Search

The recovery process in bipolar disorder is a subjective and multidimensional experience that seeks to develop new meanings and purposes for living a satisfying life despite the limitations imposed by the disorder. Thus, this qualitative study aimed to explore the perceptions of recovery and the meanings attributed by individuals undergoing treatment for bipolar disorder to the elements considered relevant in this process. Semi-structured interviews with open-ended questions were conducted to explore the experiences and perspectives of recovery in individuals undergoing treatment for bipolar disorder. Grounded Theory was used as the method for qualitative analysis. The study included 26 participants aged between 18 and 65 years. Based on the analysis of participant reports, we identified two main themes: living with the illness and what it means to be in recovery. The perception of recovery is an individual process and can differ from the medical model. Participants suggest that accepting the diagnosis of bipolar disorder and finding meaning in life are essential to their recovery. They also describe how mental health professionals can facilitate or hinder this process. Understanding patients' perceptions can facilitate access to healthcare services and treatment adherence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This work aimed to evaluate the activity of a lipid transfer protein isolated from Morinda citrifolia L. seeds, McLTP1, on the development of intestinal mucositis following irinotecan administration. McLTP1 (0.5, 2, and 8 mg/kg, i.v.) was injected into mice 1h before irinotecan administration (75 mg/kg, i.p.; 4 days), and then for additional 6 days. Seven days after the first dose of irinotecan, diarrhea was assessed, and the intestine was removed for histological evaluation, assessment of intestinal over-contractility, measurement of myeloperoxidase (MPO), proinflammatory cytokines and chemokine (IL-1, IL-6, and KC levels - a murine homolog of human IL-8 chemokine), analysis of cyclooxygenase 2 (COX-2), nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB), and nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) expression. At the two highest doses, McLTP1 administration decreased mortality and diarrhea. McLTP1 (8 mg/kg, i.v.) significantly prevented irinotecan-induced intestinal damage and led to a reduction in over-contractility of the intestinal muscle (p < 0.05). Moreover, McLTP1 decreased the MPO, IL-1β, IL-6, and KC levels by 74.7%, 42%, 92.9%, and 95.9%, respectively. Also, the expression of COX-2, NF-κB, and iNOS was reduced. Our study provides a potential new therapeutic for preventing irinotecan-induced mucositis, improved clinical parameters, and reduced inflammation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bombesin mediates several biological activities in the gastrointestinal (GI) tract and central nervous system in mammals, including smooth muscle contraction, secretion of GI hormones and regulation of homeostatic mechanisms. Here, we report a novel bombesin-like peptide isolated from Boana raniceps. Its amino acid sequence, GGNQWAIGHFM-NH2, was identified and structurally confirmed by HPLC, MS/MS and 454-pyrosequencing; the peptide was named BR-bombesin. The effect of BR-bombesin on smooth muscle contraction was assessed in ileum and esophagus, and its anti-secretory activity was investigated in the stomach. BR-bombesin exerted significant contractile activity with a concentration–response curve similar to that of commercially available bombesin in ileum strips of Wistar rats. In esophageal strips, BR-bombesin acted as an agonist, as many other bombesin-related peptides act, although with different behavior compared to the muscarinic agonist carbachol. Moreover, BR-bombesin inhibited stomach secretion by approximately 50% compared to the untreated control group. This novel peptide has 80% and 70% similarity with the 10-residue C-terminal domain of human neuromedin B (NMB) and human gastrin releasing peptide (GRP10), respectively. Molecular docking analysis revealed that the GRP receptor had a binding energy equal to − 7.3 kcal.mol−1 and − 8.5 kcal.mol−1 when interacting with bombesin and BR-bombesin, respectively. Taken together, our data open an avenue to investigate BR-bombesin in disorders that involve gastrointestinal tract motility and acid gastric secretion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Access to postmortem brain tissue can be valuable in refining knowledge on the pathophysiology and genetics of neuropsychiatric disorders. Obtaining postmortem consent for the donation after death by suicide can be difficult, as families may be overwhelmed by a violent and unexpected death. Examining the process of brain donation can inform on how the request can best be conducted. This is a qualitative study with in-depth interviews with forty-one people that were asked to consider brain donation—32 who had consented to donation and 9 who refused it. Data collection and analyses were carried out according to grounded theory. Five key themes emerged from data analysis: the context of the families, the invitation to talk to the research team, the experience with the request protocol, the participants' assessment of the experience, and their participation in the study as an opportunity to heal. The participants indicated that a brain donation request that is respectful and tactful can be made without adding to the family distress brought on by suicide and pondering brain donation was seen as an opportunity to transform the meaning of the death and invest it with a modicum of solace for being able to contribute to research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The elite theory of Max Weber has recently been rediscovered by political scientists and political theorists who have sought to explore both the heuristic and the normative potential of plebiscitary leader democracy. Notwithstanding the merits of this wave of studies, this paper argues that attention should be shifted from Weber's context-specific defence of plebiscitary leadership in post-WWI Germany to his broader conception of charisma as an attempt to grasp the enigma of significant social and political change. Contemporary democratic theory, this paper contends, can fruitfully draw on Weber to sink into the antinomies and ambiguities of a transformative democratic politics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this study was to describe demographic, toxicological, criminal, and medicolegal characteristics