Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Differential effects of context on psychomotor sensitization to ethanol and cocaine

Repeated drug injections lead to sensitization of their stimulant effects in mice, a phenomenon sometimes referred to as drug psychomotor sensitization. Previous studies showed that sensitization to cocaine is context dependent as its expression is reduced in an environment that was not paired with cocaine administration. In contrast, the effects of the test context on ethanol sensitization remain unclear. In the present study, female OF1 mice were repeatedly injected with 1.5 g/kg ethanol to test for both the effects of context novelty/familiarity and association on ethanol sensitization. A first group of mice was extensively pre-exposed to the test context before ethanol sensitization and ethanol injections were paired with the test context (familiar and paired group). A second group was not pre-exposed to the test context, but ethanol injections were paired with the test context (nonfamiliar and paired group). Finally, a third group of mice was not pre-exposed to the test context and ethanol was repeatedly injected in the home cage (unpaired group). Control groups were similarly exposed to the test context, but were injected with saline. In a second experiment, cocaine was used as a positive control. The same behavioral procedure was used, except that mice were injected with 10 mg/kg cocaine instead of ethanol. The results show a differential involvement of the test context in the sensitization to ethanol and cocaine. Cocaine sensitization is strongly context dependent and is not expressed in the unpaired group. In contrast, the expression of ethanol sensitization is independent of the context in which it was administered, but is strongly affected by the relative novelty/familiarity of the environment. Extensive pre-exposure to the test context prevented the expression of ethanol sensitization. One possible explanation is that expression of ethanol sensitization requires an arousing environment.
Yoghurt production by Iranian native starter cultures

Purpose – Yoghurt consists of approximately 60 per cent of per capita dairy consumption of Iranian people. Iranian dairy factories use commercial starters which are expensive in yoghurt production. Moreover, yoghurt produced by these starters does not completely meet the taste of Iranian consumers. The aims of this study are to produce well qualified yoghurt from isolated native starters and to evaluate microbial, chemical and organoleptic characteristics of products.Design/methodology/approach – The microflora of Iranian native yoghurts were isolated, purified and identified. The isolated strains were used as starter for the production of yoghurts. Sensory evaluation and measurement of pH, acidity and acetaldehyde content of the samples were carried out. Acidity, pH, acetaldehyde content, and microbial population of the best samples were measured during 21 days of cold storage. SPSS software was used for statistical analysis.Findings – During the above mentioned storage period, acidity and acetaldehyde c.
Parsing the hedonic and motivational influences of nociceptin on feeding using licking microstructure analysis in mice

Opioid peptides are implicated in processes related to reward and aversion; however, how specific opioid peptides are involved remains unclear. We investigated the role of nociceptin (NOC) in voluntary licking for palatable and aversive tastants by studying the effect of intracerebroventricularly administered NOC on licking microstructure in wild-type and NOC receptor knockout (NOP KO) mice. Compared with the wild-type mice, NOP KO mice emitted fewer bouts of licking when training to lick for a 20% sucrose solution. Correspondingly, intracerebroventricular administration of NOC increased the number of licking bouts for sucrose and sucralose in wild-type, but not in NOP KO mice. The ability of NOC to initiate new bouts of licking for sweet solutions suggests that NOC may drive motivational aspects of feeding behavior. Conversely, adulterating a sucrose solution with the aversive tastant quinine reduced licking bout lengths in wild-type and NOP KOs, suggesting that NOC signaling is not involved in driving voluntary consumption of semiaversive tastants. Interestingly, when consuming sucrose following 20 h of food deprivation, NOP KO mice emitted longer bouts of licking than wild types, suggesting that under hungry conditions, NOC may also contribute toward hedonic aspects of feeding. Together, these results suggest differential roles for NOC in the motivational and hedonic aspects of feeding.
Genetic characterisation of ompA, ompB and gltA genes from CandidatusRickettsia rioja.

