Anxiolytic- and antidepressant-like effects of an aqueous extract of Tanacetum parthenium L. Schultz-Bip (Asteraceae) in mice

En la medicina tradicional Danesa y del sur de África, Tanacetum parthenium se utiliza para el tratamiento de la epilepsia y convulsiones (Risa et al., 2004; Jäger et al., 2006). Sin embargo, aún no se sabe con certeza los componentes responsables de la actividad biológica, ni el mecanismo a través del cual actúan. En el presente trabajo se evaluó la capacidad ansiolítica y antidepresiva del extracto acuoso comparándolo con fármacos de referencia para estas enfermedades mediante pruebas de comportamiento ansiolítico como BBT y PMT, mientras que para el efecto antidepresivo se evaluaron con FST y la actividad ambulatoria por OFT. Se realizó la caracterización química del extracto acuoso de T. parthenium L. Schultz-Bip, en donde se identificaron los compuestos mayoritarios por análisis de HPLC-DAD-ESI-MS. De la caracterización química del extracto se aislaron dos compuestos mayoritarios: santina y santamarina. De acuerdo a los resultados, se pudo identificar los dos principales compuestos activos que pudieran ser los responsables de la actividad ansiolitíca y antidepresiva.Tanacetum parthenium L. Schultz-Bip (Asteraceae) is widely used worldwide in traditional medicine for the treatment of convulsions and culture-bound syndromes as susto (fear). The aim of this work was to evaluate the anxiolytic- and antidepressant-like effects of an aqueous extract of T. parthenium in behavioral paradigms in mice. The effects of T. parthenium were compared with those produced by anxyolitic- and antidepressant drugs. We carried out the chemical characterization of the main constituents of T. parthenium. The involvement with the GABAergic and serotoninergic neurotransmitter systems were explored be means of synergic and antagonist experiments. Material and Methods: The anxiolytic-like effect was evaluated using the Burying Behavior Test (BBT) and the Elevated Plus-Maze Test (PMT). The antidepressant-like effect was evaluated in the Forced Swimming Test (FST), and ambulatory activity was assessed in the Open Field Test (OFT). Employing the behavioral tests, synergism and antagonism experiments with alprazolam, Muscimol, and Picrotoxin were carried out in the PMT. In a series independent experiments, concomitant administration of T. parthenium and Alprazolam, Fluoxetine, or p-chlorophenylalanine were conducted in the FST. For the chemical characterization, High-Performance Liquid Chromatography-Electro Spray Ionization-Mass Spectrometry (HPLC-ESI-MS) analysis was performance. Results: T. parthenium exerts clears anxiolytic- and antidepressant-like effects in mice, without affectting the ambulatory activity of the experimental subjects. Conclusions: Anxiolytic- and antidepressant-like T. parthenium effects result, at least in part of the involvement of the GABAergic system. Our results support the use of Tanacetum parthenium in traditional medicine and suggest its therapeutic potential in the comorbid anxiety and depression

Treatment of maxillary transverse deficiency with rapid expansion of the palate with mini-implant: a review

One of the most prevalent malocclusions is maxillary constriction, which is a narrowing of the upper arch; its etiology is multifactorial, including mainly genetic factors and parafunctional habits. It is characterized by a posterior crossbite that can be unilateral or bilateral, total or partial, and may even not occur in cases with simultaneous constriction of the mandibular arch. Transverse deficiency or maxillary hypoplasia affects facial growth and the integrity of the dentoalveolar structures. Therefore, it must be corrected as soon as it is diagnosed. As the maxilla widens, the midpalatal suture and the intermaxillary suture expand. When they are not fused, it is connective tissue and behaves viscoelastically in response to externally applied forces. In order to effectively treat any dentofacial deformation, an early diagnostic and therapeutic approach is required

Replicative and integrative plasmids for production of human interferon gamma in Bacillus subtilis

"Integrative and replicative plasmids for the expression driven by the P43 promoter and secretion of recombinant proteins in Bacillus subtilis were constructed. The plasmids named pInt and pRep respectively were tested for the production of recombinant human interferon gamma (rhIFN-γ). A synthetic hIFN-γ gene employing the optimized B. subtilis codon usage was fused with the Bacillus licheniformis α-amylase signal peptide (sp-amyL) encoding sequence. The integrative construct produced 2.5 ± 0.2 mg l−1 and the replicative system produced 20.3 ± 0.8 mg l−1 of total recombinant rhIFN-γ. The results showed that secretion of hIFN-γ was the bottleneck for the overexpression of mature rhIFN-γ by B. subtilis.