of suicides of young people aged up to 24 years examined by the Porto Alegre Medicolegal Office, from 2010 to 2016. This cross-sectional study collected data from the Porto Alegre Medicolegal Office and the Rio Grande do Sul State Police Department. The information was obtained from death certificates, toxicological analyses and police reports. Rates were calculated according to sex and age range (under 15 years old, 15 to 19 years old, and 20 to 24 years old) for comparing local with national data. There were 143 people who died by suicide in the period, 120 males and 23 females. Hanging was the most frequently used method, but in the range of 10 to 14 years old, firearm use was the predominant method. Fifty percent of male victims and 30% of female victims had some criminal history. Suicide rates in the study groups generally followed national trends. The relative frequency of suicide by firearm in this study diverged from international findings, as it was relatively more frequent in children under 15 years old and less frequent in older ranges. If confirmed, the finding draws attention to access to firearms in this age range. In older age ranges, adolescents and young adults were frequently involved in the criminal system. This finding may be useful for planning interventions involving both mental health education and screening for problems that may be associated with criminal involvement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Production of amniotic fluid (AF) is view as predominately driven by excretion of fetal urine (FU). However, the origin of AF peptides, often considered as potential biomarkers of developmental diseases, has never been investigated. Here, we evaluated the FU origin of AF peptides and if the AF peptide content can be used as a surrogate of FU. The abundance of endogenous peptides was analyzed by capillary electrophoresis coupled to mass spectrometry in 216 AF and 64 FU samples. A total of 2668 and 3257 peptides was found in AF and FU respectively. The AF peptidome largely overlapped with the FU peptidome, ranging from 54% in the second pregnancy trimester to 65% in the third trimester. Examination of a subset of 16 paired AF and FU samples revealed that 67 peptides displayed a significant positively correlated abundance in AF and FU, strongly suggesting that their presence in AF was directly associated to FU excretion. As proof-of-concept we showed that measuring the AF abundance of these 67 peptides of FU origin allowed prediction of postnatal renal survival in fetuses with posterior urethral valves. These results demonstrate that the AF peptidome can be considered as a good surrogate of the FU peptidome. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Many political systems with direct democracy mechanisms have adopted rules preventing decisions from being made by simple majority rule. The device added most commonly to majority rule in national referendums is a quorum requirement. The two most common are participation and approval quorums. Such rules are responses to three major concerns: the legitimacy of the referendum outcome, its representativeness, and protection of minorities regarding issues that should demand a broad consensus. Guided by a pivotal voter model, we conduct a laboratory experiment to investigate the performances of different quorums in attaining such goals. We introduce two main innovations in relation to previous work on the topic. First, part of the electorate goes to the polls out of a sense of civic duty. Second, we test the performances of a different quorum, the rejection quorum, recently proposed in the literature. We conclude that, depending on the preferred criterion, either the approval or the rejection quorum is the best. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The pathophysiology of bipolar disorder remains incompletely elucidated. The purinergic receptor, P2X7 (P2X7R), plays a central role in neuroinflammation, the establishment, and maintenance of microglial activation and neuronal damage/death, all characteristics of bipolar disorder pathology. The present study aims to explore the participation of the P2X7R in a preclinical pharmacological model of mania. We analyzed the modulatory effects of the P2X7R antagonist, brilliant blue, on behavior, monoamines, gene expression, serum purine levels, and cell typing in a pharmacological model of mania induced by d-amphetamine (AMPH) in mice. Our results corroborate an association between the P2X7 receptor and the preclinical animal model of mania, as demonstrated by the decreased responsiveness to AMPH in animals with pharmacologically blocked P2X7R. This study further suggests a possible dopaminergic mechanism for the action of P2X7 receptor antagonism. Additionally, we observed increased peripheral levels of adenosine, a neuroprotective molecule, and increased central expression of Entpd3 and Entpd1 leading to the hydrolysis of ATP, a danger signal, possibly as an attempt to compensate for the damage induced by AMPH. Lastly, P2X7R antagonism in the AMPH model was found to potentially modulate astrogliosis. Our results support the hypothesis that P2X7R plays a vital role in the pathophysiology of mania, possibly by modulating the dopaminergic pathway and astrogliosis, as reflected in the behavioral changes observed. Taken together, this study suggests that a purinergic system imbalance is associated with the AMPH-induced preclinical animal model of mania. P2X7R may represent a promising molecular therapeutic target for bipolar disorder. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Neryl butyrate is a constituent of volatile oils obtained from aromatic plants. Aliphatic organic compound analogues chemically close to neryl butyrate possess vasodilator properties in rat aorta. To evaluate whether neryl butyrate has relaxing properties, this study tested its effects on isolated rat aorta. Unlike the analogues, neryl butyrate did not show relaxant profile in aortic rings precontracted with phenylephrine, but induced a contraction when it stimulated aortic rings under resting tonus. The contractile effect augmented in endothelium-denuded aortic rings. Treatment of endothelium-intact preparations with the nitric oxide synthase inhibitor L-NAME or the guanylyl cyclase inhibitor ODQ also augmented the contractile effect of neryl butyrate. Such phenomenon was absent in the presence of the cyclooxygenase inhibitor indomethacin. Contractile responses decreased in the presence of verapamil, a L-type Ca2+ channel blocker, or when Ca2+ was removed from the extracellular solution. Antagonists of α-adrenergic receptors (prazosin and yohimbine), but not the thromboxane-prostanoid receptor seratrodast, reversed the contraction induced by neryl butyrate. The α1A selective antagonist RS-17053 antagonized the neryl butyrate-induced contraction. The contraction caused by neryl butyrate was decreased by inhibiting the phospholipase C or the rho-associated kinase with U-73122 or Y-27632, respectively. Injected intravenously to awake rats, neryl butyrate induced arterial hypotension and bradycardia. Decreased frequency was also present in isolated right atrium preparations. In conclusion, the contractile effects of neryl butyrate were inhibited by α-adrenergic antagonists, indicating the involvement of α-adrenoceptors in the mechanism of action. In vivo, neryl butyrate caused hypotension, suggesting that other systemic influence than vasoconstriction may occur. