Editorial

Ars Pharmaceutica is a multidisciplinary scientific journal which focuses on all aspects of pharmaceutical science. It was the first journal of its type in Spain, and has been published by the Faculty of Pharmacy of the University of Granada every year for the past 51 years. During this time, it has evolved in the same way as most scientific journals, and is now no longer only printed in paper format, but is also available free of charge via the Internet. This means that more and more researchers from around the world can access the journal. And they have done so, as proven by the high number of website hits and researchers’ growing interest in having their work published in the journal. Another reason why the number of papers received over the last year has increased is that the journal now accepts papers in both Spanish and English. The journal is currently indexed in the following databases: Chemical Abstracts; ICYT (CSIC); EMBASE/Excerpta Médica; International Pharmaceutical Abstracts (IPA); Indice Bibliográfico Español en Ciencias de la Salud (IBECS); Biological Abstracts; and Life Sciences Collection. We are working to have the journal included in more databases in the future.The current issue, number 52, is the first of a new era, for which we, the editorial team at Ars Pharmaceutica, have set ourselves two priority objectives: to produce a top-quality journal, and to achieve maximum exposure amongst the scientific and pharmaceutical community.We have therefore designed and developed a new website. The different categories of papers suitable for publication have been clearly defined. An electronic submission system has been developed to make it easier for authors to submit their papers via our website. We now have more human and financial resources, and these have allowed us to produce the journal in electronic format, available free of charge to all the scientists and professionals who want to read it.In this new era for the journal, the publication and editorial guidelines will be adapted so that they come into line with international requirements for scientific publications. We would therefore like to remind authors to check that their papers meet the requirements stipulated in the Guide for authors before they submit them to us. Ars Pharmaceutica uses a peer review system so that each paper is reviewed by experts in the research focus of each study and the methodologies used.Our second aim is to increase the readership of Ars Pharmaceutica and encourage authors to submit their papers to the journal. To do this, we will make the publication available to public and private research bodies and scientific and professional associations. We would therefore like to take this opportunity to invite all authors to send their contributions to the different sections of the journal.We cannot sign off without thanking the people whose hard work made all of this possible back in the 1960s, Professors Cabo and Suñé. If it were not for their enthusiasm and determination to create and maintain this journal, with so little money and hardly any external help, we would not be here today, pouring all our renewed energy into what we believe could become a key tool for the dissemination of scientific knowledge in the field of pharmacy.Ars Pharmaceutica es una revista científica de carácter multidisciplinar, en el ámbito de las ciencias farmacéuticas en su sentido más amplio, pionera en España, editada por la Facultad de Farmacia de la Universidad de Granada durante los últimos 51 años de manera ininterrumpida. Durante este tiempo se ha ido adaptando a la evolución de la mayoría de las revistas científicas, en la que se ha pasado de su publicación en papel a convertirla en una revista electrónica de libre acceso. Esto ha supuesto una mayor accesibilidad de investigadores de todos los países a la publicación, lo que se ha podido comprobar por el número de visitas recibidas en la web, y un interés por publicar sus trabajos en ella. El hecho de aceptar trabajos en español o inglés indistintamente, también ha contribuido a aumentar el número de originales recibidos en el último año. Actualmente se encuentra indexada en las siguientes bases de datos: Chemicals Abstracts, ICYT (CSIC); EMBASE/Excerpta Médica; International Pharmaceutical Abstrac (IPA); Indice Bibliográfico Español en Ciencias de la Salud (IBECS); Biological Abstrac, Life Sciencies Collection, y es nuestra intención aumentar su presencia en otras bases.Este número 52 es el primero de una nueva etapa, en la cual los responsables de Ars Pharmacéutica nos hemos planteado como principales objetivos, conseguir la mejor calidad editorial posible y la máxima visibilidad en la comunidad científica relacionada con las áreas farmacéuticas.Para ello hemos diseñado y desarrollado una nueva página web. Se han establecido de forma clara las distintas categorías de trabajos que se pueden publicar. Para agilizar el envió de originales a través de la web se ha desarrollado un sistema electrónico de envío. Se han habilitado recursos humanos y económicos, que nos permiten ofrecer la revista en formato electrónico y de forma gratuita a todos los científicos y profesionales interesados.Esta nueva etapa supondrá también la adaptación de las normas de publicación y las normas editoriales a los requerimientos internacionales de publicaciones científicas. De ahí que se llame la atención a los autores a que antes de enviar un trabajo comprueben que cumple los requisitos que se incluyen en la guía de autor. Ars Pharmacéutica es una revista arbitrada que utiliza el sistema de revisión externa por expertos (peer-review), en el conocimiento de los objetos investigados y en las metodologías utilizadas en las investigaciones.Nuestro segundo objetivo es conseguir una difusión masiva de Ars Pharmaceutica y fomentar el interés por publicar en la misma, poniéndola a disposición de los organismos de investigación públicos y privados, sociedades científicas y profesionales. Por ello desde aquí invitamos a todos los autores a enviar sus aportaciones a las distintas secciones de la revista.No quisiéramos finalizar estas palabras sin tener un cariñoso recuerdo de los que fueron los artífices y promotores de esta revista, los profesores Cabo y Suñé. Su ilusión, tesón e interés en los años 60 del pasado siglo, por crear y mantener con bajo presupuesto y poca ayuda exterior esta revista, ha permitido que hoy sigamos con renovadas energías lo que consideramos puede ser un órgano de difusión del conocimiento científico en el ámbito farmacéutico

