The role of prolactin in prostatic inflammation / O papel da prolactina na inflamação prostática

Several reports have shown that prolactin (PRL) plays a role in prostatic growth, but few studies considered the role of PRL in the process of prostatic inflammation. Young (45 ± 5 days old) and adult (75 ± 5 days old) male Wistar rats were subcutaneously injected daily with domperidone (4.0 mg.kg-1) to maintain high serum PRL levels. The animals were treated for 15, 30, 45 or 60 days. Blood and prostate samples were collected at the end of each treatment for PRL dosage and histological analysis, respectively. Only young animals treated with DOMP for 15 and 30 days displayed inflammatory infiltrate in the prostate. These results confirm literature data in regards to PRL involvement in inducing prostate inflammation. Moreover, it was concluded that young animals are more susceptible then adults to the PRL action concerning prostate inflammation...

A prolactina (PRL) influencia o crescimento prostático, entretanto poucos estudos investigaram o papel da PRL na inflamação prostática. Ratos Wistar jovens (45 ± 5 dias de idade) e adultos (75 ± 5 dias de idade) receberam injeções subcutâneas diárias de domperidona (4,0 mg.kg-1) para manter níveis séricos altos de PRL. Os animais foram tratados por 15, 30, 45 ou 60 dias. Amostras de sangue e próstata foram coletadas ao final dos tratamentos para dosagem de PRL e análise histológica, respectivamente. Apenas os animais jovens tratados com domperidona por 15 e 30 dias apresentaram infiltrado inflamatório na próstata. Esses resultados confirmaram a participação da PRL na indução da inflamação prostática. A conclusão obtida foi que animais jovens são mais susceptíveis à ação da PRL na inflamação da próstata que os adultos...

The modulatory role of M2 muscarinic receptor on apomorphine-induced yawning and genital grooming.

The interaction between dopaminergic and cholinergic pathways in the induction of behavioral responses has been previously established. In the brain, M2 receptors are found predominantly in presynaptic cholinergic neurons as autoreceptors, and in dopaminergic neurons as heteroceptors, suggesting a control role of acetylcholine and dopamine release, respectively. Our aim was to investigate the role of M2 receptors on the yawning and genital grooming of rats induced by apomorphine, a dopaminergic receptor agonist, focusing on the interaction between cholinergic and dopaminergic pathways. Initially, the effect of atropine, a non-selective muscarinic antagonist, on yawning and genital grooming induced by apomorphine (100 µg/kg s.c.) was analyzed. Atropine doses of 0.5, 1 and 2 mg/kg i.p. were administered to Wistar rats 30 min before induction of the behavioral responses by apomorphine. Number of yawns and time spent genital grooming were quantified over a 60 min period. Apomorphine-induced yawning was increased by low dose (0.5 mg/kg i.p.) but not by high doses (1 and 2 mg/kg, i.p.) of atropine. Genital grooming was antagonized by 2 mg/kg i.p. of atropine and showed no changes at the other doses tested. Tripitramine, a selective M2 cholinergic antagonist, was used as a tool for distinguishing between M2 and all other muscarinic receptor subtypes in yawning and genital grooming. Tripitramine doses of 0.01, 0.02 and 0.04 µmol/kg i.p. were administered to Wistar rats 30 min before apomorphine (100 µg/kg s.c.). Number of yawns and time spent genital grooming were also quantified over a 60 min period. Tripitramine 0.01 µmol/kg increased all parameters. Higher doses, which possibly block all subtypes of muscarinic receptor, did not modify the response of apomorphine, suggesting a non-selective effect of tripitramine at these doses. Given that low doses of tripitramine increased the behavioral responses induced by apomorphine and that the main distribution of the M2 receptor is presynaptic, we raised the hypothesis that tripitramine may alter cholinergic and/or dopaminergic transmission in brain areas responsible for induction of yawning and genital grooming in rats, possibly by control of acetylcholine and/or dopamine release. In addition, the present study showed the involvement of M2 cholinergic receptors in the complex mechanisms of functional interactions between dopaminergic and cholinergic systems involved in the control of yawning and genital grooming.

The effectiveness of psychological interventions for the treatment of erectile dysfunction: systematic review and meta-analysis, including comparisons to sildenafil treatment, intracavernosal injection, and vacuum devices.

