Sexual behaviour of young rams is improved and less stressful after intranasal administration of oxytocin.

The aim of this study was to determine if intranasal administration of oxytocin modifies sexual behaviour and the stress response in young rams during sexual tests with ewes in oestrus. Ten rams were used in a cross-over design. At Day 0, the control group (CG, n = 5) received isotonic saline spray intranasally, and the treated group (OTG, n = 5) received oxytocin (24 IU) intranasally, 40 min before the sexual test. At Day 15, the groups were reversed. In each sexual test (20 min) with an oestrous-induced ewe, the sexual behaviour of the young rams was recorded. Serum cortisol concentrations were determined before and after the test. Less flehmen was observed in the OTG, but mounts with ejaculation were increased. The OTG presented lower serum cortisol concentration than the CG. In conclusion, intranasal administration of oxytocin modified the sexual behaviour of rams, evidenced by a decrease in flehmen behaviour and an increase in mounts with ejaculation, making sexual activity more efficacious. In addition, the treatment decreased the stress response of the rams in the sexual tests. Therefore, intranasal administration of oxytocin could be used to increase sexual activity in rams, and with less stress, providing better welfare conditions.

Perceived discomfort and neuromuscular fatigue during long-duration real driving with different car seats.

INTRODUCTION: Identification of the seat features that could improve driving experience is a main issue for automotive companies. OBJECTIVE: Long duration real driving sessions were performed to assess the effect of three seats (soft-S1, firm-S2 and suspended-S3) on perceived discomfort and neuromuscular fatigue (NMF). MATERIALS & METHODS: For each seat, the muscular activity of bilateral Trapezius Descendens (TD), Erector Spinae (ES) and Multifidus (MF) muscles of twenty-one participants was recorded during real driving sessions of 3-hours each lasting approximately 3 hours and following the same itinerary. During each driving session, participants were also regularly asked to self-evaluate their level of whole-body and local discomfort. In addition, an endurance static test (EST) was performed before (ESTpre) and after (ESTpost) each driving session to assess the seat effect on physical capacity. RESULTS: Whole-body discomfort increased with driving time for all seats, but this increase became significant latter for S3. The highest scores of local discomfort occurred for neck and lower back. Contrary to S1 and S2, the duration of ESTpost was not significantly lower compared to ESTpre with the S3. Interestingly, muscular activity of S1 remained stable throughout the driving task which could be attributed to sustained muscular contraction, while muscular recruitment adjustments occurred for S2 and S3 from 1H00 of driving. This muscular compensation concerns mostly the right side for S2 and S3 but with different profiles. On the left side, the muscular adjustments concern only the MF with S2 and the ES with S3. CONCLUSION: Overall, our results demonstrated that S3 could be considered as the most suitable seat to delay discomfort and NMF appearance.

Diets, genes, and drugs that increase lifespan and delay age-related diseases: Role of nutrient-sensing neurons and Creb-binding protein.

Discovery of interventions that delay or minimize age-related diseases is arguably the major goal of aging research. Conversely discovery of interventions based on phenotypic screens have often led to further elucidation of pathophysiological mechanisms. Although most hypotheses to explain lifespan focus on cell-autonomous processes, increasing evidence suggests that in multicellular organisms, neurons, particularly nutrient-sensing neurons, play a determinative role in lifespan and age-related diseases. For example, protective effects of dietary restriction and inactivation of insulin-like signaling increase lifespan and delay age-related diseases dependent on Creb-binding protein in GABA neurons, and Nrf2/Skn1 in just 2 nutrient-sensing neurons in C. elegans. Screens for drugs that increase lifespan also indicate that such drugs are predominantly active through neuronal signaling. Our own screens also indicate that neuroactive drugs also delay pathology in an animal model of Alzheimer's Disease, as well as inhibit cytokine production implicated in driving many age-related diseases. The most likely mechanism by which nutrient-sensing neurons influence lifespan and the onset of age-related diseases is by regulating metabolic architecture, particularly the relative rate of glycolysis vs. alternative metabolic pathways such as ketone and lipid metabolism. These results suggest that neuroactive compounds are a most promising class of drugs to delay or minimize age-related diseases.