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In regard to mental illness, brain donation is essential for the biological investigation of central pathology. Nevertheless, little is known about the thoughts of people with mental disorders on tissue donation for research. Here, our objective was to understand the attitudes and opinions of people treated for bipolar disorder and their relatives regarding donation in general, and particularly donation for research. This is a qualitative study that used in-depth interviews to determine the thoughts of participants regarding tissue donation for research. Theoretical sampling was used as a recruitment method. Grounded theory was used as a framework for content analyses of the interviews. A semi-structured interview guide was applied with the topics: donation in general; donation for research; mental health and body organs; opinion regarding donation; feelings aroused by the topic. Although all participants were aware of organ donation for transplant, they were surprised that tissue could be donated for research. Nevertheless, once they understood the concept they were usually in favor of the idea. Although participants demonstrated a general lack of knowledge on donation for research, they were willing to learn more and viewed it as a good thing, with altruistic reasons often cited as a motive for donation. We speculate that bridging this knowledge gap may be a fundamental step towards a more ethical postmortem tissue donation process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: The objective was to evaluate the effects of nitric oxide (NO) and hydrogen sulfide (H2S) donors and possible interactions between these two systems in modulating gastric function.Methods: Mice received saline, sodium nitroprusside (SNP), or sodium hydrosulfite (NaHS), and after 1 h, the animals were killed for immunofluorescence analysis of CSE or eNOS expressions, respectively. Other groups received saline, SNP, NaHS, Lawesson's reagent (H2S donor), PAG + SNP, L-NAME, L-NAME + NaHS, or L-NAME + Lawesson's reagent. Then, the gastric secretions (mucous and acid), gastric blood flow, gastric defense against ethanol, and gastric motility (gastric emptying and gastric contractility) were evaluated.Results: SNP and NaHS increased the expression of CSE or eNOS, respectively. SNP or Lawesson's reagent did not alter gastric acid secretion but increased mucus production, and these effects reverted with PAG and L-NAME treatment, respectively. SNP or NaHS increased gastric blood flow and protected the gastric mucosa against ethanol injury, and these effects reverted with PAG and L-NAME treatments, respectively. SNP delayed gastric emptying when compared with saline, and PAG partially reversed this effect. NaHS accelerate gastric emptying, and L-NAME partially reversed this effect. SNP and NaHS alone induced gastric fundus and pylorus relaxation. However, pretreatment with PAG or L-NAME reversed these relaxant effects only in the pylorus but not in the gastric fundus.Conclusion: NO and H2S interact in gastric physiological functions, and this "cross-talk" is important in the control of mucus secretion, gastric blood flow, gastric mucosal defense, and gastric motility, but not in the control of basal gastric acid secretion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: To evaluate changes in standardized suicide rates in Brazil between 2000 and 2016, stratified by sex and age.Methods: Descriptive analyses of data from the Brazilian Mortality Information System were performed.Results: 156,292 suicides were registered in the period, with a standardized rate of 4.82/100,000. The risk for males was 3.81 times higher than for females, without meaningful regional variations. This ratio was 8.2 at the 80+ group. An increase from 2000 to 2016 was demonstrated in nearly all subgroups over the 17, especially men aged 20-39 and women aged 40-59.Conclusions: Suicide rates continue to rise in Brazil, especially among young men and middle-aged women. Older men remain exposed to the highest absolute risk. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: African-Americans present higher prevalence of left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) when compared with white populations. However, there is a lack of information about the prevalence and determinants of LVH in black individuals living in Africa.Methods: A cross-sectional study was performed with a non-probabilistic sample comprised of 609 University workers from Angola/Africa, describing the prevalence of LVH and the determinants of left ventricular mass. Echocardiographic measurements were performed and left ventricular mass was indexed to body surface area. Systolic and diastolic blood pressures were measured, along with anthropometric and clinical variables.Results: Chamber diameter and wall thickness were higher in men compared to women. Additionally, LVM was higher in men (114.2 ± 36 vs 98.4 ± 31.9, P < 0.001), and the overall prevalence of LVH in black Angolans was 41.1%, which tended to be higher in women (44.5 vs 37.4%, P = 0.096). In men, systolic blood pressure and BMI were independently associated with LVM, while age, systolic blood pressure and waist circumference were associated with LVM in women.Conclusions: In summary, blood pressure levels were the main determinants of LVH in black Africans, although different anthropometric variables showed mild influence in LVM. Our data suggests that LVH prevalence and determinants in black Africans are similar to that reported for African-Americans. