Sex differences in behavioral traits related with high sensitivity to the reinforcing effects of cocaine

Cocaine is the most prevalent illegal stimulant drug in Europe among the adult population. Its abuse is characterized by a faster substance abuse disorder (SUD) development than other drugs, with high vulnerability to relapse. However, there does not exist an effective treatment for cocaine dependence. Sex differences have been reported in psychological disorders including SUD. For this reason, it is essential to identify risk factors that predict susceptibility or resilience to cocaine addiction for the development of effective prevention strategies considering sex differences. In the present study, the main objective was to determine more sensitive phenotypes to the conditioned reinforcing effects of cocaine in both sexes. Anxiety-like behavior and the locomotor response to novelty were evaluated in the elevated plus maze, and despair in the tail suspension test, as well as vulnerability traits linked with a high sensitivity to the reinforcing effects of a subthreshold dose of cocaine (1 mg/kg) in the conditioned place preference (CPP) paradigm in male and female mice. Our results indicated that only female mice with high anxiety, low locomotor response to novelty or low despair levels acquired CPP induced by cocaine, while male mice with low anxiety, high locomotor response to novelty or high despair levels presented a higher susceptibility to the rewarding effects of cocaine than others. These sex differences in the results reveal an opposite pattern in males and females on the relationship between anxiety- and depressive-like behaviors and cocaine vulnerability, demonstrating the need to include female mice in preclinical studies

Gender differences in dual diagnoses associated with cannabis use: A review

Gender differences in psychiatric disorders and drug use are well known. Cannabis is the most widely used illegal drug among young people. In recent years, its use has been related to the development of psychiatric pathologies; however, few studies have incorporated the gender perspective as of yet. The present work analyses the literature to determine the existence of gender differences in the development of psychotic, depressive and anxious symptoms associated with cannabis use. First, we describe cannabis misuse and its consequences, paying special attention to adolescent subjects. Second, the main gender differences in psychiatric disorders, such as psychosis, depression, anxiety and cannabis use disorders, are enumerated. Subsequently, we discuss the studies that have evaluated gender differences in the association between cannabis use and the appearance of psychotic, depressive and anxious symptoms; moreover, we consider the possible explanations for the identified gender differences. In conclusion, the studies referred to in this review reveal the existence of gender differences in psychiatric symptoms associated with cannabis use, although the direction of such differences is not always clear. Future research is necessary to discern the causal relationship between cannabis use and the development of psychiatric symptoms, as well as the gender differences foun

Development and characterization of bioactive alginate microcapsules with cedarwood essential oil

In this work, sodium alginate microcapsules containing cedarwood essential oil (CWO) for uses in anti-acne tonic were prepared by ionic gelification of alginate with calcium chloride (CaCl2) and subsequent addition of glutaraldehyde to improve the crosslinking degree. Alginate microcapsules with cedarwood essential oil were obtained in an encapsulator with a 600 μm nozzle using different alginate concentrations (1, 3 and 4% w/v) , and different compositions of the coagulation solution with CaCl2 concentrations of 0.1, 0.25 and 0.5 M, and addition of glutaraldehyde at two concentrations: 12.5% and 50% (0.1 g L−1 and 10 g L−1, respectively). The effect of alginate concentration was followed by viscosimetry and the influence of the CaCl2 concentration and presence of glutaraldehyde on the microcapsules' shape as well as the total content on encapsulated cedarwood essential oil were evaluated by means of stereoscopic magnifying glass, scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and UV vis spectrophotometry. Results show that proper shape formation is obtained for an alginate concentration of 3% w/v. With regard to the total encapsulated cedarwood oil, as the CaCl2 concentration in the gelifying-coagulating solution increases the efficiency of the encapsulated oil. Best results in terms of micro-bead shape and total amount of encapsulated oil were obtained for a CaCl2 concentration of 0.5 M without glutaraldehyde with a maximum encapsulation of 177.2 mg per gram of microcapsule.Ferrandiz, M.; Lopez, A.; Franco, E.; Garcia-Garcia, D.; Fenollar, D.; Balart, R. (2017). Development and characterization of bioactive alginate microcapsules with cedarwood essential oil. Flavour and Fragrance Journal. 32(3):184-190. doi:10.1002/ffj.3373S18419032

