Effects of palmitoylethanolamide in cocaine-induced behaviours

Aims. Cocaine addiction is a chronically relapsing disorder characterized by the compulsion to seek and take the drug. Previous investigations have demonstrated that several drugs of abuse, as cocaine, can alter the levels of lipid-based signalling molecules such as the N-acylethanolamines (NAEs). In addition, NAEs levels in the brain are sensitive to cocaine self-administration and extinction training. In this context, this study aimed to investigate the effect of repeated and acute palmitoylethanolamide (PEA), an endogenous NAE, on the behavioural effects of cocaine using mouse models of conditioned reward and psychomotor activation. Methods. Using male C57BL/6J mice, the ability of repeated PEA injections (1 or 10 mg/kg i.p) to modulate the development of a conditioned place preference (CPP) and behavioural sensitization (BS) induced by cocaine (20 mg/kg i.p.) was evaluated. In addition, the expression of cocaine-induced CPP and BS after acute PEA administration was also studied. Results. PEA (1 and 10 mg/kg i.p) significantly reduced the development of cocaine-induced BS, but did not modify the acquisition of cocaine-induced CPP. Furthermore, both doses of PEA were able to reduce the expression of BS and CPP. Conclusions. Altogether, these findings show that exogenous administration of PEA attenuated psychomotor activation and impaired the expression of CPP induced by cocaine. Our results may be relevant in order to understand the role of NAEs in the development and treatment of cocaine addiction.Universidad de Málaga, Campus de Excelencia Internacional Andalucía Tech. PSI2013-44901-P, AP2010-2044, FPU13/04819, CD12/0045

Purification of a fragment obtained by autolysis of a PIIIb-SVMP from Bothrops alternatus venom

Snake Venom Metalloproteinases (SVMPs) represent 43.1% of the components in Bothrops alternatus venom and play an important role in envenomation. Disintegrins and disintegrin-like domains are released by proteolytic processing of PII and PIII classes of SVMPs respectively and are potent inhibitors of integrin–ligand interaction. Baltergin is a PIIIb-SVMP isolated from this venom and able to undergo autolysis in vitro, giving rise to a stable disintegrin-like/cystein-rich fragment (baltergin-DC). Conditions of baltergin autolysis were adjusted in order to carry out the purification of baltergin-DC and its effect on cell adhesion was studied. Autolysis was maximal at 37 °C and a pH range of 7.0–8.0. Baltergin-DC amino-terminal sequence begins with IISPPVCGNELLEVGEECDCGTPENCQNECCDAATC, which shows a high degree of homology with other disintegrin-like proteins. Baltergin and purified baltergin-DC were both able to inhibit C2C12 adhesion to fetal bovine serum (FBS) coated plates, indicating that a non-catalytic process is involved, probably mediated by binding to membrane integrins. Baltergin-DC, lacking proteolytic action, becomes an attractive molecule for future studies on blocking integrin–ligand interactions.Fil: Van de Velde, Andrea Carolina. Universidad Nacional del Nordeste. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas Naturales y Agrimensura. Departamento de Bioquímica. Laboratorio de Investigación en Proteínas; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Nordeste. Instituto de Química Básica y Aplicada del Nordeste Argentino. Universidad Nacional del Nordeste. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas Naturales y Agrimensura. Instituto de Química Básica y Aplicada del Nordeste Argentino; ArgentinaFil: Gay, Claudia Carolina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Nordeste. Instituto de Química Básica y Aplicada del Nordeste Argentino. Universidad Nacional del Nordeste. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas Naturales y Agrimensura. Instituto de Química Básica y Aplicada del Nordeste Argentino; Argentina. Universidad Nacional del Nordeste. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas Naturales y Agrimensura. Departamento de Bioquímica. Laboratorio de Investigación en Proteínas; ArgentinaFil: Olivera Moritz, Milene Nobrega de. Universidade Federal de São Carlos; BrasilFil: dos Santos, Patty Karina. Universidade Federal de São Carlos; BrasilFil: Bustillo, Soledad. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Nordeste. Instituto de Química Básica y Aplicada del Nordeste Argentino. Universidad Nacional del Nordeste. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas Naturales y Agrimensura. Instituto de Química Básica y Aplicada del Nordeste Argentino; ArgentinaFil: Rodríguez, Juan Pablo. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Nordeste. Instituto de Química Básica y Aplicada del Nordeste Argentino. Universidad Nacional del Nordeste. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas Naturales y Agrimensura. Instituto de Química Básica y Aplicada del Nordeste Argentino; ArgentinaFil: Acosta, Ofelia Cristina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Nordeste; Argentina. Universidad Nacional del Nordeste. Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias; ArgentinaFil: Biscoglio, Mirtha Josefa. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Houssay. Instituto de Química y Físico-Química Biológicas "Prof. Alejandro C. Paladini". Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Farmacia y Bioquímica. Instituto de Química y Físico-Química Biológicas; ArgentinaFil: Sobreiro Selistre de Araujo, Heloisa. Universidade Federal de São Carlos; BrasilFil: Leiva, Laura Cristina Ana. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Nordeste. Instituto de Química Básica y Aplicada del Nordeste Argentino. Universidad Nacional del Nordeste. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas Naturales y Agrimensura. Instituto de Química Básica y Aplicada del Nordeste Argentino; Argentin

