Discovering the Needs of People at the 10/40 Window with Data Science

Abstract: We propose an approach to discover the needs of people in particular areas of Iraq, a country located at the 10/40 Window, by means of Data Science applied to Open Big Data. The resulting model predicts refugee crises and artillery attacks with high accuracy even in areas with scarce data

Los restos de Sus scrofa (Artiodactyla, Mammalia) del yacimiento Pleistoceno de Pinilla del Valle (Madrid, España)

A morphologic and biometric study has been carried out on the fossil remains of Suidae derived from the first phase of excavation (1980-1989) at the late Pleistocene paleontological site of Cueva del Camino near Pinilla del Valle, north of Madrid. The material consists in 47 remains belonging to a minimum of 6 individuals. The results allow identifying the presence of the wild boar Sus scrofa, whose anatomical characteristics are compared with material from various European Pleistocene sites as well as present-day specimens. From the material obtained is this first phase of excavation stands out several cranial remains, because they are very scarce in coeval European sites, and are not recorded so far in other Spanish sites. The record of Sus scrofa agrees with the palaeoecological and palaeoenvironmental inferences displayed by previous studies from the whole faunal assemblage of the Cueva del Camino site.Se ha llevado a cabo un estudio morfológico y biométrico de los restos fósiles de Suidos excavados en el yacimiento del Pleistoceno superior de la Cueva del Camino, en el término de Pinilla del Valle (Madrid), comparándolos con los restos de otros yacimientos y con especímenes actuales. El material extraído comprende 47 elementos pertenecientes a un mínimo de 6 individuos, destacando la presencia de restos craneales, muy poco frecuentes en los yacimientos europeos de esta época, y ausentes en yacimientos españoles. Se han comprobado en los restos los caracteres anatómicos típicos de Sus scrofa, confirmándose las condiciones paleoambientales obtenidas del conjunto de la fauna

An update on adenosine A2A receptors as drug target in Parkinson's disease

Adenosine receptors are G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) that mediate the physiological functions of adenosine. In the central nervous system adenosine A2A receptors (A2ARs) are highly enriched in striatopallidal neurons where they form functional oligomeric complexes with other GPCRs such us the dopamine D2 receptor (D2R). Furthermore, it is assumed that the formation of balanced A2AR/D2R receptor oligomers are essential for correct striatal function as the allosteric receptor-receptor interactions established within the oligomer are needed for properly sensing adenosine and dopamine. Interestingly, A2AR activation reduces the affinity of striatal D2R for dopamine and the blockade of A2AR with specific antagonists facilitates function of the D2R. Thus, it may be postulated that A2AR antagonists are pro-dopaminergic agents. Therefore, A2AR antagonists will potentially reduce the effects associated with dopamine depletion in Parkinson's disease (PD). Accordingly, this class of compounds have recently attracted considerable attention as potential therapeutic agents for PD pharmacotherapy as they have shown potential effectiveness in counteracting motor dysfunctions and also displayed neuroprotective and anti-inflammatory effects in animal models of PD. Overall, we provide here an update of the current state of the art of these A2AR-based approaches that are under clinical study as agents devoted to alleviate PD symptom

Ureteritis Cystica: Important Consideration in the Differential Diagnosis of Acute Renal Colic

Ureteritis cystica is an uncommon cause of acute renal pain. The aetiology remains unclear and the diagnosis may be difficult to establish. We report the case of a 29 year old woman with a history of repeated urinary tract infections presenting with acute renal colic in the absence of lithiasis. We review the diagnostic tools available to make the diagnosis and the recent pertinent literature

Antiparkinsonian efficacy of guanosine in rodent models of movement disorder

Guanosine (GUO) is a guanine-based purine nucleoside with important trophic functions and promising neuroprotective properties. Although the neuroprotective effects of GUO have been corroborated in cellular models of Parkinson's disease (PD), its efficacy as an antiparkinsonian agent has not been fully explored in PD animal models. Accordingly, we evaluated the effectiveness of GUO in reversing motor impairments in several rodent movement disorder models, including catalepsy, tremor, and hemiparkinsonism. Our results showed that orally administered GUO antagonized reserpine-mediated catalepsy, reduced reserpine-induced tremulous jaw movements, and potentiated the number of contralateral rotations induced by L-3,4-dihydroxyphenylalanine in unilaterally 6-hydroxidopamine-lesioned rats. In addition, at 5 and 7.5 mg/kg, GUO inhibited L-DOPA-induced dyskinesia in rats chronically treated with a pro-dopaminergic agent. Overall, we describe the therapeutic potential of GUO, which may be effective not only for reversing parkinsonian motor impairments but also for reducing dyskinesia induced by treatment for PD