Progressive dementia associated with ataxia or obesity in patients with Tropheryma whipplei encephalitis

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p><it>Tropheryma whipplei</it>, the agent of Whipple's disease, causes localised infections in the absence of histological digestive involvement. Our objective is to describe <it>T. whipplei </it>encephalitis.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>We first diagnosed a patient presenting dementia and obesity whose brain biopsy and cerebrospinal fluid specimens contained <it>T. whipplei </it>DNA and who responded dramatically to antibiotic treatment. We subsequently tested cerebrospinal fluid specimens and brain biopsies sent to our laboratory using <it>T. whipplei </it>PCR assays. PAS-staining and <it>T. whipplei </it>immunohistochemistry were also performed on brain biopsies. Analysis was conducted for 824 cerebrospinal fluid specimens and 16 brain biopsies.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>We diagnosed seven patients with <it>T. whipplei </it>encephalitis who demonstrated no digestive involvement. Detailed clinical histories were available for 5 of them. Regular PCR that targeted a monocopy sequence, PAS-staining and immunohistochemistry were negative; however, several highly sensitive and specific PCR assays targeting a repeated sequence were positive. Cognitive impairments and ataxia were the most common neurologic manifestations. Weight gain was paradoxically observed for 2 patients. The patients' responses to the antibiotic treatment were dramatic and included weight loss in the obese patients.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>We describe a new clinical condition in patients with dementia and obesity or ataxia linked to <it>T. whipplei </it>that may be cured with antibiotics.</p

A comparative study on the reactive compatibilization of melt-processed polyamide 1010/polylactide blends by multi-functionalized additives derived from linseed oil and petroleum

[EN] This research work describes the manufacturing and characterization of novel engineering materials consisted of fully bio-based blends of polyamide 1010 (PA1010) with 20 wt% of polylactide (PLA). Four different compatibilizers were used to enhance the miscibility and the performance of the biopolymer blends. Two multi-functionalized vegetable oils (maleinized linseed oil (MLO) and epoxidized linseed oil (ELO)) and two petroleum-derived glycidyl-based additives (epoxy styrene-acrylic oligomer (ESAO) and styrene-glycidyl methacrylate copolymer (PS-GMA)) were tested during melt compounding. The resultant biopolymer blends were processed by either cast film extrusion or injection molding to obtain films and pieces, respectively. Thin films with an average thickness of 50¿60 µm and thick pieces of 4 mm were obtained, and their mechanical, morphological, thermal, thermomechanical, barrier and, optical properties were characterized. Although all four compatibilizers successfully provided compatibilization to the blends, the chemically modified vegetable oils, that is, MLO and ELO yielded the injection-molded pieces with the most balanced mechanical properties in terms of strength and toughness. Besides, the resultant films showed very low oxygen transmission rate values, thus broadening the potential of these biopolymer blends for the food packaging industryThis research work was funded by the Spanish Ministry of Science, Innovation, and Universities (MICIU) project numbers MAT2017-84909-C2-2-R and AGL2015-63855-C2-1-R. Quiles-Carrillo and Torres-Giner are recipients of a FPU grant (FPU15/03812) from the Spanish Ministry of Education, Culture, and Sports (MECD) and a Juan de la Cierva contract (IJCI-2016-29675) from MICIU, respectively. Microscopy services at UPV are acknowledged for their help in collecting and analyzing FESEM images. Authors thank Polyscope for kindly supplying XibondTM 920 for this study.Quiles-Carrillo, L.; Fenollar, O.; Balart, R.; Torres-Giner, S.; Rallini, M.; Dominici, F.; Torre, L. (2020). A comparative study on the reactive compatibilization of melt-processed polyamide 1010/polylactide blends by multi-functionalized additives derived from linseed oil and petroleum. eXPRESS Polymer Letters. 14(6):583-604. https://doi.org/10.3144/expresspolymlett.2020.48S58360414

