Cannabinoide endogen per al tractament al·lèrgic

Un dels cannabinoides més coneguts és el tetrahidrocannabinol, ingredient psicoactiu del cànnabis. No obstant aixó, últimament la indústria farmacèutica s'ha interessat en altres cannabinoides menys coneguts, que tenen propietats analgèsiques i antiinflamatòries úniques. En aquest marc se situa aquesta recerca. S'ha estudiat la capacitat d'un cannabinoide endogen, la palmitoiletanolamida (PEA), per inhibir la resposta al·lèrgica dels mastòcits, cèl·lules dels teixits dels mamífers que reaccionen davant d'infeccions bacterianes desencadenant processos inflamatoris. Els resultats indiquen una resposta positiva del PEA disminuint la inflamació i el dolor.Uno de los cannabinoides más conocidos es el tetrahidrocannabinol, ingrediente psicoactivo del cannabis. Sin embargo, últimamente la industria farmacéutica se ha interesado en otros cannabinoides menos conocidos, que tienen propiedades analgésicas y antiinflamatorias únicas. En este marco se sitúa esta investigación. Se ha estudiado la capacidad de un cannabinoide endógeno, la palmitoiletanolamida (PEA), para inhibir la respuesta alérgica de los mastocitos, células de los tejidos de los mamíferos que reaccionan frente a infecciones bacterianas desencadenando procesos inflamatorios. Los resultados indican una respuesta positiva del PEA disminuyendo la inflamación y el dolor

Técnica para la determinación del diltiazem en plasma : aplicación al estudio farmacocinético

Tesi de Llicenciatura per a la obtenció del Grau de Farmàcia. Facultat de Farmàcia. Universitat de Barcelona. Director: Margarita Arboix Arzo. 1983

Estudio alométrico de la propafenona

[spa] La propafenona es un fármaco antiarrítmico que pertenece a la clase IC de la clasificación de Vaugham-Williams y que además posee actividad como -bloqueante. Para la realización de este estudio se utilizaron ocho especies distintas: ratón, rata, conejo, perro, cordero, hombre, ternero y caballo a las que se administraron 2 mg-kg de propafenona por vía I.V. A partir de las muestras de plasma obtenidas y mediante una técnica de cromatografía líquida de alta resolución (HPLC), se determinó el fármaco existente a cada tiempo. El análisis cinético de la propafenona se realizó por un método no compartimental por momentos estadísticos basado en el calculo del área bajo la curva. Una vez obtenidos los valores para los diferentes parámetros farmacocinéticos, se representaron a escala doble logarítmica frente al peso y mediante un programa de regresión lineal se calcularon las correspondientes ecuaciones alométricas. En todos los casos se obtuvieron buenos ajustes y estos mejoraron en algunos casos (CL, Clint) al normalizar dichos parámetros por el índice de esperanza de vida máxima (MLP). La última parte del trabajo consistió en el cálculo de las unidades de tiempo farmacocinético para cada especie. Tras ajustar los valores para las concentraciones plasmáticas corregidas por la dosis por Y (Y es el exponente alométrico del VD) frente a los tiempos farmacocinéticos, por un método de regresión no lineal, se obtuvieron las ecuaciones correspondientes que en todos los casos fueron de tipo biexponencial. Para valorar la bondad de dichos ajustes se realizó un test de Maice y se pudo constatar que el Dienetichron era la unidad más adecuada, ya que con ella se conseguía la superposición de las curvas de niveles plasmáticos a una curva común representativa del transito del fármaco por el organismo de todas las especies

Eficàcia d'un nou tractament per a la dermatitis atòpica en gossos

Es calcula que un 10% dels gossos pateix dermatitis atòpica, una forma molt comuna d'al·lèrgia per a la qual hi ha pocs tractaments. Un d'ells és l'ús de l'immunosupressor ciclosporina, que administrada per via oral és molt eficaç, però també provoca efectes secundaris que augmenten amb la durada del tractament. Un assaig clínic ha mostrat que la seva administració per via tòpica, possible gràcies als avenços en nanotecnologia, és eficaç en la reducció de la gravetat de les lesions i no provoca reaccions adverses.Se calcula que un 10% de los perros sufre dermatitis atópica, una forma muy común de alergia para la que hay pocos tratamientos. Uno de ellos es el uso del inmunosupresor ciclosporina, que administrada por vía oral es muy eficaz, pero también provoca efectos secundarios que aumentan con la duración del tratamiento. Un ensayo clínico ha mostrado que su administración por vía tópica, posible gracias a los avances en nanotecnología, es eficaz en la reducción de la gravedad de las lesiones y no provoca reacciones adversas.An estimated 10% of dogs suffer atopic dermatitis, a common type of allergy for which there are few treatments. One of them is the use of the immunosuppressant cyclosporine, which administered orally is very effective, but also causes side effects which increase with the duration of the treatment. A clinical trial has shown that topical administratio

Effects of sphingolipid extracts on the morphological structure and lipid profile in an in vitro model of canine skin

