PCP-based mice models of schizophrenia: differential behavioral, neurochemical and cellular effects of acute and subchronic treatments

Rationale N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor (NMDA-R) hypofunction has been proposed to account for the pathophysiology of schizophrenia. Thus, NMDA-R blockade has been used to model schizophrenia in experimental animals. Acute and repeated treatments have been successfully tested; however, long-term exposure toNMDA-R antagonists more likely resembles the core symptoms of the illness. Objectives To explore whether schizophrenia-related behaviors are differentially induced by acute and subchronic phencyclidine (PCP) treatment in mice and to examine the neurobiological bases of these differences. Results Subchronic PCP induced a sensitization of acute locomotor effects. Spontaneous alternation in a T-maze and novel object recognition performance were impaired after subchronic but not acute PCP, suggesting a deficit in working memory. On the contrary, reversal learning and immobility in the tail suspension test were unaffected. Subchronic PCP significantly reduced basal dopamine but not serotonin output in medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) and markedly decreased the expression of tyrosine hydroxylase in the ventral tegmental area. Finally, acute and subchronic PCP treatments evoked a different pattern of c-fos expression. At 1 h post-treatment, acute PCP increased c-fos expression in many cortical regions, striatum, thalamus, hippocampus, and dorsal raphe. However, the increased c-fos expression produced by subchronic PCP was restricted to the retrosplenial cortex, thalamus, hippocampus, and supramammillary nucleus. Four days after the last PCP injection, c-fos expression was still increased in the hippocampus of subchronic PCP-treated mice. Conclusions Acute and subchronic PCP administration differently affects neuronal activity in brain regions relevant to schizophrenia, which could account for their different behavioral effectsThis work has received support from the Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Salud Mental, CIBERSAM (13INT4 intramural project), and the Innovative Medicine Initiative Joint Undertaking under grant agreement no. 115008 of which resources are composed of EFPIA in-kind contribution and financial contribution from the European Union’s Seventh Framework Programme (FP7/2007-2013)Peer Reviewe

Laminar and Cellular Distribution of Monoamine Receptors in Rat Medial Prefrontal Cortex

The prefrontal cortex (PFC) is deeply involved in higher brain functions, many of which are altered in psychiatric conditions. The PFC exerts a top-down control of most cortical and subcortical areas through descending pathways and is densely innervated by axons emerging from the brainstem monoamine cell groups, namely, the dorsal and median raphe nuclei (DR and MnR, respectively), the ventral tegmental area and the locus coeruleus (LC). In turn, the activity of these cell groups is tightly controlled by afferent pathways arising from layer V PFC pyramidal neurons. The reciprocal connectivity between PFC and monoamine cell groups is of interest to study the pathophysiology and treatment of severe psychiatric disorders, such as major depression and schizophrenia, inasmuch as antidepressant and antipsychotic drugs target monoamine receptors/transporters expressed in these areas. Here we review previous reports examining the presence of monoamine receptors in pyramidal and GABAergic neurons of the PFC using double in situ hybridization. Additionally, we present new data on the quantitative layer distribution (layers I, II–III, V, and VI) of monoamine receptor-expressing cells in the cingulate (Cg), prelimbic (PrL) and infralimbic (IL) subfields of the medial PFC (mPFC). The receptors examined include serotonin 5-HT1A, 5-HT2A, 5-HT2C, and 5-HT3, dopamine D1 and D2 receptors, and α1A-, α1B-, and α1D-adrenoceptors. With the exception of 5-HT3 receptors, selectively expressed by layers I–III GABA interneurons, the rest of monoamine receptors are widely expressed by pyramidal and GABAergic neurons in intermediate and deep layers of mPFC (5-HT2C receptors are also expressed in layer I). This complex distribution suggests that monoamines may modulate the communications between PFC and cortical/subcortical areas through the activation of receptors expressed by neurons in intermediate (e.g., 5-HT1A, 5-HT2A, α1D-adrenoceptors, dopamine D1 receptors) and deep layers (e.g., 5-HT1A, 5-HT2A, α1A-adrenoceptors, dopamine D2 receptors), respectively. Overall, these data provide a detailed framework to better understand the role of monoamines in the processing of cognitive and emotional signals by the PFC. Likewise, they may be helpful to characterize brain circuits relevant for the therapeutic action of antidepressant and antipsychotic drugs and to improve their therapeutic action, overcoming the limitations of current drugs

