University of Puerto Rico, Medical Sciences Campus

About: University of Puerto Rico, Medical Sciences Campus is a education organization based out in San Juan, Puerto Rico, United States. It is known for research contribution in the topics: Population & Medicine. The organization has 1711 authors who have published 1496 publications receiving 27756 citations.

Revisiting the reticulum: feedforward and feedback contributions to motor program parameters in the crab cardiac ganglion microcircuit.

Abstract: The neurogenic heartbeat of crustaceans is controlled by the cardiac ganglion (CG), a central pattern generator (CPG) microcircuit composed of nine neurons. In most decapods, five “large” motor neu...

Release of Soluble Insulin Receptor From Neurons by Cerebrospinal Fluid From Patients With Neurocognitive Dysfunction and HIV Infection.

Abstract: Previously, we found that high levels of soluble insulin receptor (sIR) in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) of an HIV-infected women cohort were associated with the presence and severity of HIV-associated neurocognitive disorders (HAND). In this study we investigated if CSF from this population, HIV-1 Tat, and selected cytokines induces sIR secretion from human neuronal cells. Twenty-three (23) HIV-seropositive women stratified by cognitive status and five HIV- seronegative women were evaluated. Soluble IR levels were measured in the extracellular medium of neuronal cells (SH-SY5Y) that were exposed (for 24 h) to the CSF of patients. The levels of sIR, HIV-1 Tat, and cytokine levels (IL-2, IL4, IL-6, IFNγ, TNFα, and IL-10) were quantified in the CSF of participants by ELISA and flow cytometry. Neuronal secretion of sIR was measured after exposure (24 h) to HIV-1 Tat (0.5-250 nM), or specific cytokines. The effects of TNFα and HIV-1 Tat on sIR secretion were also evaluated in the presence of R7050 (TNFα antagonist; 10 nM). Neurons exposed to the CSF of HIV-infected women had higher sIR levels according to the severity of neurocognitive impairment of the participant. Increased CSF sIR levels were associated with the presence and severity of HAND and were positively correlated with CSF HIV-1 Tat levels in HIV-infected women with cognitive impairment. CSF levels of IL-2, IFNγ, and TNFα were significantly increased with HAND. However, only TNFα (5 pg/mL) and HIV-1 Tat (100 nM) induced a significant increase in neuronal sIR secretion after 24 h exposure, an effect that was antagonized when each were combined with R7050. Our data suggests that TNFα and HIV-1 Tat from the CSF of HIV-infected women may regulate the secretion of sIR from neuronal cells and that the effect of HIV-1 Tat on sIR secretion may depend on TNFα receptor activation.

Natural cyclic polypeptides as vital phytochemical constituents from seeds of selected medicinal plants

Abstract: Cyclopolypeptides are among the most predominant biomolecules in nature, especially those derived from plant seeds This category of compounds has gained extraordinary attention due to remarkable variety of structures and valuable biofunctions These congeners display enormous variation in terms of both structure and function and are the most significant biomolecules due to their widespread bioproperties The estrogenic activity, immunosuppressive activity, cytotoxicity, vasorelaxant activity, and other properties possessed by cyclic peptides from seeds of plants make these congeners attractive leads for the drug discovery process The current study covers the important structural features, structure-activity relationship, synthesis methods, and bioproperties of plant seeds-originated bioactive peptides from Vaccaria segetalis, Linum usitatissimum, and Goniothalamus leiocarpus, which may prove vital for the development of novel therapeutics based on a peptide skeleton

Effect of Different Dietary Approaches in Comparison with High/Low-Carbohydrate Diets on Systolic and Diastolic Blood Pressure in Type 2 Diabetic Patients: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Abstract: Dietary modification is an effective method for preventing and managing hypertension. Therefore, we conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis to assess the effects of different dietary approaches for comparing high- and low-carbohydrate diets on systolic and diastolic blood pressure (SBP and DBP, respectively) in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). We carried out a comprehensive literature search using PubMed, the Cochrane Library, Web of Science, and Scopus without any language and time restrictions until April, 2019. We carried out a meta-analysis using both fixed and random effects models where appropriate and used the I2 index to evaluate heterogeneity. We identified 16 eligible studies, with a total of 1,610 participants. The overall pooled net effect of different dietary approaches on SBP and DBP were -2.29 mmHg [95% confidence interval (CI): -3.49 to -1.1] and -1.03 mmHg (95% CI: -1.77 to -0.29), respectively, compared with high-carbohydrate diets. Indeed, diets high in monounsaturated fatty acids more effective in reducing both SBP and DBP than high-carbohydrate diets, whereas high-protein diets were not effective. Furthermore, we found that different dietary approaches, such as low-fat diets, did not reduce SBP or DBP to a greater extent than low-carbohydrate diets. Overall, the results of our meta-analysis show that diets high in monounsaturated fatty acids are more effective in reducing both SBP and DBP than diets high in carbohydrate, whereas other dietary approaches were not effective.