Animal-derived products in science and current alternatives.

More than fifty years after the 3Rs definition and despite the continuous implementation of regulatory measures, animals continue to be widely used in basic research. Their use comprises not only in vivo experiments with animal models, but also the production of a variety of supplements and products of animal origin for cell and tissue culture, cell-based assays, and therapeutics. The animal-derived products most used in basic research are fetal bovine serum (FBS), extracellular matrix proteins such as Matrigel™, and antibodies. However, their production raises several ethical issues regarding animal welfare. Additionally, their biological origin is associated with a high risk of contamination, resulting, frequently, in poor scientific data for clinical translation. These issues support the search for new animal-free products able to replace FBS, Matrigel™, and antibodies in basic research. In addition, in silico methodologies play an important role in the reduction of animal use in research by refining the data previously to in vitro and in vivo experiments. In this review, we depicted the current available animal-free alternatives in in vitro research.

Bitter taste signaling in cancer.

Pharmacoresistance of cancer cells to many drugs used in chemotherapy remains a major challenge for the treatment of cancer. Multidrug resistance transporters, especially ATP-binding cassette (ABC) transporters, are a major cause of cancer drug resistance since they translocate a broad range of drug compounds across the cell membrane, extruding them out of the cells. The regulation of ABC transporters by bitter taste receptors (TAS2Rs), which might be activated by specific bitter tasting compounds, was described in several types of cells/organs, becoming a potential target for cancer therapy. TAS2Rs expression has been reported in many organs and several types of cancer, like breast, ovarian, prostate, and colorectal cancers, where their activation was shown to be involved in various biological actions (cell survival, apoptosis, molecular transport, among others). Moreover, many TAS2Rs' ligands, such as flavonoids and alkaloids, with well-recognized beneficial properties, including several anticancer effects, have been reported as potential adjuvants in cancer therapies. In this review, we discuss the potential therapeutic role of TAS2Rs and bitter tasting compounds in different types of cancer as a possible way to circumvent chemoresistance.

Circadian rhythmicity of amyloid-beta-related molecules is disrupted in the choroid plexus of a female Alzheimer's disease mouse model.

The choroid plexus (CP) is part of the blood-cerebrospinal fluid barrier (BCSFB) and was recently described as an important component of the circadian clock system. It is the principal source of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and responsible for the synthesis and secretion of various neuroprotective peptides including those involved in amyloid-ß (Aß) transport/degradation, contributing to Aß homeostasis. Inadequate Aß metabolic clearance and transport across the BCSFB have been associated with circadian dysfunctions in Alzheimer's disease (AD) patients. To investigate whether AD pathology influences Aß scavengers circadian expression, we collected CP at different time points from an AD mouse model (APP/PS1) (female and male animals, aged 6- and 12-months-old) and analyzed their mRNA expression by Real-time RT-PCR. Only angiotensin-converting enzyme (Ace) expression in 6-month-old female wild-type mice and transthyretin (Ttr) expression in 12-month-old female wild-type mice presented significant rhythmicity. The circadian rhythmicity of Ace and Ttr, prompt us to analyze the involvement of circadian rhythm in Aß uptake. A human CP papilloma (HIBCPP) cell line was incubated with Aß-488 and uptake was evaluated at different time points using flow cytometry. Aß uptake displayed circadian rhythmicity. Our results suggest that AD might affect Aß scavengers rhythmicity and that Aß clearance is a rhythmic process possibly regulated by the rhythmic expression of Aß scavengers.

