Francisco Javier Pavon-Moron

• PhD
• Researcher at Biomedical Research Institute of Malaga and Nanomedicine Platform (IBIMA Plataforma BIONAND)

The treatment for cocaine use constitutes a clinical challenge because of the lack of appropriate therapies and the high rate of relapse. Recent evidence indicates that the immune system might be involved in the pathogenesis of cocaine addiction and its co-morbid psychiatric disorders. This work examined the plasma pro-inflammatory cytokine and che...

Unlabelled: > Aims: N-oleoylethanolamine (OEA) is a lipid mediator that acts as a satiety factor. The main limiting factor for its administration is its poor water solubility. We designed and characterized new nanoemulsions as delivery system for hydrophobic compounds such as OEA. Materials & methods: The nanoemulsion components and preparatio...

Cocaine is associated with serious health problems including psychiatric co-morbidity. There is a need for the identification of biomarkers for the stratification of cocaine-addicted subjects. Several studies have evaluated circulating endocannabinoid-related lipids as biomarkers of inflammatory, metabolic and mental disorders. However, little is k...

2-Arachidonoylglycerol (2-AG) and anandamide are endocannabinoids that activate the cannabinoid receptors CB1 and CB2. Endocannabinoid signaling is terminated by enzymatic hydrolysis, a process that for anandamide is mediated by fatty acid amide hydrolase (FAAH), and for 2-AG is thought to involve monoacylglycerol lipase (MAGL). FAAH inhibitors pro...

The present study evaluates the pharmacological profile of the new neutral cannabinoid CB1 receptor antagonist 5-(4-chlorophenyl)-1-(2,4-dichlorophenyl)-3-hexyl-1H-1,2,4-triazole -LH-21- on feeding behavior and alcohol self-administration in rats, two behaviors inhibited by cannabinoid CB1 receptor antagonists. Administration of LH-21 (0.03, 0.3 an...

Purpose Aortic valve disease (AVD) is a common condition that leads to pressure and/or volume overload in the left ventricle. Aortic valve replacement is the standard treatment, as no pharmacological therapies are currently available. The incidence of AVD is increasing in developed countries, making the discovery of new biomarkers for early detecti...

Aims The optimal management of older patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS) remains unclear. The most effective evaluation methods for frailty and malnutrition are yet to be delineated, despite being proposed as predictors of adverse outcomes. Consequently, this study aims to assess the significance of these factors in predicting in-hospital c...

Background/Objectives: Alzheimer’s disease (AD), a leading cause of dementia, lacks effective long-term treatments. Current therapies offer temporary relief or fail to halt its progression and are often inaccessible due to cost. AD involves multiple pathological processes, including amyloid beta (Aβ) deposition, insulin resistance, tau protein hype...

The prognostic impact of non-obstructive coronary artery disease (CAD) remains controversial. Therefore, the objective of this study is to assess the long-term prognostic significance of non-obstructive CAD using machine learning models. We designed a multicenter retrospective, longitudinal, and observational study that included 3265 patients class...

Background Adolescent stress and alcohol exposure increase the risk of maladaptive behaviors and mental disorders in adulthood, with distinct sex-specific differences. Understanding the mechanisms underlying these early events is crucial for developing targeted prevention and treatment strategies. Methods Male and female Wistar rats were exposed t...

Background/Objectives: Coronary artery disease (CAD) and type-2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) are characterized by chronic low-grade inflammation. However, measuring cytokines typically involves invasive blood sampling, which can be problematic for CAD patients. This study aimed to assess ophthalmological parameters and tear cytokines in patients with C...

Background Exposure to negative experiences during adolescence increases susceptibility to mental disorders in adulthood. These risks vary significantly between sexes, with males and females potentially experiencing different impacts. Identifying the mechanisms underlying these early events and understanding their sex-specific effects are essential...

b> Introduction: Dual diagnosis in individuals with cocaine use disorders (CUDs) presents a mental health challenge marked by an increased susceptibility to disabling morbidities and premature mortality. Despite extensive research on depression and anxiety, other prevalent comorbidities, such as psychotic and personality disorders, have received le...

