Cocaína durante a gestação e comportamento materno pós-parto em ratos

El abuso materno de cocaína durante la gestación se relaciona con negligencia, maltrato y perturbación del vínculo madre-hijo, lo que incide directamente en el desarrollo de los infantes; por esto, las diversas problemáticas neuroconductuales de los hijos de padres drogodependientes podrían atribuirse a la inadecuada conducta materna o a la exposición prenatal a la droga. El objetivo de esta investigación fue analizar los efectos de la administración crónica de cocaína durante la gestación en la conducta materna postparto de ratones. Para esto se asignaron aleatoriamente 21 ratones CD1 hembras gestantes para la administración de solución salina y cocaína (25 mg/kg/día y 50 mg/kg/día), desde el octavo hasta el día veintiuno de gestación. Después del parto, durante 20 días (15 minutos diarios), se registró individualmente la frecuencia de presentación de 16 índices de conducta materna mediante un etograma. Se encontró que la cocaína afectó levemente la frecuencia de la conducta materna, aunque posiblemente afecte otros parámetros como la latencia, duración y secuencia de esta conducta.Maternal cocaine abuse during pregnancy is associated to neglect, abuse, and mother-child bond disruption, which directly affects infant development; therefore, various neurobehavioral problems of children of drug-dependent parents could be attributed to inadequate maternal behavior or prenatal exposure to drugs. Thus, the aim of this research was to analyze the effects of chronic cocaine administration during pregnancy on postpartum maternal behavior. To do this, 21 CD1 pregnant female mice were randomly assigned for administration of saline solution and cocaine (25 mg/kg/day and 50 mg/kg/day), from day 8 to 21 of gestation. After delivery, for 15 minutes a day, during 20 days, the frequency of occurrence of 16 behavioral patterns of maternal behavior was individually recorded, using an ethogram. Cocaine slightly affected maternal behavior frequency, although it may have affected other parameters, such as latency, duration, and sequence of this behavior.O abuso materno de cocaína durante a gestação está relacionado com negligência, maltrato, perturbação do vínculo mãe-filho, o que incide diretamente no desenvolvimento das crianças. Por isso, as diversas problemáticas neurocomportamentais dos filhos de pais drogodependentes poderiam ser atribuídas ao inadequado comportamento materno ou à exposição prénatal à droga. O objetivo desta pesquisa foi analisar os efeitos da administração crônica de cocaína durante a gestação no comportamento materno pós-parto de ratos. Para isso, designaram-se aleatoriamente 21 ratos CD1 fêmeas gestantes para a administração de solução salina e cocaína (25 mg/kg/dia e 50 mg/kg/dia), desde o oitavo até o 21° dia de gestação. Após o parto, durante 20 dias (15 minutos diários), registrou-se individualmente a frequência de apresentação de 16 índices de comportamento materno mediante um etograma. Constatou-se que a cocaína afetou levemente a frequência do comportamento materno, embora possivelmente afete outros parâmetros como latência, duração e sequência desse comportamento

Quantum Zeno and anti-Zeno effects in surface diffusion of interacting adsorbates

Surface diffusion of interacting adsorbates is here analyzed within the context of two fundamental phenomena of quantum dynamics, namely the quantum Zeno effect and the anti-Zeno effect. The physical implications of these effects are introduced here in a rather simple and general manner within the framework of non-selective measurements and for two (surface) temperature regimes: high and very low (including zero temperature). The quantum intermediate scattering function describing the adsorbate diffusion process is then evaluated for flat surfaces, since it is fully analytical in this case. Finally, a generalization to corrugated surfaces is also discussed. In this regard, it is found that, considering a Markovian framework and high surface temperatures, the anti-Zeno effect has already been observed, though not recognized as such.Comment: 17 pages, 1 figur

Transporte de aerosoles de origen desértico a diferente escala espacio-temporal. Relación con perturbaciones tropicales

Ponencia presentada en: XXX Jornadas Científicas de la AME y el IX Encuentro Hispano Luso de Meteorología celebrado en Zaragoza, del 5 al 7 de mayo de 2008

Evaluación del efecto de tres condiciones de cultivo in vitro en la calidad de plántulas de caña de azúcar propagadas en Biorreactores de Inmersión Temporal