Misinformation in nutrition through the case of coconut oil: An online before-and-after study.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Despite recent scientific evidence indicating absence of cardiometabolic benefit resulting from coconut oil intake, its consumption has increased in recent years, which can be attributed to a promotion of its use on social networks. We evaluated the patterns, reasons and beliefs related to coconut oil consumption and its perceived benefits in an online survey of a population in southern Brazil. METHODS AND RESULTS: We conducted a before-and-after study using an 11-item online questionnaire that evaluated coconut oil consumption. In the same survey, participants who consumed coconut oil received an intervention to increase literacy about the health effects of coconut oil intake. We obtained 3160 valid responses. Among participants who consumed coconut oil (59.1%), 82.5% considered it healthy and 65.4% used it at least once a month. 81.2% coconut oil consumers did not observe any health improvements. After being exposed to the conclusions of a meta-analysis showing that coconut oil does not show superior health benefits when compared to other oils and fats, 73.5% of those who considered coconut oil healthy did not change their opinion. Among individuals who did not consume coconut oil, 47.6% considered it expensive and 11.6% deemed it unhealthy. CONCLUSIONS: Coconut oil consumption is motivated by the responders' own beliefs in its supposed health benefits, despite what scientific research demonstrates. This highlights the difficulty in deconstructing inappropriate concepts of healthy diets that are disseminated in society.

The role of circadian rhythm in choroid plexus functions.

For several years, a great effort has been devoted to understand how circadian oscillations in physiological processes are determined by the circadian clock system. This system is composed by the master clock at the suprachiasmatic nucleus which sets the pace and tunes peripheral clocks in several organs. It was recently demonstrated that the choroid plexus epithelial cells that compose the blood-cerebrospinal fluid barrier hold a circadian clock which might control their multiple functions with implications for the maintenance of brain homeostasis. However, the choroid plexus activities regulated by its inner clock are still largely unknown. In this review, we propose that several choroid plexus functions might be regulated by the circadian clock, alike in other tissues. We provide evidences that the timing of cerebrospinal fluid secretion, clearance of amyloid-beta peptides and xenobiotics, and the barrier function of the blood-cerebrospinal fluid barrier are regulated by the circadian clock. These data, highlight that the circadian regulation of the blood-cerebrospinal fluid barrier must be taken into consideration for enhancing drug delivery to central nervous system disorders.

Trichotillomania and excoriation disorder: Primary care implications.

ABSTRACT: Trichotillomania and excoriation disorder are two psychiatric conditions that have similar origins to obsessive compulsive disorder. Both can cause patients significant distress and lead to medical consequences. It is important that primary care NPs identify and refer these individuals for psychiatric treatment.

The Choroid Plexus Is an Alternative Source of Prolactin to the Rat Brain.

Among the more than 300 functions attributed to prolactin (PRL), this hormone has been associated with the induction of neurogenesis and differentiation of olfactory neurons especially during pregnancy, which are essential for maternal behavior. Despite the original hypothesis that PRL enters the central nervous system through a process mediated by PRL receptors (PRLR) at the choroid plexus (CP), recent data suggested that PRL transport into the brain is independent of its receptors. Based on transcriptomic data suggesting that PRL could be expressed in the CP, this work aimed to confirm PRL synthesis and secretion by CP epithelial cells (CPEC). The secretion of PRL and the distribution of PRLR in CPEC were further characterized using an in vitro model of the rat blood-cerebrospinal fluid barrier. RT-PCR analysis of PRL transcripts showed its presence in pregnant rat CP, in CPEC, and in the rat immortalized CP cell line, Z310. These observations were reinforced by immunocytochemistry staining of PRL in CPEC and Z310 cell cytoplasm. A 63-kDa immunoreactive PRL protein was detected by Western blot in CP protein extracts as well as in culture medium incubated with rat pituitary and samples of rat cerebrospinal fluid and serum. Positive immunocytochemistry staining of PRLR was present throughout the CPEC cytoplasm and in the apical and basal membrane of these cells. Altogether, our evidences suggest that CP is an alternative source of PRL to the brain, which might impact neurogenesis of olfactory neurons at the subventricular zone, given its proximity to the CP.

Quantitative Sensory Testing Across Chronic Pain Conditions and Use in Special Populations.

