Adult cocaine-induced brain metabolic activation is altered in a sex-dependent manner by chronic periadolescent cannabinoid exposure in rats

[Poster] 4th European Molecular Imaging Meeting, Barcelona, Spain, May 27 - 30, 2009Cannabinoid exposure during the periadolescent period has been shown to augment the rates of cocaine self-administration in female but not male Wistar rats. However, how this cannabinoid history alters cocaine-induced brain activation remains unknownPublicad

Cerebral changes and disrupted gray-matter cortical networks in asymptomatic older adults at risk for Alzheimer's disease

The diagnostic value of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) biomarkers is well established in Alzheimer's disease, but our current knowledge about how abnormal CSF levels affect cerebral integrity, at local and network levels, is incomplete in asymptomatic older adults. Here, we have collected CSF samples and performed structural magnetic resonance imaging scans in cognitively normal elderly as part of a cross-sectional multicenter study (SIGNAL project). To identify group differences in cortical thickness, white matter volume, and properties of structural networks, participants were split into controls (N = 20), positive amyloid-? (A?1?42 +) (N = 19), and positive phosphorylated tau (N = 18). The A?1?42 + group exhibited thickening of middle temporal regions, while positive phosphorylated tau individuals showed thinning in the superior parietal and orbitofrontal cortices. Subjects with abnormal CSF biomarkers further showed regional white matter atrophy and more segregated cortical networks, the A?1?42 + group showing heightened isolation of cingulate and temporal cortices. Collectively, these findings highlight the relevance of combining structural brain imaging and connectomics for in vivo tracking of Alzheimer's disease lesions in asymptomatic stages.This work was supported by research grants from the Spanish Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness (SAF2011-25463 to J.L.C., PSI2014-55747-R to M.A.), the Carlos III Institute of Health, Spain (PI11/02425 and PI14/01126 to J.F.; PI11/3035 and PI14/1561 to A.L.; PI08/0139, PI12/02288 and PI16/01652 to P.S.J.), jointly funded by Fondo Europeo de Desarrollo Regional (FEDER), Unión Europea, “Una manera de hacer Europa”, the Joint Programming in Neurodegenerative Disease Research (DEMTEST to P.S.J.), “Marató TV3” (project 20141210 to J.F. and 20142610 to A.L.), the Regional Ministry of Innovation, Science and Enterprise, Junta de Andalucia (P12- CTS-2327 to J.C.L.), and the CIBERNED program (Signal project)

Chronic cannabinoid administration to periadolescent rats modulates the metabolic response to acute cocaine in the adult brain

Purpose: To analyze brain metabolic response to acute cocaine in male and female Wistar rats with or without a history of cannabinoid exposure during periadolescence. Procedures: The synthetic cannabinoid agonist CP 55,940 (CP) or its vehicle (VH), were administered to male and female rats during periadolescence. When these animals reached adulthood, saline and cocaine-induced changes in 2-deoxy-2-[18F]fluoro D glucose (FDG) uptake were studied by positron emission tomography. Results: The baseline (post-saline) metabolism in the septal nuclei was higher in CP-females than in VH-females, although septal metabolism was lower in CP-females after cocaine, reaching similar values to those of VH-females at baseline. Cocaine did not affect metabolism in VH-females. Periadolescent cannabinoid treatment did not influence baseline metabolism in males although cocaine reduced the FDG uptake in the dorsal striatum of males that received the VH but not CP. Conclusions: These results suggest that cannabinoids during periadolescence modify baseline and cocaine-evoked brain metabolism in a sex-dependent manner. In the case of CP-females, the involvement of septal metabolic alterations in their susceptibility to the rewarding effects of cocaine should be further investigated.This work was supported by grants from the Ministerio de Educación y Ciencia (Grants nº SAF2004-08148 and SAF2007-064890); Ministerio de Sanidad y Consumo (Grants RD06/ 00170029 of Instituto de Salud Carlos III, PNSD 2004 2007 and 2008 2010); Dirección General de Investigación de la Comunidad de Madrid (Grant S-SAL/0261/2006, I+D CANNAB-CM Consortium); and UNED (Plan de Promoción de la Investigación) to EA, and grants from the “Ministerio de Ciencia y Tecnología” (TEC2004-07052-C02-01/TCM), “Ministerio de Sanidad y Consumo” (CIBER CB06/01/0079, PNSD 2007 2010, FIS CP08/00017), “Ministerio de Industria” (CENIT program) and “Fundación de Investigación Médica Mutua Madrileña” (2007 2010 and 2008 2011) to MD.Publicad