Assessment and training in home-baesd telerehabilitation ofr arm mobility impairment

The aging population and limited healthcare capacities call for a change in how rehabilitation care is provided. There is a need to provide more autonomous and scalable care that can be more easily transferred out of the clinic and into home environments. One important barrier to this objective is achieving reliable assessment of motor performance using low-cost technology. Toward this end, an assessment framework and methodology is proposed. The framework uses 4 sequential games to measure aspects of range of motion, range of force, control of motion, and control of force. Parameters derived from the range of motion task are used to define motion requirements in all subsequent assessment games, while parameters derived from the range of force task are used to define subsequent lifting force requirements. A 12-week usability study was conducted in which 9 patients completed the clinical testing phase and 6 therapists and 7 patients completed the questionnaire. Feedback from the questionnaire shows the system is easy to use and integrates well in the clinical setting. The most commonly requested modifications were the inclusion of more games and the incorporation of hand training. Some initial position and force data are shown for one subject and discussion on implications for mobility assessment using the developed device are provided.Peer Reviewe

PHF2 regulates homology-directed DNA repair by controlling the resection of DNA double strand breaks

Post-translational histone modifications and chromatin remodelling play a critical role controlling the integrity of the genome. Here, we identify histone lysine demethylase PHF2 as a novel regulator of the DNA damage response by regulating DNA damage-induced focus formation of 53BP1 and BRCA1, critical factors in the pathway choice for DNA double strand break repair. PHF2 knockdown leads to impaired BRCA1 focus formation and delays the resolution of 53BP1 foci. Moreover, irradiation-induced RPA phosphorylation and focus formation, as well as localization of CtIP, required for DNA end resection, to sites of DNA lesions are affected by depletion of PHF2. These results are indicative of a defective resection of double strand breaks and thereby an impaired homologous recombination upon PHF2 depletion. In accordance with these data, Rad51 focus formation and homology-directed double strand break repair is inhibited in cells depleted for PHF2. Importantly, we demonstrate that PHF2 knockdown decreases CtIP and BRCA1 protein and mRNA levels, an effect that is dependent on the demethylase activity of PHF2. Furthermore, PHF2-depleted cells display genome instability and are mildly sensitive to the inhibition of PARP. Together these results demonstrate that PHF2 promotes DNA repair by homologous recombination by controlling CtIP-dependent resection of double strand breaks.España Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovacion SAF2016-80626-REspaña, Fundación Canaria Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria de Canarias (FIISC) [PIFUN16/18

Modelo hidrodinámico de alta resolución del puerto de Algeciras – proyecto SAMPA2