The therapeutic management and short-term consequences of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) are well known. However, COVID-19 post-acute sequelae are less known and represent a public health problem worldwide. Patients with COVID-19 who present post-acute sequelae may display immune dysregulation, a procoagulant state, and persistent microvas...

Background Molecular markers and pathways involved in the etiology and pathophysiology of bicuspid aortopathy are poorly understood. The aim here is to delve into the molecular and cellular mechanisms of the disease and identify potential predictive molecular markers using a well-established isogenic hamster model (T-strain) of bicuspid aortic valv...

We have recently reported sex differences in the plasma concentrations of lysophosphatidic acid (LPA) and alterations in LPA species in patients with alcohol and cocaine use disorders. Preclinical evidence suggests a main role of lysophosphatidic acid (LPA) signaling in anxiogenic responses and drug addiction. To further explore the potential role...

Circulating acylethanolamides (NAEs) are bioactive signaling molecules that modulate multiple homeostatic functions including mood and hedonic responses. Variations in their plasma concentrations are associated with substance use disorders (SUD) and recent studies suggest that psychotropic medication might influence its circulating levels, limiting...

As the human thymus ages, it undergoes a transformation into adipose tissue known as TAT. Interestingly, in previous research, we observed elevated levels of vascular endothelial growth factor A (VEGFA) in TAT from patients with ischemic cardiomyopathy (IC), particularly in those over 70 years old. Moreover, in contrast to subcutaneous adipose tiss...

Adult human thymus degenerates into adipose tissue (TAT). In contrast to subcutaneous adipose tissue (SAT), TAT has been reported to exhibit enhanced angiogenic properties in elderly people. We have previously shown that vascular endothelial growth factor A (VEGFA) is the most abundant angiogenic growth factor in TAT of patients with ischemic cardi...

The amyloid cascade hypothesis is widely accepted as an explanation for the neuropathological changes in Alzheimer's disease (AD). However, the role of amyloid-beta (Aβ) as the sole cause of these changes is being questioned. Using the 5xFAD mouse model of AD, we investigated various factors contributing to neuropathology, including genetic load (h...

Essential oils sourced from herbs commonly used in the Mediterranean diet have demonstrated advantageous attributes as nutraceuticals and prebiotics within a model of severe cardiometabolic disorder. The primary objective of this study was to assess the influences exerted by essential oils derived from thyme (Thymus vulgaris) and oregano (Origanum...

The COVID-19 pandemic has caused a challenge for our society due to the post-acute sequelae of the disease. Persistent symptoms and long-term multiorgan complications, known as post-acute COVID-19 syndrome, can occur beyond 4 weeks from the onset of the COVID-19 infection. Postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (POTS) is considered a variety of...

Background The CohRTA multicenter study aims to characterize patients undergoing a first treatment for alcohol use disorder (AUD). The objective is to analyze sex-specific differences in the comorbidity of AUD when starting the first treatment for the disorder. Methods A multicenter study was carried out between 2014 and 2021 in 6 public centers i...

We have recently reported alterations in the plasma concentrations of lysophosphatidic acid (LPA) in patients with substance use disorders. In order to further explore the potential role of the LPA signaling system as biomarker in cocaine use disorders (CUD) we conducted a cross-sectional study with 105 patients diagnosed with CUD and 92 healthy co...

Catheter ablation is a well-established rhythm control therapy in atrial fibrillation (AF). Although the prevalence of AF increases dramatically with age, the prognosis and safety profile of index and repeat ablation procedures remain unclear in the older population. The primary endpoint of this study was to assess the arrhythmia recurrence, reabla...