Dopamine neurotransmission and atypical antipsychotics in prefrontal cortex: a critical review

Schizophrenia has been historically characterized by the presence of positive symptomatology, however, decades of research highlight the importance of cognitive deficits in this disorder. At present, cognitive impairments remain one of the most important unmet therapeutic needs in schizophrenia. The prefrontal cortex (PFC) controls a large number of higher brain functions altered in a variety of psychiatric disorders, including schizophrenia. Histological studies indicate the presence of a large proportion of PFC neurons expressing monoaminergic receptors sensitive to the action of current atypical antipsychotics. Functional studies also show that these medications act at PFC level to increase dopamine neurotransmission in the mesocortical pathway. Here we focus on monoaminergic molecular targets that are actively being explored as potential therapeutic agents in the basic and clinical cognitive neuroscience research, to support the development of co-treatments used in conjunction with antipsychotic medications. These targets include dopamine and serotonin receptors in the prefrontal cortex, as well as elements of the noradrenergic system

Interacción sedimentaria del polvo sahariano, y los flujos biogénicos y litogénicos en la cuenca oceánica de Canarias

Saharan dust events are currently the predominant source of lithogenic particles in the Canary Basin. In order to quantify this input and its relationship with the biogenic fluxes, a sediment trap was deployed in a free-drifting system at 150 m depth, 50 km off the north coast of Gran Canaria (Canary Islands). The mineralogy of the lithogenic particles included illite, calcite, hematite quartz, barite and kaolinite. The biogenic matter was composed of chitin, transparent exopolymer particles, and carbonates from foraminifera and gastropod shells. The average Saharan dust flux over the ocean surface was approximately 5±4 mg m–2 day-1. The lithogenic, carbonate and chitin fluxes were 0.8±0.6, 6.0±7.4 and 154±386 mg m–2 day-1, respectively. A fairly strong Saharan dust event during sampling was observed in the trap, with a delay of three days in the peaks of lithogenic and biogenic fluxes. The theoretical settling velocity of the lithogenic particles associated with Saharan dust events at 150 m depth was vStokes=275 m day-1, and the experimental settling was about 50 m day-1. The associated sinking behaviour of particulate organic carbon and biogenic and lithogenic fluxes observed in this study may contribute to a more realistic prediction of these fluxes in carbon biological pump models.En la actualidad los eventos de polvo Sahariano son la fuente principal de partículas litogénicas en la cuenca oceánica de Canarias. Con el objetivo de cuantificar su entrada y la interacción con los flujos biogénicos, se instaló una trampa de sedimento a la deriva, a 150 m de profundidad, 50 km al norte de la costa de Gran Canaria (Islas Canarias). Las partículas litogénicas detectadas fueron de illita, calcita, hematites, cuarzo, barita y caolinita. El material biogénico estaba compuesto por quitina, partículas de exopolímeros transparentes (TEP) y carbonatos procedentes de foraminíferos y conchas de gasterópodos. La media del flujo de polvo sahariano sobre la superficie oceánica fue aproximadamente 5±4 mg m-2 dia-1. Las medias de flujos litogénico, carbonato y quitina respectivamente fueron 0.8±0.6 mg m-2 dia–1, 6.0±7.4 mg m–2 dia-1 y 154±386 mg m-2 dia-1. Durante el muestreo se registró un intenso evento de polvo sahariano seguido, a los tres días, de picos en los flujos litogénicos y biogénicos en la trampa de sedimento a 150 m de profundidad. La velocidad teórica de sedimentación de las partículas litogénicas asociadas a los eventos de polvo sahariano a 150 m de profundidad calculada fue de vStokes=275 m dia-1, siendo la velocidad de sedimentación experimental obtenida tras el análisis de los flujos fue de 50 m dia-1. El comportamiento de los procesos de sedimentación asociados al POC, el flujo biogénico y el flujo litogénico observados en este estudio podría contribuir a modelos más realistas de la bomba biológica de carbono en los océanos

