Detection of neurotransmitters by a light scattering technique based on seed-mediated growth of gold nanoparticles

A simple light scattering detection method for neurotransmitters has been developed, based on the growth of gold nanoparticles. Neurotransmitters (dopamine, L-dopa, noradrenaline and adrenaline) can effectively function as active reducing agents for generating gold nanoparticles, which result in enhanced light scattering signals. The strong light scattering of gold nanoparticles then allows the quantitative detection of the neurotransmitters simply by using a common spectrofluorometer.

Pharmacological and immunocytochemical investigation of the role of catecholamines on larval metamorphosis by beta-adrenergic-like receptor in the bivalve Meretrix meretrix

Catecholamines regulate several physiological processes in mollusks. Many pharmacological experiments have been conducted to determine the effects of adrenergic agonist and antagonist of catecholamine receptors on Meretrix meretrix metamorphosis. Results showed that adrenaline (AD) and noradrenaline (NA) had substantial effects (p < 0.05) on larval metamorphosis at concentrations ranging from 10 mu M to 100 mu M. 10 mu M beta-adrenergic receptor (AR) agonist isoproterenol showed the same inducement effect as that of NA and AD on metamorphosis, whereas the alpha-AR agonist phenylephrine had no significant effect at concentrations between 0.1 mu M and 100 mu M concentrations (p > 0.05). Furthermore, I mu M beta-AR antagonist propanolol, but not alpha-AR antagonist prazosin, depressed the larval metamorphosis induced by NA or AD. By immunocytochemistry, two cell bodies of beta-adrenergic-like receptor, C/A1, C/A2, were observed in the cerebral/apical ganglion of competent larvae. In addition, there were other immunoreactive dots near C/A1 and C/A2. The results of pharmacology and immunocytochemistry suggests that beta-adrenergic-like receptor located in the larval CNS, might play a considerable role in the larval metamorphosis of M meretrix by AD or NA. (c) 2006 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Immune condition of Apostichopus japonicus during aestivation

Aestivation is an indispensable state in the life history of sea cucumbers, Apostichopus japonicus. The immune characteristics of the coelomic fluid of A. japonicus, were investigated during aestivation. Samples were collected between July and November 2006 from a coastal pond located off the Yellow Sea in Jiaonan, Shandong Province, China. The total coelomocytes counts (TCC), total superoxide dismutase (T-SOD), catalase (CAT), myeloperoxidase (MPO), and lysozyme (IZM) in the coelomic fluid were measured. The activities of catecholamines, [adrenaline (AD), noradrenaline (NA), and dopamine (DOP)] were estimated. TCC decreased from July to September, indicating weakness of the cellular immune activity at that time. Activities of SOD, CAT, MPO, and LZM changed significantly from July to October. Catecholamines AD and NA in coelomic fluid were significantly higher on August 21 and November 27. There was no significant variation in DOP during the sampling period. Thus, immune characters in coelomic fluid of A. japonicus changed significantly during aestivation. Water temperature was significantly and negatively correlated with TCC, and salinity was significantly and positively correlated with AD and NA. The mechanism of aestivation in A. japonicus is complex and might not be attributed only to environmental changes, such as temperature and salinity, as shown in previous studies. (C) 2008 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Prescription of Epinephrine Auto-injectors - Can we reach a consensus?

A consensus view of Irish Clinical Immunologists as to when auto injection syringes of adrenaline should be prescribed

Bronchiolitis

INTRODUCTION: Bronchiolitis is the most common lower respiratory tract infection in infants, occurring in a seasonal pattern, with highest incidence in the winter in temperate climates and in the rainy season in warmer countries. Bronchiolitis is a common reason for attendance at and admission to hospital.

METHODS AND OUTCOMES: We conducted a systematic review and aimed to answer the following clinical questions: What are the effects of prophylactic interventions for bronchiolitis in high-risk children? What are the effects of measures to prevent transmission of bronchiolitis in hospital? What are the effects of treatments for children with bronchiolitis? We searched: Medline, Embase, The Cochrane Library, and other important databases up to July 2010 (Clinical Evidence reviews are updated periodically, please check our website for the most up-to-date version of this review). We included harms alerts from relevant organisations such as the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the UK Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA).

RESULTS: We found 59 systematic reviews, RCTs, or observational studies that met our inclusion criteria. We performed a GRADE evaluation of the quality of evidence for interventions.

CONCLUSIONS: In this systematic review we present information relating to the effectiveness and safety of the following interventions: antibiotics, bronchodilators (oral, inhaled salbutamol, inhaled adrenaline [epinephrine], hypertonic saline), chest physiotherapy, continuous positive airway pressure, corticosteroids, fluid management, heliox, montelukast, nasal decongestants, nursing interventions (cohort segregation, hand washing, gowns, masks, gloves, and goggles), oxygen, respiratory syncytial virus immunoglobulins, pooled immunoglobulins, or palivizumab (monoclonal antibody), ribavirin, or surfactants.

