PTH and 1.25 vitamin D response to a low-calcium diet is associated with bone mineral density in renal stone formers

BACKGROUND: Renal calcium stones and hypercalciuria are associated with a reduced bone mineral density (BMD). Therefore, the effect of changes in calcium homeostasis is of interest for both stones and bones. We hypothesized that the response of calciuria, parathyroid hormone (PTH) and 1.25 vitamin D to changes in dietary calcium might be related to BMD. METHODS: A single-centre prospective interventional study of 94 hyper- and non-hypercalciuric calcium stone formers consecutively retrieved from our stone clinic. The patients were investigated on a free-choice diet, a low-calcium diet, while fasting and after an oral calcium load. Patient groups were defined according to lumbar BMD (z-score) obtained by dual X-ray absorptiometry (group 1: z-score <-0.5, n = 30; group 2: z-score -0.5-0.5, n = 36; group 3: z-score >0.5, n = 28). The effect of the dietary interventions on calciuria, 1.25 vitamin D and PTH in relation to BMD was measured. RESULTS: An inverse relationship between BMD and calciuria was observed on all four calcium intakes (P = 0.009). On a free-choice diet, 1.25 vitamin D and PTH levels were identical in the three patient groups. However, the relative responses of 1.25 vitamin D and PTH to the low-calcium diet were opposite in the three groups with the highest increase of 1.25 vitamin D in group 1 and the lowest in group 3, whereas PTH increase was most pronounced in group 3 and least in group 1. CONCLUSION: Calcium stone formers with a low lumbar BMD exhibit a blunted response of PTH release and an apparently overshooting production of 1.25 vitamin D following a low-calcium diet.

Low bone mass in idiopathic renal stone formers: magnitude and significance

To assess bone mineral density (BMD) in idiopathic calcium nephrolithiasis, dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry was performed at lumbar spine, upper femur (femoral neck, Ward's triangle, and total area), distal tibial diaphysis, and distal tibial epiphysis in 110 male idiopathic calcium stone formers (ICSF); 49 with and 61 without hypercalciuria on free-choice diet). Results were compared with those obtained in 234 healthy male controls, using (1) noncorrected BMD, (2) BMD corrected for age, height, and BMI, and (3) a skeletal score based on a tercile distribution of BMD values at following four sites: lumbar spine, Ward's triangle, tibial diaphysis, and tibial epiphysis. After correction, BMD--and therefore also skeletal score--tended to be lower in the stone formers than in controls at five of the six measurement sites, that is, lumbar spine, upper femur, Ward's triangle, tibial diaphysis, and tibial epiphysis, limit of significance being reached for the last two sites without difference between hypercalciuric (HCSF) and normocalciuric stone formers (NCSF). Estimated current daily calcium intake was significantly lower in patients (616 +/- 499 mg/24 h, mean +/- SEM) than in controls (773 +/- 532, p = 0.02). Of 17 patients who in the past had received a low-calcium diet for at least 1 year, 10 had a low skeletal score (4-6) whereas only 1 had a high score (10-12; p = 0.037). Of the 12 stone formers in the study with skeletal score 4 (i.e., the lowest), 8 had experienced in the past one or more fractures of any kind versus only 19 of the remaining 77 patients with skeletal score 5-12 (p = 0.01).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Visual acuity of dentists under simulated clinical conditions

OBJECTIVES This study examined the near visual acuity of dentists in relation to age and magnification under simulated clinical conditions. MATERIALS AND METHODS Miniaturized visual tests were performed in posterior teeth of a dental phantom head in a simulated clinical setting (dental chair, operating lamp, dental mirror). The visual acuity of 40 dentists was measured under the following conditions: (1) natural visual acuity, distance of 300 mm; (2) natural visual acuity, free choice of distance; (3) Galilean loupes, magnification of ×2.5; (4) Keplerian loupes, ×4.3; (5) operating microscope, ×4, integrated light; (6) operating microscope, ×6.4, integrated light. RESULTS The visual acuity varied widely between individuals and was significantly lower in the group ≥40 years of age (p < 0.001). Significant differences were found between all tested conditions (p < 0.01). Furthermore, a correlation between visual acuity and age was found for all conditions. The performance with the microscope was better than with loupes even with comparable magnification factors. Some dentists had a better visual acuity without optical aids than others with Galilean loupes. CONCLUSIONS Near visual acuity under simulated clinical conditions varies widely between individuals and decreases throughout life. Visual deficiencies can be compensated for with optical aids. CLINICAL RELEVANCE Newly developed miniaturized vision tests have allowed, in a clinically relevant way, to evaluate the influence of magnification and age on the near visual acuity of dentists.

