Genes related to sex steroids, neural growth, and social-emotional behavior are associated with autistic traits, empathy, and Asperger syndrome

Genetic studies of autism spectrum conditions (ASC) have mostly focused on the "low functioning" severe clinical subgroup, treating it as a rare disorder. However, ASC is now thought to be relatively common ( approximately 1%), and representing one end of a quasi-normal distribution of autistic traits in the general population. Here we report a study of common genetic variation in candidate genes associated with autistic traits and Asperger syndrome (AS). We tested single nucleotide polymorphisms in 68 candidate genes in three functional groups (sex steroid synthesis/transport, neural connectivity, and social-emotional responsivity) in two experiments. These were (a) an association study of relevant behavioral traits (the Empathy Quotient (EQ), the Autism Spectrum Quotient (AQ)) in a population sample (n=349); and (b) a case-control association study on a sample of people with AS, a "high-functioning" subgroup of ASC (n=174). 27 genes showed a nominally significant association with autistic traits and/or ASC diagnosis. Of these, 19 genes showed nominally significant association with AQ/EQ. In the sex steroid group, this included ESR2 and CYP11B1. In the neural connectivity group, this included HOXA1, NTRK1, and NLGN4X. In the socio-responsivity behavior group, this included MAOB, AVPR1B, and WFS1. Fourteen genes showed nominally significant association with AS. In the sex steroid group, this included CYP17A1 and CYP19A1. In the socio-emotional behavior group, this included OXT. Six genes were nominally associated in both experiments, providing a partial replication. Eleven genes survived family wise error rate (FWER) correction using permutations across both experiments, which is greater than would be expected by chance. CYP11B1 and NTRK1 emerged as significantly associated genes in both experiments, after FWER correction (P<0.05). This is the first candidate-gene association study of AS and of autistic traits. The most promising candidate genes require independent replication and fine mapping.

Communication and social regulation. the criminalization of work-related death

This paper addresses the movement towards criminalization as a tool for the regulation of work-related deaths in the United Kingdom and elsewhere in the last 20 years. This can be seen as reflecting dissatisfaction with the relevant law, although it is best understood in symbolic terms as a response to a disjunction between the instrumental nature and communicative aspirations of regulatory law. This paper uses empirical data gathered from interviews with members of the public to explore the role that such an offence might play. The findings demonstrate that the failures of regulatory law give rise to a desire for criminalization as a means of framing work-related safety events in normative terms.

Exercise changes the size of cardiac neurons and protects them from age-related neurodegeneration

Aging leads to changes in cardiac structure and function. Evidence suggests that the practice of regular exercise may prevent disturbances in the cardiovascular system during aging. We studied the effects of aging on the morphology and morphometry of cardiac neurons in Wistar rats and investigated whether a lifelong moderate exercise program could exert a protective effect toward some deleterious effects of aging. Aging caused a significant decline (28%) in the number of NADH-diaphorase-stained cardiac Animals submitted to a daily session of 60 min, 5 day/week, at 1.1 km/h of running in treadmill over the entire life span exhibited a reversion of the observed decline in the number of cardiac neurons. However, most interesting was that the introduction of this lifelong exercise protocol dramatically altered the sizes of cardiac neurons. There was a notable increase in the percentage of small neurons in the rats of the exercise group compared to the sedentary animals. This is the first time that a protective effect of lifelong regular aerobic exercise has been demonstrated on the deleterious effects of aging in cardiac neurons. (C) 2009 Elsevier GmbH. All rights reserved.

