Quinine enhances the behavioral stimulant effect of cocaine in mice.

The Na(+)-dependent dopamine transporter (DAT) is primarily responsible for regulating free dopamine (DA) concentrations in the brain by participating in the majority of DA uptake; however, other DA transporters may also participate, especially if cocaine or other drugs of abuse compromise DAT. Recently, such cocaine-insensitive low-affinity mono- and poly-amine OCT transporters were described in astrocytes which use DA as a substrate. These transporters are from a different transporter family and while insensitive to cocaine, they are specifically blocked by quinine and some steroids. Quinine is inexpensive and is often found in injected street drugs as an "adulterant". The present study was designed to determine the participation of OCTs in cocaine dependent behavioral and physiological changes in mice. Using FVB mice we showed, that daily single injections of quinine (10 mg/kg, i.p.) co-administered with cocaine (15 mg/kg, i.p.) for 10 days significantly enhanced cocaine-induced locomotor behavioral sensitization. Quinine had no significant effect on the time course of behavioral activation. In astrocytes from the ventral tegmental area of mice, transporter currents of quinine-sensitive monoamine transporters were also augmented after two weeks of cocaine administration. The importance of low-affinity high-capacity transporters for DA clearance is discussed, explaining the known ability of systemically administered DAT inhibitors to anomalously increase DA clearance.

La seguridad social / Social security

Trabajo presentado durante el servicio social obligatorio en la Clinica Infantil Colsubsidio de Bogota. Las fases de la seguridad social han sido en un comienzo de tendencias paternalistas para luego evolucionar hasta convertirse en regimenes obligatorios, y por ultimo, formar parte de las politicas de salud del estado. El objetivo de la seguridad social es el de dar a las personas y sus familias proteccion en salud de tal forma que busque proveer seguridad. Debe haber igualdad de derechos entre el hombre y la mujer en sus prestaciones; los invalidos deben recibir dichas prestaciones en forma proporcional a la gravedad de su situacion. La seguridad social debe abarcar tanto la atencion de salud anivel preventivo como curativo, buscando siempre el bienestar social de los miembros de la sociedad. Al hablar de trabajo en equipo interdisciplinario de salud, se deben analizar las clases de disciplinaridad. El objetivo es integrar a los profesionales de la salud en el desempeno de sus responsabilidades, para ir perfeccionando dia a dia su desempeno, buscando siempre la meta de salud que seria el bienestar del paciente..