Visual acuity of dentists in their respective clinical conditions.

OBJECTIVES This study examined the impact of age and magnification on the near visual acuity of dentists in their private practice under simulated clinical conditions. MATERIALS AND METHODS Miniaturized visual tests were fixed in posterior teeth of a dental phantom head and brought to 31 dentists in their respective private practice. The visual acuity of these dentists (n = 19, ≥40 years; n = 12, <40 years) was measured in a clinical setting under the following conditions: (a) natural visual acuity, distance of 300 mm; (b) natural visual acuity, free choice of the distance; and (c) loupe and additional light source, if available. RESULTS The visual acuity under the different clinical conditions varied widely between individuals. The older group of dentists had a lower median visual acuity value under all clinical conditions. This difference was highly significant for natural visual acuity at a free choice of distance (p < 0.0001). For younger dentists (<40 years), visual acuity could be significantly improved by reducing the eye-object distance (p = 0.001) or by using loupes (p = 0.008). For older dentists (≥40 years), visual acuity could be significantly improved by using loupes (p = 0.0005). CONCLUSIONS Visual performance decreased with increasing age under the specific clinical conditions of each dentist's private practice. Magnification aids can compensate for visual deficiencies. CLINICAL RELEVANCE The question of whether findings obtained under standardized conditions are valuable for the habitual setting of each dentist's private practice seems clinically relevant.

Inverse fusion PCR cloning.

Inverse fusion PCR cloning (IFPC) is an easy, PCR based three-step cloning method that allows the seamless and directional insertion of PCR products into virtually all plasmids, this with a free choice of the insertion site. The PCR-derived inserts contain a vector-complementary 5'-end that allows a fusion with the vector by an overlap extension PCR, and the resulting amplified insert-vector fusions are then circularized by ligation prior transformation. A minimal amount of starting material is needed and experimental steps are reduced. Untreated circular plasmid, or alternatively bacteria containing the plasmid, can be used as templates for the insertion, and clean-up of the insert fragment is not urgently required. The whole cloning procedure can be performed within a minimal hands-on time and results in the generation of hundreds to ten-thousands of positive colonies, with a minimal background.

Extractos cítricos como atrayentes para cebos hormiguicidas con sustancias naturales

La formulación de cebos para el control de hormigas cortadoras es conveniente por su mayor practicidad y economía. En el proceso de desarrollo de hormiguicidas con sustancias naturales, se probaron extractos de cítricos como atrayentes para cebos, sobre obreras de Acromyrmex lundi, en dos ensayos: en laboratorio y en campo. Con extractos de naranja dulce, pomelo rosado, mandarina y naranja amarga se impregnaron discos de papel de filtro. Se ofrecieron a las hormigas en un diseño de bloques al azar (DBA) con libre elección. En laboratorio, en hormiguero artificial, se presentaron grupos de 20 discos con los tratamientos. Se registró el número de discos remanentes y el tiempo transcurrido hasta la remoción del primer disco. En campo, el bloque correspondió a cada hormiguero y se dispusieron grupos de 10 discos en cada senda, registrándose los mismos parámetros. El extracto de mandarina resultó preferido en laboratorio según la prueba de Tukey. En campo, fue preferido el extracto de pomelo. Los extractos utilizados atrajeron a las obreras de A. lundi, podadoras en dicotiledóneas; se observó respuesta diferencial para las distintas especies pero el ordenamiento en la preferencia no fue consistente para los ensayos en condiciones artificiales y de campo.