Soft-Shear-Aligned Vertically Oriented Lamellar Block Copolymers for Template-Free Sub-10 nm Patterning and Hybrid Nanostructures.

The template-free unidirectional alignment of lamellar block copolymers (l-BCPs) for sub-10 nm high-resolution patterning and hybrid multicomponent nanostructures is important for technological applications. We demonstrate a modified soft-shear-directed self-assembly (SDSA) approach for aligning pristine l-BCPs and l-BCPs with incorporated polymer-grafted nanoparticles (PGNPs), as well as the l-BCP conversion to aligned gold nanowires, and hybrid of metallic gold nanowire and dielectric silica nanoparticle in the form of line-dot nanostructures. The smallest patterns have a half-pitch as small as 9.8 nm. In all cases, soft-shear is achieved using a high-molecular-mass polymer topcoat layer, with support on a neutral bottom layer. We also show that the hybrid line-dot nanostructures have a red-shifted plasmonic response in comparison to neat gold nanowires. These template-free aligned BCPs and nanowires have potential use in nanopatterning applications, and the line-dot nanostructures should be useful in the sensing of biomolecules and other molecular species based on the plasmonic response of the nanowires.

An Amphotericin B Derivative Equally Potent to Amphotericin B and with Increased Safety.

Amphotericin B is the most potent antimycotic known to date. However due to its large collateral toxicity, its use, although long standing, had been limited. Many attempts have been made to produce derivatives with reduced collateral damage. The molecular mechanism of polyene has also been closely studied for this purpose and understanding it would contribute to the development of safe derivatives. Our study examined polyene action, including chemical synthesis, electrophysiology, pharmacology, toxicology and molecular dynamics. The results were used to support a novel Amphotericin B derivative with increased selectivity: L-histidine methyl ester of Amphotericin B. We found that this derivative has the same form of action as Amphotericin B, i.e. pore formation in the cell membrane. Its reduced dimerization in solution, when compared to Amphotericin B, is at least partially responsible for its increased selectivity. Here we also present the results of preclinical tests, which show that the derivative is just as potent as Amphotericin B and has increased safety.

Aspectos bioéticos de la farmacogenómica en la fase clínica de desarrollo de medicamentos / Bioethical aspects of pharmacogenomics in the clinical phase of drug development

La fase clínica de desarrollo de medicamentos para el tratamiento de enfermedades multifactoriales es larga y costosa. La farmacogenómica ayuda ese proceso mediante un mejor diseño de los ensayos clínicos y la selección de los pacientes con mayor probabilidad de responder con efectividad y menos reacciones adversas a los candidatos terapéuticos. Los objetivo de la presente revisión bibliográfica es exponer las ventajas de las pruebas farmacogenómicas en los ensayos clínicos de desarrollo de medicamentos, explicar las consecuencias éticas, legales y psicosociales de su aplicación y proponer algunas medidas para contrarrestar los riesgos psicosociales. Las pruebas farmacogenómicas fueron evaluada de manera simple, múltiple y combinada y cumplieron varios objetivos y funciones en las diferentes de fases de los ensayos clínicos de medicamentos. La realización del consentimiento informado de los sujetos participantes en los ensayos clínicos y su evaluación por los Comité de Ética y Revisión, las acciones de las autoridades regulatorias nacionales, el cumplimiento de las regulaciones ministeriales en salud pública, la aplicación de los principios bioéticos internacionales y el análisis de cada dilema ético según sus particularidades, son medidas que buscaron favorecer el respeto a la dignidad, la autonomía e intimidad de los sujetos de investigación y facilitar la aplicación de la farmacogenómica en los ensayos clínicos de medicamentos.