El proyecto SAMPA, financiado por la Autoridad Portuaria de la Bahía de Algeciras (APBA) y Puertos del Estado entre los años 2010 y 2013, fue proyecto piloto para la integración de un modelo numérico de alta resolución en un sistema operacional en el cual el Grupo de Oceanografía Física de la Universidad de Málaga (GOFIMA) desarrolló el propio modelo hidrodinámico [Sammartino et al., 2014; Sánchez Garrido et al., 2014]. Los productos operacionales servidos por Puertos del Estado (portal PORTUS) y la APBA (sistema CMA), alimentados entre otros por las predicciones derivadas de SAMPA, representaron el primer ejemplo de difusión de un forecast océano-meteorológico accesible tanto al público generalizado como al personal técnico marítimo empleado en el puerto. El modelo numérico que estaba detrás de SAMPA, sin embargo, no tenía suficiente resolución para llegar a resolver la dinámica portuaria, y la APBA, en el 2015, financió la segunda generación del proyecto (SAMPA2), con el objetivo de cubrir ese hueco. Entre la segunda mitad del 2015 y durante todo el 2016, después de haber realizado un atento análisis de los aspectos mejorables del actual SAMPA, GOFIMA desarrolló un sistema completamente nuevo: un modelo anidado en tres dominios acoplados, que proporciona un aumento progresivo de resolución desde la escala regional hasta la portuaria. A eso se añade el valor añadido de unas herramientas de análisis de calidad de agua del Puerto de Algeciras de acuerdo con las indicaciones de la ROM5.1-13.Universidad de Málaga. Campus de Excelencia Internacional Andalucía Tech

Palmitoylethanolamide attenuates cocaine-induced behavioral sensitization and conditioned place preference in mice

Cocaine addiction is a chronically relapsing disorder characterized by compulsive drug-seeking and drug-taking behaviors. Previous studies have demonstrated that cocaine, as well as other drugs of abuse, alters the levels of lipid-based signaling molecules, such as N-acylethanolamines (NAEs). Moreover, brain levels of NAEs have shown sensitivity to cocaine self-administration and extinction training in rodents. Given this background, the aim of this study was to investigate the effects of repeated or acute administration of palmitoylethanolamide (PEA), an endogenous NAE, on psychomotor sensitization and cocaine-induced contextual conditioning. To this end, the potential ability of repeated PEA administration (1 or 10 mg/kg, i.p.) to modulate the acquisition of cocaine-induced behavioral sensitization (BS) and conditioned place preference (CPP) was assessed in male C57BL/6J mice. In addition, the expression of cocaine-induced BS and CPP following acute PEA administration were also studied. Results showed that repeated administration of both doses of PEA were able to block the acquisition of cocaine-induced BS. Furthermore, acute administration of both doses of PEA was able to abolish the expression of BS, while the highest dose also abolished the expression of cocaine-induced CPP. Taken together, these results indicate that exogenous administration of PEA attenuated psychomotor sensitization, while the effect of PEA in cocaine-induced CPP depended on whether PEA was administered repeatedly or acutely. These findings could be relevant to understand the role that NAEs play in processes underlying the development and maintenance of cocaine addiction.Fil: Zambrana Infantes, Emma. Universidad de Málaga; EspañaFil: Rosell del Valle, Cristina. Universidad de Málaga; EspañaFil: Ladrón de Guevara Miranda, David. Universidad de Málaga; EspañaFil: Galeano, Pablo. Universidad de Málaga; España. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Parque Centenario. Instituto de Investigaciones Bioquímicas de Buenos Aires. Fundación Instituto Leloir. Instituto de Investigaciones Bioquímicas de Buenos Aires; ArgentinaFil: Castilla Ortega, Estela. Hospital Regional Universitario de Málaga; EspañaFil: Rodríguez De Fonseca, Fernando. Hospital Regional Universitario de Málaga; EspañaFil: Blanco, Eduardo. Universidad de Lleida; EspañaFil: Santín, Luis Javier. Universidad de Málaga; Españ

ArmAssist Robotic System versus Matched Conventional Therapy for Poststroke Upper Limb Rehabilitation: A Randomized Clinical Trial

