Relationship between obesity and the risk of clinically significant depression: Mendelian randomisation study.

BACKGROUND: Obesity has been shown to be associated with depression and it has been suggested that higher body mass index (BMI) increases the risk of depression and other common mental disorders. However, the causal relationship remains unclear and Mendelian randomisation, a form of instrumental variable analysis, has recently been employed to attempt to resolve this issue. AIMS: To investigate whether higher BMI increases the risk of major depression. METHOD: Two instrumental variable analyses were conducted to test the causal relationship between obesity and major depression in RADIANT, a large case-control study of major depression. We used a single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) in FTO and a genetic risk score (GRS) based on 32 SNPs with well-established associations with BMI. RESULTS: Linear regression analysis, as expected, showed that individuals carrying more risk alleles of FTO or having higher score of GRS had a higher BMI. Probit regression suggested that higher BMI is associated with increased risk of major depression. However, our two instrumental variable analyses did not support a causal relationship between higher BMI and major depression (FTO genotype: coefficient -0.03, 95% CI -0.18 to 0.13, P = 0.73; GRS: coefficient -0.02, 95% CI -0.11 to 0.07, P = 0.62). CONCLUSIONS: Our instrumental variable analyses did not support a causal relationship between higher BMI and major depression. The positive associations of higher BMI with major depression in probit regression analyses might be explained by reverse causality and/or residual confounding.

FOXC2 and fluid shear stress stabilize postnatal lymphatic vasculature.

Biomechanical forces, such as fluid shear stress, govern multiple aspects of endothelial cell biology. In blood vessels, disturbed flow is associated with vascular diseases, such as atherosclerosis, and promotes endothelial cell proliferation and apoptosis. Here, we identified an important role for disturbed flow in lymphatic vessels, in which it cooperates with the transcription factor FOXC2 to ensure lifelong stability of the lymphatic vasculature. In cultured lymphatic endothelial cells, FOXC2 inactivation conferred abnormal shear stress sensing, promoting junction disassembly and entry into the cell cycle. Loss of FOXC2-dependent quiescence was mediated by the Hippo pathway transcriptional coactivator TAZ and, ultimately, led to cell death. In murine models, inducible deletion of Foxc2 within the lymphatic vasculature led to cell-cell junction defects, regression of valves, and focal vascular lumen collapse, which triggered generalized lymphatic vascular dysfunction and lethality. Together, our work describes a fundamental mechanism by which FOXC2 and oscillatory shear stress maintain lymphatic endothelial cell quiescence through intercellular junction and cytoskeleton stabilization and provides an essential link between biomechanical forces and endothelial cell identity that is necessary for postnatal vessel homeostasis. As FOXC2 is mutated in lymphedema-distichiasis syndrome, our data also underscore the role of impaired mechanotransduction in the pathology of this hereditary human disease.

Kasvatuskumppanuus somalinkielisten äitien kokemana : Moniku-hankkeen päiväkodeissa Helsingissä

Opinnäytetyömme liittyy MONIKU -Sosiaalinen vahvistaminen pääkaupunkiseudun monikulttuurisessa varhaiskasvatuksessa- hankkeeseen. Työmme käsittelee kasvatuskumppanuutta somalinkielisten äitien kokemana. Opinnäytetyö on kvalitatiivinen tutkimus. Keräsimme aineiston haastattelemalla kuutta somalinkielistä äitiä kolmesta Helsingin päiväkodista. Käytimme haastattelumenetelmänä yksilöhaastattelua. Kaikki haastattelut olivat puolistrukturoituja teemahaastatteluja, joiden teemat käsittelivät Davis Hiltonin kumppanuusmallia. Tuloksien mukaan somalinkieliset äidit olivat tyytyväisiä suomalaiseen päivähoitoon. Kumppanuusmal-liin liittyvät ominaisuudet, kuten avoin ja rehellinen vuorovaikutus sekä luottamus, olivat sujuvan yhteistyön perusedellytyksiä. Äidit pitivät tärkeänä, että heidän kulttuuria ja uskontoa kunnioitetaan ottamalla heidän toiveensa huomioon lapsen kasvatukseen liittyvissä asioissa. Monikulttuurisessa päivähoidossa kieliongelmat luovat haasteita kommunikaatiolle ja tätä kautta myös kumppanuussuh-teelle. Päiväkodin työntekijöiden ja äitien välinen kumppanuussuhde toteutui kuitenkin hyvin ottaen huomioon yhteisen kielen puuttumisen. Äidit kokivat tulkin käytön tärkeäksi varsinkin päivähoidon aloitus- ja kasvatuskeskusteluissa. Tulosten perusteella äidit toivoivatkin enemmän tulkin avulla käytäviä keskusteluita. Äitien mukaan hyvän yhteistyön perusedellytykset ovat yhteisymmärrys ja kunnioitus. Yhteistyön laatua voidaan parantaa muun muassa lisäämällä tulkin käyttöä, somalinkielisiä työntekijöitä ja koulutusta. Lähes jokaisen haastateltavan päiväkodissa on somalinkielinen työntekijä, joka lisää luottamusta ja tukee maahanmuuttajataustaisen lapsen omaa kulttuuri-identiteettiä ja äidinkieltä. Myös henkilökunnan monikulttuuriseen koulutukseen tulisi kiinnittää huomiota aikaisempaa enemmän.