Chronic pain imposes a significant burden to the healthcare system and adversely affects patients' quality of life. Traditional subjective assessments, however, do not adequately capture the complex phenomenon of pain, which is influenced by a multitude of factors including environmental, developmental, genetic, and psychological. Quantitative sensory testing (QST), established as a protocol to examine thermal and mechanical sensory function, offers insight on potential mechanisms contributing to an individual's experience of pain, by assessing their perceived response to standardized delivery of stimuli. Although the use of QST as a research methodology has been described in the literature in reference to specific pain populations, this manuscript details application of QST across a variety of chronic pain conditions. Specific conditions include lower extremity chronic pain, knee osteoarthritis, chronic low back pain, temporomandibular joint disorder, and irritable bowel syndrome. Furthermore, we describe the use of QST in placebo/nocebo research, and discuss the use of QST in vulnerable populations such as those with dementia. We illustrate how the evaluation of peripheral sensory nerve function holds clinical promise in targeting interventions, and how using QST can enhance patient education regarding prognostic outcomes with particular treatments. Incorporation of QST methodology in research investigations may facilitate the identification of common mechanisms underlying chronic pain conditions, guide the development of non-pharmacological behavioral interventions to reduce pain and pain-related morbidity, and enhance our efforts toward reducing the burden of chronic pain.

Age, Sex Hormones, and Circadian Rhythm Regulate the Expression of Amyloid-Beta Scavengers at the Choroid Plexus.

Accumulation of amyloid-beta (Aß) in the brain is thought to derive from the impairment of Aß clearance mechanisms rather than from its overproduction, which consequently contributes to the development of Alzheimer's disease. The choroid plexus epithelial cells constitute an important clearance route for Aß, either by facilitating its transport from the cerebrospinal fluid to the blood, or by synthesizing and secreting various proteins involved in Aß degradation. Impaired choroid plexus synthesis, secretion, and transport of these Aß-metabolizing enzymes have been therefore associated with the disruption of Aß homeostasis and amyloid load. Factors such as aging, female gender, and circadian rhythm disturbances are related to the decline of choroid plexus functions that may be involved in the modulation of Aß-clearance mechanisms. In this study, we investigated the impact of age, sex hormones, and circadian rhythm on the expression of Aß scavengers such as apolipoprotein J, gelsolin, and transthyretin at the rat choroid plexus. Our results demonstrated that mRNA expression and both intracellular and secreted protein levels of the studied Aß scavengers are age-, sex-, and circadian-dependent. These data suggest that the Aß-degradation and clearance pathways at the choroid plexus, mediated by the presence of Aß scavengers, might be compromised as a consequence of aging and circadian disturbances. These are important findings that enhance the understanding of Aß-clearance-regulating mechanisms at the blood-cerebrospinal fluid barrier.

The Rhythmicity of Clock Genes is Disrupted in the Choroid Plexus of the APP/PS1 Mouse Model of Alzheimer's Disease.

BACKGROUND: The choroid plexus (CP), which constitutes the blood-cerebrospinal fluid barrier, was recently identified as an important component of the circadian clock system. OBJECTIVE: The fact that circadian rhythm disruption is closely associated to Alzheimer's disease (AD) led us to investigate whether AD pathology can contribute to disturbances of the circadian clock in the CP. METHODS: For this purpose, we evaluated the expression of core-clock genes at different time points, in 6- and 12-month-old female and male APP/PS1 mouse models of AD. In addition, we also assessed the effect of melatonin pre-treatment in vitro before amyloid-ß stimulus in the daily pattern of brain and muscle Arnt-like protein 1 (Bmal1) expression. RESULTS: Our results showed a dysregulation of circadian rhythmicity of Bmal1 expression in female and male APP/PS1 transgenic 12-month-old mice and of Period 2 (Per2) expression in male mice. In addition, a significant circadian pattern of Bmal1 was measured the intermittent melatonin pre-treatment group, showing that melatonin can reset the CP circadian clock. CONCLUSION: These results demonstrated a connection between AD and the disruption of circadian rhythm in the CP, representing an attractive target for disease prevention and/or treatment.

The bitter taste receptor TAS2R14 regulates resveratrol transport across the human blood-cerebrospinal fluid barrier.

