Involvement of Prostaglandins in the Pathophysiology of Endometriosis

Prostaglandins are bioactive lipids that possess multiple and diverse functions. In reproductive biology, they are involved in the regulation of ovulation, in endometrial physiology and in the process of menstruation. Furthermore, cyclooxygenases (COX) levels, which are key enzymes for the synthesis of prostaglandins, have been found to be elevated in pathologic, tumoral and inflammatory processes. In endometriosis, prostaglandins are not only implicated in pain, but they are also critical for the establishment as well as for the development of the disease. The high levels of prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) found in the peritoneal fluid from patients with endometriosis, not only favor cellular proliferation by stimulating the activity of aromatase with the consequent estrogen production, but also these estrogens are responsible for enhancing PGE2 synthesis by stimulating COX-2 activity. PGE2 also stimulates angiogenesis and is implicated in the peritoneal immunologic alterations observed in endometriosis. COX-2 inhibitors were and are used in a vast number of preclinical and clinical studies in different types of cancer. In studies conducted both in vitro and in vivo, we have demonstrated that the selective COX-2 inhibitor, celecoxib, was efficient in inhibiting experimental endometriosis. It is important to search for new horizons in endometriosis treatment. Prostaglandins and the enzymes in charge of their synthesis, COXs, represent an attractive target for developing new therapies that attack directly the molecules involved in the causes of this pathology.Fil: Meresman, Gabriela Fabiana. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Instituto de Biología y Medicina Experimental. Fundación de Instituto de Biología y Medicina Experimental. Instituto de Biología y Medicina Experimental; ArgentinaFil: Olivares, Carla Noemi. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Instituto de Biología y Medicina Experimental. Fundación de Instituto de Biología y Medicina Experimental. Instituto de Biología y Medicina Experimental; Argentin

Characterization of Product Quality Attributes and Thermal Properties of Potato Chips during Vacuum Frying

Vacuum frying is an alternative processing method for producing high quality snacks with the advantages of lower processing temperature, enhanced organoleptic quality, and reduced acrylamide content. Vacuum frying (1.33 kPa), with the aid of a deoiling mechanism, was used to produce low-fat potato chips. The kinetics of oil absorption and oil distribution in the potato chips (total, internal, and surface oil content) was studied so that effectiveness of the de-oiling system could be established. An analysis of product quality attributes (PQA) such as moisture content, oil content, microstructure, diameter shrinkage, and thickness expansion, as well as, bulk density, true density, and porosity of chips fried at different temperatures (120, 130, and 140 degrees C) was performed in order to evaluate the effect of process temperature on the product. Moreover, heat capacity of the chips and convective heat transfer coefficient at the oil-chip interface were determined for the same temperature range. The final oil content of the potato chips was 0.072±0.004, 0.062±0.003, and 0.059±0.003 g/g solid for frying temperatures of 120, 130, and 140 degrees C, respectively. These values are lower (80-85 percent less) than those found in traditionally-fried potato chip which indicates that the de-oiling mechanism is crucial in vacuum frying processing. A significant difference (P<0.05) was observed in oil content and oil distribution within temperatures. It was found that the rate of change in PQAs is greatly affected by temperature; however, the final values of moisture content, bulk density, true density, porosity, diameter shrinkage, and thickness expansion were not affected by temperature. During vacuum frying, the specific heat of potato chips decreased with time as water decreases. The convective heat transfer coefficient changed considerably as frying progresses; moreover, it increased with temperature reaching a maximum between 2,200 and 2,650 W/m2K depending on frying temperature