The effect of sepiolite on the compatibilization of polyethylene thermoplastic starch blends for environmentally friendly films

The final publication is available at Springer via http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s10853-014-8647-8[EN] Green polyethylene is a new and attracting polymer from biobased resources (sugarcane) and identical properties to petroleum-based polyethylene. Its potential in the packaging industry is really promising. In this work, we report the use of different compatibilizer systems for green polyethylene (from sugarcane) and thermoplastic starch (30 wt% TPS) in order to increase ductile mechanical properties and biodegradable content. Typical petroleum-based graft copolymer of polyethylene with maleic anhydride (PE-g-MA) is used as reference compatibilizer, and new compatibilizer systems are developed using sepiolite. The obtained results show that sepiolite-based compatibilizers provide good compatibilization properties as observed by a remarkable increase in elongation at break and a noticeable size reduction of the TPS domains dispersed in the green polyethylene matrix as observed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM).This study has been funded by the ‘‘Conselleria d’Educacio´, Cultura i Esport’’—Generalitat Valenciana (Reference number: GV/2014/008). Authors thank Tolsa S.A for kindly supply sepiolite for this study and Microscopy Services at UPV for helping in using SEM and TEM techniques.Samper Madrigal, MD.; Fenollar Gimeno, OÁ.; Dominici, F.; Balart Gimeno, RA.; Kenny, JM. (2015). The effect of sepiolite on the compatibilization of polyethylene thermoplastic starch blends for environmentally friendly films. 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From cat scratch disease to endocarditis, the possible natural history of Bartonella henselae infection

BACKGROUND: Most patients with infectious endocarditis (IE) due to Bartonella henselae have a history of exposure to cats and pre-existing heart valve lesions. To date, none of the reported patients have had a history of typical cat scratch disease (CSD) which is also a manifestation of infection with B. henselae. CASE PRESENTATION: Here we report the case of a patient who had CSD and six months later developed IE of the mitral valve caused by B. henselae. CONCLUSION: Based on this unique case, we speculate that CSD represents the primary-infection of B. henselae and that IE follows in patients with heart valve lesions

Carbapenem Resistance and Acinetobacter baumannii in Senegal: The Paradigm of a Common Phenomenon in Natural Reservoirs

Incidence of carbapenem-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii is rising in several parts of the world. In Africa, data concerning this species and its resistance to carbapenems are limited. The objective of the present study was to identify the presence of A. baumannii carbapenem-resistant encoding genes in natural reservoirs in Senegal, where antibiotic pressure is believed to be low. From October 2010 to January 2011, 354 human head lice, 717 human fecal samples and 118 animal fecal samples were screened for the presence of A. baumannii by real time PCR targeting blaOXA51-like gene. For all samples positive for A. baumannii, the carbapenemase-hydrolysing oxacillinases blaOXA23-like and blaOXA24-like were searched for and sequenced, and the isolates harbouring an oxacillinase were genotyped using PCR amplification and sequencing of recA gene. The presence of A. baumannii was detected in 4.0% of the head lice, in 5.4% of the human stool samples and in 5.1% of the animal stool samples tested. No blaOXA24 gene was detected but six fecal samples and three lice were positive for blaOXA23-like gene. The blaOXA23-like gene isolated in lice was likely a new oxacillinase sequence. Finally, the A. baumannii detected in stools were all of recA genotype 3 and those detected in lice, of recA genotype 4. This study shows for the first time a reservoir of blaOXA23-like-positive gene in human head lice and stool samples in Senegal

Efecto de la cocaína sobre la inhibición por prepulso de la respuesta de sobresalto

La inhibición por prepulso (IPP) de la respuesta de sobresalto es una medida de sincronización sensitivomotora basada en la respuesta del reflejo de sobresalto. Un déficit en la IPP se ha observado en pacientes psiquiátricos, especialmente con esquizofrenia, así como en sujetos vulnerables a desarrollarla. Asimismo, los consumidores de cocaína presentan un alto índice de patologías psiquiátricas como la esquizofrenia