Circadian Modulation of Neurodevelopment in the Adult Human Brain: Importance of Melatonin

Melatonin (N-acetyl-5-methoxytryptamine) is an indoleamine synthesized by the pineal gland in the dark phase of the photoperiod. Released melatonin into the pineal recess and the cerebrospinal fluid is the chemical signal that conveys information about the environmental illumination to the brain. In recent years, it was described that melatonin stimulates the neurodevelopment in the adult brain. During this complex process, new neurons are formed and differentiate to form synaptic connections. Neuropsychiatric disorders are characterized by the loss of neuronal connectivity and diminished levels of melatonin, among other features. Importantly, these patients have impaired circadian rhythms. In recent years, evidence aroused indicating that neurodevelopment occurs in the adult brain, making important the study of chemical compounds and endogenous molecules that stimulate neurodevelopment to reestablish synaptic connectivity. In this chapter, we will review the evidence that supports the circadian melatonin modulatory effects on neurodevelopment and its importance for the treatment of neuropsychiatric diseases

Procedure for the simulation of extreme wind loads on light metal roofs

El aumento apreciable de los fenómenos meteorológicos extremos en las últimas décadas, sobre todo de huracanes y ciclones tropicales, constituye una amenaza para la región del Caribe. El impacto de estos fenómenos en las viviendas y construcciones con cubiertas ligeras ha aumentado considerablemente en los últimos años. La presente investigación tiene como objetivo describir un procedimiento que permite la simulación numérica de las cubiertas ligeras metálicas ante las cargas estáticas y dinámicas propias de los vientos extremos, para obtener criterios acerca de las tensiones y deformaciones límites a que están sometidas, que faciliten la toma de decisiones. Se utilizaron los métodos de análisis y síntesis de sistemas, así como la modelación y simulación por elementos finitos. El análisis dinámico de las cargas de viento permitió simular el comportamiento real de las cubiertas. Se demostró que en el área cercana a los agujeros de la cubierta se concentran los mayores valores de tensiones, constituyendo el punto más débil por donde comienza el fallo de la cubierta. Los resultados muestran que el procedimiento propuesto facilita la toma de decisiones para la búsqueda de soluciones constructivas que minimicen estos efectos.The substantial increase in extreme weather events in recent decades, especially hurricanes and tropical cyclones, constitutes a threat to the Caribbean region. The impact of these phenomena on houses and buildings with light roofs has increased considerably in recent years. The objective of this research is to describe a procedure that allows the numerical simulation of light metal roofs in the aspect of static and dynamic loads typical of extreme winds, in order to obtain criteria about the limit stresses and deformations to which they are subjected, which facilitate the decision-making process. Systems analysis and synthesis methods were used, as well as finite element modeling and simulation. The dynamic analysis of the wind loads made it possible to simulate the real behavior of the light roofs. It was shown that the highest stress values are concentrated in the area near the holes in the roof, constituting the weakest point where the failure of the metallic light roof begins. The results show that the proposed procedure facilitates decision making in the search for constructive solutions that minimize these effects

miR-146a rs2431697 identifies myeloproliferative neoplasm patients with higher secondary myelofibrosis progression risk

Myelofibrosis (MF) occurs as part of the natural history of polycythemia vera (PV) and essential thrombocythemia (ET), and remarkably shortens survival. Although JAK2V617F and CALR allele burden are the main transformation risk factors, inflammation plays a critical role by driving clonal expansion toward end-stage disease. NF-κB is a key mediator of inflammation-induced carcinogenesis. Here, we explored the involvement of miR-146a, a brake in NF-κB signaling, in MPN susceptibility and progression. rs2910164 and rs2431697, that affect miR-146a expression, were analyzed in 967 MPN (320 PV/333 ET/314 MF) patients and 600 controls. We found that rs2431697 TT genotype was associated with MF, particularly with post-PV/ET MF (HR = 1.5; p < 0.05). Among 232 PV/ET patients (follow-up time=8.5 years), 18 (7.8%) progressed to MF, being MF-free-survival shorter for rs2431697 TT than CC + CT patients (p = 0.01). Multivariate analysis identified TT genotype as independent predictor of MF progression. In addition, TT (vs. CC + CT) patients showed increased plasma inflammatory cytokines. Finally, miR-146a−/− mice showed significantly higher Stat3 activity with aging, parallel to the development of the MF-like phenotype. In conclusion, we demonstrated that rs2431697 TT genotype is an early predictor of MF progression independent of the JAK2V617F allele burden. Low levels of miR-146a contribute to the MF phenotype by increasing Stat3 signaling

