Posturas y presuposiciones éticas en el debate por el uso de animales no humanos en investigación científica / Ethical positions and presuppositions in the debate about the use of non-human animals in scientific research

Este artículo tiene el objetivo de analizar los problemas morales del uso de animales no humanos en investigación científica. Para esto se examinan cuatro posturas representativas al interior de este debate: 1) irrestricta, 2) equilibrada, 3) dilemática y 4) abolicionista, las cuales surgen de los compromisos que se toman respecto a ciertas premisas clave con las cuales se está de acuerdo o no. Dichas premisas se refieren a la importancia que le da cada postura a i) la afectación de intereses en animales, ii) la relevancia moral de estos intereses, iii) la justificación por beneficios de la experimentación animal y iv) la importancia del interés humano comparado con el de los otros animales. Cada postura acepta y rechaza un patrón particular de estos puntos, y al hacer explícitos estos compromisos podemos analizar los problemas y contradicciones que posee cada una. Al final se encuentra que las tres primeras posturas contienen incongruencias importantes respecto a la diferencia de tratos que permiten entre humanos y los animales sujetos a experimentación, además de que deben de aceptar en diferente grado el excepcionalismo humano y el especismo para explicarse. Mientras que la postura abolicionista -pese a tener más dificultades prácticas- es más consistente, a la vez que protege a animales humanos y no humanos de ser dañados por estas prácticas (AU)

This paper aims to analyze the moral problems of the use of non-human animals in scientific research. To this end, four representative positions are examined within this debate: 1) unrestricted, 2) balanced, 3) moral dilemma, and 4) abolitionist, which arise from compromises made with respect to certain key premises with which one may or may not agree. These premises refer to the importance given by each position to i) the affectation of animal interests, ii) the moral relevance of these interests, iii) the justification by benefits of animal experimentation, and iv) the importance of human interest compared to that of other animals. Each position accepts and rejects a particular pattern of these points, and making these commitments explicit, we can analyze the problems and contradictions that each position has. In the end we find that the first three positions contain important incongruities regarding the difference of treatment they allow between humans and animals subject to experimentation, besides that they must accept in different degrees human exceptionalism and speciesism to explain themselves. While the abolitionist position-despite having more practical difficulties-is more consistent, it protects human and non-human animals from being harmed by these practices (AU)

Aquest article té l'objectiu d'analitzar els problemes morals de l'ús d'animals no humans en recerca científica. Per a això s'examinen quatre postures representatives a l'interior d'aquest debat: 1) irrestricta, 2) equilibrada, 3) dilemàtica i 4) abolicionista, les quals sorgeixen dels compromisos que es prenen respecte a certes premisses clau amb les quals s'està d'acord o no. Aquestes premisses es refereixen a la importància que li dóna cada postura a i) l'afectació d'interessos en animals, ii) la rellevància moral d'aquests interessos, iii) la justificació per beneficis de l'experimentació animal i iv) la importància de l'interès humà comparat amb el dels altres animals. Cada postura accepta i rebutja un patró particular d'aquests punts, i en fer explícits aquests compromisos podem analitzar els problemes i contradiccions que posseeix cadascuna. Al final es troba que les tres primeres postures contenen incongruències importants respecte a la diferència de tractes que permeten entre humans i els animals subjectes a experimentació, a més de que han d'acceptar en diferent grau l'excepcionalisme humà i l'especisme per a explicar-se. Mentre que la postura abolicionista -malgrat tenir més dificultats pràctiques- és més consistent, alhora que protegeix a animals humans i no humans de ser danyats per aquestes pràctiques (AU)

Taenia solium glutathione transferase fraction activates macrophages and favors the development of Th1-type response.

