Long-term effect of neonatal antagonism of ionotropic glutamate receptors on dendritic spines and cognitive function in rats.

Glutamate is the most abundant excitatory neurotransmitter in the hippocampus where mediates its actions by activating glutamate receptors. The activation of these receptors is essential for the maintenance and dynamics of dendritic spines and plasticity that correlate with learning and memory processes during neurodevelopment and adulthood. We studied in adults the effect of blocking ionotropic glutamate receptors (NMDAR, AMPAR, and KAR) functions at neonatal age (PD1-PD15) with their respective antagonists D-AP5, GYKI-53655 and UBP-302. We first evaluated memory using a new object recognition test in adults. Second, we evaluated the levels of glial fibrillary acidic protein, synaptophysin and actin with immunohistochemistry in the CA1, CA3, and dentate gyrus regions of the hippocampus and, finally, the number of dendritic spines and their dynamics using Golgi-Cox staining. We found that ionotropic glutamate receptor function blockade at neonatal age causes a reduction in short and long-term memory in adulthood and a reduction in the expression of synaptophysin and actin protein levels in the hippocampus regions studied. This blockade also reduced the number of dendritic spines and modified dendritic dynamics in the CA1 region. The antagonism of the three types of ionotropic glutamate receptors reduced the mushrooms and bifurcated types of spines and increased the thin spines. The number of stubby spines was reduced by D-AP5, increased by UPB-302, and not affected by GYKI-53655. Our results indicate that the blockade of neonatal ionotropic glutamate receptors produces alterations that persist until adulthood.

Analysis of the functional EEG network in an Ecuadorian schizophrenia sample

Background and objectives: Higher mental functions depend on global functional coordination of the brain. Our aim was to study the baseline condition and modulation of functional networks in a previously unevaluated clinical population, compare the results with a population from another country, and analyze their relationship with cognitive functioning.MethodsWe evaluated the functioning of brain networks by EEG in 24 patients with schizophrenia and 32 healthy Ecuadorian controls. EEG recordings were made at rest and while performing a P300 task. Small world (SW), Path Length (PL), clustering coefficient (CLC) and connective strength (CS) values were calculated in both conditions. The values obtained were compared between groups, with the results of Spanish patients, and the relationship between the connective parameters and the cognitive performance of the participants was analyzed.ResultsHigher PL, CLC and CS values were identified in patients diagnosed with schizophrenia compared to controls (in basal condition) and lower SW values in this same condition. Ecuadorian patients obtained higher values than Spanish patients in the PL and CLC parameters and lower values for the SW parameter, despite these differences, the pattern of alteration in both samples followed the same trend. Finally, the alteration of CS, SW, CLC and PL parameters at baseline was related to cognitive performance.ConclusionThe connective alterations identified in Ecuadorian schizophrenic patients are consistent with those found in another sample with different genetic, environmental and cultural conditions. In addition, these alterations were associated with worse performance in different cognitive domains. (AU)

Impact of Educational Level on Versions (Basic and Complete) of the Montreal Cognitive Assessment.

BACKGROUND: One of the most marked problems in the use of screening instruments for the diagnosis of dementia or cognitive impairment in the elderly is the influence of educational level on the results of psychometric tests. The Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) questionnaire is one of the most widely used dementia screening instruments internationally and with greater proven validity. There is a version of this instrument called MoCA "Basic" which was developed to reduce education bias. The aim of the study was to compare the psychometric characteristics of the MoCA, full versus basic, versions in older adults. METHOD: Participants (N = 214) completed both versions of the MoCA, and screening measures to corroborate their health status. RESULTS: Internal consistency was satisfactory in both versions: MoCA full (0.79) and MoCA basic (0.76). The overall correlation between both tests was high (0.73). There was no relationship between the dimensions included in each version. Educational level and age explained 33.8% of the total variance in MoCA Full and 31.8% in MoCA Basic. Among educational levels, there are statistically significant differences in participants with <6 years of education. CONCLUSIONS: The results confirm that both versions are reliable instruments and also show that in both versions the educational level of <6 years of education continues to have an impact on performance. Therefore, it can be considered that the MoCA Basic version for the Ecuadorian population with <6 years of education continues to imply literacy competencies.

Juvenile stress causes reduced locomotor behavior and dendritic spine density in the prefrontal cortex and basolateral amygdala in Sprague-Dawley rats.