Tailoring chitosan/collagen scaffolds for tissue engineering: Effect of composition and different crosslinking agents on scaffold properties.

Chitosan/collagen (Chit/Col) blends have demonstrated great potential for use in tissue engineering (TE) applications. However, there exists a lack of detailed study on the influence of important design parameters (i.e, component ratio or crosslinking methods) on the essential properties of the scaffolds (morphology, mechanical stiffness, swelling, degradation and cytotoxicity). This work entailed a systematic study of these essential properties of three Chit/Col compositions, covering a wide range of component ratios and using different crosslinking methods. Our results showed the possibility of tailoring these properties by changing component ratios, since different interactions occurred between Chit/Col: samples with Chit-enriched compositions showed a hydrogen-bonding type complex (HC), whereas a self-crosslinking phenomenon was induced in Col-enriched scaffolds. Additionally, material and biological properties of the resultant matrices were further adjusted and tuned by changing crosslinking conditions. In such way, we obtained a wide range of scaffolds whose properties were tailored to meet specific needs of TE applications.The authors are grateful to Dr. von Kobbe (Chimera Pharma of Bionostra Group) for the gift of MCF7 cells. The financial support of the Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación of Spain (FIS PS09/01513), and the FPI grant from UCM to A. Martínez are gratefully acknowledged.This is the author accepted manuscript. The final version is available from Elsevier via http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.carbpol.2015.06.08

Sexual Compulsivity Scale: Adaptation and Validation in the Spanish Population

Sexual compulsivity has been studied in relation to high-risk behavior for sexually transmitted infections. The aim of this study was the adaptation and validation of the Sexual Compulsivity Scale to a sample of Spanish young people. This scale was applied to 1,196 (891 female, 305 male) Spanish college students. The results of principal components factor analysis using a varimax rotation indicated a two-factor solution. The reliability of the Sexual Compulsivity Scale was found to be high. Moreover, the scale showed good temporal stability. External correlates were examined through Pearson correlations between the Sexual Compulsivity Scale and other constructs related with HIV prevention. The authors’ results suggest that the Sexual Compulsivity Scale is an appropriate measure for assessing sexual compulsivity, showing adequate psychometric properties in the Spanish population