The clinical phase in the development of drugs for the treatment of multifactorial diseases is both lengthy and costly. Pharmacogenomics aids this process by providing a better design of clinical trials as well as a selection of patients with a greater probability to effectively respond and fewer adverse reactions to therapeutic candidates. The present bibliographic review is intended to reveal the advantages of pharmacogenomic tests in clinical trials for drug development, explain the ethical, legal and psychosocial consequences of their application, and propose some measures to counteract psychosocial risks. Pharmacogenomic tests were evaluated in a simple, multiple and combined manner, and fulfilled several objectives and functions at the various phases of clinical trials of drugs. Informed consent from the subjects participating in the clinical trials and their evaluation by the Ethical Review Board, actions taken by national regulatory authorities, compliance with public health ministerial regulations, application of international bioethical principles, and analysis of each ethical dilemma according to its specific characteristics, are all measures aimed at enhancing respect for dignity, autonomy and privacy of research subjects and facilitating the application of pharmacogenomics to clinical trials of drugs.

Effect of membrane structure on the action of polyenes II: nystatin activity along the phase diagram of ergosterol- and cholesterol-containing POPC membranes.

Pores formed by the polyene antibiotic nystatin were studied in solvent-free lipid membranes. The membranes were formed by the tip-dip technique using 1-palmitoyl-2-oleoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine (POPC) with different mol fractions (0-50%) of cholesterol or ergosterol. The effects of the mol fraction of sterol and of temperature variation (15-35°C) on the activity of the pores, their unitary conductances, lifetimes and time average conductances were studied. The results were used to analyze the behavior of nystatin channels along the phase diagrams previously reported for these lipid mixtures and to propose that membrane structure is the determinant factor for the known ergosterol/cholesterol selectivity.

Effect of membrane structure on the action of polyenes: I. Nystatin action in cholesterol- and ergosterol-containing membranes.

A detailed and thorough characterization of nystatin-induced permeability on lipid bilayers of 1-palmitoyl-2-oleoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine (POPC)-containing ergosterol or cholesterol is presented. The results show that the same collection of transmembrane pores appears in membranes containing either sterol. The concentration range for the appearance of these pores is sterol-dependent. Another mechanism of action, membrane disruption, is also observed in ergosterol-POPC membranes. The greater potency of nystatin present in ergosterol-containing membranes cannot be explained simply by the longer opening times of its pores, as has been suggested; it is also due to an increased number of events in these membranes. The present results and those of a companion paper lead us to propose that membrane structure is the determining factor for drug selectivity in membranes with different sterols.

[Preliminary evaluation of a rapid, qualitative one step immunoassay of cardiac Troponin I in the acute myocardial infarction diagnosis]. / Evaluación preliminar de un inmunoanálisis de un solo paso, cualitativo y rápido de Troponina I cardiaca en el diagnóstico del infarto agudo del miocardio.

The cardiac Troponin I is considered the biochemical marker of election to detect acute myocardial infarction, a medical urgency that requires a rapid diagnosis. In this article, the diagnosis of this condition was studied qualitatively through an immunochromatographic assay of a single step detection of cardiac Troponin I elaborated in the laboratory comparing it with another, commercially available, qualitative immunochromatographic assay of detection of cardiac Troponin I, Cardiac STATUS TM. The plasmas of 76 patients with acute myocardial infarction and 50 plasmas obtained from healthy donors were evaluated retrospectively. The laboratory's immunoassay did not present cross reactivity with the skeletal isoform of Troponin I. This test detected 1 ng/mL or more of cardiac Troponin I in the form of a tertiary complex in plasma and it also recognized the free molecule. The clinical sensitivity of the immunoassay of the laboratory in patients with Q wave type acute myocardial infarction was 100% and for the commercial immunoassay was 85.7% in the period of 6 h to 24 h following the onset of chest pain. For this type of infarction, the signal was detected up to 148 h after the onset of symptoms and the clinical sensitivity oscillated between 84.2% and 90.9% for both assays. The clinical sensitivities of the two immunoassays were 70% in the case of patients with non-Q wave acute myocardial infarction. With healthy donor's samples, the clinical specificity of the immunochromatographic assay prepared in the laboratory was of 90.4% and for commercial immunoassay was 100%. The immunochromatographic immunoassays of a single step for the detection of cardiac Troponin I evaluated in this work, diagnosed in a quick and easy way, important myocardial cell death and to lesser extent smaller necrosis, in patients without concluding electrocardioghraphic signs and with the possibility of the occurrence of complications.