Little has been investigated about the effects of stress on synaptic communication at prepubertal age, a stage considered as juvenile. This period of development is related to socialization through play. Our group has studied the changes of neuronal morphology in limbic structures caused by stress at prenatal and at early postnatal ages (before weaning) in the rat. In the present study, we assessed the effect of restraint stress at juvenile ages. Male Sprague-Dawley rats from postnatal day (PD) 21 to PD35 were restrained (from movement) for 2 hrs. Locomotor activity in a novel environment was evaluated at three different ages, prepubertal PD38, pubertal PD50, and postpubertal PD68. Using the Golgi-Cox procedure, the dendritic morphology was evaluated in the pyramidal neurons of the prefrontal cortex (PFC), hippocampus, and basolateral amygdala (BLA). Juvenile stress caused a reduced locomotor activity at PD38 and PD68 together with reduction in dendritic spines after puberty in the PFC and at all the studied ages in the BLA. In addition, dendritic length was also reduced in the PFC at PD38 and PD68 and CA1 of the ventral hippocampus at PD50 and PD68. Our results suggest that stress in the juvenile stage can cause changes at the level of behavior and synaptic communication with an effect that remains until adulthood.

Fotografía y discapacidad intelectual: estudio sobre el reconocimiento emocional a través de talleres de fotografía en personas con discapacidad intelectual / Photography and intellectual disability: a study on emotional recognition through photography workshops for people with intellectual disabilities

El presente estudio busca explorar el reconocimiento de emociones en personas con discapacidad intelectual. El reconocimiento de emociones es importante para una correcta interacción social. Esto hace que la estimulación y desarrollo de estas habilidades sea in-dispensable para generar vínculos nuevos, comprender el medio en el cual se encuentra el sujeto y la adquisición de un conocimiento positivo gracias al aprendizaje social. En esta investigación se empleó la fotografía como un medio de expresión y de mejoramiento de habilidades cognitivas y sociales. La evaluación fue realizada mediante un test previamente creado para población ecuatoriana. Los objetivos de este estudio intentan comprobar si: a. Las personas con discapacidad intelectual presentan mayores problemas en el reconocimiento de emociones que la población general, y: b. Aprender fotografía mejora el reconocimiento de emociones en personas con discapacidad intelectual. En lo que respecta al método, esta investigación utiliza un diseño pre-experimental con medidas pre-post, contando con una intervención que fue realizada en un periodo de 4 meses y medio, mediante capacitaciones de dos horas de duración dirigidas a cincuenta personas con discapacidad leve y moderada. Se obtiene como principales resultados que: a. Existe diferencia significativa (X2= 37.29 P < 0,001) entre grupo control y personas con discapacidad intelectual para reconocer emociones. b. Hay una mejoría significativa en el factor de reconocimiento emocional, lo que a su vez permite concluir que la fotografía es una herramienta alternativa para estimular el reconocimiento de emociones en la discapacidad intelectual.

The present study aims to explore emotion recognition in people with intellectual disabilities. Emotion recognition is an important skill to generate adequate social interactions. Thus, the stimulation and development of these skills are essential to build new relations-hips, understand the environment in which the subject develops and acquire a positive knowledge through social learning. In this re-search, photography was used as a tool for expression and improvement of cognitive and social skills. The evaluation was carried out through a test previously created specifically for the Ecuadorian population. The purposes of this study attempt to confirm if: a. People with intellectual disabilities have more difficulties in recognizing emotions than the general population, and: b. Studying photography improves emotion recognition skills in people with intellectual disabilities. Regarding the method, this study uses a pre-experimental design with pre-post measurements, with an intervention of 4 months and a half through two-hour training aimed at fifty subjects with minor and moderate intellectual disabilities. The main results show that: a. There is a significant difference (X

Cistoadenoma papilar de epidídimo: a propósito de un caso / Papillary cystadenoma of the epididymis: a case report