Ceramides (CER) are essential sphingolipids of the stratum corneum (SC) that play an important role in maintaining cutaneous barrier function. Skin barrier defects occur in both human beings and dogs affected with atopic dermatitis, and have been associated with decreased CER concentrations and morphological alterations in the SC. The aim of the present study was to investigate the changes induced by three different sphingolipid extracts (SPE-1, SPE-2 and SPE-3) on the morphological structure and lipid composition of canine skin, using an in vitro model, whereby keratinocytes were seeded onto fibroblast-embedded collagen type I matrix at the air-liquid interface. Cell cultures were supplemented with SPE-1, SPE-2, SPE-3 or vehicle (control) for 14 days. The relative concentrations of lipids were determined by ultra-performance liquid chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry. The ultrastructural morphology of samples was examined by transmission electron microscopy. SPE-1 induced significant elevation in total CERs, CER[NS], CER[NDS], CER[NP], CER[AS], CER[AP], CER[EOS] and CER[EOP] subclasses, whereas SPE-2 induced a significant elevation in total CER, CER[AP] and CER[EOS] compared with control conditions. Ultrastructural analysis revealed an increase in lamellar-lipid structures in the SC of SPE-1-treated samples. The findings demonstrated that SPE-1 stimulates production of CERs, as shown by changes in lipid composition and ultrastructural morphology. Thus, SPE-1 contributes to the formation of a well-organised SC and represents a potential therapeutic target for improving skin barrier function in atopic dermatitis

Differences in the Impact of COVID-19 on Pathology Laboratories and Cancer Diagnosis in Girona

Coronavirus SARS-CoV-2; COVID-19; 2019-nCoV; Càncer; Diagnòstic; PatologiaCoronavirus SARS-CoV-2; COVID-19; 2019-nCoV; Cancer; Diagnóstico; PatologiaCoronavirus SARS-CoV-2; COVID-19; 2019-nCoV; Cancer; Diagnosis; PathologyIntroduction: The recent COVID-19 pandemic has compromised socio-health care, with consequences for the diagnosis and follow-up of other pathologies. The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of COVID-19 on cancer diagnosis in Girona, Spain. Methodology: Observational study of samples received in two pathology laboratories during 2019-2020 (tertiary hospital in Girona and county hospital in Figueres). Date, sample type, and location and morphology were available. Samples were recoded to determine malignancy and grouped by location. Comparisons were made by calendar year and period of exposure to COVID-19. Results: 102,360 samples were included: 80,517 from Girona and 21,843 from Figueres. The reduction in activity in the pathology laboratories in 2020 compared to the previous year was 25.4% in Girona and 27.5% in Figueres. The reduction in cancer diagnoses in 2020 compared to 2019 was 6.8% in Girona and 21% in Figueres. In both laboratories, a decrease was observed in the diagnoses of neoplasms of the lip, oral cavity and pharynx, larynx, colon, rectum and anus, kidney and urinary system, melanoma, and central nervous system. A statistically significant higher probability of a sample received in the pathology laboratory displaying malignancy during COVID-19 was found (Girona: OR = 1.28, 95% CI: 1.23-1.34; Figueres: OR = 1.10, 95% CI: 1.01-1.20) with respect to the COVID-19-free period. Conclusions: The COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in a reduction in cancer diagnoses by pathology departments that varies according to tumor location and type of hospital. Despite this, the optimization of care resources and the recovery effort have partially reduced the impact of the pandemic in certain neoplasms.This work was partially funded by the Josep Carreras Leukaemia Research Institute (grant number: FIJC1100) and the Agency for Management of University and Research Grants, Government of Catalonia (grant number: 2017SGR00733

Comorbidities at Diagnosis, Survival, and Cause of Death in Patients with Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia: A Population-Based Study

Leucèmia limfocítica crònica; Comorbiditat; Causes de mortChronic lymphocytic leukemia; Comorbidity; Cause of deathLeucemia linfocítica crónica; Comorbilidad; Causas de muerteThis study aimed to examine the prevalence of comorbidities in patients diagnosed with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL), and to assess its influence on survival and cause-specific mortality at a population-based level. Incident CLL cases diagnosed in the Girona province (Spain) during 2008-2016 were extracted from the Girona Cancer Registry. Rai stage and presence of comorbidities at diagnosis, further categorized using the Charlson comorbidity index (CCI), were obtained from clinical records. Observed (OS) and relative survival (RS) were estimated and Cox's proportional hazard models were used to explore the impact of comorbidity on mortality. Among the 400 cases included in the study, 380 (99.5%) presented at least one comorbidity at CLL diagnosis, with diabetes without end organ damage (21%) being the most common disease. 5-year OS and RS were 68.8 (95% CI: 64.4-73.6) and 99.5 (95% CI 3.13-106.0), respectively, which decreased markedly with increasing CCI, particularly in patients with CCI ≥ 3. Multivariate analysis identified no statistically significant association between the CCI and overall CLL-related or CLL-unrelated mortality. In conclusion, a high CCI score negatively influenced the OS and RS of CLL patients, yet its effect on mortality was statistically non-significant when also considering age and the Rai stage.We thank CERCA programme/Generalitat de Catalunya for institutional support. Thiswork was supported by Spanish Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness—Carlos III Instituteof Health co-funded by FEDER funds/European Regional Development Fund (ERDF)—A way tobuild Europe (PI11/02213, PI15/00966 and CIBERESP); and with the support of the Secretariat forUniversities and Research of the Ministry of Business and Knowledge of the Government of Catalonia(2017-SGR-733). IDIBGI is a member of the CERCA Programme, Generalitat de Catalunya

