Microglia Response During Parkinson’s Disease: Alpha-Synuclein Intervention

The discovery of the central role played by the protein alpha-synuclein in Parkinson’s disease and other Lewy body brain disorders has had a great relevance in the understanding of the degenerative process occurring in these diseases. In addition, during the last two decades, the evidence suggesting an immune response in Parkinson’s disease patients have multiplied. The role of the immune system in the disease is supported by data from genetic studies and patients, as well as from laboratory animal models and cell cultures. In the immune response, the microglia, the immune cell of the brain, will have a determinant role. Interestingly, alpha-synuclein is suggested to have a central function not only in the neuronal events occurring in Parkinson’s disease, but also in the immune response during the disease. Numerous studies have shown that alpha-synuclein can act directly on immune cells, such as microglia in brain, initiating a sterile response that will have consequences for the neuronal health and that could also translate in a peripheral immune response. In parallel, microglia should also act clearing alpha-synuclein thus avoiding an overabundance of the protein, which is crucial to the disease progression. Therefore, the microglia response in each moment will have significant consequences for the neuronal fate. Here we will review the literature addressing the microglia response in Parkinson’s disease with an especial focus on the protein alpha-synuclein. We will also reflect upon the limitations of the studies carried so far and in the therapeutic possibilities opened based on these recent findings

The 3¿UTR of the West Nile Virus genomic RNA is a potential antiviral target site

The protein coding-information only represents a small portion of the genetic load of a living organism. It is well established that essential information codes functional RNAs, called non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs), which play key roles in the essential biological processes of the cell life. Many mRNAs also act as truly ncRNAs besides being translated into proteins. Therefore, the repertoire of potential drug targets to fight diseases goes beyond proteins. Viral RNA genomes encode all the information for completion of the infectious cycle. They are multifunctional molecules, which act as replication templates and mRNAs. Further, defined structural domains in viral RNA genomes play key functions for the completion of the viral cycle and the regulation of the essential processes; these domains have also been involved in virulence. The West Nile Virus (WNV) genome consists in a single stranded RNA molecule, which contains a single ORF flanked by untranslated regions (UTRs). The 3¿UTR is required for efficient translation, but the mechanisms involved in this regulation are still obscure. In this work, we show evidences that the WNV-3¿UTR specifically recruits the 40S ribosomal subunit. We have localized two potential binding sites of the 40S. Binding of the 40S induced conformational changes in highly conserved structural domains within the WNV-3¿UTR. Functional assays support the hypothesis that recruitment of the 40S particle by the 3¿UTR is required for an efficient translation. Interfering with the 40S recruitment, by targeting the WNV-3¿UTR binding sites, constitutes a potential antiviral strategy by the development of new therapeutic compounds

Eubiotic effect of buckwheat D-fagomine in healthy rats

Diversity and balance of gut microorganisms is fundamental for health throughout life. The aim of this study is to explore the possible eubiotic effect of the buckwheat iminosugar D-fagomine (0.096% w/w in standard feed) in growing healthy Wistar Kyoto rats. Feed and energy intake, residual energy in feces, and body weight gain were independent of D-fagomine supplementation throughout the intervention (24 weeks). The populations of significant bacterial subgroups and species were determined in fecal and cecal DNA by quantitative real-time PCR. D-Fagomine increased the Bacteroidetes:Firmicutes ratio and partially counteracted the loss of Lactobacilliales and Bifidobacteriales over time. The supplementation reduced the levels of excreted short- chain fatty acids (SCFAs) as determined by gas chromatography. This paper provides preliminary evidence that D-fagomine has the capacity to promote microbial functional diversity by increasing the Bacteroidetes:Firmicutes ratio and to mitigate the age-related reduction in populations of the putatively beneficial Lactobacilliales and Bifidobacteriales

Fate of d‑fagomine after oral administration to rats

D-Fagomine is an iminosugar found in buckwheat that is capable of inhibiting the adhesion of potentially pathogenic bacteria to epithelial mucosa and of reducing postprandial blood glucose concentration. This paper evaluates the excretion and metabolism of orally administered D-fagomine in rats and compares outcomes with the fate of 1-deoxynojirimycin. D-Fagomine and 1- deoxynojirimycin show similar absorption and excretion kinetics. D-Fagomine is partly absorbed (41-84%, dose 2 mg/kg body weight) and excreted in urine within 8 h while non-absorbed fraction is cleared in feces within 24 h. D-Fagomine is partially methylated (about 10% in urine and 3% in feces). The concentration of D-fagomine in urine from 1 to 6 h after administration is higher than 10 mg/L, the concentration that inhibits adhesion of Escherichia coli. Orally administered D-fagomine is partially absorbed and then rapidly excreted in urine were it reaches a concentration that may be protective against urinary tract infections