Role of prostaglandins in the pathophysiology of endometriosis

Las prostaglandinas son lípidos bioactivos que poseen múltiples y variadas funciones. En biología reproductiva, participan en la regulación de la ovulación, en la fisiología endometrial y en el proceso de menstruación. Asimismo, los niveles de las ciclooxigenasas (COX), enzimas clave en la producción de prostaglandinas, se han hallado aumentados en procesos patológicos tumorales e inflamatorios. En endometriosis, las prostaglandinas no sólo están implicadas en el dolor, sino que son partícipes clave del desarrollo y establecimiento de la enfermedad. Los altos niveles de prostaglandina E2 (PGE2 ) hallados en el líquido peritoneal de las pacientes con endometriosis, no sólo favorecen la proliferación celular estimulando la actividad de aromatasa con su consiguiente producción de estrógenos, sino que, además, los mismos estrógenos aumentan la síntesis de PGE2 estimulando la actividad de las COX-2. La PGE2 además estimula la angiogénesis y está involucrada en la alteración inmunológica peritoneal que se observa en endometriosis. Los inhibidores de las COX-2 fueron y son actualmente utilizados en numerosos ensayos preclínicos y clínicos en distintos tipos de cáncer. En estudios realizados tanto in vitro como in vivo, hemos demostrado que el inhibidor selectivo de las COX-2, el celecoxib, fue eficaz para inhibir la endometriosis experimental. Resulta importante buscar nuevos horizontes en la terapéutica de la endometriosis. Las prostaglandinas y sus enzimas clave de síntesis, las ciclooxigenasas, representan hoy un blanco atractivo para desarrollar nuevas terapéuticas que ataquen directamente a las moléculas involucradas en las causas de esta patologíaFurthermore, cyclooxygenases (COX) levels, which are key enzymes for the synthesis of prostaglandins, have been found to be elevated in pathologic, tumoral and inflammatory processes. In endometriosis, prostaglandins are not only implicated in pain, but they are also critical for the establishment as well as for the development of the disease. The high levels of prostaglandin E2 (PGE2 ) found in the peritoneal fluid from patients with endometriosis, not only favor cellular proliferation by stimulating the activity of aromatase with the consequent estrogen production, but also these estrogens are responsible for enhancing PGE2 synthesis by stimulating COX-2 activity. PGE2 also stimulates angiogenesis and is implicated in the peritoneal immunologic alterations observed in endometriosis. COX-2 inhibitors were and are used in a vast number of preclinical and clinical studies in different types of cancer. In studies conducted both in vitro and in vivo, we have demonstrated that the selective COX-2 inhibitor, celecoxib, was efficient in inhibiting experimental endometriosis. It is important to search for new horizons in endometriosis treatment. Prostaglandins and the enzymes in charge of their synthesis, COXs, represent an attractive target for developing new therapies that target directly the molecules involved in the causes of this pathologyFil: Meresman, Gabriela Fabiana. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Instituto de Biología y Medicina Experimental. Fundación de Instituto de Biología y Medicina Experimental. Instituto de Biología y Medicina Experimental; ArgentinaFil: Olivares, Carla Noemi. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Instituto de Biología y Medicina Experimental. Fundación de Instituto de Biología y Medicina Experimental. Instituto de Biología y Medicina Experimental; Argentin

Effects of the dopamine depleting agent tetrabenazine in tests evaluating different components of depressive-like behavior in mice : sex-dependent response to antidepressant drugs with SERT and DAT blocker profiles

Background ; Depression is a disorder twice as common in women than in men. There are sex differences in the symptomatology and treatment response to this disorder. Impairments in behavioral activation (i.e. anergia, fatigue) are often seen in people with depression and are highly resistant to treatment. The role of mesolimbic dopamine (DA) in regulating behavioral activation has been extensively studied in male rodents, but little is known in female rodents. Objective : The present studies assessed potential sex differences in rodent paradigms used to study different components of depressive-like behavior, and in the treatment response to antidepressants with different mechanisms of action. Methods : Male and female CD1 mice received Tetrabenazine (TBZ), a VMAT-2 blocker that depletes DA and induces depressive symptoms in humans. Mice were tested on the Forced Swim Test, (FST), the Dark–Light box (DL), the elevated plus maze (EPM), Social Interaction (SI) test, and sucrose preference and consumption using the two bottles test. In addition, bupropion (a DA reuptake inhibitor) or fluoxetine (a serotonin reuptake inhibitor) were used to reverse TBZ-induced anergia. Results : In the FST, bupropion reversed TBZ effects in both sexes but fluoxetine was only effective in female mice. DA depletion did not affect other aspects of depression such as anxiety, sociability or sucrose consumption, and there was no interaction with bupropion on these parameters. In TBZ treated-females SERT-blockers may be effective at reversing anergia in aversive contexts (FST), and potentiating avoidance of anxiogenic stimuli. Conclusions : Pro-dopaminergic antidepressants seem more efficacious at improving anergia in both sexes than SERT-blockers.Funding for open access charge: CRUE-Universitat Jaume