A. Portillo, V. Ibarra, S. Santiba´n˜ez, L. Pe´rez-Marti´nez, J. R. Blanco and J. A. OteoA´ rea de Enfermedades Infecciosas, Hospital San Pedro-Centro de Investigacio´n Biome´dica de La Rioja(CIBIR), La Rioja, SpainRickettsiosis are emerging and re-emerging infec-tions distributed all over the world. In the lastyears ‘new’ Rickettsia species have been involvedas human pathogens [1–3]. Candidatus Rickettsiarioja is a ‘new’ spotted fever group Rickettsiainvolved in Dermacentor-borne necrosis erythemaand lymphadenopathy (DEBONEL) or tick-borne-lymphadenopathy (TIBOLA) cases from Spain[4,5]. In 2006, a fragment of the ompA gene fromEDTA-treated blood of two patients who devel-oped DEBONEL after being bitten by Dermacentormarginatus in La Rioja, was submitted to GenBank(GenBank accession no. EF028201). This Rickettsiaspecies has also been ampliﬁed from ticksremoved from patients with DEBONEL.The aim of this study was to characterise thenucleotide sequence of ompA, ompB, citrate sintase(gltA) and 17 KDa genes from Candidatus R. rioja.As part of a retrospective study, 15 DNA extractsused for ompA PCR that showed 98% similaritywith Rickettsia raoultii and with uncultured Rick-ettsia sp. RpA4, DnS14 and DnS28, were furtheranalysed for the presence of ompB, gltA and17 KDa. Specimens were obtained from twoblood samples and nine D. marginatus removedfrom DEBONEL patients and from four D. mar-ginatus removed from asymptomatic people.For our 15 specimens, when ompA nucleotidesequences were compared with GenBank data,>99% similarity was found with Candidatus Rick-ettsia rioja (Fig. 1). Unfortunately, all attempts toamplify ompB and gltA genes from the two bloodsamples failed. However, PCR amplicons forompB and gltA were obtained from 12⁄13D. marginatus (92.3%). Subsequent sequence anal-ysis of ompB PCR products showed highestsimilarity ( 99% identity with Candidatus R. rioja. For theompB and gltA amplicons obtained from 12D. marginatus, highest identities for ompB andgltA were found with partial genes from R. raoultii(<98.9% and <99.7%, respectively). These com-parisons suggest that Candidatus R. rioja can beconsidered a new Rickettsia species as soon as anestablished isolate is available.ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
First molecular detection of R. conorii subsp. conorii 99 years after the Conor description of Mediterranean spotted fever, in Tunisia.

and in the Paediatric Unit of the University Hospital of Mahdia (35� 30¢15.84¢¢N, 11� 03¢57.96¢¢E) in the centre of Tunisia, were investigated for rickettsial infection. Sera were collected and cutaneous biopsies (two from eschar and two from maculopapular rash) were obtained from four patients. Sera were tested by IFA and Western blot with crossadsorption studies for identification of rickettsial strains at the species level. DNA of blood was extracted by using the QIAamp Tissue Kit (Qiagen GMBH, Hilden, Germany), according to the manufacturer’s instructions, in the Laboratory of Medical Entomology in the Institut Pasteur of Tunis. DNA of cutaneous biopsies was extracted in Marseille, France. Rickettsial DNA was detected by PCR using the primers targeting the gltA gene and the primers targeting the OmpA gene [4]. PCR products were purified and sequenced as previously described [4]. All obtained sequences were assembled and edited with Auto Assembler software (version 1.4; Perkin-Elmer). Sequences were analysed by BLAST sequencing analysis of the sequences in the GenBank database (see http:// www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/blast/).
Prevalence of infection with Rickettsia helvetica in feeding ticks and their hosts in western Poland.