Evidence for the presence of G-proteins, adenylyl cyclase and phospholipase C activities in lymphatic smooth muscle cell membranes

In plasma membranes derived from bovine mesenteric lymphatic smooth muscle cells, guanine nucleotide and forskolin stimulated adenylyl cyclase (AC) activity in a concentration-dependent manner, indicative of the presence of the stimulatory G-protein G(s) linked to AC. There was no significant enzyme inhibition by low concentrations of guanine nucleotide and no effect on basal or guanine nucleotide-stimulated activity following pertussis toxin treatment of cells, suggesting the absence of G(1) linked to inhibition of AC. Furthermore, there was no effect of adrenaline, isoprenaline or clonidine on basal or forskolin-stimulated activities, nor was there any specific binding of the beta-adrenoceptor ligand [I-125]cyanopindolol to membranes, suggesting that cate-cholamine receptors do not modulate AC activity in these membranes. Pertussis toxin-mediated ADP ribosylation of membrane proteins and Western immunoblotting analysis revealed the presence of G-protein subunits G(alpha l2), G(alpha q), G(alpha 11) and G(beta 1). In experiments designed to identify a possible effector enzyme for these G-proteins, membranes were screened with a range of antibodies raised against phospholipase C (PLC) beta, gamma and delta isozymes. Though no evidence was obtained by Western blotting for any of these proteins, PLC activity was concentration-dependently stimulated by Ca2+, but not by AlF4-, GTP[S], or purified G(beta gamma) subunits. Finally, no specific binding to membranes of the alpha(1)-adrenoceptor ligand [H-3]prazosin or the alpha(2)-adrenoceptor ligand [H-3]yohimbine was obtained. In conclusion, this study provides evidence for a G(s)-dependent stimulation of AC, and for the presence of G(2) and G(q11), which do not appear to regulate a PLC activity also identified in lymphatic smooth muscle cell membranes. Furthermore, neither AC nor PLC appear to be associated with catecholamine receptors. Copyright(C) 1996 Elsevier Science Inc.

The use of topical anaesthesia during repair of minor lacerations in Departments of Emergency Medicine:a literature review

There are currently a number of different methods available to obtain anaesthesia in minor dermatological procedures. Although intradermal infiltration of 1% lidocaine is the favoured method for anaesthesia induction in laceration repair, it can cause significant pain in itself. Topical anaesthesia has been investigated as an alternative to infiltration anaesthesia, with the majority of studies looking at preparations of either TAC (tetracaine, adrenaline and cocaine) or LAT (lidocaine, adrenaline and tetracaine).

Pulpal Neuropeptide Y levels in relation to pain experience

Neuropeptide Y is a 36 amino acid peptide that belongs to the pancreatic polypeptide family. It co-localises with adrenaline in sympathetic nerves and is released upon sympathetic activation resulting in vasoconstriction. In addition to its vascular effects NPY is also thought to have a role in pain modulation, angiogenesis and immunomodulation. Objectives: The aim of this study was to quantify the levels of NPY in human dental pulp tissue from intact and grossly carious teeth and to relate these results to pain experience. Methods: A total of 48 permanent teeth [mean age 32.1(+/- 11.2 years)] were included in the study, of these 22 were intact and 26 were grossly carious. In the grossly carious group, 17 teeth were reported painful prior to extraction and the remainder were reported non-painful. NPY was measured using a sensitive and specific radioimmunoassay which has been previously described. Pain was scored as either present or absent in all the teeth studied. Results: Of particular interest in this study was the finding that NPY levels were significantly higher in dental pulp tissue from non-painful grossly carious teeth (p= 0.006) compared with painful grossly carious teeth. Conclusions: The increased levels of NPY reported in non-painful grossly carious teeth may suggest a role for NPY in pain modulation in human dental pulp.

Role of β-adrenergic signaling in ovarian cancer cells biology

Tese de mestrado. Biologia (Biologia Evolutiva e do Desenvolvimento). Universidade de Lisboa, Faculdade de Ciências, 2014

Expanding our therapeutic options: β-blockers for colon cancer?