Generalized three-sided assignment markets: consistency and the core

A class of three-sided markets (and games) is considered, where value is generated by pairs or triplets of agents belonging to different sectors, as well as by individuals. For these markets we analyze the situation that arises when some agents leave the market with some payoff To this end, we introduce the derived market (and game) and relate it to the Davis and Maschler (1965) reduced game. Consistency with respect to the derived market, together with singleness best and individual anti-monotonicity axiomatically characterize the core for these generalized three-sided assignment markets. These markets may have an empty core, but we define a balanced subclass, where the worth of each triplet is defined as the addition of the worths of the pairs it contains. Keywords: Multi-sided assignment market, Consistency, Core, Nucleolus. JEL Classification: C71, C78

Historiografía y memoria contemporánea en autobiografías de lingüistas

El artículo trata de las contribuciones autobiográficas de lingüistas a la historiografía. Considera la autobiografía como una fuente documental de la corriente narrativa de la historiografía. Hace un inventario de los repertorios de autobiografías: Davis & O"Cain 1980, Koerner , 1991, 1998; López Alonso & Séré , 1992; Swiggers , 1997; Brown & Law, 2002; Timotin & Colceriu, 2012; Laborda, Romera & Fernández Planas, 2014 . Y considera sus aspectos cognitivos, literarios y textuales. A plica como modelo analítico la teoría del dramatismo y de los constituyentes del relato de Jerome Bruner. El estudio argumenta sobre la idoneidad de la autobiografía para narrar la trayectoria vital del autor y trazar el panorama de la lingüística contemporánea. Y revela el valor polifacético de la escritura del Yo como literatura, documento científico y fuente de información social."Historiography and memory of linguistics in autobiographies of linguistics The paper discusses the autobio graphical historiography of linguistics contributions. The autobiography is a source of the narrative aspect of historiography. In the paper a list of autobiographies of linguists is made (Davis & O"Cain 1980,Koerner 1991 y 1998, López Alonso & Séré 1992, Swiggers 1997, Brown & Law 2002, Timotin & Colceriu 2012, Laborda, Romera & Fernández Planas 2014) to consider their cognitive, literary and textual aspects .The article applies the theory as an analytical model of the drama and of the constituents of the story by Jerome Bruner. The study confirms the suitability of the autobiography to tell the life story of the author and to describe the landscape of contemporary linguistics.

DOENÇA DE ALZHEIMER: HIPÓTESES ETIOLÓGICAS E PERSPECTIVAS DE TRATAMENTO

With the increase in life expectancy registered in the past few decades, the prevalence of various medical conditions related to aging has been observed, such as dementia and related neurodegenerative conditions. The number of patients afflicted with these conditions is expected to significantly increase in the coming years. The growing social impact of dementia underlines the need for research aimed at identifying and better understanding this type of condition. Among neurodegenerative diseases, amyloidogenic diseases, in particular Alzheimer's disease (AD), are currently the most common form of dementia. Over the years, several hypotheses have been raised regarding the etiology of AD, such as the cholinergic, glutamatergic, amyloid cascade, oligomeric, metallic and diabetes type 3 hypotheses. Unfortunately, no cure is yet available for this disease, only drugs that aid in controlling the symptoms. This review article conducts a comprehensive approach of the main etiological hypotheses of AD, as well as the treatment prospects associated with each hypothesis.

Resistência de clones e híbridos de porta-enxertos de citros à gomose de tronco causada por Phytophthora parasitica

Sete grupos de híbridos entre porta-enxertos elite de citros (Citrus sp.) e seus genitores foram estudados quanto a reação à infecção de tronco por Phytophthora parasitica, em plantas adultas no campo. Inocularam-se artificialmente, em duas posições do tronco, 132 plantas nucelares dos genitores e 486 híbridos entre limão (Citrus limonia) Cravo 'Limeira' (C), Poncirus trifoliata 'Davis A' (T), tangerina (C.sunki) 'Sunki' (S) e laranja Azeda (C. aurantium) 'São Paulo' (A). A classificação do grau de resistência à gomose de tronco em plantas adultas no campo foi possível somente quando baseada na média do tamanho de lesões de mais de 30 plantas nucelares, devido às grandes variações observadas em plantas individuais do mesmo clone, impossibilitando a seleção precoce de híbridos baseada em valores de plantas individuais. O trifoliata e a laranja Azeda mostraram-se bastante resistentes, desenvolvendo, em geral, lesões de tamanho reduzido. A tangerina Sunki e o limão Cravo desenvolveram lesões maiores, embora a tangerina Sunki tenha mostrado uma tendência em desenvolver lesões maiores que às do limão Cravo. Híbridos de trifoliata apresentaram, no geral, lesões intermediárias. Os híbridos de Azeda apresentaram lesões de tamanhos bastante variáveis, porém a maioria, com lesões grandes. Da mesma forma comportaram-se os híbridos recíprocos entre Sunki e Cravo.

