The Thing (1982): un primer modelo de prediagnóstico para las infecciones y alteraciones de la fisiología / The Thing (1982): A First Prediagnostic Model for Infections and Alterations of Physiology

The Thing / La cosa (El enigma de otro mundo) (1982) de John Carpenter, supone un reto audiovisual para pensar en el descubrimiento de claves para la detección temprana de infecciones hostiles. La búsqueda de técnicas rápidas y sencillas para la resolución de casos supone la diferencia entre la supervivencia y mantenerse en la desconfianza para un grupo que trata de descubrir quienes de ellos están infectados, y no terminar transformados en «otra cosa». Este trabajo permitirá al estudiantado conocer los cambios en el equilibrio homeostático que supondría la relación con los microorganismos de distinta naturaleza presentes en la sangre. (AU)

The Thing (1982) by John Carpenter represents an audiovisual challenge to think about the discovery of keys for the early detection of hostile infections. The search for quick and easy techniques for solving cases means the difference between survival and remaining suspicious for a group that tries to discover which of them are infected, and not end up transformed into «something else». This work will allow the student body to know the changes in the homeostatic balance that the relationship with microorganisms of different nature present in the blood would imply. (AU)

Functional and neurometabolic asymmetry in SHR and WKY rats following vasoactive treatments.

A lateralized distribution of neuropeptidase activities in the frontal cortex of normotensive and hypertensive rats has been described depending on the use of some vasoactive drugs and linked to certain mood disorders. Asymmetrical neuroperipheral connections involving neuropeptidases from the left or right hemisphere and aminopeptidases from the heart or plasma have been suggested to play a role in this asymmetry. We hypothesize that such asymmetries could be extended to the connection between the brain and physiologic parameters and metabolic factors from plasma and urine. To assess this hypothesis, we analyzed the possible correlation between neuropeptidases from the left and right frontal cortex with peripheral parameters in normotensive (Wistar Kyoto [WKY]) rats and hypertensive rats (spontaneously hypertensive rats [SHR]) untreated or treated with vasoactive drugs such as captopril, propranolol and L-nitro-arginine methyl ester. Neuropeptidase activities from the frontal cortex were analyzed fluorometrically using arylamide derivatives as substrates. Physiological parameters and metabolic factors from plasma and urine were determined using routine laboratory techniques. Vasoactive drug treatments differentially modified the asymmetrical neuroperipheral pattern by changing the predominance of the correlations between peripheral parameters and central neuropeptidase activities of the left and right frontal cortex. The response pattern also differed between SHR and WKY rats. These results support an asymmetric integrative function of the organism and suggest the possibility of a different neurometabolic response coupled to particular mood disorders, depending on the selected vasoactive drug.

Glucagon-like peptide 1 and Glucagon-like peptide 2 in relation to osteoporosis in non-diabetic postmenopausal women.

Osteoporosis results from an imbalance in bone remodeling, which is known to follow a circadian rhythm determined by a functional relationship between intestine and bone tissue. Specific intestinal peptides have been identified as mediators. Glucagon-like peptide 1 and glucagon-like peptide 2, have been associated with bone health. Our main objective was to determine whether postprandial plasma levels of glucagon-like peptide 1, glucagon-like peptide 2 and dipeptidyl-peptidase 4 activity, are associated with osteoporosis in non-diabetic postmenopausal women. We studied non-diabetic postmenopausal women with osteoporosis diagnosed by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (cases, n = 43) and age-matched (±1 yr) controls without osteoporosis or a history of osteoporotic fracture (n = 43). We measured postprandial plasma levels of glucagon-like peptide 1, glucagon-like peptide 2, and dipeptidyl-peptidase 4 activity, bone mineral density, and baseline levels of bone remodeling markers and analyzed the food intake using a food-frequency questionnaire. Postprandial glucagon-like peptide 1 values were lower (p < 0.001) in cases, µ (SEM) = 116.25 (2.68), than in controls, µ (SEM) = 126.79 (2.68). Glucagon-like peptide 1 was associated with reduced osteoporosis risk in the crude logistic regression analysis [OR (95% CI) = 0.724 (0.53-0.97), p = 0.031] and adjusted analysis [OR = 0.603 (0.38-0.94), p = 0.027]. We found no association of glucagon-like peptide 2, or dipeptidyl-peptidase 4 activity with osteoporosis. Postprandial glucagon-like peptide 1 levels are related to osteoporosis and osteoporosis risk in non-diabetic postmenopausal women. Further studies are required to verify these findings.