Exercise reduces inhibitory neuroactivity and protects myenteric neurons from age-related neurodegeneration

The practice of regular exercise is indicated to prevent some motility disturbances in the gastrointestinal tract, such as constipation, during aging. The motility alterations are intimately linked with its innervations. The goal of this study is to determine whether a program of exercise (running on the treadmill), during 6 months, has effects in the myenteric neurons (NADH- and NADPH-diaphorase stained neurons) in the colon of rats during aging. Male Wister rats 6 months (adult) and 12 months (middle-aged) old were divided into 3 different groups: AS (adult sedentary), MS (middle-aged sedentary) and MT (middle-aged submitted to physical activity). The aging did not cause a decline significant (p > 0.05) of the number of NADH-diaphorase stained neurons in sedentary rats (AS vs. MS group). In contrast, a decline of 3 1% was observed to NADPH-diaphorase stained neurons. Thus, animals that underwent physical activity (AS vs. MT group) rescued neurons from degeneration caused by aging (total number, density and profile of neurons did not change with age - NADH-diaphorase method). On the other hand, physical activity augmented the decline of NADPH-diaphorase positive neurons (total number, density and profile of neurons decreased). Collectively, the results show that exercise inhibits age-related decline of myenteric neurons however, exercise augments the decline of neurons with inhibitory activity (nitric oxide) in the colon of the rats. (c) 2008 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Effects of Low-Level Laser Therapy (LLLT) in the Development of Exercise-Induced Skeletal Muscle Fatigue and Changes in Biochemical Markers Related to Postexercise Recovery

STUDY DESIGN: Randomized crossover double-blinded placebo-controlled trial. OBJECTIVE: To investigate if low-level laser therapy (LLLT) can affect biceps muscle performance, fatigue development, and biochemical markers of postexercise recovery. BACKGROUND: Cell and animal studies have suggested that LLLT can reduce oxidative stress and inflammatory responses in muscle tissue. But it remains uncertain whether these findings can translate into humans in sport and exercise situations. METHODS: Nine healthy male volleyball players participated in the study. They received either active LLLT (cluster probe with 5 laser diodes; A = 810 nm; 200 mW power output; 30 seconds of irradiation, applied in 2 locations over the biceps of the nondominant arm; 60 J of total energy) or placebo LLLT using an identical cluster probe. The intervention or placebo were applied 3 minutes before the performance of exercise. All subjects performed voluntary elbow flexion repetitions with a workload of 75% of their maximal voluntary contraction force until exhaustion. RESULTS: Active LLLT increased the number of repetitions by 14.5% (mean +/- SD, 39.6 +/- 4.3 versus 34.6 +/- 5.6; P = .037) and the elapsed time before exhaustion by 8.0% (P = .034), when compared to the placebo treatment. The biochemical markers also indicated that recovery may be positively affected by LLLT, as indicated by postexercise blood lactate levels (P<.01), creatine kinase activity (P = .017), and C-reactive protein levels (P = .047), showing a faster recovery with LLLT application prior to the exercise. CONCLUSION: We conclude that pre-exercise irradiation of the biceps with an LLLT dose of 6 J per application location, applied in 2 locations, increased endurance for repeated elbow flexion against resistance and decreased postexercise levels of blood lactate, creatine kinase, and C-reactive protein. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Performance enhancement, level 1b. J Orthop Sports Phys Ther 2010;40(8):524-532. doi:10.2519/jospt.2010.3294

Liderança e gênero na administração pública: a percepção dos gerentes das agências da previdência social em Recife