In Poland, Ixodes ricinus plays an important role as the vector of the TBE virus, Borrelia burgdorferi s.l. , Anaplasma phagocytophilum and Babesia spp. Moreover, recent studies have shown that it can also serve as a vector for Rickettsia helvetica, the newly recognised human pathogen of the spotted fever group rickettsiae (SFG), which is widely distributed in questing ticks, with the prevalence ranging from 1.3% to 11.4% [1]. However, reports are still lacking on its occurrence in naturally infected wild animals and ticks feeding on them. So, this study was designed to detect rickettsial organisms in blood samples of various tick hosts that may serve as reservoirs of infection, as well as in I. ricinus parasitising them.
Lipid Nutrients in Critical Illness

Lipids can influence cellular function in a number of ways. They can be administered intravenously in the form of emulsions or enterally as a source of nonprotein calories. However, even when provided in appropriate amounts, lipids can have immunomodulatory properties that could be beneficial or deleterious, especially when administered in the context of the dramatic host defence response typical of critical illness. This article discusses the mechanisms by which lipids influence the inflammatory cascade and reviews the current clinical data available with regard to their effects in critical illness.
Impulsivity on a Go/No-go task for intravenous cocaine or food in male and female rats selectively bred for high and low saccharin intake

The purpose of this study was to examine a form of impulsive behavior (impaired inhibition) using cocaine or food reward in addiction-prone and addiction-resistant rats that were bred for high saccharin (HiS) or low saccharin (LoS) intake, respectively. A Go/No-go procedure was used to examine cocaine and food reinforcement (Go component) and the inhibition of responding during a subsequent period of nonreward (No-go component). Rats were initially trained to self-administer intravenous cocaine (0.4 mg/kg) under an FR 1 schedule during daily Go/No-go sessions consisting of three components of cocaine reinforcement (Go) alternating with two nonreward components (No-go), each signaled by different stimuli. Responding and drug intake were compared under three FR values (FR 1, FR 3, and FR 5) and three cocaine doses (0.2, 0.4, and 0.8 mg/kg). A similar Go/No-go procedure was used with food reinforcement and the same three FR conditions. During the Go components for intravenous cocaine, female rats self-administered more infusions at the 0.2 and 0.4 mg/kg doses than males, indicating a sex difference in cocaine intake. During the No-go periods under the cocaine condition, HiS rats and females responded significantly more than LoS rats and males, indicating phenotype and sex differences in impaired inhibition. During the Go components with food reward, males responded more and earned more pellets than females, but there were no phenotype or sex differences in No-go responding (impulsivity). The results indicate that HiS rats and females are more prone than LoS rats and males to impulsive drug-seeking behavior.
Using glutamate homeostasis as a target for treating addictive disorders

Well-developed cellular mechanisms exist to preserve glutamate homeostasis and regulate extrasynaptic glutamate levels. Accumulating evidence indicates that disruptions in glutamate homeostasis are associated with addictive disorders. The disruptions in glutamate concentrations observed after prolonged exposure to drugs of abuse are associated with changes in the function and activity of several key components within the homeostatic control mechanism, including the cystine/glutamate exchanger xc− and the glial glutamate transporter, EAAT2/GLT-1. Changes in the balance between synaptic and extrasynaptic glutamate levels in turn influence signaling through presynaptic and postsynaptic glutamate receptors, and thus affect synaptic plasticity and circuit-level activity. In this review, we describe the evidence for impaired glutamate homeostasis as a critical mediator of long-term drug-seeking behaviors, how chronic neuroadaptations in xc− and the glutamate transporter, GLT-1, mediate a disruption in glutamate homeostasis, and how targeting these components restores glutamate levels and inhibits drug-seeking behaviors.
Antidepressant effects of estrogens: a basic approximation

The use of estrogenic compounds as antidepressants or as coadjuvants to facilitate the effect of antidepressants has reported controversial results, suggesting that many factors could influence their actions. This review analyzes, from a basic research perspective, the possible factors that may underlie the antidepressant action of estrogens alone or in combination. The possible mechanisms of action of estrogens alone and in combination with the selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor, fluoxetine, the selective noradrenaline reuptake inhibitor, desipramine, and the mixed serotonin/noradrenaline reuptake inhibitor, venlafaxine are reviewed, focusing on monoaminergic systems and estrogen receptors as main targets. The antidepressant effect of estrogens depends on the type of estrogen, treatment duration, doses, sex, time after ovariectomy, and age. Estrogens potentiate the antidepressant-like action of fluoxetine, venlafaxine, and desipramine and drastically shorten their latency of action. The antidepressant-like effect of estrogens alone or in combination with antidepressants seems to be mediated by monoaminergic and classic estrogen receptors, as WAY100635, an antagonist to the serotonin 1A receptor, idaxozan, an antagonist to α2 adrenergic receptors, and RU 58668, an estrogen receptor antagonist, blocked their antidepressant-like effect. In conclusion, estrogens produce antidepressant-like actions by themselves and importantly facilitate the action of clinically used antidepressants.
Effects of selective dopaminergic compounds on a delay-discounting task