Inteligencia emocional en el sector educativo

El presente estudio buscó determinar la situación actual del tema inteligencia emocional en el sector educativo realizando una búsqueda de información en artículos y revistas en distintas bases de datos (Science direct, Scielo, Dialnet, Redalyc) utilizando palabras claves en español e inglés: Inteligencia emocional y sector educativo. Después de una depuración con criterios de pertinencia se contó con una muestra de 22 artículos para realizar la investigación. Los resultados muestran que los docentes tienen mayor rendimiento laboral a mayor inteligencia emocional, evitando la afectación del síndrome de Burnout. Mientras que la diferenciación por sexo, tanto en docentes como estudiantes, las mujeres tienen mayor inteligencia emocional. Por otro lado, los estudiantes mejoran en el rendimiento académico al desarrollar su inteligencia emocional. Además se obtiene que los estudiantes con ideas suicidas son los que carecen de habilidades emocionales

Anastrozole and celecoxib for endometriosis treatment, good to keep them apart?

Endometriosis is a benign gynecological disease. Cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) and aromatase proteins have been shown to be overexpressed in eutopic endometrium from women suffering from this disease compared to disease-free women. Furthermore, inhibition of these molecules individually was demonstrated to have antiproliferative and proapoptotic effects both in vitro and in vivo in several models. In this study, the effect of combining celecoxib, a selective COX-2 inhibitor, and anastrozole, an aromatase inhibitor, on the implantation and growth of endometriotic like lesions in a murine model of endometriosis was evaluated. Endometriosis was surgically induced in female BALB/c mice. After 28 days of treatment with celecoxib, anastrozole, or their combination, animals were killed and lesions were counted, measured, excised, and fixed. Immunohistochemistry for proliferating cell nuclear antigen and CD34 was performed for assessment of cell proliferation and vascularization. TUNEL technique was performed for apoptosis evaluation. Celecoxib was the only treatment to significantly reduce the number of lesions established per mouse, their size and vascularized area. In addition, cell proliferation was significantly diminished and apoptosis was significantly enhanced by both individual treatments. When the therapies were combined, they reversed their effects. These results confirm that celecoxib and anastrozole separately decrease endometriotic growth, but when combined they might have antagonizing effects.Fil: Olivares, Carla Noemi. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Instituto de Biología y Medicina Experimental (i); ArgentinaFil: Bilotas, Mariela Andrea. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Instituto de Biología y Medicina Experimental (i); ArgentinaFil: Ricci, Analía Gabriela. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Instituto de Biología y Medicina Experimental (i); ArgentinaFil: Barañao, Rosa Ines. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Instituto de Biología y Medicina Experimental (i); ArgentinaFil: Meresman, Gabriela Fabiana. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Instituto de Biología y Medicina Experimental (i); Argentin

Apoptosis is increased and cell proliferation is decreased in out-of-phase endometria from infertile and recurrent abortion patients

Various endometrial abnormalities have been associated with luteal phase deficiency: a significant dyssynchrony in the maturation of the glandular epithelium and the stroma and a prevalence of out-of-phase endometrial biopsy specimens. Out-of phase endometrium is a controversial disorder related to failed implantation, infertility and early pregnancy loss. Given that the regulation of the apoptotic process in endometrium of luteal phase deficiency is still unknown, the aim of this study was to evaluate cell proliferation, apoptosis and the levels of the main effector caspase, caspase-3 in the luteal in-phase and out-of-phase endometrium.Fil: Meresman, Gabriela Fabiana. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Instituto de Biología y Medicina Experimental. Fundación de Instituto de Biología y Medicina Experimental. Instituto de Biología y Medicina Experimental; ArgentinaFil: Olivares, Carla Noemi. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Instituto de Biología y Medicina Experimental. Fundación de Instituto de Biología y Medicina Experimental. Instituto de Biología y Medicina Experimental; ArgentinaFil: Vighi, Susana. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Medicina. Hospital de Clínicas General San Martín; ArgentinaFil: Alfie, Margarita. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Medicina. Hospital de Clínicas General San Martín; ArgentinaFil: Irigoyen, Marcela. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Medicina. Hospital de Clínicas General San Martín; ArgentinaFil: Etchepareborda, Juan J.. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Medicina. Hospital de Clínicas General San Martín; Argentin