Field Joint Coating

Desarrollo de un método de revestimiento térmico de los espacios libres de recubrimiento primario necesarios para efectuar las uniones soldadas de las tuberías en la extracción petrolera offshore. Los tubos recubiertos permiten dar cumplimiento a las exigencias impuestas por el medio en el que habrán de operar: protección anticorrosiva, aislación térmica, flotabilidad y resistencia a altas presiones. Sin embargo, no se ha podido encontrar una metodología satisfactoria para revestir las juntas en campo logrando impedir que las propias condiciones de operación estimulen procesos corrosivos irreversibles para el daño del ecosistema. Del fundamento del proyecto surge la propuesta de un sistema innovador de revestimiento basado en la incorporación de “mediacañas” sólidas de polipropileno, con tolerancias dimensionales ajustadas a las cavidades originadas entre los extremos de dos tubos de acero, consecutivos y previamente soldados, efectuando la vinculación entre ambas y el recubrimiento primario a través de un proceso de soldadura por resistencias

Síndrome de desgaste profesional en médicos de atención primaria durante la emergencia sanitaria por SARS- CoV- 2

Introduction: Professional Burnout is a disorder that undoubtedly affects health personnel, among whom are the doctors who provided their contingent on the front line during the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic, this had a direct impact on their quality life and patient care. In primary care physicians, there are certain singularities whose physical and emotional demands make them more susceptible to suffering from it.Objective: To determine professional burnout in Primary Care physicians during the SARS-CoV-2 health emergency.Materials and methods: Descriptive, cross-sectional, observational study, with a quantitative approach, in doctors who worked in the Ambato Health District 18D02, Zone 3, Ecuador, during the health emergency due to the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic, who were carried out the application of a virtual survey collecting demographic data, exposure to SARS-CoV-2 and the Inventory Burnout Maslach (MBI) questionnaire.Results: A total of 129 participants (n: 129) were included, of which 13% presented burnout syndrome, with greater involvement in the emotional exhaustion subscale, predominating in males. However, the risk of suffering from this syndrome was identified in 30% of all professionals. Conclusions: There is a significant level of exhaustion among Primary Health Care physicians and a considerable percentage of professionals at risk, thus is necessary to implement early interventions to prevent professional burnout, on the other hand, more research is needed to study the problem at this level since there is little research doneIntroducción: El desgaste profesional conocido como burnout es un trastorno que sin lugar a duda afecta al personal de salud entre los cuales están los médicos que brindaron su contingente en primera línea durante la pandemia por SARS- CoV- 2, esto repercutió directamente en su calidad de vida y en la atención al paciente. En los médicos de Atención Primaria existen ciertas singularidades cuyas demandas físicas y emocionales los hacen más susceptibles a padecerlo. Objetivo: Determinar el desgaste profesional en médicos de Atención Primaria, durante la emergencia Sanitaria por SARS- CoV- 2. Materiales y métodos: Estudio observacional descriptivo, transversal, con enfoque cuantitativo, en los médicos que laboraron en el Distrito de Salud Ambato 18D02, Zona 3, Ecuador, durante la emergencia sanitaria debido a la pandemia por SARS- CoV- 2, a quienes se realizó la aplicación de una encuesta virtual recopilando datos demográficos, exposición a SARS- CoV- 2 y el cuestionario Maslach Burnout Inventary (MBI).Resultados: Se incluyó un total de 129 participantes (n: 129) de los cuales, el 13% presentaron síndrome de desgaste laboral, con mayor afectación en la subescala cansancio emocional, de predomino en el sexo masculino. Sin embargo, se identificó riesgo de padecer este síndrome en el 30% de todos los profesionales. Conclusiones: Existe un nivel significativo de agotamiento entre los médicos de Atención Primaria y considerable porcentaje de profesionales en riesgo, en quienes es necesario realizar intervención temprana para prevenir el desgaste profesional, se necesitan más investigaciones para estudiar el problema en este nive