INTRODUCTION: In contrast to the impressive advances in somatic research of erectile dysfunction (ED), scientific literature shows contradictory reports on the results of psychotherapy for the treatment of ED. AIM: Authors conducted a meta-analysis to evaluate the effectiveness of psychological interventions for the treatment of ED compared to oral drugs, local injection, vacuum devices, or other psychological intervention. METHOD: Distinct sources of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) were searched: electronic databases (between 1966 and 2007), cross checking of references, and contact with scientific societies. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: For dichotomous outcomes the pooled relative risks were calculated and for continuous outcomes mean differences between interventions. Statistical heterogeneity was addressed. RESULTS: Eleven RCTs involving 398 men met the inclusion criteria. CONCLUSIONS: There is evidence that group therapy improves ED. Focused sex group therapy showed greater efficacy than control group. Men randomized to receive psychotherapy plus sildenafil showed significant improvement of ED and were less likely than those receiving only sildenafil to drop out. Regarding to the effectiveness of psychological interventions for the treatment of ED compared to local injection and vacuum devices no difference was found.

Increases of kinin B1 and B2 receptors binding sites after brain infusion of amyloid-beta 1-40 peptide in rats.

Although numerous inflammation pathways have been implicated in Alzheimer's disease, the involvement of the kallikrein-kinin system is still under investigation. We anatomically localized and quantified the density of kinin B(1) and B(2) receptors binding sites in the rat brain after the infusion of amyloid-beta (Abeta) peptide in the right lateral brain ventricle for 5 weeks. The conditioned avoidance test showed a significant reduction of memory consolidation in rats infused with Abeta (68.6+/-20.9%, P<0.05) when compared to control group (90.8+/-4.1%; infused with vehicle). Autoradiographic studies performed in brain samples of both groups using [(125)I]HPP-[des-Arg(10)]-Hoe-140 (150pM, 90min, 25 degrees C) showed a significant increase in density of B(1) receptor binding sites in the ventral hippocampal commissure (1.23+/-0.07fmol/mg), fimbria (1.31+/-0.05fmol/mg), CA1 and CA3 hippocampal areas (1.05+/-0.03 and 1.24+/-0.02fmol/mg, respectively), habenular nuclei (1.30+/-0.04fmol/mg), optical tract (1.30+/-0.05fmol/mg) and internal capsule (1.26+/-0.05fmol/mg) in Abeta group. For B(2) receptors ([(125)I]HPP-Hoe-140, 200pM, 90min, 25 degrees C), a significant increase in density of binding sites was observed in optical tract (2.04+/-0.08fmol/mg), basal nucleus of Meynert (1.84+/-0.18fmol/mg), lateral septal nucleus - dorsal and intermediary portions (1.66+/-0.29fmol/mg), internal capsule (1.74+/-0.19fmol/mg) and habenular nuclei (1.68+/-0.11fmol/mg). In control group, none of these nuclei showed [(125)I]HPP-Hoe-140 labeling. This significant increase in densities of kinin B(1) and B(2) receptors in animals submitted to Abeta infusion was observed mainly in brain regions related to cognitive behavior, suggesting the involvement of the kallikrein-kinin system in Alzheimer's disease in vivo.

Psychotherapy and neuroscience: towards closer integration.

The original aim of psychology was to study and understand the spirit-from the Latin spiritus, literally "breath." The limitations of scientific methods in the past favoured psychology's aloofness in terms of studying the "intangible," while medicine developed methods of examining the body (Latin corpus: essential part). Until 20 years ago, knowledge of the localization of brain functions was limited to inferences from clinical observation of brain-lesioned patients or parallel studies of primate brains. Current neuroscience, with its integrative approach, is bringing together research from molecular through cognitive levels, and psychotherapy has benefited from these findings. Functional neuroimaging studies may make specific and more far-reaching contributions in this respect, since cerebral dynamics may be observed in vivo and in controlled situations. Methods such as single photon emission tomography, positron emission tomography, and functional magnetic resonance imaging have been able to evaluate the neural correlates involved in psychotherapy for individuals with obsessive-compulsive disorder, major depression, social phobia, specific phobia, and post-traumatic disorder. Researchers have found that psychotherapy has the potential to modify dysfunctional neural circuits associated with these disorders. However, precautions are required in constructing feasible designs for neurofunctional investigations. This article reviews the 21 studies that have been published on the subject, and sets out the main advantages and limitations of the technologies used most frequently in protocols involving psychotherapies, and prerequisites for experimental designs. We also pose ways in which the findings from neuroimaging may produce knowledge to guide psychotherapeutic interventions by specifying what should be stimulated in these individuals in order to normalize deficient neural activities.

