Endocannabinoid System and Synaptic Plasticity: Implications for Emotional Responses

The endocannabinoid system has been involved in the regulation of anxiety, and proposed as an inhibitory modulator of neuronal, behavioral and adrenocortical responses to stressful stimuli. Brain regions such as the amygdala, hippocampus and cortex, which are directly involved in the regulation of emotional behavior, contain high densities of cannabinoid CB1 receptors. Mutant mice lacking CB1 receptors show anxiogenic and depressive-like behaviors as well as an altered hypothalamus pituitary adrenal axis activity, whereas enhancement of endocannabinoid signaling produces anxiolytic and antidepressant-like effects. Genetic and pharmacological approaches also support an involvement of endocannabinoids in extinction of aversive memories. Thus, the endocannabinoid system appears to play a pivotal role in the regulation of emotional states. Endocannabinoids have emerged as mediators of short- and long-term synaptic plasticity in diverse brain structures. Despite the fact that most of the studies on this field have been performed using in vitro models, endocannabinoid-mediated plasticity might be considered as a plausible candidate underlying some of the diverse physiological functions of the endogenous cannabinoid system, including developmental, affective and cognitive processes. In this paper, we will focus on the functional relevance of endocannabinoid-mediated plasticity within the framework of emotional responses. Alterations of the endocannabinoid system may constitute an important factor in the aetiology of certain neuropsychiatric disorders, and, in turn, enhancers of endocannabinoid signaling could represent a potential therapeutical tool in the treatment of both anxiety and depressive symptoms

Long-term effects of intermittent adolescent alcohol exposure in male and female rats

Alcohol is a serious public health concern that has a differential impact on individuals depending upon age and sex. Patterns of alcohol consumption have recently changed: heavy episodic drinking—known as binge-drinking—has become most popular among the youth. Herein, we aimed to investigate the consequences of intermittent adolescent alcohol consumption in male and female animals. Thus, Wistar rats were given free access to ethanol (20% in drinking water) or tap water for 2-h sessions during 3 days, and for an additional 4-h session on the 4th day; every week during adolescence, from postnatal day (pnd) 28–52. During this period, animals consumed a moderate amount of alcohol despite blood ethanol concentration (BEC) did not achieve binge-drinking levels. No withdrawal signs were observed: no changes were observed regarding anxiety-like responses in the elevated plus-maze or plasma corticosterone levels (pnd 53–54). In the novel object recognition (NOR) test (pnd 63), a significant deficit in recognition memory was observed in both male and female rats. Western Blot analyses resulted in an increase in the expression of synaptophysin in the frontal cortex (FC) of male and female animals, together with a decrease in the expression of the CB2R in the same brain region. In addition, adolescent alcohol induced, exclusively among females, a decrease in several markers of dopaminergic and serotonergic neurotransmission, in which epigenetic mechanisms, i.e., histone acetylation, might be involved. Taken together, further research is still needed to specifically correlate sex-specific brain and behavioral consequences of adolescent alcohol exposure

Estudio de la efectividad de blanqueo en el tejido de algodón mediante el sistema tradicional coreano y dos sistemas químicos actuales