Study about the vocal range in children aged 7 to 10 years

Desde el espacio de intercambio y reflexión acerca de la clínica y terapéutica Vocal, grupo de estudio al que pertenecen los autores de la presente publicación; surge en el año 2011 la iniciativa de estudiar la extensión vocal en niños. Esta temática emerge de la inquietud que genera la discrepancia encontrada entre las descripciones acerca de la extensión vocal en niños, en las bibliografías vigentes y las realidades empíricas que se observan tanto en la práctica docente como en la clínica fonoaudiológica. Se considera relevante actualizar y avanzar en el conocimiento de los aspectos relacionados con la voz del niño ya que es un posible aporte para quienes trabajan especialmente con las voces infantiles; docentes de música y de canto, directores de coro, fonoaudiólogos y otorrinolaringólogos. Se consideró importante diseñar procedimientos que permitieran obtener emisiones vocales de tipo espontáneo, de manera tal de obtener extremos tonales que den cuenta de la extensión vocal fisiológica. Se decide no considerar para este estudio los sonidos musicales, cantados, que pudieran producir desde el más grave al más agudo (extensión vocal musical, tesitura, uso de los registros vocales), dejando este aspecto para una futura investigación. Se ha comprobado que las extensiones vocales de los niños son de una amplitud considerable (de 2 octavas a 5 octavas) lo cual permite caracterizar un aspecto más de las potencialidades vocales con las que cuentan. La diversidad de sonidos que los niños pueden producir manifiestan la riqueza de la expresividad vocal que puede acompañar a la comunicación.From space for exchange and reflection about the clinical and therapeutic vocal, study group to which the authors of this publication are, it arises in 2011 the initiative to study the vocal range in children. This theme emerges from the concern that generate the discrepancy found between the descriptions of the vocal range in children, the current bibliographies and the empirical realities that are observed both in teaching and in speech therapy clinic. It is considered relevant update and advance knowledge of aspects of the child’s voice as it is a possible contribution for those working especially with children’s voices, music and singing teachers, choir conductors, speech therapists and otolaryngologists. It was considered important to design procedures to allow obtain spontaneous utterances and tonal extremes that realize the physiological vocal range. It was decided not to consider for this study musical sounds -sung- that could produce from lowest to highest (musical vocal range, tessitura, use of vocal registers), leaving this area for future research. It has been found that vocal ranges of children have a considerable amplitude (from 2 to 5 octaves) and allow to characterise a further aspect of the vocal potential. The diversity of sounds that children can produce manifest the richness of the vocal expressiveness that may accompany communication.Facultad de Bellas Arte

Study about the vocal range in children aged 7 to 10 years

Desde el espacio de intercambio y reflexión acerca de la clínica y terapéutica Vocal, grupo de estudio al que pertenecen los autores de la presente publicación; surge en el año 2011 la iniciativa de estudiar la extensión vocal en niños. Esta temática emerge de la inquietud que genera la discrepancia encontrada entre las descripciones acerca de la extensión vocal en niños, en las bibliografías vigentes y las realidades empíricas que se observan tanto en la práctica docente como en la clínica fonoaudiológica. Se considera relevante actualizar y avanzar en el conocimiento de los aspectos relacionados con la voz del niño ya que es un posible aporte para quienes trabajan especialmente con las voces infantiles; docentes de música y de canto, directores de coro, fonoaudiólogos y otorrinolaringólogos. Se consideró importante diseñar procedimientos que permitieran obtener emisiones vocales de tipo espontáneo, de manera tal de obtener extremos tonales que den cuenta de la extensión vocal fisiológica. Se decide no considerar para este estudio los sonidos musicales, cantados, que pudieran producir desde el más grave al más agudo (extensión vocal musical, tesitura, uso de los registros vocales), dejando este aspecto para una futura investigación. Se ha comprobado que las extensiones vocales de los niños son de una amplitud considerable (de 2 octavas a 5 octavas) lo cual permite caracterizar un aspecto más de las potencialidades vocales con las que cuentan. La diversidad de sonidos que los niños pueden producir manifiestan la riqueza de la expresividad vocal que puede acompañar a la comunicación.From space for exchange and reflection about the clinical and therapeutic vocal, study group to which the authors of this publication are, it arises in 2011 the initiative to study the vocal range in children. This theme emerges from the concern that generate the discrepancy found between the descriptions of the vocal range in children, the current bibliographies and the empirical realities that are observed both in teaching and in speech therapy clinic. It is considered relevant update and advance knowledge of aspects of the child’s voice as it is a possible contribution for those working especially with children’s voices, music and singing teachers, choir conductors, speech therapists and otolaryngologists. It was considered important to design procedures to allow obtain spontaneous utterances and tonal extremes that realize the physiological vocal range. It was decided not to consider for this study musical sounds -sung- that could produce from lowest to highest (musical vocal range, tessitura, use of vocal registers), leaving this area for future research. It has been found that vocal ranges of children have a considerable amplitude (from 2 to 5 octaves) and allow to characterise a further aspect of the vocal potential. The diversity of sounds that children can produce manifest the richness of the vocal expressiveness that may accompany communication.Facultad de Bellas Arte