The ArmAssist is a simple low-cost robotic system for upper limb motor training that combines known benefits of repetitive task-oriented training, greater intensity of practice, and less dependence on therapist assistance. The aim of this preliminary study was to compare the efficacy of ArmAssist (AA) robotic training against matched conventional arm training in subacute stroke subjects with moderate-to-severe upper limb impairment. Twenty-six subjects were enrolled within 3 months of stroke and randomly assigned to the AA group or Control group (n = 13 each). Both groups were trained 5 days per week for 3 weeks. The primary outcome measure was Fugl-Meyer Assessment-Upper Extremity (FMA-UE) motor score, and the secondary outcomes were Wolf Motor Function Test-Functional Ability Scale (WMFT-FAS) and Barthel index (BI). The AA group, in comparison to the Control group, showed significantly greater increases in FMA-UE score (18.0 +/- 9.4 versus 7.5 +/- 5.5, p = 0.002) and WMFT-FAS score (14.1 +/- 7.9 versus 6.7 +/- 7.8, p = 0.025) after 3 weeks of treatment, whereas the increase in BI was not significant (21.2 +/- 24.8 versus 13.1 +/- 10.7, p = 0.292). There were no adverse events. We conclude that arm training using the AA robotic device is safe and able to reduce motor deficits more effectively than matched conventional arm training in subacute phase of stroke.Andrej M. Savic and Milica S. Isakovic are employed at Tecnalia Serbia Ltd., Belgrade, Serbia, and Cristina Rodriguez-de-Pablo and Thierry Keller are employed at TECNALIA, San Sebastian, Spain, from which they receive financial compensation. No external support was received for conducting this study

Intelligent Distributed System for Energy Efficient Control

In this work, we present an intelligent system developed for energy consumption distributed control and monitoring. It supports real time cloudbased data visualization of power profiles from different areas, so as to optimize overall power consumption. The local intelligent processing unit (LIPU) that control the different environments is described. The communication network model that allows connecting multiple LIPUs to apply power consumption policies defined by the organization is analyzed, and the unit's capabilities in relation to cloud connectivity and realtime processing are considered through a theoretical scalability study. Finally, we describe relevant implementation features in the context of “Facultad de Informática” of the “Universidad Nacional de La Plata” (Argentine).Instituto de Investigación en Informátic

IVVI: Intelligent vehicle based on visual information

Human errors are the cause of most traffic accidents, with drivers’ inattention and wrong driving decisions being the two main sources. These errors can be reduced, but not completely eliminated. That is why Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) can reduce the number, danger and severity of traffic accidents. Several ADAS, which nowadays are being researched for Intelligent vehicles, are based on Artificial Intelligence and Robotics technologies. In this article a research platform for the implementation of systems based on computer vision is presented, and different visual perception modules useful for some ADAS such as Line Keeping System, Adaptive Cruise Control, Pedestrian Protector, or Speed Supervisor, are described.This work was supported in part by the Spanish government under CICYT grant TRA2004-07441-C03-01

Neural plasticity of the uterus : New targets for endometrial cancer?

Altres ajuts: European Regional Development Fund (FEDER); FMMA grant (AP166942017); European Social Fund (ESF 'Investing in Your Future').Endometrial carcinoma is the most common gynecological malignancy in Western countries and is expected to increase in the following years because of the high index of obesity in the population. Recently, neural signaling has been recognized as part of the tumor microenvironment, playing an active role in tumor progression and invasion of different solid tumor types. The uterus stands out for the physiological plasticity of its peripheral nerves due to cyclic remodeling brought on by estrogen and progesterone hormones throughout the reproductive cycle. Therefore, a precise understanding of nerve-cancer crosstalk and the contribution of the organ-intrinsic neuroplasticity, mediated by estrogen and progesterone, of the uterine is urgently needed. The development of new and innovative medicines for patients with endometrial cancer would increase their quality of life and health. This review compiles information on the architecture and function of autonomous uterine neural innervations and the influence of hormone-dependent nerves in normal uterus and tumor progression. It also explores new therapeutic possibilities for endometrial cancer using these endocrine and neural advantages