Functional Interplay of Type-2 Corticotrophin Releasing Factor and Dopamine Receptors in the Basolateral Amygdala-Medial Prefrontal Cortex Circuitry

Background: Basolateral amygdala (BLA) excitatory projections to medial prefrontal cortex (PFC) play a key role controlling stress behavior, pain, and fear. Indeed, stressful events block synaptic plasticity at the BLA-PFC circuit. The stress responses involve the action of corticotrophin releasing factor (CRF) through type 1 and type 2 CRF receptors (CRF1 and CRF2). Interestingly, it has been described that dopamine receptor 1 (D1R) and CRF peptide have a modulatory role of BLA-PFC transmission. However, the participation of CRF1 and CRF2 receptors in BLA-PFC synaptic transmission still is unclear. Methods: We used in vivo microdialysis to determine dopamine and glutamate (GLU) extracellular levels in PFC after BLA stimulation. Immunofluorescence anatomical studies in rat PFC synaptosomes devoid of postsynaptic elements were performed to determine the presence of D1R and CRF2 receptors in synaptical nerve endings. Results: Here, we provide direct evidence of the opposite role that CRF receptors exert over dopamine extracellular levels in the PFC. We also show that D1R colocalizes with CRF2 receptors in PFC nerve terminals. Intra-PFC infusion of antisauvagine-30, a CRF2 receptor antagonist, increased PFC GLU extracellular levels induced by BLA activation. Interestingly, the increase in GLU release observed in the presence of antisauvagine-30 was significantly reduced by incubation with SCH23390, a D1R antagonist. Conclusion: PFC CRF2 receptor unmasks D1R effect over glutamatergic transmission of the BLA-PFC circuit. Overall, CRF2 receptor emerges as a new modulator of BLA to PFC glutamatergic transmission, thus playing a potential role in emotional disorders. Keywords: CRF2 receptor; D1 receptor; dopaminergic transmission; glutamatergic transmission; prefrontal cortex

Valor biológico en ratas en crecimiento de una proteína utilizada para la elaboración de dietas enterales

Se estudia en ratas en crecimiento (50g) el valor biológico (VB) de la proteína (50% lactoalbúmina + 50% caseína) utilizada como base para la elaboración de dietas en Nutrición Enteral Clínica (NEC). La administración de esta proteína conduce a un valor biológico (VB) y utilización neta de la proteína (NPU) significativamente superiores en relación a la proteína control (caseína + 5% D-L metionina), poniendo de manifiesto el alto rendimiento biológico de la proteína utilizada (50% lactoalbúmina + 50% caseína) así como su idoneidad para la elaboración de dietas de uso en Nutrición Enteral Clínica.A study was made on growth rats (50g) the biologic value (BY) of the protein (50% lactoalbumin + 50% casein) used for the elaboration of diets em ployed in Enteral Clínical Nutrition (ECN). The administration of this protein led to a significant increase in the biologic value (BY) and the net utilization of protein (NPU) in comparison to control protein (casein + 5% D-L methionine), in order to the protein studied (50% lactalbumin + 50% casein) have high biologic efficiency, and it's optimum for using in Enteral Clinical Nutrition (ECN)

Valor biológico en ratas en crecimiento de una proteína utilizada para la elaboración de dietas enterales

A study was made on growth rats (50g) the biologic value (BV) of the protein (50% lactoalbumin + 50% casein) used for the elaboration of diets employed in Enteral Clínical Nutrition (ECN). The administration of this protein led to a significant increase in the biologic value (BV) and the net utilization of protein (NPU) in comparison to control protein (casein + 5% D-L methionine), in order to the protein studied (50% lactalbumin + 50% casein) have high biologic efficiency, and it's optimum for using in Enteral Clinical Nutrition (ECN).Se estudia en ratas en crecimiento (50g) el valor biológico (VB) de la proteína (50% lactoalbúmina + 50% caseína) utilizada como base para la elaboración de dietas en Nutrición Enteral Clínica (NEC). La administración de esta proteína conduce a un valor biológico (VB) y utilización neta de la proteína (NPU) significativamente superiores en relación a la proteína control (caseína + 5% D-L metionina), poniendo de manifiesto el alto rendimiento biológico de la proteína utilizada (50% lactoalbúmina + 50% caseína) así como su idoneidad para la elaboración de dietas de uso en Nutrición Enteral Clínica