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

Estudios sobre violencia en la educación. Enfoques, textos y contextos

El concepto de la violencia ha estado sobre la palestra desde el principio de nuestras sociedades. No obstante, en la práctica sus facetas son múltiples y en diversos ámbitos, lo que ha dado lugar a especulaciones acerca de los medios y los fines. Esto mismo incita a reflexionar en lo axiológico, pues la violencia alberga en sí un elemento adicional de arbitrariedad y, por lo tanto, se relaciona con aspectos fundamentales del derecho o los derechos humanos. En los ámbitos educativos han aparecido nuevas formas de violencia personal, que se reflejan en el bullying y el mobbing. En el ámbito universitario, existe un malestar que no se palía con estímulos o clientelismos y que se refiere a un tipo de violencia particular soterrada por las políticas públicas y el intervencionismo del Estado, los cuales han provocado tensiones entre las comunidades académicas; éstas tienen que ver con la defensa de los principios de libertad y autonomía de cátedra e investigación. En algunos casos, dichas voces han formulado críticas a los programas impuestos, ya que éstos se establecen sin reflexionar en los costos sociales que provocan en el trabajo académico y científico. De esas formas de violencia se quiere dar cuenta en esta obra, la cual fue desarrollada por la Red de Cuerpos Académicos en Política, Educación y Universidad

The Biodiversity of the Mediterranean Sea: Estimates, Patterns, and Threats

The Mediterranean Sea is a marine biodiversity hot spot. Here we combined an extensive literature analysis with expert opinions to update publicly available estimates of major taxa in this marine ecosystem and to revise and update several species lists. We also assessed overall spatial and temporal patterns of species diversity and identified major changes and threats. Our results listed approximately 17,000 marine species occurring in the Mediterranean Sea. However, our estimates of marine diversity are still incomplete as yet—undescribed species will be added in the future. Diversity for microbes is substantially underestimated, and the deep-sea areas and portions of the southern and eastern region are still poorly known. In addition, the invasion of alien species is a crucial factor that will continue to change the biodiversity of the Mediterranean, mainly in its eastern basin that can spread rapidly northwards and westwards due to the warming of the Mediterranean Sea. Spatial patterns showed a general decrease in biodiversity from northwestern to southeastern regions following a gradient of production, with some exceptions and caution due to gaps in our knowledge of the biota along the southern and eastern rims. Biodiversity was also generally higher in coastal areas and continental shelves, and decreases with depth. Temporal trends indicated that overexploitation and habitat loss have been the main human drivers of historical changes in biodiversity. At present, habitat loss and degradation, followed by fishing impacts, pollution, climate change, eutrophication, and the establishment of alien species are the most important threats and affect the greatest number of taxonomic groups. All these impacts are expected to grow in importance in the future, especially climate change and habitat degradation. The spatial identification of hot spots highlighted the ecological importance of most of the western Mediterranean shelves (and in particular, the Strait of Gibraltar and the adjacent Alboran Sea), western African coast, the Adriatic, and the Aegean Sea, which show high concentrations of endangered, threatened, or vulnerable species. The Levantine Basin, severely impacted by the invasion of species, is endangered as well

Megaproyectos urbanos y productivos. Impactos socio-territoriales

El desarrollo de megaproyectos productivos trae consigo oportunidades para el crecimiento económico, la generación de empleos y el desarrollo regional. No obstante, en la actualidad, los grandes temas como la expansión urbana, el desarrollo industrial, las cementeras, la minería, el uso intensivo del agua y demás recursos naturales, preocupan a las comunidades por los impactos generados y porque en lo general, no consideran la racionalidad y responsabilidad ambiental y social hacia el entorno. En este contexto son diversos los estudios científicos que, en el marco de la política de económica imperante, intentan posicionarse como alternativas a proyectos económicos que confrontan los intereses particulares y comunitarios y que afectan la salud humana y ambiental. Megaproyectos urbanos y productivos. Impactos socio-territoriales, reúne veinticinco textos académicos sobre las afectaciones que éstos emprendimientos tienen para la sociedad y el entorno. Los temas expuestos recogen experiencias en el desarrollo urbano, industrial, turístico, portuario y aeroportuario, entre otros. Así mismo se retoman temas como la ética, la dialéctica, la política y la economía y su relación en el emprendimiento de megaproyectos. La búsqueda de esquemas productivos racionales y responsables con el entorno, que reivindiquen el derecho de las comunidades a un medio ambiente sano, a la preservación del territorio y sus recursos y de las formas de vida tradicionales, son los referentes para la realización del presente libro. Como elemento central se concibe el territorio como contenedor de identidad y vida, siendo preocupación y tema de estudio de la comunidad académica, las organizaciones de la sociedad civil y las redes de activistas organizados.UAEM, CONACyT, se