Os (des)caminhos de um pesquisador do futebol brasileiro

The research in professional football within the human and social sciences, despite increased, still faced limitations and restrictions imposed by the clubs, hindering its realization. As part of my master's thesis, this article aims to portray the effects of leadership on the functioning of the group and to detect the importance and necessity of cohesion in a professional team of footballers. Furthermore, the relationship between the researcher and the football club was analyzed and described, as well as the limitations and obstacles encountered during field research. Following the guidelines of qualitative research and having social psychology as a theoretical background (Kurt Lewin and Pichon-Rivière), this research resulted from the analysis of a professional football club (players, staff and executives of a club with national and international importance) during 5 days of daily contact with the group in games, practice, concentration and meals. The difficulties in analyzing the group's leadership and cohesion were vast, among which stand out the difficulty or impossibility of access to the places-situations suggested as methodology, their refusals to interviews and rejection of the administration of a free choice test. The bond created and the roles taken harmed attempts for further analysis. Therefore, due to the characteristics of contemporary football, especially the financial and political interests the difficulties likely to arise range according to the characteristics of the institution

Os (des)caminhos de um pesquisador do futebol brasileiro

The research in professional football within the human and social sciences, despite increased, still faced limitations and restrictions imposed by the clubs, hindering its realization. As part of my master's thesis, this article aims to portray the effects of leadership on the functioning of the group and to detect the importance and necessity of cohesion in a professional team of footballers. Furthermore, the relationship between the researcher and the football club was analyzed and described, as well as the limitations and obstacles encountered during field research. Following the guidelines of qualitative research and having social psychology as a theoretical background (Kurt Lewin and Pichon-Rivière), this research resulted from the analysis of a professional football club (players, staff and executives of a club with national and international importance) during 5 days of daily contact with the group in games, practice, concentration and meals. The difficulties in analyzing the group's leadership and cohesion were vast, among which stand out the difficulty or impossibility of access to the places-situations suggested as methodology, their refusals to interviews and rejection of the administration of a free choice test. The bond created and the roles taken harmed attempts for further analysis. Therefore, due to the characteristics of contemporary football, especially the financial and political interests the difficulties likely to arise range according to the characteristics of the institution

Os (des)caminhos de um pesquisador do futebol brasileiro

The research in professional football within the human and social sciences, despite increased, still faced limitations and restrictions imposed by the clubs, hindering its realization. As part of my master's thesis, this article aims to portray the effects of leadership on the functioning of the group and to detect the importance and necessity of cohesion in a professional team of footballers. Furthermore, the relationship between the researcher and the football club was analyzed and described, as well as the limitations and obstacles encountered during field research. Following the guidelines of qualitative research and having social psychology as a theoretical background (Kurt Lewin and Pichon-Rivière), this research resulted from the analysis of a professional football club (players, staff and executives of a club with national and international importance) during 5 days of daily contact with the group in games, practice, concentration and meals. The difficulties in analyzing the group's leadership and cohesion were vast, among which stand out the difficulty or impossibility of access to the places-situations suggested as methodology, their refusals to interviews and rejection of the administration of a free choice test. The bond created and the roles taken harmed attempts for further analysis. Therefore, due to the characteristics of contemporary football, especially the financial and political interests the difficulties likely to arise range according to the characteristics of the institution

A non-persistently transmitted-virus induces a pull?push strategy inits aphid vector to optimize transmission and spread