Evaluación preliminar de un inmunoanálisis de un solo paso, cualitativo y rápido de troponina I cardiaca en el diagnóstico del infarto agudo del miocardio / Preliminary evaluation of a rapid, qualitative one step immunoassay of cardiac troponin I in the acute myocardial infartion diagnosis

La Troponina I cardiaca es considerada el marcador bioquímico de elección para el infarto agudo del miocardio; que es una urgencia médica y es necesario su diagnóstico rápido. En este artículo se estudió la posibilidad de diagnosticar esta entidad nosológica de una manera cualitativa a través de un ensayo inmunocromatográfico de un solo paso de detección de Troponina I cardiaca elaborado en el laboratorio y otro ensayo inmunocromatográfico cualitativo de detección de Troponina I cardiaca Cardiac STATus. Se evaluaron retrospectivamente 76 plasmas de pacientes con infarto agudo del miocardio y 50 plasmas de donantes sanos. El inmunoensayo del laboratorio no presentó reactividad cruzada con la isoforma esquelética de la Troponina I.Esta prueba detectó 1 ng/mL o mayor de Troponina I cardiaca en forma de complejo terciario en plasma y también reconoció la molécula libre. La sensibilidad clínica del inmunoensayo del laboratorio en pacientes con infarto agudo del miocardio de tipo Q fue 100 por ciento para el inmunoensayo comercial, 85,7 por ciento en el período de 6 h a 24 h de inicio del dolor en el pecho. Para ese tipo de infarto se detectó señal hasta las 148 h y la sensibilidad clínica entre 84,2 por ciento y 90,9 por ciento para ambos sistemas. En el caso de pacientes con infarto agudo del miocardio de tipo no-O la sensibilidad clínica fue 70 por ciento en los dos inmunoensayos. La especificidad clínica del inmunocromatográfico de Troponina I cardiaca preparado en el laboratorio con muestras de donantes sanos fue 90,4 por ciento y para el inmunocromatográfico comercial, 100 por ciento. Los dos sistemas inmunocromatográficos de un solo paso para la detección de Troponina I cardiaca evaluados en este trabajo diagnóstican de una manera rápida y fácil la muerte celular miocárdica importante y en menor grado, aquella necrosis más pequeña, sin signos electrocardiograficos concluyentes y con posibilidades de la ocurrencia de complicaciones a corto y mediano plazo en el paciente con síndrome coronario agudo

Amphotericin B channels in the bacterial membrane: role of sterol and temperature.

Amphotericin B is an antibiotic that forms ion channels in the membrane of a host cell. The change in permeability produced by these channels is greatly improved by sterols; nevertheless, the single channel conductivity remains invariant. Hence, it is proposed that sterols do not act directly, but rather through the modulation of the membrane phase. We look at the formation of these channels in the bacterial membrane to determine the mechanism of its known antibiotic resistance. We found that channels can indeed be formed in this membrane, but a substantial amount of amphotericin B is required. We also study the effects of the antibiotic concentration needed for channel expression as well as the dynamics of channels affected by both sterol and temperature in phosphatidylcholine membranes. The results support the idea that membrane structure is a determining factor in the action of the antibiotic.