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To characterize the protective effects of the triterpenoid mixture alpha, beta-amyrin (AMY, 20 mg/kg, during 15 days) on the reactivity of isolated aorta of high-fat diet (HFD)-induced obese mice. Male Swiss mice were fed with HFD or normal diet (ND) for 15 weeks. Contractions of thoracic aorta in response to KCl or phenylephrine (PHE) and relaxation by acetylcholine (ACh) or sodium nitroprusside (SNP) were analyzed. HFD-fed mice developed hyperglycemia, hyperlipidemia, and significant body weight gain, parameters prevented by AMY treatment. Whereas aortic contractility did not differ in response to KCl, contractions induced by PHE (1 μM) as well as relaxation induced by ACh (1-30 μM) or SNP (1 nM-0.1 mM) on PHE-contracted aorta were decreased ( p < 0.05) in tissues of HFD compared to ND mice, phenomenon significantly ( p < 0.05) diminished in HFD mice treated with AMY. The relaxant actions of ACh and SNP were inhibited ( p < 0.05) by tetraethylammonium (TEA, 5 mM), apamin (0.1 μM), and 4-aminopyridine (4-AP; 3 mM) in aortae from ND group, but not from HFD. Treatment of HFD mice with AMY rescued the inhibitory effect of TEA ( p < 0.05) on vasorelaxant actions of ACh and SNP. 1H-[1,2,4]oxadiazolo[4,3-a]quinoxalin-1-one (ODQ) inhibited similarly the relaxant effects of SNP in all groups. 8-Br-cGMP relaxed with similar profile aortae of all groups. By preventing HFD-induced obesity in mice, AMY rescued the blunted contractile response to PHE, and the attenuated vasorelaxation and K channel activation (opening) induced by ACh and SNP in isolated aorta. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Many democratic decision making institutions involve quorum rules. Such rules are commonly motivated by concerns about the 'legitimacy' or 'representativeness' of decisions reached when only a subset of eligible voters participates. A prominent example of this can be found in the context of direct democracy mechanisms, such as referenda and initiatives. We conduct a laboratory experiment to investigate the consequences of the two most common types of quorum rules: a participation quorum and an approval quorum. We find that both types of quora lead to lower participation rates, dramatically increasing the likelihood of full-fledged electoral boycotts on the part of those who endorse the Status Quo. This discouraging effect is significantly larger under a participation quorum than under an approval quorum. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recently, a designed class of efficient analgesic drugs derived from an endogenous neuropeptide, kyotorphin (KTP, Tyr-Arg) combining C-terminal amidation (KTP-NH) and N-terminal conjugation to ibuprofen (Ib), IbKTP-NH, was developed. The Ib moiety is an enhancer of KTP-NH analgesic action. In the present study, we have tested the hypothesis that KTP-NH is an enhancer of the Ib anti-inflammatory action. Moreover, the impact of the IbKTP-NH conjugation on microcirculation was also evaluated by a unified approach based on intravital microscopy in the murine cremasteric muscle. Our data show that KTP-NH and conjugates do not cause damage on microcirculatory environment and efficiently decrease the number of leukocyte rolling induced by lipopolysaccharide (LPS). Isothermal titration calorimetry showed that the drugs bind to LPS directly thus contributing to LPS aggregation and subsequent elimination. In a parallel study, molecular dynamics simulations and NMR data showed that the IbKTP-NH tandem adopts a preferential 'stretched' conformation in lipid bilayers and micelles, with the simulations indicating that the Ib moiety is anchored in the hydrophobic core, which explains the improved partition of IbKTP-NH to membranes and the permeability of lipid bilayers to this conjugate relative to KTP-NH. The ability to bind glycolipids concomitant to the anchoring in the lipid membranes through the Ib residue explains the analgesic potency of IbKTP-NH given the enriched glycocalyx of the blood-brain barrier cells. Accumulation of IbKTP-NH in the membrane favors both direct permeation and local interaction with putative receptors as the location of the KTP-NH residue of IbKTP-NH and free KTP-NH in lipid membranes is the same. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To estimate the prevalence of lifetime use of crack cocaine and to assess associations with violent and sexual behaviors in young adults selected from the general population of Pelotas, Southern Brazil. Methods: This cross-sectional population-based study included 1,560 participants aged 18-24 years. The use of alcohol and other substances, including crack cocaine, was assessed using the alcohol, smoking and substance involvement screening test. Other variables included violent behaviors, firearm possession, and sexual risk behaviors. The frequency of antisocial personality disorder was also investigated. Associations were analyzed using a crude model and models adjusted for sex, social class, and the use of snorted cocaine. Results: Lifetime prevalence of crack cocaine use was 2.51 %, and it was higher among males and individuals coming from more vulnerable social classes (D or E). In the final multivariate models, lifetime use of crack cocaine was associated with episodes of aggression and firearm possession, as well as with a higher chance of not having used condom in the last sexual intercourse. In less conservative models, crack cocaine use was associated with other violent and sexual risk behaviors. Discussion: The strong association observed between lifetime use of crack cocaine and different violent and sexual risk behaviors underscores relevant characteristics of people who use crack cocaine. Improving our understanding of possible causal chains leading to such associations should be a priority in future studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There is no effective natural alternative control for gastrointestinal nematodes (GIN) of small ruminants, with Haemonchus contortus being the most economically important GIN. Despite frequent reports of multidrug-resistant GIN, there is no new commercial anthelmintic to substitute failing ones. Although trematocidal activity of artemisinin analogs has been reported in sheep, neither artemisinin nor its plant source ( Artemisia annua) has been evaluated for anthelmintic activity in ruminants. This study evaluated the anthelmintic activity of A. annua crude extracts in vitro and compared the most effective extract with artemisinin in sheep naturally infected with H. contortus. A. annua