Plant viruses are known to modify the behaviour of their insect vectors, both directly and indirectly,generally adapting to each type of virus?vector relationship in a way that enhances transmissionefficiency. Here, we report results of three different studies showing how a virus transmitted in a non-persistent (NP) manner (Cucumber mosaic virus; CMV, Cucumovirus) can induce changes in its host plant,cucumber (Cucumis sativus cv. Marumba) that modifies the behaviour of its aphid vector (Aphis gossypiiGlover; Hemiptera: Aphididae) in a way that enhances virus transmission and spread non-viruliferousaphids changed their alighting, settling and probing behaviour activities over time when exposed toCMV-infected and mock-inoculated cucumber plants. Aphids exhibited no preference to migrate fromCMV-infected to mock-inoculated plants at short time intervals (1, 10 and 30 min after release), butshowed a clear shift in preference to migrate from CMV-infected to mock-inoculated plants 60 min afterrelease. Our free-choice preference assays showed that A. gossypii alates preferred CMV-infected overmock-inoculated plants at an early stage (30 min), but this behaviour was reverted at a later stage andaphids preferred to settle and reproduce on mock-inoculated plants. The electrical penetration graph(EPG) technique revealed a sharp change in aphid probing behaviour over time when exposed to CMV-infected plants. At the beginning (first 15 min) aphid vectors dramatically increased the number of shortsuperficial probes and intracellular punctures when exposed to CMV-infected plants. At a later stage (sec-ond hour of recording) aphids diminished their feeding on CMV-infected plants as indicated by much lesstime spent in phloem salivation and ingestion (E1 and E2). This particular probing behaviour includingan early increase in the number of short superficial probes and intracellular punctures followed by aphloem feeding deterrence is known to enhance the transmission efficiency of viruses transmitted in aNP manner. We conclude that CMV induces specific changes in a plant host that modify the alighting,settling and probing behaviour of its main vector A. gossypii, leading to optimum transmission and spreadof the virus. Our findings should be considered when modelling the spread of viruses transmitted in a NPmanner.

Efecto de la infección por virus persistentes y no persistentes sobre el comportamiento alimenticio, la preferencia, tasa de aterrizaje y asentamiento y la eficacia biológica de Aphis gossypii Glover