Tolerância de híbridos e de clones de porta-enxertos de citros à infecção de raízes por Phytophthora nicotianae

Estudaram-se clones de porta-enxertos de citros (Citrus spp.), híbridos e genitores quanto à tolerância das raízes a Phytophthora nicotianae através de inoculações em substrato de argila expandida. Investigaram-se progênies nucelares dos clones Poncirus trifoliata 'Rich 16-6', citrumelo 'Swingle' (C. paradisi x P. trifoliolata ), tangerinas 'Cleópatra' (Citrus reshni) e 'Suen Kat' (C. sunki), limão'Volkameriano' (C. volkameriana), dos genitores tangerina 'Sunki' (C. sunki) (S), limão 'Cravo' (C. limonia) (C), laranja 'Azeda' (C. aurantium) ((A), Poncirus trifoliata 'Davis A' (T), e progênies nucelares de híbridos entre eles, totalizando 2303 plântulas. Avaliou-se a taxa de sobrevivência, redução de raízes e partes aéreas, peso de raízes e de partes aéreas, diâmetro do caule e altura, comparando-se plântulas inoculadas e não inoculadas. Atribuíram-se também notas subjetivas para volume de raízes, enfolhamento, coloração das folhas e altura. Desenvolveu-se um índice total de redução (ITR) baseado na taxa de sobrevivência e nos parâmetros mencionados. Mostraram-se altamente tolerantes os trifoliatas 'Davis A' e 'Rich 16-6', o citrumelo 'Swingle', três híbridos TxS, dois SxT e dois SxA, com ITR < 20%. Laranja 'Azeda', tangerina 'Suen Kat', limões 'Cravo' e 'Volkameriano', oito híbridos TxS, quatro SxT, dois TxA e um SxA mostraram-se tolerantes, com ITR entre 20 e 40%. Três híbridos SxA mostraram-se moderadamente tolerantes, com ITR entre 40 e 60%. Tangerinas 'Sunki' e 'Cleópatra', dois híbridos SxA, um TxA e dois SxC mostraram-se intolerantes, com ITR entre 60 e 80%. Cinco híbridos SxC mostraram-se altamente intolerantes, com ITR > 80%. A metodologia de inoculação e avaliação discriminou com precisão progênies nucelares dos clones e dos híbridos, evidenciando o potencial de seleção principalmente dos híbridos SxT e recíprocos.

Characterization of Xanthomonas axonopodis pv. phaseoli isolates

A simple, quick and easy protocol was standardized for extraction of total DNA of the bacteria Xanthomonas axonopodis pv. phaseoli. The DNA obtained by this method had high quality and the quantity was enough for the Random Amplified Polymorphic DNA (RAPD) reactions with random primers, and Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) with primers of the hypersensitivity and pathogenicity gene (hrp). The DNA obtained was free of contamination by proteins or carbohydrates. The ratio 260nm/380nm of the DNA extracted ranged from 1.7 to 1.8. The hrp gene cluster is required by bacterial plant pathogen to produce symptoms on susceptible hosts and hypersensitive reaction on resistant hosts. This gene has been found in different bacteria as well as in Xanthomonas campestris pv. vesicatoria (9). The primers RST21 and RST22 (9) were used to amplify the hrp gene of nine different isolates of Xanthomonas axonopodis pv. phaseoli from Botucatu, São Paulo State, Brazil, and one isolate, "Davis". PCR amplified products were obtained in all isolates pathogenic to beans.

Factors associated with depressive symptoms in a sample of Brazilian medical students

OBJECTIVES: 1 - Verify the prevalence of depressive symptoms in first to fourth-year medical students using the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI). 2 - Establish correlations between target factors and higher or lower BDI scores. 3 - Investigate the relationship between the prevalence of depressive symptoms and the demand for psychological care offered by the Centro Universitário Lusíada. METHOD: Cross-sectional study of 290 first to fourth-year medical students; implementation of the BDI, socio-demographic survey, and evaluation of satisfaction with progress. RESULTS: The study sample was 59% female and 41% male. Mean BDI was 6.3 (SD 5.8). Overall prevalence of depressive symptoms was 23.1%. The following associations were statistically significant (p<0.05): among students for whom the course failed to meet original expectations, who were dissatisfied with the course, or who came from the interior of the State (20.5%, 12.5%, and 24.4% of the total sample, respectively), for 40%, 36.1% and 36.4%, respectively, the BDI was consistent with some degree of depression. CONCLUSION: The study showed that there is higher prevalence of depressive symptoms in medical students than in the general population

Supersankarien pyörittämä tuotantolaitos : kuva Amerikan koulureformista

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Mustan naisen historia : kolminkertaisen alistamisen historiaa

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