Plasma acylethanolamides (NAEs), including the endocannabinoid anandamide (AEA), have been proposed as circulating biomarkers of substance use disorders. However, the concentration of these lipid transmitters might be influenced by the use of drugs prescribed for either the treatment of addiction or the associated psychiatric co-morbidities such as...

A progressively increasing percentage of the elderly live during the last years of their lives in nursing homes. Although these institutions are intended to mimic life at home as much as possible, they have characteristics that make them quite similar to a “nosocomiun”, i.e. an establishment for the treatment of the sick. The very coexistence among...

The acquisition of competencies is essential in clinically relevant areas such as cardiovascular pathology. This study aims to assess the acquisition of the main competencies regarding the cardiovascular system by medical students, as well as their self-perception, and the relation with regular lecture attendance and academic performance. In order...

For a long time, Substance Use Disorders (SUDs) were not considered a component in the etiology of dementia. The fifth edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders introduced substance-induced neurocognitive disorders, incorporating this notion to clinical practice. However, detection and monitoring of neurodegenerative proc...

Background: Short and long-term sequelae after admission to the intensive care unit (ICU) for coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) are to be expected, which makes multidisciplinary care key in the support of physical and cognitive recovery. Objective: To describe, from a multidisciplinary perspective, the sequelae one month after hospital discharge...

Ischemic heart disease (IHD) and type-2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) remain major health problems worldwide and commonly coexist in individuals. Gut microbial metabolites, such as trimethylamine N-oxide (TMAO) and short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs), have been linked to cardiovascular and metabolic diseases. Previous studies have reported dysbiosis in the...

Pulmonary vein (PV) isolation is a well-established rhythm control therapy in atrial fibrillation (AF). Currently, there is no consensus on which ablation technique to use for the first procedure, cryoballoon (CB) or radiofrequency (RF). A retrospective cohort study was conducted on 1055 patients who underwent a first ablation, to assess both techn...

The present study characterizes the oral pharmacokinetics of D-Pinitol, a natural insulin mimetic inositol, in human healthy volunteers (14 males and 11 females). D-Pinitol absorption was studied in (a) subjects receiving a single oral dose of 15 mg/kg (n = 10), or (b) 5 mg/kg pure D-Pinitol (n = 6), and (c) subjects receiving D-Pinitol as part of...

Background Currently, there are studies underway to determine whether coronary stent implantation with percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty prior to a coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) influences the prognosis of surgery. The aim of this study was to assess both the need for future revascularisation or all-cause mortalityas composite en...

Background: There are many hypotheses about the neuropathological origin of sporadic Alzheimer’s disease (AD). The amyloid cascade hypothesis remains the most widely accepted by the scientific community, although the role of amyloid-β (Aβ) as the sole cause of neuropathological features of the non-inherited form of AD is questionable. Methods: The...

Bicuspid aortopathy occurs in approximately 50% of patients with bicuspid aortic valve (BAV), the most prevalent congenital cardiac malformation. Although different molecular players and etiological factors (genetic and hemodynamic) have been suggested to be involved in aortopathy predisposition and progression, clear etiophysiopathological mechani...

The widespread use of added sugars or non-nutritive sweeteners in processed foods is a challenge for addressing the therapeutics of obesity and diabetes. Both types of sweeteners generate health problems, and both are being blamed for multiple complications associated with these prevalent diseases. As an example, fructose is proven to contribute to...

Background and Purpose Recent evidence links brain insulin resistance with neurodegenerative diseases, where hyperphosphorylated tau protein contributes to neuronal cell death. In the present study, we aimed to evaluate if d‐pinitol inositol, which acts as an insulin sensitizer, affects the phosphorylation status of tau protein. Experimental Appro...

Patient-centred medicine is a healthcare approach that focuses on patients’ wants, needs and preferences. An obstacle to implement patient-centred medicine is the difficulty of obtaining data that is relevant and representative of the whole society. In 2019, the Spanish Society of Cardiology highlighted eight trends that would exert a determining i...

