion ventricular tachycardia and/or fibrillation to 30% and 22,2 % in ASA and ASAR respectively, versus 81,8 % in control group. Action potential duration was prolonged after ASA was ceased when compared with continuous ASA perfusion, suggesting a modification only at reperfusion. The conclusions from this study were that acute aspirin treatment, infused at an early reperfusion period has similar beneficial actions than a continuous infusion of this compound and that this treatment only modify electrophysiological variables at reperfusion.Fil: Lucero, Gabriela. Universidad Nacional de Cuyo. Facultad de Ciencias Médicas; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Mendoza. Instituto de Medicina y Biología Experimental de Cuyo; ArgentinaFil: Diez, Emiliano Raúl. Universidad Nacional de Cuyo. Facultad de Ciencias Médicas; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Mendoza. Instituto de Medicina y Biología Experimental de Cuyo; ArgentinaFil: Ponce Zunino, A.. Universidad Nacional de Cuyo. Facultad de Ciencias Médicas; Argentin

Effects of Methotrexate on IL-6alphar, VCAM-1 and NF Kappa B Expression in a Rat Model of Metabolic Syndrome

Background: In this study, we used Methotrexate (Mtx) to examine the role of immunomodulation on the activation of IL-6 and VCAM-1, which could generate a microenvironment that supports cardiovascular remodelling.Methods: Male WKY and SHR rats were separated into five groups: Control, FFR: WKY rats receiving a 10% (w/v) fructose solution during all 12 weeks, SHR, FFHR: SHR receiving a 10% (w/v) fructose solution during all 12 weeks and FFHR+Mtx (0,3 mg/kg intraperitoneal one injection per day week for 6 weeks) (n = 8 per group). Metabolic variables and systolic blood pressure were measured. Cardiac and vascular remodelling was also evaluated. To assess this, IL-6R and VCAM-1 immunostaining techniques were used.Results: The FFHR experimental model developed metabolic syndrome, vascular and cardiac remodelling, and vascular inflammation because of increased expression of IL-6 and VCAM-1. Chronic treatment with Mtx completely or partiality reversed the variables studied.Conclusions: The results demonstrated an impact on immunomodulation after mtx treatment, which included a reduction in vascular inflammation and a favourable reduction in metabolic and structural parameters.Fil: Renna, Nicolas Federico. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Mendoza. Instituto de Medicina y Biología Experimental de Cuyo; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de Cuyo. Facultad de Ciencias Médicas; ArgentinaFil: Ramirez, Jésica M.. Universidad Nacional de Cuyo. Instituto de Genética; ArgentinaFil: García, Rodrigo Damián. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Mendoza. Instituto de Medicina y Biología Experimental de Cuyo; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de Cuyo. Facultad de Ciencias Médicas; ArgentinaFil: Diez, Emiliano Raúl. Universidad Nacional de Cuyo. Instituto de Genética; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Mendoza. Instituto de Medicina y Biología Experimental de Cuyo; ArgentinaFil: Miatello, Roberto Miguel. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Mendoza. Instituto de Medicina y Biología Experimental de Cuyo; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de Cuyo. Instituto de Genética; Argentin

Efectos electrofisiológicos del ácido acetilsalicílico en la injuria por isquemia/reperfusión