Espiritualidade, religiosidade e psicoterapia / Spirituality, religiousness and psychotherapy

Crenças e práticas religiosas/espirituais constituem uma parte importante da cultura e dos princípios utilizados para dar forma a julgamentos e ao processamento de informações. O conhecimento e a valorização de tais sistemas de crenças colaboram com a aderência do indivíduo à psicoterapia e promovem melhores resultados. Contudo, nem todas as abordagens encontraram um ajuste desse tema em suas intervenções e os diversos conceitos sobre religiosidade/espiritualidade dificultam essa importante interface. Neste artigo, trazemos os conceitos mais coerentes e acessíveis para facilitar o diálogo profissional no âmbito terapêutico. Discutimos o impacto da subjetividade, dos estados de consciência e das percepções influenciadas pela religiosidade/espiritualidade na saúde mental e a importância de a psicoterapia voltar-se a clientes e respectivos sistemas de crenças, desenvolvendo modelos que mobilizem esperança e potencializem suas capacidades de superação. A despeito da atual distância entre estudos controlados e práticas clínicas, discutimos a integração das dimensões espirituais/religiosas na psicoterapia com profissionalismo ético, conhecimento e habilidades para alinhar as informações coletadas ao benefício do cliente. Considerando que apenas 7,3 por cento da população brasileira não têm religião e a escassez de abordagens e psicoterapeutas que contemplem a religiosidade/espiritualidade, apontamos a relevância de investigações sobre o tema e que as propostas psicoterápicas sejam testadas em ensaios clínicos.

Religious/spiritual beliefs and practices constitute an important part of culture and principles clients use to shape judgments and process information. Psychotherapists may use knowledge of these belief systems and appreciation of their potential to leverage client adherence and achieve better outcomes. However, many approaches have yet to do so and the variety of concepts of religiosity/spirituality may place obstacles to this important interface. This article raises certain concepts that we see as consistent, accessible, and capable of facilitating professional dialogue in the therapeutic sphere. We discuss the impact of subjectivity, states of consciousness and perceptions influenced by religiosity/spirituality, on mental health as well as the importance of psychotherapists actually focusing clients and their belief systems, developing models to mobilize hope, and boosting coping abilities. Despite the current distance between controlled studies and clinical practice, we discuss the integration of spiritual/religious dimensions in psychotherapy with ethical professionalism, knowledge, and the ability to align the collected information so as to benefit clients. Since only 7.3 percent of Brazilians have no religion, and very few psychotherapeutic approaches or practitioners do actually engage religiosity/spirituality, we point to the relevance of research on this issue and the importance of testing related psychotherapeutic proposals in clinical trials.

Psychological dynamics affecting traumatic memories: implications in psychotherapy.

The search to understand response to trauma has turned to the contribution of personality factors. The way people process the stressor event is critical in determining whether a trauma will be configured or not. Neuroscience shows that the brain does not store memories, but traces of information that are later used to create memories, which do not always express a completely factual picture of the past experience. Whenever an event is retrieved, it may undergo a cognitive and emotional change. Psychological dynamics--emotional interpretative tendency that affects the internal dialogue related to a meaningful event--may influence the development of positive or negative outcomes after stressor events. We postulate that therapists must see beyond the traumatic event itself and work with the internal dialogues that maintain the pathological relationship with the past episode. Thus, they may better treat traumatized patients by therapeutically rebuilding the memory. A brief clinical case is presented to show how exposure-based and cognitive restructuring therapy may help trauma victims experience psychological growth from their negative experiences, by fostering healthy psychological dynamics.

Psicoterapia e neurociências: um encontro frutífero e necessário / Psychotherapy and neurosciences: a fruitful and necessary intersection

A multidisciplinaridade é um fator intrínseco e fundamental da Neurociência, que reúne investigações do espectro biomolecular ao cognitivo.Métodos de investigação, como a neuroimagem e a monitoração de respostas autonômicas, têm propiciado confluências entre a Psicoterapia e a Neurociência. Estudos começam a avaliar as reciprocidades neurais envolvidas na Psicoterapia de indivíduos com transtorno obsessivo-compulsivo, transtorno depressivo maior, fobia social, fobia específica e transtorno de estresse pós traumático. Os resultados revelam que Terapias Cognitivas tiveram o potencial de modificar circuitos neurais disfuncionais associados aos transtornos estudados. Os achados apontam que processos psicológicos de aprendizado podem ocasionar mudanças biológicas nas sinapses cerebrais e nas expressões neurofisiológicas. A convergência das linhas de pesquisa é promissora à construção de conhecimentos mais assertivos do que no passado, quando os achados independentes permaneciam desarticulados. Os efeitos neurobiológicos da Psicoterapia são hoje considerados dos mais relevantes à Neurociência. Os avanços tecnológicos trarão progressivamente a identificação mais precisa de circuitos neurais associados aos transtornos estudados. Contudo, a interface da Psicologia é crucial para que os achados atuais e futuros orientem as intervenções terapêuticas em relação ao que deve ser estimulado em tais individuos para normalização de suas atividades neurais deficitárias(AU)

Achados da neuroimagem em transtorno de estresse pós-traumático e suas implicações clínicas / Posttraumatic stress disorder neuroimaging findings and their clinical implications