Os desafios advindos da redefinição do papel do Estado e da busca pela eficiência na prestação dos serviços públicos fundamentam a realização do presente estudo. Diante disso, abordou-se a realidade dos Gerentes das Agencias da Previdência Social do Instituto Nacional do Seguro Social, pessoas-chave na implantação de um modelo de Administração Pública que atenda às demandas sociais. Buscou-se identificar as percepções sobre o desenvolvimento da liderança, explicitando as relações de gênero vivenciadas no exercício desses cargos. A abordagem de gênero baseou-se no expressivo contingente de mulheres existente no serviço público. Assim, entende-se que as questões de liderança nesse setor são permeadas pelas relações de gênero. Nesse aspecto, foi realizada a contextualização da trajetória e lutas das mulheres por emancipação e da situação delas nos cargos de destaque na Administração Pública. Contextualizando o presente estudo, realizou-se a construção histórica e a apresentação dos conceitos relacionados à modernização do Estado, à Gestão Pública e à prestação dos serviços públicos no Brasil, isso conduziu à discussão de temas relacionados à cidadania e direitos sociais. Quanto aos aspectos metodológicos, trata-se de um estudo de caso, com abordagem qualitativa, de caráter descritivo. A pesquisa de campo viabilizou os meios para a coleta dos dados, com a aplicação de questionário e entrevista semiestrurada associada à construção de desenhos. Adotou-se a análise de conteúdo para o tratamento dos dados. Foi realizada a caracterização do perfil sócio-profissional dos servidores que ocupam cargos de gerente no nível operacional do INSS e abordados os dilemas decorrentes do exercício de cargos de chefia e da busca pela liderança no desenvolvimento das competências necessárias à gestão das Agências. No âmbito das relações de gênero, foram correlacionados os significados, a partir da elaboração das vivências, enquanto homens e mulheres, no desempenho do papel de gerente nesses locais de trabalho. Importantes resultados foram observados na análise das entrevistas com a aplicação da técnica de construção de desenhos. Em geral, os gerentes demonstraram gostar e ter orgulho do que fazem, contudo, há desgastes e tensionamentos decorrentes das deficiências de infraestrutura, entre outras. Apesar disso, os gerentes demonstram capacidade de aprendizagem com essas situações e sobressaem muitos sentimentos positivos, entre eles, envolvimento, compromisso e colaboração. Os resultados da pesquisa levantam questões e recomendações que serão colocadas à disposição da organização, com elementos e reflexões no intuito de contribuir com os processos educacionais na gestão de pessoas.

O serviço social na previdência social: a afirmação do seu espaço na materialização dos direitos

The work of the professional of social worker in social security policy, it is seen wrapped in an adverse situation to consolidate the ethical-political project work, marked by the materialization of the neoliberal policy essentially promotes the reduction of social rights historically achieved by the class struggle worker. In this sense, with the aim of analyzing the statement of work of the Social Worker in Social Security, their struggles and challenges to the realization of rights, against the current situation is that it renders the theoretical basis of the discussions to be fought. Thus, we performed procedures such as methodological research literature and documents in detail of our analytical categories in order to base the discussion on social security policy. The survey area covered was the Executive Management of Social Security Mossoró and Natal, representing a total of 07 (seven) surveyed social workers who work in the Department of Social Work. Thus, the research allowed us a comparison with the work of Social Workers and this allowed us to reach some conclusions: first, the fact that Social Security does not guarantee in its entirety, the conditions necessary for the work of Social Worker, taking into account the lack of human and material resources for its realization, and the virtual absence of professional secrecy, and second, that the social workers surveyed say the ethical-political project of Social Work, in exercise professional from engaging in projects and social movements related to the protection of social rights and working class, thirdly, that the statement of professional design, contributes to the formation of a new professional activities, based on an analysis of whole and an action more interventionist, critical and purposeful, able to relate to the interests of users who seek their services, the consolidation and socialization of social rights. Thus, the direction of the work of professional of social worker to support the theoretical and methodological maturity in recent years acquired the expertise and ethical-political daily, consolidated its space in claiming social security institution, the rights so hard fought in an environment grounded in the disintegration social struggles

O Serviço social nas organizações não-governamentais: tendências e particularidades

The present study is about the professional exercise of the Social Worker in ONGs associated with the ABONG in Natal city, state of Rio Grande do Norte, referring to the work conditions, claims and professional responses in front of the capital restructuration circumstances. The group of socio-historical transformations, as a result of the after-1970 dynamic capitalism, conducts a process of new configurations in the relationship between State and society that directly affect the social question nowadays, destroying social rights historically conquered for the workers. In this context, the ONGs assume a strategical social function of the social question, contributing with the change of responsibilities with the social from the State to the third sector. This social movement causes changes to the Social Work since this is one of the professions that act on the immediate expressions of the social question. After a qualitative research based on a theoricalmethodological critical and dialectical perspective, it was possible to discover some contradictions, details and tendencies of the professional exercise of the Social Worker in ONGs. Summarizing, the results of the research show that: a) it was detected a tendency of precarization, instability, insecurity, no-articulation, no-profissionalization of the professionals in the work conditions; b) demands are associated with a moment of the capital re-ordering, where new professional exigencies and responsibilities are related with capital necessities in the period of structural crisis; c) limits and contradictions are present in a professional daily work mainly in function of the characteristics of gestation and functioning of the ONGs; d) the professionals that were interviewed show significant difficulties in a articulation between the professional daily work in organizations and the totality of the social processes, limiting the capability of doing critics to the requisitions imposed by the capital

