Acquisition and expression of conditioned taste aversion differentially affects extracellular signal regulated kinase and glutamate receptor phosphorylation in rat prefrontal cortex and nucleus accumbens.

Conditioned taste aversion (CTA) can be applied to study associative learning and its relevant underpinning molecular mechanisms in discrete brain regions. The present study examined, by immunohistochemistry and immunocytochemistry, the effects of acquisition and expression of lithium-induced CTA on activated Extracellular signal Regulated Kinase (p-ERK) in the prefrontal cortex (PFCx) and nucleus accumbens (Acb) of male Sprague-Dawley rats. The study also examined, by immunoblotting, whether acquisition and expression of lithium-induced CTA resulted in modified levels of phosphorylation of glutamate receptor subunits (NR1 and GluR1) and Thr(34)- and Thr(75-Dopamine-and-cAMP-Regulated) PhosphoProtein (DARPP-32).

Habituation of the responsiveness of mesolimbic and mesocortical dopamine transmission to taste stimuli.

The presentation of novel, remarkable, and unpredictable tastes increases dopamine (DA) transmission in different DA terminal areas such as the nucleus accumbens (NAc) shell and core and the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC), as estimated by in vivo microdialysis studies in rats. This effect undergoes adaptive regulation, as there is a decrease in DA responsiveness after a single pre-exposure to the same taste. This phenomenon termed habituation has been described as peculiar to NAc shell but not to NAc core and mPFC DA transmission.

Editorial: cardiovascular drug therapy in paediatric age: from metabolomics to clinical practice.

In adult patients, cardiovascular drugs are widely administered in the treatment of numerous diseases. The indications and doses are strictly codified by international Guidelines, which are periodically updated by the American and European Societies of Cardiology. In paediatric patients, however, the situation is substantially different.

Role of movement in long-term basal ganglia changes: implications for abnormal motor responses.

Abnormal involuntary movements (AIMs) and dyskinesias elicited by drugs that stimulate dopamine receptors in the basal ganglia are a major issue in the management of Parkinson's disease (PD). Preclinical studies in dopamine-denervated animals have contributed to the modeling of these abnormal movements, but the precise neurochemical and functional mechanisms underlying these untoward effects are still elusive. It has recently been suggested that the performance of movement may itself promote the later emergence of drug-induced motor complications, by favoring the generation of aberrant motor memories in the dopamine-denervated basal ganglia.

Traditional medicines and globalization: current and future perspectives in ethnopharmacology.

The ethnopharmacological approach toward the understanding and appraisal of traditional and herbal medicines is characterized by the inclusions of the social as well as the natural sciences. Anthropological field-observations describing the local use of nature-derived medicines are the basis for ethnopharmacological enquiries. The multidisciplinary scientific validation of indigenous drugs is of relevance to modern societies at large and helps to sustain local health care practices.

[The Endovision technique in renal percutaneous lithotripsy].

Introduction: In order to achieve a safer percutaneous access to the kidney, even if not systematically, it is possible to combine the use of eco-fluoro-guided puncture with the endoscopic retrograde vision through flexible ureteroscopy. Our experience has been conducted in order to standardize the technique and highlight advantages and limitations. 


Materials And Methods: 26 patients (15 M-11 F), mean age 46 years, underwent flexible ureterorenoscopy as first percutaneous access for pyelic or pyelocaliceal stones.

[Endoscopic combined intra renal surgery (ECIRS) in prone position].

Introduction: E.C.I.

[Treatment of lithiasis with infundibular axis at an acute angle to the calyx entry in PCNL].

Introduction: In the treatment of pyelo multi calyceal renal lithiasis, although we utilize both rigid and flexible instruments, the greatest challenge when trying to achieve a stone-free status after the procedure with a single access, is represented by the presence of residual caliceal stones difficult to reach for the length of the infundibular system in which they are localized, and major axis of it at an acute angle with respect to the axis of the cannula entrance. We describe our technique of treatment in these cases with no second access.

Materials And Methods: 55 cases of multiple lithiasis of the lower calyx at the end of PCNL for complex lithiasis were treated with the following technique.

HLA-DQB1 Haplotypes and their Relation to Oral Signs Linked to Celiac Disease Diagnosis.

Objectives: Celiac disease (CD) is an autoimmune disorder that can be divided into typical and atypical forms. Atypical forms can show extraintestinal manifestations among which oral signs are very frequent. Considering that the pathogenesis of CD is related to a positivity to specific HLA-DQB1 haplotypes, we tested whether the presence of the HLA-DQB1*02 allele could be a hypothetical cause of the development of oral manifestations.

A healthy nutrition programme with child 'Cub Scouts'.

This commentary describes the development of the Health Nutrition programme carried out by University of Cagliari with 19 Italian scout groups. In total 353 children between the ages of 6 and 10 participated in the programme. The objectives were to develop children's knowledge on the Mediterranean diet through games.

Improving physical quality of life with group physical activity in the adjunctive treatment of major depressive disorder.

Background: The aim of the study was to compare the change in quality of life over 32 weeks in depressed women assuming antidepressant drug with (experimental group) or without (control group) physical exercise from a study which results on objective dimension of outcome were already published.

Methods: Trial with randomized naturalistic control. Patients selected from the clinical activity registries of a Psychiatric University Unit.