Editorial

Ars Pharmaceutica es una revista científica de carácter multidisciplinar, en el ámbito de las ciencias farmacéuticas en su sentido más amplio, pionera en España, editada por la Facultad de Farmacia de la Universidad de Granada durante los últimos 51 años de manera ininterrumpida. Durante este tiempo se ha ido adaptando a la evolución de la mayoría de las revistas científicas, en la que se ha pasado de su publicación en papel a convertirla en una revista electrónica de libre acceso. Esto ha supuesto una mayor accesibilidad de investigadores de todos los países a la publicación, lo que se ha podido comprobar por el número de visitas recibidas en la web, y un interés por publicar sus trabajos en ella. El hecho de aceptar trabajos en español o inglés indistintamente, también ha contribuido a aumentar el número de originales recibidos en el último año. Actualmente se encuentra indexada en las siguientes bases de datos: Chemicals Abstracts, ICYT (CSIC); EMBASE/Excerpta Médica; International Pharmaceutical Abstrac (IPA); Indice Bibliográfico Español en Ciencias de la Salud (IBECS); Biological Abstrac, Life Sciencies Collection, y es nuestra intención aumentar su presencia en otras bases.Este número 52 es el primero de una nueva etapa, en la cual los responsables de Ars Pharmacéutica nos hemos planteado como principales objetivos, conseguir la mejor calidad editorial posible y la máxima visibilidad en la comunidad científica relacionada con las áreas farmacéuticas.Para ello hemos diseñado y desarrollado una nueva página web. Se han establecido de forma clara las distintas categorías de trabajos que se pueden publicar. Para agilizar el envió de originales a través de la web se ha desarrollado un sistema electrónico de envío. Se han habilitado recursos humanos y económicos, que nos permiten ofrecer la revista en formato electrónico y de forma gratuita a todos los científicos y profesionales interesados.Esta nueva etapa supondrá también la adaptación de las normas de publicación y las normas editoriales a los requerimientos internacionales de publicaciones científicas. De ahí que se llame la atención a los autores a que antes de enviar un trabajo comprueben que cumple los requisitos que se incluyen en la guía de autor. Ars Pharmacéutica es una revista arbitrada que utiliza el sistema de revisión externa por expertos (peer-review), en el conocimiento de los objetos investigados y en las metodologías utilizadas en las investigaciones.Nuestro segundo objetivo es conseguir una difusión masiva de Ars Pharmaceutica y fomentar el interés por publicar en la misma, poniéndola a disposición de los organismos de investigación públicos y privados, sociedades científicas y profesionales, por ello desde aquí invitamos a todos los autores a enviar sus aportaciones a las distintas secciones de la revista.No quisiéramos finalizar estas palabras sin tener un cariñoso recuerdo de los que fueron los artífices y promotores de esta revista, los profesores Cabo y Suñé. Su ilusión, tesón e interés en los años 60 del pasado siglo, por crear y mantener con bajo presupuesto y poca ayuda exterior esta revista, ha permitido que hoy sigamos con renovadas energías lo que consideramos puede ser un órgano de difusión del conocimiento científico en el ámbito farmacéutico. Ars Pharmaceutica is a multidisciplinary scientific journal which focuses on all aspects of pharmaceutical science. It was the first journal of its type in Spain, and has been published by the Faculty of Pharmacy of the University of Granada every year for the past 51 years. During this time, it has evolved in the same way as most scientific journals, and is now no longer only printed in paper format, but is also available free of charge via the Internet. This means that more and more researchers from around the world can access the journal. And they have done so, as proven by the high number of website hits and researchers’ growing interest in having their work published in the journal. Another reason why the number of papers received over the last year has increased is that the journal now accepts papers in both Spanish and English. The journal is currently indexed in the following databases: Chemical Abstracts; ICYT (CSIC); EMBASE/Excerpta Médica; International Pharmaceutical Abstracts (IPA); Indice Bibliográfico Español en Ciencias de la Salud (IBECS); Biological Abstracts; and Life Sciences Collection. We are working to have the journal included in more databases in the future.The current issue, number 52, is the first of a new era, for which we, the editorial team at Ars Pharmaceutica, have set ourselves two priority objectives: to produce a top-quality journal, and to achieve maximum exposure amongst the scientific and pharmaceutical community.We have therefore designed and developed a new website. The different categories of papers suitable for publication have been clearly defined. An electronic submission system has been developed to make it easier for authors to submit their papers via our website. We now have more human and financial resources, and these have allowed us to produce the journal in electronic format, available free of charge to all the scientists and professionals who want to read it.In this new era for the journal, the publication and editorial guidelines will be adapted so that they come into line with international requirements for scientific publications. We would therefore like to remind authors to check that their papers meet the requirements stipulated in the Guide for authors before they submit them to us. Ars Pharmaceutica uses a peer review system so that each paper is reviewed by experts in the research focus of each study and the methodologies used.Our second aim is to increase the readership of Ars Pharmaceutica and encourage authors to submit their papers to the journal. To do this, we will make the publication available to public and private research bodies and scientific and professional associations. We would therefore like to take this opportunity to invite all authors to send their contributions to the different sections of the journal.We cannot sign off without thanking the people whose hard work made all of this possible back in the 1960s, Professors Cabo and Suñé. If it were not for their enthusiasm and determination to create and maintain this journal, with so little money and hardly any external help, we would not be here today, pouring all our renewed energy into what we believe could become a key tool for the dissemination of scientific knowledge in the field of pharmacy