En el complejo de plagas que atacan a los principales cultivos hortícolas protegidos, destacan principalmente los Hemípteros, y dentro de estos los pulgones, dada su importancia como vectores de virus que provocan considerables daños y pérdidas económicas. Debido a que la dispersión de la mayoría de los virus de plantas puede ser eficaz con densidades bajas de vectores y su control es muy complicado al no existir métodos curativos para su control, es necesario generar nuevos conocimientos sobre las interacciones virus-vector con el fin de desarrollar nuevas y eficaces estrategias de control. Por ello, el objetivo general de esta Tesis ha sido conocer el efecto de la infección viral (directo-mediado por la presencia del virus en el vector- e indirecto-mediado por las alteraciones físico-químicas que se originan en la planta como consecuencia de la infección viral-) sobre el comportamiento y eficacia biológica del vector Aphis gossypii Glover y sus posibles repercusiones en la epidemiología de virosis de transmisión no persistente (Cucumber mosaic virus, CMV, Cucumovirus) y persistente (Cucurbit aphid-borne yellows virus, CABYV, Polerovirus). El primer objetivo de esta Tesis Doctoral, se centró en el estudio del efecto indirecto del virus de transmisión no persistente CMV sobre el comportamiento alimenticio y la preferencia del pulgón A. gossypii en el cultivo de pepino. Los ensayos de despegue y aterrizaje mostraron que los pulgones que fueron liberados en las plantas de pepino infectadas con CMV tuvieron una mayor propensión en migrar hacia las plantas no infectadas (60, 120 y 180 minutos después de la liberación) que aquellos que fueron sometidos al tratamiento contrario (planta no infectada hacia planta infectada con CMV). El estudio de preferencia y asentamiento mostró que el vector A. gossypii prefiere asentarse en plantas infectadas con CMV en una etapa temprana de evaluación (30 minutos después de la liberación). Sin embargo, este comportamiento se revirtió en una etapa posterior (4 y 48 horas después de la liberación), donde los pulgones se asentaron más en las plantas no infectadas. A través de la técnica de Gráficos de Penetración Eléctrica (EPG) se observó un efecto indirecto del virus CMV, revelado por un cambio brusco en el comportamiento de prueba del pulgón a lo largo del tiempo, cuando éstos fueron expuestos a las plantas infectadas con CMV. Los primeros 15 minutos de registro EPG mostraron que los pulgones hicieron un número mayor de punciones intracelulares (potencial drops - pds) y pruebas en las plantas infectadas con CMV que en las plantas no infectadas. Por otra parte, la duración de la primera prueba fue más corta y la duración total de las pds por insecto fue mucho más larga en las plantas infectadas con CMV. Se observaron diferencias significativas en el tiempo transcurrido desde el final de la última pd hasta el final de la prueba, siendo ese tiempo más corto para los pulgones que estaban alimentándose en plantas infectadas con CMV. En la segunda hora de registro los pulgones rechazaron las plantas infectadas con CMV como fuente de alimento, permaneciendo menos tiempo en las fases de prueba en floema (fase de salivación – E1 y fase de ingestión del floema – E2). El comportamiento alimenticio observado sobre las plantas infectadas con CMV favorece la adquisición y posterior transmisión de los virus de transmisión no persistente, los cuales son adquiridos e inoculados durante la realización de pruebas intracelulares en las primeras pruebas de corta duración. En el segundo objetivo de la Tesis se evaluó el efecto directo e indirecto del virus de transmisión persistente CABYV en el comportamiento alimenticio y preferencia del pulgón A. gossypii en cultivo de pepino, especie susceptible al virus, y algodón, especie inmune al virus. No se observó un efecto directo del virus relevante en el comportamiento alimenticio del vector, ya que los resultados obtenidos a nivel floemático en plantas de pepino no se observaron en plantas de algodón, inmune al virus CABYV. Esto sugiere que los resultados obtenidos en pepino, pueden deberse a un “posible efecto indirecto” originado por la infección de las plantas susceptibles al virus durante la realización del ensayo, lo que indirectamente puede modificar el comportamiento del pulgón durante la fase de evaluación. Sin embargo, el virus CABYV modificó indirectamente el comportamiento alimenticio de su vector a través de cambios en la planta infectada. Los pulgones tardaron menos tiempo en llegar al floema, realizaron un mayor número de pruebas floemáticas y permanecieron durante más tiempo en actividades floemáticas en plantas infectadas con CABYV. El comportamiento observado sobre las plantas infectadas con CABYV favorece la adquisición de virus persistentes, los cuales son adquiridos durante la alimentación sostenida en floema. El estudio de preferencia y asentamiento de A. gossypii mostró que los pulgones virulíferos prefieren asentarse en plantas no infectadas a corto y largo plazo de evaluación (2, 4 y 48 horas después de la liberación). Los ensayos de despegue y aterrizaje mostraron que los pulgones virulíferos que fueron liberados en las plantas de pepino infectadas con CABYV tuvieron una mayor propensión en migrar hacia las plantas no infectadas (3, 6, 24 y 48 horas después de la liberación) que aquellos que fueron sometidos al tratamiento contrario (planta no infectada hacia planta infectada con CABYV). Sin embargo, los pulgones no virulíferos no mostraron preferencia por plantas de pepino no infectadas o infectadas con CABYV en ninguno de los ensayos (preferencia o despegue) o periodos evaluados (corto y largo plazo). Los resultados indican que el virus CABYV es capaz de modificar indirectamente el comportamiento alimenticio de su vector a través de cambios en la planta infectada, favoreciendo su adquisición por su principal vector, A. gossypii. Una vez que los pulgones tienen capacidad de transmitir el virus (virulíferos) se produce un cambio en su comportamiento prefiriendo asentarse sobre plantas no infectadas optimizándose así la dispersión viral. El tercer objetivo de la Tesis, fue evaluar los efectos directos e indirectos del virus CABYV así como los efectos indirectos del virus CMV en la eficacia biológica del vector A. gossypii. Los