The Effects of Tryptamine Psychedelics in the Brain: A meta-Analysis of Functional and Review of Molecular Imaging Studies.

There is an increasing interest in the neural effects of psychoactive drugs, in particular tryptamine psychedelics, which has been incremented by the proposal that they have potential therapeutic benefits, based on their molecular mimicry of serotonin. It is widely believed that they act mainly through 5HT2A receptors but their effects on neural activation of distinct brain systems are not fully understood. We performed a quantitative meta-analysis of brain imaging studies to investigate the effects of substances within this class (e.g., LSD, Psilocybin, DMT, Ayahuasca) in the brain from a molecular and functional point of view. We investigated the question whether the changes in activation patterns and connectivity map into regions with larger 5HT1A/5HT2A receptor binding, as expected from indolaemine hallucinogens (in spite of the often reported emphasis only on 5HT2AR). We did indeed find that regions with changed connectivity and/or activation patterns match regions with high density of 5HT2A receptors, namely visual BA19, visual fusiform regions in BA37, dorsal anterior and posterior cingulate cortex, medial prefrontal cortex, and regions involved in theory of mind such as the surpramarginal gyrus, and temporal cortex (rich in 5HT1A receptors). However, we also found relevant patterns in other brain regions such as dorsolateral prefrontal cortex. Moreover, many of the above-mentioned regions also have a significant density of both 5HT1A/5HT2A receptors, and available PET studies on the effects of psychedelics on receptor occupancy are still quite scarce, precluding a metanalytic approach. Finally, we found a robust neuromodulatory effect in the right amygdala. In sum, the available evidence points towards strong neuromodulatory effects of tryptamine psychedelics in key brain regions involved in mental imagery, theory of mind and affective regulation, pointing to potential therapeutic applications of this class of substances.

Cultura, economia, política e saber como espaços de significação na Terapia Ocupacional Social: Reflexões sobre a experiência do Ponto de Encontro e Cultura / Culture, economics, politics and knowledge as meaning-spaces in Social Occupational Therapy: reflections on the experience of "Ponto de Encontro e Cultura"

This article describes and analyzes the "Ponto de Encontro e Cultura - PEC", an experience developed by METUIA - University of São Paulo (USP-SP) in São Paulo from 2007 to 2011 which linked occupational therapy to areas of cultural production. It was attended by the homeless, occupational therapists and students of occupational therapy. To perform the analysis of the different dimensions of the experience we were guided by the meaning-space notion. We took the space as an organizer to understand a reality in which relationships and actions are being empowered in four different spheres: culture, economics, politics and knowledge. We noted that this practice showed that there was an ongoing collective effort to build what may be called piece. This characterizes a process where the space is a common reference point which brings into play different modes of sociability that are created by the management of common symbols and codes. It was important to recognize and appreciate the plurality of modes of knowledge. Thus, we observed that, from the cultural sphere, it is possible to articulate economics, health, social assistance, politics, and knowledge production.(AU)

Trata-se da descrição e análise da experiência do Ponto de Encontro e Cultura - PEC, desenvolvido pelo Projeto Metuia - Universidade de São Paulo (USP-SP) entre 2007 e 2011, em São Paulo, SP, articulando a Terapia Ocupacional às áreas de produção cultural. Ela envolveu pessoas em situação de rua, terapeutas ocupacionais e estudantes de Terapia Ocupacional. A leitura de diferentes dimensões da experiência foi conduzida pela noção de espaço de significação. Tomamos o espaço enquanto campo capaz de servir de articulador e de interpretação do real, em que relações e ações potencializam as quatro esferas da ação em Terapia Ocupacional que focalizamos: a cultura, a economia, a política e o saber. Compreendemos que o esforço coletivo de construção permanente do PEC foi o de evidenciar suas características como pedaço, ou seja, transformando-se em um ponto de referência comum no qual estão em jogo sociabilidades que se estabelecem pelo manejo de símbolos e códigos comuns. Assim, notamos que, partindo do espaço da cultura, é possível tecer articulações com a economia, a saúde, a assistência social, a política e a produção de conhecimentos.(AU)

Cultura, economia, política e saber como espaços de significação na terapia ocupacional social: reflexões sobre a experiência do ponto de encontro e cultura / Culture, economics, politics and knowledge as meaning-spaces in social occupational therapy: reflections on the experience of "ponto de encontro e cultura"

Trata-se da descrição e análise da experiência do Ponto de Encontro e Cultura - PEC, desenvolvido pelo Projeto Metuia - Universidade de São Paulo (USP-SP) entre 2007 e 2011, em São Paulo, SP, articulando a Terapia Ocupacional às áreas de produção cultural. Ela envolveu pessoas em situação de rua, terapeutas ocupacionais e estudantes de Terapia Ocupacional. A leitura de diferentes dimensões da experiência foi conduzida pela noção de espaço de significação. Tomamos o espaço enquanto campo capaz de servir de articulador e de interpretação do real, em que relações e ações potencializam as quatro esferas da ação em Terapia Ocupacional que focalizamos: a cultura, a economia, a política e o saber. Compreendemos que o esforço coletivo de construção permanente do PEC foi o de evidenciar suas características como pedaço, ou seja, transformando-se em um ponto de referência comum no qual estão em jogo sociabilidades que se estabelecem pelo manejo de símbolos e códigos comuns. Assim, notamos que, partindo do espaço da cultura, é possível tecer articulações com a economia, a saúde, a assistência social, a política e a produção de conhecimentos.

This article describes and analyzes the "Ponto de Encontro e Cultura - PEC", an experience developed by METUIA - University of São Paulo (USP-SP) in São Paulo from 2007 to 2011 which linked occupational therapy to areas of cultural production. It was attended by the homeless, occupational therapists and students of occupational therapy. To perform the analysis of the different dimensions of the experience we were guided by the meaning-space notion. We took the space as an organizer to understand a reality in which relationships and actions are being empowered in four different spheres: culture, economics, politics and knowledge. We noted that this practice showed that there was an ongoing collective effort to build what may be called piece. This characterizes a process where the space is a common reference point which brings into play different modes of sociability that are created by the management of common symbols and codes. It was important to recognize and appreciate the plurality of modes of knowledge. Thus, we observed that, from the cultural sphere, it is possible to articulate economics, health, social assistance, politics, and knowledge production.

Micropropagation, antinociceptive and antioxidant activities of extracts of Verbena litoralis Kunth (Verbenaceae).

This work describes an efficient micropropagation protocol for Verbena litoralis and the study of the antinociceptive and antioxidant activities in extracts of this species. For the establishment in vitro, surface-sterilization procedures and PVPP showed high efficiency in fungal-bacterial contamination and phenol oxidation controls. Nodal segments cultivation in MS medium supplemented with 6-benzyladenine (7.5 µM)/α-naphthaleneacetic acid (NAA; 0.005 µM) induced multiple shoots. Elongated shoots were rooted with IAA (0.2 µM). Acclimatization rates were elevated and the plants showed the typical features of this species. The hexanic fraction (HF) of powdered leaves presented a radical scavenging activity with IC(50) = 169.3 µg mL(-1). HF showed a non-dose dependent analgesic activity in the writhing test; its antinociceptive activity in the hot plate test was restricted to 500 mg kg(-1), which is the highest dose. The results of this study showed the potential of tissue culture on conservation and large scale multiplication and confirmed the traditional folk medicine use of V. litoralis.