The GABAAα5-selective Modulator, RO4938581, Rescues Protein Anomalies in the Ts65Dn Mouse Model of Down Syndrome

Down syndrome (DS), trisomy of human chromosome 21 (Hsa21), is the most common genetic cause of intellectual disability (ID). There are no treatments for the cognitive deficits. The Ts65Dn is a partial trisomy mouse model of DS that shows learning and memory (LM) impairments and other abnormalities relevant to those seen in DS. Many drugs and small molecules have been shown to rescue the LM deficits, but little is known about the associated molecular responses. Here, patterns of protein expression are described in hippocampus of Ts65Dn and euploid littermate controls exposed to a battery of LM and behavior tests with and without chronic treatment with the GABAA receptor ?5 subunit-selective negative allosteric modulator, RO4938581, that rescued LM deficits. Levels of 91 proteins/protein modifications, selected for relevance to LM and synaptic plasticity, were measured: 44 of 52 abnormalities present in vehicle-treated Ts65Dn were corrected by RO4938581. Superimposing protein data onto the molecular pathway defining long-term potentiation (LTP) shows that profiles are consistent with both abnormal LTP in vehicle-treated Ts65Dn and its observed rescue by RO4938581. Lastly, comparing these results with those from Ts65Dn treated, using a different protocol, with the NMDA receptor antagonist, memantine, that also rescues LM impairments, identifies common and divergent responses to the two drugs. Expansion of this approach to include additional drugs and DS models would aid in determining critical protein abnormalities and in identifying cocktails of drugs and/or new drug targets that would be effective in clinical trials for ID in DS

Macrophage-Dependent Interleukin-6-Production and Inhibition of I-K Contributes to Acquired QT Prolongation in Lipotoxic Guinea Pig Heart

[EN] In the heart, the delayed rectifier K current, I-K, composed of the rapid (I-Kr) and slow (I-Ks) components contributes prominently to normal cardiac repolarization. In lipotoxicity, chronic elevation of pro-inflammatory cytokines may remodel I-K, elevating the risk for ventricular arrythmias and sudden cardiac death. We investigated whether and how the pro-inflammatory interleukin-6 altered I-K in the heart, using electrophysiology to evaluate changes in I-K in adult guinea pig ventricular myocytes. We found that palmitic acid (a potent inducer of lipotoxicity), induced a rapid (~24 h) and significant increase in IL-6 in RAW264.7 cells. PA-diet fed guinea pigs displayed a severely prolonged QT interval when compared to low-fat diet fed controls. Exposure to isoproterenol induced torsade de pointes, and ventricular fibrillation in lipotoxic guinea pigs. Pre-exposure to IL-6 with the soluble IL-6 receptor produced a profound depression of I-Kr and I-Ks densities, prolonged action potential duration, and impaired mitochondrial ATP production. Only with the inhibition of I-Kr did a proarrhythmic phenotype of I-Ks depression emerge, manifested as a further prolongation of action potential duration and QT interval. Our data offer unique mechanistic insights with implications for pathological QT interval in patients and vulnerability to fatal arrhythmias.This study was supported by an AHA (13SDG16850065 to A.S.A), NIH (R01 HL147044 to A.S.A), and Programa Prometeu de la Conselleria d'innovacio, Universitats, Ciencia i Societat Digital de la Generalitat Valenciana (Award number prometeu/2020/043 to J.S).Chowdhury, MKH.; Martínez-Mateu, L.; Do, J.; Aromolaran, KA.; Saiz Rodríguez, FJ.; Aromolaran, A. (2021). Macrophage-Dependent Interleukin-6-Production and Inhibition of I-K Contributes to Acquired QT Prolongation in Lipotoxic Guinea Pig Heart. International Journal of Molecular Sciences. 22(20):1-15. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms222011249S115222