Glutathione (GSH) transferase (GST) is an essential enzyme in cestodes for the detoxification of xenobiotics. In Taenia solium, two GSTs (Ts25GST and Ts26GST kDa) were isolated as a fraction (SGSTF) by GSH-Sepharose-4B. Both are located on the tegument. Immunization assays with SGSTF reduced up to 90% of the parasitic load in a murine model of cysticercosis. It prompted us to investigate how SGSTF induces this protective immune response. To test it, we exposed peritoneal macrophages to SGSTF for 24 h; such exposure favored the production of IL-12, TNF, and IL-10 as well as the expression of nitric oxide synthase 2 inducible (Nos2) and CD86, but did not induce the expression of chitinase-like 3 (Chil3). Confocal microscopy showed that the macrophages internalize the SGSTF which co-localized after 1 h with MHC-II in their plasma membranes. Macrophages exposed to SGSTF and co-cultured with anti-CD3 pre-activated T CD4+ cells, enhanced the proliferation of CD4+ cells, induced high interferon-γ (IFN-γ) secretion, and elevated the expression of CD25 and CD69, molecules associated with cell activation. Similar assay using T CD4+ cells from DO11.10 mice and ovalbumin (OVA) peptide+SGSTF as stimuli, showed enhanced cell proliferation and OVA-specific IFN-γ secretion. These data are in-line with those indicating that the P1, P5, and P6 peptides of Schistosoma japonicum 28GST highly promote T-cell proliferation and Th1 response in vitro We found that such peptides are also present on Ts25GST and Ts26GST. It suggests that SGSTF activates peritoneal macrophages to a classically activated-like phenotype, and that these macrophages induce the differentiation of T CD4+ cells toward a Th1-type response.

Pharmacological characterization of venoms from three theraphosid spiders: Poecilotheria regalis, Ceratogyrus darlingi and Brachypelma epicureanum.

BACKGROUND: Tarantulas (Theraphosidae) represent an important source of novel biologically active compounds that target a variety of ion channels and cell receptors in both insects and mammals. In this study, we evaluate and compare the pharmacological activity of venoms from three taxonomically different theraphosid spiders bred in captivity: Poecilotheria regalis, an aggressive arboreal tarantula from southeastern India; Ceratogyrus darlingi, an aggressive tarantula from southern Africa; and Brachypelma epicureanum, a docile tarantula from the Yucatan dry forest of Mexico. Prior to this study, no research had been conducted with regard to the composition and pharmacological activity of these venoms. METHODS: The pharmacological characterization of the venoms was described for the first time by the assessment of their toxicity in crickets (LD50) along with their nociceptive (by using the formalin test), hyaluronidase, phospholipase A2, edematogenic and caseinolytic activity. RESULTS: P. regalis and B. epicureanum venoms induced a similar lethal effect on crickets (LD50 = 5.23 ± 3.1 and 14.4 ± 5.0 µg protein/g 48 h post-injection, respectively), whereas C. darlingi venom (119.4 ± 29.5 µg protein/g 48 h post-injection) was significantly less lethal than the other two venoms. All three venoms induced similar edematogenic activity on rats but did not induce nociceptive behavior. The assessment of enzymatic activity indicated that P. regalis venom induces significantly higher hyaluronidase activity (27.6 ± 0.9 TRU/mg) than both C. darlingi (99.7 ± 1.9 TRU/mg) and B. epicureanum (99.6 ± 1.6 TRU/mg); these latter venoms did not display phospholipase A2 or caseinolytic activity. CONCLUSIONS: This study demonstrates that these theraphosid spiders of different habitats produce venoms with different activities. P. regalis venom displays a high level of hyaluronidase activity, which may be associated with its potentially medically significant bite.

Pharmacological characterization of venoms from three theraphosid spiders: Poecilotheria regalis, Ceratogyrus darlingi and Brachypelma epicureanum

Background Tarantulas (Theraphosidae) represent an important source of novel biologically active compounds that target a variety of ion channels and cell receptors in both insects and mammals. In this study, we evaluate and compare the pharmacological activity of venoms from three taxonomically different theraphosid spiders bred in captivity: Poecilotheria regalis, an aggressive arboreal tarantula from southeastern India; Ceratogyrus darlingi, an aggressive tarantula from southern Africa; and Brachypelma epicureanum, a docile tarantula from the Yucatan dry forest of Mexico. Prior to this study, no research had been conducted with regard to the composition and pharmacological activity of these venoms. Methods The pharmacological characterization of the venoms was described for the first time by the assessment of their toxicity in crickets (LD50) along with their nociceptive (by using the formalin test), hyaluronidase, phospholipase A2, edematogenic and caseinolytic activity. Results P. regalis and B. epicureanum venoms induced a similar lethal effect on crickets (LD50 = 5.23 ± 3.1 and 14.4 ± 5.0 μg protein/g 48 h post-injection, respectively), whereas C. darlingi venom (119.4 ± 29.5 μg protein/g 48 h post-injection) was significantly less lethal than the other two venoms. All three venoms induced similar edematogenic activity on rats but did not induce nociceptive behavior. The assessment of enzymatic activity indicated that P. regalis venom induces significantly higher hyaluronidase activity (27.6 ± 0.9 TRU/mg) than both C. darlingi (99.7 ± 1.9 TRU/mg) and B. epicureanum (99.6 ± 1.6 TRU/mg); these latter venoms did not display phospholipase A2or caseinolytic activity. Conclusions This study demonstrates that these theraphosid spiders of different habitats produce venoms with different activities. P. regalis venom displays a high level of hyaluronidase activity, which may be associated with its potentially medically significant bite.