La reperfusión, luego de un período de isquemia miocárdica breve, puede desencadenar un daño paradojal, dentro del cual, se destacan las arritmias ventriculares. Existen estudios que reportan un efecto beneficioso del ácido acetilsalicílico (AAS) a nivel cardiovascular, pero se desconocen los efectos electrofisiológicos en el proceso de injuria por isquemia/reperfusión. El objetivo de este estudio es evaluar las propiedades electrofisiológicas del AAS, en especial si puede evitar las arritmias de reperfusión (AR) en forma independiente de su efecto antiplaquetario. Se trabajó con corazones aislados de rata Sprague Dawley según la técnica de Langendorff sometidos a 10 minutos de isquemia regional. Se realizaron 3 series esperimentales: 1) control (C, n=10); 2) , corazones perfundidos durante todo el protocolo con AAS 0.14 mM (AAS, n=10) y 3) corazones que recibieron la misma dosis de AAS sólo en los 3 primeros minutos de la reperfusión (AASR, n=9). Se analizaron la incidencia y severidad de las AR y su relación con el ECG y los potenciales de acción registrados simultáneamente. El 82% del grupo control presentó AR sostenidas, el 30 % con AAS y el 22% con AASR (ambas p&lt;0.05 por χ2). En la reperfusión se observó que luego de los primeros tres minutos la duración del potencial de acción (DPA) fue mayor en el grupo AASR (81,5 ± 23,1) que en el grupo AAS (55,2 ± 10,0) p&lt;0.05 por ANOVA I. Por lo tanto, la menor incidencia de AR en los grupos tratados podría asociarse al efecto de la aspirina sobre la DPA y que la droga estudiada tendría efectos sobre esta variable sólo al momento de reperfusión.Ventricular fibrillation may occur within seconds after restoration of blood flow to myocardium turned ischemic by a period of coronary occlusion (reperfusion). The mechanisms of the beneficial cardiovascular effects of acetylsalicylic acid (ASA, aspirin) therapy are not completely understood. In this study, we tested the hypothesis that ASA treatment could reduce reperfusion arrhythmias acting during ischemia and/or during early reperfusion by an antiplatelet independent mechanism. We evaluate the effects of ASA 0.14mM perfused from the beginning of the experiment (ASA) or only for 3 min after 10 min of regional ischemia in isolated rat hearts (ASAR). ECG and membrane potential were synchronously recorded. ASA did not change any electrophysiological properties until reperfusion. Both treatments reduce reperfusion ventricular tachycardia and/or fibrillation to 30% and 22,2 % in ASA and ASAR respectively, versus 81,8 % in control group. Action potential duration was prolonged after ASA was ceased when compared with continuous ASA perfusion, suggesting a modification only at reperfusion. The conclusions from this study were that acute aspirin treatment, infused at an early reperfusion period has similar beneficial actions than a continuous infusion of this compound and that this treatment only modify electrophysiological variables at reperfusion.Fil: Lucero, Gabriela. Universidad Nacional de Cuyo. Facultad de Ciencias MédicasFil: Diez, Emiliano Raúl. Universidad Nacional de Cuyo. Facultad de Ciencias MédicasFil: Ponce Zumino, A.. Universidad Nacional de Cuyo. Facultad de Ciencias Médica

Strain Echocardiography to Predict Postoperative Atrial Fibrillation

Postoperative atrial fibrillation (POAF) complicates 15% to 40% of cardiovascular surgeries. Its incidence progressively increases with aging, reaching 50% in octogenarians. This arrhythmia is usually transient but it increases the risk of embolic stroke, prolonged hospital stay, and cardiovascular mortality. Though many pathophysiological mechanisms are known, POAF prediction is still a hot topic of discussion. Doppler echocardiogram and, lately, strain echocardiography have shown significant capacity to predict POAF. Alterations in oxidative stress, calcium handling, mitochondrial dysfunction, inflammation, fibrosis, and tissue aging are among the mechanisms that predispose patients to the perfect "atrial storm". Manifestations of these mechanisms have been related to enlarged atria and impaired function, which can be detected prior to surgery. Specific alterations in the atrial reservoir and pump function, as well as atrial dyssynchrony determined by echocardiographic atrial strain, can predict POAF and help to shed light on which patients could benefit from preventive therapy

Versatile Detector of Pseudo Periodic Patterns

This study aimed to develop a detector with few physiologically-meaningful parameters, that could be capable of detecting pseudo periodic patterns. The algorithm is based in a signal detection based on a matched filter, and a threshold calculation based on robust stadistics. The evaluation of the detector was performed under a corpus consisting in two sets. One set of human ECGs, and one set of rodent pseudo ECGs. The evaluation was performed with respect to the gold standard annotations, and was calculated in terms of sensitivity (S) and positive predictive value (P). For the human ECG set of recordings, the detector had 100 S and 99.9 P, while for the rodent pseudo ECG set of recordings the results where 97.1 S and 79.1 P. Both sets results are median values. The results obtained under the rodent set where compared to those obtained with another two detectors, where our detector obtained the best results. The algorithm achieved promising results, in a broad set of ECG recordings of very different nature, with the additional capability of further adaptation provided by expert assistance.Fil: Santini, Augusto. Universidad Tecnológica Nacional; ArgentinaFil: Llamedo Soria, Mariano. Universidad Tecnológica Nacional; ArgentinaFil: Diez, Emiliano Raúl. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Mendoza. Instituto de Medicina y Biología Experimental de Cuyo; Argentin

Auricular electromechanics as a predictor of inflammation, oxidative stress and atrial arrhythmias

