Cognitive impairment induced by delta9-tetrahydrocannabinol occurs through heteromers between cannabinoid CB1 and serotonin 5-HT2A receptors

Delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the main psychoactive compound of marijuana, induces numerous undesirable effects, including memory impairments, anxiety, and dependence. Conversely, THC also has potentially therapeutic effects, including analgesia, muscle relaxation, and neuroprotection. However, the mechanisms that dissociate these responses are still not known. Using mice lacking the serotonin receptor 5-HT2A, we revealed that the analgesic and amnesic effects of THC are independent of each other: while amnesia induced by THC disappears in the mutant mice, THC can still promote analgesia in these animals. In subsequent molecular studies, we showed that in specific brain regions involved in memory formation, the receptors for THC and the 5-HT2A receptors work together by physically interacting with each other. Experimentally interfering with this interaction prevented the memory deficits induced by THC, but not its analgesic properties. Our results highlight a novel mechanism by which the beneficial analgesic properties of THC can be dissociated from its cognitive side effects

The Brazilian Developments on the Regional Atmospheric Modeling System (BRAMS 5.2): An Integrated Environmental Model Tuned for Tropical Areas

We present a new version of the Brazilian developments on the Regional Atmospheric Modeling System where different previous versions for weather, chemistry and carbon cycle were unified in a single integrated software system. The new version also has a new set of state-of-the-art physical parameterizations and greater computational parallel and memory usage efficiency. Together with the description of the main features are examples of the quality of the transport scheme for scalars, radiative fluxes on surface and model simulation of rainfall systems over South America in different spatial resolutions using a scale-aware convective parameterization. Besides, the simulation of the diurnal cycle of the convection and carbon dioxide concentration over the Amazon Basin, as well as carbon dioxide fluxes from biogenic processes over a large portion of South America are shown. Atmospheric chemistry examples present model performance in simulating near-surface carbon monoxide and ozone in Amazon Basin and Rio de Janeiro megacity. For tracer transport and dispersion, it is demonstrated the model capabilities to simulate the volcanic ash 3-d redistribution associated with the eruption of a Chilean volcano. Then, the gain of computational efficiency is described with some details. BRAMS has been applied for research and operational forecasting mainly in South America. Model results from the operational weather forecast of BRAMS on 5 km grid spacing in the Center for Weather Forecasting and Climate Studies, INPE/Brazil, since 2013 are used to quantify the model skill of near surface variables and rainfall. The scores show the reliability of BRAMS for the tropical and subtropical areas of South America. Requirements for keeping this modeling system competitive regarding on its functionalities and skills are discussed. At last, we highlight the relevant contribution of this work on the building up of a South American community of model developers

Heteroreceptor complexes formed by dopamine D1, histamine H3 and N-methyl-D-aspartate glutamate receptors as targets to prevent neuronal death in Alzheimer's disease

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a neurodegenerative disorder causing progressive memory loss and cognitive dysfunction. Anti-AD strategies targeting cell receptors consider them as isolated units. However, many cell surface receptors cooperate and physically contact each other forming complexes having different biochemical properties than individual receptors. We here report the discovery of dopamine D , histamine H , and N-methylD-aspartate (NMDA) glutamate receptor heteromers in heterologous systems and in rodent brain cortex. Heteromers were detected by coimmunoprecipitation and in situ proximity ligation assays (PLA) in the rat cortex where H receptor agonists, via negative cross-talk, and H receptor antagonists, via cross-antagonism, decreased D receptor agonist signaling determined by ERK1/2 or Akt phosphorylation and counteracted D receptormediated excitotoxic cell death. Both D and H receptor antagonists also counteracted NMDA toxicity suggesting a complex interaction between NMDA receptors and D -H receptor heteromer function. Likely due to heteromerization, H receptors act as allosteric regulator for D and NMDA receptors. By bioluminescence resonance energy transfer (BRET), we demonstrated that D or H receptors form heteromers with NR1A/NR2B NMDA receptor subunits. D -H -NMDA receptor complexes were confirmed by BRET combined with fluorescence complementation. The endogenous expression of complexes in mouse cortex was determined by PLA and similar expression was observed in wild-type and APP/PS1 mice. Consistent with allosteric receptor-receptor interactions within the complex, H receptor antagonists reduced NMDA or D receptor-mediated excitotoxic cell death in cortical organotypic cultures. Moreover, H receptor antagonists reverted the toxicity induced by ß -amyloid peptide. Thus, histamine H receptors in D -H -NMDA heteroreceptor complexes arise as promising targets to prevent neurodegeneration