Presentamos un caso de cistoadenoma papilar de epidídimo (CPE) en un paciente varón de 44 años de edad con una masa palpable en el escroto derecho. La ecografía (US) y la resonancia magnética (RM) mostraron tres lesiones quísticas adyacentes extratesticulares de paredes gruesas, una con un fino septo parcial interno,de ubicación epididimaria y un diámetro en conjunto de 1 cm x 0,4 cm. El diagnóstico anatomopatológico realizado luego de su resección quirúrgica fue de cistoadenoma papilar de epidídimo. Éste consiste en un tumor epitelial benigno, muy poco frecuente, que se origina del epitelio ductal eferente. Se presenta preferentemente en el adulto joven y puede ser uni o bilateral (un tercio de los casos), así como también esporádico o hereditario en relación con la enfermedad de von Hippel-Lindau, particularmente en el caso de las lesiones bilaterales.Se diagnostica por palpación y métodos por imágenes, incluyendo la ecografía y la resonanacia magnética. Histológicamente se caracteriza por la presencia de espacios quísticos con proyecciones papilares internas, revestidas por células claras, que remedan a las del carcinoma renal. La diferenciación entre éste y el cistoadenoma papilar de epidídimo debe hacerse a través de marcadores inmunohistoquímicos. El tratamiento es la exéresis quirúrgica y un posterior seguimiento, ya que, si bien su pronóstico es excelente, se ha descritosu transformación maligna a cistoadenocarcinoma.

We report a case of papillary cystadenoma of the epididymis (PCE) in a 44-year-old male patient with a palpable right intrascrotal mass. Ultrasound and magnetic resonance imaging showed three extratesticular intraepididymal thick wall-cystic lesions measuring 1.0 x 0.4 cm overall. After surgical resection, the pathological diagnosis was papillary cystadenoma of epididymis. This is a rare benign epithelial tumor that arises from the efferent duct epithelium. It usually occurs in young adult males and it may be unilateral or bilateral (one third of cases) as well as sporadic or hereditary related to von Hippel-Lindau disease (especially bilateral lesions). The diagnosis is made by physical examination and diagnostic imaging (ultrasound and magnetic resonance imaging). Histologically, it is characterized by cystic spaces with internal papillary projections lined by clear cells similar to those of renal cell carcinoma (RCC). Differentiation between papillary cystadenoma of the epididymis and renal cell carcinoma is made by immunohisto-chemical markers. Treatment consists in surgical excision and subsequent follow-up, since, and although, its excellent prognosis, malignant transformation have been reported.

Cistoadenoma papilar de epidídimo: a propósito de un caso / Papillary cystadenoma of the epididymis: a case report

Presentamos un caso de cistoadenoma papilar de epidídimo (CPE) en un paciente varón de 44 años de edad con una masa palpable en el escroto derecho. La ecografía (US) y la resonancia magnética (RM) mostraron tres lesiones quísticas adyacentes extratesticulares de paredes gruesas, una con un fino septo parcial interno, de ubicación epididimaria y un diámetro en conjunto de 1 cm x 0,4 cm. El diagnóstico anatomopatológico realizado luego de su resección quirúrgica fue de cistoadenoma papilar de epidídimo. Este consiste en un tumor epitelial benigno, muy poco frecuente, que se origina del epitelio ductal eferente. Se presenta preferentemente en el adulto joven y puede ser uni o bilateral (un tercio de los casos), así como también esporádico o hereditario en relación con la enfermedad de von Hippel-Lindau, particularmente en el caso de las lesiones bilaterales. Se diagnostica por palpación y métodos por imágenes, incluyendo la ecografía y la resonanacia magnética. Histológicamente se caracteriza por la presencia de espacios quísticos con proyecciones papilares internas, revestidas por células claras, que remedan a las del carcinoma renal. La diferenciación entre éste y el cisto-adenoma papilar de epidídimo debe hacerse a través de marcadores inmunohistoquímicos. El tratamiento es la exéresis quirúrgica y un posterior seguimiento, ya que, si bien su pronóstico es excelente, se ha descrito su transformación maligna a cistoadenocarcinoma.(AU)

We report a case of papillary cystadenoma of the epididymis (PCE) in a 44-year-old male patient with a palpable right intrascrotal mass. Ultrasound and magnetic resonance imaging showed three extratesticular intraepididymal thick wall-cystic lesions measuring 1.0 x 0.4 cm overall. After surgical resection, the pathological diagnosis was papillary cystadenoma of epididymis. This is a rare benign epithelial tumor that arises from the efferent duct epithelium. It usually occurs in young adult males and it may be unilateral or bilateral (one third of cases) as well as sporadic or hereditary related to von Hippel-Lindau disease (especially bilateral lesions). The diagnosis is made by physical examination and diagnostic imaging (ultrasound and magnetic resonance imaging). Histologically, it is characterized by cystic spaces with internal papillary projections lined by clear cells similar to those of renal cell carcinoma (RCC). Differentiation between papillary cystadenoma of the epididymis and renal cell carcinoma is made by immunohisto-chemical markers. Treatment consists in surgical excision and subsequent follow-up, since, and although, its excellent prognosis, malignant transformation have been reported.(AU)

Pd2+/Pd0 redox cycling in hexagonal YMn(0.5)Fe(0.5)O3: implications for catalysis by PGM-substituted complex oxides.