Two new bradykinin-related peptides from the venom of the social wasp Protopolybia exigua (Saussure)

Two bradykinin-related peptides (Protopolybiakinin-I and Protopolybiakinin-II) were isolated from the venom of the social wasp Protopolybia exigua by RP-HPLC, and sequenced by Edman degradation method. Peptide sequences of Protopolybiakinin-I and Protopolybiakinin-II were DKNKKPIRVGGRRPPGFTR-OH and DKNKKPIWMAGFPGFTPIR-OH, respectively. Synthetic peptides with identical sequences to the bradykinin-related peptides and their biological functions were characterized. Protopolybiakinin-I caused less potent constriction of the isolated rat ileum muscles than bradykinin (BK). In addition, it caused degranulation of mast cells which was seven times more potent than BK. This peptide causes algesic effects due to the direct activation of B-2-receptors. Protopolybiakinin-II is not an agonist of rat ileum muscle and had no algesic effects. However, Protopolybiakinin-II was found to be 10 times more potent as a mast cell degranulator than BK. The amino acid sequence of Protopolybiakinin-I is the longest among the known wasp kinins. (c) 2006 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

A PHYLOGENETIC ANALYSIS of SYNOECA DE SAUSSURE, 1852, A NEOTROPICAL GENUS of SOCIAL WASPS (HYMENOPTERA: VESPIDAE: EPIPONINI)

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Exercise training as a preventive tool for age-related disorders: a brief review

Aging populations are a worldwide phenomenon affecting both developed and developing countries. This issue raises serious concerns for both governments and the general population. Regular participation in physical activity and/or exercise training programs can minimize the physiological alterations that occur during aging and may contribute to improvements in health and well-being. The present review will discuss the role of regular exercise training in preventing age-related physiological decline and, consequently, associated chronic diseases. Compelling evidence that regular exercise and/or physical activity can improve quality of life, prevent or control the development of chronic disease and increase life expectancy is shown. In summary, regular exercise training and/or physical activity has an important influence on aging and may help to prevent age-related disorders.

Nutritional and social hierarchy establishment of the primitively eusocial wasp Mischocyttarus cassununga (Hymenoptera, Vespidae, Mischocyttarini) and related aspects

The results on the nutritional influence in the social hierarchy establishment among females from six colonies of Mischocyttarus cassununga show that: - there was no caste determination in the pre-imaginal period concerning ingested food quantities, however, in relation to qualification (proteins and carbohydrate) the Mann-Whitney test applied showed variation among colonies: in two colonics (colony 3, p=0.0209; colony 4, p=0.0090) the larvae which ingested a higher quantity of solid food became adults of hierarchically higher position, however in two other colonies, colony 1 (p=0.6744) and colony 2 (p=0.3367) this difference was not statistically significant; in two experimentally manipulated colonies the caste determination was observed in the imaginal phase (it was verified that the larger the food quantity consumed, the higher the assumed hierarchical position by the individuals); - adult individuals of hierarchically higher position in two colonies ingested a greater amount of solid than liquid food (Mann-Whitney; p ≤ 0.05), however in the other three colonies there was no difference. It can be seen that for all colonies (2, 3, 4, 5 and 6) the high tendency to solid food ingestion occurs. In colony 1, this data was not collected because the observation purpose was different); - inside the colony hierarchy, the older individuals were the ones that occupied higher hierarchical positions; - more than one inseminated female per colony was found in the two experimentally manipulated colonies ; - ovarian development is greater in inseminated females; - the average height of the 3rd tergite was greater for inseminated females, indicating an adaptation to accommodate larger ovary development (t-Student test; p ≤ 0.05).