Effects of Essential Oils and Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids on Canine Skin Equivalents : Skin Lipid Assessment and Morphological Evaluation

A canine skin equivalent model has been validated for the assessment of a topical formulation effects. Skin equivalents were developed from freshly isolated cutaneous canine fibroblasts and keratinocytes, after enzymatic digestion of skin samples (n = 8) from different breeds. Fibroblasts were embedded into a collagen type I matrix, and keratinocytes were seeded onto its surface at air-liquid interface. Skin equivalents were supplemented with essential oils and polyunsaturated fatty acid formulation or with vehicle. Skin equivalents were histopathologically and ultrastructurally studied, and the three main lipid groups (free fatty acids, cholesterol, and ceramides) were analyzed. Results showed that the culture method developed resulted in significant improvements in cell retrieval and confluence. Treated samples presented a thicker epidermis with increased number of viable cell layers, a denser and compact stratum corneum, and a more continuous basal membrane. Regarding lipid profile, treated skin equivalents showed a significant increase in ceramide content (51.7 ± 1.3) when compared to untreated (41.6 ± 1.4) samples. Ultrastructural study evidenced a compact and well-organized stratum corneum in both treated and control skin equivalents. In conclusion, cell viability and ceramides increase, after lipid supplementation, are especially relevant for the treatment of skin barrier disruptions occurring in canine atopic dermatitis

Evaluation of three enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays for sarcoptic mange diagnosis and assessment in the Iberian ibex, Capra pyrenaica

[EN] Background: Sarcoptic mange is a contagious skin disease caused by the mite Sarcoptes scabiei, affecting different mammalian species worldwide including the Iberian ibex (Capra pyrenaica), in which mortalities over 90 % of the population have been reported. No efficient diagnostic methods are available for this disease, particularly when there are low mite numbers and mild or no clinical signs. In this study, three enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISA) developed for dog (ELISA A), Cantabrian chamois (Rupicapra pyrenaica parva) (ELISA B) and Alpine chamois (Rupicapra rupicapra) (ELISA C), were evaluated to detect specific antibodies (IgG) to sarcoptic mange in Iberian ibex sera. Methods: Serum samples from 131 Iberian ibexes (86 healthy and 45 scabietic) were collected from 2005 to 2012 in the Sierra Nevada Natural and National Parks (southern Spain). Based on visual inspection, ibexes were classified into one of three categories, namely healthy (without scabietic compatible lesions), mildly affected (skin lesions over less than 50 % of the body surface) and severely affected (skin lesions over more than 50 % of the body surface). The optimal cut-off point, specificity, sensitivity and the area under the curve (AUC) were calculated, and the agreement between tests was determined. Moreover, differences in the optical density (OD) related to scabies severity have been evaluated for the best test. Results: ELISA C showed better performance than the two other tests, reaching higher values of sensitivity (93.0 %) and specificity (93.5 %) against the visual estimation of the percentage of affected skin, chosen as the gold standard. Significantly higher concentrations of specific antibodies were observed with this test in the mildly and severely infested ibexes than in healthy ones. Conclusions: Our results revealed that ELISA C was an optimal test to diagnose sarcoptic mange in the Iberian ibex. Further studies characterizing immune response during the course of the disease, including spontaneous or drug induced recovery, should follow in order to better understand sarcoptic mange in Iberian ibex populationsSIThe Consejería de Medio Ambiente y Ordenación del Territorio of the Junta de Andalucía supported sample collection and conservation through the projects 676/2006/A/00, 1571/2007/M/00, 173/2009/M/00 and 861/2011/M/ 00, as did the PAIDI Research Group RNM18 from the Junta de Andalucía. The Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad of the Spanish Government funded the study through the research projects CGL2012-40043-C02-02 and CGL2016-80543-P, and a predoctoral grant (BES-2013-063931) to JE. ES was supported by the Fundação para a Ciência ea Tecnologia (Portugal), through the postdoctoral program (SFRH/BPD/96637/2013), and the University of Aveiro (Department of Biology) and FCT/MEC (CESAM RU UID/AMB/50017), co-financed by the FEDER within the PT2020 Partnership Agreement. LR, DD and CC were supported by the Italian National PRIN Program “Genomics and host-pathogen interaction: a study model in the One-Health perspective