Structural and functional deficiencies that affect survival during acclimatization are present in micropropagated plants. The current study was carried out to determine the effect of three in vitro culture conditions (autotrophic, mixotrophic and moderate mixotrophic) on the morph-physiological and biochemical behavior of plantlets of sugar cane propagated in Temporary Immersion Bioreactors (BIT). Morphological and physiological indicators and key enzymes of carbon metabolism were evaluated. Plantlets that were subjected to autotrophic conditions did not survive due to the stress caused by the absence of sucrose in the culture medium. For this reason it could not be evaluated. The best results were obtained for the condition of moderate mixotrofical. In this case, the morphological variables, height of the plants, fresh weight and dry weight, responded positively. It was minimum the answer of the net photosynthesis in vitro and increased it notably from the second week of acclimatization. Plants with a mixotrophic growth showed very high values of transpiration and estomatic conductance at the beginning of the elongation and during the first week of acclimatization. This group of plants took a longer time than the rest in achieving the control of the loss of water and in reaching a functional stability. Plants that showed a bigger activity of pyruvate kinase were those coming from mixotrophic conditions. An inverse behavior was observed in the phosphoenolpyruvate carboxylase. The activities of syntase sucruse and the neutral invertase were superior for the mixotrofic conditions.Key words: autotrofic, enzymes, mixotrofic, photosynthesisLas plantas micropropagadas poseen deficiencias estructurales y funcionales que comprometen su supervivencia durante la aclimatización. El objetivo de este trabajo fue determinar el efecto de tres condiciones de cultivo in vitro (autotrófica, mixotrófica y de mixotrofismo moderado) en el comportamiento morfo-fisiológico y bioquímico de plántulas de caña de azúcar propagadas en Biorreactores de Inmersión Temporal (BIT). Se evaluaron indicadores morfológicos, fisiológicos y enzimas clave del metabolismo del carbono. Las plántulas que se sometieron a condiciones autotróficas no lograron sobrevivir debido al estrés propiciado por la ausencia de sacarosa en el medio de cultivo. Por esta razón no pudieron ser evaluadas. Los mejores resultados se obtuvieron para la condición de mixotrofismo moderado. En este caso, las variables morfológicas altura de las plantas, masas fresca y seca respondieron positivamente. La respuesta de la fotosíntesis neta fue muy baja in vitro y aumentó notablemente a partir de la segunda semana de aclimatización. Para las plántulas con un desarrollo mixotrófico se observaron valores de transpiración y conductancia estomática muy elevados al inicio de la elongación y durante la primera semana de aclimatización. Este grupo de plántulas se tardó más que el resto en lograr el control de la pérdida de agua y en alcanzar una estabilidad funcional. Las plantas que mostraron una mayor actividad de la Piruvato Quinasa fueron provenientes de condiciones mixotróficas. La Fosfoenol Piruvato Carboxilasa tuvo un comportamiento totalmente inverso. Las actividades de la Sacarosa Sintasa y la Invertasa Neutra, al igual que la Piruvato Quinasa, fueron superiores para las condiciones mixotróficas.Palabras clave: autotrofismo, enzimas, fotosíntesis, mixotrofism

First-line treatment in lymphomatoid papulosis: a retrospective multicentre study

Background: Data regarding response to treatment in lymphomatoid papulosis (LyP) are scarce. Aim: To assess the daily clinical practice approach to LyP and the response to first-line treatments. Methods: This was a retrospective study enrolling 252 patients with LyP. Results: Topical steroids, methotrexate and phototherapy were the most common first-line treatments, prescribed for 35%, 20% and 14% of the patients, respectively. Complete response (CR) was achieved in 48% of treated patients. Eczematous lesions significantly increased relative risk (RR) of not achieving CR (RR = 1.76; 95% CI 1.16-2.11). Overall median time to CR was 10 months (95% CI 6-13 months), and 78% of complete responders showed cutaneous relapse; both results were similar for all treatment groups (P > 0.05). Overall estimated median disease-free survival (DFS) was 11 months (95% CI 9-13 months) but DFS for patients treated with phototherapy was 23 months (95% CI 10-36 months; P < 0.03). Having the Type A LyP variant (RR = 2.04; 95% CI 0.96-4.30) and receiving a first-line treatment other than phototherapy (RR = 5.33; 95% CI 0.84-33.89) were significantly associated with cutaneous early relapse. Of the 252 patients, 31 (13%) had associated mycosis fungoides unrelated to therapeutic approach, type of LyP or T-cell receptor clonality. Conclusions: Current epidemiological, clinical and pathological data support previous results. Topical steroids, phototherapy and methotrexate are the most frequently prescribed first-line treatments. Although CR and cutaneous relapse rates do not differ between them, phototherapy achieves a longer DFS. Presence of Type A LyP and use of topical steroid or methotrexate were associated with an increased risk of early relapse