Memory is one of the most important capabilities of our mind since it determines our individuality. Memory formation involves different stages acquisition, consolidation and retrieval. There are many studies about early stages, however little is known about memory retrieval. Retrieval is the use of learned information and represents a big problem in patients with memory deficits where the main issue is that they can learn but cannot remember. Previous findings have demonstrated that 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) is a neurotransmitter involved in memory process. Hence, here we are exploring the role of 5-HT in memory retrieval by using its metabolic precursor l-tryptophan and several ligands at 5-HT1A and 5-HT7 receptors. Experimental protocol consisted of evaluating conditioned responses (%CR) after one week of interruption following autoshaping sessions for memory formation; a decrease of %CR was interpreted as memory decay. Systemic administration of (1) l-tryptophan (50 and 100 mg/kg), (2) 5-HT1A receptor agonist 8-OH-DPAT (0.031 and 0.062 mg/kg), (3) the selective antagonist 5-HT1A receptor WAY 100635 (0.3 and 0.6 mg/kg), (4) the 5-HT7 receptor agonist, LP 211, in a dose-dependent manner (1, 2.5, 5.0 and 10.0 mg/kg) enhanced memory retrieval.  https://www.selleckchem.com/products/GDC-0449.html  Further, the 5-HT7 receptor antagonist, SB 269970 (10.0 mg/kg), had no effect. Finally, SB 269970 (10.0 mg/kg) significantly blocked memory retrieval enhancement produced by 10.0 mg/kg LP 211, but not that induced by 2.5 mg/kg LP 211.These results, taken together, suggest that activation of 5-HT1A and 5-HT7 receptors enhanced memory retrieval and these receptors may be therapeutic targets to improve long-term memory retrieval.Obesity has reached pandemic proportions and is associated with severe comorbidities, such as type 2 diabetes mellitus, hepatic and cardiovascular diseases, and certain cancer types. However, the therapeutic options to treat obesity are limited. Extensive epidemiological studies have shown a strong relationship between smoking and body weight, with non-smokers weighing more than smokers at any age. Increased body weight after smoking cessation is a major factor that interferes with their attempts to quit smoking. Numerous controlled studies in both humans and rodents have reported that nicotine, the main bioactive component of tobacco, exerts a marked anorectic action. Furthermore, nicotine is also known to modulate energy expenditure, by regulating the thermogenic activity of brown adipose tissue (BAT) and the browning of white adipose tissue (WAT), as well as glucose homeostasis. Many of these actions occur at central level, by controlling the activity of hypothalamic neuropeptide systems such as proopiomelanocortin (POMC), or energy sensors such as AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK). However, direct impact of nicotine on metabolic tissues, such as BAT, WAT, liver and pancreas has also been described. Here, we review the actions of nicotine on energy balance. The relevance of this interaction is interesting, because considering the restricted efficiency of obesity treatments, a possible complementary approach may focus on compounds with known pharmacokinetic profile and pharmacological actions, such as nicotine or nicotinic acetylcholine receptors signaling.
  The incidence and magnitude of cardiac ischemia and arrhythmias in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) during exposure to hypobaric hypoxia is insufficiently studied. We investigated electrocardiogram (ECG) markers of ischemia at rest and during incremental exercise testing (IET) in COPD-patients travelling to 3100m.
 
  Lowlanders (residence <800m) with COPD (forced volume in the first second of expiration (FEV
  ) 40-80% predicted, oxygen saturation (SpO
  ) ≥92%, arterial partial pressure of carbon dioxide (PaCO
  ) <6kPa at 760m) aged 18 to 75years, without history of cardiovascular disease underwent 12‑lead ECG recordings at rest and during cycle IET to exhaustion at 760m and after acute exposure of 3h to 3100m. Mean ST-changes in ECGs averaged over 10s were analyzed for signs of ischemia (≥1mm horizontal or downsloping ST-segment depression) at rest, peak exercise and 2-min recovery.
 
  80 COPD-patients (51% women, mean±SD, 56.2±9.6years, body mass index (BMI) 27.0±4.5kg/m
  , Spemains to be elucidated.
  Pre-Fontan risk stratification is still less than optimal. We aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of intraoperative pulmonary flow study (IOFS), in combination with conventional preoperative evaluation, in the identification of high-risk candidates for the Fontan operation.
 
  Data from 37 patients (age 38.1±4.9months) who underwent the Fontan operation with IOFS were retrospectively reviewed. After anastomosing the Gore-Tex vascular graft to the confluent pulmonary artery, IOFS was performed through the graft at various cardiac indices (CI) (1-4L/min/m
  ) generated from a roller pump. Mean pulmonary artery pressure (mPAP) and left atrial pressure (LAP) were recorded. The patients were divided into two groups those who required Fontan circuit fenestration (group Ff) and those who did not (group Fn).
 
  Eleven patients (29.7%) required fenestration, intraoperatively (n=4) and postoperatively (n=7), due to hemodynamic instability. Heterotaxy syndrome (P=0.005) and atrioventricular valvar regurgitation (P=0.04) were more frequent, and ventricle posterior wall thickness (VPWT) was higher (P=0.024) in group Ff. On IOFS, the increase in mPAP by CI was sharper in group Ff than in group Fn (P<0.001) owing to an increase in LAP. On multivariable analysis, mPAP at a CI of 3.0L/min/m
  from IOFS was the only predictor of fenestration and correlated with preoperative VPWT (R=0.543, P=0.001).
 
  IOFS may be helpful to identify high-risk Fontan candidates, and high mPAP at CI of 3.0L/min/m
  on IOFS is a significant predictor of the requirement for fenestration. VPWT is an important preoperative risk factor which correlates with the IOFS results.
 IOFS may be helpful to identify high-risk Fontan candidates, and high mPAP at CI of 3.0 L/min/m2 on IOFS is a significant predictor of the requirement for fenestration. VPWT is an important preoperative risk factor which correlates with the IOFS results.