Person:
Alén Fariñas, Francisco

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First Name
Francisco
Last Name
Alén Fariñas
URI
https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.14352/79725
Affiliation
Universidad Complutense de Madrid
Faculty / Institute
Odontología
Department
Psicobiología y Metodología en Ciencias del Comportamiento
Area
Psicobiología
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2017 - 20196
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Now showing 1 - 6 of 6
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    Increased plasma oleoylethanolamide and palmitoleoylethanolamide levels correlate with inflammatory changes in alcohol binge drinkers: the case of HMGB1 in women
    (Addiction biology, 2017) Antón, María; Rodríguez‐González, Alicia; Rodríguez Rojo, Inmaculada Concepción; Pastor, Antoni; Correas Marín, María De Los Ángeles; Serrano, Antonia; Ballesta, Antonio; Alén Fariñas, Francisco; Gómez De Heras, María Raquel; Torre, Rafael de la; Rodríguez De Fonseca, Fernando Antonio; Orio Ortiz, Laura
    Alcohol binge drinking is a heavy pattern of alcohol consumption increasingly used by young people. In a previous study, we reported that young drinkers with a 2‐year history of binge alcohol consumption had an overactivation of the innate immune system and peripheral inflammation when compared with controls. In the present study, we measured several biolipids that are fatty acid derivatives belonging to the acylethanolamide or 2‐acylglycerol families in the plasma of the same subjects (n = 42; 20 men and 22 women). We found that during abstinence, alcohol binge drinkers had elevated plasma levels of oleoylethanolamide, palmitoleoylethanolamide, arachidonoylethanolamide, dihomo‐γ‐linolenoyl ethanolamide and linoleoyl ethanolamide, which positively correlated with changes in the mRNA expression of key inflammatory markers in peripheral blood mononuclear cells, such as toll‐like receptors (TLR4), pro‐inflammatory cytokines/chemokines interleukin‐1 beta, interleukin‐6 and monocyte chemoattractant protein‐1, and cyclooxygenase‐2. Additionally, plasma oleoylethanolamide positively correlated with plasma levels of high mobility group box‐1, which is a danger‐associated molecular pattern and an endogenous TLR4 agonist, specifically in female alcohol binge drinkers. No changes were observed in 2‐acylglycerols in alcohol binge drinkers, although sex‐related differences in these bioactive lipids as well as in palmitoleoylethanolamide and docosatetraenoylethanolamide levels were detected. These results extend the previous clinical findings observed in patients diagnosed with long‐term alcohol use disorder to young users and suggest a prominent role for these lipids in the response to acute alcohol exposure.
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    PPARα/CB1 receptor dual ligands as a novel therapy for alcohol use disorder: evaluation of a novel oleic acid conjugate in preclinical rat models
    (Biochemical Pharmacology, 2018) Alén Fariñas, Francisco; Decara, Juan; Brunori, Gloria; You, Zhi-Bing; Buhler, Kora Mareen Katharina; López Moreno, José Antonio; Cippitelli, Andrea; Pavon, Francisco Javier; Suárez, Juan; Gardner, Eliot; de la Torre, Rafael; Ciccocioppo, Roberto; Serrano, Antonia; Rodríguez de Fonseca, Fernando
    Recent studies have demonstrated the utility of drugs modulating the endogenous cannabinoid system to control excessive alcohol intake. Among them, drugs interacting with acylethanolamide receptors including cannabinoid CB1 receptor antagonists/inverse agonists, peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor alpha (PPARα) agonists or peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPARγ) agonists have demonstrated utility in the reduction of alcohol intake in animal models. However, few studies have addressed the potential utility of combining these classes of drugs, especially because of expected safety problems. In the present work we took the advantage of the availability of two novel dual ligands for these receptors, to test the hypothesis that these types of drugs might reproduce and even improve the pharmacological profile of those drugs interacting with single targets. To this end we tested (R)-3-[(4-Benzyl-2-oxooxazolidin-3-yl)methyl]-N-[4-(dodecylcarbamoyl)phenyl]benzamide (NF 10–360), a dual PPARα/γ agonist, and N-[1-(3,4-dihydroxyphenyl)propan-2-yl]oleamide (OLHHA), a dual CB1 receptor antagonist/PPARα agonist, in animal models of alcohol consumption. Both drugs were effective in reducing alcohol intake and alcohol self-administration, being OLHHA a very potent alcohol intake inhibitor (EC50 0.2 mg/kg). OLHHA also reduced self-administration of the opioid oxycodone. OLHHA actions on alcohol self-administration were replicated in alcohol-preferring Marchigian-Sardinian msP rats. Repeated administration of OLHHA did result neither in tolerance nor in toxicological or deleterious metabolic changes in the liver of msP rats. These data support the feasibility of developing novel dual ligands interacting with cannabinoid targets to treat alcohol use disorder in humans.