Las arritmias son frecuentes durante los posoperatorios de la cirugía cardiovascular. El riesgo arrítmico aumenta en patologías con mayor carga inflamatoria, como la obesidad, la hipertensión arterial y la enfermedad coronaria. La inflamación lleva a remodelado electrofisiológico del canal de Na, la conexinas, y a remodelado estructural por fibrosis. La vía inflamatoria que desencadena IL-6 y activa STAT3/NF-Kb; está implicada en el remodelado auricular. Los cambios en la conducción facilitan la aparición de fibrilación auricular (FA). Ondas P mayores de 120 ms en el ECG sugieren trastorno de conducción auricular y se denomina Sindrome de Bayes. La dilatación auricular también prolonga la onda P. Las nuevas técnicas ecocardiográficas que determinan deformación miocárdica regional (strain) permitirían dilucidar si hay dilatación o si ocurre discronía intra e interauricular. El objetivo general es mejorar la predicción de riesgo de desarrollar arritmias en el posoperatorio quirúrgico con técnica no invasivas que sean sensibles para detectar disicronía relacionada a la inflamación local auricular. Objetivos específicos 1) Identificar disincronía de activación intra e inter auricular por strain. 2) Demostrar que el Síndrome de Bayes con disincronía mecánica auricular es un indicador no invasivo de inflamación y remodelado eléctrico tisular. 3) Determinar que la disincronía aumenta el riesgo de la FA en el postoperatorio. Se realizará ECG para diagnóstico de Sd. de Bayes y ecocardiograma con evaluación de strain auricular en pacientes sometidos a cirugía cardiovascular no valvular mitral. Se buscará demostrar disincronía intra e interauricular. Se determinarán marcadores de inflamación sistémico como la IL-6 y la PCR. En muestras de aurícula derecha se realizarán las siguientes pruebas: potenciales de acción; determinación de inflamación, fibrosis, remodelado eléctrico, microscopia electrónica y estado oxidativo. Durante la internación habrá monitoreo del ECG continuo durante los primeros 5 días posteriores a la cirugía para poder detectar la incidencia de FA. Se calculó un tamaño muestral de 90 pacientes para detectar una diferencia en la incidencia de FA entre aquellos que presenten alteración electromecánica evaluada por strain auricular, los cuales desarrollaran FA en el postoperatorio en un 50% de los casos en contraste con un 20% con aquello que no presenten estas alteraciones. Se considerará un nivel de significación de p 0.05 y una potencia de 80%.Arrhythmias are frequent during the postoperative period of cardiovascular surgery. The arrhythmic risk increases in pathologies with greater inflammatory load, such as obesity, arterial hypertension, and coronary heart disease. Inflammation leads to electrophysiological remodeling of the Na channel, connexins, and structural remodeling by fibrosis. The inflammatory pathway that triggers IL-6 and activates STAT3 / NF-K&amp;#946; is involved in atrial remodeling. Changes in driving facilitate the onset of atrial fibrillation (AF). P waves greater than 120 ms on the ECG suggest atrial conduction disorder and is called Bayes syndrome. Atrial dilatation also prolongs the P wave. The new echocardiographic techniques that determine regional myocardial deformation (strain) would allow elucidating whether there is dilatation or whether intra and interatrial dyschromia occur. The general objective is to improve the prediction of risk of developing arrhythmias in the surgical postoperative with non-invasive techniques that are sensitive to detect disychronia related to local atrial inflammation. Specific objectives 1) Identify intra and inter atrial activation dyssynchrony by strain. 2) Demonstrate that Bayes syndrome with mechanical atrial dyssynchrony is a non-invasive indicator of tissue electrical inflammation and remodeling. 3) Determine that dyssynchrony increases the risk of AF in the postoperative period. ECG will be performed to diagnose Sd. of Bayes and echocardiogram with evaluation of atrial strain in patients undergoing non-valvular mitral cardiovascular surgery. We will try to demonstrate intra and interauricular dyssynchrony. Markers of systemic inflammation such as IL-6 and CRP will be determined. In right atrial samples, the following tests will be performed: action potentials; determination of inflammation, fibrosis, electrical remodeling, electron microscopy, and oxidative state. During the hospital stay, there will be continuous ECG monitoring during the first 5 days after surgery to detect the incidence of AF. A sample size of 90 patients was calculated to detect a difference in the incidence of AF among those who presented electromechanical alteration assessed by atrial strain, who developed AF in the postoperative period in 50% of the cases in contrast to 20% with that that do not present these alterations. It will be considered a significance level of p 0.05 and a power of 80%

Melatonin for a Healthy Heart Rhythm

Melatonin is a promising cardioprotective agent. Its increase during the night is associated with healthy cardiovascular function. On the other hand, reduced levels of melatonin are related to diseases. Aging and chronodisruptors reduce melatonin levels. Pharmacological supplementation reduces the deleterious effects of cardiovascular risk factors and improves the myocardial response to ischemia/reperfusion injury and other proarrhythmic conditions. The protective mechanisms of melatonin involve its antioxidant properties as well as receptor-mediated actions. Signaling pathways include membrane responses, cytoplasmic modulation of kinases, nuclear receptor interactions, and improvement of mitochondrial functions. This chapter focuses on the electrophysiological and the antiarrhythmic properties of melatonin. The acute and chronic protective mechanisms of melatonin will be analyzed with an emphasis on transmembrane potentials and intercellular communication. An outstanding antifibrillatory effect makes melatonin a novel antiarrhythmic agent worthy of further exploration in the path to clinical applications