Acompanhamento farmacoterapêutico em pacientes idosos e hipertensos em uma farmácia comunitária do nordeste do Brasil: Um estudo piloto

The pharmaceutical consultation aims to significantly control chronic comorbidities, through monitoring and basic care, based on health education and communication principles. In this context, Systemic Arterial Hypertension (SAH) is defined as systolic BP greater than or equal to 140 mmHg and diastolic BP greater than or equal to 90 mmHg. The objective of the study was to carry out pharmacotherapeutic follow-up in patients over 60 years of age, with SAH, in a community pharmacy in northeastern Brazil. This is an intervention study to monitor patients, using a checklist adapted from Abdel-tawab et al., (2010), with the aid of the Adherence to Refills and Medications Scale (ARMS) to classify adherence. The study was carried out in a community pharmacy in the city of Fátima-BA. After observing the object of study, it can be seen that most patients were female, retired, married and had incomplete primary school; regarding the percentage description of the variation in patients' adherence, most had good adherence (52.38%). Patients have other chronic diseases concomitant with SAH, as the highest percentage was dyslipidemia (33.3%) and type II diabetes (28.5%). With regard to agreed actions, the main conducts were health education (100%), home monitoring of arterial hypertension (85.71%) and requesting laboratory tests (66.66%). Thus, it was possible to carry out pharmaceutical services, in order to use educational measures to improve the patient's quality of life and optimize pharmacotherapy, respecting the subject's integrity.A consulta farmacêutica visa controlar significativamente as comorbidades crônicas, através do monitoramento e cuidados básicos, baseada em princípios de educação e comunicação em saúde. Nesse contexto, é caracterizada como Hipertensão Arterial Sistêmica (HAS) a PA sistólica superior ou igual a 140 mmHg e PA diastólica maior ou igual a 90 mmHg. Objetivo do estudo foi realizar o acompanhamento farmacoterapêutico em pacientes acima de 60 anos, portadores de HAS, em uma farmácia comunitária do nordeste do Brasil. Trata-se de um estudo de intervenção para acompanhamento dos pacientes, mediante check list adaptado de Abdel-tawab et al., (2010), com auxílio da escala Adherence to Refills and Medications Scale (ARMS) para classificar adesão. O estudo foi realizado em uma farmácia comunitária na cidade de Fátima-BA. Após a observação do objeto de estudo pode-se verificar que a maioria dos pacientes eram do sexo feminino, aposentados, casados e possuíam 1º grau incompleto; com relação a descrição percentual da variação da adesão dos pacientes a maioria teve boa adesão 52,38% (n=11). Os pacientes apresentam outras doenças crônicas concomitantes com a HAS, visto que o maior percentual foi dislipidemia 33,3% (n=7) e diabetes tipo II 28,5% (n=6). Com relação às ações pactuadas, as principais condutas foram educação em saúde 100% (n=21), monitoração residencial de hipertensão arterial (85,71% n=18) e a solicitação de exames laboratoriais 66,66% (n=14). Assim, foi possível realizar serviços farmacêuticos, de modo a usar medidas educativas para melhorar a qualidade de vida do paciente e otimizar a farmacoterapia, respeitando as integralidades do sujeito