El tratamiento de blanqueo, es utilizado en el ámbito de la conservación de tejidos, solo en casos muy específicos debido a que estos tratamientos tradicionalmente han sido muy agresivos. En la actualidad se están investigando diferentes sistemas y productos para llegar a desarrollar tratamientos más respetuosos que puedan utilizarse en la intervención de restauración con una garantía suficiente para este tipo de obras. En el presente trabajo se estudia la efectividad y alteración que producen tres métodos de blanqueo aplicados a tejido de algodón crudo. Por un lado, el método tradicional coreano optimizado a partir de la receta utilizada en la producción de papel coreano, basada en una solución acuosa de ceniza de origen vegetal, siendo este método un tratamiento de blanqueo natural. Por otro lado, los tratamientos actuales más utilizados en la industria textil, que son los siguientes métodos químicos. En primer lugar, el hipoclorito de sodio (NaClO) considerado como un agente blanqueante sustitutivo de los agentes naturales; y en segundo lugar, un agente de blanqueo oxidativo como es el peróxido de hidrógeno (H2O2 ). En esta investigación se compara la efectividad de blanqueo sobre un tejido 100% algodón crudo. Se optimizó la receta tradicional del sistema natural coreano, consistente en una solución acuosa obtenida con ceniza de paja de arroz. Los sistemas químicos están basados en el empleo de hipoclorito de sodio, y peróxido de hidrógeno, que representa el método oxidativo más utilizado en el campo de la restauración textil. Tras evaluar los resultados obtenidos mediante medidas colorimétricas y FTIR, se ha podido constatar que los métodos químicos producen tonos más fríos y luminosos que el método tradicional coreano, aunque con largos tiempos de aplicación generan degradación de la fibra celulósica. También, se ha observado que debido a la coloración rojiza-marrón de la propia solución de ceniza, el método de blanqueo coreano proporciona una ligera alteración cromática en el tejido de algodón tratado, sin embargo, cabe resaltar que es capaz de eliminar impurezas orgánicas sin degradar la fibra del tejidoVicente Palomino, S.; Namgoung, S.; Yusa Marco, DJ.; Montesinos Ferrandis, EM.; Fuster López, L. (2011). Estudio de la efectividad de blanqueo en el tejido de algodón mediante el sistema tradicional coreano y dos sistemas químicos actuales. Arché. (6):399-404. http://hdl.handle.net/10251/34466399404

La fisiología: base de las ciencias médicas y biológicas

La Fisiología es una disciplina científica básica, de carácter integrador, cuyo objetivo último es entender el funcionamiento de los organismos vivos a todos sus niveles, desde el molecular hasta el sistémico-orgánico, en su estado de salud y considerando su interacción con el medio ambiente. Con esta finalidad, la Fisiología se constituye como una disciplina básica en las áreas de conocimiento de ciencias y ciencias de la salud y puede considerarse como la base de la patología y de la farmacología. En España, los profesionales de la Fisiología (investigadores y docentes) se reúnen en la Sociedad Española de Ciencias Fisiológicas (SECF). La SECF tiene como misión promover la Fisiología como ciencia y actividad profesional a todos los niveles, dando a conocer su importancia para el desarrollo del conocimiento y, en definitiva, su valor socia

Signature of microRNA expression during osteogenic differentiation of bone marrow MSCs reveals a putative role of miR-335-5p in osteoarthritis

Background: The aim of this study was to evaluate, the existence of a signature of differentially expressed microRNAs (miRNAs) during osteogenic differentiation of bone marrow MSCs from OA and healthy donors and to describe their possible implication in joint regeneration through modulation of molecular mechanisms involved in homeostatic control in OA pathophysiology. Methods: Following phenotypic assessment of BM-MSCs obtained from OA diagnosed patients (n = 10) and non-OA (n = 10), total small RNA was isolated after osteogenic induction for 1, 10 and 21 days, miRNA profiles were generated using a commercial expression array of 754 well-characterized miRNAs. MiRNAs, with consistent differential expression were selected for further validation by quantitative reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) analysis. Results: A total of 246 miRNAs were differentially expressed (fold change >=+/- 2, P <= 0.05) between OA and non-OA BM-MSC samples; these miRNAs showed variable interactions depending on the cell and differentiation status. Two miRNAs, hsa-miR-210 and hsa-miR-335-5p out of 21 used for validation showed a significant downregulated expression during induced osteogenesis. In particular hsa-miR-335-5p, a critical regulator in bone homeostasis, was further studied. hsa-miR-335-5p downregulation in OA-MSCs, as well as their host coding gene, MEST, were also assessed. Conclusions: To our knowledge, this study represents the most comprehensive assessment to date of miRNA expression profiling in BM-MSCs from OA patients and their role during osteogenic differentiation. We describe the existence of a correlation between miR-335-5p expression and OA indicating the putative role of this miRNA in OA features. These findings, may contribute to our understanding of the molecular mechanisms involved in MSCs mediated homeostatic control in OA pathophysiology that could be applicable in future therapeutic approaches.This work was supported in part by institutional grants from the Instituto de Salud Carlos III CP10/00346 and PI10/00178 and the Spanish society of orthopaedics surgery and traumatology (SECOT).; J.R. Lamas is supported by the Miguel Servet program from ISCIII-Fondo Investigacion Sanitaria-Spain (CP10/00346).S