resultados obtenidos en los ensayos realizados con el virus persistente CABYV indican que el virus parece no modificar directamente ni indirectamente la eficacia biológica del vector en plantas de pepino o algodón, no observándose diferencias estadísticas en ninguno de los parámetros poblacionales evaluados (tiempo de desarrollo, tasa intrínseca de crecimiento, tiempo generacional medio, tasa media de crecimiento relativo y ninfas totales). En cuanto a los ensayos realizados con el virus no persistente, CMV, los resultados muestran un efecto indirecto del virus sobre la biología del vector. Así resultó que tanto la tasa intrínseca de crecimiento natural (rm) como la tasa media de crecimiento relativo (RGR) fueron más altas para pulgones crecidos sobre plantas infectadas con CMV que sobre plantas no infectadas, favoreciendo la reproducción y crecimiento poblacional del vector sobre plantas infectadas con CMV. Los resultados obtenidos en la presente Tesis, ofrecen un ejemplo de como los virus de plantas pueden manipular directa e indirectamente a su vector, maximizando así su dispersión entre las plantas. Esos nuevos conocimientos generados tienen implicaciones importantes en la transmisión, dispersión y en la epidemiología de los virus y deben ser considerados para diseñar o ajustar los modelos de simulación existentes y patrones de dispersión que describen las epidemias de estos virus. ABSTRACT The main objective of this Thesis has been to understand the effect of the viral infection (direct-mediated by the presence of the virus in the vector and indirect mediated by the chemical and physical changes originated in the plant as a consequence of the viral infection) on the behaviour and biological efficacy of the vector Aphis gossypii Glover and its consequences in the epidemiology of two viral diseases, one with non-persistent transmission (Cucumber mosaic virus, CMV, Cucumovirus) and another with persistent transmission (Cucurbit aphid-borne yellows virus, CABYV, Polerovirus). The first objective of this Thesis was the study of the indirect effect of the nonpersistent virus CMV on the feeding behaviour and preference of the aphid A. gossypii in cucumber plants. The results of the alighting and settling behaviour studies showed that aphids exhibited no preference to migrate from CMV-infected to mock-inoculated plants at short time intervals (1, 10 and 30 min after release), but showed a clear shift in preference to migrate from CMV-infected to mock-inoculated plants 60 min after release. Our free-choice preference assays showed that A. gossypii alates preferred CMV-infected over mockinoculated plants at an early stage (30 min), but this behaviour was reverted at a later stage and aphids preferred to settle and reproduce on mock-inoculated plants. The electrical penetration graph (EPG) technique revealed a sharp change in aphid probing behaviour over time when exposed to CMV-infected plants. At the beginning (first 15 min) aphid vectors dramatically increased the number of short superficial probes and intracellular punctures when exposed to CMV-infected plants. At a later stage (second hour of recording) aphids diminished their feeding on CMV-infected plants as indicated by much less time spent in phloem salivation and ingestion (E1 and E2). This particular probing behaviour including an early increase in the number of short superficial probes and intracellular punctures followed by a phloem feeding deterrence is known to enhance the transmission efficiency of viruses transmitted in a NP manner. We conclude that CMV induces specific changes in a plant host that modify the alighting, settling and probing behaviour of its main vector A. gossypii, leading to optimum transmission and spread of the virus. The second objective of this work was to evaluate the effects that the persistently aphid transmitted Cucurbit aphid-borne yellows virus (CABYV) can induce directly and indirectly on the alighting, settling and probing behaviour activities of the cotton aphid A. gossypii. Only minor direct changes on aphid feeding behaviour was observed due to CABYV when viruliferous aphids fed on mock-inoculated plants. However, the feeding behaviour of non-viruliferous aphids was very different on CABYV-infected than on mockinoculated plants. Non-viruliferous aphids spent longer time feeding from the phloem when plants were infected by CABYV than on mock-inoculated plants, suggesting that CABYV indirectly manipulates aphid feeding behaviour through its shared host plant in order to favour viral acquisition. The vector alighting and settling preference was compared between nonviruliferous and viruliferous aphids. Viruliferous aphids showed a clear preference for mockinoculated over CABYV-infected plants at short and long time, while such behaviour was not observed for non-viruliferous aphids. Overall, our results indicate that CABYV induces changes in its host plant that modifies aphid feeding behaviour in a way that virus acquisition from infected plants is enhanced. Once the aphids become viruliferous they prefer to settle on healthy plants, leading to optimize the transmission and spread of the virus. The third objective was to evaluate the direct and indirect effects of CABYV and indirect effects of the CMV on the A. gossypii fitness. Obtained results for the persistent virus CABYV showed that the virus did not modify the vector fitness in cucumber or cotton plants. None of the evaluated variables was statistically significant (development time (d), intrinsic growth rate (rm), mean relative growth rate (RGR) and total number of nymphs). On the other hand, data obtained for the non-persistent virus (CMV) showed an indirect effect of the virus on the vector fitness. Thus, the rm and RGR were higher for aphids grown on CMV-infected plants compared to aphids grown on mock-inoculated plants. Overall, the obtained results are clear examples of how plant viruses could manipulate directly and indirectly vector behaviour to optimize its own dispersion. These results are important for a better understanding of transmission, dispersion and epidemiology of plant viruses transmitted by vectors. This information could be also considered to design or adjust simulation models and dispersion patterns that describe plant virus epidemics.