Exploring pig trade patterns to inform the design of risk-based disease surveillance and control strategies

An understanding of the patterns of animal contact networks provides essential information for the design of risk-based animal disease surveillance and control strategies. This study characterises pig movements throughout England and Wales between 2009 and 2013 with a view to characterising spatial and temporal patterns, network topology and trade communities. Data were extracted from the Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA)’s RADAR (Rapid Analysis and Detection of Animal-related Risks) database, and analysed using descriptive and network approaches. A total of 61,937,855 pigs were moved through 872,493 movements of batches in England and Wales during the 5-year study period. Results show that the network exhibited scale-free and small-world topologies, indicating the potential for diseases to quickly spread within the pig industry. The findings also provide suggestions for how risk-based surveillance strategies could be optimised in the country by taking account of highly connected holdings, geographical regions and time periods with the greatest number of movements and pigs moved, as these are likely to be at higher risk for disease introduction. This study is also the first attempt to identify trade communities in the country, information which could be used to facilitate the pig trade and maintain disease-free status across the country in the event of an outbreak

Smoking and incidence of glaucoma The SUN Cohort

Abstract Smoking is a serious global public health concern that has been related to many chronic diseases. However, the effect of smoking on eye disorders has been less studied. The aim of this cohort study was to assess the association between current tobacco smokers and the risk of developing glaucoma and furthermore to evaluate the relationship between passive or former smokers and glaucoma. In this prospective and dynamic cohort, 16,797 participants initially who were found not to have glaucoma were followed up for a median of 8.5 years. Validated data on lifestyle, including tobacco consumption, were assessed at baseline. Information about new diagnosis of glaucoma was collected by follow-up questionnaires every 2 years. The outcome was the incidence of self-reported glaucoma during the follow-up. A subsample was used to validate the glaucoma diagnosis. During the 8.5 years of follow-up, 184 new glaucoma cases were identified. Current smokers had a significantly higher risk of glaucoma compared to participants who had never smoked after controlling for potential confounders (Hazard ratio [HR] 1.88 [95% coefficient interval (CI): 1.26-2.81]; P = 0.002). A nonsignificant increased risk was found among former smokers (HR 1.27 [95% CI: 0.88-1.82]; P = 0.198). When we assessed the exposure as per the number of cigarette pack-years, a dose-response relationship between pack-years and the risk of glaucoma was found (HR for the 5th quintile versus the 1st quintile: 1.70 [95% IC: 1.10-2.64], P for trend, 0.009). However, no relationship was found between passive smokers and glaucoma. ]; P = 0.189). Our results suggest a direct association between current smokers and the incidence of glaucoma. In particular, this association was related to the number of pack-years, which was not found in the case of former smokers nor in the case of passive smokers. Abbreviations: IOP = intraocular pressure, POAG = primary open angle glaucoma, SUN = Seguimiento Universidad de Navarra

Immediate Breast Reconstruction (IBR) With Direct, Anatomic, Extra-Projection Prosthesis 102 Cases

Abstract: There are different methods described until now for immediate breast reconstruction. Despite the use of autologous flaps considered by many authors, implants are considered as an option by others. A prospective study of 102 clinical cases was designed, including a 1-year follow-up in which glands were reconstructed by immediate breast reconstruction (IBR) with direct, extra projection, anatomic prostheses located in a submuscular pocket after a skin-sparing mastectomy. The prosthesis coverage was made by the muscle in its upper two thirds and by using the skin from the mastectomy in its lower third. The cosmetic results obtained were evaluated according to the volume, form, and symmetry achieved using a linear numeric analogical score. This evaluation had an averaged value of 2.79 Ϯ 0.8 in our scale from poor (0) to excellent result (4). The overall rate of complications was 15.7% of the cases, with seroma being the most frequent. In conclusion, this preliminary study demonstrates that immediate breast reconstruction with a direct, extra projection, anatomic prosthesis is a good alternative. Nevertheless, more long-term studies with a higher number of patients and using an SF-36 for patient satisfaction are needed to confirm these results