(1) Background: Co-occurrence of mental and substance use disorders (SUD) is prevalent, but complicates their clinical courses, and specific biomarkers are required. Amino acids are altered in primary mental disorders; however, little is known about SUD and psychiatric comorbidity. Because most psychiatric disorders and biomarkers show sex differen...

Preclinical evidence suggests a main role of lysophosphatidic acid (LPA) signaling in drug addiction. Recently, we reported alterations in the plasma concentrations of LPA species in patients with alcohol use disorder (AUD). As there are sex differences in drug addiction, the main aim of the present study was to investigate whether relevant LPA spe...

Oleoylethanolamide (OEA) is an endogenous N-acylethanolamine that reduces both food and alcohol intake through the activation of peripheral sensory nerves in the gut. These effects are opposite to those of anandamide, a main endogenous cannabinoid type 1 receptor (CB1R) agonist. The present study aims to characterize the impact of intermittent and...

(1) Background: Alcohol Use Disorder (AUD) is associated with functional disruption of several brain structures that may trigger cognitive dysfunction. One of the mechanisms of alcohol-associated cognitive impairment has been proposed to arise from its direct impact on the immune system, which culminates in the release of cytokines and chemokines w...

(1) Background: Negative experiences during adolescence increase the vulnerability to develop mental disorders later in life. A better understanding of the mechanisms underlying these long-term alterations could help to identify better therapeutic interventions. (2) Methods: Adolescent male Wistar rats were used to explore the effects of repeated s...

Introduction The incidence of acute coronary syndrome is rising in step with the growth of life expectancy. An increase in the age of patients with coronary artery disease has been related to in-hospital mortality, which has seen an upsurge over a short period of time. However, there is no consensus about the percutaneous coronary angioplasty strat...

Gender significantly influences sociodemographic, medical, psychiatric and addiction variables in cocaine outpatients. Educational level may be a protective factor showing less severe addictive disorders, longer abstinence periods, and better cognitive performance. The aim was to estimate gender-based differences and the influence of educational le...

Background Stressful episodes and high alcohol consumption during adolescence are considered major risk factors for the development of psychiatric disorders in adulthood. Identification of mechanisms underlying these early events, which enhanced vulnerability to mental illness, is essential for both their prevention and treatment. Methods Male Wis...

Lysophosphatidic acid (LPA) is an endogenous lysophospholipid and a bioactive lipid that is synthesized by the enzyme autotaxin (ATX). The ATX–LPA axis has been associated with cognitive dysfunction and inflammatory diseases, mainly in a range of nonalcoholic liver diseases. Recently, preclinical and clinical evidence has suggested a role of LPA si...

Preclinical studies on the effects of abrupt cessation of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), a medication often prescribed in alcohol use disorder (AUD) patients with depression, results in alcohol consumption escalation after resuming drinking. However, a potential neuroinflammatory component on this escalation remains unexplored des...

Cognitive reserve (CR) is the capability of an individual to cope with a brain pathology through compensatory mechanisms developed through cognitive stimulation by mental and physical activity. Recently, it has been suggested that CR has a protective role against the initiation of substance use, substance consumption patterns and cognitive decline...

Granulocyte colony–stimulating factor (G-CSF) has raised much interest because of its role in cocaine addiction in preclinical models. We explored the plasma concentrations of G-CSF in patients diagnosed with substance use disorder (SUD) and highly comorbid psychiatric disorders. In particular, we investigated the association between G-CSF concentr...

D-Pinitol (DPIN) is a natural occurring inositol capable of activating the insulin pathway in peripheral tissues, whereas this has not been thoroughly studied in the central nervous system. The present study assessed the potential regulatory effects of DPIN on the hypothalamic insulin signaling pathway. To this end we investigated the Phosphatidyli...