Complex oxides--containing at least two different cations on crystallographically distinct sites--have recently been shown to display redox cycling of platinum group metals (PGMs), such as Pd; for example, Pd-substituted complex oxides can reversibly extrude metallic Pd under reducing conditions and then reincorporate Pd(2+) ions into the lattice under oxidizing conditions. The title compounds, YMn(0.5)Fe(0.5-x)Pd(x)O(3-δ) (0 ≤ x ≤ 0.07) crystallizing in the noncentrosymmetric YMnO(3) structure, were prepared using a sol-gel process at 800 °C, and the structures were refined from high-resolution synchrotron X-ray powder diffraction data. Their redox cycling behavior was monitored using synchrotron X-ray diffraction and EXAFS studies. In contrast to the previously studied complex oxide host compounds, YMn(0.5)Fe(0.5-x)Pd(x)O(3-δ) is only modestly tolerant to cycling: repeated redox cycling leads to the formation of PdO, which, on the time-scale of the oxidation cycles, does not reincorporate in the complex oxide lattice. Both oxidized and reduced samples were tested for the oxidation of CO to CO(2) under CO-lean conditions. YMn(0.5)Fe(0.5-x)Pd(x)O(3-δ) performs essentially as well as previously studied YFe(1-x)Pd(x)O(3-δ). The CO oxidation light-off characteristics of the hexagonal hosts are very similar to finely dispersed PdO. Despite evidence that Pd is almost fully dispersed as divalent ions in the host lattice, which is presumably accompanied by the concurrent creation of oxygen vacancies (2 Pd(2+):1 V(O(2-))), the as-prepared hexagonal materials do not display any significant improvement in catalytic activity as a function of Pd substitution level. This suggests that the corner-connected trigonal bipyramids that characterize this structural family do not enable the transport of oxygen through the bulk of the lattice. The study casts light on factors in the solid-state chemistry of precious metal-substituted complex oxides that influence the efficacy of redox cycling of the precious metal, and catalytic performance.

A single dose of vitamin A improves haemoglobin concentration, retinol status and phagocytic function of neutrophils in preschool children.

Since there is a reported interrelationship between vitamin A and Fe metabolism, and with immunological response, the objective was to evaluate the effect of a single dose of vitamin A administered to preschool children, on Fe and vitamin A nutritional status, anaemia and phagocytic function of neutrophils, 30 d after supplementation. A total of eighty children (sixty-eight supplemented and twelve controls) were supplemented orally with 200,000 IU (60 mg) vitamin A, and evaluated for nutritional, haematological and immunological responses at the beginning of the study and 30 d after supplementation. Parameters studied included Hb, serum ferritin, retinol and Fe concentrations, transferrin saturation, IL-4, interferon-gamma and phagocityc capacity of neutrophils using non-fluorescent latex microbeads. After supplementation there was a significant increase in Hb concentration (P = 0.03), mean corpuscular Hb concentration (P = 0.001) and serum retinol (P = 0.0078). Prevalences of anaemia and vitamin A deficiency decreased significantly from 17.6 % to 13.2 % and from 25 % to 13.2 %, respectively. Regarding phagocytic function, there was a significant increase in the number of microbeads engulfed by neutrophils (P < 0.05) and no significant changes in cytokine concentrations at 1 month after treatment. A single dose of 200,000 IU (60 mg) vitamin A administered orally to a group of preschool children with a high prevalence of vitamin A deficiency enhanced serum retinol and Hb concentrations, decreased the prevalence of anaemia and vitamin A deficiency and improved the constitutive phagocytic capacity of neutrophils. Vitamin A supplementation could help to decrease vitamin A deficiency, anaemia prevalence and to improve the innate immunity response in preschool children. The effects were obtained without Fe supplementation.