Fotografía y representación de la escuela privada madrileña en el franquismo. Entre la propaganda y el relato

The use of photographs as sources for the History of Education is one of the new topics of contemporary historiography that is assuming a greater role today. This paper will focus on the value of images as a historical source for the purpose of studying certain representative elements of some private schools Madrid during Franco’s regime. The research revolves around the most characteristic representations of these schools, highlighting the spaces, religiousness, education and activities as elements of identity and distinction: museums, school exhibitions, sports, associations and artistic activities. The main sources of documentation used come from the photographic archive in the collection of teacher-training reports preserved in the fund Anselmo Romero Marin in the Museum of History of Education «Manuel Bartolome Cossio» of the Complutense University.El uso de las fotografías como fuentes para la Historia de la Educación forma parte de una de las tendencias de la historiografía contemporánea que ha adquirido un mayor protagonismo en la actualidad. Este artículo se va a centrar en el valor de las imágenes como fuente histórica para conocer algunos elementos representativos de algunos centros escolares privados madrileños durante el periodo franquista. El análisis de la investigación ha girado en torno a las representaciones más características de estos centros, destacando los espacios, la religiosidad, la enseñanza y las actividades como elementos de identidad y distinción: museos, exposiciones escolares, deportes, asociaciones y actividades artísticas. La principal fuente de documentación ha sido el archivo fotográfico perteneciente a la colección de memorias de prácticas conservadas en el Fondo Anselmo Romero Marín del Museo de Historia de la Educación «Manuel Bartolomé Cossío» de la Universidad Complutense

Edible microalgae and their bioactive compounds in the prevention and treatment of metabolic alterations

Marine and freshwater algae and their products are in growing demand worldwide because of their nutritional and functional properties. Microalgae (unicellular algae) are probably one of the foods of the future for nutritional and environmental reasons. They are sources of high-quality protein and bioactive molecules with potential application against the modern epidemics of obesity and diabetes while they may decisively contribute to a sustainable world through carbon dioxide fixation and minimization of agricultural land use. This paper reviews the current knowledge related to the effect of edible microalgae on the metabolic alterations known as metabolic syndrome (MS). The microalgae include Chlorella, Spirulina (Arthrospira spp.) and Tetraselmis spp., as well as Isochrysis spp. and Nannochloropsis spp. as candidates for use in humans. Chlorella has shown antioxidant, antidiabetic, immunomodulatory, antihypertensive, and antihyperlipidemic effects in humans and other mammals. The components of the microalgae reviewed is suggesting they may be effective against MS at two levels, namely the early stages in the development of insulin resistance (IR) and the later stages when pancreatic -cell function is already compromised. The active components could act at both levels because of their biochemical properties as antioxidant scavengers and anti-inflammatory lipid mediators. Their action should be attributed to the presence of carotenoids and -3 PUFAs (EPA/DHA), prebiotic polysac-charides, phenolics, anti-hypertensive peptides, several pigments such as phycobilins and phycocyanin, and some vitamins such as folate. As a source of high-quality protein, including an array of bioactive molecules with potential action against the modern epidemics of obesity and diabetes, microalgae are proposed as excellent food for the future. Moreover, their incorporation to human diet would decisively contribute to a more sustainable world because of their role in carbon dioxide fixation and reducing the use of land for agricultural purposes

