Capsaicin produces antidepressant-like effects in the forced swimming test and enhances the response of a sub-effective dose of amitriptyline in rats.

Transient receptor potential vanilloid 1 (TRPV1) channels have been implicated in depression and anxiety. The aim of this study was to evaluate the antidepressant-like properties of the TRPV1 agonist capsaicin using the forced swimming test (FST) in rats. Capsaicin (0.001-0.25 mg/kg, i.p.) produced a reduction of immobility in the FST. A maximally effective dose of the tricyclic antidepressant amitriptyline (12 mg/kg) reduced immobility as well. Notably, doses of capsaicin (1 pg/kg, 1 ng/kg, and 0.001 mg/kg) that were ineffective when applied alone produced a significant decrease in immobility when combined with a subthreshold dose of amitriptyline (5 mg/kg). Rats treated with capsaicin (0.01 mg/kg) + amitriptyline (5 mg/kg) displayed less immobility than those treated with a maximally effective dose of amitriptyline. The non-pungent TRPV1 channel agonist palvanil (0.05-0.1 mg/kg, i.p.) also decreased immobility in the FST. Capsaicin (0.05 mg/kg) did not affect general locomotion in the open field test, nor performance in the elevated plus maze, or skeletal muscle contraction strength measured in vitro after the FST (at 0.25 mg/kg). Altogether, our results imply that low doses of capsaicin produce antidepressant-like effects, and enhance the effect of a subthreshold dose of amitriptyline in the FST.

[Psychomotor skills assessment in basic procedures of laparoscopic surgery in undergraduate medical students at the School of Medicine of the University of Colima]. / Evaluación de la adquisición de habilidades psicomotrices básicas en procedimientos laparoscópicos en estudiantes de pregrado de la Facultad de Medicina de la Universidad de Colima.

BACKGROUND: The changes in recent decades in the training of medical student seem to agree that the educational model for professional skills is most appropriate. The virtual simulator translates skills acquired the operating room, in the Faculty of Medicine of the University of Colima noticed the need to prepare the students of pregrade transferring surgical trainees' skills in basic laparoscopic activities that require a simple cognitive effort. OBJECTIVE: The hypothesis in this study was to evaluate the acquisition of skills in laparoscopic simulator in students of pregrade. METHODS: Educational research, analytical comparison, which was conducted within the activities of the program of Problem Based Learning in the program of Education and Surgical Technique, Faculty of Medicine of the University of Colima. RESULTS: All participants in the simulator achieved a significantly better during the task one after three repetitions (p= 0.001). The evaluation of final students calcification, we observed significant differences in means being lower during the initial assessment (8.60 ± 0.76) compared to the end (8.96 ± 0.58) p= 0.001. CONCLUSIONS: The acquisition of skills in the simulator is longer but at the end is better than the acquisition of skills from the traditional method, showing that leads to the acquisition of skills that promote the transfer of skills to the surgical environment.

Antecedentes: la educación basada en competencias señala que el estudiante debe dominar tres rubros: saber, saber hacer y ser. El primero se refiere al conjunto de conocimientos teórico-prácticos, el segundo a las habilidades psicomotrices y el tercero al comportamiento profesional. El estudiante de Medicina adquiere las primeras destrezas en cirugía laparoscópica a través de modelos animales y simuladores virtuales. Sin embargo, no hemos evaluado la trascendencia de esta capacitación. Objetivo: evaluar en alumnos de pregrado las destrezas en cirugía laparoscópica obtenidas después de un curso con un simulador virtual. Material y métodos: estudio de investigación educativa, analíticocomparativo efectuado como parte de las actividades del programa de Aprendizaje Basado en Problemas de la asignatura de Educación y Técnica Quirúrgica de la Facultad de Medicina de la Universidad de Colima. Resultados: todos los participantes alcanzaron en el simulador un mejor nivel durante la tarea 1 después de tres repeticiones (p= 0.001). En la evaluación de la calificación final de los alumnos se observaron diferencias significativas en las medias que fueron más bajas durante la evaluación inicial (8.60 ± 0.76) en comparación con la final (8.96 ± 0.58) p= 0.001. Conclusiones: la adquisición de habilidades en el simulador es más prolongada y al final es superior a la adquisición de habilidades basada en el método tradicional; demuestra que conduce a la adquisición de competencias que favorecen la transferencia de habilidades al entorno quirúrgico.

[Taste sensitivity diminution in hyperglycemic type 2 diabetics patients]. / Disminución de la sensibilidad gustativa en diabéticos tipo 2 con hiperglucemia.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the relationship between fasting blood glucose (FBG) values and gustatory sensitivity alterations in type 2 diabetic patients (DM2) without peripheral neuropathy (PNP). METHODS: Assessment of the strength of association between FBG and detection and recognition taste thresholds for the four primary tastes measured by chemical gustometry were performed in 140 DM2 without PNP with evolution < 10 years. RESULTS: FBG values above 7.77 mmol/L (140 mg/dL) induce in a dependent manner, the increase in the detection and recognition taste thresholds only to sweetness; whereas, values above 16.65 mmol/L (300 mg/dL) did not cause further decreasing in taste acuity to sweet flavor. Statistically significant differences where found for detection and recognition, taste thresholds for sucrose between well controlled (HbA1c < or = 7 %) normoglycemic and hyperglycemic diabetics, as well as between alarming uncontrolled (HbA1c > 10 %) normoglycemic and hyperglycemic patients. CONCLUSIONS: Hyperglycemia induces a concentration-dependent impairment of sweet taste perception in DM2 patients as the result of an adaptation of the sensory cell to elevated circulating concentrations of glucose.