Publications by authors named "Letizia Manca"

Article Synopsis
  • The study investigates how the main active component of cannabis, THC, affects the signaling of extracellular vesicles (EVs) in the brain, which play a role in intercellular communication.
  • THC was found to activate certain cells in the brain, leading to increased expression of cannabinoid receptors and the release of EVs containing RNA.
  • Additionally, the research showed that both acute and chronic THC exposure had different effects on EV proteins, with variations based on sex, enhancing our understanding of cannabis's impact on brain signaling.
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Article Synopsis
  • Early social isolation in rats influences dopamine signaling and reward behaviors, with distinct changes in different brain regions (mPFC and NAc) depending on housing conditions.* -
  • Group-housed rats showed increased dopamine in the mPFC during feeding, while isolated rats had elevated levels in the NAc, indicating long-lasting effects of social conditions on dopamine dynamics.* -
  • Microinjections of dopamine or cocaine into the mPFC could reverse deficits in reward behavior in isolated rats, highlighting the critical role of social interactions in shaping reward-related neural responses.*
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The second brain of humans has been known as the microbiome. The microbiome is a dynamic network composed of commensal bacteria, archaea, viruses, and fungi colonized in the human gastrointestinal tract. They play a vital role in human health by metabolizing components, maturation of the immune system, and taking part in the treatment of various diseases.

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In this work oleuropein and lentisk oil have been co-loaded in different phospholipid vesicles (i.e., liposomes, transfersomes, hyalurosomes and hyalutransfersomes), to obtain a formulation capable of both inhibiting the production of different markers connected with inflammation and oxidative stress and promoting the skin repair.

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Introduction: Although there has been a decrease in the prevalence of tobacco smoking, exposure to nicotine during pregnancy remains a substantial problem worldwide. Further, given the recent escalation in e-cigarette use and legalization of cannabis, it has become essential to understand the effects of nicotine and cannabinoid co-exposure during early developmental stages.

Aims And Methods: We systematically examined the effects of nicotine and/or THC prenatal exposure on cognitive behaviors in male and female offspring.

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Plants and their derivates have been used as medicines for centuries and today is being re-discovered their usefulness for the human health. The therapeutic properties of phytochemicals are re-evaluated under the light of medical and pharmacological research, pushed by a constantly growing market demand, where consumers trust more natural products than synthetic drugs. New studies are enlightening the effectiveness of phytochemicals against a wide range of ailments, nevertheless very few evaluate the efficacy of topical formulations based on natural bioactive molecules in the treatment of nasal mucosal diseases.

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Evidence in humans suggests a correlation between nicotine smoking and severe respiratory symptoms with COVID-19 infection. In lung tissue, angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) appears to mechanistically underlie viral entry. Here, we investigated whether e-cigarette vapor inhalation alters ACE2 and nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (nAChR) expression in male and female mice.

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The investigation of the possible conversion of cannabidiol (CBD) into Δ-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) in vivo after oral administration of CBD is reported herein since recent publications suggested a rapid conversion in simulated gastric fluid. To this end, single high dose of CBD (50mg/kg) was administered orally to rats and their blood was collected after 3 and 6h. A highly sensitive and selective LC-MS/MS method was developed and fully validated in compliance with the Scientific Working Group of Forensic Toxicology (SWGTOX) standard practices for method validation in forensic toxicology.

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In previous works we showed the overexpression of some proteins in biological fluids from patients suffering chronic pain. In this proteomic study we analysed serum from a rat model of neuropathic pain obtained by the chronic constriction injury (CCI) of sciatic nerve, at two time intervals, 2 and 5 weeks after the insult, to find proteins involved in the expression or mediation of pain. Sham-operated and CCI rats were treated with saline or indomethacin.

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Previous studies have shown that stress can increase the response of mesolimbic dopaminergic neurons to acute administration of drugs of abuse included ethanol. In this study, we investigated the possible involvement of the mesocortical dopaminergic pathway in the development of ethanol abuse under stress conditions. To this aim we trained both socially isolated (SI) and group housed (GH) rats to self administer ethanol which was made available only 2 ha day (from 11:00 to 13:00 h).

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