Estudos com neuroimagem vêm replicando alguns achados relevantes ao entendimento de anormalidades neuroanatômicas, estruturais e funcionais associadas ao transtorno de estresse pós-traumático (TEPT). A dificuldade em sintetizar, categorizar e integrar a memória traumática em uma narrativa pode estar relacionada à relativa diminuição do volume e ativação do hipocampo, à diminuição na atividade do córtex pré-frontal, do cíngulo anterior e da área de Broca. O mecanismo deficiente de extinção da resposta ao medo e à desregulação emocional estão possivelmente relacionados à menor atividade cortical pré-frontal, implicado na atenuação do feedback negativo da atividade da amígdala. Tais memórias traumáticas não-hipocampo/pré-frontal dependentes são involuntariamente acessadas, apresentam-se fragmentadas sensorialmente, sem estrutura narrativa desenvolvida e tendem a permanecer com expressão emocional intensa e sensações vívidas. Processos psicoterapêuticos, baseados em exposição e reconstrução cognitiva, podem estimular as faculdades cognitivas e integrativas do encéfalo correspondentes às estruturas encontradas como deficitárias em indivíduos com TEPT. Nessa perspectiva, a memória poderá perder intensidade emocional, ser cognitivamente mais organizada e ainda, esvaecer-se com o tempo. Outras implicações dos achados da neuroimagem são discutidas no âmbito psicoterapêutico, assim como, as perspectivas de futuros estudos com neuroimagem no Brasil.

Baixas concentrações de colesterol: suas relações com comportamento de risco / Low cholesterol: it correlation with high-risk behaviors

Apesar de resultados discordantes, evidências sugerem que baixas concentrações de colesteroi podem estar associadas a uma variedade de traços de personalidade e atitudes potencialmente relevantes à associação com mortes violentas. Caso comprova- da uma relação d e causalidade nesta associação, a preocupação com as alterações comportamentais, particularmente o aumento de eventos violentos, deve passar a figurar na análise do risco-benefício para a redução do colesterol, sobretudo na prevenção primária da doença cardiovascular em indivíduos com fatores de risco para doença psiquiátrica ou violência. As intervenções para redução do colesteroi em larga escala podem levar a um desvio do comportamento de toda a população para um padrão mais violento. Por outro lado, se este receio for infundado, não deve prejudicar os programas de prevenção da doença cardiovascular já instituídos em várias regiões do planeta. Este artigo traz uma revisão da literatura relativa a baixas concentrações de colesterol, incluindo dados epidemiológicos, estudos de mortalidade global e mortes por violência, além de discutir possíveis mecanismos que justifiquem a associação entre violência e baixo colesterol.(au)

Estresse e metabolismo lipidico / Stress and lipid metabolism

Sabe-se que nas diferentes condicoes de estresse ha alteracoes profundas assim como do metabolismo lipidico.Discute-e aqui essas alteracoes na fase "ebb"sem choque na fase de antifluxo,na fase reativa e na fase terminal.O metabolismo lipidico e muito complexo e abrange uma serie de funcoes fisiologicas.Nossa revisao limita-se a determinados aspectos da producao de energia e mobilizacao de lipides em condicoes de emergencia mostrando que e necessario um profundo conhecimento do metabolismo lipidico para compreender melhor a patofisiologia do estresse,assunto no qual o conhecimento atual e limitado.

Colecistocinina e comportamento / Cholecystokinin and behavior

A colecistocinina foi um dos primeiros peptideos gastrointestinais descobertos no cerebro de mamiferos. Esta presente em quase todas as estruturas cerebrais. Sao conhecidas algumas de suas formas moleculares que agem em dois tipos diferentes de receptores. Ela induz grande variedade de efeitos comportamentais. Este trabalho e uma revisao sobre esse hormonio que inclui comentarios acerca de sua participacao em diversos comportamentos normais e patologicos.

Sobre o uso prolongado e perinatal de drogas / Long-term and perinatal use of drugs

Inicialmente é discutida a plasticidade neuronal em animais adultos, citando-se exemplos de super e subsensibilidade do sistema nervoso central provocadas pela açäo de drogas. E também discutida a possibilidade de ocorrência de fenômenos deste tipo em filhotes de mäes tratadas com estas drogas. Finalmente os autores discutem os atuais conceitos do que venha a ser teratologia

Long-term bromopride treatment induces morphological changes in female rats

There were morphologicaly examined the ovaries, uterus, fallopian tubes and mammary glandss of adult female rats, that were Long-term treated with bromopride. Large corpus Luteum, uterus in a secretory stage and hipertrophiated mammary gland marked morphological changes were correlated to the neuroendocrinal effects of the drug, considering what it is able to black tuberoinfundibular dopamine (DA) receptors Leading to an increase in prolactin Levels