leaves extracted with water, aqueous 0.1 % sodium bicarbonate, dichloromethane, and ethanol were evaluated in vitro by the egg hatch test (EHT) and with the bicarbonate extract only for the larval development test (LDT) using H. contortus. The A. annua water, sodium bicarbonate (SBE), ethanol, and dichloromethane extracts tested in vitro contained 0.3, 0.6, 4.4, and 9.8 % of artemisinin, respectively. The sodium bicarbonate extract resulted in the lowest LC in the EHT (1.27 μg/mL) and in a LC of 23.8 μg/mL in the LDT. Following in vitro results, the SBE (2 g/kg body weight (BW)) and artemisinin (100 mg/kg BW) were evaluated as a single oral dose in naturally infected Santa Inês sheep. Speciation from stool cultures established that 84-91 % of GIN were H. contortus, 8.4-15.6 % were Trichostrongylus sp., and 0.3-0.7 % were Oesophagostomum sp. Packed-cell volume and eggs per gram (EPG) of feces were used to test treatment efficacy. The SBE tested in vivo contained no artemisinin, but had a high antioxidant capacity of 2,295 μmol of Trolox equivalents/g. Sheep dosed with artemisinin had maximum feces concentrations 24 h after treatment (126.5 μg/g artemisinin), which sharply decreased at 36 h. By day 15, only levamisole-treated sheep had a significant decrease of 97 % in EPG. Artemisinin-treated and SBE-treated sheep had nonsignificant EPG reductions of 28 and 19 %, respectively, while sheep in infected/untreated group had an average EPG increase of 95 %. Sheep treated with artemisinin and A. annua SBE maintained blood hematocrits throughout the experiment, while untreated/infected controls had a significant reduction in hematocrit. This is the first time oral dose of artemisinin and an aqueous extract of A. annua are evaluated as anthelmintic in sheep. Although oral dose of artemisinin and SBE, at single doses, were ineffective natural anthelmintics, artemisinin analogs with better bioavailability than artemisinin should be tested in vivo, through different routes and in multiple doses. The maintenance of hematocrit provided by artemisinin and A. annua extract and the high antioxidant capacity of the latter suggest that they could be combined with commercial anthelmintics to improve the well-being of infected animals and to evaluate potential synergism. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pulse wave velocity (PWV) is an independent predictor of cardiovascular (CV) risk. Higher PWV values have been observed in Africans; however, there are no established age- and gender-adjusted reference values for this population. Therefore, PWV was measured using a validated device (Complior SP) in 544 subjects recruited from an occupational cohort of employees of a public university in Angola. Since high blood pressure (BP) is an important factor influencing PWV, a subsample of 301 normotensive subjects (aged 22-72 years) was selected for this study. A subset of 131 individuals without CV risk factors was considered the healthy group (HG), while the entire group ( n = 301) comprised the less healthy group (LHG). Predictors of PWV were evaluated using multiple regression analyses and age- and gender-specific percentile tables and curves were constructed. Age and PWV means were 36 ± 9.7 years and 6.6 ± 1.0 m/s in the HG, respectively, and 39.9 ± 10.2 years and 7.3 ± 1.3 m/s in the LHG. Age and plasma uric acid (UA) were the only significant PWV predictors in the HG, while age, mean BP (MBP), and gender showed significant prediction of PWV in the multiple regression analysis in the LHG. Age- and gender-adjusted reference values of PWV were provided for healthy and less healthy normotensive Africans. Considering the small sample size of our cohort, these preliminary results should be used cautiously until data on robust sample of the general population can be obtained. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We take a new look at electoral sectionalism and dynamic nationalization in presidential elections. We treat this problem as one of synchronism of electoral cycles, which we estimate by using wavelets. After providing a self-contained introduction to wavelet analysis, we use it to assess the degree and the dynamics of electoral synchronization in the United States. We determine clusters of states where electoral swings have been more and less in sync with each other and with the national cycle. Then, we analyze how the degree of synchronism of electoral cycles has changed through time, answering questions as to when, to what extent, and where has a tendency towards a 'universality of political trends' in presidential elections been more strongly felt. We present evidence strongly in favor of an increase in the dynamic nationalization of presidential elections taking place since the 1950s, largely associated with a convergence in most (but not all) Southern states. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Is important to evaluate suicidal potential and related factors during pregnancy among women who have attended public health services. To determine the suicidal potential, question 10 from Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) was used. In this sample (N = 1,334), 8.1% of pregnant women demonstrated suicidal potential. The potential risk factors for suicide in depressed pregnant women were being single, divorced or widowed, thinking about having an abortion, and having anxiety symptoms; in nondepressed pregnant women were lower age, low education level, low socioeconomic class, thoughts about having an abortion and anxiety symptoms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Ifosfamide (IFS) is often involved in the occurrence of hemorrhagic cystitis due to direct contact of its metabolite acrolein with uroepithelium. It has been shown that COX-2 is involved in this pathogenesis. Thus, we aimed to study the functional changes on the urinary bladder in the putative modifications induced by IFS, as well as the COX-2 role in this process. Materials and methods: IFS-treated rats were evaluated by cystometrography in absence or presence of COX inhibitors indomethacin or etoricoxib or in the presence of mesna. Experiments with isolated strips of urinary bladder obtained from animals with IFS-induced cystitis, either treated or not treated with COX inhibitors or mesna, were performed. Histological analyses, immunohistochemistry for COX-2, and measurement of plasma PGE were also performed. Results: IFS treatment caused severe inflammation of the bladder tissue. Cystometrography recordings of IFS-treated rats