Supported by U. Porto/Santander Totta (IJUP) (PP-IJUP2011-320)

Es la teoría microeconómica tradicional acertada a la hora de entender y/o explicar el comportamiento del consumidor y, por ende del mercado, a comparación del neuromarketing

A medida que pasa el tiempo; la ciencia, el desarrollo tecnológico y la constante búsqueda de encontrar nuevas verdades, más fehacientes y que logren responder más asertivamente los diferentes cuestionamientos de la humanidad, han logrado redefinir las teorías y los axiomas que, en su momento, se tomaron como el dogma a seguir en diferentes disciplinas y cuestionamientos de la sociedad y la industria. La concepción tradicional que se tiene de la mente y el comportamiento del consumidor tenía vacios importantes en términos de aplicabilidad y generalización de sus teorías, pues pensar que la humanidad desarrolla sus decisiones de compra bajo análisis netamente racionales y apegados a estructuras temporales para manejar su dinero es un supuesto que no se emplea de manera general y concienzuda por el común. Antes que agentes 100% racionales, con un completo flujo de información y en un mercado perfecto bajo todos los preceptos económicos, somos personas de sentimientos y sentidos. Reaccionamos ante situaciones, estados de ánimo y estímulos, donde es nuestro cerebro quien recibe todo el contexto cognitivo que nos brinda el entorno y entonces actúa (y compra) de diferentes maneras. Es allí donde el Neuromarketing nace como un claro ejemplo de esa búsqueda por una nueva verdad. Una donde entender al consumidor no deje de lado su faceta más real; sus reacciones, pues son estas las que realmente definen qué le gusta o no y qué despierta en él un impulso lo suficientemente importante como para incidir en su decisión de compra. Es por ello que el Neuromarketing se ha adentrado a estudiar lo más profundo y verídico del consumidor, su cerebro. Alejándose de las técnicas tradicionales de investigación de mercados, donde el consumidor puede desvirtuar la información que percibe de un producto o una campaña publicitaría por diferentes razones sociales y psicológicas. El Neuromarketing se ha adentrado al estudio del consumidor y su cerebro mediante técnicas biométricas, en las cuales expone al consumidor al marketing y analiza sus reacciones cerebrales en términos de interés, adrenalina, memoria activa y sentimientos, apoyado por técnicas como el ¨eye tracking¨, donde las interacciones visuales del consumidor permiten identificar los puntos calientes y de interés en determinada pieza publicitaria. Pero el estudio, entendido por algunos como ¨invasivo¨ frente a las libertades en términos de privacidad y libertad de elección del consumidor deben ser responsablemente dirigidos y puestos bajo un contexto científico, donde el único fin sea el de generar nuevas hipótesis y teorías que permitan tener un mejor conocimiento del comportamiento del consumidor sin traspasar los límites del control del mismo. El Neuromarketing debate su existencia misma entre la creación de nuevas metodologías de acercamiento al pensamiento del consumidor, la efectividad de sus conocimiento dados a la industria y el yugo social que acarrea esta ciencia debido a la potencial coerción a los consumidores debido a sus hallazgos.

Comparación entre analgesia epidural continua vs bloqueo nervio periférico en niños llevados a cirugía múltiple de miembros inferiores

Las cirugías reconstructivas múltiples de miembros inferiores son intervenciones quirúrgicas que implican un difícil manejo analgésico en el postoperatorio, actualmente la técnica analgésica usada es la analgesia peridural; sin embargo los efectos adversos asociados a esta no la hacen una técnica ideal para manejo de dolor. Los bloqueos de nervio periférico han aparecido como una alternativa para el manejo del dolor; pero no se ha difundido ampliamente su uso. Se pretende evaluar la disminución de efectos adversos con el uso de bloqueos de nervio periférico sobre la analgesia epidural. Este estudio piloto inicial se realizo para verificar efectividad técnicas a usar y problemas que se pudieran presentar. Se aplico el protocolo en 23 pacientes que fueron llevados a cirugía de miembros inferiores, se dividieron en 2 grupos 11 recibieron bloqueos de nervio periférico y 12 analgesia epidural. Se les realizo seguimiento por 48 horas y se evaluó el control del dolor, consumo de opioides y efectos adversos. El tiempo de colocación del bloqueo fue similar en ambos grupos, el grupo de bloqueos presento menos episodios de dolor y menos episodios de dolor severo. No se presento retención urinaria en ningún paciente pero en el grupo de epidural se presento mayor incidencia de nausea y vomito (60% vs 45%). Se encontró que los bloqueos de nervio periférico son una adecuada opción para el manejo del dolor en este tipo de cirugías; y al parecer disminuye la incidencia de eventos adversos asociados a la analgesia epidural.