The regulation of transport mechanisms at brain barriers must be thoroughly understood, so that novel strategies for improving drug delivery to the brain can be designed. The blood-cerebrospinal fluid barrier (BCSFB) established by the choroid plexus (CP) epithelial cells has been poorly studied in this regard despite its relevance for the protection of the central nervous system (CNS). This study assessed the role of bitter taste receptors (TAS2Rs), TAS2R14 and TAS2R39, in the transport of resveratrol across CP epithelial cells using an in vitro model of the human BCSFB. Both receptors are expressed in human CP cells and known to bind resveratrol. First, Ca2+ imaging assays demonstrated that resveratrol specifically activates the TAS2R14 receptor, but not TAS2R39, in these human CP epithelial cells. Then, we proceeded with permeation studies that showed resveratrol can cross the human BCSFB, from the blood to the CSF side and that TAS2R14 knockdown decreased the transport of resveratrol across these cells. Conversely, inhibition of efflux transporters ABCC1, ABCC4 or ABCG2 also restrained the transport of resveratrol across these cells. Interestingly, resveratrol upregulated the expression of ABCG2 located at the apical membrane of the cells via TAS2R14, whereas ABCC1 and ABCC4 at the basolateral membrane of the cells were not affected. Altogether, our study demonstrates that the BCSFB is a gateway for resveratrol entrance into the CNS and that the receptor TAS2R14 regulates its transport by regulating the action of efflux transporters at CP epithelial cells.

Bitter taste receptors profiling in the human blood-cerebrospinal fluid-barrier.

The choroid plexus (CP) epithelial cells establish an important blood-brain interface, the blood-cerebrospinal fluid barrier (BCSFB), which constitutes a complementary gateway to the blood-brain-barrier for the entrance of several molecules into the central nervous system (CNS). However, the mechanisms that operate at the BCSFB to regulate the molecular traffic are still poorly understood. The taste signalling machinery, present in many extra-oral tissues, is involved in the chemical sensing of the composition of body fluids. We have identified this pathway in rat CP and hypothesised that it could also be present in the human BCSFB. In this study, we characterised the bitter taste receptors (TAS2Rs) expression profiling in human CP by combining data retrieved from available databases of the human CP transcriptome with its expression analysis in a human CP cell line and immunohistochemistry of human CP sections from men and women. TAS2R4, 5, 14 and 39 expression was confirmed in human CP tissue by immunohistochemistry and in HIBCPP cells by RT-PCR, immunofluorescence and Western blot. Moreover, the presence of downstream effector proteins GNAT3, PLCß2 and TRPM5 was also detected in HIBCPP cells. Then, we demonstrated that HIBCPP cells respond to chloramphenicol via TAS2R39 and to quercetin via TAS2R14. Our findings support an active role of TAS2Rs at the human BCSFB, as surveyors of the bloodstream and CSF compositions. These findings open new avenues for studies on the uptake of relevant compounds for targeted therapies of the CNS.

Bitter taste signaling mediated by Tas2r144 is down-regulated by 17ß-estradiol and progesterone in the rat choroid plexus.

The blood-cerebrospinal fluid barrier is constituted by choroid plexus epithelial cells (CPEC) that regulate molecular trafficking between the blood and the cerebrospinal fluid. We hypothesize that taste receptors expressed in CPEC monitor the composition of these body fluids in a sex hormone dependent way. Thus, we compared the expression of taste related genes in the choroid plexus of sham and ovariectomized female rats, and then studied the effect of 17ß-estradiol and progesterone in their expression and function. We found that the bitter receptors Tas2r109, Tas2r144, and the taste-related genes Plcb2 and Trpm5 were down-regulated by ovarian hormones in vivo and ex vivo with functional implications. Knocking-down Tas2r144 with a specific siRNA in a CPEC line (Z310) effectively reduced the Ca2+ response to the bitter compound denatonium benzoate, in a similar manner to female sex hormones alone, suggesting that female sex hormones downregulated the responses of CPEC to chemical stimuli by reducing Tas2r144.

The lung in a cohort of rheumatoid arthritis patients-an overview of different types of involvement and treatment.

