Role of nitric oxide on defensive behavior and long-term aversive learning induced by chemical stimulation of the dorsolateral periaqueductal gray matter.

The midbrain periaqueductal gray matter, especially the dorsolateral portion (dlPAG), coordinates immediate defensive responses (DR) to threats, but also ascends forebrain information for aversive learning. The synaptic dynamics in the dlPAG regulate the intensity and type of behavioral expression, as well as long-term processes such as memory acquisition, consolidation, and retrieval. Among several neurotransmitters and neural modulators, nitric oxide seems to play an important regulatory role in the immediate expression of DR, but it remains unclear if this gaseous on-demand neuromodulator contributes to aversive learning.

Worse sleep quality predicts early drop out from physical exercise programs.

Introduction And Objective: Sleep quality (SQ) benefits from regular physical exercise (PE) practice, but the effect of SQ over behavioral aspects of PE is not well known. In this study, we tested whether sleep variables can predict the drop out risk for PE programs during a six-week critical period for habit formation at gyms.

Material And Methods: We assessed 153 volunteers, freshly enrolled at three different gyms and from both sexes, with average age of 33.

Evening chronotype predicts dropout of physical exercise: a prospective analysis.

Purpose: Eveningness preference to sleep/wake and perform physical/cognitive activities has been associated with worse health outcomes, when compared to morningness preference. Physical activity is one potential mediator that could explain this relationship; however, most of these evidences come from cross-sectional design studies. Our goal was to assess whether chronotype could predict the risk of dropout of physical exercise programs.

Optimization of the Elasticity and Adhesion of Catechol- or Dopamine-Loaded Gelatin Gels under Oxidative Conditions.

The synthesis of surgical adhesives is based on the need to design glues that give rise to strong and fast bonds without cytotoxic side effects. A recent trend in surgical adhesives is to use gel-forming polymers modified with catechol groups, which can undergo oxidative crosslinking reactions and are strongly adhesive to all kinds on surfaces in wet conditions. We previously showed that blending gelatin with catechol can yield strong adhesion when the catechol is oxidized by a strong oxidant.

The Chemical Environment at Maturation Stage in spp. Somatic Embryogenesis: Implications in the Polyamine Profile of Somatic Embryos and Morphological Characteristics of the Developed Plantlets.

Changes in the chemical environment at the maturation stage in spp. somatic embryogenesis will be a determinant factor in the conversion of somatic embryos to plantlets. Furthermore, the study of biochemical and morphological aspects of the somatic embryos could enable the improvement of somatic embryogenesis in spp.

Periaqueductal gray glutamatergic, cannabinoid and vanilloid receptor interplay in defensive behavior and aversive memory formation.

Stimulation of the midbrain periaqueductal gray matter (PAG) in humans elicits sensations of fear and impending terror, and mediates predator defensive responses in rodents. In rats, pharmacological stimulation of the dorsolateral portion of the PAG (dlPAG) with N-Methyl-d-Aspartate (NMDA) induces aversive conditioning that acts as an unconditioned stimulus (US). In the present work, we investigated the interplay between the vanilloid TRPV1 and cannabinoid CB1 receptors in the NMDA-dlPAG defensive response and in subsequent aversive learning.

Tuberculosis case finding and mortality prediction: added value of the clinical TBscore and biomarker suPAR.

Setting: A suburban area of Bissau, the capital of Guinea-Bissau; the study was conducted among presumptive pulmonary tuberculosis (prePTB) patients seeking medical care for signs and symptoms suggestive of PTB.

Objective: To determine if a clinical TB score and a biomarker suPAR (soluble urokinase plasminogen activator receptor) have separate and composite ability to predict PTB diagnosis and mortality in prePTB patients.

Design: Observational prospective follow-up study conducted from August 2010 to August 2012.

Transition to a New Neonatal Intensive Care Unit: Positive Effects on Staff Working Environment and How the Physical Environment Facilitates Family-Centered Care.

To optimize family-centered care and the staff working environment, the physical care environment should be designed to meet the needs of the infants, their families, and staff. It is important to evaluate the effects of a purpose-built neonatal ward on staff perceptions of job strain, the psychosocial climate, and the appropriateness of the physical environment. This study collected information from staff at a neonatal intensive care unit (NICU), before and after the ward was relocated to a new NICU.

Effects of four additive solutions on canine leukoreduced red cell concentrate quality during storage.

Background: Additive solutions (AS) and prestorage leukoreduction (LR) are important tools used to maintain erythrocyte viability during storage and avoid transfusion reactions in recipients, respectively.

Objectives: The purpose of the study was to determine the efficacy of a WBC filter (Immugard IIIRC) and compare the effect of 4 AS (phosphate-adenine-glucose-guanosine-gluconate-mannitol [PAGGGM], saline-adenine-glucose-mannitol [SAGM], Adsol, Optisol) on the in vitro quality of canine leukoreduced packed RBC units (pRBC) stored for 41 days.

Methods: Five hundred milliliters of blood were collected from 8 healthy dogs each into 70 mL of citrate-phosphate-dextrose (CPD) solution, and were leukoreduced by a polyurethane filter.

Morphological and functional features of the sex steroid-responsive posterodorsal medial amygdala of adult rats.

The rat posterodorsal medial amygdala (MePD) expresses receptors for gonadal hormones and integrates sex steroid-sensitive subcortical networks. Male-female differences are found in the morphology, connectivity, and local neuropil structure of MePD. For example, dendritic spine density is sexually-dimorphic and changes with the estrous cycle and following gonadal hormones manipulations.

Effect of skilled and unskilled training on nerve regeneration and functional recovery.

The most disabling aspect of human peripheral nerve injuries, the majority of which affect the upper limbs, is the loss of skilled hand movements. Activity-induced morphological and electrophysiological remodeling of the neuromuscular junction has been shown to influence nerve repair and functional recovery. In the current study, we determined the effects of two different treatments on the functional and morphological recovery after median and ulnar nerve injury.

Peliosis lienis: uncommon cause of rupture of the spleen.

Rare anomaly: peliosis lienis, which was found in the spleen of a woman splenectomised for rupture, is presented. Speculations on the etio-pathogenesis of this peculiar disorder are discussed based on literary data. The awareness of this pathological curiosity may be of practical importance because of the hazard of life-threatening haemorrhagic consequences following rupture of the lesions.

[Two-stage splenic rupture leading to the diagnosis of hepatic peliosis].

Rare anomaly: peliosis was found in a young woman, splenectomised for rupture of the spleen. Speculations on the aetiopathogenesis of this peculiar disorder are discussed. Awareness of the pathological curiosity is also of practical relevance, because of the risk of life-threatening haemorrhagic consequences from rupture of the lesions.