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    Bupropion, a possible antidepressant without negative effects on alcohol relapse
    (European Neuropsychopharmacology, 2019) Alén Fariñas, Francisco; Gómez De Heras, María Raquel; Orio Ortiz, Laura; Rodríguez De Fonseca, Fernando Antonio; Antonio Ballesta; Rocío Arco; Antonio Vargas; Pablo Romero-Sanchiz; Raquel Nogueira-Arjona; María Antón; Mayte Ramírez-López; Antonia Serrano; Francisco Javier Pavón; Juan Suárez
    Rationale: the role that antidepressants play on alcohol consumption is not well understood. Previous studies have reported that treatment with a Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitor (SSRIs) increases alcohol consumption in an animal model of relapse, however it is unknown whether this effect holds for other antidepressants such as the atypical dopamine/norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNDRI). Objectives: the main goal of the present study was to compare the effects of two classes of antidepressants drugs, bupropion (SNDRI) and fluoxetine (SSRI), on alcohol consumption during relapse. Since glutamatergic and endocannabinoid signaling systems plays an important rolein alcohol abuse and relapse, we also evaluated the effects of both antidepressants ontheexpression of the main important genes and proteins of both systems in the prefrontal cortex,a critical brain region in alcohol relapse. Methods: rats were trained to self-administered alcohol. During abstinence, rats received a14d-treatment with vehicle, fluoxetine (10 mg/kg) or bupropion (20 mg/kg), and we evaluatedalcohol consumption during relapse for 3 weeks. Samples of prefrontal cortex were taken toevaluate the mRNA and protein expression of the different components of glutamatergic andendocannabinoid signaling systems. Results: fluoxetine treatment induced a long-lasting increase in alcohol consumption during relapse, an effect that was not observed in the case of bupropion treatment. The observed increases in alcohol consumption were accompanied by distinct alterations in the glutamate and endocannabinoid systems. Conclusions: our results suggest that SSRIs can negatively impact alcohol consumption in relapse while SNDRIs have no effects. The observed increase in alcohol consumption are accompanied by functional alterations in the glutamatergic and endocannabinoid systems. This finding could open new strategies for the treatment of depression in patients with alcohol use disorders.
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    Rethinking the Use of Antidepressants to Treat Alcohol Use Disorders and Depression Comorbidity: The Role of Neurogenesis
    (Antidepressants - Preclinical, Clinical and Translational Aspects, 2019) Alén Fariñas, Francisco; Gómez De Heras, María Raquel; Orio Ortiz, Laura; Rodríguez De Fonseca, Fernando Antonio; Ballesta, Antonio
    Patients with alcohol use disorders (AUDs) are frequently treated with antidepressant drugs (ADs), but clinical evidence of their efficacy is contradictory. Considering that ADs are thought to produce their therapeutic effects partially by increasing hippocampal plasticity and neurogenesis (HN), and that both AUDs and depression share a potential for the disruption of these neuroplastic processes, one could reasonably wonder whether the poor efficacy of AD treatment could be explained by the inability of these drugs to exert their proper action in patients suffering from AUD or depression. In order to further clarify this question, this chapter aims to examine available data regarding the effect of ADs on behavioral and HN alterations related to alcohol abstinence, as a key period in which the treatment would be implemented and in which their potential effects on alcohol-related problems remain under controversy.
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    Sex-Dimorphic Behavioral Alterations and Altered Neurogenesis in U12 Intron Splicing-Defective Zrsr1 Mutant Mice
    (International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 2019) Alén Fariñas, Francisco; Gómez-Redondo, Isabel; Rivera, Patricia; Suárez, Juan; Ramos-Ibeas, Priscila; Pericuesta, Eva; Fernández-González, Raul; Perez-Cerezales, Serafín; Horiuchi, Keiko; Orio Ortiz, Laura; Rodriguez de Fonseca, Fernando; Gutiérrez-Adán, Alfonso
    Mutant mice with respect to the splicing factor Zrsr1 present altered spermatogenesis and infertility. To investigate whether Zrsr1 is involved in the homeostatic control that the hypothalamus exerts over reproductive functions, we first analyzed both differential gene and isoform expression and alternative splicing alterations in Zrsr1 mutant (Zrsr1mu) hypothalamus; second, we analyzed the spontaneous and social behavior of Zrsr1mu mice; and third, we analyzed adult cell proliferation and survival in the Zrsr1mu hypothalamus. The Zrsr1mu hypothalamus showed altered expression of genes and isoforms related to the glutathione metabolic process, synaptonemal complex assembly, mRNA transport, and altered splicing events involving the enrichment of U12-type intron retention (IR). Furthermore, increased IR in U12-containing genes related with the prolactin, progesterone, and gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) reproductive signaling pathway was observed. This was associated with a hyperactive phenotype in both males and females, with an anxious phenotype in females, and with increased social interaction in males, instead of the classical aggressive behavior. In addition, Zrsr1mu females but not males exhibited reduced cell proliferation in both the hypothalamus and the subventricular zone. Overall, these results suggest that Zrsr1 expression and function are relevant to organization of the hypothalamic cell network controlling behavior.