OBJECTIVES: Lung involvement in RA has several manifestations and is a major cause of morbidity and mortality. The aim of this study was to characterize the different types of lung disease and response to treatment in a UK cohort of RA patients. METHODS: RA patients who had undergone high resolution CT scans of the lung were identified and scans reviewed. Demographic data, RA features, complementary exams and treatments were recorded for those with radiological evidence of lung involvement. Descriptive analysis was performed, and Mann-Whitney U and χ2 tests were used for comparison between different radiological subtypes. RESULTS: Lung disease was reported in 87 (7.7%) of 1129 RA patients, usually (97.7%) post-dating articular symptoms. Most patients had positive RF (74/84; 88.1%) and ACPA (72/82; 87.7%). Interstitial lung disease (ILD) was the most common pattern, reported in 45 (51.7%) patients. Drug-induced lung disease was reported in 2 of 64 (3.1%) patients treated with MTX. Rituximab was used in 26 (57.8%) patients with ILD, with evidence of disease improvement or stabilization in patients with non-specific interstitial pneumonia and organizing pneumonia. During lung disease follow-up (6.7 ± 4.1 years), 22 (25.3%) patients were admitted to hospital with respiratory infections, with 14 (63.6%) of them having underlying bronchiectasis. Lung disease-related mortality was estimated at 8%. CONCLUSION: ILD was the most prevalent manifestation of lung involvement in RA and was associated with higher mortality. Immunosuppressive drugs used in RA were rarely associated with lung toxicity, and rituximab demonstrated promising results for the treatment of RA-ILD.

Choroid plexus is an additional source of melatonin in the brain.

The cerebrospinal fluid melatonin is released from the pineal gland, directly into the third ventricle, or produced de novo in the brain from extrapineal melatonin sources leading to a melatonin concentration gradient in the cerebrospinal fluid. Despite the interest on this topic, the brain areas capable of producing melatonin are not yet clear. Bearing this in mind, we hypothesized that the choroid plexus (CP) could be one of these melatonin sources. We analyzed and confirmed the presence of the four enzymes required for melatonin synthesis in rat CP and demonstrated that arylalkylamine N-acetyltransferase shows a circadian expression in female and male rat CP. Specifically, this enzyme colocalizes with mitochondria in rat CP epithelial cells, an organelle known to be involved in melatonin function and synthesis. Then, we demonstrated that melatonin is synthesized by porcine CP explants, although without a circadian pattern. In conclusion, our data show that the CP is a local source of melatonin to the central nervous system, probably contributing to its high levels in the cerebrospinal fluid. We believe that in the CP, melatonin might be regulated by its endogenous clock machinery and by the hormonal background.

The Use of Phone Technology in Outpatient Populations: A Systematic Review.

OBJECTIVE: A systematic review was conducted to identify the types of phone technology used in the adult outpatient population with a focus on Hispanic patients and psychiatric populations. METHODS: A search for articles was conducted on the EMBASE, PubMed and PsycINFO databases. Articles reviewed were peer-reviewed, full-text, English language and published through mid-November 2014. RESULTS: Twenty-one articles were included in this review and grouped according to combinations of phone technology, medical specialty area and population. For all articles, phone technology was defined as telephone, cell, or smart phone. Technology was used in psychiatry with Hispanic population in four articles, in psychiatry with non-Hispanic population in seven articles and in other specialties with Hispanic population in ten articles. Articles were evaluated for quality. Six articles were assessed as strong, eight were moderate and seven were weak in global quality. Interventions included direct communication, text messaging, interactive voice response, camera and smart phone app. Studies with Hispanic populations used more text messaging, while studies in psychiatry favored direct communication. The majority of articles in all groups yielded improvements in health outcomes. CONCLUSION: Few studies have been conducted using phone technology in Hispanic and psychiatric populations. Various phone technologies can be helpful to patients in diverse populations and have demonstrated success in improving a variety of specific and overall healthcare outcomes. Phone technologies are easily adapted to numerous settings and populations and are valuable tools in efforts to increase access to care.

Effect of High Intensity Interval and Continuous Swimming Training on Body Mass Adiposity Level and Serum Parameters in High-Fat Diet Fed Rats.

