Resting state connectivity and cognitive performance in adults with cerebral autosomal-dominant arteriopathy with subcortical infarcts and leukoencephalopathy

Cognitive impairment is an inevitable feature of cerebral autosomal-dominant arteriopathy with subcortical infarcts and leukoencephalopathy (CADASIL), affecting executive function, attention and processing speed from an early stage. Impairment is associated with structural markers such as lacunes, but associations with functional connectivity have not yet been reported. Twenty-two adults with genetically-confirmed CADASIL (11 male; aged 49.8 ± 11.2 years) underwent functional magnetic resonance imaging at rest. Intrinsic attentional/executive networks were identified using group independent components analysis. A linear regression model tested voxel-wise associations between cognitive measures and component spatial maps, and Pearson correlations were performed with mean intra-component connectivity z-scores. Two frontoparietal components were associated with cognitive performance. Voxel-wise analyses showed an association between one component cluster and processing speed (left middle temporal gyrus; peak −48, −18, −14; ZE = 5.65, pFWEcorr = 0.001). Mean connectivity in both components correlated with processing speed (r = 0.45, p = 0.043; r = 0.56, p = 0.008). Mean connectivity in one component correlated with faster Trailmaking B minus A time (r = −0.77, p < 0.001) and better executive performance (r = 0.56, p = 0.011). This preliminary study provides evidence for associations between cognitive performance and attentional network connectivity in CADASIL. Functional connectivity may be a useful biomarker of cognitive performance in this population

A Narrative Review about Prosocial and Antisocial Behavior in Childhood: The Relationship with Shame and Moral Development

We conducted a literature review aimed at identifying the origins of shame as well as its effects on moral development, especially in terms of behavioral outcomes, and we reflected on the practical implications of our findings. We explored the role of shame in moral development through cultural differences and parental influences, collecting evidence of psychopathological consequences of primary moral emotion dysregulation. These studies showed a dichotomous feature of shame, as a prosocial behavior enhancer in morally relevant situations and, simultaneously, a risk factor for aggressive and antisocial behaviors on other occasions. Dysregulated shame leads to maladaptive interpersonal behaviors, which could evolve towards psychopathological paths. Therefore, an integrated intervention is recommended in children with emotional/behavioral problems

Quality of life as a prognostic marker in pulmonary arterial hypertension

Background: Improvement in quality of life together with better survival are the ultimate goals in the treatment of pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) patients. the objective of this study was to evaluate the health-related quality of life (HRQL) of pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) patients with the SF-36 generic questionnaire and to identify the prognostic implication of this assessment.Methods: Fifty-four consecutive newly diagnosed PAH patients (WHO classification group I) in a single PAH reference center were included. Patients were evaluated at baseline for clinical and hemodynamic parameters, and they subsequently received first-line therapy with either an endothelin receptor antagonist or a phosphodiesterase-5 inhibitor. After 16 weeks of specific PAH therapy, all patients were re-evaluated using a 6MWT and a SF 36 questionnaire, and then they were followed up for at least 36 months.Results: After treatment, the patients demonstrated an improved 6MWT (414 +/- 124 m vs. 440 +/- 113 m, p = 0.001). Specific PAH therapy also improved the HRQL scores.Patients with a baseline Physical Component Score (PCS) higher than 32 had a better survival rate than those who had a score under 32 (p = 0.04). Similarly, patients with a PCS of at least a 38 after the 16 week therapy period had a better survival rate when compared with those who did not achieve this value (p = 0.016). Unlike the absolute PCS values, the post-treatment PCS variability was unable to predict better survival rates (p = 0.58).Conclusions: Our findings suggest that HRQL is associated with prognosis in PAH. Furthermore, achieving pre-determined PCS scores might represent a specific goal to be reached in treatment-to-target strategies.Univ São Paulo, Sch Med, Pulm Dept, Inst Heart, BR-05403000 São Paulo, BrazilUniversidade Federal de São Paulo, Rheumatol Dept, São Paulo, BrazilUniversidade Federal de São Paulo, Rheumatol Dept, São Paulo, BrazilWeb of Scienc

Eficiência agronômica da mistura de uréia com zeolita natural aplicada na cultura da roseira (Rosa spp.), Nova Friburgo, RJ.

