Cultura Digital: novas perspectivas, novos patrimônios

Este artigo trata de museus e culturas digitais abordando conexões com a Museologia e a ideia de virtual, dialogando com a Internet como meio que qualifica ou legitima os chamados "museus virtuais". Ressalte-se o significado filosófico do termo “virtual” abrangente a toda e qualquer instituição ou processos de salvaguarda buscando interseções entre os patrimônios (re)criados na cultura digital. São apresentadas maneiras pelas quais o ambiente sociocultural influencia as percepções existentes sobre o patrimônio, assim como surgem novos sentidos do patrimônio a partir de diferentes grupos sociais, incluindo o universo simbólico digital. São maneiras de (re)significação de patrimônios advindos de processos virtuais em sistemas simbólicos e representacionais. A delimitação teórica deve muito à autores como, por exemplo, Deloche, Lévy, Castells, Scheiner e contribuiu na percepção do patrimônio como fenômeno e processo em fluxos e redes comunicacionais, favorecendo o entendimento sobre o lugar das novas tecnologias da comunicação sobre o patrimônio

The kynurenine pathway in Alzheimer’s disease: a meta-analysis of central and peripheral levels

Objective: Changes in the kynurenine pathway are recognized in psychiatric disorders, but their role in Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is less clear. We aimed to conduct a systematic review and meta-analysis to determine whether tryptophan and kynurenine pathway metabolites are altered in AD. Methods: We performed a systematic review and random-effects meta-analyses. Inclusion criteria were studies that compared AD and cognitively normal (CN) groups and assessed tryptophan or kynurenine pathway metabolites in cerebrospinal fluid or peripheral blood. Results: Twenty-two studies with a total of 1,356 participants (664 with AD and 692 CN individuals) were included. Tryptophan was decreased only in peripheral blood. The kynurenine-to-tryptophan ratio was only increased in peripheral blood of the AD group. 3-Hydroxykynurenine was decreased only in cerebrospinal fluid and showed higher variability in the CN group than the AD group. Kynurenic acid was increased in cerebrospinal fluid and decreased in peripheral blood. Finally, there were no changes in kynurenine and quinolinic acid between the groups. Conclusions: Our results suggested a shift toward the kynurenine pathway in both the brain and in the periphery, as well as a shift towards increased kynurenic acid production in the brain but decreased production in peripheral blood. In addition, our analysis indicated dissociation between the central and peripheral levels, as well as between plasma and serum for some of these metabolites. Finally, changes in the kynurenine pathway are suggested to be a core component of AD. More studies are warranted to verify and consolidate our results

Cognitive remission: a novel objective for the treatment of major depression?

BACKGROUND: Cognitive dysfunction in major depressive disorder (MDD) encompasses several domains, including but not limited to executive function, verbal memory, and attention. Furthermore, cognitive dysfunction is a frequent residual manifestation in depression and may persist during the remitted phase. Cognitive deficits may also impede functional recovery, including workforce performance, in patients with MDD. The overarching aims of this opinion article are to critically evaluate the effects of available antidepressants as well as novel therapeutic targets on neurocognitive dysfunction in MDD. DISCUSSION: Conventional antidepressant drugs mitigate cognitive dysfunction in some people with MDD. However, a significant proportion of MDD patients continue to experience significant cognitive impairment. Two multicenter randomized controlled trials (RCTs) reported that vortioxetine, a multimodal antidepressant, has significant precognitive effects in MDD unrelated to mood improvement. Lisdexamfetamine dimesylate was shown to alleviate executive dysfunction in an RCT of adults after full or partial remission of MDD. Preliminary evidence also indicates that erythropoietin may alleviate cognitive dysfunction in MDD. Several other novel agents may be repurposed as cognitive enhancers for MDD treatment, including minocycline, insulin, antidiabetic agents, angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors, S-adenosyl methionine, acetyl-L-carnitine, alpha lipoic acid, omega-3 fatty acids, melatonin, modafinil, galantamine, scopolamine, N-acetylcysteine, curcumin, statins, and coenzyme Q10. The management of cognitive dysfunction remains an unmet need in the treatment of MDD. However, it is hoped that the development of novel therapeutic targets will contribute to \u27cognitive remission\u27, which may aid functional recovery in MDD

Serum triglycerides, but not cholesterol or leptin, are decreased in suicide attempters with mood disorders

BackgroundMany peripheral biomarkers, including low cholesterol and its fractions, have been examined to identify suicidal behavior. Herein, we assessed serum lipid profile and some proteins putatively associated with suicidal behavior in subjects with mood disorder (bipolar disorder or major depressive disorder) with a recent suicide attempt and with no lifetime history of suicide attempts.MethodsFifty subjects had presented an episode of attempted suicide during the last 15 days, and 36 subjects had no history of any suicide attempt. We measured total cholesterol, HDL, LDL and triglycerides as well as serum leptin, brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), S100B and C-reactive protein (CRP).ResultsIndividuals that had attempted suicide presented decreased body mass index (BMI) and waist circumference. After adjusting for these confounders, we found that triglycerides were decreased in attempted suicide subjects. We found no differences among total cholesterol, LDL, and HDL or leptin, S100B, CRP and BDNF.LimitationsThis is a cross-sectional study, and we cannot therefore assess whether a decrease in triglycerides caused a mood episode with suicidal ideation that led to a suicide attempt or if the presence of a mood episode originated a loss of appetite and consequent loss of weight, therefore decreasing triglyceride levels.ConclusionsThese results do not support the hypothesis that lower levels of cholesterol are associated with suicidal behavior in a mood disorder sample. However, our data support the idea that adiposity is differentiated in these patients (reduced BMI, waist circumference and serum triglycerides), which could lead to an altered communication between the adipose tissue and brain

Relationship between depression and frailty in older adults: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Aim Depression and frailty are prevalent and burdensome in older age. However, the relationships between these entities are unclear and no quantitative meta-analysis exists. We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis to investigate the associations between depression and frailty. Methods Two authors searched major electronic databases from inception until November-2016 for cross- sectional/longitudinal studies investigating depression and frailty. The strength of the reciprocal associations between frailty and depression was assessed through odds ratios (ORs) adjusted for potential confounders. Results From 2306 non duplicated hits, 24 studies were included. The overall prevalence of depression in 8023 people with frailty was 38.60% (95% CI 30.07 to 47.10, I2=94%). Those with frailty were at increased odds of having depression (OR adjusted for publication bias 4.42, 95%CI 2.66-7.35, k=11), also after adjusting for potential confounders (OR=2.64; 95%CI: 1.59-4.37, I2=55%, k=4). The prevalence of frailty in 2167 people with depression was 40.40% (95%CI 27.00-55.30, I2=97%). People with depression were at increased odds of having frailty (OR=4.07, 95%CI 1.93-8.55, k=8). The pooled OR for incident frailty, adjusted for a median of 7 confounders, was 3.72 (95%CI 1.95-7.08, I2=98%, k=4), whilst in two studies frailty increased the risk of incident depression with an OR=1.90 (95%CI 1.55-2.32, I2=0%). Conclusion This meta-analysis points to a reciprocal interaction between depression and frailty in older adults. Specifically, each condition is associated with an increased prevalence and incidence of the other, and may be a risk factor for the development of the other. However, further prospective investigations are warranted

Incidência de hipertensão arterial em uma coorte de adultos da região urbana de Porto Alegre, RS

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