This study aimed to investigate the effects of interval and continuous training on the body mass gain and adiposity levels of rats fed a high-fat diet. Forty-eight male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into two groups, standard diet and high-fat diet, and received their respective diets for a period of four weeks without exercise stimuli. After this period, the animals were randomly divided into six groups (n = 8): control standard diet (CS), control high-fat diet (CH), continuous training standard diet (CTS), continuous training high-fat diet (CTH), interval training standard diet (ITS), and interval training high-fat diet (ITH). The interval and continuous training consisted of a swimming exercise performed over eight weeks. CH rats had greater body mass gain, sum of adipose tissues mass, and lower serum high density lipoprotein values than CS. The trained groups showed lower values of feed intake, caloric intake, body mass gain, and adiposity levels compared with the CH group. No significant differences were observed between the trained groups (CTS versus ITS and CTH versus ITH) on body mass gains and adiposity levels. In conclusion, both training methodologies were shown to be effective in controlling body mass gain and adiposity levels in high-fat diet fed rats.

Caracterización clínica y epidemiológica de pacientes con bacteriemia en la Unidad de Cuidados Intensivos de Medicina Interna y Cirugía. Hospital Roosevelt-Guatemala / Clinical and epidemiological characterization of patients with bacteremia in the Intensive Care Unit of Internal Medicine and Surgery. Roosevelt Hospital-Guatemala

Antecedentes: La bacteriemia constituye un problema de salud prioritario debido al obstáculo que impone al proceso curativo de los pacientes, involucrando al personal y a los sistemas de salud. Objetivo: Caracterizar clínica y epidemiológicamente pacientes con bacteriemia. Materiales y Métodos: Se realizó una revisión retrospectiva de pacientes con hemocultivos positivo del año 2013, en el Intensivo médico-quirúrgico, del Hospital Roosevelt, con instrumento estandarizado, que incluyó: datos demográficos, morbilidades, comorbilidades, registro de morbilidad y mortalidad. Se calcularon intervalos de confianza al 95% y odds ratio (OR). Resultados: De 47 expedientes y 87 hemocultivos, 55% fueron femeninos, con predominio de edad de 30-49 años, en su mayoría, amas de casa. El 49%, presentó una o más condiciones médicas asociadas. La mayoría de casos de bacteriemia fueron asociados a cuidados de salud, de origen secundario. El principal foco infeccioso fue respiratorio. Los principales microorganismos aislados fueron A. baumannii, K. pneumoniae y S. haemolyticus. Los procedimientos invasivos más frecuentes fueron uso de catéter venoso central y periférico. La tasa de letalidad al día 14 fue del 30%. Conclusiones: Se observó predominio de bacteriemias secundarias, asociadas a los cuidados de la salud, cuyos principales microorganismos aislados coinciden con literatura internacional. La mayor mortalidad fue observada en el sexo femenino.(AU)

Background: Bacteremia known as a major public health problem, because of the limitation it causes to the healing process among patients, involving both health care workers, and health system.Objectives: Characterize the clinical and epidemiological profile among patients with bacteremia.Materials and methods: A retrospective review was made, including positive blood culture patients, admitted to the medical and surgical Intensive Care Unit during 2013, with a standardized instrument which included: demographical data, morbidities and co-morbidities, including a morbidity and morta-lity. The statistics included 95% confidence intervals and odds ratio (OR).Results: Of 47 clinical files, 87 blood cultures, 55% were females. The mostly affected age group was the one within 30-49 years, mainly housewives. 49% presented one or more than one associated con-dition. Most cases of bacteremia were secondary, nosocomial and health care associated. The main origin was the respiratory tract. Main microorganisms isolated were A. baumannii, K. pneumoniae and S. haemolyticus. The most frequent invasive dispositive was central and peripheral venous catheteri-zation. The mortality rate at day 14 was 30%.Conclusions: A predominance of secondary bacteremia, health care associated was observed, who-se main isolated microorganisms agree with international literature. The highest mortality rate was observed in the female sex (AU)