: Endocannabinoids are ancient biomolecules involved in several cellular (e.g., metabolism) and physiological (e.g., eating behaviour) functions. Indeed, eating behaviour alterations in marijuana users have led to investigate the orexigenic/anorexigenic effects of cannabinoids in animal/ human models. This increasing body of research suggests that the endocannabinoid system plays an important role in feeding control. Accordingly, within the endocannabinoid system, cannabinoid receptors, enzymes and genes represent potential therapeutic targets for dealing with multiple metabolic and behavioural dysfunctions (e.g., obesity, anorexia, etc.). Paradoxically, our understanding on the endocannabinoid system as a cellular mediator is yet limited. For example: (i) only two cannabinoid receptors have been classified, but they are not enough to explain the pharmacological profile of several experimental effects induced by cannabinoids; and (ii) several orphan G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) interact with cannabinoids and we do not know how to classify them (e.g., GPR18, GPR55 and GPR119; amongst others). : On this basis, the present review attempts to summarize the lines of evidence supporting the potential role of GPR18, GPR55 and GPR119 in metabolism and feeding control that may explain some of the divergent effects and puzzling data related to cannabinoid research. Moreover, their therapeutic potential in feeding behaviour alterations will be considered.

The present study examines the ability of melatonin to protect striatal dopaminergic loss induced by 6-OHDA in a rat model of Parkinson's disease, comparing the results with L-DOPA-treated rats. The drugs were administered orally daily for a month, their therapeutic or dyskinetic effects were assessed by means of abnormal involuntary movements (AIMs) and stepping ability. At the cellular level, the response was evaluated using tyrosine hydroxylase immunoreactivity and striatal ultrastructural changes to compare between L-DOPA-induced AIMs and Melatonin-treated rats. Our findings demonstrated that chronic oral administration of Melatonin improved the alterations caused by the neurotoxin 6-OHDA. Melatonin-treated animals perform better in the motor tasks and had no dyskinetic alterations compared to L-DOPA-treated group. At the cellular level, we found that Melatonin-treated rats showed more TH-positive neurons and their striatal ultrastructure was well preserved. Thus, Melatonin is a useful treatment to delay the cellular and behavioral alterations observed in Parkinson's disease.

Gómez-Chávez et al. The Immune Response in Human Congenital Toxoplasmosis to children who developed mild clinical complications. Our results suggest that a distinctive, not regulated, proinflammatory immune response might favor T. gondii vertical transmission and the development of severe clinical manifestations in congenitally infected newborns.

Parkinson's disease is the second most prevalent neurodegenerative disease in the world. Its treatment is limited so far to the management of parkinsonian symptoms with L-DOPA (LD). The long-term use of LD is limited by the development of L-DOPA-induced dyskinesias and dystonia. However, recent studies have suggested that pharmacological targeting of the endocannabinoid system may potentially provide a valuable therapeutic tool to suppress these motor alterations. In the present study, we have explored the behavioral (L-DOPA-induced dyskinesias severity) and cytological (substantia nigra compacta neurons and striatum neuropil preservation) effects of the oral coadministration of LD and rimonabant, a selective antagonist of CB1 receptors, in the 6-hydroxydopamine rat model of Parkinson's disease. Oral coadministration of LD (30 mg/kg) and rimonabant (1 mg/kg) significantly decreased abnormal involuntary movements and dystonia, possibly through the conservation of some functional tyrosine hydroxylase-immunoreactive dopaminergic cells, which in turn translates into a well-preserved neuropil of a less denervated striatum. Our results provide anatomical evidence that long-term coadministration of LD with cannabinoid antagonist-based therapy may not only alleviate specific motor symptoms but also delay/arrest the degeneration of striatal and substantia nigra compacta cells.

En la Investigación se propone mediante entrevistas, talleres participativos, charlas y encuentros socioculturales, vincular a los habitantes del poblado de “Viana” enclavado en el municipio de Cifuentes en la provincia de Villa Clara, Cuba, al conocimiento de las Especies Exóticas Invasoras (EEI) y sus efectos indeseables a los ecosistemas vulnerables cubanos y a la salud humana y en particular al conocimiento de la especie Herpestes auropunctatus Hodgson, 1836, la mangosta. Para el desarrollo eficaz de esta investigación, se emplean métodos del nivel teórico y empírico, para abordar el estudio multilateral del objeto de investigación. La investigación representa una manera novedosa de apropiarse de nuevos conocimientos sobre la especie H. auropunctatus por parte de los pobladores que habitan en dicha comunidad. En lasentrevistas realizadas, se pudo constatar que algunos habitantes poseían ciertos conocimientos sobre la mangosta, no así sobre los efectos nocivos que puede provocar este animal a los ecosistemas vulnerables cubanos y a la salud humana. El 100 % de los entrevistados coincidieron en que la principal problemática local se encuentra en la pérdida de aves de corral debido al ataque de la mangosta. Mediante estas actividades se crean espacios de intercambio y reflexión acerca de la importancia de conocer aspectos importantes de esta EEI. Esta vinculación de cooperación y sensibilización, permite un acercamiento de los pobladores con los investigadores y la retroalimentación del saber científico con el saber popular.Los talleres, charlas y encuentros socioculturales, fueron valorados de pertinentes por los diferentes evaluadores externos.