La renovación pedagógica de la Institución Teresiana en el franquismo

La enseñanza personalizada es una corriente pedagógica que se originó en Francia durante el contexto post bélico y se extendió a los países más cercanos como Italia y España. Surgió como una respuesta a la crisis de la identidad del sujeto que provocaron los totalitarismos europeos. La recepción y apropiación de este sistema de enseñanza en España es introducido por la Institución Teresiana, que lo integra e implementa en dos centros escolares madrileños: un centro público, el Grupo Escolar Padre Poveda, situado en un barrio de clase obrera, y una institución privada, el Instituto Veritas, ubicado en una zona residencial de clase alta (Somosaguas). Este artículo trata de reconstruir cómo se aplicó un modelo educativo innovador, inspirado en el jesuita francés Pierre Faure, generado en contextos democráticos y que fue introducido en España por las teresianas durante el régimen franquista. La metodología utilizada es el método histórico-educativo, que nos ha permitido acudir a la búsqueda y revisión de diversas fuentes manuscritas, bibliográficas, hemerográficas, iconográficas y orales. La riqueza documental ha hecho posible una triangulación de todas las fuentes para proceder al análisis crítico de la documentación manejada. Los resultados logrados nos han permitido comprobar que el modelo pedagógico introducido en la década de los sesenta en Madrid por la Institución Teresiana fue muy innovador, a pesar de que entraba en colisión con la política educativa de la dictadura franquista, sus prácticas y símbolos. Basado en el personalismo cristiano, incorporaba algunas metodologías novedosas introducidas por el Movimiento de la Escuela Nueva (Freinet, Montessori, Plan Dalton, Decroly, etc.)

Physiological effects of intermittent passive exposure to hypobaric hypoxia and cold in rats

The benefits of intermittent hypobaric hypoxia (IHH) exposure for the health and its potential use as a training tool are well-documented. However, since hypobaric hypoxia and cold are environmental factors always strongly associated in the biosphere, additive or synergistic adaptations could have evolved in animals' genomes. For that reason, the aim of the present study was to investigate body composition, hematological and muscle morphofunctional responses to simultaneous intermittent exposure to hypoxia and cold. Adult male rats were randomly divided into 4 groups: 1) Control, maintained in normoxia at 25°C (CTRL); 2) IHH exposed 4h/day at 4,500 m (HYPO); 3) Intermittent cold exposed 4h/day at 4°C (COLD); and 4) Simultaneously cold and hypoxia exposed (COHY). At the end of 9 and 21 days of exposure, blood was withdrawn and gastrocnemius and tibialis anterior muscles, perigonadal and brown adipose tissue, diaphragm and heart were excised. Gastrocnemius transversal sections were stained for myofibrillar ATPase and succinate dehydrogenase for fibre typing; and for endothelial ATPase to assess capillarisation. HIF 1α, VEGF and GLUT1 from gastrocnemius samples were semi-quantified by Western blotting. COLD and HYPO underwent physiological adjustments such as higher brown adipose tissue weight and increase in blood-related oxygen transport parameters, while avoiding some negative effects of the chronic exposure to cold and hypoxia, such as body weight and muscle mass loss. COHY presented an additive erythropoietic response and was prevented from right ventricle hypertrophy. Intermittent cold exposure induced muscle angiogenesis and IHH seems to indicate better muscle oxygenation through fibre area reduction

Effect of cocoa-enriched diets on lymphocytes involved in adjuvant arthritis in rats

Cocoa and its flavonoids have potential anti-inflammatory properties in vitro and in acute inflammation models in vivo. The aim of the present study was to ascertain the effects of two cocoa-enriched diets on adjuvant arthritis (AA) in rats, considering not only clinical and biochemical inflammatory indices, but also antibody response and lymphocyte composition. Female Wistar rats were fed with a 5 or 10 % cocoa-enriched diet beginning 2 weeks before arthritis induction and until the end of the study. AA was induced by an intradermal injection of heat-killed Mycobacterium butyricum suspension. The hind-paw swelling (plethysmometry), serum anti-mycobacterial antibody concentration (ELISA), blood and inguinal lymph node lymphocyte subset percentage (flow cytometry), and IL-2, interferon γ and PGE2 released from splenocytes (ELISA) were assessed. Although the cocoa diets had no significant effect on hind-paw swelling, a tendency to reduce it was observed at the end of the study. Cocoa-enriched diets were able to decrease the serum anti-mycobacterial antibody concentration and the splenocyte PGE2 production, as well as the proportion of T-helper (Th) lymphocytes in blood and regional lymph nodes, which probably includes cells responsible for the arthritic process. The cocoa diets prevented a decrease in the proportion of regulatory T-cells in blood and a disequilibrium between inguinal lymph node natural killer (NK) CD8+ and NK CD8− subsets. In conclusion, the cocoa-enriched diets during AA were not able to significantly decrease joint inflammation but modified Th-cell proportions and prevented specific antibody synthesis