No association of CDK5 genetic variants with Alzheimer's disease risk

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>As cyclin-dependent kinase 5 (CDK5) has been implicated in the abnormal hyperphosphorylation of tau in Alzheimer's disease (AD) brain, and the development of neurofibrillary tangles, we examined the contribution of this gene to the susceptibility for AD.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>We examined genetic variations of CDK5 by genotyping haplotype tagging SNPs (htSNPs) (rs9278, rs2069459, rs891507, rs2069454, rs1549759 and rs2069442) in a group of 408 Spanish AD cases and 444 controls.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>There were no differences in the genotypic, allelic or haplotypic distributions between cases and controls in the overall analysis or after stratification by APOE ε4 allele.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Our negative findings in the Spanish population argue against the hypothesis that CDK5 genetic variations are causally related to AD risk. Still, additional studies using different sets of patients and control subjects deserve further attention, since supporting evidence for association between CDK5 gene and AD risk in the Dutch population exists.</p

DYRK1A genetic variants are not linked to Alzheimer's disease in a Spanish case-control cohort

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>As dual-specificity tyrosine phosphorylation-regulated kinase 1A (DYRK1A) has been implicated in the abnormal hyperphosphorylation of tau in Alzheimer's disease (AD) brain, and the development of neurofibrillary tangles, we examined the contribution of this gene to the susceptibility for AD.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>We examined genetic variations of DYRK1A by genotyping haplotype tagging SNPs (htSNPs) (rs11701483, rs2835740, rs1137600, rs2835761, rs2835762, rs2154545 and rs8132976) in a group of 634 Spanish AD cases and 733 controls.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>There were no differences in the genotypic, allelic or haplotypic distributions between cases and controls in the overall analysis or after stratification by APOE ε4 allele.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Our negative findings in the Spanish population argue against the hypothesis that DYRK1A genetic variations are causally related to AD risk. Still, additional studies using different sets of patients and control subjects deserve further attention, since supporting evidence for association between DYRK1A gene and AD risk in the Japanese population exists.</p

Genetic variation in the tau protein phosphatase-2A pathway is not associated with Alzheimer's disease risk

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Tau abnormal hyperphosphorylation and the formation of neurofibrillary tangles in AD brain is the result of upregulation of tau kinases and downregulation of tau phosphatases.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>In a group of 729 Spanish late-onset Alzheimer's disease (AD) patients and 670 healthy controls, we examined variations into a set of candidate genes (PPP2CA, PPP2R2A, ANP32A, LCMT1, PPME1 and PIN1) in the tau protein phosphatase-2A (PP2A) pathway, to address hypotheses of genetic variation that might influence AD risk.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>There were no differences in the genotypic, allelic or haplotypic distributions between cases and controls in the overall analysis or after stratification by age, gender or APOE ε4 allele.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Our negative findings in the Spanish population argue against the hypothesis that genetic variation in the tau protein phosphatase-2A (PP2A) pathway is causally related to AD risk</p

Brain metabolism in lewis and fischer 344 rats after morphine self-administration and extinction: a PET imaging study

Proceeding of: The 72nd Annual Scientific Meeting of the College on Problems of Drug Dependence, Scottsdale, Arizona, June 12-17, 2010.MICINN (SAF2007-064890); Ministerio de Sanidad y Consumo (RD06/001/0029 y CP08/00017 del ISC III; Plan Nacional sobre Drogas 2004-2007 y 2008-2010); Fundación Mutua Madrileña; and CAM (S-SAL/0261/2006)

Brazilian Consensus on Photoprotection

Brazil is a country of continental dimensions with a large heterogeneity of climates and massive mixing of the population. Almost the entire national territory is located between the Equator and the Tropic of Capricorn, and the Earth axial tilt to the south certainly makes Brazil one of the countries of the world with greater extent of land in proximity to the sun. The Brazilian coastline, where most of its population lives, is more than 8,500 km long. Due to geographic characteristics and cultural trends, Brazilians are among the peoples with the highest annual exposure to the sun. Epidemiological data show a continuing increase in the incidence of nonmelanoma and melanoma skin cancers. Photoprotection can be understood as a set of measures aimed at reducing sun exposure and at preventing the development of acute and chronic actinic damage. Due to the peculiarities of Brazilian territory and culture, it would not be advisable to replicate the concepts of photoprotection from other developed countries, places with completely different climates and populations. Thus the Brazilian Society of Dermatology has developed the Brazilian Consensus on Photoprotection, the first official document on photoprotection developed in Brazil for Brazilians, with recommendations on matters involving photoprotection

Performance of a modular ton-scale pixel-readout liquid argon time projection chamber

The Module-0 Demonstrator is a single-phase 600 kg liquid argon time projection chamber operated as a prototype for the DUNE liquid argon near detector. Based on the ArgonCube design concept, Module-0 features a novel 80k-channel pixelated charge readout and advanced high-coverage photon detection system. In this paper, we present an analysis of an eight-day data set consisting of 25 million cosmic ray events collected in the spring of 2021. We use this sample to demonstrate the imaging performance of the charge and light readout systems as well as the signal correlations between the two. We also report argon purity and detector uniformity measurements and provide comparisons to detector simulations