Increase of secondary processes of microglial and astroglial cells after MPTP-induced degeneration in substantia nigra pars compacta of non human primates.

Nigral dopaminergic areas from Parkinsonian patients show an increase of reactive astrocytes and active microglia. The reaction of these two cell types is a clear evidence of inflammatory response associated with dopaminergic cell loss. However, the function of this glial reaction remains unclear. This histological hallmark is also reproduced in induced Parkinsonian animals such as MPTP-treated monkeys. In this work, we analyze with confocal microscopy the number of processes of microglial cells and astrocytes in the SNpc of MPTP-treated monkeys and compare with control animals. We observe that secondary branches from microglia and astrocytes increase in MPTP-treated animals, while the scaffold of primary branches does not change. These results demonstrate that glial reaction in MPTP-treated monkeys is characterized by the emission of new filaments after the dopaminergic degeneration, suggesting that glial cells may increase their scanning progress and modify their microanatomy after dopaminergic injury.

Visceral signals reach visual cortex during slow wave sleep: study in monkeys.

Propagation of signals from the gastro-intestinal system towards the occipital cortex within sleep-wake cycle was investigated in three monkeys used in the study of sleep impairment in a chronic MPTP model of parkinsonism. The monkeys differed in motor abilities and sleep structure. e animal (M1) was non-motor disabled and had no sleep alterations. The other two monkeys were severely motor affected, but one (M2) had normal sleep cycles; meanwhile, the other (M3) had no complete sleep cycles. To evaluate the level of sleep and to record cortical evoked responses screw electrodes were implanted over the occipital cortex. Two hours before overnight recordings, two hook electrodes were injected intraperitoneally (under light Ketanest anesthesia) and anchored in gut. Using these electrodes, electric stimulation was applied during slow wave sleep, and in wakefulness. Cortical evoked responses to intraperitoneal stimulation were found indeed during sleep in experiments with M1 and M2. These results show that also in primates with normal sleep pattern visceral information is transferred to the cerebral cortex during slow wave sleep.

Increased plasma levels of TNF-alpha but not of IL1-beta in MPTP-treated monkeys one year after the MPTP administration.

The cause of Parkinson's disease remains unknown although some evidence suggests that an inflammatory reaction, mediated by cytokines such as TNF-alpha and IL-1beta, is related with dopaminergic degeneration in the brain. In the present work we measured the plasma levels of TNF-alpha and IL-1beta in parkinsonian monkeys one year after MPTP administration. TNF-alpha levels were seen to have increased in parkinsonian monkeys reflecting the clinical symptoms observed, while IL-1beta levels remained unchanged. These results suggest that TNF-alpha plays a role in sustaining of dopaminergic degeneration in chronic parkinsonism.

Therapist characteristics that predict the outcome of multipatient psychotherapy: systematic review of empirical studies.

We defined multipatient psychotherapy as the set of psychotherapeutic techniques applied with more than one patient in the room. Assumptions of what makes a psychotherapist effective guide training programmes but may not be supported by evidence. We need to identify the empirical data on what makes a multipatient psychotherapist effective. We undertook the systematic review of empirical studies which correlate therapist characteristics with measurable patient outcome in multipatient psychotherapy. We found that the scientific literature on the topic is broad and heterogeneous in scope, studying demographic, professional and psychosocial characteristics of the therapists, but is poor in quality. The most solid results are that ethnic matching improves the outcome of family therapy with drug abusing adolescents in some ethnic minorities and that therapist knowledge patterns affect patient satisfaction. We concluded that the therapist characteristics that affect clinical outcome seem to be internal to the therapist and depend on the patient treated.

El problema de la libertad: determinismos y psicoanálisis / No disponible

A lo largo de la historia el problema de la libertad humana ha chocado con dos determinismos opuestos: el ambientalismo que entiende que el hombre es "programado" por el medio y el instintivismo que entiende que el hombre es esclavo de su naturaleza. Durante 26 siglos estas posturas polares han cambiado el lenguaje con el que se expresan pero han tenido poco éxito en integrarse en una síntesis satisfactoria. La llegada del psicoanálisis aporta una nueva perspectiva al problema. Freud propone la búsqueda de una síntesis con sus "series complementarias" y otros psicoanalistas han ido tomando distintas posturas. En este trabajo revisamos cómo el psicoanálisis ha mantenido posturas polares, como el instintivismo de Melanie Klein, pero también ha abordado nuevos enfoques que abren la puerta a la superación de los determinismos y a la justificación de la libertad humana. Entre estos enfoques destacamos el de Winnicott y su espacio transicional (AU)

Throughout History, the problem of human freedom has clashed with two opposing determinisms: ambientalism considers that humans are "programmed" by the environment while instintivism considers him a slave of its nature. During 26 centuries these polar positions have changed the language that expresses them but have failed to integrate in a satisfactory synthesis. The arrival of Psychoanalysis provides a new perspective to the problem. Freud proposes the search of a synthesis with his "complementary series" and other psychoanalysts have adopted different positions. In this work we review how psychoanalysis has kept polar positions, like Melanie Klein's instintivism, but has also opened new approaches that lead beyond the determinisms to the justification of human freedom. Among these approaches we highlight that of Winnicott and his transitional space (AU)

Circadian determinations of cortisol, prolactin and melatonin in chronic methyl-phenyl-tetrahydropyridine-treated monkeys.

The aim of this study was to investigate whether prolactin, melatonin and cortisol are altered in 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP)-treated monkeys and if so, whether MPTP may alter the availability of these hormones in chronic experimental parkinsonism. Furthermore, vegetative and sleep disorders have been described in both parkinsonian patients and in MPTP chronic monkeys; these may result indirectly from concomitant hormonal variations. Seven adult male cynomolgus monkeys were used for this experiment. Five were treated with systemic doses of intravenous MPTP but not with L-DOPA or dopaminergic agonists. In their 3rd year of parkinsonism, plasma samples were obtained day and night at 3-hour intervals. Sample collection was repeated three times for each animal. Prolactin, melatonin and cortisol concentrations were determined by enzyme immunoassay and compared with samples taken from the control group. Both MPTP-treated monkeys and the control group displayed a similar secretion pattern for the three hormones, except at several specific times when prolactin and melatonin showed significant differences. No changes were found for cortisol. The results suggest a possible alteration of hormonal metabolism in chronic MPTP parkinsonian monkeys.

Evidence of active microglia in substantia nigra pars compacta of parkinsonian monkeys 1 year after MPTP exposure.

Inflammatory changes have been found in Parkinson's disease, in humans intoxicated with the parkinsonian toxin MPTP, and in animal models of the disease. However, it is still not known whether inflammatory changes are responsible for active nerve cell death or if they have a protective role against neurodegeneration. In this study, we analyzed the glial reaction in the substantia nigra pars compacta (SNpc) and the striatum of monkeys rendered parkinsosian by chronic MPTP injections. At postmortem examination 1 year after the last MPTP injection, the density of astroglial cells and activated microglial cells in the SNpc, but not in the striatum, of MPTP-intoxicated animals was significantly higher than in the two control animals. These data suggest that neurodegeneration was still active despite the absence of the agent triggering cell death and that the glial reaction is associated with long-term neurodegeneration.