Impulsivity is widely regarded as a multidimensional trait that encompasses two or more distinct patterns of behavior, and dopaminergic systems are implicated in the expression of impulsive behavior in both humans and animal subjects. Impulsive choice, or the tendency to choose rewards associated with relatively little or no delay, has been extensively studied in humans and animal subjects using delay-discounting tasks. Here, delay-discounting procedures were used to assess the effects of receptor-selective dopaminergic agonists, antagonists, and dopamine transporter ligands on choices of immediate versus delayed sucrose pellets. The effects of d-amphetamine, GBR 12909, apomorphine, SKF 81297, sumanirole, pramipexole, ABT-724, SCH 23390, L-741,626, PG01037, and L-745,870 were assessed in 24 Sprague–Dawley rats. The only drugs to affect impulsive choice selectively without altering undelayed choice were the D1-like antagonist, SCH 23390 (0.01 mg/kg), and the D4 partial agonist, ABT-724 (3.2 mg/kg), which both increased impulsive choice. The shared effects of these compounds may be explained by their localization within the prefrontal cortex on different groups of neurons. None of the selective agonists and antagonists tested reduced impulsive choice, so further research is needed to determine if direct dopaminergic agonists or antagonists may be therapeutically useful in the treatment of impulse-control disorders.
Wirksamkeit therapeutischer Interventionen bei Adipositas

Obesity is a chronic disease resulting from various genetic factors and environmental conditions (nutrition, sedentary life-style, psychological factors). The importance of prevention and therapy of obesity is emerging because of the high prevalence of metabolic complications. The first goal of any therapy must be a stabilisation of weight, followed by a reduction of body weight. Any intervention must be long-acting. Short-acting therapies (diets) result in a regain of body weight in over 90%. The most effective therapy is an integrative concept basing on: change of nutrition by reduction of fat and carbohydrate intake (daily deficit of 500-1000 kcal). psychotherapeutic approach, targeting a long-term change of eating-behaviour and life-style, avoiding guilt feelings. encouraging physical activity. Drugs (Orlistat, Sibutramin) may be helpful in selected cases as a part of a limited treatment, they do not replace changes in lifestyle. Surgical interventions (gastric banding, gastric bypass) can be considered in morbid obesity with the presence of metabolic complications, as they are the most effective way of weight reduction.
Anthropometric Assessment of Sub-Cutaneous and Visceral Adipose Tissue in Children and Adolescents from Sofia and Smolyan (Bulgaria)

In the medical practice, the assessment of deep (visceral) adipose tissue is made mainly by MRI, computed tomography, densitometry and other methods, which are impossible to use in population studies. The aim of this investigation is to make a comparative anthropometric assessment of the quantity and specific age features in the development of the sub-cutaneous and visceral fat tissue during the time of growth in 9-16-year-old children and adolescents from the capital of the country and Smolyan town (Bulgaria). Analyzed data are part from two complex cross-sectional studies of 9-16-year-old students from Sofia and Smolyan, carried out respectively in the period 2001/2002 and 1998/2001. With a standard anthropometric methodology with each student were measured: height (m) body weight (kg) and waist circumference (cm). The quantities of subcutaneous (SAT) and visceral (VAT) adipose tissue are defined by the regression equations of Brambilla et al. Results showed that between the boys from the two cities, there are no reliable differences in the quantity both of SAT and VAT in all age groups. During puberty growth spurt and after it, the girls from Smolyan have deposited VAT with greater intensity as compared with their Sofia peers. As a result, in the post-puberty age groups, the differences in this index with the girls were statistically reliable, to the benefit of the girls from Smolyan.The comparison of our results with analogous in foreign studies (obtained using the unique for Bulgaria equipment) shows that the referred anthropometric data can be used as a reliable indicator for the ratio between the two components of body fat in the scientific and clinical practice as well. DOI: 10.5901/mjss.2014. v5n1p369
The Effect of Silver Nitrate in the Prevention of Dental Caries