Removing and reimplanting deep brain stimulation therapy devices in resistant OCD (when the patient does not respond): case report

Background: Deep brain stimulation (DBS) is emerging as a promising tool in the treatment of refractory obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) but the search for the best target still continues. This issue is especially relevant when particularly resistant profiles are observed in some patients, which have been ascribed to individual responses to DBS according to differential patterns of connectivity. As patients have been implanted, new dilemmas have emerged, such as what to do when the patient does not respond to surgery. Case presentation: Here we describe a 22-year-old male with extremely severe OCD who did not respond to treatment with DBS in the nucleus accumbens, but who did respond after explanting and reimplanting leads targeting the ventral capsule-ventral striatum region. Information regarding the position of the electrodes for both surgeries is provided and possible brain structures affected during stimulation are reviewed. To our knowledge this case is the first in the literature reporting the removal and reimplantation of DBS leads for therapeutical benefits in a patient affected by a mental disorder. Conclusion: The capability for explantation and reimplantation of leads should be considered as part of the DBS therapy reversibility profile in resistant mental disorders, as it allows application in cases of non-response to the first surgery

Estudio de la resistencia a compresión de morteros fabricados con conglomerante compuesto de polvo de vidrio

Esta investigación evalúa la resistencia de morteros realizados con mezclas de diferentes composiciones, donde una parte del conglomerante tradicional es sustituido por el polvo de vidrio para analizar de una forma sencilla las características mecánicas de las muestras reactivas obtenidas de esta forma. Los ensayos se han realizado con morteros. Para facilitar las reacciones se añaden a las mezclas objeto del análisis diferentes reactivos: se mezcla el polvo de vidrio con reactivos básicos, lo que permite la obtención de condiciones de pH superiores a 12, en las que el vidrio sodo-cálcico es muy reactivo. Analizadas las diferentes probetas de morteros, se observa que el polvo de vidrio, así como su granulometría, juegan un importante papel en el aumento de las resistencias mecánicas a compresión de las mezclas

Software matemático aplicado a la docencia

La publicación del presente manual forma parte de las actividades desarrolladas durante el curso 2009/10 por el grupo de innovación docente (GID) ʺSoftware Matemático Aplicado a la Docencia (SMAD)ʺ financiado en convocatoria competitiva por el Vicerrectorado de Calidad y Formación Continua de la Universidad de Extremadura y coordinado por D. Ignacio Ojeda Martínez de Castilla.El objetivo de este manual es presentar los tutoriales de los programas Octave/MATLAB (cálculo científico y visualización de datos), R (cálculo estadístico y generación de gráficos) y MAXIMA (cálculo simbólico y numérico) y prácticas, tanto en los ficheros pdf como en los ficheros originales TEX, y ponerlas a disposición de la comunidad universitaria, para que aquellos docentes universitarios que puedan necesitarlos tengan acceso a ellas y puedan adaptarlas a sus necesidades.The objective of this manual is to introduce you to the tutorials of the programs Octave/MATLAB (scientific computing and visualization of data), R (statistical calculus and generation of graphics) and MAXIMA (symbolic computation and numerical calculation) and practice in both pdf files as in the original TEX files, and make them available to the university community, so that those academics who may need it have access to them and can adapt it to their needs

Corrigendum: Melatonin and Nitrones As Potential Therapeutic Agents for Stroke

Stroke is a disease of aging affecting millions of people worldwide, and recombinant tissue-type plasminogen activator (r-tPA) is the only treatment approved. However, r-tPA has a low therapeutic window and secondary effects which limit its beneficial outcome, urging thus the search for new more efficient therapies. Among them, neuroprotection based on melatonin or nitrones, as free radical traps, have arisen as drug candidates due to their strong antioxidant power. In this Perspective article, an update on the specific results of the melatonin and several new nitrones are presented