Daidzin suppresses ethanol consumption by Syrian golden hamsters without blocking acetaldehyde metabolism.

Daidzin is a potent, selective, and reversible inhibitor of human mitochondrial aldehyde dehydrogenase (ALDH) that suppresses free-choice ethanol intake by Syrian golden hamsters. Other ALDH inhibitors, such as disulfiram (Antabuse) and calcium citrate carbimide (Temposil), have also been shown to suppress ethanol intake of laboratory animals and are thought to act by inhibiting the metabolism of acetaldehyde produced from ingested ethanol. To determine whether or not daidzin inhibits acetaldehyde metabolism in vivo, plasma acetaldehyde in daidzin-treated hamsters was measured after the administration of a test dose of ethanol. Daidzin treatment (150 mg/kg per day i.p. for 6 days) significantly suppresses (> 70%) hamster ethanol intake but does not affect overall acetaldehyde metabolism. In contrast, after administration of the same ethanol dose, plasma acetaldehyde concentration in disulfiram-treated hamsters reaches 0.9 mM, 70 times higher than that of the control. In vitro, daidzin suppresses hamster liver mitochondria-catalyzed acetaldehyde oxidation very potently with an IC50 value of 0.4 microM, which is substantially lower than the daidzin concentration (70 microM) found in the liver mitochondria of daidzin-treated hamsters. These results indicate that (i) the action of daidzin differs from that proposed for the classic, broad-acting ALDH inhibitors (e.g., disulfiram), and (ii) the daidzin-sensitive mitochondrial ALDH is not the one and only enzyme that is essential for acetaldehyde metabolism in golden hamsters.

Efeitos da probabilidade e proporção de reforço sobre o comportamento de escolha em ratos Wistar (Rattus norvegicus)

A metacognição é processo conceituado como o julgamento que um organismo (humano ou não humano) faz sobre seu próprio saber ou não saber. Há relatos de pesquisas sobre esse processo com seres humanos e diversas espécies de não humanos. Poucos estudos, porém, discutem a ocorrência de metacognição em ratos, e os resultados são controversos, em função de questionamentos sobre os procedimentos experimentais empregados. Este estudo teve o objetivo de investigar o efeito da manipulação de diferentes proporções de reforço produzidas em duas alternativas, sendo uma probabilística e outra com reforçamento contínuo, sobre o desempenho de ratos em uma tarefa de discriminação de diferentes durações de estímulos sonoros. O procedimento empregado é uma adaptação do utilizado por Foote e Crystal (2007), que investigou a ocorrência de metacognição em ratos. Foram utilizados cinco ratos machos, da linhagem Wistar (Rattus norvegicus) mantidos a 80% de seu peso ad libitum. O aparato utilizado foi um labirinto em Ey. O procedimento consistiu de quatro fases: 1) Treino exploratório no braço em Y, no qual o animal foi exposto a alternativas que continham seis pelotas de ração; 2) Treino de discriminação de estímulos sonoros, no qual foram treinadas duas discriminações condicionais com duas durações de estímulo sonoro, uma curta (2s), e uma longa (8s), cada uma correlacionada com a escolha de uma das portas do braço em Y; 3) Treino exploratório no braço em I, no qual os animais foram expostos a uma alternativa livre, que continha três pelotas de ração; e 4) Fase de Teste, na qual foram apresentadas diferentes durações de som (2.00, 2.44, 2.97, 3.62, 4.42, 5.38, 6.56 e 8.00s), a partir das quais o animal poderia escolher entre o braço em Y (fazer o teste), e receber seis pelotas de ração caso escolhesse a porta correta (correlacionada à duração curta ou longa), ou escolher a alternativa de recusa do teste, produzindo, com certeza, a quantidade de ração estabelecida pela condição em vigor. Foi analisada a porcentagem de escolhas realizadas pelos animais nos braços Y e I em cada condição, assim como a relação entre a porcentagem de acertos e erros nos testes e recusa, para cada duração de som. Todos os sujeitos atingiram o critério de aprendizagem estabelecido na fase de treino. Na fase de testes, observou-se que o som deixou de exercer controle sobre a resposta de escolha de todos os animais. À medida que a proporção de reforço variou na alternativa de recusa, os animais alteraram o padrão de escolha, de propensão para aversão ao risco, de acordo com a condição em vigor. A escolha por uma alternativa não se mostrou sob controle da acurácia dos animais em discriminar as durações dos estímulos apresentados, mas sim da proporção e probabilidade do reforço em cada alternativa. Discute-se a necessidade de se recorrer ao conceito de metacognição para descrever o desempenho dos animais em tarefas como a empregada no presente estudo.