Alivios tributarios y su incidencia en la liquidez a consecuencia del Covid-19 en la empresa Bloquetera MANCH EIRL

La presente investigación tuvo como objetivo determinar la incidencia de los alivios tributarios en la liquidez a consecuencia del COVID-19 en la empresa Bloquetera MANCH EIRL, para lo cual se realizó un estudio de tipo aplicado, de enfoque cuantitativo y de diseño no experimental, utilizándose como técnica de recolección de datos al análisis documental aplicado sobre los estados de situación financiera de la entidad durante el periodo 2016 al 2020, determinando que los alivios tributarios incidieron de manera positiva en su liquidez de la empresa, esto se definió mediante la prueba de hipótesis de Pearson, se entendió que los alivios tributarios fueron muy importantes para que las empresas puedan tener liquidez a corto plazo debido a la disminución en sus ingresos por cierre de actividades. De esta manera, se concluye que los alivios tributarios fueron de suma importancia para la empresa bajo estudio, debido que, por el cese obligatorio de sus actividades para enfrentar y disminuir la propagación del virus tuvieron que cerrar y detener sus actividades, por ello, esto les ayudó a mantener las empresas con la liquidez necesaria y así no llegar a la bancarrota por falta de efectivo para así poder cumplir con sus obligaciones

The inhibitory effect of celecoxib and rosiglitazone on experimental endometriosis

To evaluate the effects of celecoxib and rosiglitazone on the implantation and growth of endometriotic-like lesions in a murine model of endometriosis.Fil: Olivares, Carla Noemi. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Instituto de Biología y Medicina Experimental. Fundación de Instituto de Biología y Medicina Experimental. Instituto de Biología y Medicina Experimental; ArgentinaFil: Ricci, Analía Gabriela. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Instituto de Biología y Medicina Experimental. Fundación de Instituto de Biología y Medicina Experimental. Instituto de Biología y Medicina Experimental; ArgentinaFil: Bilotas, Mariela Andrea. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Instituto de Biología y Medicina Experimental. Fundación de Instituto de Biología y Medicina Experimental. Instituto de Biología y Medicina Experimental; ArgentinaFil: Barañao, Rosa Ines. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Instituto de Biología y Medicina Experimental. Fundación de Instituto de Biología y Medicina Experimental. Instituto de Biología y Medicina Experimental; ArgentinaFil: Meresman, Gabriela Fabiana. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Instituto de Biología y Medicina Experimental. Fundación de Instituto de Biología y Medicina Experimental. Instituto de Biología y Medicina Experimental; Argentin

Sex and age differences in mice models of effort-based decision-making and anergia in depression : the role of dopamine, and cerebral-dopamine-neurotrophic-factor

Mesolimbic dopamine (DA) regulates vigor in motivated behavior. While previous results have mainly been performed in male rodents, the present studies compared CD1 male and female mice in effort-based decision-making tests of motivation. These tests offered choices between several reinforcers that require different levels of effort (progressive ratio/choice task and 3-choice-T-maze task). Sweet reinforcers were used in both tasks. In the operant tasks, females worked harder as the task required more effort to access a 10% sucrose solution. Although males and females did not differ in preference for 10% vs 3% solutions under free concurrent presentation, females consumed more of the 10% solution when tested alone. The operant task requires a long period of training and changes in the DA system due to age can be mediating long-term changes in effort. Thus, age and sex factors were evaluated in the T-maze task, which requires only a short training period. Both sexes and ages were equally active when habituated to the running wheel (RW), but females consumed more sweet pellets than males, especially at an older age. Both sexes had a strong preference for the RW compared to more sedentary reinforcers in the 3-choice-T-maze test, but older animals spent less time running and ate more than the young ones. The DA-depleting agent tetrabenazine reduced time running in older mice but not in adolescents. Cerebral-dopamine-neurotrophic-factor was reduced in older mice of both sexes compared to adolescent mice. These results emphasize the importance of taking into account differences in sex and age when evaluating willingness to exert effort for specific reinforcers.Funding for open access charge: CRUE-Universitat Jaume