The role of ayahuasca in cell viability and oxidative stress in gastric adenocarcinoma cell line.

Ayahuasca, a psychoactive beverage native to the Amazon, originally derived from stem scrapings and leaves, exhibits hallucinogenic properties due to -dimethyltryptamine. When combined with β-carbolines, it enters the bloodstream and central nervous system, inhibiting monoamine oxidase-A. Over time, therapeutic effects have been associated to ayahuasca consumption.

Action of Curcumin on Glioblastoma Growth: A Systematic Review with Meta-Analysis of Animal Model Studies.

Gliomas are aggressive brain tumors with poor prognosis even after surgical removal and radio-chemotherapy, stressing the urgency to find alternative therapies. Several preclinical studies evaluating the anticancer effect of curcumin in animal models of glioma are reported, but a systematic review with meta-analysis of these studies, considering the different experimental conditions used, has not been made up to this date. A search in different databases (Pubmed, Web of Science, Scopus, and SciELO) following the PRISMA statement was conducted during November 2023 to systematically identify articles assessing the effect of curcumin in murine xenograft models of glioma and identified 15 articles, which were subdivided into 24 studies.

Sensors in the Detection of Abused Substances in Forensic Contexts: A Comprehensive Review.

Forensic toxicology plays a pivotal role in elucidating the presence of drugs of abuse in both biological and solid samples, thereby aiding criminal investigations and public health initiatives. This review article explores the significance of sensor technologies in this field, focusing on diverse applications and their impact on the determination of drug abuse markers. This manuscript intends to review the transformative role of portable sensor technologies in detecting drugs of abuse in various samples.

The Sex Bias of Cancer.

In hormone-dependent organs, sex hormones and dysregulated hormone signaling have well-documented roles in cancers of the breast and female reproductive organs including endometrium and ovary, as well as in prostate and testicular cancers in males. Strikingly, epidemiological data highlight significant differences between the sexes in the incidence of various cancers in nonreproductive organs, where the role of sex hormones has been less well studied. In an era when personalized medicine is gaining recognition, understanding the molecular, cellular, and biological differences between men and women is timely for developing more appropriate therapeutic interventions according to gender.

The Role of cGMP on Adenosine A 1 Receptor-mediated Inhibition of Synaptic Transmission at the Hippocampus.

Both adenosine A1 receptor and cGMP inhibit synaptic transmission at the hippocampus and recently it was found that A1 receptor increased cGMP levels in hippocampus, but the role of cGMP on A1 receptor-mediated inhibition of synaptic transmission remains to be established. In the present work we investigated if blocking the NOS/sGC/cGMP/PKG pathway using nitric oxide synthase (NOS), protein kinase G (PKG), and soluble guanylyl cyclase (sGC) inhibitors modify the A1 receptor effect on synaptic transmission. Neurotransmission was evaluated by measuring the slope of field excitatory postsynaptic potentials (fEPSPs) evoked by electrical stimulation at hippocampal slices.

Combined neuroprotective action of adenosine A1 and cannabinoid CB1 receptors against NMDA-induced excitotoxicity in the hippocampus.

Both adenosine A1 and cannabinoid CB1 receptors trigger similar transduction pathways and protect against neurotoxic insults at the hippocampus, but their combined neuroprotective potential has not been investigated. We set forth to assess the combined action of A1 and CB1 receptors against glutamate NMDA receptor-mediated excitotoxicity at the hippocampus. Cell damage was assessed by measuring propidium iodide (PI) uptake and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) activity released from cultured hippocampal slices exposed to NMDA.

The combined inhibitory effect of the adenosine A1 and cannabinoid CB1 receptors on cAMP accumulation in the hippocampus is additive and independent of A1 receptor desensitization.

Adenosine A1 and cannabinoid CB1 receptors are highly expressed in hippocampus where they trigger similar transduction pathways. We investigated how the combined acute activation of A1 and CB1 receptors modulates cAMP accumulation in rat hippocampal slices. The CB1 agonist WIN55212-2 (0.

Association of the transcobalamin II gene 776C → G polymorphism with Alzheimer's type dementia: dependence on the 5, 10-methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase 1298A → C polymorphism genotype.

Background: Decreased serum concentrations of vitamin B12 are associated with Alzheimer's type dementia. The transcobalamin II gene (TCN2) 776C → G polymorphism affects transcobalamin II function as a carrier of vitamin B12 and might modify its availability. The association of the TCN2 776C → G polymorphism with Alzheimer's type dementia is unclear and was investigated in the present study.

Modulation of cGMP accumulation by adenosine A1 receptors at the hippocampus: influence of cGMP levels and gender.

Adenosine A1 receptor is highly expressed in hippocampus where it inhibits neurotransmitter release and has neuroprotective activity. Similar actions are obtained by increasing cGMP concentration, but a clear link between adenosine A1 receptor and cGMP levels remains to be established. The present work aims to investigate if cGMP formation is modulated by adenosine A1 receptors at the hippocampus and if this effect is gender dependent.

Kinetics of Angiotensin I alteration of conformation on different hydrophobic interaction chromatographic surfaces.

In the present study, Angiotensin I (Ang I) will be used as model peptide to assess on-column alteration of conformation phenomena. Adsorptive behavior of Ang I on various commercial hydrophobic interaction surfaces (Butyl, Octyl and Phenyl - Sepharose), under different conditions, was investigated. In order to calculate the cis-trans isomerization rate constants of Ang I on the stationary phase's surface, the first and second moments of the proline peptide elution profiles were determined.

Serum homocysteine: interplay with other circulating and genetic factors in association to Alzheimer's type dementia.

Objectives: To study the interplay between serum concentrations of homocysteine, steroid hormones and vitamins B and mutations in 5,10-methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) gene, in association to Alzheimer's type dementia (ATD).

Design And Methods: Case-control study including 19 individuals diagnosed with ATD and 36 healthy controls. Serum concentrations of the analytes were determined and MTHFR 1298A-->C mutation was screened by PCR-RFLP.

Serum homocysteine: relationship with circulating levels of cortisol and ascorbate.

Background/aim: High serum levels of homocysteine and cortisol are independent risk factors for several pathologies and their levels can be regulated by some vitamins. Since the relationship between serum concentrations of homocysteine, cortisol and ascorbate has not been assessed in healthy individuals to date, it was the topic of the present work.

Methods: The study group was composed of 20 men and 40 women aged >50 years.

Pertussis toxin-sensitive G proteins mediate the inhibition of basal phosphoinositide metabolism caused by adenosine A1 receptors in rat hippocampal slices.

The adenosine A1 receptor selective agonist, N6-cyclopentyladenosine (CPA, 300 nM) inhibited basal accumulation of [3H]inositol phosphates ([3H]InsPs), but not the total levels of membrane [3H]-phosphoinositides, in rat hippocampal slices. This action of CPA was not significantly modified when synaptic transmission was blocked with tetrodotoxin (TTX, 200 nM) but was prevented in slices pre-incubated with pertussis toxin (PTX, 5 microg/mL) for 12-16 hr. Neither PTX nor TTX, when applied in the absence of CPA, influenced basal [3H]InsPs accumulation.