Exploring Existentially-Based Interventions For Career Transitions in Sport

From Introduction: Career transition issues have become of increasing interest in the field of sport psychology. Confronting the end of an athletic career is an inevitable reality that every athlete will confront in his or her lifetime (Baillie, 1993), regardless of level of competition (Kerr & Dacyshyn, 2000) or the amount of free choice related to the transition. Many athletes are able to cope with the effects of the transition process effectively, and see retirement as an opportunity to pursue new ventures and identity roles in life. However, retirement from sport can be an event that often results in various adjustment difficulties for an athlete involving emotional, social, financial, and vocational conflicts. Some athletes have reported experiencing effects such as depression, eating disorders, decreased self-esteem, increased suicidality, and substance abuse (Kerr and Dacyshyn, 2000). These types of distress can be exacerbated by the fact that many athletes fail to adequately anticipate and prepare for their impending transition (Baillie, 1993), and often embark on the retirement process without any formalized support (Stier, 2007).Typically, the role of a sport psychologist has been to assist in maximizing an athlete's competitive performance during the course of their career. However, as a sport psychologist's primary responsibility is to serve active competitors and athletic organizations, this tends to come at the expense of failing to provide follow-up care for the athlete as he or she retires from sport (Taylor, Ogilvie, and Lavallee, 2006). Since the 1970's, when the efforts of professionals in European sports organizations first received attention, there has been growing interest in academic circles about career transition

PELO SAGRADO DIREITO DE DECIDIR: A CONTRIBUIÇÃO DE CATÓLICAS PELO DIREITO DE DECIDIR NAS DISCUSSÕES SOBRE LAICIDADE, DIREITOS REPRODUTIVOS E DESCRIMINALIZAÇÃO DO ABORTO NO BRASIL.

A presente dissertação procura apresentar uma análise sobre a relação entre política e religião numa perspectiva de gênero, com o objetivo de evidenciar de que maneira a relação entre Igreja e Estado legitima as desigualdades sexuais presentes na sociedade brasileira. Essa análise procura demonstrar/ressaltar como as práticas políticas do país tem prejudicado a possibilidade de ampliação dos direitos reprodutivos devido à influência histórica da cosmovisão católica no que se refere à moral sexual. Essa influência religiosa, no que diz respeito à ampliação das políticas públicas para a reprodução, afeta negativamente a vida das mulheres, principalmente as mulheres pobres e fere o caráter laico do Estado brasileiro. Neste sentido, a dissertação, além de evidenciar esta situação, procura apresentar no trabalho da organização Católicas pelo Direito de Decidir, uma possibilidade de atuação política e teórica, que se posiciona contra o discurso radical sobre o aborto advindo da hierarquia da Igreja Católica e que é compartilhado por setores fundamentalistas de outras denominações cristãs. Católicas pelo Direito de Decidir têm como objetivo a construção de um discurso ético-teológico feminista de apoio a descriminalização do aborto e pelo direito das mulheres decidirem sobre a sua vida reprodutiva sem sofrerem nenhum tipo de impedimento ou discriminação por suas decisões.