Com objetivo de avaliar a eficiência agronômica da mistura de uréia com zeolita natural (arenito zeolítico), realizou-se experimento em área de produção comercial de flores de corte em Nova Friburgo, RJ, Brasil. Foram realizadas duas adubações de cobertura na cultura da roseira com duas doses de uréia (60 e 120 kg N. ha-1 ) misturadas ou não com arenito zeolítico, na proporção de 20% p/p. As colheitas foram avaliadas quantitativamente, através do total de hastes (HT), massa fresca (MFT) e massa seca (MST) produzidas, e qualitativamente, através da divisão em hastes curtas (HC), médias (HM) e longas (HL). Determinou-se também a extração total de N pelas hastes comerciais colhidas (EXTNH) e a eficiência agronômica dos fertilizantes (EAF). A eficiência agronômica dos fertilizantes (EAF) sobre as produções de HT, MFT, MST e EXTNH é elevada pelo efeito do arenito zeolítico, e a maior influência sobre HT provém do aumento nas produções de HL, elevando a qualidade das hastes produzidas. A mistura de arenito zeolítico com uréia mantém maior quantidade de N-uréia no sistema solo-planta, liberando o nutriente lentamente para a solução do solo, em sincronia com as demandas nutricionais das plantas, resultando no aumento da eficiência agronômica dos fertilizantes avaliados. O arenito zeolítico (CETEM) apresenta características favoráveis para uso em desenvolvimento de fertilizantes nitrogenados de liberação lenta, principalmente com objetivo de aumentar a eficiência agronômica dos fertilizantes

Salt reduction strategies in Portuguese school meals, from pre-school to secondary education-the Eat Mediterranean program

High sodium (salt) consumption is associated with an increased risk of developing non-communicable diseases. However, in most European countries, Portugal included, sodium intake is still high. This study aimed to assess the sodium content of school meals before and after the Eat Mediterranean (EM) intervention-a community-based program to identify and correct nutritional deviations through the implementation of new school menus and through schools' food handlers training. EM (2015-2017) was developed in 25 schools (pre to secondary education) of two Portuguese Municipalities, reaching students aged 3-21 years old. Samples of the complete meals (soup + main course + bread) from all schools were collected, and nutritional quality and laboratory analysis were performed to determine their nutritional composition, including sodium content. Overall, there was a significant decrease (-23%) in the mean sodium content of the complete school meals, which was mainly achieved by the significant reduction of 34% of sodium content per serving portion of soup. In conclusion, EM had a positive effect on the improvement of the school meals' sodium content, among the participant schools. Furthermore, school setting might be ideal for nutrition literacy interventions among children, for flavors shaping, and for educating towards less salty food acceptance

Perdas por volatilização de N-NH3 proveniente da mistura de uréia com zeolita natural aplicada no inverno na cultura da roseira.

Com objetivo de avaliar a mistura de zeolita natural (arenito zeolítico) com uréia quanto às perdas de NH3 por volatilização, realizou-se experimento em área de produção comercial de flores de corte em Nova Friburgo, RJ. No verão de 2007 foi realizada adubação de cobertura na cultura da roseira (Rosa spp.) com duas doses de uréia (60 e 120 kg N. ha-1) misturadas ou não com arenito zeolítico, na proporção de 20% p/p. As perdas de NH3 por volatilização foram avaliadas por período de seis dias consecutivos após aplicação dos fertilizantes. Utilizou-se câmara semi-aberta livre estática, confeccionada com frasco plástico transparente de 2 litros (PET). A mistura é eficiente na redução das perdas de NH3 por volatilização, sendo a mesma, em média 24%. O arenito zeolítico (CETEM) apresenta características favoráveis para uso em desenvolvimento de ?fertilizantes zeolíticos? de liberação lenta, principalmente com objetivo de proporcionar redução nas perdas de NH3 por volatilização

Patterns of Street Food Purchase in Cities From Central Asia

Street food makes a significant contribution to the diet of many dwellers in low- and middle-income countries and its trade is a well-developed activity in the central Asian region. However, data on its purchase and nutritional value is still scarce. This study aimed to describe street food purchasing patterns in central Asia, according to time and place of purchase. A multicentre cross-sectional study was conducted in 2016/2017 in the main urban areas of four central Asian countries: Dushanbe (Tajikistan), Bishkek (Kyrgyzstan), Ashgabat (Turkmenistan) and Almaty (Kazakhstan). Street food markets (n = 34) and vending sites (n = 390) were selected by random and systematic sampling procedures. Data on the purchased foods and beverages were collected by direct observation. Time and geographic location of the purchases was registered, and their nutritional composition was estimated. A total of 714 customers, who bought 852 foods, were observed. Customers' influx, buying rate and purchase of industrial food were higher in city centers compared to the outskirts (median: 4.0 vs. 2.0 customers/10 min, p < 0.001; 5.0 vs. 2.0 food items/10 min, p < 0.001; 36.2 vs. 28.7%, p = 0.004). Tea, coffee, bread and savory pastries were most frequently purchased in the early morning, bread, main dishes and savory pastries during lunchtime, and industrial products in the mid-morning and mid-afternoon periods. Energy and macronutrient density was highest at 11:00-12:00 and lowest at 09:00-10:00. Purchases were smaller but more energy-dense in city centers, and higher in saturated and trans-fat in the peripheries. This work provides an overview of the street food buying habits in these cities, which in turn reflect local food culture. These findings from the main urban areas of four low- and middle-income countries which are currently under nutrition transition can be useful when designing public health interventions customized to the specificities of these food environments and their customers