The open abdomen in trauma and non-trauma patients : WSES guidelines

Damage control resuscitation may lead to postoperative intra-abdominal hypertension or abdominal compartment syndrome. These conditions may result in a vicious, self-perpetuating cycle leading to severe physiologic derangements and multiorgan failure unless interrupted by abdominal (surgical or other) decompression. Further, in some clinical situations, the abdomen cannot be closed due to the visceral edema, the inability to control the compelling source of infection or the necessity to re-explore (as a "planned second-look" laparotomy) or complete previously initiated damage control procedures or in cases of abdominal wall disruption. The open abdomen in trauma and non-trauma patients has been proposed to be effective in preventing or treating deranged physiology in patients with severe injuries or critical illness when no other perceived options exist. Its use, however, remains controversial as it is resource consuming and represents a non-anatomic situation with the potential for severe adverse effects. Its use, therefore, should only be considered in patients who would most benefit from it. Abdominal fascia-to-fascia closure should be done as soon as the patient can physiologically tolerate it. All precautions to minimize complications should be implemented.Peer reviewe

Relação educação-sociedade no discurso político e educacional dos governos de coalizão (1990-2009)

This article examines the vision of society that goes together with the educational policies of the governments of the Concertación. In order to do this, the author studies the ‘inauguration speeches of the school year’ given by the Ministers of Education between 1990 and 2009. In them, the concepts of society expressly used are reviewed and so are those conceptions, indirectly used, to justify the measures of educational policies proposed. The educational political speech of the Concertación is analyzed between 1990 and 2009, organizing it into three periods. At first, the identity of the new government and the differences with the inherited society from the dictatorship are clearly marked. In the second stage, the presentation and justification of the reforms and accomplishments are predominant. The closure period is faced with strong education demands and the speech encounters again the democratic and egalitarian emphasis of the original speech.Este artículo examina la visión de sociedad que acompaña a la política educativa de los gobiernos de la Concertación. Para ello estudia los ‘discursos de inauguración del año escolar’ pronunciados por los ministros de educación entre 1990-2009. En ellos se consigna los conceptos de sociedad utilizados expresamente y se examina también aquellas concepciones a las que se recurre, de modo indirecto, para justificar las medidas de política educativa propuestas. Se organiza los discursos en tres períodos. En el primer momento se marca con claridad la identidad del nuevo gobierno y las diferencias con la sociedad heredada de la dictadura. En la segunda etapa predomina la presentación y justificación de las reformas y realizaciones. En el período de cierre se enfrenta demandas educativas fuertes y el discurso rencuentra los énfasis democráticos e igualitarios del discurso inicial.Analisa-se a visão de sociedade que acompanha a política educacional dos governos de Coalizão. Para isto, estudamse os ‘discursos de abertura do ano escolar’ proferidos pelos Ministros da Educação de 1990 a 2009. Deles, retira-se o conceito de sociedade e neles também se examina concepções às quais se recorre, de modo indireto, para justificar as medidas políticas propostas para a educação. Analisa-se o discurso político educativo da Coalizão entre os anos de 1990 a 2009, organizando-o em três períodos. No primeiro, está expressa claramente a identidade do novo governo e as diferenças com a sociedade do período da Ditadura. No segundo, predomina a apresentação e justificativas de reformas e realizações. No último, enfrenta-se demandas educativas fortes e o discurso enfatiza a visão democrática e igualitária do discurso inicial

WSES SM (World Society of Emergency Surgery Summer Meeting) highlights: emergency surgery around the world (Brazil, Finland, USA)

Emergency surgery is performed in every hospital with a A and E unit all around the world. However it is organized in different ways with different results

Rendimiento y composición química del aceite esencial de zingiber officinale en función del diámetro de partícula

El aceite esencial de los rizomas de Zingiber officinale (Zingiberaceae) fue obtenido empleando la hidrodestilación asistida por la radiación de microondas (MWHD) y analizado por GC-MS. El rendimiento y la composición química del aceite fueron determinados usando rizoma con diferentes tamaños de partícula. El aceite se caracterizó por la presencia de neral y geranial (9.7-10.4 por ciento y 11.6- 14.0 por ciento, respectivamente), zingibereno (7.7-8.4 por ciento), canfeno (5.4-6.4 por ciento), arcurcumeno (2.8-3.3 por ciento), a-farneseno (3.2-3.6 por ciento), 1,8-cineol geraniol y citronelol. El mayor rendimiento de la esencia se obtuvo usando el menor diámetro de partícula (Dp = 1.67 mm). La dis tribución de los grupos de compuestos presentes en el aceite fue determinada, mostrando un incremento de los monoterpenos para el menor diámetro de partícula. En cambio, los sesquiterpenos tales como ar-curcumeno, zingibereno y a-farneseno, aumentaron su contenido cuando se usaron tamices de menor número de malla (Dp = 3.99 mm)