Pharmacological characterization of venoms from three theraphosid spiders: Poecilotheria regalis, Ceratogyrus darlingi and Brachypelma epicureanum

BackgroundTarantulas (Theraphosidae) represent an important source of novel biologically active compounds that target a variety of ion channels and cell receptors in both insects and mammals. In this study, we evaluate and compare the pharmacological activity of venoms from three taxonomically different theraphosid spiders bred in captivity: Poecilotheria regalis, an aggressive arboreal tarantula from southeastern India; Ceratogyrus darlingi, an aggressive tarantula from southern Africa; and Brachypelma epicureanum, a docile tarantula from the Yucatan dry forest of Mexico. Prior to this study, no research had been conducted with regard to the composition and pharmacological activity of these venoms.MethodsThe pharmacological characterization of the venoms was described for the first time by the assessment of their toxicity in crickets (LD50) along with their nociceptive (by using the formalin test), hyaluronidase, phospholipase A2, edematogenic and caseinolytic activity.ResultsP. regalis and B. epicureanum venoms induced a similar lethal effect on crickets (LD50 = 5.23 ± 3.1 and 14.4 ± 5.0 μg protein/g 48 h post-injection, respectively), whereas C. darlingi venom (119.4 ± 29.5 μg protein/g 48 h post-injection) was significantly less lethal than the other two venoms. All three venoms induced similar edematogenic activity on rats but did not induce nociceptive behavior. The assessment of enzymatic activity indicated that P. regalis venom induces significantly higher hyaluronidase activity (27.6 ± 0.9 TRU/mg) than both C. darlingi (99.7 ± 1.9 TRU/mg) and B. epicureanum (99.6 ± 1.6 TRU/mg); these latter venoms did not display phospholipase A2or caseinolytic activity.ConclusionsThis study demonstrates that these theraphosid spiders of different habitats produce venoms with different activities. P. regalis venom displays a high level of hyaluronidase activity, which may be associated with its potentially medically significant bite.(AU)

Utilidad de la urocinasa en los abscesos intraabdominales / Usefulness of urokinase in intraabdominal abscesses

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Global muscle dysfunction as a risk factor of readmission to hospital due to COPD exacerbations.

UNLABELLED: Exacerbations of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) are associated with several modifiable (sedentary life-style, smoking, malnutrition, hypoxemia) and non-modifiable (age, co-morbidities, severity of pulmonary function, respiratory infections) risk factors. We hypothesise that most of these risk factors may have a converging and deleterious effects on both respiratory and peripheral muscle function in COPD patients. METHODS: A multicentre study was carried out in 121 COPD patients (92% males, 63 ± 11 yr, FEV(1), 49 ± 17%pred). Assessments included anthropometrics, lung function, body composition using bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA), and global muscle function (peripheral muscle (dominant and non-dominant hand grip strength, HGS), inspiratory (PI(max)), and expiratory (PE(max)) muscle strength). GOLD stage, clinical status (stable vs. non-stable) and both current and past hospital admissions due to COPD exacerbations were included as covariates in the analyses. RESULTS: Respiratory and peripheral muscle weakness were observed in all subsets of patients. Muscle weakness, was significantly associated with both current and past hospitalisations. Patients with history of multiple admissions showed increased global muscle weakness after adjusting by FEV(1) (PE(max), OR = 6.8, p < 0.01; PI(max), OR = 2.9, p < 0.05; HGSd, OR = 2.4, and HGSnd, OR = 2.6, p = 0.05). Moreover, a significant increase in both respiratory and peripheral muscle weakness, after adjusting by FEV(1), was associated with current acute exacerbations. CONCLUSIONS: Muscle dysfunction, adjusted by GOLD stage, is associated with an increased risk of hospital admissions due to acute episodes of exacerbation of the disease. Current exacerbations further deteriorate muscle dysfunction.