Cambios maculares y de capa de fibras nerviosas ganglionares posterior a la vitrectomía pars plana y sus factores pronósticos en la fundación oftalmológica nacional

OBJETIVOS: Determinar los factores pronóstico, cambios maculares morfológicos y de capa de fibras nerviosas ganglionares posterior a vitrectomía pars plana, en la Fundación Oftalmológica Nacional. MATERIALES Y MÉTODOS: Estudio longitudinal de antes y después (3y6 meses) de la vitrectomía pars plana (VPP) en pacientes con membrana epirretiniana, agujero macular, síndrome de tracción vítreo macular y opacidades vítreas no-inflamatorias. Se realizó seguimiento clínico y con tomografía de coherencia óptica. RESULTADOS: Grupo de 60 pacientes (mujeres 65.0%), edad promedio 65.45+9.49años y tiempo de enfermedad promedio 23+29.79meses. Las indicaciones de VPP (n=60ojos) fueron agujero macular (38.3%) y membrana epirretiniana (36.7%). Se encontró diferencia significativa entre grosor del complejo capa de células ganglionares (CCG)+capa plexiforme interna (CPI) inicial y 3 meses (p=0.039), correlación entre grosor del complejo CCG+CPI al tercer y sexto mes (r=0.704,p<0.001) y grosor del complejo CCG+CPI al tercer mes con grosor foveal central (CFT) al tercer y sexto mes (r=–0.594,p<0.001 y r=–0.595,p=0.001). Mayores de 65años tenían menor grosor de CFNG a 6meses (r=-0.528,p=0.007). El grosor de CFNG promedio y la presencia de la zona elipsoide inicial fueron factores pronósticos de buena agudeza visual al tercer mes de VPP (r2=0.414,p=0.018, y r2=0.414,p=0.010). CONCLUSIÓN: El grosor de CFNG y la presencia de la zona elipsoide inicial tienen alta capacidad predictiva de buena agudeza visual al tercer mes de VPP, y, correlación inversa entre grosor del complejo CCG+CPI con CFT al tercer y sexto mes de VPP.

Cuidar dos cuidadores : o (des)envolvimento da espiritualidade na prevenção de quadros de stress e burnout

A Humanidade anda cansada, esgotado. Um cansaço que é a soma do fardo de cada um e também parte do fardo de outros. E a Humanidade busca explicações para este cansaço. E quer aliviá-lo. E quer minimizá-lo. Mas busca muito mais que isso. Trata-se, enfim, de buscar não o remédio mas o sentido da própria existência, as respostas adedentro, ou seja, bem no interior do ser humano. O presente trabalho pretende ser uma reflexão – compreender para agir - sobre a busca da dimensão da espiritualidade como possível resposta na prevenção de quadros de stress e burnout. Quem trabalho na área da assistência e na relação de ajuda contínua com pessoas em situação de extrema fragilidade sabe que se não houver um cuidado na reposição de energias, com muita facilidade a pessoa chega a um estado de cansaço e a qualquer momento o turboadrenalina pode queimar. No âmbito da gestão de unidades sociais e bem-estar, cuidar dos cuidadores é a maior e mais nobre missão de qualquer Instituição. Pois, que serviços seriam vivenciados sem as pessoas que formam o corpo e, por isso, a vida de uma Instituição? O caminho da nossa reflexão é orientado para a Comunidade Vida e Paz, como espaço relacional que quer e procura ser um espaço de renovação de vidas – das pessoas sem abrigo – onde, amparadas por um conjunto de Cuidadores, cujo olhar se orienta num trabalho de unificação da pessoa, são imbuídos por uma espiritualidade que se quer colaborante na missão de dignificar cada pessoa e devolvê-la à sua condição original. A pessoa, cada pessoa, é a soma de si, da relação com outros e da relação com o transcendente. Na missão de cuidar, pode a espiritualidade ser ausente? Desta, retiramos um sentido coerente da existência, a verdade do dom e da dádiva e, por isso, uma vida feliz.

Reduced maximal oxygen consumption and overproduction of proinflammatory cytokines in athletes

Objective: It was the aim of this study to evaluate whether chronic pain in athletes is related to performance, measured by the maximum oxygen consumption and production of hormones and cytokines. Methods: Fifty-five athletes with a mean age of 31.9 +/- 4.2 years engaged in regular competition and showing no symptoms of acute inflammation, particularly fever, were studied. They were divided into 2 subgroups according to the occurrence of pain. Plasma concentrations of adrenaline, noradrenaline, cortisol, prolactin, growth hormone and dopamine were measured by radioimmunoassay, and the production of the cytokines interleukin (IL)-1, IL-2, IL-4, IL-6, tumor necrosis factor-alpha, interferon-alpha and prostaglandin E-2 by whole-blood culture. Maximal oxygen consumption was determined during an incremental treadmill test. Results: There was no change in the concentration of stress hormones, but the athletes with chronic pain showed a reduction in maximum oxygen consumption (22%) and total consumption at the anaerobic threshold (25%), as well as increased cytokine production. Increases of 2.7-, 8.1-, 1.7- and 3.7-fold were observed for IL-1, IL-2, tumor necrosis factor-alpha and interferon-alpha, respectively. Conclusions: Our data show that athletes with chronic pain have enhanced production of proinflammatory cytokines and lipid mediators and reduced performance in the ergospirometric test. Copyright (c) 2008 S. Karger AG, Basel.