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    Project number: 233
    Proyecto de colaboración interdepartamental en enseñanza presencial para el fomento de habilidades comunicativas e instrumentos diagnósticos
    (2019) Sánchez Sánchez, Teresa De Jesús; Jiménez Ortega, Laura; Ardizone García, Ignacio; Aneiros López, Fernando; Alén Fariñas, Francisco; Soto Goñi, Xabier Ander; Ardizone García, Juan Alfonso; Ruiz Falcón, Jesús
    Se trata de un proyecto conjunto entre alumnos de la asignatura de Comunicación y Psicología de 1er curso y alumnos de la asignatura optativa de Disfunción Craneomandibular y Dolor Orofacial de 4º curso de Odontología. Es un trabajo de colaboración interdepartamental que pretende profundizar en el conocimiento de la relación entre factores psicológicos y trastornos del área craneomandibular. Es pues, un estudio transversal que interesa continuar con los alumnos de ambas asignaturas durante el curso académico 2019-2020. La prevalencia de las patologías en la población y los resultados obtenidos justifican el interés de ampliar este trabajo e incluir a los alumnos de ambas asignaturas del curso 2019-2020. Desde su inicio, en el curso 2018-19, han participado en el estudio alumnos de la asignatura Psicología y Alumnos de Disfunción Craneomandibular y Dolor Orofacial. Las encuestas de satisfacción realizadas a los alumnos de ambos cursos han arrojado un resultado muy positivo. Es de gran interés para la implementación del proceso enseñanza-aprendizaje la realización por parte de los alumnos de un proyecto que integre conocimientos y competencias de distintas áreas. Con los resultados obtenidos hasta ahora se ha realizado una comunicación oral que se ha presentado en el XIV Congreso Pregraduados: XVI Congreso Nacional e Investigación para Estudiantes Pregraduados de Ciencias de la Salud. XVIII Congreso de Cienicas Veterinarias y Biomédicas. Madrid, 25-27 de Abril de 2019. Título: El papel de la ansiedad , afrontamiento del estrés, la depresión y la personalidad en el bruxismo. Leticia Buiza González, Danielle Marcelino Cruz. Recibiendo premio a la Comunición Oral. El proyecto se continuará siguiendo la sistemática del curso anterior. Se ha incorporado al proyecto el STAXI-2, que es un completo cuestionario que pretende valorar los efectos de la ira sobre la salud mental y física. A los alumnos de la asignatura de Comunicación y Psicología se les explica cómo realizar los cuestionarios psicológicos que van a necesitar utilizar en Odontología. Por otro lado, en la asignatura de Disfunción Craneomandibular se explica a los alumnos cómo el aspecto psicológico (denominado como eje II según los criterios diagnósticos del RDC/TMD Network Consortium) desempeña un papel muy importante en la etiopatogenia de los trastornos temporomandibulares, influyendo en muchos aspectos de esta patología. Por ello consideramos que tiene gran interés para su aprendizaje que parte de las prácticas en ambos cursos sean compartidas. Los alumnos de 1er curso utilizan los cuestionarios de ansiedad (STAI) , depresión (IDER), afrontamiento (C-RIA), personalidad (NEO), ira (STAXI-2) y como screening para la detección de síntomas de depresión, ansiedad y somatización, el BSI 18. Los alumnos están mostrando capacidad para aplicar e interpretar dichos cuestionarios y con ello adquirir las competencias necesarias para evaluar en qué medida los factores psicológicos están afectando a la salud bucodental. El Departamento de Psicobiología y Metodología del Comportamiento Humano de la Facultad de Odontología aporta el manual y el juego completo de dichos cuestionarios. Los alumnos de 4º curso estudian en la asignatura de Disfunción Craneomandibular, y en concreto en el bloque diagnóstico, los factores etiológicos de este tipo de patología; y entre ellos se insiste en la importancia de los factores psicológicos. Para adquirir las competencias en esta materia, se están realizando test de screening de problemas disfuncionales, cuestionarios de síntomas y plantillas de exploración de signos del aparato craneognático (eje I). Por otro lado, necesitan conocer los factores psicológicos y sociales que están implicados en la disfunción craneomandibular (eje II). Realizando estas plantillas a los alumnos de 1er curso, como si fueran “hipotéticos pacientes”, están aprendiendo a mantener una relación con el futuro paciente y establecer una empatía. Así mismo, es importante que ellos expliquen claramente al supuesto paciente los pasos que están siguiendo tanto para la exploración de síntomas y signos del aparato craneognático como en los cuestionarios psicológicos. Estas competencias serán muy importantes para el ejercicio profesional. Los alumnos, además de la integración del conocimiento teórico en la parte clínica, filman en Video la secuencia clínica, con ayuda de personal de PAS. Dicha grabación es visonada con los alumnos y sirve como feedback y autoevaluación. Estos videos se utilizarán como modelo de aprendizaje en cursos posteriores. Los alumnos de 4º curso, utilizando los programas Excel y SPSS, realizan un estudio estadístico de los datos de los signos y síntomas encontrados en la exploración del aparato craneognático y de los datos de los cuestionarios psicológicos. Por último se interpretan los resultados obtenidos. En la última fase los alumnos de 1º y 4º curso de forma conjunta, exponen los en una presentación oral. Por último, consideramos de enorme interés completar el estudio con nuevos alumnos de ambos cursos, ampliando la base de datos existente.