Preclinical studies on the effects of abrupt cessation of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), a medication often prescribed in alcohol use disorder (AUD) patients with depression, results in alcohol consumption escalation after resuming drinking. However, a potential neuroinflammatory component on this escalation remains unexplored des...

Preclinical evidence suggests that endogenous midkine could play a key modulatory role on the neurotoxic and addictive effects of different kinds of drugs of abuse, including psychostimulants. However, this hypothesis has not yet been explored in humans. As a first approach to progress in this knowledge, we have comparatively studied plasma midkine...

RationaleThe emergence of the consumption of highly potent synthetic cannabinoid receptor agonists (spice drugs) that produce important neurological symptoms has prompted the research on the consequences of acute and chronic use of these new psychoactive substances. Most studies on cannabinoid dependence have been performed in male animals, and the...

Aims: Granulocyte colony–stimulating factor (G-CSF) has raised much interest due to its role to cocaine addiction in preclinical models. We analyzed the circulating expression of G-CSF in abstinent chronic users of alcohol and/or cocaine with or without comorbid major depressive disorders to investigate the role of this trophic factor with complica...

The endocannabinoid system is involved in the regulation of the stress response, but the relative contribution of N-arachidonoylethanolamine (AEA) and 2-arachidonoylglycerol (2-AG) and their mechanisms have to be elucidated. In this study, we compared the effects of the pharmacological inhibition of the two major endocannabinoid-degrading enzymes [...

Addiction is characterized by compulsive substance seeking and use, underlying neuroadaptations in the reward and stress systems, and executive function. Clinically, addiction is defined as severe substance use disorder (SUD) with a high prevalence of psychiatric comorbidity, especially depression. Despite it is difficult to establish causality or...

Lysophosphatidic acid (LPA) species are bioactive lipids participating in neurodevelopmental processes. The aim was to investigate whether the relevant species of LPA were associated with clinical features of alcohol addiction. A total of 55 abstinent alcohol use disorder (AUD) patients were compared with 34 age/sex/body mass index-matched controls...

Adult neurogenesis in rodents is modulated by dopaminergic signaling and inhibited by cocaine. However, the sex-specific role of dopamine D1 and D2 receptors (D1R, D2R) in the deleterious effect of cocaine on adult neurogenesis has not been described yet. Here, we explored sex differences in (a) cell proliferation (5'-bromo-2'-deoxyuridine [BrdU]),...

Background Ethanol (EtOH) self‐administration is particularly sensitive to the modulation of CB1 signaling in the nucleus accumbens (NAc) shell, and EtOH consumption increases extracellular levels of the endogenous cannabinoid CB1 receptor agonist 2‐arachidonoyl glycerol (2‐AG) in this brain region. Stimulation of CB1 receptor with agonists increas...

Background In obesity adipose tissue undergoes structural re‐modelling leading to a chronic low‐grade inflammatory state linked to insulin resistance (IR). Objective We aimed to develop a clinically relevant biomarker model for stratifying IR in adolescents with obesity. Methods Cytokines [tumour cell derived factor 1α, monocyte chemoattract prot...

Major depression (MD) is a frequent comorbidity in alcohol use disorder (AUD) patients. Antidepressant prescription is often limited by poor clinical outcomes or unwanted side effects in comorbid AUD‐MD patients. Recent studies suggest that abrupt cessation of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors antidepressant treatment increases alcohol consum...

To characterize the metabolic actions of D-Pinitol, a dietary inositol, in male Wistar rats, we analyzed its oral pharmacokinetics and its effects on (a) the secretion of hormones regulating metabolism (insulin, glucagon, IGF-1, ghrelin, leptin and adiponectin), (b) insulin signaling in the liver and (c) the expression of glycolytic and neoglucogen...

Background Recent studies have demonstrated that alcohol consumption can modulate the immune system by directly activating natural immunity and triggering inflammatory processes in the central nervous system and in peripheral organs, such as the liver and pancreas. Patients with alcohol use disorders have an elevated frequency of comorbid mental di...