Western Reserve University, United States Public Health Service, Cleveland, Ohio Washington, D. C. Clinical experience has indicated that the treatment of a tooth with silver nitrate will retard the destructive action of dental caries upon the enamel. The manner in which this retardation of decalcification is brought about is not clearly understood nor has it been thoroughly investigated. This paper deals with the influence of silver nitrate on tooth enamel when subjected to the action of weak organic acids. Other studies of the bacteriological aspects of the problem are in course. In spite of the many references to its clinical value and the investigations that have been made, an understanding of the manner in which this salt protects tooth structure against caries is not clear. As early as 1846, dental periodicals suggested the advantage of the clinical use of silver nitrate in treatment of extensive dental caries. Miller (1) studied the therapeutic value of silver nitrate for the control of dental caries and the elimination of hypersensitive dentin. His attempt to show a retardation of decalcification of enamel when treated with silver nitrate was unsatisfactory, but he was able to demonstrate definite retardation of decalcification in similarly treated ivory. Szabo (2) believed that the silver nitrate reacted with the organic material of the dentin, resulting in the formation of silver albuminate. Further protective reaction in the dentin was due, he thought, to a mechanical blocking of the tubules. Rickert (3) reported that teeth treated with silver nitrate became "clogged with reduced silver and
Unprecedented scale Ebola epidemic in Guinea: what we should know

To the editor The present problematic outbreak in Africa is the Ebola virus infection among local population in the capital of Guinea.It becomes a great concern since the present outbreak(March to April 2014)is considered to be the biggest outbreak,the first discovery of this viral infection[1]. A high death rate can be seen.Severe diarrhea and bleeding can be seen in almost all cases and death rate is very high(about 75%). Focusing on the present outbreak,there are many considerations on this situation.First,this outbreak occurs in urban area insead of a remote rural area,which
Pharmacologic Inhibition of the NLRP3 Inflammasome Preserves Cardiac Function After Ischemic and Nonischemic Injury in the Mouse

Background: Sterile inflammation resulting from myocardial injury activates the NLRP3 inflammasome and amplifies the inflammatory response mediating further damage. Methods: We used 2 experimental models of ischemic injury (acute myocardial infarction [AMI] with and without reperfusion) and a model of nonischemic injury due to doxorubicin 10 mg/kg to determine whether the NLRP3 inflammasome preserved cardiac function after injury. Results: Treatment with the NLRP3 inflammasome inhibitor in the reperfused AMI model caused a significant reduction in infarct size measured at pathology or as serum cardiac troponin I level (−56% and −82%, respectively, both P < 0.001) and preserved left ventricular fractional shortening (LVFS, 31 ± 2 vs. vehicle 26% ± 1%, P = 0.003). In the non-reperfused AMI model, treatment with the NLRP3 inhibitor significantly limited LV systolic dysfunction at 7 days (LVFS of 20 ± 2 vs. 14% ± 1%, P = 0.002), without a significant effect on infarct size. In the doxorubicin model, a significant increase in myocardial interstitial fibrosis and a decline in systolic function were seen in vehicle-treated mice, whereas treatment with the NLRP3 inhibitor significantly reduced fibrosis (−80%, P = 0.001) and preserved systolic function (LVFS 35 ± 2 vs. vehicle 27% ± 2%, P = 0.017). Conclusions: Pharmacological inhibition of the NLRP3 inflammasome limits cell death and LV systolic dysfunction after ischemic and nonischemic injury in the mouse.