revealed bladder with increased micturition frequency and enhanced filling intravesical pressure. Contractility of the isolated smooth muscle from the rat's bladder with IFS-induced cystitis showed decreased force development in response to KCl and CCh. Almost all effects induced by IFS were ameliorated by the use of COX inhibitors or mesna. Enzyme expression in the urinary bladder tissue was positive, and plasma concentration of PGE was increased in IFS-treated animals and decreased significantly in etoricoxib-treated animals. Conclusions: IFS causes important changes in the micturition physiology in rats, and the inhibition of the isoenzyme COX-2 could be an important event that could prevent the detrimental effects elicited by IFS-induced hemorrhagic cystitis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this article, we focus on the consequences of quorum requirements for turnout in referendums. We use a rational choice, decision theoretic voting model to demonstrate that participation quorums change the incentives some electors face, inducing those who oppose changes in the status quo and expect to be in the minority to abstain. As a result, paradoxically, participation quorums decrease electoral participation. We test our model’s predictions using data for all referendums held in current European Union countries from 1970 until 2007, and show that the existence of a participation quorums increases abstention by more than ten percentage points. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Behaviors are shaped by hormones, which may act either by changing brain circuits or by modifying sensory detection of relevant cues. Pup-directed behaviors have been previously shown to change via action of hormones at the brain level. Here, we investigated hormonal control of pup-induced activity in the vomeronasal organ, an olfactory sensory structure involved in the detection of non-volatile chemosignals. Vomeronasal activity decreases as males switch from a pup-aggressive state to a non-aggressive parenting state, after they socially contact a female. RNA sequencing, qPCR, and in situ hybridization were used to identify expression, in the vomeronasal sensory epithelium, of candidate GPCR hormone receptors chosen by in silico analyses and educated guesses. After identifying that oxytocin and vasopressin receptors are expressed in the vomeronasal organ, we injected the corresponding hormones in mice and showed that oxytocin administration reduced both pup-induced vomeronasal activity and aggressive behavior. Conversely, injection of an oxytocin receptor antagonist in female-primed male animals, which normally exhibit reduced vomeronasal activity, significantly increased the number of active vomeronasal neurons. These data link oxytocin to the modulation of olfactory sensory activity, providing a possible mechanism for changes in male behavior after social experience with females. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A role for circadian rhythm abnormalities in the pathogenesis of bipolar disorder (BD) has been suggested. The present study assessed circadian preference, a subjective preference for activities in the morning or evening related to chronotype. The sample was comprised of 81 outpatients with BD in remission and 79 control subjects. Circadian preference was derived from an interview evaluating biological rhythms and sleep pattern from the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index. Patients were significantly more likely to have an evening preference than control subjects. Circadian preference was also associated with sleep latency. The association of evening preference and longer sleep latency may be related to the frequent clinical observation of a sleep/wake cycle reversal in bipolar disorder. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Contraception has been little investigated in bipolar disorder, an illness associated with impulsive sexual behavior and use of medications that are unsafe during pregnancy. In this cross-sectional survey of 136 women with bipolar disorder, prevalence of contraception use was 58.8%. Use of any method was associated in the multivariable analysis with being married, younger than 40 and having had previous pregnancies. Women diagnosed with bipolar disorder and treated in a tertiary facility use contraceptive methods suboptimally. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Political economy occupies a unique place at the intersection of economics and political science, being an essential part of both disciplines, as well as an area that offers special insight into issues of continuing importance in public finance and policy. This article uses journal publications to rank institutions by research productivity in political economy. An incidental byproduct is a ranking of individual scholars. Ranking methodology is developed based on the established literature. Implications for the future evolution of political economy as an interdisciplinary field are suggested and discussed.. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Renal Cysts and Diabetes Syndrome (RCAD) is an autosomal dominant disorder caused by mutations in the HNF1B gene encoding for the transcriptional factor hepatocyte nuclear factor-1B. RCAD is characterized as a multi-organ disease, with a broad spectrum of symptoms including kidney abnormalities (renal cysts, renal hypodysplasia, single kidney, horseshoe kidneys, hydronephrosis), early-onset diabetes mellitus, abnormal liver function, pancreatic hypoplasia and genital tract malformations. In the present study, using capillary electrophoresis coupled to mass spectrometry (CE-MS), we investigated the urinary proteome of a pediatric cohort of RCAD patients and different controls to identify peptide biomarkers and obtain further insights into the pathophysiology of this disorder. As a result, 146 peptides were found to be associated with RCAD in 22 pediatric patients when compared to 22 healthy age-matched controls. A classifier based on these peptides was generated and further tested on an independent cohort, clearly discriminating RCAD patients from different groups of controls. This study demonstrates that the urinary proteome of pediatric RCAD patients differs from autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (PKD1, PKD2), congenital nephrotic syndrome (NPHS1, NPHS2, NPHS4, NPHS9) as well as from chronic kidney disease conditions, suggesting differences between the pathophysiology behind these disorders. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims: This investigation aimed to determine the effect of different intensities of training on non-exercise physical activity (NEPA) and estimated thermogenesis (NEAT) from a 1-year exercise randomized controlled trial (RCT) in individuals with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) on non-training days. Additionally, changes in NEPA and estimated NEAT in those who failed (low-responders) or succeeded (high-responders) in attaining exercise-derived clinically meaningful reductions in body weight (BW) and fat mass (FM) (i.e., 6% for FM and 3% for BW) was assessed. Methods: Individuals with T2DM (n = 80) were enrolled in a RCT with three groups: resistance training combined with moderate-intensity continuous training (MICT) or high-intensity interval training (HIIT) and a control group. Of the 80 participants, 56 (completed data) were considered for this secondary analysis. NEPA and estimated NEAT were obtained by accelerometry and body composition through dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry. Results: After adjustments, no time*group interactions were found for estimated NEAT in the MICT (β = − 5.33, p = 0.366) and HIIT (β = − 5.70, p = 0.283), as well as for NEPA in the MICT (β = − 452.83, p = 0.833) and HIIT (β = − 2770.76, p = 0.201), when compared to controls. No compensatory changes in NEPA and estimated NEAT were observed when considering both low-responders and high-responders to FM and BW when compared to controls. Conclusions: Both MICT and HIIT did not result in any compensatory changes in estimated NEAT and NEPA with the intervention on non-training days. Moreover, no changes in estimated NEAT and NEPA were found when categorizing our participants as low-responders and high-responders to FM and BW when compared to controls. Trial registration clinicaltrials.gov ID. NCT03144505. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Previous studies have shown an association between cognitive decline and white matter integrity in aging. This led to the formulation of a "disconnection hypothesis" in the aging-brain, which states that the disruption in cortical network communication may explain the cognitive decline during aging. Although some longitudinal studies have already investigated the changes occurring in white matter microstructure, most focused on specific white matter tracts. Our study aims to characterize the longitudinal whole-brain signatures of white matter microstructural change during aging. Furthermore, we assessed the relationship between distinct longitudinal alterations in white matter integrity and cognition. White matter microstructural properties were estimated from diffusion magnetic resonance imaging, and cognitive status characterized from extensive neurocognitive testing. The same individuals were evaluated at two timepoints, with a mean interval time of 52.8 months (SD = 7.24) between first and last assessment. Our results show that age is associated with a decline in cognitive performance and a degradation in white matter integrity. Additionally, significant associations were found between diffusion measures and different cognitive dimensions (memory, executive function and general cognition). Overall, these results suggest that age-related cognitive decline is related to white matter alterations, and thus give support to the "disconnected hypothesis" of the aging brain. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background/objective: Knowing the distribution of lean soft tissue (LST) among the body segments is of relevance for optimizing athletic performance, monitoring response to training, and for evaluating injury risk. Bioelectrical impedance (BIA) is a portable, low cost, and easy technique to assess body composition. However, most equations used by BIA to predict LST are not specific for the athlete population. The aim of this investigation was to develop and validate equations to estimate dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) appendicular LST of the arms and legs based on whole-body BIA in athletes.Methods: Arms and legs LST were assessed by DXA and whole-body reactance (Xc) and resistance (R) were measured by BIA in athletes from various sports. Using measures of height, the resistance index (RI) (RI = height2/R) was calculated. Prediction equations were established using a cross-validation method where 177 athletes (2/3 of sample) were used for equation development and the remaining 88 athletes (1/3 of sample) were used for equation validation.Results: The developed prediction equations were as follows: arm LST = 0.940 × sex (0 = male; 1 = female) + 0.042 × total body weight (kg) + 0.080 × RI + 0.024 × Xc - 3.927; leg LST = 1.983 × sex (0 = male; 1 = female) + 0.154 × total body weight (kg) + 0.127 × RI - 1.147. Both equations validated well for the arms (mean difference = 0.11 kg, R2 = 0.89, pure error (PE) = 0.61) and for the legs (mean difference = 0.05 kg, R2 = 0.81, PE = 1.93 kg). There were no differences (p > 0.05) in the mean observed and predicted LST for the arms and legs.Conclusion: The developed BIA-based prediction equations provide a valid estimation of upper and lower body LST in athletes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

2,4-Diclophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D) is one of the most widely used herbicides in the world. The aim of this study was to evaluate the possible toxic effect of chronic exposure to oral and inhaled 2,4-D herbicide on the liver, kidney, and pancreas by simulating environmental exposure. Eighty male albino adult Wistar rats divided into eight groups were exposed for 6 months to inhaled and oral (contaminated feed) three different doses of 2,4-D [3.71 × 10−3 g of active ingredient per hectare (g a.i./ha), 6.19 × 10−3 g a.i./ha and 9.28 × 10−3 g a.i./ha]. Blood, liver, kidney, spleen, and pancreas samples were collected for analysis. There was a difference in ALT (alanine aminotransferase) levels between groups exposed to 2,4-D. The groups exposed to oral 2,4-D had a higher incidence of steatosis, and exposed to high doses had increased liver inflammation. All animals in the groups exposed to high 2,4-D concentrations showed renal tubular hydropic degeneration. Atrophy of Langerhans islets was observed in animals exposed to 2,4-D. The simulation of chronic environmental exposure to the 2,4-D herbicide resulted in hepatic changes that were both dose-dependent and exposure-dependent and renal and pancreatic changes that were dose-dependent. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims/hypothesis: Vascular changes in individuals with type 2 diabetes mellitus majorly contribute to the development of cardiovascular disease. Increased cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) has been associated with improvements in vascular health. Although CRF tends to improve with exercise training, there remains a portion of participants with little or no improvement. Given the importance of vascular function in individuals with type 2 diabetes, we assessed whether individuals who failed to improve CRF following a 1 year exercise intervention also failed to improve arterial stiffness and structural indices. Methods: Individuals with type 2 diabetes with no major micro- and macrovascular complications and aged between 30 and 75 years old (n = 63) participated in a three-arm, 1 year, randomised controlled exercise intervention in Lisbon, Portugal. The study involved a non-exercise control group, a moderate continuous training combined with resistance training (RT) group and a high-intensity interval training with RT group. Allocation of participants into the intervention and control groups was done using a computer-generated list of random numbers. An improvement in CRF was defined as a change in V ̇ O 2 peak ≥5%. Vascular stiffness and structural indices were measured using ultrasound imaging and applanation tonometry. Generalised estimating equations were used to compare changes in vascular measures across individuals in the control group (n = 22) and those in the exercise groups who either had improved CRF (CRF responders; n = 14) or whose CRF did not improve (CRF non-responders; n = 27) following 1 year of exercise training. Results: Compared with the control group, exercisers, with and without improvements in CRF, had decreased carotid intima–media thickness (IMT) (CRF responders: β = −2.84 [95% CI −5.63, −0.04]; CRF non-responders: β = −5.89 [95% CI −9.38, −2.40]) and lower-limb pulse wave velocity (PWV) (CRF responders: β = −0.14 [95% CI −0.25, −0.03]; CRF non-responders: β = −0.14 [95% CI −0.25, −0.03]), the latter being an indicator of peripheral arterial stiffness. Only CRF responders had decreased PWV of the upper limb compared with control participants (β = −0.12 [95% CI −0.23, −0.01]). As for central stiffness, CRF non-responders had increased aortic PWV compared with CRF responders (β = 0.19 [95% CI 0.07, 0.31]), whereas only the CRF non-responders had altered carotid distensibility coefficient compared with the control group (β = 0.00 [95% CI 3.01 × 10−5, 0.00]). No interaction effects between the CRF responders and non-responders vs control group were found for the remaining stiffness or haemodynamic indices (p>0.05). Conclusions/interpretation: Regardless of improvements in CRF, individuals with type 2 diabetes had significant improvements in carotid IMT and lower-limb arterial stiffness following a 1 year exercise intervention. Thus, a lack of improvement in CRF following exercise in people with type 2 diabetes does not necessarily entail a lack of improvement in vascular health. Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT03144505 Funding: This work was supported by fellowships from the Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology. This work is also financed by a national grant through the Fundação para a Ciência e Tecnologia (FCT), within the unit I&D 472. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigated the demographic predictors of trauma in adolescent females. The role of trauma in the outcomes of psychopathology were examined. Additionally, alcohol and substance use were examined as a product of trauma and leading cause of forensic status. Finally, the mental health of the present sample was compared to paired national averages. Participants included 35 adolescent females currently in the juvenile justice system. Results indicate that the present forensic sample demonstrated significantly worse mental health than non-forensic youth. Additionally, those with a history of trauma showed worse outcomes than youth with fewer traumas experienced. Several demographic factors were predictors of trauma, and trauma in turn predicted alcohol abuse. Those with a history of trauma showed significantly poorer behavioral and academic functioning in addition to mental health difficulties. Implications for the juvenile justice system and mental health treatment are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Zeitschrift für Vergleichende Politikwissenschaft is the property of Springer Nature and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Zeitschrift für Vergleichende Politikwissenschaft is the property of Springer Nature and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The article offers information on public health and prevention. Topics include considered relationship between obesity and blood pressure in Australian inner city migrant children living in Sydney; and examines the results of the bes study as adoption of unhealthy lifestyle among Greek adolescents of a rural area.

At rest, inspiration is an active process while expiration is passive. However, high chemical drive (hypercapnia or hypoxia) activates central and peripheral chemoreceptors triggering reflex increases in inspiration and active expiration. The Locus Coeruleus contains noradrenergic neurons (A6 neurons) that increase their firing frequency when exposed to hypercapnia and hypoxia. Using recently developed neuronal hyperpolarising technology in conscious rats, we tested the hypothesis that A6 neurons are a part of a vigilance centre for controlling breathing under high chemical drive and that this includes recruitment of active inspiration and expiration in readiness for flight or fight. Pharmacogenetic inhibition of A6 neurons was without effect on resting and on peripheral chemoreceptors-evoked inspiratory, expiratory and ventilatory responses. On the other hand, the number of sighs evoked by systemic hypoxia was reduced. In the absence of peripheral chemoreceptors, inhibition of A6 neurons during hypercapnia did not affect sighing, but reduced both the magnitude and incidence of active expiration, and the frequency and amplitude of inspiration. These changes reduced pulmonary ventilation. Our data indicated that A6 neurons exert a CO2-dependent modulation of expiratory drive. The data also demonstrate that A6 neurons contribute to the CO2-evoked increases in the inspiratory motor output and hypoxia-evoked sighing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]